"Process Goes Public" and the beginning of a new body of work

From December through January, I was invited to participate in an exhibition at the Mills Gallery with 8 other artists from my studio building. The show was a bit unusual as it meant to show the creative process of each artist instead of finished work. I was reluctant to participate at first; I thought that one can be in a rather vulnerable place when creating and to put yourself on the public square at that time could be a bit scary and inhibiting. On the other hand, Debra Olin, who curated the show, convinced me that I would enjoy an empty space, away from my leather work and I welcomed the opportunity to dedicate time to work on something new. Had I not committed to the show, I would have started designing a spring collection of bags, so it felt like a treat to move into a brand new space, empty of anything but what I chose to bring down to work on. 

Here are some pics of what happened during that month..

 

I started from these soft sculptures I made a couple of years back, thinking it would be cool to make some big ones that would transform the space. For some reason, I felt compelled to weave so I made yarn out of used t-shirts.

 

It quickly became obvious that it would take time to finish even one.. luckily, some of the BCA interns were keen to help out. Here, Helen started building the second piece while I kept weaving on the first one.

As time went, I was weaving tighter and tighter (when do you stop???), and it took a life of its own. 

The second one is much wider and might not be totally finished yet, but I like all the empty space, maybe in reaction to the first one that is woven so tight:

I

 

Et voila.. I like the shadows they projected on the wall - a life of their own too. 

I'm now looking forward to make a few more, see where they go.. Stay tuned!

 

Constantin Brancusi's photos at Silverstein Gallery in NY

Beautiful photographs by Brancusi (1876-1957) of his work in his studio are on show at the Bruce Silverstein Gallery in Chelsea. I think of him as a modern icon and it's a bit surprising to see that he was born in 1876! But I guess "modern" is old now...

I've always liked a lot of his sculptures but seeing them in his studio makes them look even better.

So beautiful.. I never realized he had studied shortly with Rodin, and was introduced to photography by Steichen and Man Ray. You can read more about him here.

 And he was pretty good looking too, wasn't he?

The show is on til 6/23.

All photos courtesy of the Bruce Silverstein Gallery website.

Oooooooooohhh - and.. the thing about Tumblr..

Just found that picture of this amazing installation on Tumblr at Design is for Living. I love the airiness / bubbliness of it all.. BUT was totally unable to find who it's by... That's the thing about Tumblr... I started using it (see the Stitch and Tickle Tumblr page here) because it's an amazing (mindblowing?) database of images that allows you to re-post so easily BUT (again), it's so easy that often you can't find where it's coming from - and two hours later, you've lost two perfectly good hours in Tumblrland... instead of making / creating  something...

Anyhow, check it out (click here to scroll down or there for the archive) and let me know what you think. Where do you look for inspiration? Do you prefer Pinterest? Wishpot? What do you use the most? Would love to hear from you. I also need to plan some advertising for the store on various blogs and websites this fall - which do you like the most or think would be the best fit?  I could really use your input!

Ann Weber Cardboard Sculptures

Every time I walk past a pile of cardboard on the sidewalk I think I've got to figure out something to do with that waste... California based sculptor Ann Weber makes these gigantic sculptures out of cardboard boxes:

All photographs (c) Ann Weber

Love the scale...

Weber has a ceramic background but started working in cardboard to avoid the "cumbersome process of clay" and after seeing Frank Gehry's cardboard furniture. 

She is featured in Hand/Eye Magazine online this week:  

"In building her sculptures, Weber uses three simple tools: a stapler, box cutter and shellac. Most of the cardboard she uses have been found in dumpsters and when asked about the size of her pieces she simply replies, “I'm interested in how big you can make something before it collapses.” Her process is simple: Weber cuts the cardboard into strips and then weaves them into podlike shapes. To hold them together she staples the strips, adds a coat of shellac or polyurethane. For heavier and sturdier pieces she forgoes the shellac and bronzes the structures". Piece of cake :)

Read more on Hand/Eye online here or visit her webiste there.  And think twice next time you put those boxes in the recycle bin..

Catherine Willis Sculptures

I can't recall how I found out about the works of Catherine Willis but I love the lightness and spontaneity of her sculptures:

 

Maybe it's also because of the yellow and the swaddling which remind me of my work - remember those ?:

See more of Catherine's sculptures on her website.

I feel I've neglected this blog lately but I'm hoping to show why in the next couple of weeks - have been so busy making things...  Stay tuned!

In the meantime, happy happy 4th of July week end!

Leonardo Drew

OOOOOOHHHHH...



Leonardo Drew
“Number 128”, 2009
Wood
30.5 x 46 x 10.25 inches

via Etcetera



Isamu Noguchi Worksheets for Sculptures at Moma

1946 Worksheets for Sculptures at Moma last month..

Pencil on cut and pasted graph paper on black paper

The description makes it sound so easy, doesn't it?



detail

And since we're talking about him, here's my favorite lamp design of his:



which can be purchased at the Noguchi Museum shop here.

Richard Lippold Wire Sculptures at Moma

I went to MOMA a couple of weeks ago and loved - among other things... - these little wire sculptures by Richard Lippold (American, 1915-2002):

A total delight - as some Brit I know would say...  Loved their lightness, apparent simplicity, shadows - all of it!

There were quite a few more inspiring pieces which I'll post shortly - stay tuned..

A soft spot for bundles....



(c) India Flint via Flickr



I can't quite explain it but I keep being drawn to bundles..





(c) Marchi Wierson via Flickr





(c) Abigail Thomas via Flickr



My very own teabag tags bundle..

And I looove bunches of bundles:

(c) BelleOcchio via Flickr



(c) Knitalette via Flickr

I even like what looks like bundles, but isnt' really bundles...



(c) Ginette Lapalme via Flickr




(c) Abigail Doan via Flickr

 What is it about them? The use of thread(s) - to which I confess being addicted to... A sense of security, or warmth? Or maybe it's because they make you think of swaddled babies? Oh boy... And it gets worse:
I just read in the dictionary that "Bundling  (1781) was  "sharing a bed for the night, fully dressed, wrapped up with someone of the opposite sex" was a former local custom in Wales and New England." Hmmmm...

Ruth Asawa (San Francisco, b. 1926)

Another amazing artist I often turned to get re-inspired.. Even though I feel a bit "in between" right now with my art making, I always have the urge to make something, to create. That might explain why this excerpt fom  The Sculpture of Ruth Asawa - Contours in the Air resonates in me: 

"I have made doing art part of my life. Art is doing. There is either doing or talking about it. Art deals direclty with life. After it is done, someone comes along to write about it; then someone comes along to exhibit it [...]. The only step that is truly real is the first step. The making of the object. This is the step that children should be involved with completely. This involvement helps them to learn their capabilities and limitations. It is learning by making."  Ruth Asawa, 1970.

You can see more of Asawa's work in the book, including some of her fantastic early drawings such as those: