Thinking of Japan this week

via Fortress of Solitude

Plant Pot!

Planting works its way into the studio

Birdies

Twitter?

http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/08/inspirational-women-twitter-forbes-woman-leadership-social-media.html

image from http://www.wallpapers247.com/wallpaper/Bird-Tanager-Panama/

Japan

Image:  Hilda Grahnat via Bloesom

 Japan Red Cross Japan
or U.S. Red Cross

USA: Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10


Hello Sandwich has posted a number of resources if you are in Japan or trying to get information. 

http://hellosandwich.blogspot.com/

Ed Hall

When I was growing up, my father sometimes seemed like a mystery man, kinda like a character from James Bond (he read all the books and saw every movie). I think because he loved these movies and any mystery, thriller, high stakes kinda thing, when there were things I didn't understand about him, I kinda grouped him with these type of characters. My dad had lived abroad in Turkey, and Trinidad and Newfoundland, and Mexico before he hooked up with my mom. He worked for a "telecommunications" company often on the U.S. air force bases in one of those countries. He had all kinds of fun stories... getting to take special flights, or runing out of gas on some back road in Turkey, or making daquiris in the men's bathroom of the Trinidad  airport, waiting for his friends to arrive. (For this he earned the nickname Mr. Shaker).
So, somehow I added this all up to the idea that maybe he had been in the C.I.A. and lived a second life as a Spy. Yes, when I was little, I really did believe that he had been a Spy. It isn't like when I was growing up he would dissapear or rush off or meet up with strange people making funny swaps, I thought it was in his young-man days... silly me.
The other  mysterious part of my dad is his common name - Ed Hall. Seemingly, not mysterious, but yet it was. Next to my friends church, which was near the University campus main "Drag" on a wall, it was spray painted "Ed Hall Rules!!!" Huh? Why does my dad rule? Must be his Spy days... he is well known, but yet nobody knows who he is- that he is my dad.

I did keep this all to myself, I didn't want anyone making fun of me or more like bursting my bubble.
So, who was my dad? A dad- kind, thoughtful, fun, curious, smart, incredibly supportive, many things. So, for him, I rename this little spot.
Later in my life, He did tell me once that he filled out the paperwork for the C.I.A. but didn't accept so he wasn't a spy (so I think). And, who was this Ed Hall that ruled? A local hardcore band curiously named "Ed Hall". (Later in my teenage years, a flyer for an upcoming show, featured 5 barebottoms with Ed Hall scrawled across made a great bday gift).

Whewweeeee

The globes are from Russell Crotty- I love them!

I saw an image of one awhile back and didn't know who made it 'til the invite for his last exhibit showed up in the work inbox and I did a little nonvisual jump in my seat. Definitely, goes into the category of- man, I wish I made those! drawing, sculpture and design all wrapped up... handmade and graphic- they are solid!

I just looked up his website: http://russellcrotty.com
Did not know he too was a surfer ( I don't think I qualify as a surfer too, just an avid tryer).( scroll down the more finished drawings are nicer.)

Happy Snow Day!

Beachcomber from Dotty Logic

I saw this fabric collection a long time ago and today I thought of good use for it. The link I had was broken, after some hunting around, I found it! hurray!

 Driftwood

 Sand

The designs are super!

Dotty Logic

Sketched

Bundles of Joy

May I present my first babies (that is what our teacher Eric called them!):

These are the first two pieces to come out of the kiln although they are my 3rd and 4th pieces to actually make. They were glazed in yellow and white and are now on the shelf waiting for their 2nd firing. The ceramic studio is rather casual so I am not sure how long it will take to get them back- one more piece (#2) has been added to the shelf as well.
Our teacher suggested keeping a record of the pieces by drawing a little picture and numbering each piece, then writing down which glaze is used. I love the idea of that and started numbering my pieces, however after #6 I have lost count between a couple waiting for trimming, a couple waiting to be fired.. I dont really know how many I have...Also, quite frankly, I am not that good at keeping track of things, so we shall see how that goes. I like the idea and Jun suggested I take pictures with my camera phone so maybe that will be the easiest solution. (Luckily, Marjorie is very good at taking pictures for us so far- Thanks Marjorie!)  Alas, I do have plenty of empty sketchbooks collected over the years that would make a nice ceramic journal ... any suggestions or discussion of organization and record keeping are enjoyed... happy throwing!

White, bright and jumbled

Passed along from a friend- here is a view of Georgia Okeefe's kitchen.
Along with the article about her cooking style and a cookbook from one of her former employees:
Okeefe's Kitchen
I love collecting cookbooks even if I don't cook so much. But, when I do- I use a recipe!
Cookbooks are like a dream of all the things I wish I could do.

Thanks Pops!

This is Vola showing her appreciation for her super new bed made by her father:

The bed in the studio:

A look at the Making  Of process:

That Vola is one lucky lady, maybe her father will hang one of his paintings next- a complete installation

Check him and his paintings out:

Bryon Finn

What time is it?

Yup, I liked to say that  A WHOLE LOT when I was watching Flavor of Love on DVD ...  it might sound outdated but, I disagree... it is fun and feels good to me to say out loud!
So, What time is it?

Jorge Pardo knows:

Being the mastermind of integrating art, design and architecture that he is....
What more can I say on this Friday afternoon?

http://www.jorgepardosculpture.com/

I think I need this book
Phaidon books

Speaking of making things look nice, how come my links are all blue on this main page
but on individual entries they are the color I want them? Green! And no matter how many times I have addressed the situation in my design template it does not change! why oh why?!

All Over

I would like to replace everything I have been hoarding with stacks and stack of these towels with, as Marjorie says, Donkey Trails meandering through my apartment.

I think that would be just the way to make my apartment COZY!

Layla has a sale going on! So, maybe, Jun and I will head over tomorrow morning before we head up to the Great Race! 

Layla, Brooklyn

P.S. Go Jun!

More Air

I found this image in my studio last night- I cut it out of one of my mom's magazines a long time ago

A Diamond Chair Prototype- pretty glamorous, eh?

(and I didn't crop the sea creatures cause I thought they were neato)

Air

I have been wanting these white Bertoia stools for a long long time (this is the white version- it looks silver) Maybe, I still want them but, I am not sure anymore. Maybe, I rather have the chair version or better yet a Diamond Chair. 

Really all the stuff I want that is a whole other blog,  but,  another way I like to goof off is to look at auction catalogues. Not only, is it great for image overload but also, you can see stuff that has been sitting in private collections.  Often you, or I should say, I- have never seen it. 

Goofing off like this the other day, I came across several Harry Bertoia drawings!

Another thing I like to look at- other people's drawings. Personally, I usually hate the way I draw, I rather cut things out but, I like to look at other people's drawings. 

So looking at these Bertoia drawings got me reading up on Harry and I prepared a little lecture below on his life, well, let's call it typingoutwhatireadonwikepediaandothersourcesandsharingit

First the drawings up for auction at Rago: 

He designed Ray and Charles Eames' wedding rings! 

He was a jewelry designer first, then, a sculptor then, furniture designer- I didn't know that, I thought he was a furniture designer then, a sculptor.

Some jewels (for you jewelers out there) :

Not sure you how you wear this one, but I would like to

He worked a lot with the Eames and Saarinen... they all had the Cranbrook connection. While working with the Eames, he felt he wasn't getting enough credit so Knoll (another Cranbrookien) encouraged him to move his family to Pennsylvania and design some furniture which they did. 

Of his diamond chair he said: "If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture. Space passes right through them"

Me too- I want to make objects from air!

This is a cloud!

His furniture designs were so successful with the royalties he received from Knoll, he was able to concentrate on his sculpture. He was pretty inventive with his sculptures making many that were sound sculptures. (Leading to the release of several albums of the sculpture sound recordings which were later reissued by P.S.F. Records  entitled "Unfolding"- still available)

And finally some sculptures: 

 

I see some parallels!

Here are some links 

www.hbrp.net 

http://bertoiastudio.com/Harry%20Bertoia.html

That's it- those are some of the more noteworthy items I gleamed from my readings...

please excuse my poor grammar!

And now, I sign off to try out my newly arrived camera chord (missing for many many months)

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.