JaZzArt en València

#music, SPECIAL FEATURE by VALENCIARTIST: Bram Fournier

Today FEATURES by VALENCIARTIST is SPECIAL! We are so proud to feature Bram Fournier, a phenomenal musician, trombonist who is a soloist at the orchestra of the Royale Operahouse ‘La Monnaie’ in Brussels and associated with the wind ensemble I Solisti, with which he plays chamber music and coaches young talents. In addition, he is a regular guest with the Hermes ensemble, Belgian Brass, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, National Orchestra of Belgium and Casco Phil, (from https://www.bramfournier.be/).

We are also happy to say that he is an art lover and avid collector.

We spoke to Bram about certain questions and issues that concern artists of all disciplines. Here is our interview:

VA: As a musician you are a participant of the fine arts, do you feel that artists have a higher social responsibility than other members of their community? Meaning to stand up, or speak out, against injustices, inequalities and corruption, through perhaps social media or any other means of communication available, or participation.

BF: From my point of view artists have the chance to unite people. I would rather not speak out my political opinion of stage, but as an overall base we are there to bring people together to enjoy the music. We can serve as a entertainment, escape, relaxation, meditation, reflecties and much more.
The power of a performance is huge while without knowing opposites can sit in the same hall experiencing the same vibe.

VA: What are your major references when composing and do you use improvisation in your music?

BF: I’m a performing artist, not composing but in our interpretation we have a lot of freedom to tell our story, taking along all our history. My major references are continuously changing, it can be literature, drawings, performing artists,… but also certainly nature and personal emotional stories.

VA: What are your views regarding the state of the art world? Meaning music, painting, poetry, dance, literature.

BF: The State has to give the liberty of letting artists create and show their artwork. Even when it’s not following the political point of view of the politicians at power, artists should always be able to speak out. It shouldn’t be seen as a threat but as a exercise to do better and listen to the point of view of the people. Hand in hand, art and politics can lift society.

Phenomenal… I leave you with his website for further information (https://www.bramfournier.be) and a sample of Bram’s music which I hope you will greatly enjoy!

CHEERS

#art, Drawing Through Perspectives and Thoughts

(Image property of FBC/OCS Valencia/All Rights Reserved)

Matisse said a drawing is a painting with less elements…

A drawing for me is a study of the complexities of thought, a reflection on wisdom, and an expression of technical abilities with a pen or a pencil…

I love drawing as much as I love painting and writing. I spent years developing the talent to create the drawings that I make. For nearly eight years I drew every day from dawn to dusk. Talent is developed only through hard work. Haven’t you ever heard that practice makes perfect? Well during those years I completed a drawing every day. No sketches, no mistakes, no starting over. I completed all my attempts and now many, many, are hanging in collector’s walls all over Europe, America and Asia…

(All images property of Francisco Bravo Cabrera/FBC/Omnia Caelum Studios Valencia/All Rights Reserved)

CHEERS

#art, Art or Rubbish?

Well, I know what I think this is… empty cans of Belgian beer… Art? Hardly. But «conceptual artists» consider these things as objet trouvé, a type of «art» that they have invented out of ready made things that are found, usually in the rubbish bin, which is where they belong. Well, a guard at a «museum» in The Netherlands, thinking someone had left empty beer cans behind, threw them away… Now, I’ve a few questions to ask of the curator of that museum and the first one is what kind of criteria do they have reference works of art that they exhibit. The second is why would they suppose someone drank two cans of beer within the exhibition halls? What kind of museum is that?

Now the «artist» painted the cans by hand, that is what was said. But, is this what people pay to go see in a museum? The artist, Alexandre Lavet, created the work back in the 1980’s and titled it «All The Good Times We Spent Together» (which can be resumed in two empty beer cans). He claims that the creation of the work took «much time and effort.»

You be the judge, art or rubbish? Or rubbish-art? I know what I think…

#art, Drawing Through Perspectives and Thoughts

Matisse said a drawing is a painting with less elements…

A drawing for me is a study of the complexities of thought, a reflection on wisdom, and an expression of technical abilities with a pen or a pencil…

CHEERS

#art, How Dare They!

Enough with these so-called «activists» and their delinquent acts of vandalism! If they want to protest why do not they go to Iran or to Russia! There are plenty of things to protest over there. But, of course they do not do that because they know that over there consequences are harsh and over here not so harsh. And they should be! These «activists» (misguided kids who do not realise they are working for the enemy) should be punished by making them work for the community, daily, and for a long, long time. I do not think jail is the right option, but community work and education (re-education) can be the best solution. And another thing, cannot the National Gallery beef up their security? Good grief people carry anything in there! It is not like that in the museums in Spain…

These protesters/activists/idiots should realise that Israel is defending herself from heartless, murdering terrorists! And many of these innocent victims are not victims of the IDF but of Hamas and Hezbollah. I defend the innocent and condemn the terrorists and I do not want the indiscriminate killing of people in Gaza or in Lebanon, but I also care for the innocent Israelis. Let us be realistic and fair about this. Plus, attacking art is not the way to speak out about a conflict with which one disagrees with.

Attacking a Picasso! The nerve!

CHEERS

#music, Fab One Hit Wonders! «Get a Job»

(The Silhouettes/Photo by unknown author)

Ok, so I know that not many may remember their name, and I don’t blame you. One does not always go around remembering a group that was a one hit wonder in 1958. But I think you might recall (from hearing it throughout the years in compilations of doo-wop songs and in various hit movies) their one and only hit «Get a Job«. And this song, which sold over a million copies and was number one also won for The Silhouettes a gold record. Imagine that, a gold record for their one and only hit.

The group was formed in 1956 in Philadelphia. Their one and only hit also provided the name for the 1969 group Sha Na Na…

So, what do you think?

CHEERS

#art, «El Gato Blanco» – Now a Fine Art Print

(Image property of Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)

A fine art print is a reproduction of an original work of art done in a professional manner and on a high quality surface (paper, canvas, wood, metal).

(Canvas print of El Gato Blanco/Derechos Reservados)

My fine art works are only done in Fine Art America, and you can visit my online gallery there, just click here. «El Gato Blanco» is available now only in Fine Art America.