13 REASONS WHY OWNING ORIGINAL ART IS IMPORTANT.

Having original art is vital to your well being. Art is a key piece of furniture for many reasons and yet it is sometimes put on the back burner in comparison to other home objects. This list is dedicated to the understanding of importance of art from perspectives of interior design, well being, social atmosphere, creating a mood in the home, and more. One quote that stands out about the importance of original art is the following,

 “You would never put fake books on your bookshelf, so why would you put fake art on your walls?”

For all of the following reasons, you can find the perfect work for your home or office on our online store via ONLI STUDIOS .

1. Creates Mood

Brain scans have revealed that looking at works of art trigger a surge of dopamine into the same area of the brain that registers desire, pleasure, and romantic love (https://www.psychologytoday.com/.../love-desire-and-art). Romantic, sublime landscapes provoke contemplation of nature and purity. Such works then create a mood of peace and are good for relaxation rooms such as the bedroom.

2. Adds Personal Character to the Home

We all love to express ourselves, be it through clothing, accessories, social media - the list goes on! Original art in the home is a perfect way to express your artistic and aesthetic interests in a way different from most, for original artworks are one of a kind.

3. Makes Memories

Buying an original work of art is an experience. For whatever reason, you were drawn to a specific piece (or multiple). You may have seen it at a show opening, had a nice trip to the ice cream shop before hand. Whatever happened leading up to/during/after the purchase of a meaningful original work will be remembered every time you see it. This will not happen with a poster from Ikea.

4. Provides a Colour Palette

When rooms have a lot of colours, or many shades of the same colour, it can become overwhelming. An original work of art is a beautiful, meaningful way to tie everything together and create a general focal point.

5. Makes a Room Feel Finished

When walls are empty, a room does not necessarily look bad, but by no means does it look finished. Rooms with empty walls are functional rooms in a house. Rooms with original art work are comfortable rooms in a home.

6. Inspires and Fosters Creativity

This one is simple - in rooms with no art, artistic expression is lacking and therefore the need and want for creativity is not very prominent. On the opposite end of the spectrum, original artworks foster creativity, expression, artistic inspiration. This is particularly important in homes with children as being surrounded by artwork will allow creative thinking. This idea is expanded on in reason 11.

7. Conversation Starter

As mentioned in reason 2, hanging original art in your home is a way of expressing oneself. That being said, guests will always be curious about the choice of artwork, the story, have questions about the artist, etc. It is a way to show off your art collection while having passionate conversations with house guests.

8. Supports Artists

One of the most important things about buying original artwork is that you are supporting an artist’s career. Each time you have a look at a work in your home, it provides a feel-good emotion that you are assisting an artist in achieving the success and recognition they deserve.

9. It is an Investment

Building off of reason 8, not only does owning original work in the home allow you to support artists’ careers, but it is also an investment. These artworks can be passed down through family and friends, be shared with loved ones for many years all while increasing in worth. This is never something that will be achieved with a $12 print from Walmart.

10. Creates a Livable Environment

Art can make rooms that are not necessarily “home-y” become comfortable working and living environments. A home office, for example, can transform from a place of work and business to one of relaxation and productivity all the with addition of an original work of art. Attached is an article explaining how artwork in office spaces improves employee productivity (http://www.forbes.com/.../can-office-artwork.../...).

11. Keeps the Brain Active

Art is very conceptual, artists use it as a medium to express personal thought, political or social issues, and to make us as viewers think. Some people do quizzes or crossword puzzles to keep their brain active, but another way to do so is to own original artwork in the home, to just sit, look, and think.

12. Relaxation

In a busy, fast-paced world that demands speed and productivity, home should be a place of relaxation. Coming home from a busy day at work to sit on your couch and stare at a TV or a blank wall is not as recharging or relaxing as enjoying an artwork purchased with the means to create a positive mood.

13. Curating Your Own Gallery is Fun!

Last but certainly not least, curating a gallery is fun! Attending show openings, going to galleries, chatting with artists even, it is a fun experience! After a while you will start to notice a theme, in subject matter, colour, concept, etc. Playing with moods, composition, placement in the home, of all these reasons why to have art in the home, let’s not forget the fact that it is simply something fun to do.

Nov. 15th 2020

"Unique"

"It's the transition toward a post-residency world. "

It has been a great five month run at the Hyde Park Art Center. My closure date looks like Nov. 30th 2020. Rhythmism Lives! The production count looks impressive.  During this time four 40" X 50" textile panels were dynamically designed and technically executed using archival materials.  Over forty items of wearable-art were produced, gifted or sold.  

All documented and shared on video and photos using a variety of platforms.

The major curator-at-large, Dan Nadel, came from Brooklyn to witness, feel, experience all things Rhythmistic in this unique studio setting. (He had previously decided to include some of my early published Rhythmistic works and documents from the 1970s & '80s in a book and group exhibition planed for the Spring of 2021 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. This was an ever-cool coincidental follow up visit. )

 I made the sharp pivot from the complex long running experimentation of this creative initiative of mine to affirmed in the future-primitif notion of Rhythmistic Visual Art.  Due to Covid- accommodations various aspects and features of the Residency understandably did not manifest.  

But my mind was on my art and my art was on my mind.

During this time of exclusion based on casteism, ageism, racism, classism, lack of vision, repressive arts orthodoxy, creative bias, political lies, protests, riots, omni-phobiaism, random violence and just plain fucked-upedness....... I met my artistic objectives and Rhythmistic goals with producing a surprising  healing art-therapuetic side-effect to boot! 

 Those who manifest the ism-schisms listed above are welcome to read my Wiki!

Those who plan to copy my works and steal ideas to enhance their hyper derivative selves without due credit, the Demi-Gods of All Things Innovative will visit you with The Seven Freaky Bad Creative Karmas.  Heed No, Seek No, Speak No, Do No, Express No, Publish No, &  Make No Rhythmistic Evil!

 I sent out hundreds of notices and invitations globally to major and minor players and institutions in the visual & creative or expressive arts.  To those who plan to follow up with appropriate professional offers to collect or exhibit my works in the coming post-Covid renaissance, I am ready.  My Rhythmistic Art  collections and thematic  bodies of work plus decades of published documentation are the stuff of genius. Fodder for smart investment. Tools of open art appreciation.

They are the important fruits of intelligent labor and artistic practices that were underscored by a rigorous education and career path that welcomed meaningful oversight. 

Rhythmism is so on time.  It is not trendy.  It is not fashion. Rhythmism Lives!"

 

Nov. 13th, 2020

Friday The 13th

 CHICAGO- Under the recent guidance of the Covid related modifications in the State of Illinois, the Directors of the Hyde Park Art Center have decided to limit program activities that require face-to-face situations. However its current slate of Artists In Residence will be able to continue their scheduled practices as they are deemed essential to their creative lives and professional activities.

"Mopogwe Funerary Masque". On assorted silks. Size: About 45 inches squared. Unfinished.

 Rhythmistic Visual Artist, Turtel Onli, will focus on his long running future-primitif treatments of selected world icons from various world cultures as an homage to artworks of creative heritages that were destroyed, marginalized, or lost during the colonial processes that swept those countries.

"Bambara MaDonna" On various cottons: Size: 

About 45 inches wide and about 80 inches in length.

Onli feels that by embracing them as source material in this Rhythmistic narrative they can be renewed and empowered in the present dynamic canons of collecting Fine Arts and in the growing interest of Art Appreciation.

Nov. 8th, 2020

"The Birth of Rhythmism"

Way back in the 20th Century I was living and working in Paris as a free-lance illustrator.  Along the way I won a French National Drawing Contest that resulted in a solo exhibition.

 I named it: "Presenting My Rhythm / Rhythmistic Art". 

It ran for a month with great critical acclaim along with traffic.  It was at the FIAP, where various groups of cultural tourists an professionals interested in learning about Paris and France came.  There were soccer teams from Argentina to businessmen from Viet Nam.  I got to watch them while they looked at the art. I talked with many of them. 

 These profound exchanges helped convince me to stay the path and to keep working on all things Rhythmistic.

I worked for the American Language trendy hip newspaper, "The Paris Metro".  I was in their regular rotation and tried to sneak as much Rhythmism as possible in my efforts.  It was usually screened out.  Sanitized.  This went on until a new art director came along.  In a treatment about the Paris Punk scene it also mentioned that FIAP Solo exhibition in a inset about me and the writer/book critic, Ron Blunden.

Unfortunately I lost my original art and issues of that newspaper. However I did locate a photocopy of it.

The article was entitled "As My Guitar Gently Weeps". Unfortunately the folks that ran the Paris Metro newspaper hid from me info about all of the fan mail and requests for my services that resulted from that dynamic illustration back in 1978.  One of the publication's owners was South African and didn't like the idea of a kaffir getting glory from his newspaper.

After a while, I decided to return to Chicago because they would not help me to secure a proper work identity registration with the French Government. I was fatigued from working under-the-table and often being vastly underpaid!  

Back in Chicago where I was still renting a kick-ass two-bedroom coach-house full of art supplies and a great landlord. There in a position of security and power to morph ONLI STUDIOS into an indie-publisher moving my operation beyond the limits of free-lance illustration and back-stabbing politics.

But I did learn that Rhythmism was real and that Systemic Racism would require some special attention from me. I was 26 years old. 1978 was great!
 

 Nov. 4th 2020

Word!

This week I have two things hitting the mean killing streets of Chicago. One is a killa quick and the deep illustration of the late Brotha From the Outer Rings of Saturn, Mr. Sun Ra. I did this illustration for the print reboot of the mega 'zine Roctober for one of my gray Soul Brothas .....Jake, its publisher.

Sun Ra for Roctober by Onli Oct. 2020

 Then I  had my guy, Robert Mc Corkle, write an article about the Black Arts Guild for my ever-smooth soul sistah....... Leila's ......Metropolis!....

Which by the way....I founded B. A. G.  in 1970...... to facilitate a path and process for kick-ass mega gifted young Blacks-Like-My-Ass..... young visual artists to make the transition from energized student.... to professional. 

 Needless to say there was no path in place.  So I saw....I came...we kicked! B.A.G. won!

Of course that stuff.....got me marginalized and Black-balled back then and even now in most art circles, chronicles and research.  

But both publications drop the truth out there. In two print publications! Metropolis!  Roctober! Along with their web versions. 

I am almost famous...again! And yes one of my fave Aunts was named Ruth.  So I can say, "That is da truth Ruth!"

I buttress this all against the healing aspects of this five or so months Flex Residency at the Hyde Park Art Center. They rock like no other Art Center on Planet Earth! I know.....I have checked them all out!

 As I pass my fifty plus years of professional artmaking I recall that late great actor Sean Connery saying in one of his vital roles," A Tiger in winter is most dangerous!

 Nov. 2nd 2020

"Purpose in action!"

In a random post this morning I read about the Japanese concept of ikigai.

To those in the West who are more familiar with the concept of ikigai, it’s often associated with a Venn diagram with four overlapping qualities: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

 Make three lists: your values, things you like to do, and things you are good at. The cross section of the three lists is your ikigai.

But, knowing your ikigai alone is not enough. Simply put, you need an outlet.

 Ikigai is “purpose in action." 

Prof. Turtel Onli, M.A.A.T. Nov. 1st 2020 at this Rhythmistic Residency at the Hyde Park Art Center per its generous Flex Residency Program Summer / Fall 2020. 

I really appreciate all of the folks connected with this residency. It is an honor and asset befitting a long productive life in the visual arts. Reflection and process.  Ideas and artworks. I love this place! Covid or not! 

I happened upon this idea of purposeful-action when I first drew with a pencil at about age of three.  The sparkles that went off in my brain and what could flow from the point of a pencil told me my purpose in life, my role, my chance to do for a greater good. I learned about the complicated  lives and lucrative careers of visual artists like DaVinci, Disney, Kirby, Dali  and Rockwell, to which I felt a kinship.  I stayed the course of purposeful action. 

From the 1981 solo exhibition: "The Rhythmistic Jimi".

As life routinely stepped in with complaints,  abuses, distractions, insults and damaging demands from my social, family, personal and professional lives........I still was focused.  When beaten down and impoverished, insulted or violated, I bent, but did not break. I paused, but did not stop. When became self-destructive, I followed with being aggressively self-healing.   I was resilient, surging in my return to all things Rhythmistic. 

I knew then.....during my early youth, as I have proven now....in my vintage years, that Rhythmism Lives. 

  Now in this digital age it seems all that matters are hits on social media. "Likes" as they are called. Plus anyone with rudimentary computer skills can anoint themselves as a "Creative Entrepreneur". 

I wonder how much food costs when buying it with those precious 10,000 "Likes".

I was once interviewed by a struggling Black student in Art Therapy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  All he wanted to know about was how did I cope with systemic racism when I attended that school.  He had no interest in visiting my studio to see and learn about my 12 year practice as a clinical/community based Art Therapist.  He bluntly stated he was not interested.  

At that time I had two very dedicated studio interns who were learning about the use of certain art materials to achieve a therapeutic impact.  Neither of the two were Art Therapy students.   His loss, their gain.

The Black Arts Guild in 1973

In the mainstream and underground Art World there seems to be rare interest in this youthful successful efforts to organize and direct for eight years a dynamic productive self-sustaining arts guild that effectively facilitated the transition of youthful, gifted visual artists into creative professionals.  I secured a major grant to showcase this guild in exhibition, retrospective panel discussions and publication but needed a non-profit partner to administer the funds plus hosting the event.  

After a full year of reaching out on a local, regional, national and international level the grant offer lapsed because I found absolutely no takers.  Not even among Arts organizations where the guild members had worked or those who claim in be so about the creative value of Black Art.  That guild was together for eight full years. Decades before folks thought "Black Lives Mattered"!

With purpose / action I have had my moments, awards and rewards.

This is where the nexus of creativity, culture and commerce reveal the undercurrent of doing what I love, am good at, in a way that the world needs, along with getting paid for it.  This is purpose.  Purpose is my Ra. The source and value of all things Rhythmistic.  The process is real action!  Not simply healing. 

Onli working in his studio on the Rhythmistic Bench when he was under eviction-orders, serious personal tensions, in between jobs and under the gravity of school loans in default.  Note the small model of the bench in the lower right area of the photo.

Life itself is a continual act of healing.  

When I connect to my genetic future-primitif flow, it yields a healing component.  I know all of this is of great value, and beyond the dense filters from the domains of the social, professional, career, personal or family.  Where are they when Rhythmism is alive?  Where will they be when the worlds of creativity wraps itself around Rhythmism?  

Not only did the bench meet the deadline but Onli's was the first one to be completed for this project even though he was the last one  among 27 selected artists to secure a contract. Time meets purposeful action. That was in May 1995.

Ok. show me!  Not the money....but the purposeful action over a lifetime.  For me that will be a showcase of virtues and character that I may never see.  But I shall see me doing much more Rhythmistic visual art from experimental to affirmed.  Because "Rhythmism Lives!!