Robert Weibel
name: Robert A. Weibel
age: definately
gender: male
neighborhood: Old Fig
city: Fresno
zip code: 93704
personal website: http://www.robertweibel.com
about me: Gunpowder Drawing. Marcel Nunis has blogged it up for years, so when he mentioned me and Shaylah read it in the Bee, I started poking around here. I've always enjoyed writing. Many years ago Phil Levine gave me a strong clear encouragement that I've kept close.
I'm a full time artist-meaning I go into the studio almost daily and do some work. I intend to continue doing that, making art, a day at a time, for the rest of my life. Nothing is richer than that.
interests:
Gunpowder drawing after Cai Guo-Qaing. Igniting gunpowder on paper and other surfaces to create unique images. Developing and refining the process to avoid dangerous accidents,
perfect technique and most importantly merge the process with the result;means and ends. If I can make the same image with traditional art methods then I'm not interested. I am taken by the idea that the inert material (gunpowder) is ignited and completely changes into an image that is engaging and it takes only a second or two to happen,
after all the set up and preparation.
,
In September I was selected for an all media,
national exhibition juried by Mat Gleason,
critic,
publisher and editor of Coagula Art Journal and praised by the British critic Julian Stallabrass in his book,
Art Incorporated,
The Story of Contemporary Art; "mat Gleason has a keen eye for quality and authenticity,
ferocious wit and an intimate knowledge of the jungle." To meet Mat Gleason was great fun and full of fascinating stories. He was bright,
had his feet on the ground,
and was very supportive of my continued work. I also got to meet YUME,
a wonderful artist from SoCal,
also in the show. She and I were mentioned in SoCal press(OC Wkly) in an article that gave the show high praise. Yume wrote of "swimming with the big fishes" about this show-for me the water felt fine.
,
On mondays I get to spend time with Avery,
my 9 yr old grandson.,