DESIGN IDOLATRY: ALEXANDER GIRARD

DESIGN IDOLATRY: ALEXANDER GIRARD

Visit House Industries for a beautiful homage to Girard and an array of amazing products and Girard fonts!

Of the many many artists/designers I adore, I cannot escape the unending inspiration I continue to get from Girard-- even posthumously!

But here is why I love him so much...

Alexander Girard, besides being a pioneer of Mid-Century Modern aesthetics,

...you were also an artist who lures me in with your mixture of folk and modern...

...who designed so many beautiful textiles juxtaposing geometry with the organic...

...and used typography as an artistic form...

...and you understood that art is a way of life:

                            “Art is only art when it is          

                                  synonymous with living.”  

                                        — Alexander Girard

For more on the impact of Girard, check out this great article!

And to seriously, Urban Outfitters has so many Girard products I want to weep!!

Like these:

And here is serious wishlist item:

My favorite one from Electra Bikes!

Hope you were inspired!

xoxo

ART I HEART: TREY SPEEGLE

ART I HEART: TREY SPEEGLE

Thank you for Poppytalk for introducing me to Junk Culture Shop who introduced me to Trey Speegle!

Dear Trey Speegle,

...Your work mixes my love of kitsch Americana with a subversive attitude...

...combining folk art forms with modern principles or aesthetics...

...you channel Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, and Joseph Cornell...

...you use iconography and typography to a profound effect...

sigh.

Send some love his way!

xoxo

ART I <3: MARC JOHNS

ART I <3: MARC JOHNS

Dear Marc Johns,

So many of your illustrations:

....inspire me to create...

...suit my love of irony...

...capture my whimsical fantasies...

 

...make me chuckle from the gut...

...and all around make me smile...

Art makes me happy!

...and...you love lightning bolts...

If you want to send some love to Marc Johns:

check out his flickr, buy some stuff , or peruse his site!

xoxo

KARMIC GOODIES: QUOTESKINE

Just an, "i -exist-have-lots-of-things-brewing-but-wanted-to-reach-out-and-share" post!

If you have looked around my little cyber living space you will know the following:

i love art.

i love typography.

i love sharing.

i love quotes-- or any little poignant thoughts that resonate.

thus i love:

QUOTESKINE

Lee Crutchley's work is fun, satirical, thoughtful, and inspiring.

There is an addictive sardonic quality about this project of his, but I also love his form, simplicity and dedication. Art is an action. Sometimes I believe it's a civic responsibility. Other times I think it should just be great to look at!

Too many that I love! Check out his flickr set!

KARMIC GOODIES: LOCAL ART I HEART

I have been desperate to find the energy to blog...I have been pulled in so many directions lately (all of my own doing really) and pray that I establish some sense of true balance one day. Either way, I wanted to share some local goodness and love of these awesome friends!!

JOHN "EXIT" TREMBONE

photo taken at recent art gathering "Bridge the Gap II" 

A little bit of background: seriously a local legend, I have so much respect for John because since I first met him 14+ years ago he has kept creating, expressing, being true to forms of art that have been misused and forgotten at times. John built this pyramid himself and had a bunch of us add pieces to the top to make it a communal message.

I think my friend JP or Cyndy took this, but this is one of the only pics of the piece in it's "completed" state. I think I look totally silly here, but my darling Jenny said I looked like a curator!

John's photo-- from "Homeless Art Gallery II"

DEMETRIUS FELDER

photo taken at "Bridge the Gap II"

There is nothing Demetrius can't do. An amazing spoken word poet, a dancer, a painter-- another local genius! I have been lucky to spot a lot of his work and love the energy he brings to any venue!

photo taken at "Van Duzer Days Part I"

this is Demetrius's photo of a mural done on the side wall of a local haunt "Martini Red"

KEVIN MAHONEY

of Robots Will Kill

photo taken at "Bridge the Gap II"-- So lucky to watch this gorgeous piece take shape. The subject is his adorable niece (who I got to meet that day!) Even though Kevin doesn't live on the island anymore, he is another one of those people I knew "way-back-when" who has continued on his path as an artist and is out there doing some amazing stuff!! 

Kevin's photo!

Kevin's photo! This is one of my new favorites!

There are so many talented people hiding out here on Staten Island...and I love it. Rarely do I show pride, but lately I am proud of my home and at least a fair amount of people who inhabit it. I thank these and so many more friends who have made this place happen again...there will be more local love to share here! xoxo

KARMIC GOODIES: UP-CYCLED/ MIND-BENDING ART

I can't remember where I first stumbled upon the eye-brow raising work of Tim Nobel and Sue Webster, but I felt the need to be yet another blogger supporting their concept.

Image by: pashasha

Not only do I love the use of trash (or any resources available to you!), but the intricacy and depth behind this project are so profound! Anything that can be deep, saavy, playful, and mind-bending is worth sharing with others! Enjoy! And honestly, do you find yourself getting chills by looking at some of these? Maybe for me it's the shadow concept, or the shock of the figures being projected so clearly through trash.  Tell me what you think!

taken from Raw Art Weblog

I know this one is naughty, but it is pretty amazing to see:

taken from an awesome article on  Environmental Graffiti!

photo via Simplistic Art

RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR, BROOKLYN: HIGHLIGHTS IN THE DAYLIGHT

This Sunday, Jay, JP and I went out to McCarren Park for the Renegade Craft Fair! I love this area so much and being here makes me miss living in Brooklyn so much!! There is so much to love and enjoy here, so really I could write a blog solely on this...so here are some of the highlights from an awesome day of exploration and discovery!

VENDOR HIGHLIGHTS:

Something's Hiding In Here!

I was so excited to see their stuff in person!! I really wish I would have bought more, but I did snag a cute little "Hello" flag (shown below and in my goodies pic!)

And I loved loved loved SHIH's display!! This was my favorite little detail!

Final Approach

I desperately want one!!

Cherrybox Studios

You have to check out their stuff!!! It is one of those see it to believe it experiences!! I must say I seriously contemplated owning one of these!!

Dolan Geiman

This picture does his work no real justice. I was completely captivated the moment I walked into the fair and really need to own one of his original pieces one day!

Etch-a-Sketch-Day

I got the pleasure to talk to the artist behind these crazy-cool pieces!! I was teasing how one would have to be extra gentle when purchasing one so the work wouldn't disappear!! Conversation ensued, and I learned that Nate empties out the sand and the design stays safe!! This one was my favorite.

MY GOODIES FROM THE FAIR:

I really budgeted myself, so as much as there were loads of things I wanted, I came home with my "Hello" flag--which I waved around dreamily for a good amount of time!; the recycled journal from: Ex Libris Anonymous --and got another free one that was damaged, so so cool (gave it to JP!!); the cute print set is from: Rifle Design; the pin was free from the named company (so cute); and the keychain was given to me by Jay!!

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS AT THE FAIR:

Sadly, I was so enamored by the surroundings and weather to stop and get a love letter written!! So so cute!!

Messages were written in chalk around the perimeter of the park to promote the weekly Artists and Fleas Flea Market

JP and I walked into this puppet show en route to the bathroom and were instantly pulled in with amazement!! Besides how lovely the puppets are to watch, what made the moment even greater was that these guys performed "Strawberry Fields" through the puppets--- and it ROCKED!!!

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Other vendors who rocked:

Miniature Rhino

(especially love the little embroidered pieces!!)

Nicole Deponte

(I want to own or make one of these neck cuffs so badly!!)

Laura George

(total cuteness)

Arcane Arts

(I kind of regret not buying a print!)

Claire McDermott

(Definitely the most unique vendor! I adore her upcycling!)

10/365: "What a Renegade"

KARMIC GOODIES: WILL BRYANT

This is how I feel about so much I find out there, including this artist Will Bryant. I found a piece of his at the awesome Kitsune Noir Wallpaper project and immediately made his piece my laptop background!

 

"Lessons Learned" by Will Bryant-- current wallpaper on my Mac!

I am particularly fond of his collage work and DIY prints!

Check out his blog for more tasty fun!