I don't live in Pilsen, Pilsen lives in me

So I walk in and this studio doesn’t look like it belongs in Pilsen it’s so light & airy and seems like it belongs in a country field, I can immediately see how beautiful works of art are made here. In such a tranquil space your eyes and mind are immediately drawn to the 6 large dark graphite and pencil drawings tacked on the walls, they are in a transitional state yet the idea behind them sticks in your mind permanently. 

When John Pitman Weber comes down from his home above the studio, I don’t immediately notice he is there, clearly I was too caught up in looking through his bins of prints, music choices and colorful tiles. What I don’t expect next is the lively conversation that comes next, he claims to intimidate his students because of his talkativeness, what he doesn’t know is I’m a talker too!

The conversation went from our shared love of Patzcuaro, Mexico to how you shouldn’t use the soil in Pilsen to garden, which ventured into an extensive conversation about oil refineries and the boundaries it’s crossing. Throw in about 30 minutes on religion and the loss of symbolism in today’s society, while at the same time analyzing how the government is abusing their power through their excessive monitoring and I almost forgot that John makes some of the most beautiful mosaics and unforgettable prints. The colors and images he chooses conjure thoughts of serenity and a deep sense of peace. With cranes, foxes, flowers and butterflies all skillfully and thoughtfully laid out they lure you to stay and stare longer than originally planned. 

Although John wasn’t sure yet if the *graphite and pencil drawings would be on display for Pilsen Open Studios the rest of his work and studio is definitely worth checking out on Oct 15th & 16th. 

*(I can’t say the title or concept behind the drawings, however I can say that he will be looking to show them in Pilsen soon.)