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Art

Korber's Atelier Ponce, PR

Ponce's studio has been a place of constant reflection, bringing with it the uncomfortable luxury of deep introspection. It has been a time of exploration into fields of philosophy, science, and art that have expanded and deepened my awareness and understanding. Always wary of logical fallacies and cognitive biases, I have endeavored to gain insights into the totality of the human condition from a variety of vantage points, from diverse schools of thought, varying in their approaches and their conclusions.

Korber art studio Ponce, PR

The common weaknesses and strengths of our bodies, those caused by physiology and those caused by psychology, have always been of particular interest to me in my study of anatomy. My ongoing fascination with the dismantling of the human body mechanics brought about a new deeper dimension to my lines. Today, more than ever before, my figures express the richness of their story with all the ephemeral detail of their anatomical distortions.

I set out on a search of the why behind human behavior. This intellectual exploration began with epistemology and logic and led me through other areas of philosophy, spirituality, culture, history, all the way to psychology and neuroendocrinology. In this never-ending quest, I continue to discover and explore the works of many great teachers such as Lao-Tzu, Thich Nhat Hanh, Slavoj Žižek, David Livingstone Smith, and Robert Sapolsky, to name but a few.

It is here that I...

  • Walked on the many beaches admiring the sunrises and sunsets.

  • Watched a lunar and solar eclipse.

  • Stood on the top of the cliff in tall grasses swayed by the wind as their gentle sound overpowered the breaking waves down below.

  • Enjoyed many shots of espresso expertly prepared by my favorite barista and a dear friend.

  • Played dominoes with friends in the mountains.

  • Had ice cream in Ponce Pueblo.

  • Ate the best pasteles ever.

  • Had many café con leche.

  • Enjoyed empanadillas de chapín (fish empanadas) on the oceanside boardwalk.

  • Stayed in an off-grid treehouse in the midst of the tropical forest.

  • Was serenaded by the sounds of coquis.

  • Ate a selection of tropical fruits and vegetables from local farms.

  • Invited my temple bell to sound in daily reflection.

  • Was treated to some of the best coffee by a dear friend, a certain Chicago-based author.

  • Witnessed unity and kindness arise in the face of natural disasters.

My time in Ponce also included a brief period of seclusion. Every few years, I deliberately take a short time off to get back to the basics. I usually devote this time to the dissection of my line and color. Then I attend to them individually, to finally reunite them again and again.

While paintings were mostly commissioned, and I devoted most of my time to drawings. My ink of paper works grew in scale from 18x24 inches to 40 inches by 6 to 9 feet. I turned all the walls of my studio into a giant sketchbook to get up close with complete freedom of movement. The Oversized Drawings series is the result of this re-examined approach to my line.

Memories from artist's studio in Ponce, Puerto Rico

Photo of a drawing titled- Castles in the Sky... aka Cupcake by Artist Michael J. Korber on ink on paper in his Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Photo of a painting detail of New paths of humble beginnings by artist Michael Korber in oil on linen. from his Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Photo of Scott - a tribute to a friend
Photo of a painting by Artist Michael J. Korber titled Organized chaos... systematically taken in giant steps in oil on linen - from his Ponce Atelier.
Oversize Series drawing titled - Striving Forward… Regardless of Overwhelming Challenges  in ink on paper by artist Michael J. Korber Fracchiolla.
Photo of a painting detail of New paths of humble beginnings by artist Michael Korber in oil on linen. from his Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Photo of New paths of humble beginnings by artist Michael Korber in oil on linen
Detail of Painting by Artist Michael J. Korber titled Organized chaos... systematically taken in giant steps in oil on linen - Ponce Atelier.
Clay works by artist and sculptor Michael J. Korber in his Ponce Atelier
Painting detail by Artist Michael J. Korber titled a balance between the real world and the dream world in oil on linen - Ponce Atelier.
Painting by Artist Michael J. Korber in oil on linen - Ponce Atelier.
Photo of Artist Michael J. Korber's in Ponce Pueblo. Puerto Rico
Detail of Painting of Surrender to a new beginning by artist and painter Michael J.Korber in oil on linen - Ponce Atelier
Drawing of Push Pull by artist and painter Michael J.Korber in ink on paper - Ponce Atelier
Detail of Painting of Surrender to a new beginning by artist and painter Michael J.Korber in oil on linen - Ponce Atelier
Drawing by artist Michael J.Korber titled Always the center of attention in ink on linen - Ponce Atelier
Detail of Painting of Surrender to a new beginning by artist and painter Michael J.Korber in oil on linen - Ponce Atelier
Detail of Painting of Surrender to a new beginning by artist and painter Michael J.Korber in oil on linen - Ponce Atelier
Photo of Ponce Pueblo in Puerto Rico
Painting of Push Pull by artist and painter Michael J.Korber in oil on linen - Ponce Atelier
Photo of Puerto Rico
Photo of Sunrise at Ponce Beach at Puerto Rico
Drawing titled Alignment... on a narrow path made for few by Artist Michael J. Korber on ink on paper - Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Photo of Ponce Pueblo in the South, Puerto Rico
Drawing by artist Michael J.Korber titled Always the center of attention in ink on paper - Ponce Atelier
Painting detail of Castles in the Sky by Artist Michael J. Korber on oil on linen in his Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
A page from Korber's sketchbook of artist Michael J.Korber in ink on paper - Ponce Atelier
Painting detail of Castles in the Sky by Artist Michael J. Korber on oil on linen in his Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Painting by artist Michael J. Korber titled Push and Pull in his Ponce Atelier
Painting titled Reflection on being within my place in the universe by Artist Michael J. Korber on oil on linen in his Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Painting titled Reflection on being within my place in the universe by Artist Michael J. Korber on oil on linen in his Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Detail of the Painting titled Reflection on being within my place in the universe by Artist Michael J. Korber on oil on linen in his Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Photo of Up top in Ponce mountains in Puerto Rico
Photo of Ponce Pueblo, Puerto Rico
Photo of Ponce Pueblo in Puerto Rico
Photo of Up top in Ponce mountains in Puerto Rico
A Fish eye view of the walls of Korber's Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Photo of Plaza Las Delicias in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Photo of Ponce Pueblo in Puerto Rico
Photo of Korber Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Photo of Michael and Teresa Korber in his  Atelier
Painting titled Reflection on being within my place in the universe by Artist Michael J. Korber on oil on linen in his Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Painting titled Reflection on being within my place in the universe by Artist Michael J. Korber on oil on linen in his Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Photo of Ponce Firehouse in Puerto Rico
Photo of Korber at Barrio Playa in Puerto Rico
Photo of Korber's maquette in clay in his Atelier - Puerto Rico
Painting titled The harmonious encounter between Monte & Mar by Artist Michael J. Korber on oil on linen - Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Painting titled Reflection on being within my place in the universe by Artist Michael J. Korber on oil on linen in his Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Oversize Series drawing titled - The Provisional Appearance of Operative Limbs  in ink on paper by artist Michael J. Korber Fracchiolla.
Photo of a A View of Ponce in Ponce Pueblo, Puerto Rico
Photo of Passiflora edulis in Puerto Rico
Clay works by artist and sculptor Michael J. Korber in his Ponce Atelier
Photo of chopin fritas at La Guancha, Ponce Puerto Rico
Painting by Artist Michael J. Korber titled Organized chaos... systematically taken in giant steps in oil on linen - Ponce Atelier.
Photo of Ponce Pueblo in Puerto Rico
Photo of Ponce Pueblo
Photo Portrait of Artist Michael J. Korber's in front of his pyrotechnic works in Puerto Rico
Waterfall
Photo of Tamarindo Beach in Puerto Rico
Oversize Series drawing titled - It all starts NOW... No time to waste  in ink on paper by artist Michael J. Korber Fracchiolla.
Detail of Clay works by artist and sculptor Michael J. Korber in his Ponce Atelier
Detail of Clay works by artist and sculptor Michael J. Korber in his Ponce Atelier
A Fish eye view of the walls of Korber's Atelier in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Oversize Series drawing titled - East meets west ... a new chapter awaits  in ink on paper by artist Michael J. Korber Fracchiolla.

About Ponce

Ponce is the largest city on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1692 and is home to many historical landmarks. Under Spanish rule during the 19th century, it flourished into the most economically and culturally thriving center of the island. The 19th century was also a time of intense architectural development, including the emergence of a unique style later known as Ponce Creole, which is a blend of Art Nouveau and neoclassical styles. This rich history contributes to the unique character of Ponce today.