Seattle Artist Kalindi Kunis Blog - Kalindi Paints

May 16th, 2017

5/16/2017

I am so excited to be finally, once again, ready to share more of my art with you and to invite you to my upcoming Open Studio happening Friday, June 2, 2017 at Gasworks Gallery. Come by for a glass of wine, and see my works along with my good friend Sam LeRugetel's amazing ceramics!

I know it's been a long while since you've heard from me, and I hope that you are as excited as I am about my new art! Life has it's way of interfering so I am feeling very blessed to be able to continue to persevere and bring you more of the beauty I see everywhere. My art has taken on new forms and abstractions in response to the evolving aspects of my life. I've enjoyed working on a few new jeweled dandelion pieces from my core of botanicals. These abstractions follow my botanics in the repeating geometry and imperfectly perfect drops, drips, drapes and sparkles of light and matter.

I see the world in its duality, dark and despairing and light and fantastic. In the darkest darkness, light flashes ever presently. In light Nature shows her inflorescence and glitter. In the dark nights of our souls, light persists and drives us on, and in the lightness and joy of our best lives, the darkness is ever present. Through the magical lens of sight I feel I have been blessed with I seek to bring more light and beauty to the world.

Seattle Art Fair Graces Our City with its Glory

8/8/2016

The view from the Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) Booth at the Seattle Art Fair 2016

Keun Young Park, Dream in Between. Um, mind blown! Micro Mosaic Collage photo fragments @ Muriel Guepen Gallery, NYC

I am over-run with the beauty and stunning creativity. I am so deeply grateful for my access and the ability to see, and at times create, the most stunning, breathtaking, and inspirational works of art. I am fresh off of a long art-packed weekend of volunteering for CoCA in our Partner Booth, and exploring and networking at the Seattle Art Fair and Out of Site and the surrounding galleries and Pop-up shows.

I ventured there and back several times over the long weekend and I am filled with energy and creativity. The gift of inspiration which comes to us all, through these magical worlds created in clay and on canvas, or with dozens of casters, or wax, stretched plastic, neon lights, nails, scrap metal, glass, recycled detritus, solid graphite, rock, wood, plastic, and any other manner of medium, not least of which is of course paint…and all with love and passion.

This is the stuff that changes the world with hope and connection. Where art lives, people thrive and prosper, and yet then still so much is left unseen, but by a privileged few of us. We can take time out of our work lives at our leisure, or make it part of our work lives. How do we share it out to the broader community? How do we offer our art up to the masses?

There is a kind of spontaneous optimism that happens when individual minds are exposed to the unbridled imagination of an artistic endeavor. Music and beauty lift the spirit and the heart, and I believe that collectively as artists and patrons of the arts, that we have to do more to share our world to every corner of society.

Laura Fried, Artistic Director of the Seattle Art Fair, says it beautifully in her press release, “Our goal with the program is to connect with a broad audience at a time when locals and tourists alike alight this beautiful city, and to offer encounters with contemporary art in meaningful and surprising ways.”

At this strained time in our modern history, with cultural tensions, terrorism and Trump on the rise, ignorance and fear abound. It is now when we need to take every measure to bring art programs back into schools and into hearts. I am so proud to have committed my weekend to supporting CoCA’s mission, whose core focus is to open the conversation about contemporary art, across borders and social boundaries.

Art educates, and provides solace and refuge. On both biophysical and metaphysical levels, the very essence of imagination provides measurable beneficial improvements in our brain synapses and neural networks. Thus, generating the impetus to learn and grow, and enhance our moods, and our energy and drive, and our hope.

Art is as critical to life as is freedom. Life without either is void. This is how dictatorships like Germany and Russia were able to so deeply control their people during those infamous and deadly decades which mar our collective history. They killed the artists, or banished them to Siberia, and stole the artworks (which they of course kept for their private solace). They broke the spirit of their people and were then able to easily take control for their evil and most foul business.

Art, and poetry, and literature, and dance, and music heal us all. Thank God we are not dealing with such aggressive powers and chaos of those dark times. But, something has got to give. I am grateful for my white middle class privilege, which has given me a rare gift to share for beauty and healing works for the betterment of all. If I can do more art, by golly I must do it, and my part to bring the language of art to the farthest reaches of my community.

Under the creative direction of our ED Nichole DeMent, CoCA is headlong into a highly acclaimed series of exhibitions at our PS35 Gallery, and I could not be more proud to be a part of it all. These are absolutely the right conversations to be happening right now, AND, how do we do more to generate ongoing conversations into the future?

As artists and supporters, indeed as individuals, I believe it is all of our collective responsibility to do our bit for the effort to bring beauty and imagination into the world, and to combat ignorance, fear and the resulting violence. I am so very inspired by it all this weekend down at SAF, and I feel compelled to do more to share art outside our cloistered walls. I want others to be as inspired as I feel now. Fingers cross, and gears locked in!

For now I will begin by sharing below a few of my favorite pieces from the Seattle Art Fair and neighboring Seattle area artist exhibition Out of Site (at King Street Station).

Here are the links that I can find in order of appearance:
Jason Jacques Inc
Jane Lombard Gallery
Sundaram Tagore Gallery
Muriel Guepen Gallery
Forum Gallery
Out of Site
Henrique Faria Fine Art
Hartman Gallery

New Test Panel Series

8/8/2016

Slowly but surely, new things happening...my mandalas have opened up my creativity again and am exploring a macro abstract view of nature around me. I am super inspired (if not a bit overwhelmed) by all of the stunning works of fine art I will be sharing about from my weekend exploring the 2016 Seattle Art Fair, but for now, this post marks my commitment to get my own artwork back on track, and don't worry, more foggy socks to come!

(Left) Buttons 8x8, acrylic on panel (Right) Buttons Test 8x6, acrylic on panel, in progress

Detail from Lanterns No.2, 6x24, acrylic on panel, in progress

Detail from Expansion Mandala, 24x24, acrylic on panel, in progress

Life taking it's toll

4/5/2016

This is a short post to apologize to my readers for my absence. My personal life is in upheaval and as such, so is my artwork. I am pushing very hard to get back into my studio and my blog. My energy and inspiration are under pressure, but I will be back! I promise!

Loving the Jewels and the Mandalas

12/15/2015

Jeweled Fennel 36x48x2 (detail) Acrylic on Panel

Jeweled Fog Socks, 48x24x2 (detail) Acrylic on Panel

I've been so inspired by my dear friend Annie Huntley's lovely Dotted Line Jewelry and her constant support for my work. The connections to other artists and the knowing support to push through when things feel blocked is a critical part of my creative process. Annie works next door to me and when I am struggling with my work, I knock on her door and show her my blockage, she shines light on my path and helps push me to the next levels. These two pieces I've shown details of are two of my most favorite pieces ever and I am absolutely in love with the jewelry I am hanging on my interpretive flora.

The photos in my portfolio are flat and don't allow the viewer to see the depth or the dimension of my work. I love to post these details above to show how different they become in person, at varying angles and perspective.

I always play with dimension in my work and have been enjoying a sojourn with the mandalas below, despite the fact that these patterns have been used for centuries, I love the depth that I get with the use of the different matte and metallic paints and finishes and dimensional trimmings. My studio is filling up with them and they are a joy to work with, and are a meditation on our chakral energies, which is why people are responding so positively toward them.

Both the jewels and the mandalas are bright moments in a dark time of life, of the year, and in the world. May we all be blessed with more light and joy.

Expansion (in back) 20x20 Acrylic and crystal on canvas, and Golden Crown (in front) 24x24x2 Acrylic on panel

CoCA's 23 Enigma Inspires and Excites!

11/19/2015

Artist Juli Adams, working on one of my favorite pieces from the show, Enigma is Me (Photo: Gabriel Marquez)

I know it has been a while since my last post, but I am back at it! Life has a way of delivering new opportunities wrapped in difficult packages sometimes. And then sometimes, life just delivers inspiration clean and pure, as it did last week via the Center on Contemporary Art's (CoCA) annual 24-hour Art Marathon & Auction. Vanguard Seattle's terrific article is Sarah Cardoza's fabulously intimate guide through our event! I recently joined the Board of Directors for CoCA and on the event committee, I was able to serve some support to this remarkable group of fine artists.

I first volunteered for this event last year, as an art-walker (aka Vanna) and with set-up and breakdown on all sides of the 3-day event. This year on the Board as Marathon and Auction Artist Support, I had the opportunity to stay with and show up for the artists, and it was like getting hit by a lightening bolt (in the super-hero way). I know I can tend to get a little woowoo sometimes, but this gathering of these 22+ fine artists generated some powerful energy! The event space turned group studio space was literally buzzing with creativity. I felt it, and I kinda think that everyone there did as well (and do year after year, some of them). As an artist, it is just such a special treat to get to see the inner-workings of our peer's processes.

I was so excited to get back into my studio with all of my new energy, and get back to work on my own pieces! I'll post some glimpses soon and stay tuned for an invite to my December 4th Open studio here at Gasworks Galleries...but enough about me! Let's see some shots from this brilliant event!

Lovely Review in the p.i.!

5/17/2015

My Favorite Local Artist: Kalindi [Kunis]

My Favorite Local Artist: Kalindi Thompson Posted on May 8, 2015 | By SassyCityGirl By Michele Costanza…bringing you a humorous view on consumer topics in an all-too-serious world
*****************************
I know that art is highly subjective, so I’m pretty passive when it comes to art appreciation. There are certain things that catch my eye, others that lift my spirit, while most others fail resonate with me. And that’s ok.

But I have to share the work of my current favorite artist because she has a show at the Core Art Gallery right now, so if you’re anywhere near Pioneer Square, get yourself over there to take a peek.

Her name is Kalindi Thompson, and she’s a name to remember….well, you will read about her again on SassyCityGirl when I interview her this summer!

http://blog.seattlepi.com/sassycitygirl/2015/05/08/my-favorite-local-artist-kalindi-thompson/

Welcome Back to My Garden

5/4/2015

A view from the street outside CORE Gallery at 117 Prefontaine Pl S, Seattle WA 98104 Wed-Sat 12-6 Thru May 30

BoBo Bay, this baby measures 60x48 (5'x4') and has a play with finishes that you've gotta see to experience.

It's on! The new show is up at CORE Gallery through May. Here are a few of my favorites of the show but believe me when I say that pictures don't do the live experience justice. I know this sounds a bit haughty, but I am kinda in-love with the way this show looks together. This is a kind of assemblage of parts of the natural world, my own personal garden of sorts. I wish I could make such perfect and elaborate god's eyes with yarn...so it makes me happy to make them here for the garden.
Also, it just makes me so happy to see it all up together like this. I guess if I were to have children, it would be like seeing them in their big school play. These are my babies! Please enjoy and let me know what you think! (Ha! Right? Like you're gonna tell a momma her children are ugly :-P) I seriously do want feedback though so do let me know.

Jewel's Eye started with the red base and evolved into a god's eye piece and it sparkles and glows in a way that really, pleasantly, surprised me.

Seattle's Schuberti was done in Seahawks colors after seeing a previous painting in the same, I decided to do this fabulous Allium Schuberti like Seahawks fireworks.

HAPPY SPRING!

4/2/2015

That's me in my studio getting set for the final photo shoot before hanging my show at Phinney Center Gallery

I've been hard at work getting my first of two Spring shows (sorry about the delinquent blogging). It's an exciting time and I feel pretty fired up about both shows. The group show, The Curious Worlds of Suz & Kelly O'Dell, Erika Rier and Kalindi Thompson runs April 1-24, Opening Reception: Friday, April 10, 7- 9 pm. This show is in a way a preview for what is to come in my May show at CORE Gallery in Pioneer Square. That show, Welcome Back to My Garden, runs April 29-May 30. As you can see, I have some large pieces in progress that will be completed for May!

If you can't make it to the show in May, the opening reception for that is Thursday, May 7, 2015, definitely come by the Phinney Center Gallery...or come to both, just know that you'll see some of these same pieces there :)

The story about both shows is inspired by my recent road trip back to my home town of Bolinas and draws from the beautiful Seattle scenery and wildlife. Art Access reads " Her show harkens back to her colorful hippy youth with coastal fields of wild flowers, macramé, rainbow colored god's eyes and shimmering inflorescence.”

I hope to see you all soon! Enjoy! and THANK YOU for all of your ongoing support!

It's almost Spring!

3/3/2015

A few in-progress pieces happening in my studio today March 3, 2015

It's been a wacky winter to be sure! My blog is sadly outdated until now, as I've been heads-down busy, first with the holidays and then a battle with this heinous virus that has swept the country. I am finally back in high gear and painting away! Phew!

I hope that all you out here in the Northwest have been enjoying the wacky mild winter (despite the lack of ski-able snow) and this strangely early spring season...it is indeed odd to have seen our region explode with cherry blossoms in February. I know my friends and family out there in the Midwest and East have been buried under the chill of a truly gnarly winter...but now it is March and we all (N'0) are knocking on Spring's door. The Spring Equinox on March 21 represents the promise of new starts and new blossoms.

I am in high gear working towards two big deadlines this Spring. I open with a group show at the Phinney Neighborhood Gallery on April 10 and then my big solo show at CORE Gallery on May 7. The photo above is my studio yesterday, with several in-progress pieces inspired by my last summer's road trip to Bolinas. The I've been playing with these colorful Sea Urchins, and more of the God's Eyes, with the macrame, and the coastal blooms of Aloe, Dandelions and Fennel. All of my work is an homage to Nature's stunning array of color, repetition and geometry.

The photo below is a set of test panels on which I have been playing at including some little Wrens on some of my pieces. I've been chicken to do it, lest they end up looking cheesy...which is so easy to do...plus they are tricky little buggers to capture. We'll see if they make it to prime time.

A series of in-progress test panels, all acrylic on panel or board, the god's eye on the right has Swarovski Crystals

Author
Kalindi Kunis

All of my life, from my earliest memories as I child, I have felt as though I view the world through some sort of magical frame. To this day I carry that feeling, as though I can look anywhere and see beauty, see nature and objects sparking. Even in a garbage-strewn alley, I can see the poetry of the place, as a breathing image right there on the lenses of my eyes.
All Rights Reserved. Kalindi Pants, LLC dba Kalindipants, LLC 2018
Please contact Kalindi Kunis for purchases, image usage, licensing and unique commissions via my contact form.

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