Work in Progress: A Comic Book!

Hello dear readers!  I had a set back and found myself in bed for the last three weeks.  I went through deep moral and philosophical introspection.  A flare up after doing so well, seemed cruel to say the least.  I went through alternating bouts of self pity, especially for facing this illness alone.  I came to contradictory conclusions.  I realized that I don't want to live like this - who does?  But then realized I have no choice.  I will have to learn to live like this.  And I'm not really alone, we will all face this type of illness at some point in our life.  It is not the illness, but rather our reaction to it that is important.  Meaning, I will need to learn to harness my strength, dignity and go on.  What does this mean?  That I'm never going to get better.  That's not a sad statement of resignation, but rather a proclamation of peace and acceptance, a letting go of denial.  In the following days there will be more discussion on this topic, as well as facing chronic illness (and or caretaking of someone who is chronically ill) from a Buddhist perspective.

For now, since I'm behind in blogging, I'd like to show you more art that I've been working on.  I'm a little afraid, since it seems to eccentric.  But, I think I have a track record for putting it all out there, so I'm not going to stop now.

As you know, I've had to find "clean" ways to create.  I create because I must, there's just no other explanation for it.  I can no longer tolerate many of the toxins I dearly love (acrylic, spray paint).  Since everything looks like sculpture to me, I've been enjoying working on various assemblages, many of them temporary, a nod to the Buddhist teaching of impermanence.  Oftentimes, I dismantle the assemblage as soon as it's been photographed.  I've also been incorporating my interest in upcycling and my concern for the over abundance of detritus in the hood.  The comic book will feature various superheroes cleaning up the ghetto, having fun and using recycled materials to make their home sacred and beautiful.

Do you remember my Detritus Robot?  She will be appearing in the comic book, and also in a video I am working on.  The video is painstaking work, however, as I have no idea what I'm doing.  As always, that's too many words.  Art should stand alone, it doesn't need explained.  But we are human, and humans are wired for attempting to make sense of our reality.  For now, here are some proofs from this project.  I'm pretty excited about it.  I started making little worlds and decided to incorporate some of my toy collection


First World, Admiring the Cross

This little world is perhaps the most melancoly, because vestiges of former beauty still remain.  A cross made from copper and nails is a prominent feature.  The twine is an attempt to create wind, like a tumble weed has clung to the cross.

A Pokemon tree-like figure protects the cross and is the last vestige of trees.  Two little aliens admire the cross and are protected by a ninja.  Credits:  Pokemon Sudowoodo.  Little clay aliens by Robert A. Krause of RAK Graphics.  Ninja by Shawnimals for Kidrobot.

I felt like the rock assemblages by the Ninja needed to be larger and more Suessian in nature.

Ta da!

I'm hooked.  I can't stop looking for rocks to pile on top of each other.

A vintage Japanese paint brush seemed to fit, as well as a broken peace sign earring.  We can paint a better world.

Second World, Special Forces Fight Detritus

GI Joe and his troops are called in to fight the apathy of non-sustainability.  It takes agility to navigate this dark world, so they call in a floating, spinning yogi.

Scarlett does not use her archery skills to kill, but rather to pick up large amounts of detritus, The dancing, spinning Pokemon uses his skills to create large piles of sculpture like debris, easing the Special Forces' ability to move.  The debris is bundled in easy-to-transport packages, and shipped to the upcycling planet.

If you are a toy collector, Pokemon figures are very intriguing.  New characters are always being created, so your collection can never be complete.  This figure is relatively new, and is one of my favorites.  His name is Meloetta-Piroutte.

Third World, Where Detritus Is Upcycled

 

On this world, another Pokeman spins beauty out of the detritus the Special Forces have delivered.  Here, beautiful and functional objects await delivery to other worlds.

Overseeing the work of the Pokeman is the wise teacher of Ninjas.  He is able to move around easily on his flotation device made of a pencil sharpener.  On this upcycling world, they have learned to navigate the plasma energy easily, rendering most forms of transportation obsolete.

Each object on this planet is designed for beauty, and has a function which aids in sustainability.  Objects are disseminated to planets with populations who need the product.  There is no hoarding.  Since objects are disseminated according to need, there is no exchange of currency.  Credits:  Dunny Series 2009 by Shawnimal;  not sure the name of this Pokemon, will ask my nephew and update.

Originally I intended this work to be an installation piece, but I love the idea of a comic book.  That's my first installment.  Stay tuned for more.

All photos by Peggy.

New Work, Vol I: Collages, Sculpture, Deconstruction and Vignettes

Dear readers, I am excited to reveal some of my recent work.  As you know, it's made mainly from recycled and 100% post-consumer waste.  Poster board and frames were obtained at Dollar General for a steal!  There is plenty of upcycling going on as well.  Detritus found on my daily walks also appears in some of these works.

Still lamenting that a guidance counselor talked me out of becoming a graphic designer.  This was years ago, before the internet took off (hard to believe I actually lived in that time, and actually got things done.  boggles the mind).  This grouping made using shipping containers, brown paper bag, jewelry box, sharpie markers.  I love the colors and the graphic punch.  Since I can't paint the walls in my apartment, I'm adding bold color in my art and accessories.  If I could paint, I'd do a gray accent wall!  Gray is my new favorite color.

The work over the sink is also new and is part of my lamp design series.  I've made a couple of prototypes and am now in negotiation with a manufacturer.  I loved this vignette, but as you know, I'm not much of a grouping girl.  I prefer art to stand alone without competition with too many items.

I've been wanting more organic touches in my apartment, so have been assembling sculptures from my rock collection.  This is a sculpture of a snail.  I love it!  All rocks, and the dried vine, were found during a walk to the Tow Path with my brother. Care to see my brother at the MetroPark?  Click here.

I decided the little snail need his own environment.  That gob of blue stuff came from the inside of an FTD vase, that I made the mistake of washing.  It hardened and is pretty interesting.  I collected some little twigs and painted them silver.  I've been wanting to paint branches forever.  Now I'm addicted.    Also  used the silver paint on paper that was part of packaging.

I wanted to give the little snail his own environment, which included a moon.  I found this huge earring in a parking lot.  Painted it silver too.  Had the silver dish in a cupboard.  I like this, but still not completely happy.  Maybe I need a little piece of AstroTurf to simulate grass?

I played with this wrapping paper.  Still feel like the snail needs a moon on his world.  Wasn't happy with it either.  Would make a cute rug or painting, though, wouldn't it?

I played around with cotton, to simulate snow, and decided to cover the snail and trees with a cake dome. Don't want them to get dusty.  I put them on a candle holder I had.  Love the color.  Used one of the collages above for the moon.  Hey, the moon and the ground match in color.  Awesome.  Turquoise moon and orange atmosphere.  Why not?  It's another planet after all.

It's really difficult to photograph the glass dome, but you get the idea.  I have the sculpture in my kitchen. Considering whether I should light it with fake tea lights.  You can get them really cheap at the dollar store.

I got really excited about the color teal.  So I didn't stop there.  Now that the sculpture is done, it's time to move things around in my apartment.  As you know, new art always influences my vignettes in my apartment. I adore deconstructing cheap lamps and turning them into vases (see previous posts here and here).  I've been wanting a Buddha statute, but am a believer in using what you have.  My copy of Feric's book does the trick nicely.  How cool is that bio-mechanoid Buddha in the lotus position?  Too cool.

I'm crazy about this teal color.  The lamp was already broken, so I didn't mind taking its guts out.  Also, it only cost me $1.50 at the Goodwill.  Here's a tip, however.  If you buy glass that has been spray painted inside (as opposed to cased glass).  Don't wash the inside.  The color is painted on and will fall right off, like a balloon.

I am in love with this teal color.  Don't you just love the colors for fall#  It seems I fall in love with color more and more. Bright, neon colors are all the rage here in the 'hood.  Also cobalt blue, gray, teal, turquoise, mint green and - of course - pink!

All images by Peggy

Akron Art Museum

I know it sounds crazy, but I still get homesick for Cleveland.  However, there are a few pluses to living in Akron.  One of the biggies is that I get to spend more time with my nephews.  This is a good thing because they are growing up so fast!  On a recent outing my nephews and I went to the Akron Art Museum.  It's a wonderful museum and here's a few pics from that day.

A big pink sculpture by Claes Oldenberg greets you in the lobby.  I love large installation pieces taken out of context.

Another shot of the lobby.  With a mountain of milk tin lids, by El Anatsui.

Even the polyurethane furniture in the lobby is art!  I'd love to have this furniture for my balcony.

These may look like mountains, but they are actually bags made completely of newspapers.  They are very tall, I think the tallest one was about 8 feet high.  I love the irony!   Mountains of newspapers.  If you ever get a chance to see an exhibit of Anatsui's work, you simply must.  It's incredible!  He turns detritus into large shimmering pieces of art.  There were areas of the museum where photographs were allowed, and areas where it wasn't.  Anatsui allowed photography of his exhibit, but I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted.  My nephews were getting embarrassed.  :)

Here is a pic I took on the down low.  It is, of course, a Mark Rothko.  Rothko's work seen in real life is almost too much for me to bear.  It gives me heart palpitations.  The combinations of color, the simplicity!  Swoon.  I wish I had painted this!

Here is an interesting Mermaid sculpture in the permanent collection.  I think she's cool.  My nephews weren't as impressed and told me to put my camera away before we got kicked out.  It was a great day!  Two of my favorite things:  my nephews and art.  It doesn't get any better than that.

Chicago - Millennium Park

My favorite part of any city is its public art. Chicago definitely did not disappoint. Millennium Park is proof of the validity of public art programs. This is art at its best. Art that is experienced as a community. Art that is interactive. Art that uplifts. That is the genius of Millennium Park. The best part of the art is the smiles on all the faces.

The Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa is a marvel. It is made of glass blocks which project random faces inspired by the people of Chicago. Children squeal with delight when a face closes its eyes and water squirts from its mouth. It is endlessly entertaining to watch.

This smart young lady wore her raincoat. Below are sculptures from the show entitled "A Conversation with Chicago: Contemporary Sculpture from China," curated by Boeing Galleries.

This fascinating sculpture encompasses organic as well as satiric elements. It is entitled "Valiant Struggle No. 11, 2006" by the artist Chen Wenling. The stainless steel sculpture behind it is entitled "Jia Shan Shi No. 46, 2001" by the artist Zhan Wang.

"Windy City Dinosaur, 2009" by the artist Sui Jianguo.

All images by Peggy.

Got Mojo?

I have a treat for you today, dear readers. I'd like to show you some major artistic mojo by the sculptor Chris Wurst. I met Chris at an art show at Boettler Park recently. (Oh how I wish I could peek at that sketch book!)

Chris is a sweetie. He told me that he had been sculpting ever since high school. He was influenced by a pot that exploded when he fired it. A happy accident indeed! He patiently explained his technique to my nephew and I. He makes a mold and then sands his plaster creations to a finish that must be touched. Experiencing his tactile forms is an almost religious experience. And my very clever nephew correctly identified the iconography that is present in his work. Chris has done a marvelous tribute to Mother Mary in some of his works.

See what I mean? Major mojo. The pictures just don't do them justice. Dear readers, I wish you could touch these sublime works.

I wondered if Chris had ever seen the work of Wouter Dam, who I wrote about in an earlier post. And I am grateful to Chris because now I have an idea of how Wouter may have done his work.

When I win the lottery, I will have some of Chris' work in my prefab ranch home.