After yesterday’s afternoon post, it seems my obsession with blues continues, but this time, I’m gushing over the blue skies of photographer Vittorio Ciccarelli’sInvisible series.
We’ve had no shortage of cloudless, blue sky days lately and I’m always struck, as it seems Ciccarelli is, by the juxtaposition of architecture against an azure expanse. The skies in Ciccarelli’s work almost seem unreal, unbelievably translucent.
The bright aqua skies leave our eyes to feast upon the simply beauty in the ordinary urban sights we take for granted. Suddenly, we notice the gentle curve of the street lamp, never realizing before its beauty.
If you’d like to see more of Vittorio Ciccarelli’s work, please visit his Behance page.
Maybe it’s finally living in a place surrounded by water after living in the desert last year, but I have been finding such inspiration in the various hues of blue to be found in the waters around Seattle! So many gorgeous shades from the deepest, darkest blue to green aquas, I just want to plunge right in and see what mysteries await!
It’s only natural that this blue obsession is trickling over into the artwork I’m foraging on my Pinterest boards.. here’s a little deep blue sea inspiration to get your own seas churning!
Sometimes we get so tied to a certain idea, person, or place, that we hold onto it so very tightly. That thing we’ve longed for finally comes to us, but it isn’t what we expected. And although things begin unravelling, we are still holding tight, even as the threads become ever more loose. These incredible ink drawings by San Francisco artist Steven Vasquez Lopez got me thinking about how we allow ideas to weave themselves into our psyche.
Patches 004, ink on paper, 9.5×13.25
Patches 005, ink on paper, 9.5×13.25
We tend to think of ourselves in a certain light, I this way or that, I could live here but never there. But then a funny thing can happen. We grow, we evolve, we experience life in different ways and we end up surprising ourselves. The weavings unravel and we realize that idea we were so in love with was just that– an idea, not a reality. Those strings aren’t so tightly woven after all.
Patches 013, ink on paper, 9.5×13.25
Patches 008, ink on paper, 9.5×13.25
Or maybe they were there to connect us in a different way altogether. Want to see more of Steven Vasquez Lopez’s work? Please visit his website.
Our weekend started off gangbusters with a fun surprise for me from Mr. Forager. Obviously I love painting and all things artsy and a few times post-gallery hopping, Mr. F has mentioned that he would like to give his creative wheels a spin. So Friday night, Mr. F signed us up for a little painting & adult beverages at Mind Unwind in West Seattle. Now normally, the art snob in me might think these kinds of places are super cheesy, but I loved seeing folks like Mr. F, who don’t consider themselves creative or “artists” tap into a completely different part of their brains. A little wine and beer doesn’t hurt the loosening up the art making joints, either!
[ blank canvas, beer ]
Following our foray into couple’s painting, we arose super early on Saturday to go hiking in the Wenatchee National Forest. It was a moderately cool, cloudless day, perfect for hiking. Wildflowers and waterfalls greeted us were plentiful, as well as mosquitoes once we reached our destination.
[ weird balloon sighting on the trail.. can you spot Mr. F? ]
About a mile and a half of the trail was a pretty grueling uphill climb, followed by a slow, try not to break any bones trek back down. Although this was by no means the longest hike we’ve done, it was more strenuous than anything we’ve done since leaving Idaho last year. These kinds of hikes always teach me a big lesson in perseverance. I take each small victory, each rise conquered as testimony that big things can be done when taken in small steps. The rest of the weekend was decidedly lazy, though we’re making headway on some big decisions and transitions. More on that later.
[ chinese takeout picnic ]
[ nothing but blue skies ]
Did you enjoy gorgeous summer weather in your neck of the woods? Want to see more from This Artsy Life? Follow me on Instagram!
When you think of a breeding ground for creativity, Tulsa, OK is probably not the first place that comes to mind.. but let me tell you there are some artsy folks in OK! Mr. F lived in Tulsa for a few years, so we definitely know some cool and creative folks there ( and a few that have moved Northwesterly! ). Tulsa is home to an awesome contemporary gallery, Exhibit by Aberson, which is showing an impressive round up of young Oklahoman artists, including Tulsa painter ( and musician, Tulsa is a hotbed for the musically inclined ), Jason Lockhart.
Bita-Pita
Alite
I fell instantly in love with this Lockhart’s work as soon as I saw it in Exhibit’s newsletter. The architectural elements juxtaposed with typography and painterly abstractions, then add in that color palette and BAM! This is an artist to watch, folks.
E4
ET
It’s not just the elements being used, but the way in which he is fitting them together. That slightly hidden “A” in Bita-Pita, the suggestive aviation shapes in E4.. It all just works. Sometimes I get tongue tied, ok, keyboard tied when I try to describe why I love an artist’s work. It’s just good. Trust me.
Ding-On
Want to see more of Jason Lockhart’s work? If you’re anywhere near Tulsa, don’t miss the show at Exhibit by Aberson, opening Thursday, July 18th. You can also check out Lockhart’s blog.
Last night, Mr. F & I ventured out for our first ArtWalk since arriving in Seattle. I know, right?!! What took us so long? And this city is by no means lacking in ArtWalking opportunities. Like Farmer’s Markets, there seems to be one going on all the time. I knew there were a few shows in the Pioneer Square district opening last night, so off we went to fight the traffic and walk some art!
You can see all the photos of art I snapped over on the Artsy Instagram feed, but I wanted to give you a little sneak peek here on the blog. Something you should know about Seattle– it’s gray a lot ( well you probably already knew that ),but when the sun comes out, the light is dazzling. It was a beautiful light-filled evening last night and as I was going through the galleries, I noticed a theme of beautiful shadows cast by some of the work on display.
So much artsy goodness! Next time I think I’ll go early & let Mr. F meet me there. Too much to see in just a few hours. Any artsy plans for the weekend?
All images by Artsy Forager. More can be found by following Artsy Forager on Instagram!
Have you ever looked back at your baby photos and wondered, “What in the world was Mom thinking!”? While there is still plenty of cheesy baby fashion to be had, the parents of today’s newborns have more choices than ever– I’m loving this trend toward artsy onesies!
Mr. Forager and I take turns choosing the films we watch together. So hopefully for every documentary about beer or politics, I get a turn at an artsy flick! Last weekend, we gave (Untitled) a viewing and although as a movie I didn’t find it anything to shout about, I did find the portrayal of the art world and its archetypes, hierarchies, pretensions, and perceptions really interesting.
Adam Goldberg, an actor I’ve always loved since his turn as the too-good-to-be-true-turned-crazy roommate to Chandler Bing on Friends, stars as a struggling avant garde composer who falls down the rabbit hole of the contemporary art world. Goldberg is the archetypical brooding starving artist, while his brother, played by Eion Bailey, is a “commercial” artist whose work is selling to a certain type of buyer, yet he longs for critical validation. Enter love interest/contemporary gallery owner Marley Shelton.
Adam Goldberg as Adrian Jacobs, photo by Parker Film Company/Samuel Goldwyn Films
Shelton’s Chelsea gallerist with her ubiquitous collection of trendy, non-prescription glasses embodies the gallerists’ struggle between the work that sells and the work seen as innovative, evocative, and important. While these two aren’t always mutually exclusive, there is often an art world snobbery that comes about when work is commercially successful or decorative rather than intellectual, isn’t there?
Marley Shelton as gallery owner Madeleine Gray, photo by Parker Film Company/Samuel Goldwyn Films
In addition to the main characters, the film also includes art world archetypes such as The Collector Who Will Buy Anything the Gallerist Tells Him To, The Maurizio Cattelan/Jeff KoonsishArtiste, The Artist Who Makes Art Out of Nothing ( but who are we to tell him it’s not? ), The Consultant With an Eye For Work People Actually Want to Buy and Live With, and of course, the Supportive Parents of Artists, who let’s face it, often don’t have a clue what exactly it is you do, they just want you to eat.
Zak Orth and Marley Shelton as Collector & Gallerist, photo by Parker Film Company/Samuel Goldwyn Films
Are the characters in the film stereotypical and a bit caricature-ish? Absolutely. Is there truth behind each one? Most definitely. Anyone who’s been around the business of art for any length of time has likely encountered some or all of these types. But I think the film successfully gives us a glimpse into the humanity of these archetypes– how they struggle against who they are expected to be and as some accept who they actually are. As there are millions of artists, so are there millions of opinions on what art is. And there is room for all.
It’s so difficult to capture the feeling of a place, a moment, a mood. Sometimes I get so caught up in the beauty of moment that I forget to snap a photo or more often, I don’t want to take myself out of the moment to grab the camera. New York photographer Mimi Ko creates an ambience of feeling in each captured click of her camera.
Though her subjects are occasionally dressed in period garb, there is a timelessness to the spells she is weaving. The shadows and soft light create a quiet moodiness and feeling of anticipation.
With each image, she is letting us into a small part of the story. The possible narrative is only one element in the composition, the scenes she is setting are more about what isn’t being said rather than what is.
Want to see more of Mimi Ko’s work? Please visit the artist’s website.
Summer always feels like the perfect time to bring out the graphic ethnic prints, comfy sandals, and color, color, color! Living an artsy life means showing your artsy spirit in everything you do– including how you present yourself to the world through the clothes you wear. Wanna channel your inner kokopelli? This ensemble, inspired by this month’s Featured Artist Ally Burguires‘ Kokopelli painting is perfectly comfy and colorful– perfect for an afternoon of gallery hopping in Santa Fe!
Doesn’t a skirt like that just make you want to sashay when you walk?! Or maybe do a wee little kokopelli dance. 😉 This pairing just makes my little artsy heart sing!
If you’d like to see more of Vittorio Ciccarelli’s work, please visit his Behance page.
![This Artsy Life: Weekend 28 [ Forging Ahead ]](https://artsyforager.com/images/Pier+Regular/This+Artsy+Life%3A+Weekend+28+%5B+Forging+Ahead+%5D.png "This Artsy Life: Weekend 28 [ Forging Ahead ]")
