One Was Maurice

Maurice Sendak with his German shepherd, Herman in 2005.
Photograph by Mariana Cook.



In my ongoing quest to catch up on New Yorkers, I recently came across an article about one of my favorite children’s book authors; Maurice Sendak. Mr. Sendak is best known for his classic Where the Wild Things Are but I thought I’d share three of my favorite slightly less famous Sendak treasures as a belated tribute.





 

I bought Outside Over There from a used bookstore in Raleigh, NC when I was in college. I didn’t have children but I immediately adored it. The story is whimsical and sweet and full of family love and devotion. Not to mention beautiful. Although I couldn’t know at the time, my future little family would fall in love with it as completely as I did.

 

 

When I gave In the Night Kitchen to my younger brother as a Christmas gift almost fifteen years ago, my mom was pretty dubious because of the little naked boy running through the story. But even then, I thought it was so charming and special. I love the image of the boy floating through the kitchen at night. It is so dreamlike and visually striking at the same time that I still regret not keeping that book for myself.

 

 

This one is a cheat because it is four teeny books in one set: The Nutshell Library consists of Pierre: A Cautionary Tale, One Was Johnny: A Counting Book, Alligators All Around: An Alphabet, and Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months. I found this when I was a new mother and although my daughter couldn’t read (or even roll over), it seemed perfect for our family. I love how Mr. Sendak merged his quirky and distinctive sense of humor with traditional children’s subjects (alphabets, counting) and created something original and hilarious.



Author and illustrator Maurice Sendak with a self portrait in 1991.
Photograph by Patrick Downs



 I never wrote to Maurice Sendak to express my appreciation for his work and I think I’ll always wish that I had. But luckily, I still have his books and I can continue to enjoy them with my kids on an almost daily basis. This, I suppose, is the best way to show my admiration anyway. I hope you’ve read all these before but if not, now you’ve got an easy, beautiful weekend project all set up for you, courtesy of Swings and Arrows.

 

Happy Weekend!

-Alissa

Dissecting Newgrange

Monday's post about Michael Grab's stone balancing work reminded me of two artists/art works. The first of these is the entrance to the Newgrange passage tomb in Ireland. 

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
Even in circa 3000 B.C. the Celtic motifs are evident.

This is the entrance stone which was discovered in 1699 by local landowner Charles Campbell. Inside the tomb were beads and bits of pottery which suggested the importance of the place as a ceremonial site. 

Subsequent Photos Courtesy of www.newgrange.com

An ariel shot shows the magnitude of the passage tomb.

Once uncovered archeologists were able to discover that the Newgrange passage tomb's construction aligns with the winter and summer solstice. A roof box allows a beam of light to illuminate the space on the longest and shortest days of the year. 

But what I find to be most important about Newgrange is its ability to underscore the importance of art in humans' lives. Created in approximately 3000 B.C. this piece proves that death, reverence for the dead, and harmony with nature are all key elements to life. 

Things don't change. Humans don't change. The importance of art spans all of humankind, empire after empire, religion after religion. 

Art is imperative to human nature. 

- Grace

Stone Balancing

Art can be created by the everyday hobbiest. 

Michael Grab goes into nature, stacks rocks- balanced ever so carefully- then photographs them. 

His work is amazing and inspiring! 

All Photos and Stone Balancing by Michael Grab

Seems to defy nature! 

Rightfully so his website is titled Gravity Glue. 

Amazing.

More amazing.

Most amazing!

Oh please God no! Don't do the photoshop ghost! 

-Grace

Erin Lynn Welsh

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“What makes you think I enjoy being led to the flood” 36x36in. Oil on Canvas 2010

A couple of weeks ago, I was inadvertently introduced (through a Facebook friend) to a new-to-me artist: Erin Lynn Welsh. She’s a painter and photographer living in NYC and her work is gorgeous.

“Dale’s yard in New Mexico” 2009 Mixed Media (Acrylic and Oil paint) 54x54in.

I was immediately drawn to her style, which, to me, echoes some of my favorite artists such as Georgia O’Keefe and Anselm Kiefer. I spent the rest of the afternoon looking at as much of her work as I could find online.

“Elodie” 2007 Mixed Media (Oil and thread work) 36x48in.

Many of her works are large so I can only imagine how powerful they are in person. I can’t imagine that my little house could handle all the beauty of one her paintings. But that won’t stop me from dreaming!

“Untitled 2” 2008 Mixed Media (Oil and thread work) 36x52in.

I’ll leave you with a couple images to get your Friday started off on an inspiring note. If you need me, I’ll be counting my pennies and calculating exactly how long it will be before I can own one myself. If you're interested in seeing more of Erin's work, check out her blog or her gallery at Uprise Art.  

“Thunder” (Redone) 68x68in. Oil on canvas, 2012

“High tide” 2010 54x54in Mixed Media (oil and acrylic on canvas)

Happy Weekend!

-Alissa

You're Welcome

You're Welcome.

-Grace

Being Really American

Sometimes you fantasize that people who are really up-there and
rich and living it up have something you don't have, that their things must be better than your things because they have more money than you. But they drink the same Cokes and eat the same hot dogs and wear the same ILGWU clothes and see the same TV shows and the same movies. Rich people can't see a sillier version of Truth or Consequences, or a scarier version of The Exorcist. You can get just as revolted as they can—you can have the same nightmares. All of this is really American. 

- Andy Warhol

Photo via Twisted Sifter.

This is my absolute favorite Andy Warhol quote and I think of it often throughout my day and life.
 It instantly came to my mind when I viewed the following photo of a Ski Chalet for sale in Cananda for 15 million dollars.
In the bathroom you can see a pedestal sink, not just any pedestal sink but Kohler's Memoirs Sink. It's a very nice sink, beautiful proportions, nice clean lines. I know several people who have this sink in their home. This sink crosses economic lines.
You might be rich enough to own a $15 million dollar ski chalet or middle income and own a $300,000 home, but at the end of the day we're all washing our hands in the same pedestal sink. 

- Grace

PS- If you want to know more about Andy Warhol I highly suggest this book and this book. 

Who Wants to Get Cozy?

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Backyard Cabin

Have you heard about the Tiny House movement? I just read about it in one of my (very) backlogged New Yorkers and I'm intrigued. Apparently, there is an entire movement, albeit small, of people opting to live in extremely diminished spaces.

Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

Members of the Tiny House movement have varied motivation: some are passionate about the environment and wanted to reduce their living footprint, some are reacting against an overly consumerist culture, others want to live an unfettered lifestyle (most tiny houses are mounted on wheels and therefore mobile) and still others just want to save money. Personally, I like the idea of significantly less space to keep clean.

Fishing Cabin

I definitely prefer smaller, more intimate houses but this might be pushing it for even me.

Cavco Cabin

And yet, some of them look so warm and inviting that it makes me think it might be nice to be cuddled so close together with the people that you love. But maybe I’m just reacting to the frigid weather lately. Regardless, here’s to a cozy weekend whatever size house you spend it in!

-Alissa