Confession: I love fashion magazines. The beautiful imagery of gorgeous people wearing couture, sporting watches and handbags that cost as much as a car, is like crack to me. Maybe in the intellectual artsy realm I am not supposed to taken with such trivial and superficial fluff, but I just can’t help it. Nor can NYC artist Hooper Turner.
High Noon, oil on canvas, 18×24 ( via Skidmore Contemporary )
Turner, whose latest exhibition, Glamorama, opens at Skidmore Contemporary in Santa Montica, CA this Saturday, chooses to focus his fascination and truly study these portraits of consumerism, painting them and in turn, seeing them with new eyes.
The Crusaders, oil on canvas, 30×40
Turner doesn’t take the imagery out of context, like many might, instead the images are unabashedly commercial, some complete with the text juxtaposed over the image, just as it would be in a magazine. It is in this honest confrontation of our voluntary manipulation by advertisers, creative directors, etc., that his work finds its most poignant power.
Solstice 2005, oil on canvas, 30×36 ( via Skidmore Contemporary )Spiced Egg Nog Cardigan, oil on canvas, 20×24 ( via Skidmore Contemporary )
Be sure to check out Hooper Turner’s website to see more images of his work. If you’re in Southern California, make plans to see his show in up close & personal at Skidmore Contemporary Art.
Featured image is Calvin Klein Underwear, oil on canvas, 51×36. All images are via Skidmore Contemporary’s website.
The moment I walked through the doors of Davis & Cline in Ashland, I fell hard for the work of Haley Farthing. Immediately, they drew me in, I had to take a closer look. What exactly was I seeing? Her palette is so subtle, the shapes so fluid, these are works that are best examined at close range.
Pulse, pastel and ink on wood, 48×24
For Haley, “abstraction and ambiguity of a subject is much more powerful when it is a part of it’s inherent nature”. She takes organic subjects, such as driftwood, plants, etc and magnifies the view, creating a perspective that highlights their intrinsic abstraction.
Constant, pastel on wood, 24×12
Her limited, neutral palette allows the texture and pattern of these natural materials to be showcased and celebrated. Mere leaves appear to be angel’s wings or folds of rich satin flowing from the bodies of ancient Greeks. She constructs her work in such a way that these organic forms take on classical compositions. While allowing the grain of the wood surface to show through reminds us that these are earthly manifestations, their beauty inherent in their creation.
Untitled, pastel and ink on wood, 9×12Growth, pastel and ink on wood, 48×24
Please take the time to check out more of Haley Farthing’s work on her website. Her Out of the Woods show can be seen at Davis & Cline until November 26th. It is a beautiful, inspiring show– I highly recommend checking it out if you’re in Southern Oregon.
Featured image is Nestle, pastel and ink on wood, 60×24. All images are via the artist’s website.
Ninety-nine percent of the time I completely love my life in the Pacific Northwest. But occasionally, there is that nagging little 1% that longs to be back in my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, just so that I can be in the thick of the exciting artistic resurgence happening there. Though the arts in Jax were hit hard by the recession, artists and art supporters are determined to make Jacksonville a cultural destination. Among them, artist Steve Williams is bringing home forward-thinking, atypical art with his new gallery, Florida Mining.
CPHACE by Laird, inaugural exhibition at Florida Mining
Williams is no stranger to playing gallerist. He’s been at the heart of several successful galleries in Jacksonville over the years. As an artist, he thrives on being involved with other artists and their creative processes. And, being the generous soul that he is, wants to help them succeed and in the process, is bringing his unique vision for the arts to his hometown.
Florida Mining
Florida Mining’s mission? To present emerging to mid career artists who are thought provoking and fresh with a mix of medium and perspective. And they were off to a slammin’ start with their first show featuring a new series of work by Northeast Florida photographer Laird, a series infared photographs which begin with organic surroundings and are composited and mirrored so that the resulting image becomes almost hauntingly alien, yet familiar.
CPHACE series by Laird
Florida Mining’s sleek, contemporary space, designed by the brilliant team at Designmind, Larry Wilson and Rebecca Davisson ( both artists in their own right ) is the perfect showcase for making avant-garde work accessible to North Florida.
Florida Mining
Up next for Florida Mining is a new show, Tonya Lee: All Smiles, a new series from the Jacksonville-native, current Philadelphian featuring paintings and wallpaper ( yes, you read that right! ), embracing Lee’s fascination with alternative materials.
Tonya Lee: All Smiles
Tonya Lee: All Smiles opens at Florida Mining this coming Friday, 11/11/11. If you are anywhere nearby, you will not want to miss it! Big things are in store for this new venture. Go and experience it for yourself.
If you’re not in Florida, be sure to check out Florida Mining on their website, Facebook and Twitter. Always interesting and cheeky fun to be had.
As the hubby and I travel, we love to explore and see what the surrounding area has to offer. While living in Grants Pass, Oregon, we’ve come to love the nearby artsy town of Ashland. While other galleries in Ashland cater more to local work, Davis & Cline Gallery, in the Railroad District, carries a variety of exceptional work by both emerging and established artists recognized both regionally and nationally.
Davis & Cline, exterior
As we walked in the front doors of the gallery, I immediately fell in love with the current show, Out of the Woods, featuring work by Christian Burchard and Haley Farthing. Burchard’s madrone wood sculptures are stunning in their simplicity and texture, full of organic elegance. A perfect complement to the rich, milky warmth of Burchard’s sculptures are Farthing’s subtle pastel and ink wood panel paintings. Look for more on these two artists soon!
Out of the Woods, Christian Burchard & Haley Farthing
Throughout the gallery, the space is well lit and the placement of the work a well-designed mixture of two-dimensional work and sculpture.
Davis & Cline, interior
Davis & Cline has a world class collection of glass work and it is showcased beautifully, both in naturally lit and a specifically designed “dark room”. It is a space worthy of exhibiting the prismatic beauty of world renown artists like Dale Chihuly ( check out some of Chihuly’s 2-d work hanging above! )
Davis & Cline, glass gallery
The gallerist was friendly yet, unobtrusive– exactly the feeling I like to get in a gallery. Once we started talking, he was eager to tell me more about the artists and the gallery but never with a “salesman”-like attitude. This is a gallery where both a serious collector and student would feel welcome and appreciated.
Check out the Davis & Cline website to see more of the artists they represent. If you’re ever in Ashland, be sure to make a personal visit!
Please enjoy this oldie by goodie while I spend the next two weeks camping, packing, visiting with the mom-in-law and moving from WA to OR. See you in September!
The affordable artfest continues today! In case you missed it, you can catch Part 1 here. Here are a few more suggestions for purchasing affordable artwork:
Art festivals– Just about every community at one point of another puts on some kind of arts festival or at the very least, there are a few within easy driving distance of where you live. Festivals are a great place to check out ( usually ) a wide variety of artwork. And with individual artists manning their own booths, it’s also a great opportunity to chat with them about their work. Plus, you can usually score some funnel cake. Win-win!!
ArtWalks— Many communities are also getting on the ArtWalk bandwagon, which I am all for! ArtWalks customarily take place once a month, usually the same evening every month such as the First Friday or Second Saturday. While the ArtWalks usually involve visiting local galleries, which we’ll touch base on below, many of them set up tents in a local park or closed-off street where local artists can display their wares.
Arts Markets– A growing trend is a local “arts market”, which is a weekly market, combination farmer’s market, street fair and arts market. A wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning, grab some fresh ingredients for dinner, listen to local music and discover new artists.
Local Galleries– You may think this one is obvious, but in many communities, brick & mortar art galleries are rapidly disappearing, thanks in no small part to the recession. If you are lucky enough to have some local galleries in your area, do what you can to support them. Don’t just go to the free events– actually buy something, even if it small. Many galleries today offer payment plans for larger purchases, don’t be afraid to ask. Galleries are in the business of supporting artists and selling their work. While it’s nice to browse, browsers don’t pay the rent. Most art galleries are run by average folks who love art or are artists themselves and are an important feature of any thriving community. Please patronize local galleries– your community will thank you.
Art by Students– Chances are, you have a community college or university of some kind in or near where you live. These institutions are often filled with budding artists. Check the colleges’ websites to find out more about their art programs, exhibitions, etc. Purchasing student work is a wonderful, economical way to start a collection AND help give emerging young artists a boost of confidence. Even if they don’t make a career out of being an artist, that student will always know someone loved their work enough to buy it and they will cherish that knowledge. ( I speak from personal experience! )
Artists Themselves– OK, so this suggestion may call for a huge, UMM..DUH, LESLEY!!, but it’s definitely an option, especially today when many artists are foregoing traditional gallery representation, choosing instead to market their work on their own. There are certain advantages to dealing directly with an artist, such as they may have more room to negotiate on price or payment terms without a middle man, as a direct “patron”, the artist may notify you first of new works you may be interested in and best of all, you can get to know the artist personally, which often makes the work you love that much more significant. In addition, many artists are now offering “budget” limited editions of their work, which make it all the more affordable. ( Check out Town Editions, a limited edition collection offered by Pick of the Crop artist, Thomas Hager ). A word of caution though, on a somewhat touchy aspect of buying directly from artists which goes back to my point of supporting local galleries– if you see a piece in a gallery that you love PLEASE do not try to circumvent the gallery and purchase from the artist directly. It’s dishonest and well, just a crappy thing to do. Most artists value their relationships with galleries or have a contract with the gallery and would not sell such a work to you in any case, but I’ve seen it happen.
I hope you find these suggestions helpful. It can be intimidating to buy artwork, but buy what you love and you’ll never be sorry.
Please enjoy this oldie by goodie while I spend the next two weeks camping, packing, visiting with the mom-in-law and moving from WA to OR. See you in September!
It is a huge misnomer that only the rich can afford to be art collectors or even to purchase original work. When most of us think of an “art collector”, we tend to think of the stereotype of the wealthy patron, attending auctions at Christie’s, buying artwork for more than many of us make in a year, heck, in a lifetime. Or maybe you’ve gone into a higher end gallery and seen a price and thought to yourself, “Self, no way you’ll ever be able to afford that.”
Well, I’m here to tell you, the times they are a changin’. It has never been easier or more affordable to purchase original artwork and/or high quality limited editions. No, I’m not talking about the kind of “original art” you buy at the fleamarket or from a sale in a hotel ballroom. I’m referring to original, gallery worthy fine art. The kind you can be proud to hang on your wall.
Here are some suggestions for finding the artwork of your dreams and getting your collection started:
Online galleries/exhibition websites– These are popping up all over the place and many of them represent some very talented artists and you can usually find wonderful work in every price point.
Etsy— Possibly the largest online art & handmade marketplace, complete with a powerful search engine, you’ll find a wide range of artwork available. Many artists are using Etsy to reach a wider audience and as a way to sell their work independantly. ( Note that many of the artists with shops on the “exhibition sites” will have their links on those sites connecting back to their Etsy shops. )
Into the Mystic, photgraphic print, 8″x8″ $30
20×200— this New York City based website works with artists to offer limited editions of original work. Starting at just $20 for the smallest size, 20×200 offers affordable, quality work for newbie collectors.
Well-Being I, limited edition on archival paper, 8″x10″, edition of $200, $20
Papernstitch— I must admit, I’m a little biased toward this one, as it is run by my friend ( and fabulous artist in her own right ), Brittni Wood. Started as a blog, Papernstitch is a growing online exhibition site, curated monthly by Brittni and features handpicked, talented artists, designers and craftspeople. The Papernstitch blog is still going full force and features daily posts from Brittni and a handful of other talented contributors. Papernstitch is definitely worth a look when you are searching for something special.
Open Space by Rachel Austin, original mixed media on canvas, 8″ x 8″, $85
Artwelove— Founded in 2008, ArtWeLove “offers exclusive, museum-quality art editions by today’s inspiring artists”. A big difference with this site is it focuses on offerings from artists whose work is found in top galleries, museums and exhibitions throughout the world. The work is curated and commissioned directly from the artist to ArtWeLove exclusively– you won’t see these prints anywhere else. The site has a “learning engine” similar to Amazon.com, which tracks your artwork preferences over time and makes recommendations for you.
Petal, Pixel and Stain by Nina Tichava, limited edition on archival paper, starting at $50
PoppyTalk Handmade–Founded in 2008 by a Canadian husband and wife team, PoppyTalk Handmade is a monthly curated and “themed” marketplace showcasing artwork, handmade and vintage goods from around the world. Sort of an online street fair/festival, PoppyTalk provides an online marketplace to emerging and indie artists and craftspeople.
Pillow Land, sewn print by Clare Elsaesser of Tastes Orangey, 4.75″ x 4.75″, $20
Stay tuned over the next few days for more suggestions on ways to buy original art on any budget!
Please enjoy this oldie but goodie while I spend the next two weeks camping, packing, visiting with the mom-in-law and moving from WA to OR. See you in September!
Swimmingly [ swim-ing-lee ]
–adverb- Definition: without difficulty; with great success; effortlessly.
‘Tis the season for swimming. If you’re in Florida at least, maybe if you’re elsewhere ’tis the season to dream of swimming. I recently came across the paintings of New York ( by way of Minnesota ) artist, Samantha French, bathed in sunlight and clear blue water.
Reminiscent of summers spent on Minnesota lakes, French’s work seeks to recapture those fleeting, carefree days of summer. Days spent in the water, underwater, by the water.. nothing compares to the lovely worn-out feeling of a day spent swimming and relaxing in the sun.
The swimmers and sunbathers in French’s work are reminiscent of days gone by.. of colorful convertibles, hotdog picnics, the days of Hepburn and Tracy.
French has a show titled “Open Swim” opening at the Left Bank Gallery in Essex, CT this Thursday. To learn more about the artist, visit her website and be sure to fan Samantha French Art on Facebook! Prints of her work can be purchased through her Etsy store.
I am a lover of stories. Ever since I was a little girl, cuddled in my grandmother’s arms, listening to her read me story after story, I adore being drawn into another world, wondering what will happen next. Whether in novels, the spoken word, song or artwork, I adore anything ( and anyone! My hubby George is a wonderful storyteller ) with a tale to tell.
So when I came across the work of painter Shannon Richardson at the RiverSea Gallery in Astoria, OR, I was drawn in by their narrative quality. Each painting feels like the viewer is walking into the midst of a story.
Traveling Companions, oil on canvas, 24×24
These are illustrations of stories, but not completely fictional ones. What Richardson paints, is memories of illusions of her own memories. Not always as they actually occurred, but how they live in her mind, heart and dreams.
Wedding Belles, oil on canvas, 24×18
In these visual narratives, Richardson creates a fantastical world that is at once familiar and foreign. Dream-like visages filled with other worldly characters and landscapes, but the feelings surrounding the imagery are universal– hopefulness and helplessness, elation and despair.
The Casual Departure, oil on canvas, 18×24
Each image is a fable to which we can relate, not because of our experience of the fantastical creatures or dreamlike quality, but because we have all been in situations of betrayal, soaring happiness, quiet contentment and such. We all have our memories of the heart in common.
Time for Togetherness, oil on canvas, 36×48
To see more of Shannon Richardson’s work, please visit her website. In addition to RiverSea Gallery, you can also see her work in person at The Churchill Gallery in Newburyport, MA and The Joanne Artman Gallery in Laguna Beach, CA.
The featured image is The Companionship of Memories.
I love it when an artist’s work causes me to do a double take. When I spotted the ceramic sculptures of Anne Goodrich amongst the work at Guardino Gallery in Portland, I almost passed them by. From afar, they just seemed like botanical ceramics, which would likely just have elicited a “nice” from me. But upon closer inspection, I saw that these were something more.
Wall 10
These beautifully formed ceramics, in their soft pastels and rich earth tones play a delightful little trick on the mind. At first glance, you may think you know what you’re seeing– Oh, pretty seashell, no wait, flower, no wait, gourd.. snail? alien? What is it?!
7A
It is in the ambiguity that Goodrich’s work finds its simple, sweet power. We aren’t sure exactly what these forms are, but even still, they speak to us. They are achingly familiar, like the face of a stranger who reminds us of a long lost friend.
Wall 4
They may remind us of forms that exist inside our own bodies. Or of organisms surrounding us, both seen and unseen.
Nest 1 by Anne Goodrich
Whatever they are, I want to bring one home, give it a name, let it speak to me and discover its mysteries.
To see more of Anne Goodrich’s work, please visit her website. If you’re lucky enough to be in or near Portland, OR, you can see her work in person at Guardino Gallery in the Alberta Arts District.
A man gives many question marks, however, a woman is a whole mystery. ~Diana Stürm
Artist Brad Kunkle is a creator of feminine mysteries. Haunting, glistening visual fairy tales which are at once throwbacks to the past and yet thoroughly modern.
Candela, oil and silver leaf on wood, 33×32
His work takes inspiration from the Pre-Raphaelite era, as evidenced by the medieval-feel of the compositions, near photographic precision and intricate surface detail.
The Quickening, oil and gold and silver on linen, 44×22
But don’t be mistaken, Kunkle’s figures and compositions are not antiquated, but rather fresh and current. The paintings are like pages of out a Vogue magazine fairy tale– and I mean that in the best possible way. These aren’t helpless ingenues, but contemporary women caught up in circumstance.
Afela’s Nature by Brad Kunkle, oil and gold and silver on linen, 16×14The Arrangement, oil and silver leaf on linen, 34×18
These are the modern daughters of Eve, tempted and tempting, the subject of desire and blame. Filled with sensual strength tinged with sadness. Kunkle tells the story of their past by placing them in classical compositions and poses, but the elegant background treatments and inherent edginess keep them firmly on current ground.
The Source, oil and gold and silver on linen, 26×18
To see more of Brad Kunkle’s work, please visit his website. If you’re in the New York area, his work is represented by Arcadia Gallery, where he will exhibit a solo show in Spring 2012.
Featured image is “Girl With Serpent and Pearls”, oil and gold and silver on linen, 25×30.
