Change Catcher

Lee Bontecou, I found this image on web and did not have info...

Sunday I learned that Lee Bontecou kept her change in one of these!

 I was doing a little Sunday afternoon web clicking- looking up Lee Bontecou  to read up on why she disapeared from the art world back in the 1970's. Reading part of Calvin Tompkin's article in the New Yorker from 2003, he mentions visiting her studio in Pennsylvania and viewing the decades of work she had there.

Lee Bontecou, Untitled, 1962

Apparently she had been using one of her large wall reliefs from the 1950s as a Change Holder! How cool is that.... and dang, how heavy was that?! Do you think she kept nickels in one compartment and quarters in the other? do all the holes open up to one chamber.. hmm I don't really know how they are constructed. It reminds me how many artist's are so much less precious about their work then others... they want it to be touched, and repositioned, and moved around, and used..

Lee Bontecou, Untitled, 1961, Welded steel, canvas, wired, velvet, 59h x 39 1/2w x 21 1/8, Collection of Walker Art Museum, Gift of T.B. Walker Fund, 1966

This piece of art becomes a functional object (which really it already was, as all "art" is a functional, right? right?). Rather then designing a "change catcher" she makes use of what she is already making. I think I would like to store my socks in one.

Lee Bontecou, Untitled, 1959-1960, 58h x 99w x 15d in.

Collection of Maxine and Stuart Frankel Foundation for Art

(I couldn't find the whole article online, so I would be much obliged if anyone has it or a subscription to the New Yorker where one can read it online)

Klee Fashions

I have had this image for a loooong time and, I do not remember where I got it (my memory stopped serving me well about 5 years ago- booooo) (and I wasn't really keeping track of where I got images back then, like I do now, I do! I do! now I do).

I really like the Paul Klee imagery- I believe he is just used as inpsiration it is not a literal transfer, but it is pretty close. I can't really think of a good example of art to fashion like this ( there are plenty of artists who have created some fashions, I know). Do you know of any? (Look at me acting like a 'blogger" asking my "audience" a question- ha)

This dress looks Very comfortable and it is fun and cheerful and just all round Lovely!
It also makes me want to draw on my clothes ( I have not done that since a skirt I made for a 6th grade dance- i wish I still had that thing)

FreeFlow

I have been trying to figure out how to make some art on the computer (sometimes at work even- eep). I haven't really figured it out yet at all but here is one collage I like. It is a super simple and obvious idea- layering images, but I am trying to keep it simple and make something without thinking too much- yup, without thinking too much, no thought, just Action!

Jason Meadows Lamps

Jason Meadows is a great sculptor.
He came to my studio once in grad school (so he had to) but, he was awesome- smart, interesting, enthusiastic, and supportive. I don't know him other then that visit
but, I like his work and this place hosting his lamps looks neat: South Willard.
Alas, it is in L.A. like so many things I like these days. sigh.
I especially like the spray paint on the lamps shades.

 ****Update*******

My friend Roy sent me a link to an interview with Jason Meadows at the MCA, Chicago where he is in Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art: Form, Balance, Joy June 26 - October 17, 2010: MCA CHICAGO. 

Here is a link to some You Tube videos with the artists from the show- this one is with Nathan Carter. 

(He is talking about communication!!)

Oh yea, Roy designed/ art directed the catalogue!!! (Foldfour) It looks awesome! Last year when we were in Chicago he told me about a book he found on Calder's home and later sent me pictures- it is super inspiring. Hmm, Maybe I can post some later.. 

Here is a nice image from the catalogue on MCA's website: 

 

Numero Uno

 
Here I gooooooooooooooooooo

I have always loved art and interiors, interiors and art.

I remember the day my mom took me to Laguna Gloria Art Museum and I realized what an artist IS and that I too could be an artist. Creating from your head, doing your own thing, nobody telling you what to do, the solitude of the studio -as a little one I couldn’t wait for all that!

Growing up my mom had House Beautiful around all the time (she keeps the issues for ever… if I were to go there today I could peruse October 1999). My mom rearranged our house all the time and once I could slide furniture around, I did too.

One day I closed the door to my bedroom, my friend Whitney and I rearranged all the furniture and then pulled out the paint pens and decorated everything with our names, (my name- it was my furniture! My room!) flowers and vines with some stickers thrown in.

I love when the two are combined and twisted together… when artists aren’t just making art and designers aren’t just designing. And, it tires me that so many people insist on separating the two (especially artists, sorry comrades to neg on you, but some of you can be real conservative like that). Mix it up is what I vote for.

When I am at work I collect tons and tons of images of things. Sometimes, I go back to look at an image and I don’t like it anymore, but I keep it around so I can deconstruct what initially grabbed me and try to figure out what makes one thing lasting and one thing a flash in the pan.

Despite enjoying the solitude of the studio, Another thing I really like is community and that is what I think can be neat about blogs and the web in general. And why I want to be part of it. Since I spend so much time looking at other people's blogs and taking taking taking from them, I would like to give back a little. (And if you ever want me to design a room, or show you my art,  I would do that !)

I love design blogs and I love in progress artists blogs… so here I go.