Andrew Periale
performer-playwright-polyglot-poet laureate of Rochester!
Earliest memories of your art?
I have been writing poetry, playing music and doing theatre since high school.
I was 8 or 9 years old when I started doing something I called “paper
surgery”–portraits collaged from a variety of magazine photos. My
mother found them quite disturbing, which is ironic considering she
later came to adore the work of Romare Bearden, and now works
primarily in collage. I like to think I was one of her early
influences.
What is the role of art in the world?
Art has so many roles in the world. One of my favorite is social
activism–speaking Truth to Power, or even just speaking Beauty to
Ugly.
Where do you do your art?
I create theatre wherever a company engages me–Boston, Philadelphia,
or in our Strafford studio where I work with my wife and partner,
Bonnie. I write poetry wherever I can wield a pen or plug in a
laptop–most frequently at cafes: Adelle’s (Dover), BNG (Durham and
Portsmouth).
Influences?
– My excellent high school drama teacher.
– Theater artist Philippe Genty (with whom I studied in France)
– Director Robert Smythe, with whom I’ve collaborated as playwright
on several projects
– Peter Schumann (Bread and Puppet Theatre), who has shown me what it
means to be principled and courageous in the work.
Good advice for fledgling artists?
Marry someone who believes in your work, and who has money and health benefits.
Favorite desserts?
a fine stinky cheese, with espresso and a shot of grappa
Favorite artists? So many. Among my current faves: Amanda Palmer
(writes and performs with The Dresden Dolls), Wislawa Szymborska
(Polish poet, Nobel laureate), and Bonnie Periale (a fabulous and
underappreciated painter, dancer, puppeteer).
and now a poem from Andrew:
ILL AT EASE
Kill crazy, said his captain, still,
if he’s game for another hitch in ‘Nam,
make sure his will is up to date.
Thrill junky, trigger monkey,
he relished the drill–Van Gogh the dead,
string unhearing pearls on silken thread.
Man, he looks like a million bucks
necklaced like a grim Marc Anthony
who’s finally got the Romans’ ears.
A third tour was denied—gilding the lily,
his captain said. He ended at his parents’ home,
chilling in the La-Z-Boy until the beer ran out,
then would patrol the back porch, light a joint
and fire his submachine gun at the moon.
The New Year begins... and here is one for the year 2009.
A year of change and hope.
yeesssssssssssssssssss !
wishing you a sweet and tranquil new year
complete with all the hope, love and change you can take in.
xo
From me to you... wishing you all peace, love and wonderment in the New Year..
See you all next week!
So beautiful and just in time to start the new year without any plastic, paper or what have you! Organic and beautiful. Pomegranate pattern in marmalade color here or natural. Watch for their very cool new melamine plates to appear in the shop too!
Hope everyone is starting to wind down for the holidays now and enjoying the coziness of the season....
More ink sketches... available in my etsy shop...
Most people in our area now have power restored, but it's been a really long haul and well, this little sketch shows on the outside, how many people have felt on the inside.
But stiff upper lip here in New England! No pouting!
Ice storm 2008. We lost power, it's now restored. So much damage everywhere. Some without power still! The gallery is all set and now so is our home. Bear with me for a day or so, more loveliness to come here. Just regrouping!
A new series of ink sketches on vintage German songbook pages. The lovely pages were given to me by dear angie of omondieu! this summer in Germany. They are all available at my etsy shop now. I have more on the drawing board to go up in the artstream shop too in a couple of days.
Matthew Wyatt is a wonderful emerging artist. We have been carrying his work here at artstream since he began art school three years ago. These photographs are incredible statements of home and still life. Modern and soft at the same time. Available at the shop. Tomorrow I will announce my blogaversary give away contest! stay tuned....
it's warm inside! Brrrr it's cold out now though.Old man winter has blown in quickly. Don't you like thinking about warm mittens, fires and snuggly blankets though? I am also quite fond of wrapping my head around the next two months of celebrations in our household. We have so much to be thankful for and our gallery is certainly on that list! As Melanie pointed out with her post here, be mindful of the small happiness. What small joys have you found lately? I will let my photos do the talking below
from the markt - tiny red berries
from darryl berger - cigartin art with a story inside!
vintage yumminess from a poppytalkhandmade table
and a late night addition of another small happiness:
around the table with family ...
What can I say except that I love this! Also that it is available at
the shop ... right here.
Newsflash - hop on over to the fairly new Paper n Stitch site to see a lot of artsy goodness online. I have a page there and if you want to you can vote for me!
The Little Room makes lovely textile items and sent us a select grouping of pillows, scarves and now totes and aprons to add to the gallery. Each piece is handmade and lovely. The pillow here is grouped with a display of the beautiful Heather Smith Jones small works.
All in the shop as well!
Another lovely piece on exhibition right now by
Judith Heller Cassell. A local artist from Rochester...
and wonderful friend.
Something childlike and fun... for Wednesday.
by daughter, Chloe.... for science....
Just a little quick post as we are loading up the shop (sorry, it's a little late!) with all the goodness from the Lasting Impressions show.
These are just three of the beautiful pieces you can peruse for now at flickr. Just click through the photo to see more shots of the show!
