artist info and museum

alice in wonderland is out!

tim burton's spectacular reimaging of carroll's alice in wonderland had its premiere in london last night, starring helena bonham carter as red queen, johnny depp as the mad hatter & mia wasikowska as alice, while the cheshire cat speaks in the voice of stephen fry.

aeroplastics @ volta ny

don't miss aeroplastics' booth @ volta ny, showing work of samuel rousseau

showtime: matthew chambers

visit the rental booth at the armory show for work of matthey chambers, brendan fowler, henry taylor and phil wagner

'toward eternal life and love', the last section of the exhibition medicine and art now on display @ the mori art museum in tokyo. featuring gilles barbier amongst other aces. one word only: wow...
(via we make money not art)

there's one for the leroy brothers!

leroy brothers are where the action is! gilles & nicolas posing with a fellow celebrity - while gregory leroy is most likely immortalizing the moment... judging by chick's lusty gaze...
you crazy bastards! :-D

walton creel: bang bang...

right in the target walt ! we say you shot yrself some pretty cool artworks, man ;-)
see more shoot-art @ deweaponizing the gun

!!showtime: 2010 whitney biennial!!

opening today! if you can't be there physically, be there virtually: through charlie finch's preview on artnet or through the whitney biennial site.

KICKSTARTER GUIDELINES

Hi again. So while several people have written to tell me about their success with kickstarter, two people wrote to say their projects were rejected. I'm not sure why that happened but if you do propose something with kickstarter, make sure you read their guidelines. I'm posted some of them below that I took from their site. New grant info in the next few days....:-) m

Projects must be focused on a specific goal and offer backers tangible, reasonably priced rewards. Projects involving donations, personal charity, or general business expenses are not good fits.

Creators must be diligent in managing their project. We encourage creators to imagine the experience that they would want as a backer, and then replicate that for their own project. A good project creator:

Creates and uploads a pitch video
Spreads the word through their network, audience, friends, and family
Keeps backers in the loop with frequent Project Updates
Engages with the community that develops around their project
Fulfills rewards in a timely manner

Some restrictions:

Loans, investment, and any kind of financial return are forbidden
Lotteries, raffles, and sweepstakes are not allowed

A HUGE THANK YOU! (Plus: Kickstarter update)

Dear readers...I just came back from my post office box. I haven't checked it since before the New Year and what did I find? A box stuffed with thank you cards, checks, handmade art pieces, beautiful announcements to your shows and more. I am so sorry I didn't look there sooner. I really appreciate the thought and consideration you guys showed. It really made my day. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I have some new things to post. Once again, this is a slow time because of my book. But I shall do what I can. Oh! Almost forgot—I've been getting feedback from some readers about their kickstarter projects and everyone who has done one so far got funded early! I'm thinking this is a really great avenue for some of you out there. I think the key is in trying to get your request to go viral, via social networking sites, email, etc. I also recently heard about another site but I think it is more for groups, but that could work out well if you are part of a collaborative or something. Here's the site: http://fundable.com/. If anyone out there has had experience with fundable.com, let me know.

More later....just wanted to say hi and to thank all you great peeps!
Yours,
Mirabee

ab fab: marilyn minter

marylin minter's paintings soon to be seen in de markten, brussels, together with works of cindy wright, maureen gallace, viviane klagsbrun, kati heck etc

tara o'brady: artists who blog

Tara's blog: www.sevenspoons.net

Why did you decide to start a blog? How did you come up with the name of your blog?

I am almost embarrassed to admit the story behind the name, as it was one of those whims that hits you like a ton of bricks and immediately means the world to you and you alone. But we’re friends, right? So here goes. One evening, I was sitting on my couch, flicking through Donna Hay magazine and talking to my then boyfriend (now husband) about the future.

Momentum had carried me on a successful career path after university, but I didn’t feel settled in what I was doing. As he left the room, he asked what made me happy. I looked down at the magazine on my lap, and thought “this.”

Food. Making it, eating it. Talking about it, reading about it. Writing about it. And of course learning, always learning.

It just so happened that in the Editor’s Letter of that issue Donna Hay mentioned her age of 34. I was 27 at the time. 34 subtract 27 gave me sev en, a number that has always seems to pop up in lucky circumstances in my life. And right there, that was it. I picked seven for my name as my little reminder of that night, that moment of complete conviction and clarity (just in case it was fleeting).

And the spoons, well “spoons” went nicely with seven, so there you go.

I’d been thinking of starting a food blog for a while by then, and having the name settled is what got me started.

How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?

It’s allowed me to focus on my own voice, rather than writing for others (which was my job at the time). By writing for myself on a regular basis I have further developed and clarified my perspective. It’s worked out the kinks.

As far as photography goes, I’d studied visual arts in the past, but never photography. Truth be told, my older brother has always been a great photographer, even from when we were little. I was always intimidated by that. The blog has pushed me headfirst into an area I wasn’t wholly comfortable in, and I’m better for it. I’ve become accustomed to this simple style that is my own, and I don’t think I’d have that without seven spoons.

What are some of your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

This could go on for days - a number of artists already included here are my usual haunts; their diverse talent offering up endless inspiration. Two ladies (and friends) that I’ll mention are the super-cool Kate of For Me, For You and lovely Nikole from forty-sixth at grace. Kate has an flawless eye for all aspects of design and she’s totally the girl I would have idolized in high school. Nikole has a breathtaking ability to capture a mom ent in words or on film, to convey its essence in the most lyrical way. It makes me happy see the world through her eyes. She (and her father) also make the most beautiful things.

Do you have any advice for keeping a blog interesting for readers?

With so many other sites out there, it is easy to become self-conscious about your work and consequently try to change to suit trend or the next big thing. But if that’s not genuinely what what moves you, your readers will notice. Always. Having a strong sense of what you’re about, or even just what you’re not about, that’s the best thing I think.

If you’re honestly enthusiastic about something, chances are your readers will be too.

What have been the most positive aspects of publishing a blog for you?

The chance to be a part of so many amazing communities; it’s a wonder u to experience the interconnection of various disciplines, from food to design to art to writing. The exchange of ideas between those worlds, the way they overlap and shape each other, it’s brilliant to see.

I have met friends I never would have known otherwise, and it is a gift to know people whose work consistently floors me. It’s enabled me to grow creatively to an exponential degree, more than I could have ever imagined.

What do you find to be the greatest challenges and rewards of having a creative profession? How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

Encouraging a constant flow of creativity. There’s always a moment of terror when you wonder if one day you will wake up and have nothing to say. It’s just me and the page, and if I lose that relationship, I’m done.

I try not to give too much thought to those monsters under the bed, and remind myself that wh en I’m the most present in my life - paying attention to the details and not getting too caught up in things, that’s when I’m at my best in both my life and my work.

What would you most like to accomplish in the upcoming year?

As for my creative projects, I am lucky to be in a good place right now. I simply hope to continue. Not overthink things, not burden myself with expectation. I want to move forward with a sense of possibility, keeping myself open to opportunities as they may come.

It’s plan that’s empowering and utterly terrifying at the same time.

Do you have any personal New Year’s resolutions for 2010?

I think I could always say “write more, read more, explore more.” That’s my yearly hope. I can be shy at times, I’d like to work on that.

Thank you Tara! Your beautiful photographs, your articulate voice, and your delicious recipes are always a joy!

happiness in bed

cute idea this sleeved blanket by andrea ayala closa for happiness brussels. must-have!

last chance to see alexandra crouwers' show

alexandra's spectacular show dunsmuir - till the 27 feb in base alpha. last chance to see!

RESIDENCIES IN INDIA, SARDINIA, ESTONIA AND MORE!

Hi there...I'm still on deadline and walking around like a headless chicken but gee whiz I missed you...so I thought I'd send you all a couple little residency notices that have come my way. More stuff this coming week, particularly for musicians....and once again, sorry if the formatting is funky. I still have to figure out how to copy and paste from other sources on Blogger without everything going all wonky on me.

(ALL) Le Ville Matte Residency Program in Sardinia, Italy: International call for the residency program in Cagliari, Sardenia, Italy. The program for visual artists will take place in Sardinia from 14 April to 15 May 2010 in Villasor, a town a few kilometers from Cagliari. This initiative is part of LE VILLE MATTE – artist residencies, a wider project promoted by the Province of Cagliari, through the Cultural Policy Office, with the purpose of offering artistic study and research residencies in Sardinia, stimulating new productions in the field of music, writing and visual arts. The call is open to artists from all over the world, with no age limit (but the applicants must be over eighteen). Deadline for visual artists: February 28th, 2010!

Participation in the residency program is free, and includes the following services: a studio with internet connection; open space area for group activity; town library and multimedia library for documentation; production expenses managed by the visiting professor on the basis of each artist's requirements. Travel expenses are to be covered by the participants. For more information, please visit: www.levillematte.it. LE VILLE MATTE includes other two residencies: one dedicated to music, from 25 June to 24 July 2010, and one dedicated to writing, scheduled between September and October 2010. At the end of the entire project a final publication will be released.

(ARTISTS) Polymer International Artist-in-Residency Program in Estonia: Culture Factory Polymer, a multidisciplinary cultural center in Tallinn, Estonia, situated in an old toy factory, is now accepting proposals for it’s international artist in residency program. Artists (both groups and individuals) from any country and all artistic fields are welcome to apply for a residency at Polymer. Their interest lies in genre bending, cross-cultural exchange and interaction with the local artistic community through workshops and public dissemination. They are currently accepting proposals on a rolling basis. For more information on the program and application guidelines, please visit: http://www.kultuuritehas.ee/residency/

(ARTISTS/CURATORS) CURATE THIS! 2010: is the second installment of the CURATE THIS! exhibition series created by BECA: Bridge for Emerging Contemporary Art. It has evolved from one exhibition location into a global art + design exhibition and arts + cultural exchange event located in multiple cities around the world from July 1 – December 31, 2010. Through the introduction and exhibition of works of new art + new design and related projects by artists, designers, duos, groups and collectives around the world, The BECA Foundation aims to facilitate an experimental, cross-pollination of new ideas for creative innovation in diverse locations around the world. Artists + Designers may learn more and register to participate at: http://www.curatethis.org/for-artists-and-designers.php. Organizations, universities, galleries and other businesses may learn more and register to participate at: http://www.curatethis.org/for-venues.php.

**I don't know much about this one above---and I normally don't publicize exhibition opportunities (too many other great sites do that) but this particular one looks like it also involves awards.

(ARTISTS) The Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester, MA: is currently accepting applications from visual artists for the sixth year of the Goetemann Residency at Rocky Neck Art Colony Program, which runs from June 1 through October 7, 2010. The artists selected will evidence high-level accomplishment, originality and seriousness of purpose. One applicant will be selected for each of three four-week residency terms. The program includes prime studio/gallery/living space (including utilities), press coverage, art sales opportunities, and access to a rich cultural community. Deadline is March 15th, 2010. For more info, go to: www.rockyneckartcolony.org.

(ARTISTS) Hasta Gallery Summer Residencies in India: One to three month residencies open to all International artists. Residencies are near the port city of Mangalore, India. Artists are provided with accommodations and studios for a nominal fee. Artists can also work with local artisans to explore traditional art forms if they are interested. For more information, please visit: www.hastagallery.com or www.artsiti.com. Or contact:

Nemiraj Shetty, Director, Hasta Gallery Projects, 2-76/9 Pinto Garden Lane, Opp Vikas College, Konchadi Post, Mangalore- 575008, Call: +919886642636

showtime: mr brainwash

mr brainwash's new show, icons, to be seen @ 415w. 13th street until march 31st. see cool hunting for further info.

pixie campbell : artists who blog

Pixie's blog: pink coyote
Pixie's website: www.pixiecampbell.typepad.com
Pixie's shop: www.pixiecampbell.etsy.com

Why did you decide to start a blog?

It was two months before my son was born in 2005, and I'd left my job behind to prepare for his arrival. The stories were starting to bubble up and I received enough encouragement from a blogging friend to take what felt like a leap at the time. Sharing myself virtually was something I wanted to do but had to learn how. I wanted to talk about motherhood and birth and share pictures of what I saw everyday, to add it to the pool of what was a small, energetic community at the time.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

I felt like I was learning all of my lessons the accidental way, the long way around. This is what Coyote teaches: humorous foolishness which occasionally results in chance victory. Pink gave it a playful twist and reminded me to keep the content fun and from my heart.

How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?

Very much! I don't know that I'd even be a working artist if I hadn't jumped into the swirl of brilliant blogging creatives and then asked myself the crazy question of where I fit in to all of it. While I've always been creative, I'd never been surrounded by artists and inspiration as when I began adding my two cents to the communal cauldron.

I recall the feeling of arriving at a potluck, to which I needed to bring my favorite colorful dish. In the beginning, it was my words and vulnerabilities, and later, some visual art. The ongoing conversation of blogging prompts me to dig for words and pictures that demonstrate what holds meaning in my little world. Also, I enjoy sharing the dailiness of my work and life on a personal level.

What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

I love The Handmade Artist for their rustic prettiness, and Mustard and Sage for the romantic quality of her picks. There are squillions of beautiful ones!

I love to read the softhearted images and words of Imagine and Create's Annie Patterson.
I religiously escape into the brilliant sarcasm of Kirstin Cram of Tollipop.
I can't live without Anne Wood's beautiful animals and ships.
I adore the wordy inspiration at Artsyville.

With artists who blog, I find it so fun when the artist's personality is accessible and I love their work even more when I know a bit about their process and what the meaning of the work is for them.

Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?

Stay relevant to your message and post thoughtfully + often. Create interest in your blog by jumping into the conversation. At this point, with blogs being so abundant and distinctive about content, it's very easy to find the people with whom you really resonate with and forge connections.

What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?

The most positive aspect is that I feel at home there. It's become a place where I can share my struggles and triumphs as candidly as I choose. Most inspiring of all is that I have made and deepened friendships that I may have never discovered. It's a four and a half year chronicle of my journey as an artist and a mama and I really cherish the medium for that.

What do you find the most difficult/most rewarding part of having a creative profession?

Most difficult is balancing it with the needs and unbridled, joyful howls of my children. When I really want to have a Calgon moment at home, I retreat into my work shamelessly, if only in my mind. When all gongs of demand are ringing at once, art complains the least about how good a job I'm doing! The things I struggle with, however, are often what inspire the content of my work. The most rewarding part is that this is my dream job. The job I thought would be impossible to have! I hope it's only the housework that has suffered since I've begun working as an artist.

Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your art/design?

Etsy has been wonderful for me. It's been a simple solution for displaying my catalog of work in an accessible format, plus I can connect and sell my work at the same time. I still drop cards in galleries because I love to meet and connect with people one-on-one.

How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

This is my life's mission. I tend to under nurture myself, and working from home exaggerates that tendency for me. I keep a list on the refrigerator of what I need daily in order to survive, anything over and above that is sweet icing on the cake. With an eleven month old and a four year old, I am herding all day long. I work at night, don't sleep enough, and have to look at a list to take my vitamins. For me, an artful life, with my family and in my studio, makes all of the messy inconvenient bits tolerable.

What would you like to accomplish in 2010?

My main goal for 2010 is to relocate my family to a city that will inspire our imaginations, and also do a little writing, some weekend retreating, a lot of painting, and become much better at self-care. I'd love to do some more group shows, too- connecting with other artists is the most fun of all.

Thank you for sharing with us today Pixie!

*Photos of Pixie by Thea Coughlin

banksy vs robbo: war in camden

via babelgum

crash: art and jg ballard collide at gagosian london

new expo @ the gagosian london featuring artworks inspired by jg ballard's dystopian universe. artists include e.g. douglas gordon (pic above), andy warhol, roy lichtenstein, jenny saville etc.

(via the guardian)

shauna richardson: crochetdermy

crocheted animals in taxidermist style.. if you know happy famous artists a little bit, you understand we love this. shauna richardson takes part in the ambitious "artists taking the lead" project for which she works on three 30 foot high crocheted lions in a huge taxidermy style case and dominating a nottingham city location. we are looking forward!

showtime: julius popp

this work by julius popp consists of a large panel of black and white blocks and is installed at the entry of "decode", the v&a's inaugural exhibition of contemporary digital and interactive design. A must-see show if you are into geeky code, interactivity and networks
(hat tip rhizome)

art star daan samson proudly presents nordisk charm offensiv

behold! @ supermarket artfair 2010, famous dutch prodigy daan samson hopes to realize a few very generous goals. like a present-day cupid he will carry out a stylish precision bombardment on some of the key players in the nordic art scene, meddle in the relationships between gallery owners, art theorists and influential artists and even dreams of being able to actually have a lasting effect on reality. howgh!

JUNIPER SUMMER WRITING INSTITUTE SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE

Hi everyone...sorry I've been a bit out of touch. I'm in the middle of a big deadline and frankly, I'm pooped! But I will have a lot of new opportunities to post in about a week. Maybe even sooner. In the meantime, here's a deadline that is for writers....see you soon!

The April 1 deadline for scholarship applications to the 2010 Juniper Summer Writing Institute is fast approaching! From June 20-26, poets and writers will gather at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to explore the creative process and advance their craft. Renowned faculty members Charles D'Ambrosio, Mark Doty, Noy Holland, Paul Lisicky, Dara Wier, and Matthew Zapruder will offer workshops in poetry, fiction, and memoir. Writers in residence (including James Tate, Joy Williams, and Thomas Sayers Ellis) will give readings, lead craft sessions, and participate in Q&As. For application forms and more information, visit http://www.umass.edu/juniperinstitute. Workshops fill quickly, so applicants are encouraged to submit their materials soon!

arnaud cohen: because you are worth it

french artist arnaud cohen posted some new(?) work on his facebook page. we love it!

andre smits: artists in the world

since 2008, andré smits is photographing artists in their studio. he made a great project out of it: artists in the world.

samuel bianchini : all over

very nice piece of ascii art by samuel bianchini taking ascii art to a next conceptual level by using life feeds of stock market data as input for the graphics in the work. more about the work & the artist at jeu de paume

directors lounge in berlin

our directors lounge friends are showing in berlin. click here for the program & enjoy!

rip lee (alexander) mc queen

:'((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
speechless...
click here, here and here

design: greece is for lovers

absolutely on our must-have list: "hooker's delight" (see pic above) from greece is for lovers. gold-plated edition unf sold out, but silver one still available, so hurry... :-P

showtime: nick cave's soundsuits

nick caves rule! next to the australian music prodigy, there's also his american namesake, working in the realms of fashion/ visual arts. nick cave the visual artist is represented by jack shainman gallery & u can admire his futuristic fur/balloon/button etc suits @ fowler museum, ucla until the 30th of may this year.

the newest from tinkebell

tinkebell's fab new installation "sien, siepje & the dalmatian" in the center of the torch gallery stand on art rotterdam. way to go girl! :-)

jenifer altman : artists who blog

Jenifer's blog: Nectar & Light
Jenifer's website: jeniferaltman.com
Jenifer's shop: fieryeyed.etsy.com

Why did you decide to start a blog?

I had been writing a blog some years ago called "Athena Says" that served as my digital inspiration board - clothing, jewelry, household goods, art - the pieces that moved me most all found their way to Athena Says. But at some point I started to feel that my blogging experience needed to become more personal - that I was losing myself at Athena Says. After a break, my friend Matt Armendariz told me to get back out there and do something that spoke to my soul - Nectar & Light was born.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

My first thought was Sweetness and Light - it is actually a term of endearment that I use with my girls. But the url was taken. So I started to play with the word sweetness - and Nectar seemed a perfect fit - it has so many meanings to me and the fact that it can be associated with food - and "light" with my photography seemed a perfect match.

How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?

Not only have I loved simply being apart of the community of art and design bloggers - it has afforded me some opportunities that I otherwise may have missed. I discovered Flickr through the blog world and became an active member of the Polaroid community there - it was that experience that led to my first published book, For the Love of Light. And it was a highly respected design blog that ran a recipe and photographs of mine that led to my first job shooting a cookbook for Chronicle Books. I think that I have also learned so much from the community - to share, to be open about process and to support one another - SO important.

What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

My favorite is Pia's blog. Not only is it beautiful, fresh, full of inspiration - it is like nothing else right now - a true reflection of the artist.

I also adore Susan's for her personal aesthetic and flawless eye.

The Americana Film Project has captured my heart and soul.

and I am expecting spells laced with stardust from this newcomer.

Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?

I think the most valuable piece of advice I was given and that I continue to follow is to be true to your vision as an artist. Do not compromise yourself or the look and feel of your blog - or even what you blog about. Being unique and standing apart is what will grant you a devoted readership. There are so many design blogs out there right now I can imagine it would be overwhelming for someone new to this world. But remembering to create something that is a direct reflection of your heart and soul is imperative; you need to focus on the road ahead as well as the right-now and creating a branding and look that executes a professional image as well as your "self" as an artist.

What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?

The people. I have made so many friends through blogging - women and men alike who are good, honest, creative, amazing people - who inspire me everyday. I feel incredibly blessed in that respect.

What do you find the most difficult/most rewarding part of having a creative profession?

Balance. It is something I struggle with daily and that I write about often. Balancing my life with my family with my creative life. I try to create intersections as often as possible - but there are moments every day when I must remind myself that responding to an email is less important than sitting with my daughter and reading a book or drawing. But as much of a challenge as it is - it is also rewarding in a way. It is a daily reminder about what the important things are - this leads to wonderful family experiences that I photograph and/or blog about. So balance is key.

Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your art/design?

Really - everything has come back to my blog. All the connections that I have made over the last several years are because of Nectar & Light and the way people have responded to my journey. Keeping those connections alive is important - supporting each other is important. Flickr was great for awhile - but I found my work being taken on a regular basis and reposted elsewhere without permission. So now I use it more of a social network - though I will post new work in my shop there as well. I have just started using Twitter as well - we shall see how that goes!

How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

Oh now that is the challenge - especially with three little ones. But I try and maintain a blogging schedule - this does not always work for me, but I know it does for others. I also do not allow myself to feel guilty when I need to take a break.

What would you like to accomplish this year?

More sleep. That is all the more I need in my life - truly. Just more sleep!

Thank you Jen! Your beautiful photographs and words inspired me today!