Daily Artsy Mixed Media

Art Possessed: Chad Wys

Posted on January 15, 2013

Our currently semi-vagabond lifestyle dictates that Mr. Forager and I travel light.  Any purchase of a new object is always weighed against whether it’s truly necessary, how much room it will take up when in transit, or if it is too beautiful/wonderful/amazing to live without.  In his work, Illinois artist Chad Wys takes on our obsession with possession, questioning whether we can truly possess a piece of artwork, what our possessions say about us, and how we objectify the world around us.

Arrangement in Skintones by Chad Wys

Arrangement in Skintones, c-print ( edition of 10 ), 30×30

Nocturne 111 by Chad Wys

Nocturne 111, c-print, 24×30

When we purchase a piece of artwork, what is our motive?  I believe the majority of art is acquired for aesthetic reasons– something about the work, whether it be the subject, the colors or the composition, appeals to us.  But what about artwork that doesn’t appeal, isn’t pretty?  Is it any less valuable?

Golden Tea Party by Chad Wys

Golden Tea Party, paint on found porcelain, 8.5x7x5.5

Opus 1 by Chad Wys

Opus 1, c-print

And what do the objects we possess say about who we are?  And what makes the things we own or the things our ancestors owned so special?  Or are they not really special at all?

To see more of Chad Wys’s work, please visit his website.

Thank you to artsocial for reminding about this artist!  All images are via the artist’s website.

 

 

This Artsy Life

This Artsy Life: Weekend 2 [ Artsy & Mr. Forager go to Vegas ]

Posted on January 14, 2013

As part of my longing to share a little more of myself and our life with you, Artsies, hope you enjoy this second installment of This Artsy Life, a new series of posts in which you get to see a bit of how Mr. Forager & I live. Last weekend, we made my first & our first together ( and probably last ) trip to Las Vegas. While it was nice to get away and stay in a luxurious hotel ( thanks, Hotwire! ) and we can now cross Vegas off our list of must-sees while we’re in SoCal, we didn’t enjoy it as much as we thought we might. Not to sound snobbish, but I think we just hated the artificiality of it all. I know, I know, that’s kind of the point.. yet we found it very wearing. There were a few highlights though, including a trip downtown to the up & coming 18b Arts District. Truly if you go and need a break from all the spectacle, hop in a cab or take a bus downtown and visit the galleries & artist studios there. Your soul & spirit will thank you!

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[ drinks at Gordon Ramsay’s Pub & Grill.. Hell’s Kitchen is a guilty pleasure of ours ]

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 [ sculpture imitating art ]

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[ socio-political art at 18b ]

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[ art square studios ]

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[ art is a weapon ]

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[ our contribution to the letter to the president art project ]

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[ ok, so Vegas isn’t all bad ]

How about you, Artsies?  Love Vegas or hate it?  Want to see more of This Artsy Life?  Artsy Forager is now on Instagram!  Come follow and see what Mr. Forager & I find inspiring, comical, or just plain wacky!

Daily Artsy Figurative Mixed Media

Dangerous Beauty: Jane Maxwell

Posted on January 14, 2013

While visiting with friends in San Diego recently, somehow the topic of self-worth came up.  My friend Veronica mentioned that the Dalai Lama didn’t understand the Western issue of low self-esteem– we are not born thinking negatively about ourselves, yet something sinister creeps in.  The work of Boston area artist Jane Maxwell uses vintage fashion, advertising, and pop-culture ephemera to deconstruct the messages being sent to women and young girls by the fashion and entertainment industries.

Runway Girls and Circles by Jane Maxwell

Runway Girls and Circles, mixed media and resin on panel

Our body image issues don’t always begin with someone actually telling us we’re too fat, too skinny, too pale.. we are inundated daily, especially as women and young girls, with images of stick thin fashion models and actresses, being held up as the current standard of ideal beauty.  Maxwell chooses to use silhouetted versions of these iconic figures, deconstructing them so that they become an anonymous “every woman”, which could help us to see the somber truth that these women have indeed become pawns in this game of idealized beauty.

Blue Circle Girls by Jane Maxwell

Blue Circle Girls, mixed media with resin on panel, 48×48

Circle of Thought by Jane Maxwell

Circle of Thought, mixed media with resin on panel, 48×48

Blue by Jane Maxwell

Blue, collage, wax & resin on panel, 36×36

This standard of beauty seems to fluctuate with each generation, remember the days of Reuben and his voluptuous figures?  Or the curvaceousness of the iconic beauties of the 1950s?  When will we reach a point where women of every size, shape, and color are held up as quintessentially beautiful?  Maxwell’s work recognizes that struggle within us of that longing to be lauded for our unique  beauty yet we continue to strive to attain the ideal.

Walking Girls and Bullseyes by Jane Maxwell

Walking Girls and Bullseyes, collage, wax, and resin on panel, 70×40

What are your thoughts on Jane Maxwell’s work or on self-image in general?  Where do you see the struggle?

To see more of the work of Jane Maxwell, please visit her website and Facebook page.  Her work can be seen in galleries throughout the US, you can find a list of her representing galleries on her website.

Artist found via Lanoue Fine Art.  Images via the artist’s website and Lanoue Fine Art.

Design Design Foraging Interiors Jewelry

Friday Design Finds: A Touch of Brass

Posted on January 11, 2013

Until recently, the word brass conjured up images of hideous early 1980’s decor.  But brass is staging a comeback and when combined with wood, makes for a design statement that is at once organic and modern.  Here are a few brass & wood combos I’m especially intrigued by this week..

Alma Brass Chair from Organic Modernism

Alma Brass Chair from Organic Modernism

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Sun-Tipped Serveware from Anthropologie

Sun-Tipped Serveware via Anthropologie

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Wood &Brass Triangle Ring from Of Matter

Wood &Brass Triangle Ring from Of Matter

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Wood & Brass iPhone case from EXOVault

Wood & Brass iPhone case from EXOVault

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Pia Wustenberg vase

Pia Wustenberg vase

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Have a fantastic weekend, Artsies!  Speaking of shiny things, I’m going Viva Las Vegas this weekend.  Hope to see an Elvis impersonator and hope to have some fun Vegas-style artsyness to share next week!

All image sources are linked above.

Artsy About Town Exhibitions museums Photography

Artsy About Town: Ruud van Empel’s Strange Beauty

Posted on January 10, 2013

I have had the work of Dutch artist Ruud van Empel pinned to my Pinterest board for months now.  Imagine my excitement when we arrived in San Diego back in October and I saw who was coming to the Museum of Photographic Arts at Balboa Park!  Since then, I’ve had the postcard for his show, Strange Beauty, hanging on our fridge, just waiting to see this compelling work up close.

*I snapped this pic before I saw the sign for no photography.  Shhh.. don’t tell on me!

The artist’s first solo show in an American museum, Strange Beauty showcases over 40 of van Empel’s digitally created works.  I hate to call them digitally enhanced photographs because they are so very much more than that.  Ruud van Empel carefully constructs each piece, meticulously layering staged photographs, digital imagery, and collage.

World #7 by Ruud Van Empel

World #7, cibachrome, 41.43×59.06

The results are stunningly haunting, complex imagery.  With a background in theater arts and graphic graphic design, van Empel sets a beautifully enticing stage, one in we aren’t sure whether his characters should feel right at home or terribly out of place.

World #20 by Rudd van Empel

World #20, cibachrome, 23.5×33

The Office #41 by Ruud van Empel

The Office #41, digital print on paper, 12.01×13.78

Untitled #1 by Ruud van Empel

Untitled #1, cibachrome, 33.11×46.81

As you look closely at each image, you aren’t sure where the actual photograph and the manipulation or collage begins.. in many we would be surprised to know which elements were not present all along.

Generation #2 by Ruud van Empel

Generation #2, cibachrome, 130×49

Strange Beauty runs through February 3, 2013 at the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego.  If you’re anywhere near the area, I highly recommend a visit!  You can also see more of Ruud van Empel’s work on his website.

Top image by Artsy Forager.  All other images are via the artist’s website.

Abstract Art Daily Artsy Mixed Media Paintings

Caught in the Act: Jim Gaylord

Posted on January 10, 2013

OK, I’ll admit, I’m not a big action-movie fan.  In fact, the latest super-hero based film is usually the very last on my movie watching list ( although I end up watching them with Mr. Forager so that he’ll watch the latest costume drama/foreign film with me ).  But I might be rethinking my prejudice due to the work featured today.  The recent work of Brooklyn artist Jim Gaylord is based on action sequences in films– now there’s an action movie screening approach I could get into!

High Muck-a-Muck by Jim Gaylord

High Muck-a-Muck, oil on canvas, 24×20

In Gaylord’s work, some paintings, some collage/mixed media, we are met with a cacophony of shapes, colliding upon one another.  The crashing of objects, the roar of engines.. it’s almost audible.  Can you hear it?

Coat of Arms by Jim Gaylord

Coat of Arms, gouache on cutout paper, 40×26

Rat King by Jim Gaylord

Rat King, oil on paper, 43.75×30

Victory Lap by Jim Gaylord

Victory Lap, gouache and soot on cutout paper, 26×36

Pops of white amid the chaos resemble clouds of smoke, distorting the full scene from our view, while smaller forms are catapulted out from the midst like shrapnel.

Soft Endorsement by Jim Gaylord

Soft Endorsement, oil on canvas, 22×17

I think I’ll be looking at action sequences a bit differently from now on, won’t you?  To see more of Jim Gaylord’s work, please visit his website.

All images are via the artist’s website.  Artist found via Gregory Lind Gallery.

This Artsy Life

This Artsy Life: Weekend 1 [ Artsy & Mr. Forager Go to San Diego, We Meet The Sweater ]

Posted on January 9, 2013

One thing I’ve been thinking about lately is how to inject more of myself into the blog.  Don’t get me wrong, this is definitely not going to turn into the Artsy & Mr. Forager show.. but the way we live is so unique and our opportunities for adventure and exploration so rich that I thought you guys might enjoy the occasional glimpse into the way we live.   So beginning this week, I’ll post a little recap of how we spent our weekend, part of a This Artsy Life series.  Mind you, not every weekend will be filled with new sights and discoveries.. sometimes we’re really boring. 😉  But I hope these posts will help you get to know me a little better, and in turn, we’ll get to know each other a little better!

Last weekend was spent with dear friends in San Diego.  Our times with the Jameses and their three sweet boys are filled with the sharing of food, drink, and laughter.  And sometimes a tickle fight.

[ beer tasting at Ballast Point Brewing ]

[ Ruud van Empel at MOPA* ]

[ the sweater likes coffee** ]

[ artsy eating ]

[ tickle fight ]

[ turkish coffee at Hillcrest Farmer’s Market ]

*Look for a post on this amazing artist & exhibition soon!

**There’s a story behind the sweater.  And many to come.

Art Glass Daily Artsy Sculpture

The Elegant Wild: Katja Fritzsche

Posted on January 9, 2013

Did you have a favorite animal growing up?  One that you loved, identified with, family members bought you t-shirts & stuffed animals in their likeness?  Isn’t it interesting how we, as young children, identify with our fellow members of the animal kingdom, then as with most of the magic of childhood, we outgrow our connection to our spirit creatures.  The work of Tuscon artist Katja Fritzsche reminds us that those connections we once felt are not gone forever, only buried for a time.

Blue Sky Ram by Katja Fritzsche

Blue Sky Ram, reverse painted mosaic and hand cast glass, 30x20x22

By casting her creatures in the glass with perceived rigidity and coldness, Fritzsche’s work serves to recall to us that though we overlook our fellow animals, destroying their habitats as we build our own glass and steel monuments, they are still among us.  We catch glimpses of them in unexpected places, a lost deer wandering a suburban neighborhood, a hawk perched high atop a skyscraper.

Edge by Katja Fritzsche

Edge, blown glass and hand worked bronze

Migration by Katja Fritzsche

Migration, cast glass and hand forged bronze, 18x10x10

Mapplethorpe by Katja Fritzsche

Mapplethorpe, mosaic glass and hand worked glass, 30x21x10

As we amble clumsily through life, the animals live each day with instinct, grace, and purpose.  Each born to his own calling and knowing it from birth.  How have we strayed so far from our own guiding spirits?

Violet by Katja Fritzsche

Violet, blown glass, mosaic glass and pressed flowers, 24x15x22

To see more of Katja Fritzsche’s work, please visit her website.  I went through a pretty serious manatee phase when I was young– such gentle, unassuming animals, while Mr. Forager has always had a fascination with wolves. What creature did/do you identify with?  Has it changed over the years?

All images are via the artist’s website.  Artist found via Visions West Gallery.

Daily Artsy Figurative Paintings

Divided Unity: Sherri Belassen

Posted on January 8, 2013

You know that old saying “Good fences make good neighbors”?  There is much truth to be gleaned from that quote.  Freedom and space is important, but boundaries and divided spaces can help create a sense of protection and privacy.  In a painting, divided spaces can create a sense of balance and compositional interest, as in the work of Arizona artist Sherri Belassen.

Hammock by Sherri Belassen

Hammock, oil on canvas, 66×40

In her paintings, Belassen utilizes line and color blocking to create shadow, shape, and texture within the layout of each canvas.  Figures are connected to each other and their surroundings, creating a sense of visual depth and the suggestion of surrounding spaces.

What If by Sherri Belassen

What If, oil on canvas, 36×48

Love is in the Air by Sherri Belassen

Love is in the Air, oil on canvas, 48×48

Her figures take on almost a monumental, landscape-ish quality, as if these are giant canvases we are glimpsing from high above.

Divine by Sherri Belassen

Divine, oil on canvas, 30×40

To see more of Sherri Belassen’s work, please visit her website.  Her work may be seen in person at a number of galleries around the US– see the list here!

Hammock and Divine are via the artist’s website.  What If is via representing gallery Jules Place and Love is in the Air is via representing gallery Elizabeth Gordon Gallery.