In 2011, I began working on a series of photographic portraits of Artists in the process of creating. My curiosity to discover what it takes for each Artist to connect their own imagination to the universal source of creativity has allowed me to witness and experience the remarkable relationship all Artists share with each other. I believe both healing and creative energies come from the same source. In the words of Joseph Campbell “The Shamans of the past are the Artists of today.” All Shamans and Medicine People know that the healing energy they use comes from a universal source or well, which is not theirs but rather comes through them and out to the person or community they are offering to heal. The Hollow Bone is a Lakota Indian term used to express the intention of the Medicine Man or Woman, which means to be open of mind, body and spirit in order to allow healing energy to flow through them like a bone that is hollow. It is believed the greater the openness; the greater the potential healing can occur. The Shaman knows they are not the one responsible for the healing; rather they act as a conduit for this energy to be received by those in need of healing. I have discovered through my experiences with Artists that they share the same purpose as the Shaman, to bring light and healing to others and the world around them through their art. Each Artist I have photographed has shown such uniquely diverse ways of expressing themselves and yet I have witnessed the presence of an outside force that is universally identical. Through my ongoing photographic exploration of Artists and creativity I continue to discover the human need express oneself and use art in all its forms as a unifying and connecting force of good and healing.
Robert Banat
Marina Abramovic
How exactly does one photograph an artist’s creative process, when they themselves are the work of art? Here’s how I was able to take such a photograph: Marina was generous in sharing her spirit with me and in one culminating moment gave me this intensely direct look, right through the camera lens, I could feel it touch me inside. Fortunately my finger was steadfast on the trigger, tapped the shutter button at that precious and precise moment which captured Marina’s mysteriously creative beauty.
DONALD BAECHLER
New York City
Entering Donald’s studio I couldn’t help but feeling like a child again… Paintings and sculptures of giant flowers and Ice cream cones, drippings of Crayola crayon colors seem to dance on a wall, telling the story of all the paintings that were created on it.
Donald had mentioned he was installing one of his “Walking Figure” sculptures at Westhampton Airport in Long Island, New York. So when the day came I drove from Brooklyn to see exactly what he was talking about. There it was, in pieces on the earth, shining silver in the hot summer sun. Watching it be raised from the ground to its perch, 30 feet high, I ran into the tall green grass and turned around to witness it touching the sky.
#Creating #Artist #DonaldBaechler #Photographer #Photography #RobertBanat #NewYork #NYC #NewYorkCity @robertbanat #Imagination #Creativity #Sculptor #Sculpture #Painter #Painting #IceCreamCone #WalkingFigure #Flowers #CheimandRead @cheimread
LUIGI BALLERINI
New York City
“Did you know that eels were served at The Last Supper?”
Luigi tells the story of Leonardo da Vinci’s mural of The Last Supper and one of the items on the table is dish of grilled eels and orange slices.
Born in Milan, a Writer, Poet and Historian with a contagious laugh, Luigi shares stories of his vast experiences and love of Art.
#Creating #Artist #Photographer #Photography #RobertBanat #NewYork #NYC #NewYorkCity #BrooklynRail#LuigiBallerini #Writer #Poet @robertbanat #Imagination #Creativity #Milan #Writer #Eels #TheLastSupper #LeonardoDaVinci
ROSS BLECKNER New York City
From the origins of the Mudd Club in New York City at 77 White Street in 1978 where Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, David Bowie, Debbie Harry, Andy Warhol, Betsey Johnson, Julian Schnabel, Ana Sui, Lou Reed, Fab 5 Freddy would gather to collaborate, share ideas and dance to a mix of music with a sound system designed by Brian Eno, Ross Bleckner has emerged as one of New York’s finest painters.
Ross has created a series of paintings of red and white blood cells floating in space reflecting on his experiences with his friends and the Artist community in New York as the AIDS Epidemic erupted.
Ross paints flowers and hummingbirds in a dreamlike, ethereal way as if they are present and at the same time only in our memories. Ross shared with me, many of his inspirations for his Art and paintings as he embraces Life and its fragile balance with loss and impermanence.
On a Studio Visit with Ross Bleckner, my first Artist Portrait, making sure not to disturb him while he was working, I made myself as small as possible and moved silently around his studio as he began to paint. I knew then that I had entered a sacred space and was being given a gift as he allowed me to witness his meticulously, beautiful process. Winston, his sweet dog watched me as I photographed.
#IsadoraCapraro @Isadora.Capraro
SANTE D’ORAZIO
New York City
From a Photographer’s eye, through a camera lens, a charismatic person appears, more over with Sante D’Orazio it’s a beautiful woman.
Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford and Stephanie Seymour to name only a few women who can call themselves the original “Super-Models”.
Sante was there from the start, capturing the most incredibly alluring woman in fashion on the planet. It’s Sante’s ability to connect, engage and evoke the unique and inherent, inner personality of his subjects to create some of the most iconic photographic images ever.
Robert De Niro, Mickey Rourke, Johnny Depp and Axl Rose have all been spied by Sante‘s keen photographic eye.
Sante is able to make his subjects comfortable enough to reveal the most authentic parts of who they are which can only happen when a camera is in the hands of a skilled and passionate Photographer like Sante.
Born in Brooklyn, in Sante’s early days even before he picked up a camera he studied painting as an assistant to Artist Philip Pearlstein. Later on Sante learned photography with his teacher Lou Bernstein.
These days when Sante is not behind the camera he is in front of a canvas making unique and complex paintings which tell the story of his career, inspirations and unique perspective living life in New York as one of the most prolific modern day photographers.
Sante has passed on his creative genes to his brilliant, son Nick D’Orazio who has established himself as one of the hottest photographers of his generation.
Sante has shared his knowledge of photography with me as a mentor and inspires me with his fiery enthusiasm for art, life and creativity.
JAN FRANK
New York Artist
From Amsterdam to New Amsterdam, Jan began creating Art in his Manhattan studio apartment in the 1980’s. Jan’s intricately brilliant paintings are silkscreens on canvas, patched together, layer upon layer.
Jan’s friendships with de Kooning, Louise Bourgeois, Jackson Pollock, Julian Schnabel and Phillip Guston appear to emerge in his paintings.
TOM FRUIN
Brooklyn, New York
As the girders and framework for One World Trade Center were rising above the New York City skyline, Tom Fruin and his team erect the first of his steel and colorful salvaged plexiglass, Water Towers in DUMBO Brooklyn.
Wind blowing, 150 feet above Jay Street in Brooklyn, ring by ring, Tom Fruin’s vision to create a giant kaleidoscope colored Water Tower begins to emerge with the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges as a backdrop against the New York City landscape.
As the last section for the roof of the Water Tower was secured into place, a rainbow appeared through a massive white cloud as it touched down in Brooklyn.
A truly auspicious moment.
RON GORCHOV
When I first asked Ron if I could visit his studio and photograph him in 2011, he told me it was something that he never allows. A year later, meeting at an art event, Ron invited me to come visit his studio, he said “Come visit, I’ll make you lunch and we can talk. Bring your camera but I’m not saying you’ll be allowed to photograph.” After his deliciously prepared lunch he leaned over his dining table and said; “You can photograph here anytime you wish.” I’ve since been very fortunate to visit Ron’s studio on several occasions; he has become a dear friend and gracious supporter of my photography.
**Music by the gifted musicians of the PARTHENIA String Quartet. Thank you Rosamund Morley for allowing your beautiful music to be part of this tribute to Ron Gorchov.
PARTHENIA.ORG @PartheniaViolConsort - Instagram
*William Lawes Set a6 in G AIRE and TRIUMPHAVI a fancy for five viols by Michael East
RobertBanat.com. @RobertBanat - Instagram
RonGorchov.org. @RonGorchovTrust - Instagram
VitoSchnabel.com @VitoSchnabelGallery - Instagram
CheimRead.com @CheimRead - Instagram
***SPECIAL THANKS TO VERONIKA SHEER
@Krveronikas - Instagram
#RonGorchov #RobertBanat #VitoSchnabelGallery #CheimReadGallery #Art #Artist #StudioVisit #Painting #Painter
This film is a tribute to a gifted Artist and mentor, Ron Gorchov.
Terence Koh
For six weeks, eight hours a day, in complete silence, Terence made his way around a huge pillar of salt on his knees; for his performance “nothingtoodoo” at Mary Boone Gallery in New York City. Periodically pausing as he prostrated himself on the floor with the most beautiful Zen Spirit. Even when he went home at night, Terence remained in silence for the entire six weeks. I went to visit him at the gallery early one morning while he was performing to witness and photograph. For three hours I lay on the hard gallery floor, watching, listening to the silence, just he and I alone; I felt completely transported into another world.
* * * *
“Please wait outside the door for two minutes and then enter”, said Terence. He then disappeared. Entering the space completely void of light I felt embraced by the darkness. Making my way through the darkness I reached out my hands and felt a wall to guide me. A shaft of light coming from the end of the hallway drew me closer.
Slowly walking towards the light I entered a small unfurnished room with a window at one end. Some mud, a tree branch and a single white rose suspended on the windowsill, with the rose emerging on the other side.
In the silence I could hear footsteps patiently and slowly approaching. In a few moments Terence Koh appeared. Terence walked purposefully towards the window and knelt down in front of a small mound of earth with a stack of newspapers from all over the world, off to one side. Terence began to tear the newspapers into small shreds and place them in the center of the earth mound. Terence then lit a match and set the shredded newspapers on fire.
Focusing on the flames as each paper burned, Terence would add more. The headlines on the newspapers were the news of the day with stories about climate change and severe weather conditions, missiles and migrants, dropping economies and Covid. The intention is to meditate upon these stories as they burned releasing them to smoke and ashes with prayers of healing and hope.
The single white rose emerging from the windowsill to the outside world, held the space for love and peace.
ROBERT LAMBERT
New York City
The Full Form of HOTEL is Hospitality Offered To Every Laborer. An establishment providing accommodations, meals, and other services for travelers and tourists.
The Hotel Chelsea or as many call it simply “The Chelsea” has been providing a living, working and sometimes a dying place for its numerous Writers, Musicians, Artists and Actors.
Patti Smith & Robert Mapplethorpe, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, Sid Vicious & Nancy Spungen, Andy Warhol & Edie Sedgwick, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Dennis Hopper to name only a few of the gifted creatives who slept under The Chelsea’s Victorian-Gothic roof.
One of those passionate and talented Artists is Robert Lambert. Over the years Robert lived at The Chelsea he befriended many of its tenants. Robert created an incredibly impressive archive of paintings and drawings he made, representing what Arthur Miller called “The Chelsea Affect.”
Robert Lambert takes wood panels, covers them with postage stamps from around the world then paints over the stamps with colored caustics, creating portraits of the charismatic people he’s known and lived with. The letters spelling-out HOTEL CHELSEA appear on the paintings along with the Room Numbers of its extraordinary residents.
#Creating #Artist #Photographer #Photography #RobertBanat #NewYork #NYC #NewYorkCity #RobertBanat #Gallery #Art @robertbanat #RobertLambert #Imagination #Creativity #Painting #Painter #TheHotelChelsea #TheChelseaHotel
INÈS LONGEVIAL
Paris, France
Inspired by the color palette of the places, seasons and objects found in her surroundings, Inès creates uniquely beautiful paintings.
With a singular subject, Inès reveals deeply rich emotions in her self-portraits.
There is an intensity in her eyes that seems to look deep inside of you while at the same time revealing to you something within herself.
Spending time in the presence of her paintings I felt myself transcending the graceful forms of her face and body as the messages of her emotional expressions emerged from the canvas.
Inès is truly a gifted Artist and I’m grateful to know her.
#Creating #Artist #Photographer #Photography #RobertBanat #NewYork #NYC #NewYorkCity @robertbanat #Imagination #Creativity #Painter #Painting #InèsLongevial #Paris #ParisFrance #FrenchPainter #FrenchArtist #SelfPortrait #TheJournalGallery #TennisElbow @ineslongevial @thejournalinc #ArtGallery #TriBeCa
VICTOR MATTHEWS
New York City
Entering Victor’s studio, a zen monk’s sanctuary standing shirtless and barefoot, in his paint covered pants with speckles of white on his chest and arms.
Victor’s paintings start with charcoal drawings, applied directly on each linen canvas as one continuous stream of consciousness, never lifting the charcoal off the canvas until each thought like a mantra is complete.
With a simplicity of charcoal lines, brilliant New York cityscapes emerge.
Applying white paint over the charcoal drawings in thick, textured brush stokes, revealing graceful images of taxicabs, tall buildings, fire hydrants, pigeons, bridges, sneakers and water towers. It’s an extraordinarily beautiful and peaceful process to watch.
#Creating #Artist #Photographer #Photography #RobertBanat #NewYork #NYC #NewYorkCity #RobertBanat #Gallery #Art @robertbanat #VictorMatthews #Imagination #Creativity #Painting #Painter #Sculptor #Sculpture #Brooklyn #BornInBrooklyn #Cityscape @victormatthews_
JOHN NEWSOM
New York City
#Creating #Artist #Photographer #Photography #RobertBanat #NewYork #NYC #NewYorkCity #Gallery #Art #OklahomaContemporary @robertbanat #JohnNewsomStudio #JohnNewsom #Imagination #Creativity #Painting #Painter #NaturesCourse @okcontemporary @johnnewsomstudio
HERMANN NITSCH
New York City
In the center of the room with the presence of a great lion directing his painting assistants, stands Hermann Nitsch.
Hermann remains still with his eyes closed and then suddenly as if a bolt of lightning struck him, Hermann opens his eyes and with one gesture of his hand and a low rumbling growl he directs the orchestration of his ensemble of painting assistants into action.
It appears to me that Hermann is listening to Divine music in his head and as it crescendos, seems to inform how, when and where the paint and sometimes even pigs blood is moved across the surface of the canvas.
On Monday April 18th, 2022, Hermann Nitsch departed the Earth, leaving behind the beautiful and powerful evidence of his time here in the magnificent paintings he created.
*View my Artist Portrait series at: RobertBanat.com (link in bio)
#Creating #Artist #HermannNitsch #NitschFoundation #Photographer #Photography #RobertBanat #NewYork #NYC #NewYorkCity @robertbanat #Imagination #Creativity #Painter #Painting #Vienna #PrinzendorfCastle #Austria #Actionist #OrgiesMysteriesTheatre @nitschfoundation @rita_nitsch
RACHEL ROSSIN
During our first visit I photographed Rachel finishing a commission for a meditator, who asked for silence while being painted wrapped in a Navajo ceremonial prayer blanket. Rachel painted in silence as I photographed. Three hours of nonverbal communication, the three of us were connecting on a higher level than words can fully express.
On a second studio visit with Rachel, she shared paintings of brightly colored flowers floating in a dreamlike world, I could feel them moving as they danced on the canvas.
Painted digitally created forms on plexiglass molded into 3 dimensional sculptors presented at “Peak Performance”. From every angle these beautiful figures suspended in space change into multidimensional floating worlds as I move around them.
Rachel Rossin’s creations from Ones and Zeros are brilliant and extraordinarily alluring.
Julian Schnabel
Eleven seconds…That’s all the time I had to take a portrait of Julian. While he was installing three large sculpture pieces at MANA Contemporary for “All The Best Artists Are My Friends”, curated by Ray Smith; Julian was kind enough to pause long enough to allow me to take his portrait. As I focused my camera and took my first shot, I watched Julian for that “right” expression to emerge; five camera clicks later he ran his fingers through his hair, I knew the shoot was over. The installation process of his sculptures was rigorous and felt dramatic. Watching Julian install each piece personally with his team was like watching a Master Conductor lead a Symphony Orchestra. He showed power, restraint and incredible artistic finesse.
Lola Montes Schnabel
What’s in a name? I’ve known Lola first as a friend and then a fellow artist, witnessing her unique gifts blossom like a field of beautiful flowers. The subject matters of her paintings are about struggle, relationships, exploration, spirit and love. Lola has a rare curiosity of people and life, which when I look at her paintings I know they are hers and hers alone.
MARIANA SMITH
Brooklyn, New York
Mariana is a gifted Artist, visionary and curator who sees beauty in found objects and creates wonderfully imaginative paintings and films. Mariana envisions relationships between seemingly unrelated items and finds a common connection to conjure unique and beguiling works of Art.
#Creating #Artist #Photographer #Photography #RobertBanat #NewYork #NYC #NewYorkCity #RobertBanat #Gallery #Art @robertbanat #RichardDupont #Imagination #Creativity #Painting #Painter #Sculptor #Sculpture #Film #FilmMaker #Sculpture #Sculptor #Studio #StudioVisit #Curator #MarianaSmith #Brooklyn
Ray Smith
Ray is a sculptor, painter, curator and visionary artist. His relationship to art and is beyond his own need to create. Ray’s support of emerging artists has had a very positive impact on their careers. In June of 2015, Ray loaned me his entire studio to present my solo exhibition The Hollow Bone, a collection of 37 artists portraits, which along with my photographs, included a piece of artwork from each artist.
OUATTARA WATTS
New York City
Ouattara creates paintings expressing his vision of the world without borders using images, colors, symbols and found objects to create his own artistic vocabulary.
Born in the Ivory Coast of West Africa and later in life living in Paris to study Art where Jean-Michel Basquiat befriended Ouattara and his artistic journey led him to New York.
Visiting with Ouattara was a wonderful experience, following my curiosity I explored each of his paintings as they took me on a wonderful metaphysical journey filled with African culture, philosophy and spiritual story telling.
It’s rarely possible for more than 2 minutes to pass without Ouattara breaking out his contagious laugh with his huge smile and baritone voice.
#Creating #Artist #Photographer #Photography #RobertBanat #NewYork #NYC #NewYorkCity #RobertBanat #Gallery #Art @robertbanat #OuattaraWatts #Imagination #Creativity #Painting #Painter #Brooklyn #IvoryCoast #WestAfrica #DakarBiennial #VeniceBiennial #VeniceBiennale #WhitneyBiennial #MOMA #MuseumOfModernArt #KarmaGallery
WENDY WHITE – Brooklyn, New York
Magic-Spray miraculously heals Soccer players and in many ways Wendy White’s Artworks have the same effect.
Wendy uses images from moments in sports like Soccer, Tennis, Skiing and Basketball to bring you into the human experience of competition within ourselves to triumph over our opponents.
Using canvas, photographic prints, wooden letters covered in canvas and three-bar frames mimicking the Adidas symbol, Wendy’s brightly colored paintings immediately grab your attention to look deeper for thoughts and hidden messages.
It’s no wonder to me that Wendy was born in a town called Deep River in Connecticut.
Bright Pink, Yellow, Green and Blue are often Wendy’s palette which also often matches the color of her hair.
As Wendy explores using different materials, her work gets larger and more impressive. At a recent installation at Denny Diming Gallery in New York, Wendy created a large mobile with a black Peace Sign, Heart and Rainbow and a Neon Heart hanging above a bright yellow carpet splashed with black paint. Paintings with graffiti messages “Eat me”, “I’m Bored”, “Mat Wuz Here”, “I Want Pizza” and “Pleasure” covered the walls.
These works become parts of installations that completely take you out of whatever city they may be shown and immerse you in a world of Wendy’s wonderfully creative imagination.
Like the spirit of Wendy’s 1972, Yellow Plymouth Duster, muscle-car there is a feeling of power and freedom in Wendy’s Artwork.
Peace, Love and Pleasure!
#Creating #Artist #Painting #Painter #WendyWhite #RobertBanat #NewYork #NYC #NewYorkCity #Sports #Brooklyn #Studio #StudioVisit #DennyDimingGallery @dubz19 @robertbanat @dennydimingallery #DeepRiver
KOHO YAMAMOTO
New York City
“Be Bold!” Koho told me, “Make mistakes…Dive into it.” Referring to painting Japanese calligraphy. This certainly is a Life Lesson.
Today we celebrate the 100th birthday of Koho Yamamoto. 4/14/2022
As a child living in an internment camp on the West coast during World War 2, Koho found a way to express herself through a brush made from her own hair. Without traditional Sumi ink, Koho created ink out of ash from the fires they used to cook and keep warm in the camp.
This kind of freedom and imagination appear in all of her paintings and the way Koho lives her life.
*View my Artist Portrait series at: RobertBanat.com (link in bio)
#Creating #Artist #Photographer #Photography #RobertBanat #NewYork #NYC #NewYorkCity @robertbanat #Imagination #Creativity #Painter #Painting #Sumi-e #Calligraphy #Japan #JapaneseCalligraphy #Japanese #KohoYamamoto #Artist
