Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Farewell John Hughes

(image courtesy NY Times)

Molly Ringwald, John Hughes, Anthony Michael Hall. These are names I grew up with. Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink. These are movies I loved.

It is strange how you can feel such sadness for a person you have never met. Although since the passing of my father, I feel a strange quiet sadness whenever I hear of anyone passing.

Speaking with a friend yesterday, the talented Mr. Maxwell Loren Holyoke-Hirsch, I discovered that there would be an article published in the NY Times written by Molly Ringwald about John Hughes' death. Max had been approached to illustrate said article. Poor fella had a raging fever, but managed to turn it out.

I awoke this morning very excited to see that he had indeed turned it out. The underlying theme for Ringwald's article was that John was like Peter Pan, in that he created a Neverland for the actors in his films. Her writing was just what I had expected it to be. Thoughtful, intimate, sentimental.

The picture that accompanied it was a charming example of MLHH's oeuvre. His signature characters are created with such a childlike passion: I can't imagine a more suitable artist to illustrate the words chosen to mourn the passing of a true cinematic great.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

She fancies herself a photographer now....

Art imitates life. Who said that? All my years of art history education and I can't remember a damn thing. Andre Breton? Oops, Oscar Wilde. Weird. Here are some more of my dabbles.





Sonja Ahlers.



An artist that used to show at the gallery I managed in Vancouver has just crept back into my consciousness. As I was unpacking yet another box of books, I came across a catalogue from a show Sonja Ahlers had in Japan.

Sonja's art is near and dear to my heart. She creates these amazing Fierce Bunnies, one of which (Grandpa) is resting comfortably in Oliver's room. Sonja is one of those artists that you couldn't imagine being anything else. Her studio locations range from the Yukon, to the inside of a mushroom in Toronto. Everything she writes is brilliant and thoughtful, and her photographs are clean and crisp and bright. Oh and did I mention she shares my obsession with Heart?



I highly recommend reading her blog, scoping her art, and adoring her bunnies.




*Nestled inside the belly of each bunny is a lucky penny. About 5 months after I had received my bunny, I found out I was pregnant. I sent her an email and jokingly asked if they had fertility powers. She confirmed my suspicions.*

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Henrique Oliveira and Julian Wolkenstein

Just checking out For Me, For You, and came across Brazilian artist Henrique Oliveira. His paintings are one thing, but his 3 dimensional salvaged wood installations are OUT OF THIS WORLD.
(images via miel at cannelle)




And to completely change directions, I have fallen for artist Julian Wolkenstein's photographs of horses with their hair done. Specifically 'Florence'. What a lovely horse. ;)

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Julie Morstad is the Bees Knees





After a little over a year, I am thrilled to see that Julie Morstad's Alphabet cards (whom I am sure everyone I know has heard me rave about), are HERE!!!! Julie is an artist that is represented by the gallery I managed (Atelier Gallery), and is definitely one of my favourites-before I even started working there to be honest.... Last year we had an exhibition of the series (original drawings) and the entire set sold. Wowsa. I wanted to buy 'H', but ahhh, what can you do. Each card features a unique illustration to accompany the letter: 'L' is a rabbit writing a letter, 'I' is for ice fishing...clever girl.

Snap a set up here.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Etsy Find

I rather vaguely typed in 'art' to the search section in Etsy, and at around page 35 came across JacqleenBleu's shop. Her gorgeous dreamy images make me want to wallpaper my house with them.


Monday, January 26, 2009

13 Most Beautiful...



A friend of mine, Miss Gabby De Luca, is doing some freelance PR work for the Vancouver PuSh Festival. This is how I was alerted to a phenomenal show going on this Friday! I have been a long time fan of Luna and Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips, and lo and behold, they have been commissioned by the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh to compose music to accompany some of Warhol’s rarely seen 1960s silent-film screen tests.

They will be at the Vogue this Friday to accompany this screening LIVE! Last February, I had purchased two tix to see Dean and Britta as a Valentine's Day gift for Matty, but got sick and we couldn't go. So the fact that they are coming back again, especially to accompany Warhol's images-well, I just hope the baby doesn't come before Friday!

If you're interested, click here.

Oh yeah, for my friends in Winnipeg, they are also performing in Minneapolis (Walker Cinema Space)on February 28.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Robert Graham

Good lord: My boss introduced me to the artist Robert Graham. Brillllliant.




Monday, October 6, 2008

MondayMorningArtsCool

Two artists that I have been watching recently are Jason Polan and Maxwell Loren Holyoke Hirsch. I was recently in contact with MLHH and much to my delight he has just updated his website. It is stocked full of goodies like this:




and this:







He has loads of work that will blow your mind. I recommend checking out his illustrations section. Wowsa.














Second up: Jason Polan! Now I swear that this is the nicest person I have ever not met. A few months back I bought the ridiculously entertaining "The Every Piece of Art In The Museum of Modern Art Book". Now, you can buy this book for a mere $20 US,



OR you could take full advantage of Polan's insane creativity and grab this:

Deluxe Edition $100

Included in the Deluxe Edition:

* The Every Piece Of Art In The Museum Of Modern Art Book
* Complimentary admission and guided tour, by Jason Polan, of The Museum Of Modern Art
* A hotdog or pretzel right after your tour
* Your favorite piece of art at the Museum Of Modern Art hand drawn for you

I am certain that I will be posting more about Jason as I am completely infatuated with his attempt at combining artistic practice with humanity skills. Jason Polan-I applaud you.

P.S. Check out the sweet little note that he sent along with the book.


Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Somethings I love....

i have been feeling sad lately, and was advised to start concentrating on the things in my life that i love...here are a few.............

fresh tomatoes
best friend

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Fine Art Doll Collection

I am very excited to say that through all my years of education, and my favourite professor constantly encouraging me to look at craft as art...I finally get it. I am not saying that I have completely reconciled how a quilt and a painting can exist in the same category, but then again, how do painting and sculpture?! What does make sense to me now is that categories are unimportant, and that each work should be valued for the imagination and skill used to create them.

I have recently started my art collection, and to my surprise, I am beginning with 2 dolls. My first piece is a Fierce Bunny created by Vancouver artist Sonja Ahlers. His name is Grandpa and he is created from lambswool and then tea-dyed a lovely cream colour. If anyone is interested in these adorable and artistically playful bunnies, visit the James Harris Gallery website at www.jamesharrisgallery.com. To view more of her prints and collages (which are equally as fabulous, visit www.ateliergallery.ca


My second addition to my collection is a ridiculously cool doll created by Winnipeg artist, Suzie Smith. Suzie screenprints images onto fabric and sews them into shape. She created 8 different dolls: Frida Kahlo, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Courtney Love, Guerrilla Girl, Johnny Cash, Yoko Ono, Nina Simone, and oops...I can't remember the last one right now...Anyhow, because of a show I am curating at the Atelier Gallery, Suzie sent me my very own 'Guerrilla Girl'! I remeber now! It is the fabulous Tina Turner