Two local artists have joined together to offer their work for sale with the aim of raising money for The National Parkinson’s Foundation, an organization that promotes research, education, and public advocacy to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.
Cathleen Crone and Barbara Freed come from two distinct artistic origins. Cathleen is a devotee of the microcosmic study of the motorcycle through unique photographic interpretation, whilst Barbara, herself a Parkinson’s sufferer, creates watercolor and ink-on-paper paintings that suggest a magical and childlike naivete, inspiring viewers to reconnect with the sunlit uplands of the innocence of their early years.
Cathleen’s journey in the visual arts began three years ago when her band, Cat & The Mighty Mice, were playing at that temple of two wheeled fanaticism, The Rock Store, located just east of Malibu on the Mulholland Highway. “No one who has eyes could miss the extreme beauty that lies within the landscape of those mighty machines,” she recalled. She continued to say that she could barely remember the lyrics to her songs, being captivated by the visuals of the bikes and thus “decided that I must document this banquet of imagery.”
Cathleen’s many photographs featuring close up detail of these contemporary steeds of steel are curiously compelling, at times presenting mysterious reflections in chrome and paint, while incorporating a nostalgic suggestion that hints at art deco meeting a new dimension of beauty in form. She describes her mission as “a supreme order from the bikes themselves,” and considers the process of preserving the depth of the subject matter simply “a gas!”
Barbara Freed’s artistic journey has been an odyssey of creativity in spite of her condition, and she considers the process to be “a relief and a joy.” She describes the practice as “floating through my past and seeing the world through the eyes of my children, Samantha, Elan & Natasha.” She says that she is at peace when creating and is able to share her story through the visual journey.
Barbara has created “thousands of paintings,” and described how “they float within my home, strewn about on the floors, chairs, sofas, cabinets and are always on the kitchen counter amidst the flurry of activity that swirls about there at all times!”
Cathleen and Barbara have two shows scheduled:
November 8, from 5:00-10:00 p.m. at Blue 7 Gallery, 3129 Pico Blvd 310. 449.1444.
November 16, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at The Unurban Art Gallery, 3301 Pico Blvd., 310. 315. 0056.
For further information please contact Cathleen at cathleencrone@earthlink.net.
