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Tango Moments with Jordana

May 4, 2014

When I first saw Jordana’s Tango art from a distance, I could have sworn they were black and white photographs.

Upon closer inspection I discovered they were paintings. She is that good. Since she paints with India Ink (a black ink that can be watered down) her work has a soft flowing feel to it, almost as if the dancers are really moving; a moment caught in time. Her subjects are our local dancers, often immediately recognizable, sometimes not.  She says some of the best ones can’t be shown publicly, for various reasons. Knowing that, how can one not be intrigued to see them?

Jordana del Feld is a trained artist with an MFA from NYU. She studied watercolour and figure drawing in the Beaux-Arts style in the New York atelier of Christopher Young.  She continued her art education at Parsons School of Design and the San Francisco Art Institute.  You can find her work is in private collections and has exhibited with the San Francisco Women Artists’ Gallery and the Studio Gallery.

Jordana is not just an artist, she is also a dancer and a writer (and many other titles). Perhaps because of this, she understands what it feels like to be a subject of her work. She uses her own experiences to capture the magical moments that happens between people in Tango.

Being a fan of her tango paintings, I asked her for an interview to learn more about the inner workings of this dynamic tanguera/artist.  As you will see, her answers proved aptly captivating.

Jordana del Feld at work
Jordana del Feld at work

SF Loves Tango:  What brought you to Tango and what does tango mean to you?

Jordana:  I have no idea. I generally act in order to learn, instead of the other way around. So I’ll let you know in fifty years. I also love a challenge. A ballet dancer friend once said “Argentine tango is the most difficult dance in the world!” So although I had never seen tango, I thought, “cool. Some day I’m going to do that.” I used to do a lot of martial arts. But I didn’t want to get my nose broken, so I stopped. I also used to do a lot of swing and ballroom, but didn’t find them intellectually demanding enough. Fifteen years after the ballet dancer’s remark, I saw a demonstration of ordinary social tango at the symphony, and it clicked. Here was the perfect blend. Finally, something that would never stop blowing my mind. I didn’t know at the time that it would hurt a lot more than karate…but that just makes it more of a challenge.

What does tango mean to me? I like the “tán-go: to hear and be heard” t-shirt. But whenever I say “it’s this,” I’m neither wrong nor right. I usually say, “it’s a lens through which we view life.” Or, “it’s yoga for two.” Or, “there are many paths but only one way, and this is one path.” Not wrong. But the act of saying them misses the point. Maybe I should add, “it’s what you can’t verbalize.” I like other people’s “wrong” answers because they teach me what I think. Someone said, it’s a challenge to be elegantly passionate. But for me, a choice to emphasize elegance and passion creates artificial boundaries: if I tell the dance what I think it should be, I don’t  allow it to be what it is. Someone else said, “it’s a social dance!” With which I disagree so much that I’ve now come full circle and agree, in all its disturbingly minimalist glory.

SF Loves Tango:  What inspired you to start drawing tango?

Jordana:  I like subjects with compelling narratives, dynamic composition, complexity, and simplicity. And I’ve always loved English murder mysteries. I’m driven to solve puzzles, secrets fascinate me, the seething amoral intensity of human nature is mesmerizing, and how we try to package all that up into something socially acceptable is brain fodder for a lifetime. I love the contrast between homo and sapiens, the balance between rational and irrational. I love thinking I know what’s going on and then realizing I have no idea at all. Sometimes I question my ethics in painting tango. It is, after all, none of my business. The public intimacy of tango never stops confusing me—not the perceived intimacy of a flashy leg wrap, but the invisible moments that happen between two people, that are just for them and nobody else. It would be better to avert my eyes. But then I tell myself, we all agreed upon a social pact by showing up, that we could all see and be seen. It’s like eating garlic: if everybody’s doing it, then it’s okay. And when I see that beautiful moment, it bugs me and bugs me and I must draw it.

guille3

SF Loves Tango:  What technique do you use to create your work?

Jordana:  I video dancers with my phone, which is the hardest part of the process. The best moments usually happen in places where it’s too dark for a camera to see. Sometimes I try anyway, and then have to decipher red and black blurs that feel like they’re about one pixel per square inch. I go through the clips frame by frame to find the right moment. I use the stills as references to freehand sketch all my pictures. No tracing. I make a very precise pencil outline on watercolour paper. You can’t erase over ink, so getting the foundation drawing exactly right is the highest stakes part of the process. Then I paint the grisaille, using a brush with full-strength permanent India ink in my right hand and a brush with plain water in my left hand. India ink is great because it has a strong black and dries instantly. On the other hand, it has a strong black and dries instantly—so the pressure’s on! Once you make a mistake, it’s there forever and everyone will see it, because covering up marks with white paint doesn’t work. Ink also leaves hard edges around its brush strokes, which is great when you want a sharp outline, and horrible when you want to draw something soft, like skin or hair. I handle soft areas and shadows by dropping ink into water on the area in question.

SF Loves Tango:  What are people’s reactions to recognizing themselves in your work?

Jordana:  Can I talk about people’s reactions to recognizing their friends and lovers instead? Because that’s universally positive. Ohmygosh, that’s amazing, so beautiful, looks just like them, I want one, etc. Most people recognize their friends with mind-blowing speed—even if the pictured friend is barely visible or defined—and they get excited. It’s like knowing someone with a Wikipedia entry. But when it’s themselves in the picture, the first thing people usually remark on is some aspect of themselves they feel insecure about. Painting people is extremely delicate social balance, especially for me, because I have no imagination. I see what I see and have difficulty pretending otherwise. I love all my subjects exactly the way they are in that moment, otherwise I wouldn’t paint them, and I think nothing is as beautiful as the truth. If it’s true, then it’s beautiful. If I make it up, it’s worthless. I don’t paint moments of bad technique. Dancers are beautiful people. I wish they would see themselves with as much love as I do!

andreamini4Sometimes people are happy and proud. Sometimes their smiling faces tell me they feel like they have to complain for form’s sake, to look modest, but inside they’re thrilled. A few visiting pros have seen my dancers on walls and protested, “hey, where’s my picture?” All in good time, guys…. Sometimes people are unnerved, like I’ve not only seen them naked, but shown their secret
nakedness back to themselves. That thing they were hoping nobody would notice. And sometimes, they notice nothing at all! I can feel like I’m yelling secrets from the top of the town bell-tower and nobody notices anything! It’s just like a milonga. People like to commemorate and share times when they were happy. In that way, my pictures act like glorified selfies. “Hey, there’s me, dancing with that guy/chick! I enjoyed that dance, I like that person, and man, we look great together!” I think they also find validation in being witnessed and recorded. That thing I thought I felt really happened. See, here’s a picture of it.

SF Loves Tango:  Do you solicit commissions?

Jordana:  I love commissions! Commission me! What could be nicer than a picture of yourself and/or somebody you care about, doing something you love? Let me capture your moment.

SF Loves Tango: Where can people see more of your paintings?

Jordana:  They’re currently for sale at la Pista, 768 Brannan, SF; Studio 1924, 1924 Franklin, Oakland; and Keiko’s dance studio at the Kabuki Salon, 771 Bush, SF. And on my site, jordanadelfeld.com.

Thank you Jordana!

 

Filed Under: Musings Tagged With: Argentine Tango, Bay Area Tango, Jordana del feld, Tango art, Tango dancing

Tango scenes in SF

sflovestango

Celebrate #bayareatango community, support everyone involved & share ♥️ of #tango with San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

sflovestango
🦃 Thanksgiving is only one week away!! If you a 🦃 Thanksgiving is only one week away!! If you are in town and up for a weekend of post-turkey (ham/steak/veggies/stuffing or whatever dishes you're having) embraces, 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐮𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚 ~ 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨 at @verdiclubsf is ready for you!!

🍁 Brought to you by @tanguera_e, @jesram_sf, and Adolfo C.
🔗 event link in our bio!👆
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#tango #argentinetango #tangoargentino #specialevent #tangoevent #milonga #alternativetango #afternoonmilonga #eveningmilonga #thanksgivingweekend #bayareatango #sflovestango
@bandonegrotango 2023 Autumn USA and Canada Tour s @bandonegrotango 2023 Autumn USA and Canada Tour started with a 💥 at @thetangodome last Saturday in Oakland, CA!! They blew off the roof and also took our breath away❤️‍🔥 Enjoy snippets from that magical night and don’t miss their 2nd and final stop in the SF Bay Area TOMORROW at @tangolabruja ❣️🎶🎵🎻🪗
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#tango #argentinetango #tangoargentino #specialevent #onenightonly #TangoConcert #contemporarymusic #tangomusician #tangoorchestra #bandonegro #ontour #milonga #tangoevent #socialdancing #bayareatango #sflovestango
✨TANGO THIS SATURDAY Oct 28✨ 𝕆𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝟛 for Tango Aficionados in SF Bay Area… 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐚, October Edition at @thebeatberk in Berkeley!! Longest running All-nighter in the North America since 2000~ Share your warmest embrace with out of towners and welcome new dancers from @stanfordtango and @berkeleytangoclub ~

Hosted by @tangonnection and @ayano.yoneda.tango
9:00p - 10:00p Special Chacarera Class with guest teacher Helene Eriksen
10:00p - 4:00a Milonga with guest DJ @prashantiyer 
Chacarera break around 1:00am

event details link in bio👆
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#tango #argentinetango #tangoargentino #allnighter #milonga #tangoevent #socialdancing #bayareatango #sflovestango
✨TANGO THIS SATURDAY Oct 28✨ 𝕆𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝟚  for Tango Aficionados in SF Bay Area… @bandonegrotango is kicking off their 2023 Autumn USA & Canada Tour at the one and only @thetangodome in Oakland!! 🎵🎶🎼🪗 Nightclub Style Tango at its best! DJ @jonas.aqui will keep you dancing in between live music sets.

Brought to you by @macaronifinearts and @voulkosfoundation with ❤️ event link in bio👆contact tangodome@gmail.com for ticket info 🎟️🎫
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#tango #argentinetango #tangoargentino #specialevent #onenightonly #TangoConcert #contemporarymusic #tangomusician #ontour #milonga #tangoevent #socialdancing #bayareatango #sflovestango
🍁The last weekend of October is quickly approac 🍁The last weekend of October is quickly approaching and it’s popping!🥳 

✨FRIDAY✨ 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 in San Francisco with DJ Dan Boccia visiting from Anchorage, Alaska! Hosted by @tangosabor 

🎵ABOUT DJ DAN🎵
The music is what first drew Dan to tango in 2000, and he still loves the music deeply. His DJ journey began with college dances using vinyl in the late 80s, continuing on to DJ for several kinds of social dances through the 90s, and he has been DJing tango events throughout North America since 2001, including an epic all-nighter at the Beat in Berkeley CA in 2003 that lasted 9 1/2 hours, ending around 7:30am! He enjoys studying the crowd and selecting songs in the moment, with seamless transitions between tandas, taking the dancers on a dynamic journey with the music.
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#tango #argentinetango #tangoargentino #milonga #tangoevent #socialdancing #bayareatango #sflovestango
✨Not to be missed this week✨ learning from one ✨Not to be missed this week✨ learning from one of the best tango artists and teachers, Moira Castellano❣️ event details link in bio👆
October is a busy month for Tango in San Francisco October is a busy month for Tango in San Francisco!🍁 Starting off… Charles Gorczynski returned to the Bay Area and WEST COAST TANGO ENSEMBLE world premiere at @thetangodome last Saturday, October 14, 2023!!🎶❤️‍🔥 hosted by @macaronifinearts & @voulkosfoundation 

Featuring:
@redwoodtango 
@devan.moran 
@basmaedreesviolin 
@keikocadby 
@charithp 
@antonestaniel 
Stella Bonilla
@amiblami13 
@fabricanfabricant 
@steelnhammers 

#sanfrancisco #bayarea #tango #argentinetango #contemporarytango #tangomusic #tangomusicians #livemusic #milonganight #tangodancers #specialevent #onenightonly #sflovestango
On October 10th, 1902, one of the greatest bandone On October 10th, 1902, one of the greatest bandoneon virtuoso was born in La Boca, PEDRO LAURENZ (10/10/1902-7/7/1972). His birthday was celebrated at @el_valenciano1153 with an interactive lecture by @ayano.yoneda.tango so many of us got to know what makes his music special, how he became who he was, and the stories of his career told by his rivals and colleagues. Of course, the usual Tuesday night social dancing at El V was only complete when plenty of Laurenz’ music were danced to throughout the night!

Brought to you by @tangosabor
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#specialevent #bayareatango #sanfrancisco #bailemostango #tangoislife #morethandancing #tangomusic
Las Chicas del Tango @thetangodome Oakland, Califo Las Chicas del Tango
@thetangodome
Oakland, California
26 de agosto de 2023

Piano @sfsumi
Violín @basmaedreesviolin
Contrabajo @hannahmacgilv
Bandoneones @sinai_rim y @clarastern_bandoneon
Cello Vicky Ehrlich

#repost 📸 @clarastern_bandoneon 
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#tango #argentinetango #specialevent #onenightonly #sanfrancisco #oakland #bayareatango #femalemusicians #livemusic #thedome #womenintango #chambermusic #contemporarytango #bayareaconcert #powerhouse #sflovestango
It's been a while since we do a spotlight on any t It's been a while since we do a spotlight on any teacher. But someone like @lucianavallel who has been a regular visiting teacher for over 20 years, we are very glad to welcome her back to San Francisco for the first time post-pandemic! (link in bio!👆)

Starting with pre-Milonga class this Thursday Aug 10 at @milongamalevaje, Friday Aug 11 at Milonga Genesis (hosted by @tangosabor) and two weekends of Intensive Tango Workshops at Monte Cristo Social Club (event link in bio👆)!
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#tango #argentinetango #tangoargentino #tangoclass #tangoworkshop #tangoteacher #tangoartist #sanfrancisco #sflovestango #bayareatango
Any time at @tangamente.sf is a great time to revi Any time at @tangamente.sf is a great time to review the social tango etiquette, a.k.a. The Rules of the Road, courtesy of @tangonnection & @ayano.yoneda.tango ♥️
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #tangofestival #tangomarathon #etiquette #floorcraft
❤️‍🔥 @tango_with_winnie and @hugosatorre ❤️‍🔥 @tango_with_winnie and @hugosatorre continued their SF Tour with a weekend of Adventures in Tango Land at @tangodome !

They first blew us away with Saturday Tango Nightclub joining forces with The Dome's house band, Orquesta Tipica Domo, including a special guest artist Aude Bresson.👏 Then they kept the adventures going with a Sunday afternoon Live Music Practica for Dancers! 🎶❣️🎵🎹

If you miss out The Dome events completely, check out our stories for a few highlights!👆 Want to feel the magic of their music in person? Don't miss the rest of their SF tour!👇
~Tuesday 6/27 at El Valenciano (hosted by @tangosabor w/ Julian)
~Saturday 7/1 at @tangamente.sf (hosted by @tanguera_e and @jesram_sf)

☝️Links in bio!
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #specialevent #livemusic #tangomusic #contemporarytango #tangodancers #bailemostango
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