Kim Larson - Hearing the Color

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In literature, the term “effictio” refers to a verbal depiction of someone's body, often from head to toe. I’m sure there is an appropriate word or phrase to summarize the beauty of the mosaic work that Oakland artist and friend, Kim Larson, crafts, but I don’t know of an adequate one. The best way to describe her method of interpreting the classic theme of the female form in such a unique way is to exclaim, "Totally awesome, dude!!!" (...and I can say that because I live in California.) Kim’s approach is fresh and new. It defies convention.

Instantly, after seeing her art for the first time, I knew I had to own a piece of it ....and today, this one rests on its own Victorian love seat in my living room, much to my delight. It sparkles and shines in the sunlight and possesses an almost ethereal demeanor....if inanimate objects can have a demeanor... :-) Everyone who enters the room is drawn to its beauty.


Scarlett

A large part of the appeal of Kim’s work is directly related to her choices of colors that absolutely titillate the senses. Kim writes,

“I am one of those people who can hear color...I can also see the colors of numbers and the days of the week. When I hug someone or get a massage, I am engulfed in colors swirling behind my eyes created by the feeling of being touched. I have only met one other person like this so far in my life. It's called Synesthesia and is a wonderful way to experience life, I think.”

Ruby

"I think my mosaic nudes capture the 'sound' of the flowing lines and voluptuous fullness of a woman's body. People react to that experience and can rarely put it into words while kindly complimenting me on the "lay patterns" of the glass or the '3 dimensional look' I can achieve. I love to give the viewer a 'feeling' like that. I have always known that art has to get beyond a person's intellectual reactions and hit them somewhere else - between the eyes, below the belt, in the first and second chakras....just somewhere NOT in their minds."

Kim places emphasis on the harmonies and varieties of the female body in a cutting edge, contemporary way that is wholly graceful. Her work challenges and overturns the more restrictive, complacent assumptions of a dominant tradition of representation and opens itself up to a broader and more distinctive iconic form.

Neptune


Green and Black Lovers


Blue Sitting Nude

The success of Kim’s artistic explorations transforms the language of aesthetics irrecoverably. This is new art, and I love it. It is totally awesome.....Dude!

Kim Larson has a web site at: Kim Larson Art
and a new blog at: Kim Larson Art Blog Her work will be on display soon at Nest in Napa, California. Kim accepts commissions for her work. She also creates custom substrates for mosaics, creates graphic art and makes children's furniture. See her web site for further details.


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Cartoon #6 for this week's Jen Worden Art Challenge...in which we are to depict some aspect of our lives in a cartoon each day for 7 days...
PACKED!!!
Click image to enlarge.

On Finding One's Inner Barbie - The Work of Audrey Mucci

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Tree Goddess




When I asked Audrey Mucci if I could write a piece about her for my blog, she told me that artist statements weren’t necessarily her cup of tea. She sent me a little blurb about the fact that she lives in Connecticut with her family, that she is a gallery director at a local community college…. and that she likes to collect ephemera. Interesting life.

I am a collector. I collect all sorts of things. My studio is filled with wonderful bits and pieces just waiting to be used in a piece of artwork. I am drawn to different shapes, colors and textures. The curve of a bottle, the yellow of a vintage apron, or the rough surface of a piece of rusted metal can all attract my attention. When using these things, I often think about how they were used before they found their way to me. I feel like I give them a new purpose by using them in my artwork. When I use these pieces or parts to make a sculpture, I also see my life. It is like putting together a puzzle–this goes into here, that goes somewhere over there. Initially, I do not know where every piece will go. It is in the creative process of putting the parts together that I begin to see the picture develop. This puzzle I am assembling is my own.

Audrey told me to look at the pictures of her work and said I could pretty much choose whatever I wanted to feature here. She makes all kinds of fantastic and thought-provoking art (see photo above), and as I browsed through her images, I realized that this was going to be a tough decision. The woman is talented! However, when I got to the set about Barbie, I knew I had arrived at my destination.


Barbie…the doll that manufacturers promote as an icon of cutting-edge womanhood, is viewed by many as, perhaps, the single most heinous reflection of sexism in a young girl’s life…and most certainly the bane of many a feminist mother's existence. Regardless of the fact that Mattel's current ad campaign for the much-maligned doll has traded in her anorexic image for neofeminist slogans and heartwarming rhetoric about rock climbing and math problem solving, I still tend to cringe when I see a little child holding one.

Audrey has put a special twist on the forty year old doll that put a smile on my face, however. I think you’ll enjoy this:

Ready for any occasion, this Barbie is always prepared! She has a heart in the top drawer and a condom in the bottom drawer.

Untitled

This is another piece with no title, but one reader suggested, “The Lights are On But Nobody’s Home…”

Untitled

This was Audrey’s first piece to sell in an exhibit:

Essence


Searching For My Inner Barbie

Hey, how ‘bout these condom-clad Safety Girls?

Safety Girls


Barbie is never just another pretty face…

Soaking in It

....but at times, she loses face…

See Whats Become of Me

This final piece, “Old New Piece” is one of my personal favorites.


Audrey writes, “ … the thighs rub together-just like in real life.”

Another blogger who calls herself, “The Urban Feminist” says, “I'd like to live in a world in which six-year-old girls aren't encouraged to be obsessed with dresses and make up, but I'm glad that I no longer live in a world in which six-year-old girls are encouraged to be obsessed with the circumference of their thighs.”

'Nuff said! Thank you, Audrey! Love your work...Oh...and happy belated birthday!

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Day #5 of the week-long portion of the Jen Worden Art Challenge to draw a cartoon that depicts some portion of every day. This one is called:

SHOPPING FOR ART SUPPLIES

My Hero - Yayoi Kusama

Yayoi Kusama


Since I was a child I have been in love with the work of Yayoi Kusama. Her art includes sculptures, books, performance art, installations and photo collages. Kusama is nearing 80 now and seldom allows herself to be photographed. Seeing her recently in a documentary about Marc Jacobs, (one of my favorite designers), prompted me to write today's entry about her.

Known as "The Diva of Dots", Kusama began her career by showing paintings in New York. These "net paintings" were large works with circular repetitive patterns. The example here, My Flower Bed (1965-66) is made of painted, covered mattress springs and stuffed gloves. This piece shows her frequent use of repetition and every day objects. The work suggests, as do the sculptures pictured in the background, a fragmented biomorphism and a lush and out of control blooming.
Her first sculpture (probably 1961) was an armchair covered with stuffed fabric phallic shapes and painted white. More objects covered with these phalluses followed. Kusama has also covered objects such as suitcases, coats and mannequins with macaroni and paint. Her installations often feature mirrors and polka dotted objects.



Yayoi Kusama's mental illness began in childhood when she began hallucinating the dots, nets and flowers which subsequently appear in her paintings and sculptures.



Kusama's most noted work was created between 1958-1968 in New York City. She has recently had a retrospective, Love Forever, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.






Today, Yayoi Kusama voluntarily resides in a mental institution in Japan.

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Day #4 of this week's Jen Worden Art Challenge:
Reading About Yayoi Kusama

(click image to enlarge)

Bert Simons - Hollow Paper Sculptures

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Do you ever happen across someone’s art that makes your heart race with excitement? Bert Simon’s paper sculptures do that for me. I was so happy to have received an email from Bert in the Netherlands this morning giving me permission to write about him on this blog!



Bert makes these hollow paper sculptures via a detailed and precise process that takes hours on end. Each piece takes around six hours of cutting, folding and coloring the edges before he applies the glue. These works of art are made in the same way as the familiar papercraft houses and animals that you see around.







Bert’s paper model of Harry Hamelink has been featured in a book about 3d graphic art called 'Tactile' and the October 2007 editions of 'Bright' magazine.





In July of 2006, Bert played a hoax on unsuspecting beach goers about green sea turtles that arrived at the shores of Dutch beaches due to a change in the Atlantic currents. For this project he made several realistic looking cardboard turtles and placed them on the beach as evidence of this rare side effect of climate change. I wish I had been there.

I would have fallen for it…hook…line…sinker!

CLICK HERE to go to Bert's awesome web site!

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For Day #3 of Jen Worden’s Art Challenge to draw a little cartoon each day for a week about our everyday lives, I came up with this little piece about how exasperated and utterly uninspired I feel with the continual gray skies and rain we have had in the Bay Area lately. I’m ready for some sunshine. How about you?!
EXASPERATED!
(click image to enlarge)

Dragonfly Bambuca

(click image to enlarge)

13.5 x 6.5 x 4"
Mixed media mosaic on wooden box
Stacy Alexander
2008

There are many myths associated with the dragonfly...some good...some bad. This piece was inspired by a Zuni Indian legend in which the dragonflies are shamanistic creatures with supernatural powers. The word, "Bambuca" comes from the national dance of Colombia, South America. It is characterized by cross accents in the music and was formerly danced only by the natives but became a ballroom dance to be added to the gentle Pasillo, a favorite with Colombian society. Sometimes, when I walk along the estuary that separates the island of Alameda from Oakland, I see entire ballets performed by dragonflies along the shore.



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Cartoon for Jen Worden's Art Challenge - this week's challenge is to depict some aspect of each day (of this week) in cartoon form. This is a tough one for me. Not good at drawing...but I'm having fun!


If you would like to join in Jen Worden's Weekly Art Challenges, please go to THIS WEB SITE and join the fun!

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Art as Subversive Communication - Honoring Laci Peterson and all victims of domestic violence

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This is the story of how I managed to expose information about domestic violence to tens of thousands of readers via one piece of my art. It is NOT a post about Scott Peterson, the tried and convicted killer of Laci Peterson.

Andy Warhol’s philosophy embraced the notion that fame dehumanizes people;that once a person becomes famous, they “belong” to the public. By excluding all sentimental associations his work spoke to the media’s ability to strip the famous of all characteristics that actually made them thinking, feeling human beings and made them objects to be loved or hated by people they had never met. His emphasis on heavy make up and overly glamorous representations of people were the vehicles by which he arrived at this destination.



Fast forward to the year 2002. Young, pretty Laci Peterson was reported missing and later found dead along the California coastline, tragically killed by her own husband. The media launched a massive campaign about the case and in the process, offered new exposure to the problem of domestic violence.

A cute picture of Laci’s smiling face appeared over and again in newspapers and on magazine covers across the country. I was horrified to read that people were disrespecting Laci and her family by selling things that had belonged to her on Ebay, making a spectacle of her that discounted who she was as a woman dehumanizing her just as Warhol's philosophy about fame had illustrated. This beautiful young victim of her husband's own hand became a media star, probably the last thing she would have wanted.


During the extensive search into Ms. Peterson’s whereabouts and subsequent media coverage outcries were evoked from those who claimed the public was witnessing what is known as “ Missing white woman syndrome” (MWWS), also known as “missing pretty girl syndrome” a term used to describe disproportionate media coverage of white female victims. The essential element of the syndrome is that the victim's gender, race, relative attractiveness and age matching the "damsel in distress" stereotype is alleged to result in positive discrimination in terms of media coverage and public interest in her case. With no disrespect to Ms. Peterson, there were and remain countless women who, because they are less attractive, whose rapes, beatings and murders are never mentioned in the media. This is why I created the mixed media piece, “Four Laci Petersons” in the style of Andy Warhol.



Accompanying the piece, I wrote about domestic violence and I used subversive marketing techniques to get this message across to the public. I uploaded the painting to Ebay and asked an exorbitant amount of money that I knew I would not get but if I had, I vowed to give the funds to charity……and I used the description field in the Ebay form to write my protest about the dehumanization of Laci in the media and about all the other victims of domestic violence who were never mentioned. I posted statistics about domestic violence set the auction for 10 days.

News of this event spread like wildfire and soon there were tens of thousands of hits on the Ebay Auction. That was all I wanted...to raise awareness. A newspaper reporter from the Contra Costa Times came to my studio for an interview and the story was picked up by the Associated Press and printed in newspapers across the country.

Subversive marketing. Getting the word out about an issue through art and creative thinking. If I only helped one person through this message, it will have been worth the effort.

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Since I have a whole slew of new subscribers to this blog, I should mention the weekly Jen Worden Art Challenges. Sigh up at the "Stretch Yourself" icon to the right of this post on the actual blog site. The exercises are fun, inspiring and not-too-difficult.

This week's challenge (#8) is to draw a cartoon that depicts our lives...one a day for each day of this week...upload to a site that hosts pictures and post the link to Jen's blog at: http://jenworden.com.

Here is Day #1 of the #8 Challenge for me:

Revenge is Living Well Without You

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Van Gogh's Eye
Acrylic on canvas panel
Stacy Alexander





When I made the above painting, my goal was to express as much emotion as I could in one simple element. What better subject could I use than the tumultuous life of Vincent Van Gogh? There was no need to paint the whole figure when I could tell the whole story just by painting the eye. I attempted to capture the pain, the sadness, the fear and the insanity...and I think I succeeded.


Compression. Simplifying. Reducing waste. These are all areas that have been holding my focus for awhile in areas of my emotional life ....which, of course, is directly connected to my art life. It is hard to have this attitude when one is a mixed media artist who views the entire world as one big treasure chest of offerings. It is so hard to pass by that coil of wire or to not pick up that rusty piece of metal that I know will go so well in a future assemblage. The downstairs portion of my loft is brimming with containers full of buttons and glass, images and fibers, papers and paints and so many found objects that I dare not try to count them all.

However, the kind of simplifying I want to talk about is more a state of mind, than a tangible item. It is the ability to simplify thoughts that will not allow the negativity of others to interfere with the creative process. Clearing the garbage of a third party's negative input out of one's heart and mind frees the spirit to create art that has more ...umph...to compress the elements that are most important into a more powerful work.

Compression. Try to say as much as possible with as few strokes of the pen, the brush, the collaged images, the mosaic tile, the design, the words ...as you can. Sometimes, less is more.

Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response:

For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.

See how powerful that is?

Read the title of this blog post. Six words by Joyce Carol Oates. Powerful and potent. Simple.

I got them from this video:


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In other news...

"If you wish to upset the law that all crows are black, you mustn't seek to show that no crows are; it is enough if you prove one single crow to be white."

William James

Over the last two weeks, I have had horrible, crushing headaches that require me to lie down until they are gone. During these times, I have dozed off and have had the same dream each time in which I was visited by a white crow. I finally decided to paint what I saw. Mind you, crows don't have beaks that are curved this much and this guy looks more like a sea gull than a crow... but then again...they don't usually fly over red clouds either. Anyway...this is a painting from my reoccurring dream....
White Crow
30" x 24"
acrylic on canvas
Stacy Alexander
2008

My friend, Jette, wrote from Scotland to say: "

Birds are usually a good omen in dreams, especially brightly coloured ones. Crows, OTOH, are often birds of ill omen, foretelling sadness to come (but not necessarily grief) - but then again, crows aren't usually white.

Looking at the colours of your picture - deep red means unexpected good news and white is "certain promise of success!.

So perhaps your white crow is an omen of good fortune and joy, perhaps from a situation you're expected sorrow?"

My friend, Kim, wrote:

"...crows are omens of good magic. They are omens of change and the master of shape-shifting. This is a quote from my Animal Medicine book:
"...Crow Medicine teaches you to let your personal integrity be your guide...to stand in your truth....walk your talk and speak your truth and know your life's mission...knowing a higher order of right and wrong....speaking in a powerful voice about issues you know to be out of harmony and balance and unjust..."

Tricia Joy Anders is Da Bomb!

Sadly, there are people who go through life with the "I never do anyone any favors..." attitude.

Friend and artist Tricia Joy Anders takes the opposite stance...and I love her for it.

In the years I've known her, I have witnessed this artist reaching out to other artists, freely sharing her vast artistic knowledge while showing encouraging support ...and I've never seen her ask a thing in return.

Since the first time I laid eyes on it, I have delighted in watching her art take many unique twists and turns, stretching her imagination and everyone else’s, resulting in amazing (She hates that word ;-) ) art dolls, paintings and altered this or that. She can touch just about anything and turn it into art. Look what she did with this roller skate!



Tricia is an integral part of Ten Women Gallery in Venice, California, a venue that stemmed from the desires of ten talented women to reach out to other artists and to share their visions of support with their entrepreneurial spirits....again, a breath of fresh air. I enjoy this sense of camaraderie so much.


Ms. Anders’ talent spans an area so vast that it is difficult to narrow one’s preferences. Add her creative nomenclature to the mix and you’ll find things such as “Dollywogs” and “Spuds” that will absolutely charm your socks off! Her anthropomorphic paintings are wholly captivating and always surprising to those of us who eagerly wait to see what she will come up with next.

Celestial Plants

No one would dare put Tricia’s edgy work into the “cute” category. Take a look at these almost menacing twins, one of whom, in the process of chewing a nail, bit off her own thumb!

(Tarty) Orangesicle Sisters


Tricia is forever turning bugs into people or people into bugs. She even did a mixed media series about anthropomorphic potatoes!



While her paintings span a wide array of subjects demonstrating her master level painting, Tricia's mixed media work is also unsurpassed in delightful fantasy vision. She uses paper clay, papier mache and other media to create all kinds of edgy sculptures. I have one of her incredible hearts hanging in my living room:



Tricia and her work have been featured on HGTV’s “Crafters Coast-to-Coast and in a number of arts and crafts magazines. Most recently, her art dolls appeared on the cover of Art Doll Quarterly:



I consider one of the best things about our upcoming relocation to Southern California to be my ability to spend time with Tricia. Let me say that its a good thing eye candy doesn't have a caloric equivalent to quality. I'd be as big as a barn by now! Please visit Tricia's online galleries at Art Propensity and see for yourself the wonders that are Tricia Anders!


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P.S.

Yesterday, I posted a picture of a little spirit doll that I made for a friend, Madeline. Today, re-worked it and like this version a lot more.

Smell the Roses

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Simplicity - Mixed media assemblage by Stacy Alexander

I've been thinking a lot about Jen Worden's last art challenge on the subject of simplicity. Finding simplicity may be one of the most complicated endeavors of my entire life, one that took a great deal of elbow grease to accomplish! As I worked through this challenge, I jotted down some notes that comprise today's post:

To See the World in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wildflower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour

William Blake

How many people do you know who find virtue in being busy every waking moment of their lives, who, in fact, are almost boastful about never having time to get out and enjoy life because they are so busy working? To me, this is not a good thing, and is certainly nothing to brag about.

Some days, life seems to be so in the moment, so busy that we are lucky to be able to see what the next hour will hold. Last November/December, I was one of those people... in school and working 12 hours a day and utterly exhausted by the time I got home at night so my art really suffered and I allowed myself to stress about this and that. I would leave our loft before the sun came up and get home after it had gone down. Art was still tugging at my brain, but it was very difficult to access.

Sometimes, it is best just to be still and look....to watch the common world that is familiar to us so that art can find its way into our minds again. Leonardo di Vinci used to encourage his students to sit still and stare at old, neglected walls. Before long, the patches of moss and mold would reveal the outlines of stories and scenes that were later transferred to onto their canvases. Sometimes being quiet and looking is all it takes to remind us what life actually is.

Now, whenever I am feeling stressed to the point that I can't make art, I make the time to venture out into nature and just sit, drinking in my surroundings until my inspiration returns. I usually take my camera along, too. I have managed to capture some places and moments in time that I found particularly inspirational and relaxing:








Albert Einstein said, "I like to think that the moon is there even if I am not looking at it”" I say we should stop and actually look at it.

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My friend, Griselda made a wonderful little talisman/"spirit doll" that hangs on my wall as a spiritual healing element in my life. Today, in keeping with Gris' style, I created this little healing energy doll for my friend, Madeline, who will be going into the hospital in just a few days for surgery. It was my first attempt at this type of doll and was not as easy as it looked!

Cruelty Free Gesso , Art Dolls and a Call for Artists

Spend the day working on a variety of projects. I added some background to a canvas and worked on two art dolls.

This is the really ugly guy who needs lots of cosmetic surgery at this point. Don't worry. He won't look like this later on, but he does need A LOT of work! Right now, I am trying to use a two part epoxy modeling compound. Having a lot of trouble carving in the fine detail, but I will continue to work until I get a face that will work.
Syd

This is the other art doll I worked on today. I added the color, some embossing powders, the metal shoes...wooden beads. I'm beginning to like him a lot!

Call for Artists!

DEADLINE MARCH 15, 2008
The May Day Show

The gallery, NoneSuch Space is looking for original works inspired by or commenting on the traditions and meanings of May Day (May 1st), either in its modern celebration of Labor and the struggles of the working class and/or its historic celebration of the ancient Celtic and Saxon Sun god Beltane and later manifestations of goddesses and gods of hunting and agriculture. They are accepting works in all mediums, 2-D and 3-D, made by traditional and experimental styles; including painting and drawing, sculpture, photography, clay, jewelry, mixed media, video, and small installations. All interested artists 18 years and older and residents of the USA are encouraged to apply.
NoneSuch Space
2865 Broadway, Suite #2,
Oakland, CA. 94611-5708

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With art supplies being as expensive as they are, more and more artists are trying home made supplies. One of the great things about doing this is that you get to control what ingredients go in. If you have a stance toward selecting cruelty-free products, this recipe might be what you're looking for:

Today, I am going to tell you how to use an alternative method to make your own gesso the cruelty free way. Traditional gesso recipes call for rabbit skin glue, an ingredient so vile in the making that I don't even like to talk about it. I have experimented with ways in which to make a very nice cruelty-free gesso that uses agar-agar, a vegetarian alternative to gelatin that is made with seaweed. The process is a little on the messy side and is perishable so should be kept in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.

This gesso is a mixture of some form of whiting (chalk, gypsum, marble dust or titanium oxide), agar-agar, water and an animal-free product from Liquitex called, "Flow Aid".

Heres how you make it:

* 16 fluid ounces water
* 1 ounce of agar-agar dissolved in hot water, then slightly cooled
* 24 ounces (by volume) of whiting
* Liquitex Flow Aid

By volume?........measure the whiting in a fluid measuring cup.

Agar-agar can be purchased at most natural food stores such as Whole Foods.



* Dissolve agar-agar according to package directions. Allow to cool slightly.

* Sift the whiting into the warm agar-agar mixture. Stir very carefully so as not
to introduce air bubbles into the mixture. Let the mixture rest for up to an
hour.
* Strain the mixture through a nylon paint strainer or an old pair of tights.

During the process, add 1 tablespoon of Liquitex Flow-Aid to reduce pin holes in the gesso. You may also float a thin layer of denatured alcohol on the surface of the mixture to prevent the gesso from skimming over.

When gesso cools to room temperature it turns into a gel. To keep it 'workable' it should be reheated on the double boiler taking care not to overheat.

When you apply gesso to your canvas, remember that the first layer is very important.
Apply the first coat thinly and with a scrubbing action. Successive coats should be brushed on, alternating the direction of the brush strokes between each layer. Allow each layer to be touch dry between each coat.

Once all the gesso has been applied, lay the canvas flat and allow to dry for at least 24 hours. Once fully dry you can then set about scrapping and sanding the surface to a smooth glass-like finish. After sanding, brush the surface with a bristle brush and hold the canvas at an angle to the light to check for any imperfections.

This gesso should be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. While a little bit of trouble and quite a bit of messy....the bunnies will thank you for going this route.

Say Darjit! (with Enthusiasm!)

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I've written about Darjit! in my other blogs...but so enthusiastic am I about this great sculpting compound, that I must mention it here as well.

DARJIT! is an architectural sculpting compound created by our good friend and fellow-recycling enthusiast, Brent Sumner, of ALCHYMIA LTD. in New Zealand who dropped me a line this morning. The material is 95% recycled, non-toxic and natural, consisting primarily, of a blend of china clay and rock powder, (a by-product of mining) and cellulose fiber, (from recycled paper products). It can be used in all kinds of applications including as a "finish plaster" good for both interior and exterior uses. It is unique in that when applied as a finish plaster, it can go on in a variety of thicknesses to get a Mediterranean adobe style soft organic look, rounding out corners, creating niches, arches, pillars, or whatever you'd like...but I prefer it for sculpting and for making substrates for mosaics. Its unique properties allow the mosaic artist to simply embed the tesserae directly into the material as it dries...or after drying, the glass, tile, stone or other tesserae can be applied using traditional methods.

Here is a picture of a throne that John and I made from an old, broken plastic lawn chair.





I am waiting for the rain to stop or for our move to Southern Cali. before I finish it out with sparking glass tiles and paint, but as you can see, it already has some tesserae embedded in it. I also need to drill some tiny holes in the seat to allow rain water to drain. I should have thought about that during the original design process, but didn't.

The large tile dead center is a hand-made one created by outsider artists , Isaiah Zagar, inspiration for our naming the throne, "Isaiah's Throne".

Here is a photo of our Maya standing in front of a Darjit! dragon that guards the gates of Rob and Santoshi's compound in Los Gatos where her Dad, Myles, used to live.:



The stuff can be compared to paper clay, but can be added to cement to create a lighter weight, just-as-durable sculpting medium that sticks to almost anything. It is quite versatile in application. Brent and company make fanciful outdoor pizza ovens from it. It can also be used for large-to-small-scale sculptural work.

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Have a Heart
Original poster by Stacy Alexander
13.5" x 19"
Archival ink on photo quality paper

Have a Heart

Available as a 13.5 x 19" poster printed with archival quality inks on Etsy for only $15 + shipping! Why so inexpensive? Well, because I like to do this from time to time...so take advantage while you can! I've sold 13 of these prints in the last 24 hrs.

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Jen Worden's #7 Challenge - Simplicity

Jen's #7 challenge to create either a 2 or 3-D. piece based on the theme, "simplicity" was easier said than done. Gaining simplicity in life is also easier said than done. It takes hard work and perseverance, introspection and determination.

For this piece, I used the apple as my symbol for simplicity. Looking at it, you'd never know I spent more than three hours sketching, blending, erasing and working on it until I felt it was passable as an apple...but there you have it. Not everyone would need to spend that long, but drawing has always been difficult for me. I assembled it on a black Sasaki saucer which I chose again, for simplicity, and photographed the assemblage on a simple velvet pillow. Here is my result:



If you would like to sign on to work through Jen's challenges each week, click on the "Stretch Yourself" icon to the right. If you are receiving this entry in your inbox, go to http://www.jenworden.com. The exercises are not complicated, but do much in terms of getting one's creative juices flowing!

How to Make a Photo Transfer with Gel Medium

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The Cremation of Frida Kahlo
Mixed media collage on wooden panel
13.4" x 9.5"
Stacy Alexander
2007
SOLD


I am an avid photographer who is rarely seen without camera in hand. I often use elements of my pictures in my collage work, either by print and cut methods or photo transfers. There are times when I will end up with a photo whose composition pleases me even if it is out of focus or otherwise technically imperfect. This is when I will turn to digitally enhancement to make an entirely new image. What follows are some of my digital images that would have found themselves in the waste bin if not for some creative Photoshopping techniques. (Some are abnormally cropped because I am not using Blogger software to upload them.)












There are many different ways to make photo transfers. This is the method I most often use.

1. Print your digital image onto common typing paper. Use the most inexpensive paper you can find, as the less expensive papers have more "tooth" and are able to grab the image. Avoid glossy papers.

2. Wait a minute or two to make sure the ink has thoroughy dried. Then liberally apply gel medium with a utility brush or sponge brush all over the image in one direction. I like Dick Blick's house brand of gel medium but you can use Modge Podge, Golden or any brand you like...glossy or matte, depending on the look you want.

3. Allow to dry for 10-15 minutes. Then apply the gel medium in the opposite direction. Allow to dry thoroughly. I sometimes set these (weighted) in front of a fan or on a windowsill for faster drying, but find it is best to apply the gel at night and simply leave them overnight for deep, thorough drying.

4. The image is ready when it is dry to the touch and slightly pliable. This is the time to flip it over so that the back of the paper is facing you. Add small amounts of water to the back, a little at a time, and begin to gently rub the paper off in a circular motion. Add more water as needed.

5. Continue to add water and gently rub until as much paper is removed from the back as possible taking care not to tear the image. If image does become torn, it can still be used, however.

6. When as much paper is removed as possible, leave image to dry. The end product will be pliable and semi-transparent.

7. Use more gel medium to apply photo transfer to desired surface.

Gilbert and George

After hearing them interviewed on NPR a few days ago, I feel very psyched about the Gilbert and George exhibit that will be opening at the de Young in Golden Gate Park this weekend. This dynamic duo has been collaborating since the late 60's and are best known for their performance art as "living sculptures" where, instead of making art, they ARE the art. They have been imitated by many, but never truly duplicated.

The exhibit at the de Young will feature some of their huge, brightly-coloured photo-based collage-pictures on black grids -- which have become by now, their well-known visual signature. Over the years G&G have developed new ways of showing taboo-grating images of the social world and, most notably, bodily fluids and waste. At the heart of most Gilbert & George works we see the artists themselves: a model relationship of equals, as they say themselves, always harmonious, acting as one to produce their art. I can hardly wait!

While there, I also plan to make another run through the recently acquired tea pot exhibit, a donated feature that is now a permanent part of the de Young collection. Here are some pictures I took the last time I was there. Some are a little fuzzy because no flash was allowed. The light in the room was rather low, and I didn't have a tripod...I know...excuses...excuses...:

Congratulations Jessica Neaves !

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HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYONE!!!


Best wishes,
Stacy Alexander

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I have been running a bit behind on the Jen Worden Art Challenges, so am only now getting around to posting the challenge for Week #5.

The challenge was to grab a glossy magazine and choose an image. Then, we were asked to outline all the major portions of the image using a marking pen such as a Sharpie, being as detailed or as abstract as we liked. Then using white gesso paint within our marked lines… think paint-by-number....we were to white out EVERYTHING or leave some of the spaces gesso-free or even graduate the gesso coverage.

I put a bit of a twist on mine. I gesso'd everything out first...and THEN drew in the lines. It was a difficult but good lesson on gaining a sense of where the lines went and it took a lot longer than I had imagined.

After I finished, I cut out the figure and applied it to the Citrus Challenge piece that I did a few weeks ago, added some modeling paste and acrylic paint and created the following:

I am happy to have learned a new technique and I had a good time with it!
If you think you might like to stretch yourself artistically, please check out Jen Worden's Art Challenges by clicking the "Stretch Yourself" icon to the right of this post on my blog. (Obviously, if you are receiving this in your inbox, you'll have to return to the blog itself.)

In other news....

I received an email from my friend, Letty, in Seattle, who was announcing the opening of her friend, Jody's online tee shirt business. Letty wrote of Jody, " She's the cute one with the turquoise t-shirt that says "Trust Your Blackbird. " Jody carries some unique and clever items, so check out her wares. Summer is near and cool tees are happening! (These tees are especially great for job seekers who want a attention-getting way to put themselves out there!)

Check out Jody's great shop HERE!


AND....


Ansley at Bleu Arts gave me permission to share a cool tutorial that she posted for some paper water lilies that she invented. I can see using these for all kinds of things from gifts to assemblages to just pretty things to decorate the house with.

Using these supplies:
2 colors of tissue paper
1 color of slightly thicker paper (I used a colored paper bag)
Scissors
String


Ansley followed these directions:

Cut four 10"x12" pieces of tissue paper and 1 layer of the thicker paper. Stack the pieces of paper up alternating the colors with the thicker piece of paper on the bottom.

Fold the paper lengthwise into 1" accordion pleats.

Trim the ends into points. Fold the folded strip in half, and cut it along the fold line. Trim these ends into points too.

Cut a notch on both sides of the middle of the shorter strip and tie with string.

Open out the pleats and begin gently lifting each layer of tissue paper. The slightly thicker paper bag paper will become the bottom of the flower.

and came up with these awesome water lilies!


Aren't they cool??



oxoxox oxoxox OXOXOX oxoxox oxoxox OXOXOX

Have a great Valentine's Day!!

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Lighting the Steps of the Soap Box

Announcements

I want to introduce everyone to my friend, Kim's new blog at http://kimlarsonart.com. Kim makes some of the most beautiful mosaic art I've ever seen. I feel very lucky to own one of her pieces. Please stop by and leave a comment to welcome her to the blogsosphere!

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And now...for today's post.


The three primary properties of light are:

* Intensity
* Frequency
* Polarization

To make light of a situation means to find some way to laugh about it…even if the situation itself is dark. This is the way of the non-confrontational.

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I have a thing about light installations. A lot of my sketches and investigations of late have been exploring ideas about their design and construction. I am attracted to the simplicity of Japanese handmade paper stretched across bamboo…but then I stumble across some artists who create amazingly ornate pieces and I am taken aback by their complex beauty.

I used to stop by the tiny gallery of Lam Quang when I lived in Portland.


Lam owns Hiih Gallery, one of my favorites in the Alberta Arts District. He does a lot of commercial lighting installations around the city.


Magnificent though his commercial work is, it was always his gallery installation work that would grab my attention and hang on to it. It is fabulous! He once explained his process to me, about how he would make his own paper and soak bamboo in water to make it pliable. His exacting methods have result in enormous flowers and bugs and human figures all gently lit from within. One of these days, I am going to buy one!






Kirsten Hassenfeld is another artist whose work captures my heart. Her intricate light sculptures are as fascinating as they are complicated. Her work features different types of paper with different and interesting textures. She even constructs the paper chains that connect them. Her show at Rice University in Houston (another former abode) displays six large-scale works that resembled chandelier versions of Fabergé eggs, encrusted with crystalline obelisks. Just beautiful!

Cathy Kasdan - Repurposed Inspiration

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transforming consumer culture
Originally uploaded by cvkasdan

All hand knit plastic. Credit card belt and buttons.

(Photos used with permission from Cathy Kasdan.)

Put off by the high cost of art supplies? Money should be no barrier to creation! One person’s bunkum is another’s ingenious art inspiration.

Want to help the environment through your art...make the world aware of how important it is to make wise consumer choices? Read on!

I recently had the privilege to connect with textile artist, Cathy Kasdan, who has hopped on the recycling bandwagon in a big way. Cathy fashions some very cool wearable works of art by re-purposing plastic bags into a plastic yarn medium. She told me that her goal is to “correlate the boom of the 1950’s and massive consumer consumption with the plastic bag”.




Using recycled materials is not a new art concept. Artists all over the world (myself included) are continually exploring new ways to express ourselves in environmentally friendly ways.

As we environmental enthusiasts explore ways to reduce waste, Cathy is doing her part by transforming plastic bags into these authentic-looking 1950’s style creations that promote ecological awareness and draw attention to consumerism by illustrating the huge impact plastic grocery bags alone have on our environment. Her hip fashions would make a more domestic CoCo Chanel jealous. She created these garments by snipping off the tops and bottoms of the bags and then spiral-cutting each bag about 11/2 inches wide all the way around. Using double-sided tape, she attached the spirals together. With her plastic yarn, she created an entire 1950s housewife ensemble and continues to work her plastic bag magic on other garments.




Plastic shopping bags have been a major part of consumerism since their introduction in the late 70’s, and have been polluting our environment ever since, harming wildlife and winding up in landfills. According to the EPA, “…about 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps a year are consumed in the United States. “ Each plastic bag that is used can take up to 1,000 years to decompose.

A number of African countries and some parts of India have regulations against the use of plastic bags. Ireland imposes a tax on them, and recently, San Francisco became the first major U.S. city to ban plastic grocery bags in large supermarkets and pharmacies. Several other cities in the U.S. and abroad have legislation on the tables that may soon cause them to follow suit.

It isn't difficult to find your own ways of re-purposing materials to make art. Much of my own art is informed by and created from recycled materials. We can all start on a small scale and make a positive impact with our work. Here are some examples of how I do it. Most of these things would have wound up in landfills. :


Delaine's Frida Chair


Small Table and Two Trays made from recycled tempered glass and discarded furniture


Treasure Box made of recycled wooden box and reclaimed stained glass


Mixed Media Shrines - created with about 95% recycled materials


Isaiah's Throne - created with recycled lawn chair using Darjit! the sculpturing compound invented by Brent Sumner, from recycled paper and clay.


Other uses of repurposed materials in art are:


Recycled glass mosaics

Art Dolls by Tricia Anders


Brian Dettmer, altered books

Architectural applications of recycled materials

Garden Art

Aid the cause. See what ideas can you come up with.

Andy Goldsworthy from "Rivers and Tides"

It's All a Matter of Perspective

Reminder - One World-One Heart Event

THIS IS A REMINDER THAT YOU MUST COMMENT ON THE JANUARY 28, 2008 ENTRY TO BE ENTERED INTO THE DRAW TO WIN ONE OF my hand made MOSAIC HEARTS. Subscribe to this blog for a double chance to win!

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Things don't always happen for the reasons that one assumes. As artists, it is important to view life from many perspectives and to strive for clear communication through our art. In representing important social issues or even our day-to-day lives, our responsibilities lie in portraying things in ways that will speak to our subject's reality regardless of any emotion we are feeling...whether we do it via realism, symbolism, sarcasm, outrage or humor, through animation, music or any other means of expression.

Do you know people who only view things from one perspective?

"The best propaganda omits rather than invents" - Mason Cooley

This usually happens because it fits a particular agenda such as the need for juicy gossip or the need to be "right". We all hear a lot of this going on in the news today because of the presidential elections. The media is infamous for capturing people in a light that fulfills a blood thirsty desire from their readership whether it represents how that person *really * is or not. It's all about money....about what sells. This picture doesn't represent Hillary Clinton as a Yale Law School graduate who has risen through the ranks of controversy to run for Presidential office. She looks like a clown. However, those hell bent on not having a woman in the White House have used this photograph as a tool to further their agendas.

Another example is the media feast that has portrayed Brittany Spears as a deranged invidual:

We don't even know the woman, and whether we like her music or not, I'm sure there are many untold facts behind all of the gossip. She might BE an unfit mother...but we have to be aware that the media can make her be ...or any of us be...anything they wish.

The following series of pictures holds an important lesson. Look at the big picture. Search for the root of an opinion...especially if it is founded in gossip. Sometimes, things are not as they appear at all. Art is a powerful tool. Please use it responsibly.

Please scroll down the page pausing at each picture... and then listen to your mind form opinions about what is...and then what isn't:

Reminder - One World-One Heart Event

THIS IS A REMINDER THAT YOU MUST COMMENT ON THE JANUARY 28, 2008 ENTRY TO BE ENTERED INTO THE DRAW TO WIN ONE OF THESE MOSAIC HEARTS.



The One World - One Heart event is still open. I am giving away one of the mosaic hearts that you see in the photo above. To be entered into the draw, all you have to do is go to the January 28 entry in this blog and leave a comment. A random number generator will be used to determine the winner on February 14.

Click here to be taken directly to the One World - One Heart entry.

Boiling the Cauldron of Creative Soup

Creativity is not creation. It is reorganization.





While visionary artists claim that art arises from an innate personal vision revealed in the creative act itself, I think Albert Einstein was more on the mark when he said, “The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.”

One of the most common misconceptions about creativity is that it involves a moment of magic in which the incredible art idea appears (poof!) out of thin air. The truth is less romantic. Everything comes from somewhere. All ideas have been thought before and all artists, especially the most brilliant, have their sources of inspiration. Even the artists who finger painted wildlife on the cave walls in Lascaux got their ideas from the necessity to document the habits of the wildlife that sustained them .

Can you think of any major city that doesn’t have an art district? There is a reason why artists tend to cluster together within urban areas. Interacting with other creative individuals makes each more creative. An excellent and common way for artists to be more creative, is to observe and learn from each other....and believe me. It happens. I can’t think of a single artist who doesn’t borrow techniques and ideas. It all generates a kind of momentum...an energy, and as a result, this "competition' with one another increases effort.

It is vital for artists to visit galleries and museums with some degree of frequency. Everyone can learn from observation. Eventually, you will note how these museum trips will also reveal the passage of ideas through history. Can’t make it to a museum? Not a problem. Today is the ideal time for creative people because the internet has connected everything and allows us to draw inspiration from classic works of art and our finest contemporaries without leaving our homes. Be prudent in your observations, however. If one absorbs a mediocre style, his or her output will be mediocre. However, if the artist scours the museums for the most thoughtful, passionate creations in existence, his or her own inspiration will follow.

When you see a piece of work that you admire, dissect it carefully in your mind and discover exactly what makes it work. Note that collecting inspiration is distinctly different from plagiarism. If another person’s work has influenced your own, make sure the ideas that occur to you during observations are adjusted to meet your own artistic needs... that they reflect your personal artistic spirit and innermost thoughts and emotions. Just as Amadeus Mozart mocked the style of Antonio Salieri for the occasional laugh, in this way, you can transmit the exact message that you wish to convey. …and remember also, that variety is important. The work of the artist who repeatedly explores only one area of art will eventually have a dull generic feel even in its’ technical perfection. It is always important to push the boundaries of one’s level of comfort to explore new areas.

Creativity isn’t a spark. It is a huge boiling pot!

Sample an enormous amount of creative work and you’ll produce an inspirational soup. As harsh as this sounds, genuine creativity doesn’t exist, particularly in a cosmic sense. Living beings don’t create life, the existing matter is already there.Nothing original has actually been created since the Big Bang. It is our job as artists to repurpose whatever it is into offspring of whom we can be proud.


David Lynch at Berkeley

THE ONE WORLD - ONE HEART ENTRY IS IN THE JANUARY ENTRIES. Please comment on that post to be entered to win a free mosaic heart.

Human Figure Made of 300 AIDS Med Bottles Raises Awareness at International Art Exhibition

Among the many reasons to visit UCLA's Fowler Museum, one of the most compelling will be to see the upcoming "Make Art - Stop AIDS" international exhibit. Earlier this week, I received an email from my friend, Jason Lahman, Studio Manager for Goldstein Kapellas Studio in San Francisco, who announced the following:


San Francisco artists Daniel Goldstein and John Kapellas have created a 7' tall human figure made of 300 AIDS medication bottles and 139 syringes. Suspended in midair the piece is at the center of the new international exhibition MAKE ART STOP AIDS.

The press release for the museum states:

For more than twenty-five years, artists have joined with activists, medical experts, and others to inspire, provoke, and guide the radical changes that the global AIDS crisis demands. Make Art/Stop AIDS—an internationally traveling exhibition debuting at the Fowler Museum at UCLA on Feb, 23, 2008—shows how artists around the world have responded to HIV/AIDS and how their work can raise awareness, inspire activism, and ultimately help end global AIDS. The exhibition will be on display through June 15, 2008.

Featuring examples from the United States, South Africa, India and Brazil—four disparate nations whose distinct experiences with and responses to the epidemic make insightful studies —Make Art/Stop AIDS presents more than sixty contemporary works including paintings, sculptures, photographs, performance videos, posters, animated shorts, digital media, and installations that engage these questions: What is AIDS? Who lives, who dies? Why are condoms controversial? Are you afraid to touch? When was the last time you cried? Why a red ribbon? Are you ready to act?

“This collection of stunning works from around the world underlines the substantial contribution artists can make in times of crisis. This work is not for auction—it's not intended to raise money for AIDS services or scientific research. Its function, rather, is to intervene in the epidemic by shifting attitudes, educating, mourning, and goading, sometimes all at the same time,” says David Gere, co-curator.

February 23, 2008



7:30–11 pm



Opening Night: Make Art/Stop AIDS

7:30 pm
Biro by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine
Actor and playwright Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine marks the opening night of the Make Art/Stop AIDS exhibition with a reading of selected scenes from his acclaimed one-man play Biro. Based on a true story, the work follows the life of a Ugandan man who was born during the reign of Idi Amin, and who ends up in the U.S., determined to survive despite being homeless, alone, and HIV positive.

8–11 pm
Late Night at the Fowler
DJ music by Jeremy Sole's Musaics, in-gallery puppet performances, complimentary desserts and cash bar. RSVP recommended: please call 310/206-7001 or email fowlermembership@arts.ucla.edu


February 24, 2008



12–5 pm



Opening Day: Make Art/Stop AIDS

1 pm
Flesh & Blood
See this hip-hop dance-theater piece about teenagers in Los Angeles—and around the world—and how they are affected by HIV/AIDS. Created by Kevin Kane and his energetic cast of twelve. Location: Glorya Kaufman Hall room 200, adjacent to the Fowler. $6. Tickets and Info: 310/794-9208.

2, 3, and 4 pm
Exhibition tours with curators David Gere and Robert Sember.

2:30 pm
Griots in the Gallery: Is it OK to Touch?
The second installment of the Sunday storytelling series, this touching puppet performance addresses the discrimination faced by people who are affected and infected with HIV/AIDS. Developed especially with middle school and upper-elementary school audiences in mind, this program offers honest, accurate information that is age-appropriate and addresses the human rights of people living with AIDS.

Color Psychology

If you have come to this blog for the One World - One Heart free mosaic giveaway, please see the Monday, January 28, 2008 entry.

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The Devoe paint company recently hired a panel of researchers to conduct a series of studies about color. I'm not so sure I agree with much of this, but it is fun to read through and pick out the colors that fit oneself or others. Their findings suggest the following:

Red

* If you like the color red, you are impulsive, possibly athletic, sexy and quick to speak your mind, regardless of the consequences.
* You need to be well informed and involved, sometimes wishing to be the center of attention. Though you are given to emotional ups and downs, you passionately believe that life is meant to be happy and exciting.
* Most always optimistic and stimulating, people who prefer this color are animated leaders and want to experience the fullness of living.



Orange


* If orange is your favorite color you are adventurous, good-natured and determined… work and play are done with intensity.
* You tend to be social, friendly, charming and hate to be alone… therefore, you are blessed with many friends… yet, that one solitary mate may elude you.
* Success in business comes naturally to this gregarious and agreeable individual.

Yellow

* If your favorite color is yellow, this indicates that you have a yearning for the new and the modern… and that you look forward to the future.
* You are inclined to be intellectual, idealistic, spiritual and highly imaginative. Yellow is the color of the curious, creative and artistic individual.
* As yellow is warm and luminous, you also have a cheerful disposition, an expectation of greater happiness and tend to find the ‘joy’ in almost every encounter.



Green


* If green is your favorite color, this indicates stability, balance and persistence. When you start something, you finish it.
* You are a good citizen, a respectable neighbor and a concerned parent, always doing the right thing. You tend to be frank, moral and sensitive to social etiquette.
* Very intelligent, you understand new ideas; however you do not wish to take risks. Your reputation is highly important to you.


Blue

* If you like the color blue, you have a basic need for a calm, harmonious and tension-free existence.
* You are capable, conservative, trusting and strive to be cool and confident. Always a conscientious worker, you have a highly developed sense of responsibility.
* Basically a gentle and sensitive person, you form strong attachments and are the most trustworthy of friends.



Violet/Purple


* Should you like violet/purple, you may believe that you are set apart and unique from others, you enjoy being creative and glamorous.
* You are highly sensitive and observant, always looking for beautiful surroundings, and would prefer a world of fantasy to that of reality.
* It is very likely that you are highly artistically talented, but hand in hand with that is the fact that you may be quite temperamental.


Pink

* Pink is welcomed by the affectionate and concerned individual. Gently, you offer love, attention and nurturing to those in distress and needing guidance.
* Romantic and demure, pink recalls a time of youth, affection and refinement. This individual may wish to wrap themselves in a world of dreams, protected from the harshness of reality.
* Talent abounds in this individual; however, they are never over ambitious. Their nature is gentle, subtle, thoughtful and serene.



Teal


* If you prefer the color teal, you are generally a sensitive individual who has cultivated a sophisticated sense of fashion.
* Exacting and meticulous regarding details leads to your excellent taste and reveals a character of discriminating style.
* Trusting and optimistic, your views for the future are of high hope and constant faith. You are charming, sensitive and refined.

Brown

* Should you take comfort in brown… this may signify that you are a conscientious, dependable and steady individual. Your character is one of reliability, duty and responsibility.
* Inner security and harmony are goals to which you aspire; however, you sometimes conceal real emotions, wishing to remain in control.
* Your serious nature illustrates that you place value on honesty, quality, comfort and home. A strong need for security and a sense of belonging is very important to this individual



White


* The individual who chooses white as a favorite color prefers simplicity and the innocence of their youth.
* This person seeks perfection, constant enlightenment in all philosophies and searches for happiness.
* You are inclined to be a bit critical and fussy which makes you a cautious buyer and a shrewd investor…this person strives for all that is best.


Black

* Those who prefer black may be conventional and conservative or would like to be considered serious, sophisticated and dignified.
* You carry yourself with dignity and you are inclined to conceal your real personality and emotions from others.
* This individual may welcome prestige and an air of mystery to surround them.

The Truth about Lying

It is easy to be morally outraged and hurt by the lies of others. But as artists, one's integrity is not measured by outrage at the behavior of others -- it is measured by our own individual artistic and personal honesty. If we value the "wealth" that being genuine can bring, then our integrity will be important to us and we will express ourselves accordingly.

Nietzche claimed that the lie is a condition of life. While this may be true, it is my own assertion that sadly, lying is more an extreme condition of some people's lives than of others. It is important to note that people are not as naive as some imagine and that more credibility is lost on one who possesses a dishonest, gossipy frame of mind than by one who just tells the occasional white lie....just as holding back and not telling the truth with our artistic expression can come across as stale or disingenuous if we do not create art with open hearts that express our own personal truths.

*Note to subscribers. This post was published last night in draft form. I hope no one was too confused by the incomplete version that was mailed to you. ;-)

The Whitest Boy

NOTICE: The One World - One Heart drawing information is on the next page.

Boofus

Boofus
1997 - 2008

You were my good friend.

File that under "Inspiration"

NOTICE: The One World - One Heart drawing information is further down the page.
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What artful inspirations resonate most for you? Inspiration can be found everywhere and often in the most unexpected places.

After his death, it was discovered that the writer, Thomas Hardy, had stored bits and pieces of stories frorm his local newspaper in his desk drawer for later use. Some of the scenes in his book, " Tess of the D’Urbervilles", for example, have their real-life counterparts in 19th Century Dorset.

I keep an inspiration file and bound notebooks chock-full-o- clippings, images, sketches and ideas that I am not necessarily ready to develop at the moment, but might want to revisit for further exploration at a later date. I draw inspiration from newspapers, magazines, the internet, gossip, politics, the environment, animals....Just about anything can serve as artistic inspiration if put in an appropriate context.

Last night, as I was cleaning up the random jumble of vintage jewelry that I have been using to make mosaics, I noticed that the jeweled broaches, delicate silver chains, broken earrings...when viewed as a whole there on my counter, began to make sense as an unplanned composition. To roughly record what I saw, I grabbed a pen and did two quick sketches that I will file away for use later on to translate into a painting or a mosaic or other mixed media piece.




The message here is to keep your eyes open. Be observant. Look. Listen. Take notes. You can create art out of everything....and be inspired by everything.






The piece above is a work in progress.

Speaking Through Art

Note- If you are searching for the One World - One Heart giveaway, please scroll further down the page.
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I recall the first time I saw Meret Oppenheim's, surreal Fur Lined Teacup many years ago in the Guggenheim (now on display at the NY MOMA). It remains a landmark in my memory because the in the instant I laid eyes on it I experienced an "Aha!" moment. Such a simple execution, yet communication so pithy that it almost made my head spin with its juxtaposition to this culture's obsessive associations with food, violence, and sex! I think it was this piece that made things "click" and caused me to turn a corner toward understanding even more about what a powerful tool art can be for social statement.

While it is undeniable that we have made some forward strides, Oppenheim's piece remains representative of a culture now even more entrenched in war and killing, super-sized food obsession and twisted messages about sexuality.

When you create your own art, do you strive to go beyond its' outward appearance and think about what impact it can have for the greater good or even to represent those things about society that you consider to be wrong? Do you ever consider using recycled materials, or do you read the labels of your art supplies and exercise your consumer option to make choices that are, for example, less harmful to the environment? What message, if any, does your art represent to the public?

This morning, I went in search of current artists who are applying Meret Oppenheim's concept on a more present day level. This is what I found:


Mindy Sue Meyers, Meringues (with detail), 2007; silk velvet, beads, thread, paper linings. MFA Fibers, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. Photos by the artist.


Nick DeFord, Reclaimed Red Badges, 2007; handstitched embroidery on commercial patches; 12" x 9". MFA Fibers, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. Photo by the artist.


Kari Scott, You, Too, Can Be Fat Like Me, 2007; mercerized cotton; machine and hand-knit, painted, dyed. BFA Craft/Material Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.



Plush AK47
Mindy Sue Meyers
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. Photos by the artist.

Pricked: Extreme Embroidery

If you have come here for the One World - One Heart event, the post about that is a little further down the page.

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Last week, I wrote about some of my childhood memories associated with the rapidly reemerging art of embroidery. I showed readers the digital image I am planning to stitch. Coincidentally, I was delighted this morning to find an email from an East Coast friend who invited me to join her for the current exhibition at the NY Museum of Arts and Design. Pricked" Extreme Embroidery. I want to go, because after the profound impact left on me by Betye, Alison and Lezley Saar's exhibit in San Jose I am prompted to explore more and more ways in which I can utilize old handcraft traditions and rejuvenate them into the mainstream of contemporary art and design. This, of course, is in keeping with my determination to use the entire massive collection of ephemera I have compiled in the lower portion of our loft.

Here are two examples of the work in the exhibit:


Nava Lubelski, Side Dish, 2004
Hand-embroidered thread on ink stained cotton canvas
12 x 12 in.
Photo: Nava Lubelski


Andrea Dezsö, My Grandmother Loved Me Even Though ..., 2005-2006
Embroidery, cotton thread (DMC) on white cotton canvas
Approx 6 x 9 in.
Photo: Andrea Dezsö

This exhibit, like many of the current trends in art, showcases many different approaches to something that is thought of as commonplace, in this case, a standard needlework technique that has been around forever. The work is said to convey "powerful and personal content that ranges from subjective dreams and diaries to controversial politics in today’s world". It is in keeping with the notion that I am observing more and more in fellow artist's who are "moving beyond self-imposed comfort zones" as my friend, Jen Worden says, and into areas that have much room for further exploration.

It is a good idea to explore how we artists can push the boundaries of the mundane and explore new ways of expression while preserving the traditional techniques and art forms. For example,in addition to fibrous materials like cotton and wool, the artists in this exhibit turn to the unexpected to create their art, using materials that range from stone to digital prints to human hair and even cosmetic skin peels! Nava Lubelski, from North Carolina, (see image above) explores the contradictory activities of spoiling and mending by stitching over and outlining spills, stains, and rips she finds on tablecloths, napkins, and canvas. She uses canvas stretchers as her embroidery loop, and the wooden strips are often visible through the mended tears.

Look around your studio environment. How many traditional ways can you find to express yourself that will push your personal boundaries, get you out of your comfort zone and into areas that challenge your art, your emotions and beliefs?

Book Recommendation

*Note: The One World - One Heart giveaway is two posts down....






As artists, the use of color is one of the most important decision-making elements we have to consider....but where did these colors come from as they appear in nature? This fascinating and engaging book is about how nature creates and uses color, and how the human and animal eye perceives it. Each chapter in the book deals with a separate color, from ultra-violet through to red, providing along the way a real insight into the visual side of evolution, as well as the scientific discoveries that led to such knowledge.

Reading this book will renew your faith in the theory of evolution, as it highlights the genuine ingenuity and intelligent beauty of the ever-changing natural world. I implore anyone that has doubts about evolution to read this book as soon as possible.

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*If you have not yet commented to be entered into the drawing for a free mosaic heart, please proceed to the entry entitled, "One World - One Heart" and leave your comment. Drawing will be held on February 14, 2008 from the names of those who participate.