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Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler "Billie"
Philadelphia, PA
sibyoung@hotmail.com
Born: (Steyr, O.Oe., Austria)
Lived/Active: New York/Pennsylvania / Austria
Profession(s): Painter, Printmaker
Known for: Figural, Portrait, Still Life, DANCE, JAZZ, AFRICAN AMERICAN, ROCK, MOZART,
Style(s): Contemporary, Loosely realistic with edge of abandon
Medium(s): Oil, Charcoal, Watercolor and gouache, Pastel, Acrylic
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BOOGIE WITH RED SHOES
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Thelonius MONK
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Artist Biography:
I was born in the ancient city of Steyr in Upper Austria and immigrated as teenager to the United States. While my art training started at home with my Father, Josef-Maria Pfaffenbichler, and Austrian art of the 20th century - Klimt and Egon Schiele in particular -, I received my formal education in New York City starting at the ART STUDENTS LEAGUE and later at the FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, FIT, State University of New York, graduating with a BACHELOR DEGREE IN FINE ARTS s.c.l. Textile Designer "VERA" hired me out of school and my first professional artistic endeavors were freely painted scarf designs in fresh watercolor for her company in Ossining NY
My path into Fine Art started out in the beautiful Brooklyn Botanical Gardens where NYC artist FRED GUTZEIT instructed "People Painting the Garden". Later at Long Island University, Advanced Art studies with PROF. ROBERT MUNFORD inspired me to draw bold and fearlessly. I created many spontaneous floral still lifes with the Sunflower as the dominant element.
Today my work consists of bold interpretations of music and dance from the early era of JAZZ up to ROCKN' ROLL of the 60's as well as MOZART's, aiming for a strong sense of movement. The era of American Rock n'Roll was such an exciting, energizing element in the world.
Growing up in Austria I feel great passion for Classical Music. My summer school vacations were spent in Salzburg, thanks to my Onkel Alois and Tante Mitzi. In other words, I spent my childhood summers with Mozart. The young, free spirited Mozart was quite a hero to me. Not too long ago I watched the movie "AmaDeus". There he was again, directing an orchestra playing his heavenly music with arms swinging that the ruffles snapped, his wig slipping and his body expressions moving from Dolce to Adagio to Fortissimo - utterly exciting! That was the inspiration to my series "MOZART IN MOTION".
And sometimes I get so wrapped up in the exciting music that I fuse it all together. I paint jazz people on top of my old classical sheet music; "Boogie Woogie on Wagner", "Jazz on Tchaikovsky", "Rossini Rocks" and on to Schubert and Bach.
My favorite media are charcoaled willow sticks, pastel, oil and acrylic. I have had several large solo exhibitions in New York City, the Hamptons of Long Island and Vienna, Austria.
The Hamptons of Long Island, New York, where I lived for 20 years, contributed greatly to my technical and intellectual growth - in 1993 I became President of a 300 member artist group - The Southampton Artists. I also was their Chairman for Guest Speakers for 5 years, that means I arranged for 50 speakers. Many great American artists live in the Hamptons and generously gave of their time, sharing their philosophy, techniques and life experiences. The one artist who left the fondest impression on me was LARRY RIVERS; the one who inspired me to think outside the box - ROBERT WILSON.
One of my most favorite artists is Franz Marc.
Over the years my growing conscience for social justice and charity found expression in a number of posters I rendered for labor unions through BREAD AND ROSES Cultural Projects, NYC, and GREENHOUSE Projects, Washington,DC; The Dominican Sisters for Health Care, against Domestic Abuse, and more
As of 2009 I live and work in PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania.
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Studied:
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), State University of NY, BFA summa cum laude
Art History with Richard Martin, Met
Advanced Art Studies Long Island University, Brooklyn and Southampton Campus
w Prof. Robert Munford
Art Students League, New York City
Volkshochschule Steyr, Austria "Portraits"
Staedtische Handelsakademie Steyr, Austria, Matura
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Exhibition Record (Museums, Institutions and Awards):
P.O.S.T. Exhibition, (Cfeva), VILLAGE OF THE ARTS & HUMANITIES, Philadelphia, October 2009
NEWMAN GALLERY, Philadelphia, "150 yrs Celebration Philadelphia Sketch Club", June 2009
Workshop Exhibition (Print Shop) Philadelphia Sketch Club,Philadelphia, May 2009,
ROSALIE DIMON GALLERY, Jamesport, NY, "JAZZ ON THE VINE", Feb. 5 - May 5, 2009, by invitation from the East End Arts Council, LI Wine Council and Suffolk County
PHILADELPHIA SKETCH CLUB, juried Group Exhibition "The Art of Flowers" March 2009
Book Cover for "Ein spaeter Privatier", Eugen Bartmer, ISNB 978-3-902602-05-3,
M.E.L. KUNSTHANDEL WIEN, Vienna, Austria
DESHUK-RIVERS GALLERY, Bridgehampton, LI, Solo "IN MOTION II", August 2008
Inclusion of Artwork in PETE SEEGER's Autobiography, "Where have all the Flowers gone" 09
UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC Southampton NY, Solo "IN MOTION, MUSIC AND DANCE", May-July 08
partial funding from New York Foundation for the Arts, EEAC
The SOUTH STREET GALLERY, Greenport, LI, "JAZZ CLUBS AND SILHOUETTES" May - July 08
partial funding from New York Foundation for the Arts, EEAC
EAST END ARTS COUNCIL, Riverhead, LI, Juried Show, "The Creative Process", April 2008
SOUTH STREET GALLERY, Greenport, LI, Solo Exhibition "IN MOTION" Nov - Dec , 2007
SOUTH STREET GALLERY, Greenport, Long Island, Group Show, Summer 2007
PURKERSDORF, VIENNA, AUSTRIA, Solo Show "The Joy of Dance" June 2007
PLAYBILL COVER FOR THE WESTHAMPTON BEACH PERFORMING ART CENTER FOR THE SEASON 2007-2008
SAVANNA'S RESTAURANT, Permanent Collection, Jazz Musicians and Dancers, Southampton NY
MEL CONTEMPORARY, Vienna, Austria, "Im Schatten Mozart's", Group Exh. Oct-Nov 2006
MEL ART FACTORY, Vienna, Austria, Solo Exhibition "MOZART, MONK & BOOGIE-WOOGIE" 2006
BREAD & ROSES CULTURAL PROJECTS, NYC, Group Exh. "Dance of an Open Mind"
NEW CENTURY ARTISTS GALLERY, CHELSEA NYC, Solo Exhibition "JAZZ AND JITTERBUG"
THE PARRISH ART MUSEUM, Southampton, NY, Juried Exhibition
BREAD & R0SES CULTURAL PROJECTS, NYC, Solo Exhibition "NANA"
partially funded by Austria Kultur Forum
GUILD HALL MUSEUM, East Hampton, NY, Invitational
FAVORITE AWARD - "Excellence in Watercolor" by Donna de Salvo (Parrish Art M.)
Southampton Artists Exhibition
HECKSCHER MUSEUM, Huntington, NY, Invitational
WATER MILL MUSEUM, Member Shows
ROGERS MEMORIAL LIBRARY SOUTHAMPTON, Solo Exhibition "JAZZ AND JITTERBUG"
COMMISSION FOR 23 WORKS FOR THE SERIES "MEMBERS AT WORK" FOR THE 1199 NATIONAL BENEFIT AND PENSION FUND HEADQUARTERS, HOSPITAL WORKERS UNION, NYC
COMMISSIONED POSTERS FOR SEIU-AFL, Washington DC
POSTERS and Work FOR CHARITY and ART ORGANIZATIONS - Labor-Religion, Dominican Sisters, Retreat, Southampton Historical Society, Guild Hall Museum, WH Performing Art Ctr. ....
First Prize AWARD FOR OFFICIAL POSTER (Landscape) FOR THE VILLAGE OF SOUTHAMPTON, LI, NY
HONORARY DESIGN OF CANCELLATION FOR IRVING BERLIN STAMP, WATER MILL U.S. POST OFFICE
15 YEARS OF EXHIBITING IN THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK OF SOUTHAMPTON - COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Numerous exhibition in Galleries, Businesses and Studios on the East End of Long Island, NY.
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Memberships:
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Member
The Philadelphia Sketch Club, Active Member
Phillyside Artist Group, Member
East End Arts Council, Member
Parrish Art Museum Outreach Committee 2001
Parrish Art Museum, 1989 - 2008, Member
Guild Hall Museum, Member
Water Mill Museum, Member
Southampton Artists, President 1993
Southampton Artists, Chairman of Guest Speakers 1990-95
15 years Organizer/Curator for monthly Chase Manhattan Morgan Bank Community Exhibitions, Southampton, 1989-2004
2 yrs Co-Chair for popular Authors and Illustrators Night and Original Art Exhibition, Southampton Elementary School,
15 years Contributing Artist and Writer to Childrens Paper | | |
Magazine and Newspaper References:
Hamptons.com "Art Swings At Jazz On The Vine", Nicole Brewer, Feb 2009
Southampton Press, Dec. 2007, "Canvases that Capture the Joy of Dancing" by Pat Rogers
Niederoesterreichische Nachrichten NOEN, June 2007, "Die Illusion der Bewegung", "Jazz-Taenzer wirbeln ueber Mozartnoten"
AUSTRIAN TV N1, Interview at Vernissage "The Joy of Dance", June 2007, Austria
Southampton Press:
New York Times
Dan's Paper
East Hampton Independent
Parrish Art Museum
1199 News
East Hampton Independent
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Cross References and Sources:
The Song is You" Jazz Station WLIU with Host Bonnie Grice - Interview on Painting JAZZ
Rogers Memorial Library Evening w Bonnie Grice WLIU and Jazz Musician John Lee
Art Interview on Public TV East Hampton, Lois Wright
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Artist Statement:
My goal is to create the illusion of movement on a flat surface. Dance and music are my playground. Once the dancing image is in progress I would like to take it beyond where the viewer is continuing the motion by experiencing the sense of the completion of a turn, anticipating the next step of the boogie, getting caught up in the excitement of the body lifting off the floor.... Dance is sheer joy but dance is also about sensuous feelings of attraction and desires. Movements convey moods, from romantic tenderness to seductive rythm to ecstasy -
All on a flat surface - that's the quest.
"...She (Pfaffenbichler) pictures the dancers less as objects moved by the music than as physical manifestations of the music itself. It releases the representation of dance in art from the more static artistic visualization of Degas and instead strives for Havelock Ellis's definition of dance as no mere '...abstraction from life: it is life itself.' " (Eric Ernst, artist and art critic, grandson of Max Ernst, Southampton Press article 'Library's Exhibition puts Jazz on Canvas', 2/28/2002)
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