Laumeier #3

T. Renner, "Laumeier #3," 2009, graphite on gesso on coated card stock, 5" x 7".

Laumeier #2

T. Renner, "Laumeier #2," 2009, oil pastel on gesso on coated card stock, 5" x 7".

Laumeier #1

T. Renner, "Laumeier #1," 2009, oil pastel on gesso on coated card stock, 5" x 7".

Zak Marmelefsky Playing Banjo in Tower Grove Park

T. Renner, "Zak Marmelefsky Playing Banjo in Tower Grove Park," 2009, oil stick on paper, 21" x 19".

Today I took part in a Poetry Scores event in Tower Grove Park. Here's the official press release:

As part of The Contemporary Art Museum Saint Louis’s “Open Studios” weekend, on Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cindy Tower and Poetry Scores will present “Crescendo” in the southeast corner of Tower Grove Park, at the intersection of Grand and Arsenal Streets.

The live performance event will feature musicians improvising together while artists draw or paint them. There will be two separate sets, starting at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. respectively, with different sets of musicians and artists for each.

The intention is to record the music, and play it at a later date when the resulting artworks are exhibited and sold on silent auction.

This project aims to foster community and bring public attention to the wide range and diversity of talent in St. Louis.

Participants are as follows:

10 AM - 12:30 PM:

Musicians: Jason Braun, Mike Burgett, Heidi Dean, Ellen Gomez, John Marshall, Carl Pandolfi, Geoff Seitz, and Zak Marmelefsky.

Artists: Cindy Chafin, Kathy Cory, Mary Downey, Tim McAvin, Carmelita Nunez, Lucky Rashkis, Tony Renner, John Sarra, Daniel Shown, and Barbara St. John.

Photo of 3730 Page at Redd Foxx on the Auction Block

T. Renner, "3730 Page at Redd Foxx," 2009, photograph, 14" x 11".

You can bid on a framed print of the above photograph on Friday, August 14, at "New Year's Eve in August" to benefit Prison Performing Arts.

Here's the skinny from Prison Performing Arts' web site:

We’re celebrating New Year’s Eve in August -- St. Louis Style! to benefit Prison Performing Arts. Join us for appearances by Baby New Year and Father Time, fire eaters and fire eating belly dancers, a balloon drop raffle, a New Year’s toast and more, at the MadArt Gallery, 2727 S. 12th Street, in Soulard.

New Year’s Eve in August festivities include St. Louis’ well-loved food traditions, including toasted ravioli and gooey butter bites, and an auction of art work based on St. Louis icons by St. Louis artists.

Tickets are $25 per person, $30 at the door.

Buy Tickets online for New Year's Eve in August St. Louis Style

or you can buy tickets by phone by calling 1-800-838-3006 and ask for tickets to "New Year's Eve in August"

For more information about the event contact Prison Performing Arts at 314-289-4190.

Improvisation for Roscoe Mitchell

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Roscoe Mitchell," 2009, oil on paper, 7" x 5".

Improvisation for Don Cherry #2

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Don Cherry #2," 2009, oil on paper, 6" x 4".

Improvisation for Charles Olson

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Charles Olson," 2008, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 18".

Improvisation for Keith Jarrett

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Keith Jarrett," 2009, oil on paper, 6" x 4".

Improvisation for Don Cherry #1

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Don Cherry #1," oil on paper, 6" x 4".

Improvisation for Sonny Rollins #4

Improvisation for Sonny Rollins #3

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Sonny Rollins #3," 2009, acrylic on coated cardstock, "5 x 7".

Improvisation for Sonny Rollins #2

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Sonny Rollins #2," 2009, acrylic on coated card stock, 5" x 7".

Improvisation for Sonny Rollins #1

T. Renner, "Improvisation for Sonny Rollins #1," 2009, acrylic on coated cardstock, 7" x 5".

Composition for Josef Albers

T. Renner, "Composition for Josef Albers," 2009, oil on paper, 4.25" x 5".

One of the books I most looked at a couple of years ago when I was in the library trying to avoid actually working on my Master's thesis was Albers and Moholy-Nagy: From the Bauhaus to the New World, edited by Achim Borchardt-Hume. This book so inspired me that my first completed painting was an homage to Albers. This blurb from the publishers web site tells the tale:

This beautifully illustrated book highlights the contrasts and correspondences in the lives and work of two of Modernism’s greatest innovators, Josef Albers (1888–1976) and László Moholy-Nagy (1895–1947). Beginning in the 1930s, Albers and Moholy-Nagy each developed a rigorously abstract language that condensed art to its visual fundamentals: line, color, texture, light, and form. This language experienced a creative explosion during their Bauhaus years, when both artists moved freely between media and disciplines. Essays by leading scholars follow the artists’ separate paths through to their emigration to the United States, where each continued to push tirelessly the conventions of artistic practice—Albers at Black Mountain College in North Carolina and then at Yale University, and Moholy-Nagy in Chicago at the New Bauhaus School and the Institute of Design. As highly influential teachers, Albers and Moholy-Nagy became important catalysts for the transmission of Modernist ideas from Europe to America.

And, speaking of Bauhaus:

The Bauhaus celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, and "The Bauhaus: 90 Years / 90 Days" is a new project which commemorates the Bauhaus. Every day during this 90-day project (from July 6 till October 6), a project happens which creatively plays around with and pays homage to an aspect of the Bauhaus. Examples of those projects might include a dance performance inspired by Oskar Schlemmer’s ballet, a musical performance that uses a Kandinsky painting as a graphic score, a fiber art project inspired by Anni Albers’ work, a poem inspired by Walter Gropius’ architecture, a short story inspired by Marianne Brandt’s work, an essay reflecting on an aspect of the Bauhaus movement, and so on.

These events will be presented at different locations around the world. Information about this project’s day-to-day developments will be posted at http://www.bauhaus9090.org. "The Bauhaus: 90 Years / 90 Days" is being organized by the Borderbend Arts Collective and the Gropius in Chicago Coalition.

You are invited to visit The Bauhaus: 90 Years / 90 Days website to find out more about this project -- including more details about artists' contributions, forums about the Bauhaus, and more!

Me! Painting!

These great photos by Gena Brady Allen were taken on Friday night at "Let Them Eat Art" in Maplewood.

Please visit Gena's blog, Felts and Fragments.

Composition for Wynton Marsalis

T. Renner, "Composition for Wynton Marsalis," 2009, oil on paper, 11" x 11".

Composition for Branford Marsalis

T. Renner, "Composition for Branford Marsalis," 2009, oil on cardboard, 12" x 12".

This Friday night, July 10, I'll be painting outside for all to see at Maplewood's "Let Them Eat Art." I'll be located in Citzen's Park on Manchester next to T. Rohen Interiors. I'll be painting on two 5' x 6' cardboard panels.

Click here for more information.

In the News!

Cross #14 (For Frank O'Hara)

T. Renner, "Cross #14 (For Frank O'Hara)," 2009, oil on paper, 8" x 10".

Slanted and Enchanted (For Stephen Malkmus, et al.)

T. Renner, "Slanted and Enchanted (For Stephen Malkmus, et al.)," 2009, oil on paper, 6" x 4".

John Coltrane: A Love Supreme #2

T. Renner, "John Coltrane: A Love Supreme #2," 2009, oil on paper, 11" x 17".

Happy 4th of July!

T. Renner, "Guitar Sellout," 2008, digital photograph.


T. Renner, "3730 Page at Redd Foxx #2," 2009, digital photograph.

Improvisation in Red, Black, and Blue #4

T. Renner, "Improvisation in Red, Black, and Blue #4," 2009, oil on paper, 7" x 5".

Improvisation in Red, Black, and Blue #3

T. Renner, "Improvisation in Red, Black, and Blue #3," 2009, oil on paper, 7" x 5".

Improvisation in Red, Black, and Blue #2

T. Renner, "Improvisation in Red, Black, and Blue #2," 2009, oil on paper, 7" x 5".