Emerging Artists who Caught My Eye Part III

The last artist at the Wesleyan University senior thesis art exhibit that caught my eye was installation artist Eric Bissell, whose thesis was entitled 'Here is Expansive'. When first walking through the gallery I almost missed his work entirely since only the back of the installation (a concrete slab) can be seen until you walk around the whole piece.

For those of you not familiar with installation art, I like to explain it as site specific work (in which an area or space really dictates the formation of the piece) that is often three-dimensional and engaging the viewer in more than a visual manner, in a more conceptual manner. One goal being to alter the perceptions, including the human senses (acoustic, tactile, etc.,) of how a viewer interacts with the art. Changing that age old dogma of removed viewer/on looker of art to a full participant.

Eric Bissell's Installation entitled Here is Expansive photo by m.diaz

This particular piece is a video projection of the ocean's shore on a series of mirrored doors. You can walk right on up to the projection, hear the waves and step into the sand right there in the gallery. Although this work is more conceptually driven than what you may be used to, the manner in which you are moved within the space is very powerful.

Lorena infront of Eric Bissell's piece photo by m. diazA photo with flash causing an absence of Eric Bissell's projection

Another piece that was quite effective in Eric's thesis was the following one in which a pedestal covered in sand had a variety of war images projected onto it. The viewer was encouraged to 'play' with or move the sand by the presence of a little plastic hand held shovel. The images projected onto the sand changed with time.

Another interactive piece by Eric BissellThat same piece with a demonstration of the movable sand

There was one more piece in Eric's thesis but the gallery had closed and artist arrived to break down and move out their art. It was a sofa set in front of a television set playing what appeared to be an interview with a soldier. However, I was very fortunate to meet Eric and get his pic for this post.

Eric Bissell with his work photo by m. diaz Here I am with former students Lorena Estrella and Nikki Long

Well I hope you enjoyed this little foray into the fine art world and remember one of my personal goals is to blur the intellectual snobbery line between fine art and craft and appreciate makers and thinkers alike for their vast interdisciplinary talents.

***********************************************************************************

Ok here is the LAST of the art connoisseur posts. I'm holding out without turning to anti-biotics but I may have to give in- anyone who gets this as much as I do realizes quick that anti-biotics aren't a good thing to always turn to- nor do they always help. Today may be our first day of no rain in three or four days (yesterday was torrrential again) and I'm hoping to liven my spirits by having an informal ANTI- Bahamas party (since most of the seniors where I teach are currently sitting pretty in the Bahamas).

I've also been doing a lot of new work for the Azucarera exhibit and I think its fine time I gave you all a sneak peek again (tomorrow). I've also been thinking a lot about loyalty and whether or not its a characteristic that plays much of a role in people's lives anymore. I wanted to ask you all about it. Do you feel it passionately often, or does it kick in only once in a while? Does it have its price for you or is part of your cognitive make up? Just curious :))

Ciao- Amarettogirl

Emerging Artists who Caught My Eye Part II

The second artist that caught my eye during the Wesleyan Senior thesis exhibit was Nicolina Baxter. Her thesis show was entitled 'Flay' and I only got to see her in passing while she walked in the gallery at closing time to break down the exhibit.

Her sculptural forms are another aspect of my artistic tastes and motivations, that many don't know about me, since in a past life I sculpted as much as I painted! Nicolina's work is figurative yet by its very segmented state also abstracted which makes it even more intriguing. I loved the lay out, expanse and visceral feeling of the 'skin' she developed. In regards to the 'skin', I'm a sucker for clever and varied uses of materials and I'm suspecting this is an ingenious use of mold-making latex.

Nicolina Baxter's senior thesis FLAY photo by m.diaz Nicolina Baxter's thesis exhibit FLAY detail Nicolina Baxter's senior thesis Flay detail photo by m. diaz

As part of the exhibit there was also a 'voyeur box' which I've made use of in my work in the past - love them and when you looked through the peep hole you are somewhat assaulted with an up close and intimate red/orange hue of fingers moving quickly to peel back the 'skin'.

As I stated earlier I only got to see Nicolina as the gallery was closing. And since I only had a chance to say 'I really enjoyed your work' to her as I was walking out of the building, I couldn't take a photo of her besides it like I did with the others. So I managed to scoop her fb pic up - hope she doesn't mind (its a great pic anyway!)

Nicolina Baxter Pic from her FB page profile View through Nicolina Baxter's voyeur box photo by m.diaz Nicolina Baxter's senior thesis Flay detail photo by m.diaz

For all of you concerned I've had chronic bronchitis my whole life (since a child) and any cold often turns right into the bronchitis. However, since I received a flu shot this year, I managed to stave off getting any bout of bronchitis until now...I guess the vaccine wore off. NO worries, I will survive!

Now the next artist and last artist from this trip is drastically different and another real treat so stay tuned!

As for my work, its coming along (though slowly) I think I'll have to share another progress report with you soon.

I'm sad I've been neglecting my Etsy shop and crafting these days, but I can only do so much with two hands...but Oh how I wish I had more!! Ok so heres a dive from serious art connoisseur to silly question time! Yeah, I would want more hands and a ceaseless pool of energy!- SO YOUR TURN- tell me if you had a superhero power what would it be???

- Ciao Amarettogirl

Witchy Women/ Making an OOAK Fabric Doll @ Sugarloaf

Some of you may remember I posted about a wonderful fabric shop I found in Warwick New York this past summer - if the not click here to read it. The name of the shop is Fruition Dolls and Gifts. The owner Linda Gargano makes her fiber-filled fun shop even more enticing by hosting classes in the space.

Fruition business card So my first class was this month to make a Witchy Woman fiber doll.

Being the big crafter, fabric lover and halloween fan that I am, I couldn't wait to make this doll!

OOAK means one of a kind and regardless of Linda teaching us with a fabric pattern for the body and head, when each student makes fabric decisions and soft sculpture happens on the face, every one of our dolls turns out completely unique and one of a kind.

Linda's Demo doll and an unfinished body sample

The class was incredibly pleasant with 4-5 of us students sitting in a fiber-filled haven around a wooden table. Seeing each of our efforts evolve in a few hours was incredible. Class was only two-three classes long so we did much embellishing and stuffing outside of class. Linda's expertise in fiber doll making was a wonderful treasure trove of excitement because every stitch brought the characterless face to astonishing life!

the characterless heada witch head getting her color appliedLinda's Witchy WomanAnother classmates Witchy WomanAll of our Witchy Women Dolls!My Unfinished Witchy Woman Doll!All of our Witchy Women Full body pic!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FOLKS!!- Amarettogirl

Objectified Rags to Riches or My 'Slumdog Millionaire' Art Piece Pick!

Since one aspect of my 'living an artful life' blog is to promote the eco-conscious in art making, I like to highlight artists/designers that use materials and resources in fresh, evocative ways. Sometimes that means recycling old objects to make something new, and sometimes it means using the material that is so plentifully available all around us to make something sustainable and usable - so this post I give you Stuart Haygarth whose chandeliers are my slumdog millionaire art piece pic of the day!

Stuart Haygarth's Optical Chandelier

In the movie Slumdog Millionaire, an over-wrought, inundated, economically-severed place (the slums of Mumbai India) give birth to two children who end up orphaned but not destitute- since they are filled with illuminating hope for a future destiny to love each other. Their brilliance of life becomes manifested through a "Who Wants to be a Millionaire televsion show" and a brutal accusation of cheating. Now this may seem as a stretch, but my artist eyes see that same story line when I see Stuart Haygarth's chandeliers...objects plentiful, disregarded, over-wrought, inundated give off such a spectacular shape, form and light.

Stuart Haygarth's Tide Chandelier

So seeing as Slum Dog Millionaire was the big winner at the Oscars last night - I only thought it fitting to find an artist who I think is the 'slumdog-millionaire-designer' of the day! Some of the objects that make up these chandeliers are objects that you would find a plenty in landfills, dollar stores or in your pantry.Mr. Haygarth collects, cleans and categorizes these objects (sometimes for years) before composing them into forms.

My work is about giving banal and overlooked objects a new significance. The finished piece of work takes various forms such as chandeliers, installations, functional and sculptural objects. - ^{excerpt from Stuart Haygarth's online posted profile.}

Detail of Stuart Haygarth's Selffridge Harpoon 321

So who is Stuart Haygarth? Well, I discovered this artist/designer/lighting designer through design sites and blogs such as the Design Museum and Moco Loco. Mr. Haygarth is an England born artist who for many projects and commissions uses objects that are debris found along the coastline of Dungeness Beach in Kent, UK, such as this Selffridge named Harpoon321 made of found rubber fisherman gloves that have changed in tints and tones as they have been used and worn. To see more and to learn more about Stuart Haygarth another good link is Icon Magazine Online<

As for Slum Dog Millionaire if you haven't seen it- you must! It will defy any preconceived notions you have, illuminate the forgotten joy you had in love and thrill you the way a great movie should. And, if you're a comment leaving type - let me know about the unexpected and unlikely places you find beauty!

El Anatsui at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Since I find one of my overall passions as an artist and a blogger is to blur the line between fine art and craft, I like to feature both artist and art that walks this fine line. This past summer I was surprised to find Ghanian born artist El Anatsui featured as part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's recent acquisitions. And for those of you who are lovers of art made from recycled materials you will be sure to love this find as well!

Dusasa II by El Anatsui @ the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The piece you see featured above is made from thousands and thousands of found aluminum and copper wire (flattened and discarded aluminum caps) that are weaved together. It is a wall-hanging and is quite large (full wall scale) I was craning my neck and having to step far back in the gallery to photograph it. El Anatsui is considered the foremost African contemporary sculptor.

detail of Dusasa II 2007 by El Anatsui

The community based Ghanian kente cloth construction of this piece can also be compared to mosaic work, folk art, and even the patterning that has been treasured in Gustav Klimt's paintings. The following images truly show the majesty and mastery of the piece.

detail shot of El Anatsui's DusasaII, 2007 piece

According to the artist (as I read on the title card)

the term Dusasa can be translated as 'a patchwork made by a team of towns people'

However another beautifully poignant quote from the artist that I found at another site states:

Art grows out of each particular situation, and I believe that artists are better off working with whatever their environment throws up.

- El Anatsui, 2003 super detail of El Anatsui's DesasaII wall hanging

On a side note - if you enjoy seeing El Anatsui's work, I recommend the National Museum of African Art site, which has a specially designated section on El Anatsui and three of his major works with podcasts of the artist talking. In addition, if you just google 'El Anatsui' amazing articles and images of his work come up!

Furthermore, if you love this kind of eco-conscious art-making you will really enjoy the Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. When I lived there I got to go often and it was indeed one of my all time favorite places to be! Please let me know what you think!

Witches Fingers Halloween Madness Tip#2

Witch Finger made out of marzipan, pistachios and melted red chocolate

Another great halloween tip is making spooky witch fingers out of marzipan. As an artist I have always enjoyed making candies for parties out of marzipan and I have been known to make some pretty 'risque' ones for birthdays and bridal showers! By tinting the marzipan with food coloring, I was able to make a variety of flesh tones, my favorite being green! You should be able to do this easily by mixing or kneading the food coloring into the marzipan. I used a small thin knife (like an Xacto) to get some of the flesh creases and I simply balled up some marzipan to make the finger warts. Pistachios make excellent finger nails!

The hardest part is melting some candied red chocolate which I bought at a craft store like A.C. Moore or Michael's (the colored chocolate is usually in the baking/cake decorating section next to the chocolate molds.) As you can see some of the chocolate was over-cooked to get that textured crunchy look and thats exactly how you want it for a bloody cut off finger. Its just that easy! Try it!

If you're interested in a custom order contact me as I may begin to sell boxes of these treats on Etsy!

Before They Were All Eaten