Art of Artisans

Funny how the cosmos works.  Just when I was bemoaning the lack of local artisans, Wall Eye Gallery presents an exhibit called The Art of Artisans.  Saturday I went to check it out.  The show featured  regional artisans and craftsman.  According to Wall Eye's website, the event was created to promote excellence in design and craft as well as to fuel the public’s appreciation and interest in art and fine workmanship.  The show was amazing.  Here's a few photos I took.  Right in line with the organic and upcycled art I've been writing about lately.

Credenza by Michael McMillin.  I've been obsessing about a credenza.  I think I need one of these for my pottery collection.  Love those hair pin legs.

 Freddy Hill.

  

Not sure who made this fab light.  But I'll find out and I will update when I do.

PJ Doran.

 

One of my favorites was the Mouse Desk by Jason Radcliffe of Forty Four Steel.  Its perfect geometric proportions are reminiscent of one of my favorites - the Parsons Table.  The Mouse Desk is functional as well as beautiful.  The entire front of the desk pulls out to become a large drawer.  Perfect for those of us who abhor clutter.  You can hide your notebooks, pens, bills and a whole lot of post it notes in there.  I think I need one of these for my office.

Robert Knauer.

This is only a preview.  There's lots more at Wall Eye.  The show is by appointment until September 4.  I highly recommend it.  You'll never want to purchase mass produced furniture again.  Sadly, this is Wall Eye's second to last show.  Their next show - entitled Playing House (September 23 - October 14) - will be their last.  I'm really going to miss them.

Installation Art

Below I mentioned an installation piece by the artist Olga Ziemska. This got me thinking about installation pieces and how fascinating they are. When working on an installation piece the artist attempts to make a comprehensive experience based on their unique aesthetic. A gestalt, if you will. I submit that the artist doesn't even have to know why they do what they do, merely that they are compelled to do it. I am sure contemporary art education forces the artist to conceptualize, and to even articulate their intention. But in my humble opinion, the words and theories are secondary to the sensory experience. Here are some fascinating installation pieces. My favorites are the ones that upcycle (what some may consider) garbage. Hope you enjoy!

Any discussion of installation art must include the most well known installation artists, Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Although there is some debate about defining their work as installation art since it's outside. It does however, change the perception of the space they are working in, so I would argue that it is indeed installation art. No matter, their works are so ambitious they boggle the mind.

Joey Slaughter renders his organic paintings into 3D form. I adore his paintings and his sculptures.

Above images by Abbey Hendrickson as part of her graduate thesis. Check out Abbey's aptly named blog, Aesthetic Outburst. It's one of my favorites. Abbey features many wonderful installation artists on her blog.

Above images two images from Abbey's flickr set. I love how she collects ordinary objects and makes them into art. The picture of the forks is from her daughter's birthday party. Abbey sees beauty in ordinary objects. Everything she puts together is like an installation. I've written about Abbey's work on this blog several times. See previous posts, here.

This grouping by unknown artist. I think it's totally fab. If you know the artist, please email me.



Above work by prolific artist Elsita via her blog The Hidden Seed.

Installation art is not just for galleries and public spaces. It can be incorporated into your home as this fab room divider shows. It's made of empty tape roles with coffee cup lids. A great example of upcycling. Love it. Wish I'd thought of it. Heather and Paul's Welcoming Nest via Apartment Therapy.

Urban Outfitters, Beachwood, Ohio. Image by Peggy. This incredible piece is made of soda bottle caps. They had a number of amazing pieces, I'd love to know the artist is who works for UO. They had an incredible piece made of bicycle parts and fake flowers, but the store manager got mad at me for taking pictures.

Flower Child. Image by Peggy.



Damian Ortega. Awesome.

Stuart Haygarth. This is another fine upcycled piece. The organic looking elements are actually the bottom of plastic soda bottles.

Blog Envy

This summer I had the good fortune to work for a short time as an artist's assistant on an installation piece. My part in the project was very small, but it was nonetheless gratifying. And it was amazing to learn how much planning goes into an installation piece. It's mind boggling. The best part is that I got to meet the artist Olga Ziemska. I've written about Olga before, see previous post here.

Here is a preview of Olga's work at the new Roe Green Center for the School of Theatre and Dance at Kent State University. I haven't gone to see it yet, but I will soon.

I'd like to discuss a topic with other bloggers, which I am sure you are familiar. Blog envy. When I looked at Olga's blog I felt envious. I wanted to trash my blog and start over. Why is my blog so wordy? Why can't I be more austere and lyrical in my words? I was utterly engaged by the simplicity of it. Does this ever happen to you? Do you sometimes see a blog that is so artistic you feel envious? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas to everyone who takes the time to read my blog! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. 
This year I fell in love with creative Christmas decorations. I especially love non-traditional decorations and bulbs. Bulbs were very colorful this year. Silver, blue, purple and, yes, even black. Here are some beautiful Christmas displays. I love bulbs used in installation art.  Hope you enjoy!

Image from Peeks.

Image from flickr user ianb888.

Image from flicker user Supercamel.

Image from flicker user chooyutshing.

Image from flickr user Ruffle & Blossom.

Isn't this cute? Super creative flickr user ATLITW. She made this out of objects she's been collecting over the years. I'd be tempted to leave it up all year it's so cute.


I've seen a lot of black bulbs this year. Love them. Especially on white trees. Image from flickr user katisworld.

Orange and pink flocked bulbs in my apartment.