Gigantic hands? Yes please. This is the fabulous work of Brooklyn based artist Mimi O Chun. All of her work is fantastic {so yes, I’ve already arranged to have her on an upcoming podcast episode!}, but today I wanted to share her series, titled Manu Propria (Latin for with one’s own hand). It “consists of soft sculptures of hands that explore the ways in which we enact personal notions of beauty, culture, and identity through micro-acts of adornment.” Her whole artist statement about this body of work can be read right here, but I really wanted to include this last part of it in the post:
“In the wake of the 2016 US elections, I’ve experienced an even greater urgency to develop this body of work. As progressive policy impacting matters of immigration, religious freedom, equality, and reproductive rights come under siege, I’ve had the opportunity to appreciate the many ways in which visible forms of personal expression can define, differentiate, and unite us — one hijab, pink pussy hat, or nail at a time.”
Oh. YES. So weird, so gorgeous. I feel like each one of these pieces, by American artist Lola Gil, is like a bizarre dream that gets even more bizarre when you try to describe it to someone the next day… “and then I pulled this cowboy-covered wallpaper drawer out of my chest. Anywho.” Here is Lola’s description of her dreams, I mean work:
“Throughout my career I have always been a painter of narrative escapism, with my work evoking personal connections for each individual viewer. Because it is executed in a surreal way, it allows the viewer to create their own story and meaning.”
That is British born, California based artist Richard Holland. I don’t know which I love more… the self portrait or the fabulous hand-built frame that houses the self portrait!? I’ve written about Richard before, but we met in person last weekend and it only took a few minutes of chatting with this kind, insightful artist – who can make anything – before I invited him onto the podcast. Clearly his art is fantastic, but about four minutes into talking to him I found out that he’s only been making his own art for a few years. What did he do before that you ask? He was in the movies, baby! Richard was an art director and production designer on so many great films… the one that grabbed me {and I’m guessing you}… three words… The. Princess. Bride! Anywho, the whole episode is filled with great stories and insightful gems by this former “tea boy”. Listen right up there under Richard’s self portrait, or subscribe on iTunes.
Let’s start with a few more of his fabulous paintings, complete with fabulous sculptural frames:
What. So good. And the goodness continues:
See? He can make ANYTHING! He had all of these pieces on display when we met at The Other Art Fair, and I was instantly pulled in by that crazy cyclops … on top of the painting of the crazy cyclops! “Where did you find that amazing monster for the top of the frame?”, I naively asked. “I made it”, Richard replied. Of course he did.
That seems like an excellent segue into the fact that he has built a few other things as well:
Yes! The ‘pit of despair’ and the sailing ships in The Princess Bride! Seriously, I think I’ve seen this movie about fifty times. Anybody wanna peanut?
Now, while I was fangirling about TPB, that classic is just the tip of the iceberg. Richard has worked on all sorts of films – from Indiana Jones to The Last of the Mohicans, Labyrinth to James Bond. Craziness. Oh, and how ’bout these two gems from the 80s:
Yes. Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. What an insane career… not bad for a kid who was told it would be IMPOSSIBLE to have an art career in the movies. Even more insane? When I asked him about his “marriage” to this lady:
Hahahahaha! Oh, internet… why do we believe everything you tell us? Yes, Chaka Khan was married to a Richard Holland, just not THIS Richard Holland. Officially cleared up on Art For Your Ear… are you listening Wikipedia? Thanks so much to Richard for coming on the podcast and letting me freak out over his past career and his new career making his own artwork! Thank you to Saatchi Art for supporting this episode, and thanks to you for listening. There will be more art for your ear next weekend.
Beautiful and bizarre… ah yes, one of my favorite combinations! I don’t know what I love best, but those delicate legs made from dress pattern tissue are at the top of my list. This is the work of Canada based artist Pilar Mehlis, and this is why she puts legs on fish:
“At the age of twelve I moved from La Paz, Bolivia to Whitehorse,Yukon in the middle of winter. This move and life shift changed my perception of “self” in many ways and hence has become a focus in my work … In the last few years I have been exploring ideas of immigration and migrations both human and animal. The anthropomorphic forms: AntroFish (half human, half fish) and Ornithrope (Half human, half bird) have become the perfect vessels for the exploration of these ideas. They serve as “carriers” of all the things I associate with immigration and migration. I metaphorically recount these explorations through these figures and tell the viewer the story I know best: my own.”
Gasp! She’s done it again… an immersive collage!? This is “The Mushroom Hunters” by Berlin based American artist Clare Celeste Börsch. Can you imagine jumping around INSIDE a collage? That’s the kind of thing my dreams are made of. Well, minus the snakes. NO SNAKES.
Those vases… I mean, COME ON! I’ve written about her ceramic sharks, but today is all about American artist Lorien Stern‘s ghosts! I love everything Lorien makes and, if you happen to be in San Francisco, you can see her newest show / pop-up shop … it opens THIS FRIDAY November 9th at Rare Device. Sharks? Ghosts? Rainbows? Cheetahs? Snakes? I dunno know, but I know it’s gonna be good!
Join Lorien and the Rare Device staff on Friday evening, November 9th at Rare Device Flagship at 600 Divisadero Street from 6-9 p.m. for the opening reception. The show and pop-up shop will be up from Friday, November 9, 2018 to Monday, January 14, 2019… hello, holiday shopping!
Vote. For the love of all that is good, VOTE. This is the work of Portland based artist Lisa Congdon. Lisa does all sorts of things {I’m not actually sure when she sleeps}, but one thing she does particularly well is THIS: she uses her artwork to share her views, spread love, and motivate action. I am Canadian, so while I’d love to vote in the US midterms today, alas, I just have to sit up here biting my nails. Please, please, please exercise your right to make change… the world is counting on you.
Your “ChiChi DooDad” is showing. Well actually, American artist Sarah Bednarek’s “ChiChi DooDad” is showing at Tiger Strikes Asteroid{New York} until November 18, 2018! Here is their description of Sarah’s gorgeous, weird, and beautifully made work:
“For Sarah Bednarek, geometry and math directly reference the body and environment. She describes geometry as a tool to rationalize and calculate the world around us. Math of the everyday is messy. The eye measures distances in approximations, ordinary objects have dents and dings. Her works nod to this sort of fuzziness. They are human scale, roughly the size of the body, head, chest, genitalia and legs. This encourages her viewers to empathize with her sculptures as individuals. As we look, we might see a gaping mouth ready to scream, eat, vomit, or kiss. A figure may reveal itself in the midst of a gesture – maybe a wave or raising a hand in surrender. Are they covered in muscle? Tumors? Jewelry?”
An audio podcast with a Deaf artist? Yep. Sound waves, gestural strokes and the story of an artist who lost and then found her hearing. Canadian Kelsie Grazier is my guest, and ps. we’re working on getting a transcript created so that other Deaf, and hard of hearing, people can read our conversation. Kelsie’s work is beautiful, quiet, and filled with movement & elegant lines. Her story is as beautiful as her work, and I’m so proud to know her a little bit better after today. You can listen right under Kelsie’s signing hands {part of a new series she’s just started}, or subscribe on iTunes.
First up, let’s set the mood with one of the recent pieces in Kelsie’s “White Noise” series, titled “Trim Your Moustache”:
Ha! Beautiful and pretty funny… lips can’t be read if they’re covered up by a moustache, dude!
Next, three more in this series, along with close-ups of Kelsie’s lovely white lines:
Aren’t they gorgeous? I can’t even imagine those lines being black. Thank goodness for all of that tossing and turning that helped Kelsie land on this dreamy a-ha moment.
Next, her “breakthrough” painting that she mentioned, along with the experimental light-box from her Emily Carr days:
Ok, yes… more light-boxes please! She’s onto something there.
Speaking of new experiences, here is a peek at Kelsie’s very first mural in the entrance of The Profile, a co-working space in Vancouver. She took her gestural work and wavy white lines, well, really BIG:
Surrounded by sound waves. Chills.
Ok, now if you’re wondering where Kelsie’s visual inspiration comes from – color palette, strokes, gauziness, etc – look no further than her lovely float-home just outside of Vancouver. Brace yourself, it’s dreamy-overload:
Sigh. So, so gorgeous… and look at those super cute newlyweds! Awwww♥{photo by Christine Pienaar} Thank you so much to Kelsie for sharing her story and doing so much not only for the art world, but for the Deaf community; thanks to Saatchi Art for supporting the episode, and thank YOU for listening. There will be more Art For Your Ear next weekend:
Take a loooong deeeeep breath, because there’s nothin’ like a little fresh mountain air! These paintings are the work of Canadian artists David Pirrie{the dots & floating peaks}, and Elyse Dodge{the triangles}. I have loved both of them for ages, and thankfully Ian Tan – of Ian Tan Gallery – has brilliantly paired them up for this two-person show.“This Mountain Home” opens TOMORROW afternoon from 2-4pm. Grab yourself a coffee, stroll down South Granville, and pop in to see the show {ps.Elyse and David will both be there}. Happy Friday.
