Improvisation for Paul Desmond #2

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Paul Desmond #2," 2008, acrylic on paper, 7" x 5".

Two Variations for Anthony Braxton

T. Renner, "Variation for Anthony Braxton #1," 2008, acrylic on paper, 7" x 5".


T. Renner, "Variation for Anthony Braxton #2," 2008, acrylic on paper, 7" x 5".

Portrait of Miles Davis, circa 1975

T. Renner, "Portrait of Miles Davis, circa 1975," 2008, acrylic on paper, 5" x 7".

Two Painted Photographs

T. Renner, "For Cindy Sherman," 2008, acrylic on photo, 4" x 6".


T. Renner, "For Man Ray," 2008, acrylic on photo, 6" x 4".

"What Noisy Cats Are We #'s 3 & 6"

T. Renner, "What Noisy Cats Are We #3," 2008, acrylic on printed paper, 4.75" x 4.75".


T. Renner, "What Noisy Cats Are We #6," 2008, acrylic on printed paper, 4.75" x 4.75".

Improvisation for Andrew Hill

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Andrew Hill," 2008, acrylic on paper, 7" x 5".

"What Noisy Cats Are We #1"

T. Renner, "What Noisy Cats Are We #1," 2008, acrylic on printed paper, 4.75" x 4.75".

The above is one of the twelve panels in a two-sided work (on a cd booklet) called "What Noisy Cats Are We."

I had been planning on just giving it away with a live recording of R.E.M. from 1982 but it came out so well I'm now thinking about keeping it and displaying it at some point.

Additional panels will be posted over the coming days. Stay tuned.

Improvisation for Peter Brotzmann

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Peter Brotzmann," 2007, acrylic on paper, 5.5" x 4.25".

This is a postcard that I mailed off to someone but I can't remember to whom! I like it very much, especially the fact that everything isn't all smeared and smushed together. I need to revisit this style on a larger canvas.

3 Artists Upstairs at the Stable

T. Renner, "Assemblage for Bill Frisell #2," 2008, acrylic, graphite, ink, on masking tape, on paper, 11" x 11".

Well, I'm finished with all six pieces for my contribution to a group art show in the "gallery" located on the second floor of the Stable, a new-ish restaurant located at 1821 Cherokee (at Lemp) in south St. Louis.

Also showing will be the photographer Hilary Hitchcock and the painter Dana Smith.

The show will be hung on Tuesday [the Stable is closed on Mondays], November 25, and will be up through December 31.

Note: Generally the titles for my paintings are arbitrarily chosen but today as I was working I was listening to a great album by the guitarist Bill Frisell called History, Mystery.

Poetry Scores Art Invitational: "Nailed Seraphim: 'Mortice caught on fire'"

T. Renner, "Nailed Seraphim: 'Mortice caught on fire,'" 2008, gouache on paper, 4" x 6".

On Saturday, I dropped off my contribution to the Poetry Scores Art Invitational at Hoffman LaChance gallery. The work so far from the other participants is very, very cool. Looking forward very much to seeing all the pieces hanging in the gallery.

Here's the invitation to participate that I received a ways back:

The poem "Nailed Seraphim" by K. Curtis Lyle is the subject of the 2008 Poetry Scores Art Invitational, to be held Friday, November 21, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., at Hoffman LaChance Contemporary, 3100 Sutton Boulevard in Maplewood, with free beer partly donated by Schlafly.

A copy of "Nailed Seraphim" is available on the poet’s blog by clicking here.

The assignment: make a new piece of art that responds to "Nailed Seraphim" and is named after a verbatim scrap of language from the poem. In the past, we have tried to limit the show to stuff you can hang on the wall or easily stand up in the space, but there are no strict limits –- other than that we have to fit everything into Hoffman LaChance, and we are inviting something like 40 artists. This means we hope at least some artists work small –- but, in past years, we have proudly shown some monumental pieces at the art invitational.

The organizer of the Poetry Scores Art Invitational, Chris King, adds:

All art at the invitational will be on sale in a silent auction setting, with starting bids set by the artists (and set low). Every year, this makes for steals.

The minimum bid for "'Mortice caught on fire'" -- framed and matted, by the way -- is $25. Did I hear someone say "a steal"?

Improvisation for Bud Powell

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Bud Powell," 2008, acrylic on paper, 5" x 7".

Portrait of Charles Mingus

T. Renner, "Portrait of Charles Mingus," 2008, acrylic on paper, 5" x 7".

Too Many Paintings?

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Calexico," 2008, acrylic on paper, 7" x 5".

You know, I think maybe I paint too many of these darned things. I found this one this morning while looking for my contribution to the Poetry Scores Art Invitational. I honestly have no memory of painting it. I like it, and I can identify it as being my style, but I sure don't remember painting it.

Kick Ass Radio

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Annie Z.," 2008, acrylic on paper, 7" x 5".

"Radio," sang Elvis Costello, "is in the hands of a lot of fools." Well, yeah, but not tonight from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. as I filled in for Annie Z. on FM 88.1's "International Pop Overthrow."

I showed up at the station with exactly zero cds and did the whole two hours using music from the new release shelves with a few choice nuggets from the archives to spice things up.

You can check out the playlist and listen to the show via the miracle of streaming audio by clicking here.

The Science of Dreams (for Glenn Branca)

T. Renner, "The Science of Dreams (for Glenn Branca)," 2008, acrylic on paper,

From the St. Louis Symphony's web site:

David Robertson and the SLSO host a celebration of one of the most popular instruments in the world. The Guitar Festival makes its way to different venues throughout the city, with extraordinary guest artists and some of the finest local talent to be found.

At the Pageant hear music of Frank Zappa and Edgard Varèse, along with Glenn Branca’s symphony written for 100 electric guitars, with composer/ guitarist Steve Mackey and John Patitucci joining 98 St. Louis guitarists. Mackey again plugs in, along with Jason Vieaux, for chamber concerts at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts. At Powell Symphony Hall, John Patitucci plays a work for electric bass and electric bass guitar. In November, St. Louis is GuitarLand.

Due to my lack of ability to follow a written score, I won't be part of the 98 St. Louis guitarists performing Branca's symphony. However, I recorded my performance at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center on November 3 and, thanks to the magic of the internet, you can listen to it by clicking here. The performance is called "Science of Dreams (For Glenn Branca)."

Improvisation for Paul Desmond

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Paul Desmond," 2008, acrylic on paper, 7" x 5".

Improvisation for Dave Brubeck

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Dave Brubeck," 2008, acrylic on paper, 7" x 5".

More Improvisations for Ornette Coleman

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Ornette Coleman #2," 2008, acrylic on paper, 7" x 5".


T. Renner, "Improvisation for Ornette Coleman #3," 2008, acrylic on paper, 7" x 5".

Sketch for Mark Rothko

T. Renner, "Sketch for Mark Rothko," 2008, acrylic on paper, 7" x 5"

A Drawing (Pre-Election Jitters)

T. Renner, "Study for a Future Painting," 2008, ballpoint pen on paper, 4.25" x 5.5".