The Extraordinary Art of Bodhi Wind
Buddha became the enlightened one, under a Bodhi tree.
This is the name taken by native Pittsburgh artist who tragically passed much too soon, the day before Thanksgiving in 1991. If you graduated from Perry High School, Pittsburgh Public Schools, class of 1968, you knew him as Charles Kuklis. An incredibly talented artist, he was always sketching and drawing.
Recently there was an article by Joe Smydo in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about what to do with an artist’s work after they’ve died.
Bodhi Wind painted the murals for Robert Altman’s 1977 film 3 Women. (Click here to read about the movie and see a photo of Sissy Spacek and Shelly Duvall and one of the large murals painted by Bodhi Wind.) He designed clothing for Cher and his work was shown in Architectural Digest May 1978. An archived article in the NY TimesApril 26, 1977 by Jennifer Dunning is online.
A blog by Angeliska shows more photographs of Bodhi painting the murals for 3 Women. We read on this blog that his mother, Jean Kuklis (also mentioned in the PPG article) would welcome speaking of her son and his art.
I had the good fortune to meet Mrs. Kuklis, her daughter and granddaughter, Monday afternoon and got to photograph some of Bodhi Wind’s artwork. His mother generously shared his story and creative artwork and I wanted to share it with you. I had the privilege of seeing pieces he created in high school, too.
She hopes her son’s art could be shown in a large space, a bank, hotel lobby or convention center. Some of the painted panels are big.
Many are painted on wood and interestingly framed.
Readers who would like more information about the artworks should email Bodhi Wind’s family Bodhi.Wind.Art(at)gmail.com.
detail from the Octagonal
This is one panel of a series. Very large. It needs to be turned right side up. I left a bit of his sister in the pic on the right so you get the idea of the scale.
Artist Helène Aylon at the Warhol Museum
I asked Ms. Aylon if I might take her picture (with my iPhone these days) and she graciously agreed. Then she suggested we take one under the portrait of Julia Warhol, Andy’s mother. It was Mother’s Day.
Her exhibit The Word of God: Helène Aylon, The Liberation of G-d and The Unmentionable runs through June 26th.
To read about Helène Aylon and her art visit her website.
Photographer Rick Byerly runs the Pittsburgh Art Blog click here for more information.
Details also at the Warhol calendar
A solo exhibit
at the Warhol
is very cool.
Right here
in River City- Pittsburgh.
(Photograph posted with artist’s permission)
Fiber Artist’s Palette- Like an Indoor Garden
Spools and spools of thread. Silk. Cotton. Metallic. All colors. Some shimmer. Rich colors. Waiting to be selected, a length cut and the needle threaded. The embroidery comes alive under the artist’s fingers stitching. I had asked Joan B if I could photograph her thread as I have another photo from before but today the light was so nice. She made coffee in a French Press and homemade sticky buns, a Fiesta bowl full of fresh fruit cut up and mixed with yogurt and honey. An indoor garden of color! And the little cushioned chair holds the needles and pins.
Colors Create a Feeling
And these invite me
to think Spring.
Sunday night Thunderstorm-
March lions roar a day early.
Wanted some bright color for today's post. Knew where to find it! Joan's studio.
New York City Roof Garden
Metropolitan Museum of Art Roof Garden view over Central Park. Detail from artist Roxy Paine stainless pipe sculpture ”Maelstrom”
November 7 View over Central Park from Roof Garden
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