Artwork of the Week: System of Space 1

System of Space 1 by Alexander Kori Girard

Gouache on paper, 30 x 23 in, 2010 

This guy paints and draws some pretty cool stuff. And also makes some pretty trippy videos out of felt (!). 

Oh! And he's the grandson of famous print designer Alexander Girard, friend and colleague of slightly more famous Charles and Ray Eames.

You can see more cool work by the next generation of Girard on his website alexanderkorigirard.com

- Cathleen 

Watch Me!

Turn this box...

Into this lamp...

And no, I'm not going to pull the box out of the lamp. 

Check back soon for an update. 

-Grace

Model Magic

Inspired by another documentary I watched last week (Jiro Dreams of Sushi - a rather poetic portrait of a composed composer of sushi and his dedicated family who live to preserve his legacy), I found this beautiful toy online. Developed by a fishmonger at the famous Tsukiji Fish Market of Tokyo, this model doesn't so much teach the anatomy of marine life as it does demonstrate the fine art of dissecting tuna. Seeing as it can take 8-10 years to properly train as a sushi chef, it's probably a good idea to start your kids early on this stuff. 

- Cathleen

[Images courtesy of Spoon & Tamago and Hobby Stock]

Floor Spotting!

This amazing herringbone pattern concrete floor inside and outside of the Anthropologie accessories store in Friendship Heights. I'm obsessed and want this in my kitchen!!

-Grace

Many Moons

Clearly, I have a thing for moons, but I'm actually not that into wallpaper. It feels like such a huge commitment compared to just slapping a coat of paint on the wall. There's glue involved! And brushes to apply said glue! And you've got to line the panels up just so! And dear god, don't forget to smooth out the bubbles!! But if my wall treatment anxiety could be put aside for anything, I think this paper could do it. Created by the French company Bartsch and available from Hygge Cooperative, it is a bit on the pricey side ($195 a roll) but it is printed with traditional nineteenth century techniques so it looks handmade! And it comes in three colors.

Just beautiful. 

- Cathleen 

Best Gift to Give that Young Boy In Your Life...

Seattle-based toy shop Archie McPhee is an awesome little store with so many novelty items! Of all the toys featured on their website my favorite has to be the Super Awesome Surprise Box and the Mysterious Candy Collection.

Mysterious Candy Collection box

Super Awesome Surprise Box

Both priced at $19.95 these are the perfect gift for that ultra hard to shop for young boy in your life.

Happy Friday!
- Grace

North Brother Island

Photo Credit Reddit User Victav

Have you heard about this?
I am constantly amazed by the fact that I truly do learn something new every single day.

- Grace

ArtworkS of the Week by Jules De Balincourt

Little Men, Big Map, 2005

oil and acrylic on wood panel, 47.2 x 37.4 in

This week we've got THREE Artworks of the Week to share, because though I tried, I could not pick just one. They are all by the same Paris-born Brooklyn-based painter, Jules De Balincourt, and they are all somewhat older works of his. And they all have a palette and mundane-yet-unusual subject-matter that I rather like. 

Untitled (Hunting Room), 2007

oil on panel, 17 x 13.5 in 

Internal Renovations (Diptych), 2005

acrylic, oil and spray paint on panel, 86.6 x 118 in

Images courtesy of the artist's website: www.julesdebalincourt.com

- Cathleen 

Do It Yourself Doodler

Artist and Flickr account holder DAvid Jablow has done something innovative. He has taken a picture of a pin-up girl, erased a few parts of her body and has redrawn her in different situations. Here's the original:

And here are some of his re-draws:

Amazing! Check out more of his work here. 

- Grace

Never Sorry

I was in a documentary mood today, so while Graham was taking his second nap, I sat down with my new favorite lunch, and put on Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry.

I have seen some of Ai Weiwei's work before, but never really knew what his art was about. I knew that he was very vocal politically, but after watching this documentary, my eyes were opened so much wider. First I was struck by the sense that Ai is an incredibly brave man with a calm open temperament, living his life, making his work, going about his day, not looking over his shoulder, but with the understanding that at any point for any reason at all, the government can lock him up, silence him. The tension throughout the whole film was palpable. 

I laughed and then later was moved to the edge of tears at least three separate times. Especially during the artist's tireless investigation into the number of lives lost during the Sichuan earthquake of 2008. Thousands of school children died, an exact number the Chinese government attempted to cover-up because of corner-cutting construction of government-built schools. I had never had a look at China like this before. Remembering, the large-scale installation Ai Weiwei created to commemorate those lives lost, was such a simple yet profound gesture: 9,000 children's backpacks arranged to spell out the phrase "She lived happily for seven years in this world" in Chinese characters, a sentiment expressed by one of the mothers whose daughter died in the earthquake. Many of the children who were killed were only-children, following China's one-child policy.

So much of his work is that way. With all that he does Ai Weiwei is saying what should be said, speaking for those who have no voice. 

I really loved the film. And I think you would too. 


- Cathleen 


[Images courtesy of The Guardian, Shakeoutblog, and Premier Art Scene]

Art for Baby

As you already know, our lovely contributer Alissa had a baby this week (!!!), so while she is off recuperating and getting to know her new darling girl, Grace and I will be covering her Fridays for awhile. 

In honor of Alissa's tiny future art appreciator, I found this awesome book called Art for Baby that I wanted to share. It's a sturdy board book—perfect for grabby hands and slobbery mouths to navigate—full of crisp black and white images created by 11 contemporary artists that are sure to stimulate your little one's little eyes while showing them that A is for ART!

Left: Natasha (2000) by Julian Opie, Right: Fragment 3 (1965) by Bridget Riley

Left: Cryptophye (2005) by Paul Morrison, Right: Ohana (1999) by Takashi Murakami

Left: Pear (1996) by Gary Hume, Right: Untitled (2005) by David Shrigley

I think I really want to get a copy. For Graham. 

Yeah. Graham... 

- Cathleen

[Images courtesy of The Guardian]

What to Do This Weekend! June 15-16, 2013

What are you doing this weekend? Since I'll be riding out the storm headed to the DC area, I'm going to post about what I'd LIKE to be doing this weekend. The National Gallery of Art aka NGA is still showing its fabulous Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes, 1909–1929: When Art Danced with Music exhibit. This exhibit will not disappoint! 

Here's a snippet from the NGA website about the show:

Overview: The Ballets Russes—the most innovative dance company of the 20th century—propelled the performing arts to new heights through groundbreaking collaborations between artists, composers, choreographers, dancers, and fashion designers. Founded by Russian impresario Serge Diaghilev (1872–1929) in Paris in 1909, the company combined Russian and Western traditions with a healthy dose of modernism, thrilling and shocking audiences with its powerful fusion of choreography, music, and design. Showcasing more than 130 original costumes, set designs, paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings, photographs, and posters, Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes also incorporates film clips in a theatrical multimedia installation.

Looks awesome! I know, from a special behind-the-scenes tour, that this exhibit was expensive and time-consuming and is therefore of the highest quality. 

Check it out!!!

-Grace

Artwork of the Week: Octopi

Octopi by Canadian photographer Michael Graydon

from his Weekends series

There's something so gorgeous about that tangle of wet grays and pinks. 

Makes me wish I was at the beach. An octopus-free beach obviously.

Courtesy of the artist's website: www.michaelgraydon.ca

- Cathleen 

Just a Note to Say....

That I'm in love with this tie currently at J.Crew:

Silk Tie in Small Embroidered Weight Lifters.
$75

If I was a dude and I wore ties, I would wear this. I've been doing Crossfit for four months now and even though I dread going because it's always the hardest workout I've ever done, I have been amazed at the way my body has snapped back from my immobile lifestyle. I can now do things I haven't been able to do since I was 8. I can run, I can jump, I can do a handstand, I can touch my toes, I can hang from a bar, etc.... all of this I had kind of given up on after say, 19. If you're considering doing Crossfit- do it! It has truly changed my life. Thanks Nicole for introducing me to the hardest but best workouts I've ever done. 

- Grace

PS- Did you see me front and center on The House That Lars Built??? Totally rocked flower making 101. 

PSS- Did I also mention that Alissa had her baby!! A girl named Mae Delphine born on Saturday at 8:06 am. I am honored that Alissa called me in her time of need to come over and watch her kids. I will say this though, there is no rule book on the etiquette for when you're hanging with your friend and she is in some SERIOUS advanced-stage labor pains.... awkward. 

Shelter from the Storm

Train Model Raincoat 

$89 from LL Bean

It's been completely sunny and beautiful here this past weekend, so it makes no kind of sense that I'm on the hunt for a raincoat, but I am. And my requirements? They are a-plenty.

I demand that it be WATERPROOF, which is somehow not a given when it comes to "raincoats." I need it unlined and breathable so I don't sweat my pits off. I want it to hit around the knees for those days that rain up and sideways. And most of all, it MUST be hooded.

Surprisingly, this is a rather tall order to fill, but I've found a few that come pretty close to fitting the bill. Here I share with you the spoils of my exhaustive internet search! 

The North Face Allena Rain Jacket 

$230 from Zappos

Chroma Dot Rain Jacket 

ON SALE! $58.50 from Nasty Gal

Nau Succinct Trench

$280 from Nau

Merrell Urbane Rain Jacket 

$138.93 from REI

Rain Logic Trench Coat

$219 from Exofficio

Stay dry, my friends!!

- Cathleen

Summer Nail Polish

I don’t know about you but Grace has got me ready for the season with her summer countdown. My own personal countdown usually starts with my first pedicure of the spring. I love being released from the tedium of shoes and I love new colors!

A good friend took me out for a pedicure present about a month ago and my first foray into summer colors was with this little guy: 

Essie: Pretty Edgy

This may not be super surprising considering my current love of green and, at the risk of overdoing it, I think I might try this one next: 

butter: British Racing Green  

PS I think that butter might be my new favorite in the nail polish packaging department- so classic, so symmetrical. It just warms my heart.

So the pastels have been around for a while but, unfortunately, they’re not flattering on me at all. But I’ve been seeing light blue around so much on fingernails that is makes me want to try it again that way.

Oscar de la Renta: Larimar

And can you ever go wrong with a beautiful nude nail polish?

Chanel: Emprise

(Correction: Can you ever go wrong with Chanel? I don’t think so.)

I read a description of this one as ranging from “cool cantaloupe to iced tangerine”. Consider me sold.

butter: Chuffed

And then there’s my fallback summer color that rotates in between pedicures: 

Essie: Tart Deco

It’s so darn cutesy and beachy that I can never get over it. Just like summer.

Have a colorful weekend, Friends!

-Alissa