He’s back! [insert fan-girl screaming here]. LA based artist Wayne White was on the podcast almost five years ago – episode no.30 to be exact – and I could not be more thrilled to have him back. Wayne is one of my favorite artists of all time for a whole bunch of reasons which, of course, we’ll cover during this episode. The really big reason though? He got me making art again. Not just dabbling, but truly finding my way to do the work I want to do, the way I want to do it. During episode 30, he had two words for me… just two, short but very impactful words that squashed a long held belief I’d allowed an old art school professor to plant in my head decades ago. I’ve told this story before, and it’s actually a huge part of the TED talk I was supposed to have done in Nashville in March {they’re rescheduling so hopefully I’ll still get to tell this story standing on that red dot on a big stage}, but today I got to tell that story to the man himself! Listen right up there under that Cheap Bastard, or subscribe here.

First, one of my favorite films ever / my favorite moment from said film:

Seriously, if you watch Beauty is Embarrassing on a plane you will lose it. I cried so much when Ms. Stoddard showed up in Chattanooga to get her book signed. Such a special moment… that Wayne almost ruined.

Okay, wipe away the tears because “it’s tiiiiiime for PEEWEE’S PLAYHOUSE”:

Soooo, I popped the theme song in here so you could see a bunch of Wayne’s work in action, but side note: I can still sing that entire theme song. Wow. I guess that’s permanently in my brain. Good to know.

Okay, moving along. These word paintings on found thrift shop paintings were my first introduction to Wayne years ago, and I still love them oh so much:

Beautifully painted and ridiculously funny… perfect combo, if you ask me. But, as he said, sometimes he gets bored of the thrift shop paintings, so here’s a look at his latest oil paintings. Clouds. Look at these unbelievable clouds:

Stunning! I loved listening to him talk about how and why he decided to paint clouds for this series. Poetic. Here’s a peek at them in progress on his easel:

I mean, come on. Gorgeous.

Ok, drumroll please…. introducing Wayne’s newest baby:

The Wayne White Puppet Show! *Bear played by Mimi Pond. Here are links to the first two episodes { Ep. 1  /  Ep. 2 }, but keep your eye on his Instagram feed for upcoming puppet shows!

And finally, since we started off talking about Wayne as a kid growing up in Tennessee, please enjoy this:

Seriously, how could I not post that? Hey, he put it up on his Instagram feed, so I figure it’s fair game! Thank you so, so much to Wayne for doing this with me again; thanks to the Thrive Network for supporting the episode; and thank YOU for listening. Let’s have Wayne play us out, shall we …

 

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A post shared by Wayne White (@waynewhiteart) on Apr 2, 2020 at 10:27am PDT

Other links:

1. Wayne on Instagram
2. Beauty is Embarrassing {film}
3. Maybe Now I’ll Get the Respect I So Richly Deserve {book}
4. Joshua Liner Gallery, NYC
5. Richard Brautigan, Poet
6. Esther Pearl Watson / Mark Todd
7. Big Time, Peter Gabriel {video}
8. Tonight Tonight, Smashing Pumpkins {video}
9. Wayne drawing with both hands
10. Thrive Network

Gasp! This is the magical work Sydney based artist Kyle Montgomery. All of these breathtaking sculptures are from an ongoing series, titled “Crystal Mary”. Here’s the poetic description of why he does what he does:

[His work] is an intentional collision of two beliefs in physical form, combining religion and spirituality to create the ultimate icon. These sculptural works delve into ideas of re-birth and the after- life, principals and messages he portrayed in earlier collage work before transforming them into the three-dimensional.

So beautiful. I found Kyle’s work through Paradigm Gallery‘s current show {that’s where I came across Riikka’s roller derby bruises}… ie., it’s a really good show!

 

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A post shared by Riikka Hyvönen (@riikka.hyvonen) on Mar 23, 2020 at 4:43am PDT

Ooof, those are some real doozies! Now, don’t be worried. These bruises aren’t from something bad, in fact, each purplish-blue peacock feather-like bruise is considered a badge of honor. They are “Roller Derby Kisses” . These larger than life, sparkly, candy-colored 3D paintings are the work of Finland born, London based artist Riikka Hyvönen. Here’s her story behind this ongoing series:

“… For me, roller derby is really all about the community, and the mesmerising subculture that has sprung from it. If a derby player gets hit in the game, she wants to show her bruised bum for her team members on the side of the track (and then reach some well-deserved admiration on the internet). These bruises are called derby kisses — kisses from derby. They are little love bites and badges of honour.

Each of my gigantic 3D artworks is based on a real photograph. ”I have a really beautiful bruise on my bum. Do you want to see a pic?” A friend once posted on my FB wall. ”It has 12 colors and is the size of my head.” I said yes, I definitely want to have a look. She sent it to my inbox. It turned out to be at least as impressive as she had threatened. In the end, this comment of hers also became the name of the work.

These days, derby girls from around the world send me photos of their trophies. I am deeply honoured to be able to turn some of them into art.

Recreating a derby kiss, I use wood, MDF, leather, glitter, and various tools from paintbrushes to jigsaw pieces. I need to break the surface of the leather, then paint it, then break it and paint it again — and repeat the process dozens of times in order to create a picture, as hypnotising on canvas as on the skin.

Through making artworks of large scale, with a remarkable amount of sparkle, glitter and colour, I objectify the girls completely, but in the same way as they objectify themselves. With the kitsch, tacky, thoroughly questionable elegance, my aim is to capture the unapologetic representation of beauty that roller derby is all about.” 

Unapologetic representation of beauty… LOVE! I included a few shots and that video so you could see how she does what she does. A few of Riikka’s bums are currently part of a FABULOUS group show, titled “Strange Delights” happening at Paradigm Gallery {Philadelphia} until May 16, 2020.

{discovered via Create Magazine}

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A post shared by Katie Green (@katiegreenart) on Apr 26, 2020 at 6:12pm PDT

Aaaaaah! They’re doing all of the things we’re not supposed to do! So. Much. Touching … and I love it. This is the beautifully bizarre work of Calgary based artist Katie Green. Washy weirdness and masks that I would happily wear to the grocery store. ps. Katie’s also a puppet-maker, which does not surprise me at all.

I like, totally, can’t solve a Rubik’s Cube… but if it had been covered in neon icing, maybe? . The 1980s, cupcake-loving, teenage girl in me has found yet another crush. This is the work of South Carolina based artist Olivia Bonilla, and these are her words about this work:

“I am creating a world where color theory meets sculpture. My work explores personal nostalgia and indulgence through references to sweets, toy culture, and 80’s and 90’s retro flare. I’m interested in the idea of excess in today’s throwaway society. Through my sculptures I convey a “sugar coated” reality filled with over-stimulation and re-appropriated ideas. Sprinkled pills, oversized diamonds, toys of an era, splashed with glitter and a wet gloss finish. My sculptures explore the emotional desire of always wanting more, in combination with glutinous shiny landscapes who reveal childhood colors of cotton candy blue and bubble gum pink.”

Nailed it.

ps. People often ask me how I find the artists I write about, and I always say, “it starts with one artist and then I end up going down a rabbit hole of amazingness”. In this case, I found Olivia via Miller Gallery, while I was over there writing Monday’s post about Angela Chrusciaki Blehm. How could I not come back with these, too!?

Oh. My. Word… seriously, my fingers could not type this post fast enough! Cut wood, glitter resin, latex paint, and the occasional yellow lightning bolt? Loooooove. This is the work of Georgia based artist Angela Chrusciaki Blehm, and yes, it was the amazing black & white ribbon that grabbed me, and then that corner o’ goodness finished the job. Happy Monday.

*Some of Angela’s pieces are available through Miller Gallery in Charleston, SC.

YUM! … well, if you love the sweet taste of resin. These rainbow-hued sculptures are the fabulous work of Georgia based sculptor Jourdan Joly. I’ve written about him before, but it’s time to do it again! See those ombre/faded yellow and orange cones above? Well, I will be selling both of those during a LIVE online exhibition happening TOMORROW! Eep. I’m very nervous, but excited because, yes, this Tuesday, APRIL 14 at Noon EST, I am hosting an online ART FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT FOOD BANK NYC organized by the amazing team at SHOWFIELDS, and assisted by the artsy eye of TAX Collection. I’ve just spent the past week talking to each artist on the phone – from Milan to New York, Georgia to Pakistan – and, oh my word, they’re all so FANTASTIC! The lineup looks like this: Jourdan Joly, Dave Pollot, Dot Pigeon, Elisa Valenti, Amber Vittoria, Marc Scheff, Erika Lee Sears, Sara Shakeel and Drigo 💕75% of profits will go to the food bank, and 25% will go to the artist.

Hop online with us at this futuristic art show … you can click/buy the work as I’m talking about it. Seriously. IT’S THE FUTURE! RSVP to the event right here.

 

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A post shared by Karen Navarro (@karennavarroph) on Mar 5, 2020 at 4:30pm PST

You hit play on that video, right? Wow. LOVE. This is the fabulous work of Karen Navarro, an Argentine-born artist currently based in Houston. These pieces are from two different, but similar, bodies of work. The red/pink pieces are from “Deconstruction”, and the more sculptural works are from her ongoing series titled, “The Constructed Self”. So, why does she slice and dice her portrait photography? I’ll let Karen explain:

“I depart from stereotypical photographic portraits of subjects to render them through constructive and deconstructive methods. To disrupt photography’s flat, two-dimensional surface I cut and reassemble the images to build sculptures and collages. I use photography as the basis for the three-dimensional objects as a means to challenge our visual perception. Often implying that identity is, in fact, a social construct while also engaging with notions of existentialist.”

Love.

If it wasn’t frowned upon, I would totally touch {and let’s be honest, try to taste} this entire show! These weird ‘n wonderful pieces are the work of Texas based artist Dan Lam. Her newest exhibition, titled “Supernatural”, is currently showing at Stephanie Chefas Projects in Portland. Here are a few words from the gallery about this work:

“In her latest collection of work, Lam continues to explore her otherworldly sensibility, creating sculptures that push the boundaries of color and form alike. We invite you to enter a world of the artist’s creation, populated by signature spiky shells, kinetic patterns, and vivid neon hues. Inanimate perhaps, but these surrealist objects brim with palpable life and movement.

With Supernatural, Lam walks the line between numerous dichotomies to uncover new modes of expression. By navigating the realm between attraction and repulsion, motion and stillness, seriousness and playfulness, softness and hardness, Lam wields magic power over each idiosyncratic vision. The experimentation remains palpable, but the work never so abstract as to disengage. Compelled by these seemingly disparate juxtapositions, the viewer is overcome with a range of complex emotions and creative ideas.”

Love. It. All. Sigh. Soooo many shows are up, without people being in attendance. Please go and check out all of these shows online. The artists and galleries have worked so hard to put these exhibitions together. Stupid global pandemic.

Well, I guess I’m not the only one hoarding costume jewelry! These crystal-encrusted organic wonders are the exquisite work of Colorado based artist Tania Dibbs, and this is her intention behind them:

“Her sculptural pieces combine symbols of wealth and culture with their opposites, highlighting a bigger discussion about our fast changing relationship with the planet and with nature in general. This contemporary issue is indeed urgent and relevant.”

Indeed.

ps. Some of Tania’s work, her paintings, are currently part of a group show at Skye Gallery in Aspen, until April 22, 2020.