The signature painting of Table Mountain is called “Mowbray-Kaap Shamwaris” and is in memory of my father who lived in Cape Town. The “Mowbray-Kaap” comes from a song of that name by Freshlyground a South African afro-jazz band. And the “Shamwaris” is Shona for “friends” in recognition of Zimbabwe where I’ve spent most of my life having moved with the family from Canada at the age of two. The Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock “20th Century Art” project was started in Cape Town in 2008-9 and has only now come to fruition.
This project is the result of the newly named Kamala Harris Art Studio at Big Tree Harare (see photo) where I sat under a tree with my easel and painted. The Art Studio backs up Biden Park at Big Tree Harare to which it is adjacent.
The reference to Rothko and Pollock is in fact a reference to colour field painting as in Rothko and action painting as in Pollock – both are forms of abstract expressionism in 20th Century Art. And this project forms a cheat sheet for their work which inspired it.
The following description is from the Facebook post that got the project started a few weeks back.
Artillery Gallery Harare, Big Tree Harare, President Joe Biden, U.S. Embassy Harare
A beautiful mind…
Yin yang: The Dots and Squiggles – Rothko vs. Pollock Reviewed. Coming soon to a gallery near you.
Cezanne and Picasso – the steep next step. P.S. need some equipment artists?
What we learnt…
Pollock: The Dots and Squiggles aka The Stars and Stripes
Rothko: The Gardener’s Cross. Jesus the Gardener and Backyard Crucifixion. Actually better than it sounds.
The Kamala Harris Art Studio came back with results. Doubt me to the last Mr. President.
Remember your Sacred Stones Biden Park.
Modern Art – the New America. First Review. Postmodern art, science, poetry and literature – an open playing field.
Born in Canada. American Soldier of the Arts and Sciences.
Quantum Painting versus Poetic Physics.
Prepping for my first solo exhibit Mrs. Harris, Artillery et al.
Jesus the “Constant” Gardener: a Gentleman in the Making sir. The arts – a better cross to hang on.
Note well – painting is not a movie Hollywood.
