Art & Culture – Page 7 – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Chinese New Year – Year of the Tiger

In Chinese culture, the tiger is the symbol of bravery, wisdom and strength. This year, the Chinese Lunar New Year 2022 starts on February 1.

2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger, which indicates a prosperous year due to the Tiger’s auspicious signs (strength, exorcising evils and braveness).

Chinese people believe that what you do at the beginning of a new year will affect your luck in the coming year. Staying up on Chinese New Year’s eve (January 31st, 2022) and saying good words to your family/friends like Happy New Year after the clock strikes 12 will certainly bring good luck.

The nature of the Tiger is brave, straight forward, born to lead, active, innovative, fearless and rebellious. What this indicates is that 2022 will come with movement, change and hope.

Well I for one sure hope for good changes to come. So moving on from here…

You’re a Tiger sign if you were born in the following years: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022.

The following horoscope was written by Mina Zheng; Chinese Astrologer and Feng Shui master.

When we complete a 12-year cycle and the animal that corresponds to the year we’re born in rolls around, this often comes with an element of bad luck. It’s something we all have to face, and this year are the Tigers’ turn to face their ‘Own Fate’ year.

It will be a year of change and challenge, therefore Tiger people need to watch out for what they say and what they do this year. Aim to avoid direct confrontation.

For work: You may find yourself too busy or have too many ideas. Aim not to be too ambitious, rather lie low, focus on the basics and work on improving yourself. It is a good year for learning, taking exams and artistic pursuit.

For money: Money comes and goes this year: it is not a stable time for finance. This is the time to review and manage your spending. Things will improve by the end of the year.

For love: Your love journey is not very smooth this year. It can involve heightened emotions. Participate in wedding or engagement and happy events to improve your luck.

For health: Energy is low in this year. There is also chances for injuries, avoid dangerous sports. Be careful with driving. Don’t involve yourself with bad habits or be overly stressed. It is a good year to have your health checked, small surgeries and to look after yourself.

Lucky symbols: The Horse or Dragon Turtle. Red is a lucky color.

Art & Culture

Palm Springs Marilyn: the Comeback Kid

Proof of Life in Palm Springs with the Diva herself; acutely misplaced for so long…and the Marilyn sculpture above.

Sunny Days are here again. Photo: Paul LeMay

Some consider her a “Work of Art“; others “a Piece of Work.” Maybe she’s a bit of both.

It’s so nice to be back. I took a break from blogging in order to get organized before leaving Vancouver and setting up house here in Palm Springs. First time in years having missed a season however I’m not the only snowbird who was unable to make it until now. So….making up for lost time for what was completely out of our control takes being a little out of control patient.

El Jefe with a Chai Latte, Palm Springs.

There were a lot of firsts this time around. First time flying with my dog instead of driving. My boyfriend and I tried to make it as smooth a transition as possible for Layla who had never been on a plane before. We couldn’t get a non-stop from Vancouver to Palm Springs for dates we wanted so we took Air Canada to Los Angeles and rented a car from there – a two hour drive with little traffic. Emphasis on “little.” No one told us that Layla would be in another terminal on arrival and it would take us for what seemed like forever to find her. When we finally located Layla she was all by herself in her crate alongside a homeless person who set up house inside the terminal. Remember the movie “The Terminal” with Tom Hanks? – exactly! It’s sadly become a reality.

Anyway we got her and let’s just say her crate was a mess. Guess she doesn’t like flying.

These photos are after grooming. No; I don’t mean that she looked like this right after grooming. I had her groomed…then she ran through sprinklers in a park (completely out of control) and before I knew what to do she rolled in the dirt – her attempt to dry off. Didn’t work!

Look at that smug face! Can’t get upset.

Ordered a pet trailer to attach to my cruiser so she could ride behind me and now she’s as happy as ever and also oblivious to whatever distress she’s caused.

Another first was coming back to a broken kitchen window and realizing that someone had crawled through and took personal belongings – yes; it was a break in! Not only that; it must have been a skinny woman on top of it.

I’ve known other people who’ve had their homes broken into before and it always sounds invasive and awful but before it happens to you, you really have no idea how horrible it feels. The window is being repaired and I’m dealing with insurance. Stupidly I left a few valuables here not knowing how long it would be before being able to come back. Whoever broke in knew what they were looking for. That’s why I know it was a woman.

Giant art Installation by Salinas artist John Cerney.

Then I was sending a text when all of a sudden a little robot showed up out of nowhere on my screen going around and around with a message that kept saying “erasing“….so I shut off my phone. But then when I turned it on again it was blank. I had to borrow someone’s phone to call Samsung support to walk me through a total “reboot” which included changing passwords, etc….I ended up losing more than half my contact list and photos from the past six weeks. Of course it could’ve been worse – it always can.

That took oh; about 3 hours in total. I owe that guy a case of beer and dinner.

There was one really good first though…

Halloween here was a blast! It’s obviously over now and I had absolutely no idea on what large a scale people (Hollywood industry and the gay crowd inparticular) would go to all lengths to dress up and I mean dress up! There was excellent live music, tons of people in the streets with the most amazing costumes. Okay; I’ll post one photo out of many, many just to give you an idea.

Pee-wee with wee-wee *You bad, bad boy!*

Okay, okay; a few more but Halloween is over. I’ll spare you all the Marilyn look-a-likes and the contest from which all the Marilyn’s got up on stage. There were many. All dressed alike and wearing wigs as in the photo of sculpture.

My friend Tammy with a faux police officer. Maybe he was real – so hard to tell!

So I will leave you for now with a wink and a smile…until next time. Promise it won’t be for too long.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Art & Culture

ART from the Heart

Is your house lighted or a dark prison? Are you living in every room or only one? Are you living on a small level or listening to the call of your soul?

These are words from Jan Maccormack, a talented artist friend who resides in Sechelt, Sunshine Coast, B.C.

I’m so impressed with Jan’s colorful and soulful paintings that truly come from the heart. If I had to select only one, I’d have a tough time choosing. Jan’s creativity results from her obsessive, experimental & restless nature. She paints using many different styles. They’re all so beautiful and uplifting...just had to share them with you.

The Gateway in & out of this Incarnation (Series) by Jan Maccormack

The more lit your Soul, the more clearly you’ll see through illusions. Allow yourself an inspiring glimpse of the bigger picture. Capture your creative visions, dreams, insights and intuitions as they are amplified. Paint them, draw them, write them, dance them, cook them, pour them, sew them, mind map them, sculpt them ….. whatever embeds and imprints them into your heart, your psyche, your soma and your memory banks.

As of now… commit to lighting ‘all’ those rooms in your psyche.

You have the genius of heightened perception, seeing things, knowing things, and being there. The blessings, the grace, the heart’s wonder are full. As this way of being ripens and matures, you draw the same kinds of marvels and wonders from others which makes it possible for the vibrancy to spread, grow and effortlessly bring this world alive!

I am thankful for existence today. I am grateful for where my life is, at/in this moment.

Where to find Jan’s ART:

Website: www.janmaccormack.com

https://www.facebook.com/janmaccormackartist

https://www.instagram.com/janmaccormack_artist/

Art & Culture

Mondo Mundo

MONDO TRADING COMPANY is a striking new store in Vancouver located on Granville Island which immediately drew my attention. Their handmade and one-of-a-kind products from over 30 countries brought me back to travelling to far away places.

Beautiful Handmade Baskets from Kenya and Ghana

Whenever I’ve travelled I always look for well made artisan products that are unique and specific to the region to bring home. I have many pieces around my home that always bring me back to a particular time and place. Everything from African Zulu baskets to pottery and artwork. I flew home from Brazil with seven large original oil paintings that were on wood canvas. I refused to remove them from their frames so my friend had to order a limo to meet me at the airport to bring them home. I brought 8 large hand painted Armenian pottery dishes back from the old city of Jerusalem, among other breakables. From Jamaica, a large wood carved fish and a carved rasta stick – a fish and a stick! I’ll leave it at that. You get the picture.

So I can relate to Carolyn Hopkinson who is the owner.

Carolyn’s mission is to improve the lives of makers by supporting their craft and providing a fair and sustainable income.

Carolyn’s passion for travel started from her childhood days, growing up in Guyana, South America with a father who travelled the world on business. His gifts represented a world that she wanted to explore. I understand the feeling.

After following her passion and exploring countries around the world for the past 40 years, she discovered some of the most beautiful handiwork from local artisans with no resources to market their handicrafts outside their communities.

She would fill her suitcase with their treasures and return home with the promise that one day she would make a difference in these artisans lives. Now she is.

Lots more on their website:

mondotradingcompany.com

Oh…to travel again!

Art & Culture

Elements of Design – Residential Art & Architecture

If you love style, architecture & design, here’s a unique and fun way to kill a little time while getting a luxurious dose of total home inspiration…

T. Jones Groups – Elements Estate, Vancouver

Focusing on the residential sector, we step into the world of luxury and extravagance to celebrate the best in design, outstanding architecture, interior design and product designs.

I loved perusing through all the categories of the International Design & Architecture Awards and then placing my vote for “best of” in each respective category. You can too, until March 19th (link below).

Who are they?

The International Design & Architecture Awards, are hosted by design et al, a leading UK interior design magazine. Their aim is to commend design, recognize talent, create opportunities and quite simply to offer inspiration. That to say the least, is an understatement.

These Awards are not judged by a panel. Shortlisted entries are presented online, and voting is open to industry professionals as well as design et al readers, clients and customers. Only 16 projects are shortlisted per category. A unique part of their voting system is that votes have to be cast in every single category, which in turn, gives all shortlisted projects maximum publicity from international industry professionals.

T. Jones Group – Elements Estate, Vancouver

I’m delighted to learn that Amanda & Cameron Jones (friends of mine and my sister from T Jones Group) have received 5 nominations for their @elementsestatevancouver project. Looking through the photos we can see why.

Elements Estate has received 3 Interior Designs Category nominations;
Cat. 13 – Kitchen over £150,000
Cat. 18 – Best Living Space
Cat. 29 – Residential Project Value over £5 million

Plus 2 Property Category nominations;
Cat. 4 – Luxury Residence
Cat. 19 – Residential Value £10 million +

A bit more on T. Jones Group and some of their amazing projects:

T. Jones Group represents their clients From Conception to Completion.

When you are surrounded by beautiful scenery, the standard for every project is raised. Vancouver, British Columbia pushes that standard to its absolute limit. The sights are breathtaking. Inspiration is everywhere.

And yet, the T Jones Group builds homes that set them apart from their neighbors. The passion brought to every project is sustainable because the goal remains the same: Learn what the client truly wants, and build it better than they ever imagined.

I love this…

The T. Jones Group has built a foundation dedicated to philanthropy. The Jones Family Foundation.

A project most near and dear to us has been building a four story residency in Tanzania for young women in school in the medical field. We also funded the building of fresh water for the town.

See link below for more info. on Tanzania project:

https://www.rsir.com/blog/rsir-inspired-ceo-dean-jones-and-tanzanias-newest-4-story-mid-rise/

https://www.tjonesgroup.com/

International Design & Architecture Awards Voting is NOW open until this Friday MARCH 19TH

https://www.thedesignawards.co.uk/category/design-architecture-entrants-2020/

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Art & Culture

Tile Story

I’ve always had a thing for old world tiles.

This kitchen belongs to Diane Keaton – taken from *Introspective Magazine*

Tiles invoke a certain era and impression. I’ve collected tiles from various travels and integrate them on walls, doors and floors around my home. They take me back to that place in time.

Have you ever wondered how people first started making tiles?

the below was taken from https://artsaics.com

The history of tiles is a long and winding tale that starts in Egypt, circa 10,000 B.C., around the time of the pyramids. From there it went into Babylon, Assyria and the ancient Persian Empire.

After that, the Greeks and Romans took over this ancient art and made it their own with fine mosaics that lined the floors and walls of their bath houses, luxury villas, and temples. Around 206 BC, the Chinese got in on the act with their contribution to ceramics: porcelain.

However, they were mostly isolated from other cultures. It wasn’t until much later that Europe began using ceramics and soon they would be incorporated into their churches and palaces too.

Today, modern stone masons have taken tile making to a high art, just as when it started in Egypt, to allow the average homeowner to explore the wonders of this ancient art.

As can be seen, in every age and country, tiles were modified and improved and the technology grew over time to create even new possibilities. In Egypt, the humble terracotta and limestone tiles became ceramic works of art that survive to today. The Romans may have made stone mosaics available to the adoring eyes of the Roman public, but it wasn’t until the British started mass-producing ceramics that the ordinary person began to be able to use them in their homes.

Today’s newer waterjet technologies now allows anyone to cut stone tiles that would have been considered miraculous in earlier ages. Thus, it is easy to surmise this art will continue to develop even further as new materials and technologies transform it over time.

How do you feel about tiles?

Art & Culture

Jim Carrey’s Memoirs and Misinformation

In the mood to read a warped Hollywood memoir?

A fiction loosely based on fact…Or;

It could be fact loosely fabricated in fiction. We may never fully grasp where reality starts and the falsehoods end. And that is the intent. For obvious reasons.

It might make more sense when you realize the semi-autobiographical book was co-written by one of Hollywood’s funniest, most interesting, diverse and complicated characters. A person smarter and much more spiritual than you’d care to imagine, and one proficient painter to boot – Jim Carrey who never fails to surprise and astonish with his accomplishments. Now a book: Memoirs and Misinformation.

Jim co-wrote the book with “Mergers and Acquisitions” author Dana Vachon. The actor previewed the book in a new interview with The New York Times ahead of its July publication, revealing that the writers spent the last eight years working on the project

The book is presented as a mad fever dream starring Jim Carrey, incorporating morsels of autobiography with adventures involving Nicolas Cage, Kelsey Grammer, Taylor Swift, Anthony Hopkins, Goldie Hawn, Sean Penn, and many more. The names are changed and he has apparently forewarned all actors as to whom they may be referred to as in his book… fully aware that a few of them may not be so pleased.

Hollywood through dusty rose colored lenses.

I was fortunate to be in Jim’s company on at least four occasions. An intimate dinner for five, a small Malibu wedding where he was best man & master of ceremony, and two parties. I found him to be quite affable, naturally funny, intelligent and surprisingly down to earth in a slightly guarded way. I felt comfortable in his presence; after all, he is a fellow Canadian. Even though I admire everything he does, I made sure not to invade his privacy as I was there as a guest. Friend of a mutual friend. I also got the distinct impression he was looking for a higher purpose. And a sense of I belong here… how did I get here?

Through sheer talent and dedication he realized all of his dreams and then some. Very few of us ever achieve that in our lifetime. Now the search for meaning in Hollywood years after acting success must have been the aspiration for this book.

Press Release:

If you really like Jim Carrey, stick out the insanity for the pearls of comic fantasy and the nuggets of memoir gold.

“They say his empire was ruined by the same psychosis that found him, at the end, driving around Tucson with a loaded Uzi on his lap, ranting in word salad, high on methamphetamine.” This remark is made about a fictional celebrity guru named Natchez Gushue, but when you encounter it in Chapter 2 you may wonder if it also applies to the creators of this book.

Carrey and collaborator Vachon pull out all the stops as their protagonist Jim Carrey careens from midlife blues through love and career complications toward the apocalypse. (The actual apocalypse, in which the world ends.) “He was nearing fifty, his fans aging, too. His talent was such that Hollywood could not replace him in its usual way, the kind of body snatching that saw Emma Stone swapped in for Lindsay Lohan, Leonardo DiCaprio taking over for River Phoenix.” The question is, should he stage his comeback with “Disney’s Untitled Play-Doh Fun Factory Project” or with a star turn as Mao Zedong in a biopic by Charlie Kaufman?

Mixing the memoir with the misinformation, as the title suggests, is not the clearest or most powerful way Carrey might have presented the story of his life. Did his parents really tell everyone to feel free to beat him, “joking but not really”? Was an affair with Linda Ronstadt in 1982 “the only truly selfless love he’d ever known”? Is the scene where Carrey remembers telling Rodney Dangerfield a joke on the older comic’s deathbed (“Don’t worry Rodney, I’m gonna let everyone know you’re really gay. That kind of thing isn’t frowned on anymore”) real?

Moments of candor and alarming or moving revelations are a bit lost in the mad rush from Hungry Hungry Hippos in Digital 3D to the end of the world, when “Cher and Dolly Parton whizzed by overhead, both singing Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah.’ “

Makes one wonder if we ever really fully get anyone’s story?

“Memoirs and Misinformation” will be available for purchase on July 7. Knopf publishing. Price: ( Hardcover )$27.95

An audiobook version of the novel will feature the voice of Carrey’s “Dumb and Dumber” co-star Jeff Daniels. Online Publish Date: June 17, 2020

20 NEW BOOKS to read in July to keep your spirits up:

https://ew.com/books/best-new-books-july-2020/

Art & Culture

Mural in the Making – painting a story

Let me introduce you to extremely talented Canadian visual artist Kris Friesen. Everybody has a story. He can paint yours.

The header today is the finished mural at the Greek restaurant Koutouki in the 124 Street neighborhood of Edmonton. It depicts a colorful streetscape of busy life in restaurants and cafes in Athens. By Kris Friesen.

I love painting split scenes that show wildlife above and below a water line. From left to right in this river mural are: a coyote, tiger salamander, Canadian toad, mallard ducks, silver redhorse, river shiner and beaver – Kris Friesen.

A smiling drummer in traditional African clothing performs in the foreground of this mural, celebrating the Kaleido festival in Edmonton – Kris Friesen.

This group portrait painting depicts **four generations Canadian military service** with five members of the Scott family, from the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War 1 to Combat Engineers in Afghanistan. Where the oldest generation did not meet the youngest, and a photograph would be impossible, all are painted shoulder to shoulder in this portrait – Kris Friesen.

I first met Kris about 15 years ago when my husband and I commissioned him to paint a wall on part of our outdoor courtyard after seeing his work on the outside of a gelato shop on Commercial Drive in Vancouver.

Jia Jia lying by the first mural flanked by real rocks, shells & wood flowers. Photo: d. king

Our friend Jackie was anxious to take us to this new place for the best gelato in the city, but as good as it was we were more mesmerized by the lifelike Italian scene depicted on one whole side of the building. The attention to detail was amazing. Actually, it was the best mural we’d seen to date and it got us thinking about how we could incorporate something personal to our own outdoor space. So I got in touch with the shop owner who let Kris know we were interested. Unfortunately the shop along with the mural is no longer there.

We had some ideas, Kris painted a story board and voila, our idea came to life. A bit Santa Fe, a bit Wine Country and some water and mountains off to the distance. And of course, an expanse of sky. When we sat out there we felt like we had a special view of everything we like. And it was after that that we wondered why on earth we hadn’t asked him to paint another wall. We pondered that idea for several years. Then we decided to move on it.

However by then Kris had unfortunately for us, moved to Edmonton and we dressed up the blank wall with a wall hanging and later on a mirror with plants in front. We felt it needed something. Fast forward to this past summer when I found Kris’s website and sent him an e-mail not even sure he’d remember me. Surprisingly he did. By this time he had moved to Duncan, B.C. – at least it was a lot closer. I told him my husband had passed away and that we had been talking for years about wanting to get him back to do some more art. Luckily for me, Kris was Vancouver bound for several days just recently so we discussed the wall. I thought Spring would be a perfect time to start however Kris was going traveling for a while and not sure exactly when he’d be back. Since the weather was good and considering how well the other mural held up over the years, I decided to go ahead.

I wanted the older mural to be extended around the corner and a few other things added to the much smaller blank wall area; which would have not been in the original plan.

The work in progress:

**Just about finished.** I have to leave a little bit to the imagination. There’s a few missing little details. Group of photos: d. king

Mural Mural on the Wall – I’m very happy with the finished result. He even put another protective coating on the first mural which had held up very well and re-painted a few things on the upstairs deck. Oh yeah; he also painted some rocks, sagebrush, flowers, gekkos and butterflies on the upstairs deck. Looks great.

Here’s a small sampling of his other diverse original works of art. Kris not only paints murals. He started with that, however now he paints on canvas and panels mostly.

This painting of a **Chinese flute player** that has been called a fairy or spirit by some members of Edmonton’s Chinatown – Kris Friesen.

This Asian elephant moves forward into a stream of water while throwing up an airborne stream of dust. As much as I like the contrast between air and water my understanding of elephants suggests they might like it more, as their trunks can provide a unique medium between the two – Kris Friesen.

**The Battle of Vimy Ridge** saw Canadians advancing uphill against Germans defending their hardened positions. The mural depicts some of the terrible conditions Canadian troops would have experienced as they gutted out their rolling barrage. To emphasize the challenges soldiers faced I made the direction of the mural up and to the left, the most uneasy direction to look if viewed by a westerner, as we read left to right and downwards – Kris Friesen.

**First Nations peoples** utilized Alberta resources long before Europeans arrived, like this painting of a spring fishing camp, where walleye and pike are caught and prepared with stone tools at a northern stream. Fish that are not cooked or smoked are placed on wood racks to dry in the sun, while nearby two people seal a birch bark canoe with spruce pitch and bitumen – Kris Friesen.

Website:

http://krisfriesen.com/

Art & Culture

Art by Daniel Gutzmann

DANIEL GUTZMANN is a remarkable man of many talents.

Not only does he create unique works of art, he makes the most delicious peanut butter power bars. And he has an extensive and beautiful shoe collection. You might say I’m a little envious. I can go on and on.

I met Daniel and his partner Karl for the first time last year when we were invited to dinner at a mutual friend’s home in the Palm Springs area. After dinner they showed me around their incredible home which happens to be situated on a golf course and which they gutted and re-designed themselves. That’s another thing; this power couple is licensed to re-design and re-decorate homes. Yes; there are some people who can do all that. They have excellent taste but they work according to the aesthetic of each individual, so it’s continually different but always discerning. At their place there were so many things to take in because the attention to detail is astounding. And then there is the ART which obviously caught my eye. Like anyone could ignore it? Art created by Daniel .

Recently we had dinner again at the same friend’s house and I asked if I could come photograph some of their paintings for my website. So here are some images taken by me of Daniel’s artwork with a little bio about him.

Daniel Gutzmann began his career as an artist and designer in 1989. His passion, vision and talent in taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary has allowed him contracts with high end corporate and private clients throughout the years.

He began his career with painting public transit coaches across the country into rolling works of art. These hand painted show stoppers have visually delighted such major clients as Pepsi, Mutual of Omaha, Coca Cola, Sony, Mercury, Elktra Records and Disney. He has painted murals and pieces of art for numerous community foundations, public and private clients which included homes, zoos, museums, schools, churches, public libraries and banks. His brilliant large canvas art is designed for high end clients, especially those with large homes and commercial spaces wanting to display beautiful art. With this, he has earned the prestigious Addy Award for outstanding design. Daniel continues to exceed his client expectations in providing stunning artwork that celebrates the atmosphere in which they are placed. He has participated in Rancho Mirage Art Affaire and has attended numerous art shows throughout the country, Palm Springs and the surrounding areas. Most recently, was awarded “Best of Show”in oil painting at the Indian Wells Arts Festival.

Daniel creates his near photo realistic paintings on canvas wrapped panels utilizing all triple pigmented oils with a flat finish glaze. These pieces of art are created with his vision of taking a beautiful object and painting its most unique aspects which sometimes may be abstract. His 3D multi-media modern works of art are created on wood panels utilizing MDO and Oxboard plywood, pvc & metal pipes, wall papers, venetian plaster, drywall joint compound, oil and acrylic paints.

If you are interested in any of his works please contact Debbie@girlwhowouldbeking.com

Art & Culture

“Botero” – a documentary

A good painter looks for solutions. A great painter looks for problems – Fernando Botero.

A fascinating behind-the-scenes profile of Columbian artist Fernando Botero. The North American premiere of “Botero” at the 30th Palm Springs International Film Festival was one of the most compelling documentaries I’ve seen in a long time. The figurative painter and sculptor is known as the world’s most recognized living artist – although someone I knew very little about and was curious to find out more.

For starters, many people only know him from his illustrious paintings of distorted fat ladies. Well…turns out he’s much more well rounded (pun intended) than that. He does not only people but landscapes, animals, fruit and sculptures.

Botero’s style is familiar in the same manner that other famous artists are, no matter what they paint. Picasso, Warhol, Monet, Pollock….their style is always identifiable. Botero’s colorful whimsical work with a touch of satire tends to appeal to the masses.

I was blown away by Botero’s body of work including enormous sculptures which grace some of the world’s major landmarks and institutions. You don’t have to like everything, however you can’t help but admire and respect it. Not all art critics understand the thought process behind the artist. Some get it, some don’t. It’s pretty simple. A great artist makes you feel because there’s a story behind every piece of art whether it’s abstract or otherwise. It’s not just brush strokes.

For instance, Botero did a series of paintings of a young boy – boy is sitting atop a wooden horse, dressed up as an officer. We learn the young boy was Botero’s son, struck by a truck early on in life and died instantly. This was Botero’s way of honouring his boy. For a long while the young boy is all he painted. It must have been torturous for him to do so. But we look at the painting not knowing the story behind it and feel what we feel .

Director Don Millar who was here in person for a Q&A afterwards delves not only into the psyche of what makes Botero tick, he also interviews Botero’s daughter and two sons. You see the love and respect they have for their father. They are clearly family people, educated and articulate.

On display: many works by Botero are on display at the Botero Museum in the center of Bogotá, Columbia.

Botero also very generously donated ALL of his private paintings, drawings and sculpures (including works he owned by Picasso, Monet and more) to the Museo de Antioquia in Medellin, his hometown in Columbia. He now spends most of his time in Italy but the donation in Columbia is a positive way to take the focus off of a city which conjures up images of drug cartels, gangsters and kidnappers. The collection is the largest of his work anywhere to date.