JUSTO SIERRA PAINTINGS SANDY KAUFMAN
Last night, the restaurant menu in Guadalajara presented a paragraph for each dish. Not a cookbook but a guidebook and far more interesting than the usual list. I think of this when titling these images painted on Calle Justo Sierra. “Untitled” should not exist. These images are like a string of sequential commas, elements of myth, lore, and narrative. With a witches brew of water, air and squeezed tubes of gouache. And—the pencil. So, if you are looking for an artist’s statement. This isn’t it.
The Falconer, the Leg of God, and Matisse’s Open Window in Nice
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Noah’s Ark at Night with the Constellations, a Penguin, and Two Fish that Missed the Boat
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The “Maid of the Mist” Between the American and the Horseshoe Falls of Niagara
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The Mystery Arm that Reached Down Through the Night Sky
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Monsieur Hulot, Superhero in the Mirror, Eagle with the Arrow, and the Oberving Bird 11
The Faun, Marlene Dietrich’s Bracelet in “Lifeboat,” and Moonlight on the Sea
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The Parts of All Sums with the Umbrella in the Mist
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The Elephant Getting Off the Ark While the Horse Watches the Waters Recede
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The Anchored Cargo Ship Among Other Things 19
The Cat in the Sky, Blonde Braids on the Stairs, and Iconic Tribal Things 21
What Happens in the Next Five Seconds ?
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Butts
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Pink Arms, Profile in Blue, Goatee Guy, and Posing Body Builder
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The Volcano Erupts and All Look, Especially the Ibis that Sees His Image in the Smoke
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Goose in a Rocking Chair, Bat Hanging Out, the Two-sided Goat and a Kiva Ladder
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The Salmon Salmon, Buddhist Meditating, Paul Klee, and the Large Ship
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Moon in the Man As Observed by the Telescopic Foghorn, African Antelope, and Naked Muscular Guy
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The Seagull Flexes Its Wings Near the Shore of Milagros and Pine Tree Branches
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Watching the Constellations, Blue Head, and Bono Watching a Brancusi in Motion
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The Big Procession, but This Long Haired Guy Is Annoyed by Someone Blowing on His Hair
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Green Man in a Black Jockstrap, My Klimt and Argyle Socks, and Who Is Running Away?
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Beach Towelers Heading off to Swim as Obervered by Hulot and Percy
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The Colorheads Join the Sea Creatures at Four O’clock 47
The Big Red Headress Under the Medieval Clouds, the Minotaur, and Creatures of Land and Sea
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Padre Pio, the Leg of God that Doesn’t Touch Earth, the Waiting Penguin, and the Local Pond Duck
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The Moon Above the Green Solstice Sea, Reindeer in Snow, and Tropical Birds Chatting 53
Climbing Stairs with Heads and Limbs
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Milagro Forms, a Skinny Nude, and Banana Leaves
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She Examines the Diamond from Africa
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Three People I Know in Mexico
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Hummingbirds Sound Like zzzzzzz Hovering Between the Lemons 63
Roadways, Barnyards, a Walking Stage Curtain Crosses the Street, and a Truck with Headlights on
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Marlene Dietrich’s Cigarette Creates a Dotted Path of Smoke while the Dachshund Sniffs the Cat
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Achilles with No Arrow but Some Vipers
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The Goat, Close Faces, and 3 Guys in the Shower
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Bunny Ears and the Balancing Rock
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Cube Head, the Traffic Guard, and a Bad Hairpiece
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Ducky and the Almighty Yellow Leg Kicking the Moon through the Goal Post 77
Gully, Burro, Snail Cactus, and the Fish Wind
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The Weight on My Head Turns It Blue in the Landscape
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Waves of the Ship, Some Nude and Thong-clad Guys
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Seeing Eye-to-eye with the Ghost
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The Brown Glove about to Drop
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The Transparent Dress with Goat and Ship
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Mr. Pinkarms
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Willy Levitates from the Wheelcair to Float Like God and Create the Creatures on Earth
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The Seastorm Obscures the Boat, Pouring Down Near the House as Leaves Dressed Butterflies Perform
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It Starts in Water, and the Hummingbird Head and the Butterfly of Creation Bring Vision and Conflict
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ZZZZ to the Robot Creator as the Lightbulb Head Electrifies the Leaves
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Maybe “Far from Heaven” but It’s Only My Childhood Backyard and the Wandering Goat Is Curious
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We Walk into These Places of Ice and Rain at Night and Find a Springtime of Apples and Hope 103