
The exhibiting artists
Seeing a brilliant opportunity, at very short notice, Amanda Sage organised an exhibition of Fantastic Visionary artists at Galerie 10. She and Laurence Caruana, along with Andrew Gonzalez had been giving a painting seminar in the Summer. A number of artists had travelled to attend their course in Italy. Thus she came to the idea of organising a show while everybody was in Europe.
After a late night skype session between Amanda, Dennis Konstantin and myself, Dennis made himself busy with the flyer and Amanda busy organising the other artists, which is often compared to herding cats.
Dennis drove down from Hamburg in his spacious blue VW van. A vehicle well kitted out for adventures, so it fitted our needs very well. After stopping over for the night in Berlin, we loaded my artwork into the van and began our long road trip to Vienna.
René and Lisa graciously housed us in their living room for our stay in Vienna. So I must thank them again for their hospitality.
On Tuesday we made trip out to one of Dennis’ collectors, who endless numbers of Fuchs prints and sculptures and now had a growing collection of Dennis’ artwork.
After too many coffees and a light lunch, we trooped over to Amanda’s studio to catch up David Heskin and Aloria Weaver who were staying with Amanda. It is a pleasure to meet the real face behind an internet presence, and more so with David and Aloria. Both had been on Amanda and Laurence Caruana’s painting seminar idyllically located in a medieval village in the Italian hills. They were now making the most of Amanda’s studio in Vienna to finish of some works for our group exhibition “The Irresistible Flow of Time” at Galerie 10.
Wednesday brought Emma Watkinson to Vienna and us to Galerie 10 to hang our artwork. Not all of the exhibiting artists were present and there was much to do. Although we started early in the afternoon, we worked into the night to complete the hanging of 69 artworks in total, making at a very large show. And by the time the hanging was completed, it looked amazing. It was such a wonderful collection of high quality artwork.
Our work was done, so we adjourned to Amanda’s studio again, taking Galerie 10 owner, Michael Scheer along with us. It was again a long night as artists are wont to do, however, we could sleep in for our big day, the opening of the exhibition.
When I arrived, the gallery was wall to wall with people. The opening also brought all of the local Fantastic Painters, and then others from far away elsewhere who just happened to be in town. Many of these faces I met for the first time outside of the internet. Its reassuring to get to know the real people of these ever present internet avatars.
Two of the other exhibiting artists managed to make time from their busy schedules back home and fly into Vienna for the exhibition, Daniel Mirante and Basia Wiacek.
De Es Schwertberger did all of us younger artists the honour of exhibiting with us and bridging the worlds of the established Fantastic Realists to that of the emerging, oft referred to as, Visionary artists. However, the term Visionary is still up for debate.
We the exhibiting artists were of course very busy the whole evening talking to various people about our art, and of course catching up with and meeting the other artists. Not surprisingly, it ended up being a very late night.
And similarly unsurprising, was a few of the taught faces present the very next morning for breakfast at De Es‘ studio. In De Es‘ expansive inner city studio, we took advantage of the far more relaxed atmosphere and conversed at leisurely pace. Sadly however, this gathering of new and old friends had to eventually part ways, as flights were waiting to whisk people off to new adventures.
As for Dennis and myself, our next adventure was to commence the following day when we returned North to Germany and headed to the Bavarian Forest to visit the opening of the 1st Biennial of Fantastic Art in the Town of Viechtach. But this is the next news entry.
Following are all of the wonderful artists that I exhibited with.
De Es Schwertberger (A), Amanda Sage (USA), Dennis Konstantin (D), Leo Plaw (D), David Heskin (USA), Aloria Weaver (USA), Adam Scott Miller (USA), Gregory Pettit (USA), Autumn Sky Morrison (USA), Daniel Mirante (GB), Basia Wiacek (GB), Emma Watkinson (GB)
The Irresistible Flow of Time
The exhibition flyer designed by Dennis Konstantin utilising artwork from Amanda Sage.
Back of the flyer
My artwork, Adam Scott Miller, Dennis Konstantin
Dennis and the Blue Mean Machine
Nine hours later we were in Vienna.
Which is your favourite?
Visiting one of Dennis' Austrian collectors.
Trophies
The Dennis Konstantin Collection
The Ernst Fuchs Collection
Only a small part of it.
David Heskin and Aloria Weaver's co-production
Aloria and David made themselves busy in Amanda's Vienna studio.
Up close
Dennis inspects David Heskin and Aloria Weaver's co-production.
I was Napoleon in a past life
Michael Scheer
Galerie 10 owner
Arranging the exhibition
Amanda and Michael work together on the exhibition hanging.
Amanda Sage
Smile for the camera!
Artwork of Dennis Konstantin
Artwork of Dennis Konstantin
Spirals and Waves
Aloria, David, De Es and myself
Artwork of Aloria Weaver & David Heskin
Amanda Sage, Dennis Konstantin, Gregory Pettit
This means whoa!
Dennis Konstantin
Amanda Sage & Dennis Konstantin
Emma Watkinson, De Es Schwertberger and myself
My artwork alongside De Es'
Adam Scott Miller & Dennis Konstatin
Artwork of Daniel Mirante & Basia Wiacek
Michael Scheer
Time out in Amanda's studio the night before the opening.
Otto Rapp
All the way over from Canada and back in his native Austria.
Old Friends
Michael Fuchs and Phil Rubinov-Jacobson
Michael Fuchs and Phil Rubinov-Jacobson
In good company
Phil Rubinov-Jacobson, myself and Michael Fuchs
Luigi La Speranza and Sigrid Nepelius
Benedetto Felin and Sigrid Nepelius
The Artists!
All present exhibiting artists line up for a marathon photo shoot. The poor photographers were busy with all of our cameras.
Benedetto discovers Dennis' Artwork
Phil Jacobson discusses Dennis' Artwork
Aloria, Michael and Amanda
The Travellers
A gathering in the De Es' studio the morning after the exhibition.
Fishy tales
...and the fish was this big!