My Space is Small. My Life is Big.

Living with Less. A Lot Less.

I know this article has been making the internet rounds, but at the risk of over saturation I think it’s definitely worth posting again. In it, Graham Hill talks about his move from a life filled with possessions and the burden of caring for them to one defined by freedom. 

Sometimes, it can feel almost impossible to extract yourself from the lure of all the new stuff that you can have or buy. For Mr. Hill, it took a relationship with a woman he loved to change his perspective and realize that the things in his life didn’t matter- his life is what matters. Love and other people are what matter.

It seems to me that there is a movement, however small, away from the Bigger, Shinier, Newer, Better societal attitude that has been steadily increasing for a long time. But maybe people are finding that when they get rid of the things (and the obsession with things) that clutter their lives, they’re finding the freedom to let their lives expand to fill that space. That’s why I love Mr. Hill’s closing line: “My space is small. My life is big.” How beautiful.

Here’s to big lives.

Happy Weekend! 

-Alissa

She Brakes for Art: Diane Arbus

Continuing with our tools of the trade theme while Grace is away, I bring you an inspiration board of sorts (waaay before the likes of Pinterest ever existed) created by photographer Diane Arbus and explained thusly: 

“I like to put things up around my bed all the time, pictures of mine that I like and other things and I change it every month or so. There’s some funny subliminal thing that happens. It isn’t just looking at it. It’s looking at it when you’re not looking at it. It really begins to act on you.” 

(From Diane Arbus Revelations, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, October 2005–January 2006. Photographs and other items as they appeared on the wall of Diane Arbus’s apartment, circa 1970.)

- Cathleen


[Quote excerpted from Exhibiting Photography by Shirley Rea, image via arp4.blogspot.com

Artwork of the Week: Spotty Banana Peel

Spotty Banana Peel by Aubrey Levinthal

Oil painting on masonite panel, 5 x 8 in

I love the idea of elevating a cast off fruit rind to fine art status.

You can see more of Aubrey's work on her website: www.aubreylevinthal.com

And purchase some of her small original paintings from her Etsy shop: Tastycakeartist 

- Cathleen 

She Brakes for Art: John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent's Palette (1933.49), Oil Paints and Brushes (Straus.919)

via harvardartmuseums.org

Grace is currently tied up producing the annual Week of the Arts extravaganza that she helms every year, and so, will be taking a short break from the blog for the next two weeks. She did an awesome round-up of artists' palettes and their work last January, so I thought in honor of the hard work she puts into inspiring young minds towards creativity every year it might be cool to see some more tools of the trade used by the great creative minds that inspire us everyday. 

John Singer Sargent is one of my favorite portraitists, but I especially love his en plein air work. Imagine him toting all of this equipment out to capture the ephemerality of nature in slow-drying oil paint no less. More to come! 


- Cathleen  

The Time Has Come

I have never been more acutely aware of time as I have been since Graham was born. First of all, he arrived early, taking us and my unpacked hospital bag by total surprise. Once home came the daily feed schedule, with it's slow suckling minutes and swift napping hours, a rather demanding routine that will now be ruling my life for the foreseeable future. I've had to calculate how many precious few days I have left in maternity leave. Then there was the one month mark—a major milestone in all babies' lives. And last Monday my 6-week postpartum appointment hit and then all of a sudden my break from the blog was up and it was back to the inspiring grind as usual. And boy, is it nice to be back in the fold again!

Mani-fold, that is! (Sorry, I couldn't help myself.) The Manifold Clock was conceived by Studio Ve of Israel and brought to fruition by way of a very successful Kickstarter campaign in 2011. It is a modern, sculptural timepiece that I don't think would help me keep track of my day very well, but it would look beautiful trying. Check out this video of time in motion: 

- Cathleen 

Velvet Obsession

via Pinterest

A couple of months ago, I got it into my head that I wanted hunter/emerald green curtains for my living room.

Against the better judgment of two of my arts and design friends, I decided to go for it. Unfortunately, the professionals ended up being right. The curtains I found looked like a bad camo-green blanket; sucking up all the light in the room instead of reflecting it luminously as my imaginary velvet had done. Just a case of a good idea with bad execution? I'm not sure.

You’d think that I’d learn from my mistakes and stop dreaming about this darn velvet but I keep coming across more images and I’m just sure that I should be able to make it work…

Maybe as a sofa,

Rue Magazine

Living Etc. Magazine, h/t: I Hate to Alarm You

or a headboard,

Grand Oslo Hotel

or my Louis XVI (ish) style chairs, 

(Grace can correct me on what style my chairs actually are)

These are really leather but you get the idea.

or ... CURTAINS.

http://www.myfavoriteandmybest.com/mfamb-home/2011/8/15/green.htm

 

Charm Home Design

I know, I have a problem. But a girl can dream, right? I hope your day is full of great ideas and great execution.

Happy Weekend!

-Alissa

 

Art in Unexpected Places

I stand by one concept: you learn something new every day. My dear friend Kait, posted onto Facebook, images of French artist Hubert Duprat latest work:

All images via LaughingSquid.com

Caddyfish larvea build for themselves cases out of found materials. The cases are usually made out of twigs, sand, gravel, and other like materials. Duprat isolated the larvae and provided them with beads, pearls, turquoise, and 18-karet gold pieces. This is the result  of the larvaes' work. 

Video via You Tube. Duprat discussing his work. 

Yep, I agree beautiful and interesting. 

- Grace