To Begin...we have to go back.

I will open this BLOG by delving into the recent past of artist Frank Bruckmann. Here are notable career happenings over the past 2 months, and then we will move steadily forward, never really knowing what to expect (who can ever know?)....the entries are all in my voice, as I am partner/wife/friend of Frank's and much better suited for describing such things. He prefers relaying his stories/feelings/moods with paint.

2/17/11: Opening for IMAGE UNSEEN, at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts in Storrs, CT. thru April 22, 2011. This show features only 3 recipients of the 2010 Artist Fellowship award from the CT Commission of Culture and Tourism, which Frank was awarded last spring. This is one of the paintings he is showing below, from his Occupational Spirit series.

The Racquet Stringer 48"x34" original oil painting, Frank Bruckmann.

2/3/11-"The Jeweler" from Frank's Occupational Spirit series has found a new home. This painting depicts the shop owner going about his daily ritual of setting up the front window in Westville. It's new owners had been anticipating it for a year now, ever since Frank lent it to the Smilow Cancer Center in New Haven. The hospital has such a HUGE collection of art, over 700 original pieces, that they shot a video all about it... see if you can find 2 of Frank's paintings in the vid, which are now part of their permanent collection.

The Jeweler, 48x60" original oil painting, Frank Bruckmann. SOLD

1/30/11- at Kehler Liddell Gallery, the Opening of "I+love+you", where Frank has surprised us again, painting something very different from the Gabbro series, a small series of sensual paintings, depicting lovers in various positions, all titled "Lust", but in different languages.

Lujuria 11x14" oil by Frank Bruckmann SOLD.

Lussuria 11x14" original oil painting by Frank Bruckmann

Luxure 11x14" original oil painting by Frank Bruckmann

Luxuria 11x14" original oil painting by Frank Bruckmann

1/25/11- Ribbon Cutting at the brand new Start Community Bank. They contacted Frank months back to ask him to lend some paintings from the Occupational Spirit series for their big lobby. Bank President Bill Placke "had to have them" as he felt they represent the small businesses that Start wants to help support and "start-up". Start Community Bank had their ribbon cutting ceremony, read the article here.

1/22/11- Road Trip to PA, where we placed 2 paintings from the PA series. New clients and everything!

Resting in the Shade. 40x54". oil by Frank Bruckmann. SOLD

1/21/11-Closing Event : To properly end the show, we had a closing event, where we featured local singer/composer/musician Gaylene Vasilopoulos who composed original music that were inspired by the paintings of Frank and sculptures of Susan Clinard. She gave a performance at the event which the crowd really loved. It was a good way to close the show. Go to her site and listen to some samples...The event was covered in the New Haven Independent article

12/18/10-Shadow Puppet Workshop. Tons of kids and parents took some time during their pre-holiday rush to participate in this first time ever event at the Kehler Liddell Gallery. It was covered in this New Haven Independent article.

Listen to performance and visual artist Polly Sonic play the saw blade! An excellent counterpoint to the kids playing with their puppets. I should have told Frank to quit cranking on the accordion, don't you think?

Kids showing the shadow puppets they made...see more pics on the link above.

12/16/10-We hosted the Westville Guitar Trio and friends at Kehler Liddell.....there were adults attending too, but they weren't nearly as much fun to photograph and these spontaneous dancers...

The Westville Guitar Trio and Friends are Linda Drazen, Don Wunderlee, Alan Shaw, Naomi Senzer,(pictured) Tim Kane, and Nate Trier(pictured)

12/12/10- Opening of "New Work" at Kehler Liddell Gallery, Westville New Haven, CT. Sculptor Susan Clinard and Frank Bruckmann presented a show of work that is unlike anything they'd done in the past. See the review: New Haven Register, 1/2/11, by arts editor Judy Birke, click here.

My self-imposed role during the run of the show was to host 3 events, one for families, and 2 other music events, plotting to get all kinds of people in to the gallery, to participate in the event of course but to also experience the sculpture and Frank's paintings. All events ran smoothly, 2 of 3 even got some ink, please see links above.

This is what Frank calls the Gabbro series, ultra close-up paintings from the rock that are the foundation of Monhegan Island, ME, which make up those craggy coastal views all up Maine's coast. He began really looking at the rocks, living our Monhegan Sojourn for 6 months last year, (January through June 2010) and got more and more involved in their structure and components, and built these up with multiple layers of paint. LOTS of texture.

Gabbro Series #9, 24x36" oil painting by Frank Bruckmann SOLD

Gabbro Series #13, 48x64" oil painting by Frank Bruckmann

Gabbro Series #15, 60x64" oil painting by Frank Bruckmann

Enjoying the show at Kehler Liddell Gallery