My friend Kacy from Chicago/Nebraska paid me a visit over the weekend. I've known Kacy most of my life, but I had no idea she was a punk rock crochet fiend! Once I got her going, she bagged on knitters for getting all of the attention (Oh how I love a bit of intercraft rivalry!) Check out this lovely crocheted skull rug from her apartment. I'm also enclosing a link to a very subtle baby blanket that she designed that says "Mom Wants a New President". Probably a great way to raise a little Republican, but it makes me smile.
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March 2005
March 29, 2005
March 28, 2005
It Rubs the Lotion on its Skin
Are you as bored as I am with shopping for the kitchen? If I buy another pasta maker, cannoli form, or kitchen torch from Williams-Sonoma, I'm going to have to shoot myself. I'm so over it, I haven't even been able to look at my kitchen. Finally, www.bumpinthenightproductions offers a sassy kitchen apron that will get me out of my rut and cooking again.
Link via BoingBoing
Surrealistic Pillow
Are you facing the loss of a cherished pet? If so, Jeanette's Taxidermy offers an alternative to having Fluffy stuffed and mounted (terribly gauche). For a nominal fee, Jeanette will turn your pet into a PILLOW that you can cherish forever. Tasteful. Timeless.
Please freeze your pet immediately upon passing to insure there will be no hair slippage. Double bag to insure no freezerburn. Ship packages ONLY on Monday's to prevent carrier mishaps. All frozen animals must be shipped next day air to insure against spoilage. In case of large animals please call for shipping instructions.
I wonder what she could do for my goldfish....or Terry Schiavo! Link via BoingBoing
(He)ARTWORK
Merrilee just keeps sending the goodies! Her craft collective, Collarmoth has been crocheting and felting anatomical human hearts. They come in sizes small/medium/large (and enlarged!). Checkit!
March 25, 2005
Ross is Boss
My friend Merrilee works with Studio By the Tracks, an amazing nonprofit art organization in Birmingham, Alabama. At the studio, she works with around 20 autistic adult artists, who are constantly surprising me with their wonderful work. This morning, Merrilee sent me a new gem by Ross, who is one of my favorite artists there. I had to share. Click on the photo to see the full picture. Link
Also, check out the new book Not Even Wrong: Adventures in Autism by Paul Collins. While Collins was researching cases of feral children in Germany in the 18th Century, his son was diagnosed with autism. After the diagnosis, he realized that the feral child he was researching almost certainly had autism. He guides you through the history of autism while sharing his own experiences with his son. One of the most interesting speculations in the book was his contention that Andy Warhol and Joseph Cornell both had Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism. Highly recommended.
March 23, 2005
Knitters with Attitude
I just got back from a fabulous trip to Kenya and the Seychelles. I got a bonus day in London, and was totally excited to see some art...but it was a Monday. I had to "settle" for going to the Tate Modern (Thanks, Pete!) because it was the only museum that was open, but I missed out on a bunch of great exhibitions, including the Victoria and Albert Museum's new Arts and Crafts Movement exhibit, and chiefly, the Craft Council Gallery's "Knit 2 Together". This looks like an amazing show--I only wish that I could see it in person. From the gallery statment:
The humble knitted stitch has received a bad press. The elder aunt of the craft world, it is synonymous with granny-knits two sizes too large, or women of ‘a certain age’. It is time to reclaim knitting from this stereotype and embrace those of us that love to knit, men and women of all ages – knitting is coming in from the cold.Sigh. Maybe next time. Link
From knitted interiors, intricately structured textiles, narrative hangings, knitting by chance and French-knitted flowers, Knit 2 Together illustrates the many faces of the art of looping fibres together.
March 07, 2005
Wrath of Kahn
NPR ran a story this morning on Ned Kahn, a sculptor who creates science-based art for science and childrens museums. He started out working for an exhibit company that made displays for the museum, but in his spare time, he started making his own work. The article made the work sound fascinating, and when I checked their website, the pieces looked fascinating as well. The NPR piece tells a story about how Mr. Kahn usually gets his ideas from grilling scientists about their work...but in one instance, he was showing a piece to some scientists that demonstrated similarities between water waves and gusts of wind. The scientists had no idea--the inspiration flows both ways. Check out Ned Kahn's great website, his page on the Exploratorium website, and the NPR piece.
March 03, 2005
I'm Ghana Get you Sucka!
By now, just about every blog has published a link to a site focusing on coffins from Ghana. I'm no different. My ladyfriend Claire got to visit Ghana last year, and came back with fantastic pictures of a Ghanaian coffin showroom. I'm about to leave for two weeks in Kenya and the Seychelles, where I'm sure I won't be seeing anything as luxe as a Coca-Cola coffin, but a boy can dream, can't he? I guess this photo is proof that all roads lead back to Atlanta...or at least its airport. NPR and the BBC have run pretty great stories on the Ghana coffin phenomenon....so check it out. I also recommend the book "Going
into Darkness: Fantastic Coffins from Africa". Link
"Orientation" - New Work From China
- This body of work was created during a Summer 2010 residency at the Pottery Workshop in Jingdezhen, China. These porcelain vessels explore traditional Chinese iconography as refracted through a decidedly Western point of view.
