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

I think this requires a well placed *GASP!*, don’t you? A glass geode encrusted work of art, that also happens to be a department store in Gwanggyo, just outside of Seoul. This building is the work of OMA, an architecture firm with offices all over the world – from Rotterdam and New York, to Dubai and Australia. Here are their words about this project:

“The Gwanggyo store is the sixth branch of “Galleria”, Korea’s largest upscale department store franchise founded in the 1970s. Sculpted as a stone volume with a textured mosaic stone façade, the building evokes the nature of its neighbouring Suwon Gwanggyo Lake Park. A public route is excavated from the stone volume and connects the public side walk to a roof garden—to include both retail and cultural activities. It introduces an innovative element to the traditional typology of a department store.

The public route has a multifaceted glass façade that contrasts with the opacity of the stone. Through the glass, retail and cultural activities inside are revealed to the city’s passers-by, while visitors in the interior acquire new vantage points to experience Gwanggyo. Formed with a sequence of cascading terraces, the public loop offers spaces for exhibitions and performances.”

Ok, now I want to live in a glass geode encrusted house. Happy Friday.

{via Design Milk}

Ahh, I want to go to all of those pools. This is the dreamy mixed media work of Brooklyn based artist Lizzie Gill. I’ve written about her before, but when I found out she was selling framed limited edition prints with the goal of helping in the fight against COVID19, I couldn’t put this post together fast enough. Here are Lizzie’s words about this fundraiser:

“Houseparty” is a curated selection of limited edition print works by artist Lizzie Gill, benefitting healthcare workers on the front lines. 25% of proceeds will go to Fuel The Fight NYC, which provides meals from local NYC restaurants, to those working tirelessly to keep us safe. @Fuelthefightnyc

As we reconsider how we access and interact with artwork during this time of worldwide separation and instability, the artist intentionally created this collection, of ready to hang works, to address this current disconnect. The series, created in isolation, features surrealist compositions ironically juxtaposed with titles based in reality. Such as in Meet Me Anywhere (But My Apartment). These works are inspired by a shared longing for escapism, captured through the visual language of transferred nostalgia. Each work is an edition of 25 priced at $450, artworks arrive framed and ready to hang (out with you).

She has already sent $1000 to Fuel The Fight NYC, and you can help her send more. Pick your framed pool party right here.

Who wants to escape into nature for just a few glorious minutes? Me too. This is the work of Nova Scotia based artist Briana Corr Scott … from sketches to paintings to her absolutely gorgeous textile design. Sigh. I lived in Nova Scotia when I was little, and looking at her dreamy studio filled with gathered bits from forest floors and the seaside make me want to take a deep, cleansing breath. Ahhhh, that’s better.

ps. If you love her patterns as much as I do, you can find them at Spoonflower.com as wallpaper, pillows, table cloths and more! She also has prints, notecards etc in her shop.

Work from three different series, all of which are very appropriate right now… medication we all could use, an installation about eating our feelings, followed by a funeral for capitalism. Mic drop. This is just a tiny sampling of work by Kansas City based artist/illustrator Lauren Phillips. Her woodcuts pulled me in, but my goodness, Lauren’s portfolio is full of:

“… a combination of her interests: the female experience, bringing awareness to social inequities, the natural world, joy and pleasures.” 

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

Every single painting {oil on board} is a feast for the eyes… patterns, fantastic palettes, more patterns! This is the smallest glimpse of the lifelong work of Scottish painter Norman Gilbert. The first two paintings above are from the 70’s, the next two from the 80s, two from the 90’s and the final two are from 2000 until now. It’s a perfect window into watching Norman’s family growing up! I wrote about his gorgeous work two years ago, and have been following along ever since. Just the other day, however, I was so sad to learn that Norman passed away just before Christmas 2019. His son, Mark, continues to share Norman’s work with the world, and I will too. Here is a lovely quote from Norman that I just had to share:

“I try to make each colour and shape enhance every other colour and shape so it’s entirely satisfactory, so it’s at peace.”

Isn’t that poetic? So beautiful. May you now be at peace, Norman ♥

*photos 1 & 3 by Enzo Di Cosmo / Norman’s work is available via Tatha Gallery and Koppe Astner

Ahhh, an artist in her happy place. I am so excited about today’s interview. As you might notice this episode is going up a day late – then again, you probably have absolutely no idea what day it is anyway, so I’m just gonna pretend this is going up on time! I really wanted to talk to this painter and poet, but she’s been in and out of the hospital. So, earlier this week, when she said she could talk on Saturday morning, I seized the opportunity. Megan Krzmarzick is my guest today. You might know her as @messengerbird on Instagram… that’s how I’ve known her for years, but today I finally got to talk to her about her journey. I had so many questions for Megan, and her answers were a cocktail of inspiration and chills. Listen right up there under Megan in the desert, or subscribe here.

Okay. First up, Megan’s ‘lemons into lemonade’ is a little more dramatic than what most of us have had to face. So, when life gave her cancer {for the second time}, Megan made an art residency for herself. In the hospital:

How inspiring is that!? Yep, I may have posted most of her Instagram feed… but how could I not? Studies drying on the hospital window sill? Working on a large-scale abstract while in the middle of a chemo treatment?! I mean, seriously. I do not have an excuse not to be in my studio right this very second. Dang. She’s amazing.

Speaking of amazing, here is a little peek at her first self-published book of poetry, followed by her latest {which is an e-book}:

Running away. Sigh. I wish she could run away to Italy or Paris right now… and I’d also wish I was going with her!

Finally, Megan was not kidding about the way she tries to feel as normal as possible, which of course is part of her daily ritual for staying positive. Even in the hospital, she gets up, has a shower, puts on makeup and a spritz of perfume… and you’ll notice, there ain’t a hospital gown in sight:

Damn🔥 Take that, cancer. Megan, thank you so much for doing this with me. I wish you light and love and strength and healing… FIGHT! And to all of you, thank you for listening. Also, start a daily creative ritual… even if it’s only 15 minutes a day. There will be more ART FOR YOUR EAR next weekend. ~ Danielle xo

Other links:

1. Megan on Instagram, aka @messengerbird
2. Running Away From Home, Vol 2 {download}
3. Frida {2002 movie}
4. Great British Baking Show

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!

There is something about this work that feels perfectly perfect at the moment. All of these hand-cut pieces are from a series of collages, titled “Needleshaped Silence”, by Copenhagen based artist / muscian øjeRum. Sigh. I think I’m going to go sit quietly on a hilltop and do a bit of imagining.

{found via TAX Collection}

 

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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}