Michael Jiroch-Contemporary American Artist

            One definition of art is “the arrangement of colors and forms in a manner that affects the sense of beauty.” After being extremely disappointed by a recent exhibit at the Frye Museum I returned to Michael Jiroch with renewed appreciation.

            What I like about Jiroch’s art is its accessibility. When I see art it is to be inspired and elevated. I don’t want to leave feeling empty and frustrated. Because I tend to revel in bright colors like Paul Gauguin and David Hockney, which Michael uses lavishly, I am not disappointed. His vision is arresting; you must stop and look.

           Jiroch's talent was evident as early as kindergarten. Encouraged by his teachers his creativity continued to flourish. A junior college teacher encouraged his photography  but he (Jiroch) thought he would pursue medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 
            It wasn't long before he realized pre-med studies were not a good fit for him and he changed to art.
            Although op-art and pop art were the craze Jiroch preferred Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer. Armed with a Masters Degree in Fine Art he moved to New York, center of the art world.
            Several months later he decided to photograph swimming pools in Los Angeles. He drove from Madison, Wisconsin and made Venice Beach, California his new home. Soon after Jiroch had a show  at the Los Angeles Museum of Art. He also met David Hockney who, at the time, did not think photography was much of an art form. Looking at Hockney's subsequent photographs he obviously had a change of heart.

           In time, Jiroch began to explore the medium of oil painting with tremendous success. His paintings are vibrant, full of dazzling color evoking a range of emotions.
           His philosophy is, "The purpose of art is to have an emotional reaction. Art that fails to give you that reaction is bad art."
            With today's rapidly changing technology his next venture is combining photography, painting and an unknown medium creating a triptych.
             Michael Jiroch is also painting and exploring the wonders of Documentary Photography in the new Digital Age.

Nichols Canyon-1980-David Hockney

Reagan-Michael Jiroch

Portrait of Nick Wilder-1966-David Hockney

HAPPY NEW VALENTINES DAY

Hello Everyone,
First, let me say because I have been remiss in posting Happy New Year and Valentines Day to you all. I hope 2012 is full of good health, prosperity and love.
I thought I would find my footing after the holiday season but instead I've been swept up in my own self-interest.
The blog is going to take a slight departure from the usual. After an in-depth interview I'll post about  contemporary American artist and photographer Michael Jiroch.  
In the meantime, thank you for your patience and continuing support.

Tower Heist

We Don't Accept Tips

Imagine a reputable asset manager offers to triple your savings? You have no reason to doubt his capabilities and lots of your friends are benefiting so why not? You throw caution to the wind and Bernie Madoff gets your hard-earned money.
Or imagine you  buy a house because a bank lent you the money despite your less than stellar earnings. The bank(s) realize they have overextended their loans and you lose your job. The difference is the bank(s) get a bailout but you lose your home. Sorry.
Now imagine a handful of people who have been robbed of their life savings avenging themselves and winning! That is the plot of Tower Heist.
Ben Stiller is the general manager of a very high-end apartment building in New York. He is particularity friendly with Alan Alda, a wealthy businessman who manages the employees pension fund.
One morning it appears  Alda is being kidnapped but in fact he is attempting to flee the Feds. Alda has misappropriated the money and Stiller loses his job.
Stiller takes it upon himself to get the money back by enlisting the help of former co-workers and a professional thief played by Eddie Murphy.
What follows is a series of stunts, missteps and subterfuge that could only happen in the movies. Then again you never thought you could lose your pension, your home or both did you?
Tower Heist is improbable and gloriously satisfying to watch. If you're feeling dissatisfied and can't make it to an Occupy Wall Street demonstration this is the movie to see.

Drive

Ryan Gosling Drives

            It’s nighttime in Los Angeles. The tall young man holding the telephone says, “I’ll give you five minutes, no more. Do you understand?”  We assume the answer is yes. Then he says,” You won’t be able to reach me after this.” The young man throws the phone on the bed and leaves.

            We next see him dropping two men off at what looks like a warehouse. He straps his watch onto the steering wheel while they break in. The time is 9:51pm. The tension mounts as only one man returns to the car. After some heart pounding seconds the other man shows up and the driver pulls off. The time is 9:54pm.

Because of the police scanner they realize the police are after them. The driver remains nonplused.  A squad car pins them and the chase is on.  Without overturning cars and speeds over 100 mph the chase is more exciting than the audience might expect. The driver is quiet, efficient and precise.

As the story unfolds we find this is not the driver’s only work. He is a stunt diver for movies and a mechanic. We know nothing else about him, not even his name.

The driver eventually helps his neighbor, a single mom awaiting her husband’s release from prison. His willingness to help seems fueled as much by her adorable son as his attraction to her.

When her husband is released he finds himself in a quandary that requires he break the law. The driver decides to help and violence and mayhem ensue.

Drive is graphically violent, sometimes comically so. There are no real winners in this film and the line between good guy/ bad guy is fuzzy. It is sometimes hard to watch but the acting is superb. Albert Brooks makes a surprisingly good villain and Ryan Gosling is fascinating to watch. Knowing in real life Gosling played a bit of a hero adds an extra attraction to the film.

This film is not for the weak heartened but if you can stand a little excitement and dark humor the opening scene is worth the price of admission