Recent News at Mihalyo Studios

Blog

America's first embassy Morocco Architecture

America’s first embassy in Morocco

Hello fellow Americans, Did you know that Morocco was the first foreign country that recognized the newly-formed USA? This picture is of the second-floor-plaza level of the first embassy and also the first American public property outside the United States. You can go there too, for free. Donated at the time by a grateful Muslim government. I was there in 2008 when I perused the archives for my own amusement while my local guide stayed in the lobby under guard. This building is filled with historic documents and photos of our American past, but its in Africa. Its an amazing place.

America's first embassy Morocco
America’s first embassy in Morocco
Cove Mihalyo

Mihalyo Painting finds home in Chile

Collector friends brought my painting Cove to their new home near Santiago Chile. It was shipped in a tube and mounted with new stretchers on-site. It hangs above their couch and is the most southern painting from my studio.

Cove
Cove finds a home in Chile
Architecture

The defensive wall of Xi’an, China.

Personal-Travel-Photo-Review: the defensive wall of Xi’an, China, 2010. If you ever get the chance to bike the 8.5 mile wall of Xi-an, do it. (That’s me on the bike) Originally constructed in 618 – 907ce, (modified 1368-1644) it is one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world with elegant corner guardhouses. They have an annual festival on its ramparts consisting of colorful cartoon characters. Inside the wall is a mix of modern and ancient neighborhoods, including ancient temples and one of the oldest Muslim quarters in China because it was on the silk and spice roads. Xi-an is also the home of the Terracotta-Warriors. Fascinating place!

Tera cotta warriors Architecture

Terra-cotta Warriors

The China tourism bureau had just completed the new Disneyland-like attraction outside Xi’an when I arrived to see the terra-cotta warriors in 2010. There are three airplane hanger size enclosures to view the site, as well as a large museum. The site is not fully explored, and there is much to do to preserve what’s left. Most notably, the warriors brightly colored paint fade immediately upon contact with air, so the archeologists only excavate sections at a time while they test new preservation methods. The amazing thing is, that there are many other burial sites like it nearby. Like
Cairo Egypt and the Giza Plateau, it is an area of oversize funeary complexes, and ancient history we in the west barely comprehend.

Tera cotta warriors
Inside one of three hanger-sized excavation sites outside Xi’an China.

The Warriors up close
The Warriors up close

View of OK Hotel mural installation at Axis Gallery in May 2015 Exhibitions

Happy 2017 from Mihalyo Studios.

In 2016 I pushed myself to present a wide spectrum of art with a total of 33 regional shows. These exhibits included painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, video, and augmented reality (AR.) By saying “yes” to opportunities I managed an art-opening on average every 11 days. Some were duplicates, like the three openings at different locations around Seattle for my Beard Video projections with Center on Contemporary Art.

The resulting effort produced multiple reviews, articles, covers and mentions in print and on-line media. I also went broke and was hospitalized but it was worth it to press my limits of endurance and break new artistic ground. There are upcoming shows and other new projects in the works for 2017, yet I will not likely repeat the ambitious experiment again. I have other personal and professional goals set for this year.

Already in the works is my involvement in a start-up company featuring Augmented Reality art and apps for small business. This project emerged from an AR show in May with Center on Contemporary Art in Seattle. A few of us from the show decided to join forces. Our first app is nearly complete, customers are interested, and a VC funding-round is about to begin. It is certain to be an interesting ride.

In the meantime there are currently still five shows up in which my latest 2016 artwork can be seen.

In Seattle, WA, through Jan 8th:
http://dendroica.gallery/
http://www.trueloveart.com/art-shows.html
http://www.swing25.com

In Everett, WA, through Jan 20:
http://blacklabonlinegallery.com/

and in Astoria, OR:
http://riverseagallery.com/

As crazy as 2016 was for many, It is my hope that you find yourself safe and secure in the new year.

Suitors AR Exhibitions

Augmented Reality (AR)t

I am included in a traveling exhibit presenting Augmented Reality works of art. A 3D model was created from an original painting and stored in the cloud. The artwork is viewed using a mobile device while observing printed material containing the trigger. The trigger is linked to the 3D image which is anchored to the postcard and rendered in real time. The diagram above shows the printed postcard including the original art, the view of a mobile user, and a screen capture of the artwork in action. Exhibition catalog through Center on Contemporary Art

Phoenix Eagle Exhibitions

Im’ago Primordialis Exhibit At Krab Jab, Seattle.

Phoenix-Eagle, acrylic and oil on canvas, 2016

“I am honored to be part of Im’ago Primordialis. A special two month exhibition of international Visionary artists presented at Krab Jab Studio in Seattle, July 9th – September 3rd, 2016.” -Jeff Mihalyo

“Im’ago Primordialis

July 9th, September 3rd, 2016
Opening Reception Saturday, July 9th, 6 – 9 pm,
Artist Talk at 7:30 pm

Krab Jab Studio
5628 Airport Way South, Ste 150
Seattle, WA 98108
Krabjabstudio.com
Mystery has been banished; everything must be defined. And yet, while analytical thought bestows many gifts upon civilization, we remain insatiable. As if the unknown, itself, is the very ferment of community, humility, love….and life.

Embracing mystery as a source of inspiration, Fantastic Realists from around the world present this exhibition of visionary art.
Featuring works by Brigid Marlin, Peter Gric, Roku Sasaki, Tomasz Alen Kopera, Steven Kenny, Liba W. Stambollion, Igor Grechanyk, Amanda Sage, Miguel Tio, Autumn Skye Morrison, Susannah Martin, Andrew Gonzalez, Otto Rapp, Forest Rogers, Jean Pronovost, Benjamin Vierling, Jeff Mihalyo, Don Farrell, Yvette Endrijautzki, William Fahey, Bryan K. Ward and Martina Hoffmann. Additional works by HR Giger, Ernst Fuchs and Robert Venosa. Curated by Don Farrell.

For preview and sale inquiries, contact natalia@krabjabstudio.com

Exhibitions

15 openings in 15 weeks

Thank you!

As my Abstract Alternatives show at Dendroica Gallery in Seattle comes to a close this week I would like to thank all those who made it a success. Especially proprietor Martha Dunham, writer Russell Smith, PR-man Steven Vroom, and writer Elisa Mader for her review in Cincinnati’s arts publication AEQAI.

http://aeqai.com/main/2016/04/the-formal-behind-the-surreal-abstract-alternatives-jeff-mihalyo-dendroica-gallery/

During the next week I open three more shows.

On Thursday May 12, The Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) presents artists working with augmented reality in a show titled CoCA Pop-Up (AR)t. My contribution in this group show is a AR version of my painting Suitors. A companion book has been published including all the work from the show and is available for $20 from their web site.
http://www.cocaseattle.org/exhibitions/current/coca-pop-art/

Opening in Astoria Oregon on Saturday May 14 at RiverSea Gallery is a solo presentation titled East is West. The oil paintings are a collection of new and older works that span 15 years. I was invited to show at RiverSea as one of the artist who worked on the mural restoration of the landmark Astoria Column.
http://riverseagallery.squarespace.com

On Thursday May 19, Black Lab Gallery in Everett presents a group show curated by Anne Grgich titled Archaelogies of the Extraordinary Everyday. Black Lab Gallery is Everett’s newest art spot. Recently I presented travel photography for their two-month inaugural exhibit which closes this weekend as well.
http://blacklabonlinegallery.com/

For me these three exhibits will end the streak of 15 opening in as many weeks. The show storm was a challenging run that also put me in the hospital with stress related symptoms. My health is fine yet I discovered my limits. Although I have a few more shows opening in the year ahead, I will look forward to a change of pace in the coming months. My next missive in early August will announce my inclusion with a special exhibition of European Visionary artists.
Thank you for your participation in my newsletter’s mailing list.
Have a great summer!

Exhibitions

Dendroica Gallery presents “Abstract Alternatives”

Opening April 14. 2016,  Dendroica Gallery presents “Abstract Alternatives” – new work by Jeff Mihalyo, a Seattle-based artist. Known for his mastery of multiple mediums and styles, Mihalyo’s current exhibit is a series of black and white abstract drawings using interlocking natural shapes and fractal patterns.

This new set of drawings offer formalist compositions that showcase the surrealist elements in the pieces. Each composition uses depth and focus to convey subjects in dimensional space without representationalism. Like electron microscope images of alien objects, these compositions present worlds made from ideas as much as interwoven shapes.

Mihalyo’s international art career spans over a quarter of a century, and he is known for creating everything from large-scale fantastical flowing and glowing landscapes (sometimes including levitating cities) to video installations where his bearded visage overpowers the screen, to cast-paint objects.

Exhibit Review by Cincinnati arts journal ÆQAI:

http://aeqai.com/main/2016/04/the-formal-behind-the-surreal-abstract-alternatives-jeff-mihalyo-dendroica-gallery/