Notes by Bill Calhoun

March 31, 2013

Scapegoat Review

Scapegoat Review
Three of Emily's paintings and two of her poems have just been published in the Spring issue of the Scapegoat Review.  You can view it here, or click on the image to the left.

Scapegoat Review is an online literary journal published by Erika Lutzner, who also published the anthology Some Stories Are True That Never Happened which featured the collaboration of Emily and the poet Nin Andrews.  (Read about that anthology here.)

March 23, 2013

The Circus of Lost Dreams

Emily and Nin have a book!  It is titled The Circus of Lost Dreams.  Actually, what they have is an interactive digital chapbook.  The chapbook was published by Didi Menendez, the publisher of PoetsArtists, and it features 30 poems by Nin Andrews, all paired with Emily's paintings.  Two versions are available:  a traditional "static" version, viewable through Scribd, and the very cool interactive version available on iTunes.

The iTunes version is an iBook that can be viewed on iPads and iPhones.  It has audio and video as well as text and images.  It's available for free, from this link.

The page at PoetsArtists featuring the chapbook is here, or you can click on the image below.  The link to iTunes is there, and the Scribd version can be viewed there as well.  The Scribd link for viewing online is here for the fullscreen version.  My favorite Scribd view is the book version, here.

The Circus of Lost Dreams In The Circus of Lost Dreams, Nin Andrews and Emily Lisker become a magical duet.  The two share an insatiable, tender, and wry imagination.  Their poems and paintings together are profound in their insights regarding power, male/female relationships, and spirituality.
- Denise Duhamel

March 20, 2013

More Videos with Nin Andrews

Just published!  Two more videos of Nin Andrews reading her poetry against moving backdrops of Emily's paintings.  In the first video, published through the journal MiPOesias, Just the Chillies is paired with Emily's painting Embrace.  View the video here, or click on the image below.

Just the Chillies In the second video by the same publisher for the journal PoetsArtists, The Dancers is paired with Emily's painting Trio.  View the video here, or click on the image below.

The Dancers And in case you didn't check out the first video, read all about it here.

March 10, 2013

Alphonse and Gaston

Click for Larger ViewI once went to dinner with Emily's grand-parents, rest their souls.  In the middle of a chaotic meal, Emily's grandmother called to the waiter "Alphonse, Alphonse!" which seemed unlikely to be anyone's name in this Brooklyn Italian restaurant.  Only much later did I realize that her mind, in searching for "Garçon," had stumbled across the names of a pair of cartoon characters from her youth.

Alphonse and Gaston, 2013, oil on canvas, 16" x 20"


March 06, 2013

Wheels Within Wheels

Click for Larger ViewThis painting started its life, as do all of Emily's paintings, as a drawing.  Unlike the current batch of paintings completed, or nearly so, this one has remained in its infancy.  This happens - the drawing is so wonderful on its own that Emily does not want to disturb it.  This one could stay this way for years, but I wanted to share it anyway, and give you a glimpse into how Emily paints.

Wheels Within Wheels, 2013, oil on canvas, 18" x 24"


March 05, 2013

Taking After Father

Click for Larger ViewAre the tomato twins anxious to keep up, or anxious about being pulled along?

Taking After Father, 2013, oil on canvas, 16" x 20"


The Bird Maiden

Click for Larger ViewThe maiden character has appeared before (see an earlier painting below).  She appears in calm command of her flock.

The Bird Maiden, 2013, oil on canvas, 16" x 20"


Click for Larger View

Cat's Cradle, 2007, oil on canvas, 11" x 14"


March 03, 2013

Target

Click for Larger View

Target, 2013, oil on canvas, 20" x 16"

If the only tool you have is a hammer, you treat everything like a nail.

Rebus

Click for Larger ViewTake your time solving this puzzle - there may be no solution, or an infinite number of solutions!

Rebus, 2013, oil on canvas, 16" x 20"


February 05, 2013

More on the Nin Andrews/Emily Lisker Collaboration

The pairing of Emily's paintings with the poems of Nin Andrews continues! 

Just recently, an online journal called MiPOesias published a video of Nin reading her poem The Art of Drinking Tea against a moving backdrop of Emily's painting Cup of Coffee.  You can view the video here, or click on the image below.

The Art of Drinking Tea Some Stories Are True That Never HappenedThis past fall, the poet and writer Erika Lutzner edited and published an anthology called Some Stories Are True That Never Happened.  It features five of Emily's paintings paired with Nin's poems.  You can look at a preview of the book here (or click on the image to the left) and see the first three.  You can also purchase the anthology.