16
Aug
2011
42 – that was the answer to life, the universe & everything….
remember DOUGLAS ADAMS ???
he made a tremendous joke – of the humans who want to fix the world – all the unhappiness caused by the imperfectness of the universe – instead of just enjoying life as we go along – … well just read it again, it’s fun!
I just sorted out all my brain & I’m rebooting – going through piles of paper: sketches, snippets, notes of thoughts & ideas (chucking out as many as possible)
with the aim to leave context & text & conclusion & illustration behind – drawing – drawing – drawing
24
May
2011
A.I.R. Hotel Pubik…
now this is looking into the studio… slowly recovering from being overwhelmed & just painting…
this is my view from the studio & I can hear the cow bell & the birds & the bees – sunshine & all
well, with all that beauty – it is hard to start painting & not just sitting there & enjoying – which is part of the job – taking in … still breathing in … and…? o.k. now let’s get to work & in a few days time let’s see again – maybe I have nothing to say… funny that there is always the slight panic of the artist hiding out in nature – as nature is so perfect, what could I possibly …
so, I’m breathing out … looking into the studio!
20
Jan
2011
waiting for the big move…
this was the moving in – 2 years ago – now it was quite a load already & soon, very soon it’s all being carried around again – strange thing that is – paintings, I never meant to produce so much material, it just goes with the job & then I wonder where the art is – is it just the idea & so I could leave the paintings behind & start new all over – well probably the pictures carry the art with them, as the art isn’t in your head or such – it happens on the canvas…
well such thinking crosses your mind, when preparing to shift wheights around… – wishing I would be more clever to either sell more paintings – so there is less to transfer at once – or have a more light way of producing art…
………
14
Sep
2010
WEISS WASCHEN IN OBERWART
im Rahmen von “ANTIDEPRESSIVA FÜR OBERWART”
lade ich ein zur
XIX. Servicestelle
zum
WEISS WASCHEN
Dunkelschwarz
Ein Projekt, kuratiert und konzipiert von Sabine Maier [Machfeld]
Produktion & Realisation Offenes Haus Oberwart
Installationen/Interventionen im öffentlichen Raum
17. September ab 15 uhr
Eröffnung: 20:00 h
Ausstellungsdauer: 18. September – 15 November
Teilnehmende KünstlerInnen u.a.: Cynthia Schwertsik (A), Cheikh Niass (SN), Eva Ursprung (A), elffriede i.a (D), Leo Schatzl (A), Machfeld (A), Norman White (CA), Wolfgang Horwarth (A), Tapfuma Gutsa (Zim)
Artist in Residence (angefragt): Aston (BN), Didier Ruecekli (RWA), Singamo Botto (Zim)
ich freue mich wenn die eine oder der andere sich gerade in Oberwart befinden & mir etwas zum WEISS WASCHEN bringen…
cynthia
2
Jun
2010
PERFORMING in GRAZ
I will perform ZENTRIFUGE 
KULTURa
5 Generationen der Steirische Künstlerinnenszene
Eröffnung: 9. Juni, 18 Uhr
mit LR Bettina Vollath
9. 6. bis 9. 7., galerie kon-temporär, griesplatz 10, 8020 graz.
I hope the rain will stop & some of you will come & join me
14
Apr
2010
continuous distraction
it seems like life is continuously producing distraction – so it is very hard to concentrate & stick with the things you want to develop – I wanted to figure out a specific touch / a precise move – however to call it in words – it is meant to be put in colors & light – anyway, I was getting there … but my son got scarlet fever – back in the studio the electricity broke down & I am saving my paintings from the dust
life – all the material involved – got in conflict with ideas & ideals again!
it is like in the game: 3 steps ahead… back to start
…..
21
Mar
2010
how to live up to this… ?
The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery. Francis Bacon
like this painting I’m working on – I want him to look at me & hold on to a glass – really holding on – but I ‘m just staggering around with my brush & he is simply looking flat
I think he is getting there now – …
I got stuck with the book about the painters aids – by hockney – how all painters used technical aid as soon as it was invented like: camera obscura & mirrors & fotos & so on – hockney shows the traces that the technical devices leave in the work of the artist – & I fell for one detail – in many paintings the subject turns out left handed – mirrored probably – so I went to propose a change – & while I was there – feeling quite bold indeed (I don’t feel like competing with caravaggio really) – I also made up some changes in the perspective – cheers!
here is the caravaggio that lead the way
9
Feb
2010
IT DOESN’T LOOK MUCH ALIKE…
I must say – the images are so different to the real
still – here are images of the people & place at & around the school, all written in our heart
ITHUBA-which means oppertunity
13
Jan
2010
WHITE WASH IN JO’BURG
WHITE WASH XVII
my 2 helpers at work – discussing the matter – & the signation…
it was great to have Prophet JD at my side – he added so many thoughts – & people came to participate & bring their stories & interpretations. we talked about the black and the white as being outside of the rainbow – as non-colors, & as big symbols. we talked about the drama of a finishing coating, and the difference to the daily work of women, the never ending circular movement of housekeeping – and this final cut – the white wash – as we perform it, we talked about the cleansing act that might happen, but we also got critic – because white is a symbol of purety & has such high value, it shouldn’t be used in this context – & the concept was questioned, because there is no way to white wash memory / wrongs, or the past – … it is wrong to keep the memory in things – to freeze them in objects -
… true, sure – as in zen – but it isn’t so easy to live it – to really free yourself from being attached to material things… most of us connect memory to objects, places & smell!
A tub with white paint – the esteemed audience is invited to bring something along for white washing
. The diary like new
. The shirt spotless
. A clean slate guaranteed
An everyday thing will be transformed into an artwork in front of the beholder.
Action art in monochrom white by Cynthia Schwertsik (helped by Prophet JD)
WHEN: January 16, 11 am – 15 pm
WHERE: in Right in the Rim in Arts on Main
(Main Street 243 / Berea Road)
Have a nice day & hope to meet you soon
cynthia
12
Dec
2009
high noon – workshop – birthday
just some images
fromthe taylor workshop
a birthdayparty at primary
& loads to carry in the middle of the day
as it is in life – all at the same time
next time i will post paintings… thank you all for the visit – it is a very challenging snail-mail here, so be patient with my replies…
yours cynthia
