02/04/2013
Anita Lewis, one of the artists at JGK Galleries, will be depicting the upcoming premier of Javier Velasco's Don Juan at the San Diego Ballet. Congratulations Anita.
Internationally renowned artist Anita Lewis' love of the dance has led her to create an ambitious project of works inpired by themes and impressions of Javier Velasco's Don Juan.
WORDS FROM THE ARTIST:
"My current art project for and with the San Diego Ballet is indeed challenging. To depict the upcoming premier of Javier Velasco's Don Juan in paintings was a challenge I set for myself, thanks to the support and enthusiasm of the San Diego Ballet. I had to get into rehearsals early on, as I paint in oils and they take time to set between layers and stages of the painting.
What met me was a rehearsal during one of January's cold snaps, with all the dancers clothed in layers. As an artist normally of abstract art, I had to take on the added challenge of deciphering the wonderful dancer bodies buried underneath all those legwarmers and sweatjackets.
A second challenge was, and still is, imagining the costumes. I had little to work on, save the positions and formations of the dancers. A further challenge is knowing the story line. I got bits and pieces out of an hour's worth of rehearsal time, on a single day.
Lord Byron's version of the Don Juan legend has a multitude of things happening, in many scenarios, in many different countries, and of course, as we all know, with many different women figures. It remains to be seen, what scenes Mr. Velasco chooses to narrate with the dance. Ever so often, I get a few clues, such as gypsies, harems, dream scene and such. Mysterious, but exciting!
Here is a first sample of my work of one of the women figures, called "Donna Anna". The model was of course the illustrious prima ballerina, Stephanie Maiorano."
Anita Lewis, fine artist
www.anitalewis.com
