Exhibition at the Aegean Center: “The Twelve Labors of Heracles and Other Myths”

From July 24 to August 10 I have had opportunity to exhibit my latest series of paintings, The Twelve Labors of Heracles and Other Myths at the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts.   These paintings were inspired in large part from a trip to Italy in the fall of 2008 with the Aegean Center. While visiting many cathedrals throughout Italy, I saw a number of narrative paintings based on the biblical tales. I was fascinated with the idea that each image told a piece of a story, and in some cases described the entire narrative in various parts. The images illustrated the stories to the people who attended Mass with drama, emotion, action and a sense of mystery. In effect, the paintings had to tell a compelling story.

Last winter, I began work on paintings based on stories with its fantastic, dynamic characters and adventures, much like ones found in the Old and New Testament. Naturally, I turned to the stories of Greek Mythology, abundant in its imagery. The number and variety of myths allowed me to approach each respective piece differently. This was a project that enabled me to interpret the richness of the Greek myths in my own hand.

I want to thank  the individuals that helped me put The Twelve Labors of Heracles and Other Myths together: Konstantina Andreakou, Jeffrey and Elisabeth Carson, Daria Koskorou, Emily Oglesby and especially John and Jane Pack.  Also, to the students, friends and family who encouraged and supported me through out this project, a huge thank you.

-Jun-Pierre Shiozawa

The Art of the Digital Photograph

Intensive Digital Studies / The Art of the Digital Print

July is usually a quiet month at the Center.  This year was an exception.  John Pack lead a two week intensive course in The Art of the Digital Photograph.

Many photographers share the idea that the print is the final rendering of the artist’s intent, and this demands an extensive and deep working knowledge of the tools and process of the medium.  Using digital tools to produce that important manifestation of the idea in a print has become too dependent on the tricks of the equipment rather than the skill and judgment of the photographer.  In two weeks of exciting and intensive learning John guided a small group – eight participants – through the intricacies of the entire digital workflow with specific attention to Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop CS4 as  photographic tools to an understanding of how to bring the image to the concluding expressive print that emerges from the printer.

John’s extensive knowledge gave us a broad understanding of the possibilities, which he then attempted to scale down to workable tools we could master in the time given.  Time was a major factor.   We worked 6, 8 and even 12 hours a day for 13 days.  Yes, we did take one Sunday holiday.

After the first few days of deluge, the group rose to the challenge of learning myriad details while constantly reassessing its understanding of what the results would be.  A list of the Photoshop and Printer techniques we studied would include extensive colour management, monitor calibration, tools, layers, masks, ICC colour profiling (building our own profiles), and much more; this would be only an outline of the wide scope of knowledge we acquired on how to see and feel the images as they progressed.

John’s enthusiasm for the digital medium, coupled with his deep respect for every detail, carried us through to a collection of photographic prints which were a great satisfaction to each of us.   We all shared knowledge and ideas.  The group, working together, became an important part of our learning, as John had intended.  We concluded with a very stimulating sense of new knowledge and the ability to carry this forward to create the quality of photograph that was our goal.

The Aegean Center Student Reading

Mariel Capanna reads a sample of her poetry at the Aegean Center student reading

On a warm Tuesday evening on May 26, the students of the Aegean Center creative writing course gave a reading to a crowded audience at the Center to kick off a week of Aegean Center related events.  The members of the class, Mariel Capanna, Carrie Cooley,  Shaun James,  Lliam Storms, Chelsey Ternes, Lily Tucker,  and Carter Umhau all read from their collections of writings over the course of the semester.  Creative Writing Professor Jeffrey Carson introduced the students by noting the diversity of work and the methodology of the Creative Writing workshop, noting how some of the pieces being read where even still works in progress.   The reading was a true success as each writer gave a stirring and engaging reading of their poems, a fine start to a wonderful and busy week for the Aegean Center.

Aegean Center Benefit Concert: An Update from Maria-Elena

I am thrilled to finally report on the Aegean Center Benefit Concert held in Los Angeles in June 2008. To share my experience of the Center with nearly 200 attendees through song was an incredible gift. The event raised just short of $10,000 for the Center and helped launch the Aegean Endowment Fund. One of the many surprises that afternoon was the presence of Marc Novak, a former student from the early 80s!

Here is a review of the June Benefit Concert published in the Hellenic Journal:

…the Greek community was recently treated to an afternoon of beautiful music, a generous reception in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The venue was the venerable Wilshire Ebell Theater and the occasion was a musical benefit for the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts on the island of Paros. Maria-Elena Kolovos, who had studied for two [terms] at the Center, presented a program of songs from Monteverdi to Villa-Lobos which show her range, pure clear soprano voice and understanding and love of the music. Four Greek songs completed the program but not before her father, George Kolovos, came up on stage to join in the final song and show his joy in dance. The audience was delighted!

If you would be interested in holding an event to benefit the Center, please email me at  mekolovos at gmail dot com. I am happy to share ideas or assist in any way.

Student Exhibition

The Aegean Center’s Student Exhibition for the Fall 2008 semester took place Friday, December 12. For pictures from the exhibition, please click here.

Check back January 20 for more news and notes from the Aegean Center. Till then, Happy Holidays!

Student Exhibition

Winter Concert

Fall 2008 at the Aegean Center

The Aegean Center is back on Paros and well into our first week of classes, having just returned from an exhilarating month in Italy. Curious about what we do there? Read Jeffrey Carson’s article in the September Paros Life. Pictured above is drawing and painting student Silina Pandelidou trying her hand at glass blowing at a workshop in Murano.

In other news, this semester’s digital photography students are the first to enjoy our brand new Piezography Lab. Set in a beautifully illuminated space just around the corner from our main building, the lab is equipped with state of the art systems for image processing and printing. Thanks to the generosity of Jon Cone, we are able to supply our students with the very best ink available for producing black and white images of the highest quality and permanence. For more information on Jon Cone and Piezography, click here.

Alicia Stallings will kick off our new season of visiting artists and lecturers with a poetry reading at the Aegean Center on Friday, October 10 at 7PM.

Alumni News

Aparna Jayakumar ( ‘07 ) worked as film stills photographer for Sooni Taraporevala’s directorial debut Little Zizou. Co-produced by Mira Nair, Little Zizou tells the story of two conflicting families in modern day Bombay. Pictured above is Iyanah Battivala who plays Liana in the film.

Adrian Eisenhower ( ‘07,’08 ) is currently preparing an individual photography exhibition to be held at The Aegean Center this September. Entitled In Gandhi’s Wake, the exhibition documents the 2005 re-enactment of the Salt March.

Dharini Bhaskar ( ‘08 ) and Writers’ Game recently organized an exhibition celebrating words and poetry at the Prithvi Cafe in Bombay. Pictures from their Garage Sale can be found here.

Group Exhibition at the Aegean Center: 11 Friends in Paros (11 Φίλοι στην Πάρο)

The Aegean Center is currently hosting a group exhibition put together by Aegean Center alumna Dimitra Skandali (‘98). 11 Friends in Paros (11 Φίλοι στην Πάρο) features the work of various Athens and Thessaloniki based artists, most of whom are currently studying at The Athens School of Fine Arts (Ανωτάτη Σχολή Καλών Τεχνών).

Pictured above are charcoal drawings by Aliki Pappa and necklaces by Marilena Korovesi.

Painting, etching, sculpture and installations by Nefeli Soulakelli, Nikos Fotiadis, Eleni Giorgi, Despina Nissiriou, Christos Agelopoulos, Dimitris Katsoudas, Dimitra Skandali, Chrysanthe Libereou and Spiridoula Tsironi.

Through August 3. Open everyday from 11 to 2 and evenings from 7 to 12.