no sunshine...

ain't no sunshine today...but a steady rainy fall. and it seems perfect.
Fits my mood today.
Quiet.
Contemplative.
Gray.

So since my MoMa plans are changed I am going to just lay low. Working in a coffee shop currently, off to the library perhaps?, and then my studio.

I am attempting to take a little bit of the self inflicted pressure on myself off. Just be.

an entire lifetime of objetcs....

I was oh so excited because I was planning on going to the MoMa this afternoon and seeing the fascinating and oh so exciting installation Project 90 by Beijing artist Song Dong. But luckily I double checked the MoMa's hours and they are closed on Tuesday's instead of Mondays. So the good thing is I did not dredge all the way to midtown in rain and drear- the bad is I must wait to see this exciting installation. I am planning on going next Monday.

Project 90 shows the entire contents of Song's childhood home during the period in Chinese culture where "waste not" was a method of survival. As a collaboration with his mother we see the multitude of items saved over her lifetime from beautiful, to practical, to broken, to useless.


The objects range from pot and pans to personal and traditional items. All meticulously laid out to create a quilt of textures and color. A deep exploration into the everyday object. It reminds me of a number of Chinese photographers who also lay out items in this way to document the objects in their lives.
Read this excellent and brief review of the show here.


The work is fascinating in that the idea of having to save everythign in order to survive is so alien to our wealthy and consumer based culture. Yet we see an epidemic in American culture in which people save and hoard things none the less. I very much look forward to seeing thiw work and observing the thoughts and emotions it brings up in me.

Next Monday.

all I got....

provocative needlepoint.

Artist Alicia Ross has been featured on a number of embroidery and needlecraft blogs for obvious reasons. She creates gorgeous cross stitch images based on media to explore issues of shame, the female body as object, and erotica. Often her images seem to be drawn from pornographic photographs- yet could simply be from advertisement for fashion or cosmetics too.

Her most recent show was at Black and White Gallery in Chelsea the press release stated:

Ross investigates a wide range of media to provide a contemporary reinterpretation of proper and obscene, respectable and shameful. The work, in this contemporary context, mingles teasing innocence with erotic voracity, challenges the irony of representation of the female form with standard moral differences between sanctified love and fantastical desire.

The series of Samplers and Motherboards... originate from
images from the internet, religious texts and domestic objects – all loaded with pornographic innuendos – which Ross works and
reworks using handicraft techniques, transforming them while retaining a sense of their original meaning and physical form. An
interesting tension arises when pornography is integrated with handicraft, blurring distinctions between the sacred and the profane for
it pokes fun at the very idea of leeway or discrepancy, and inevitably engages the viewer’s critical eye.

But even with the intense handwork Alicia's work still has an unexpected sterility and a machine like presence. The pixalated, blown, out female bodies and faces do not seem to critique in a raw or vulnerable way but as a censor machine might.
It is interesting to ponder these things- many similar ideas and conflicts to the work come up viewing Alicia's work as when seeing Ghada Amer's. By using that which we are critiquing how different is the voice heard by the average viewer. I do not know the answer but I find the discourse around it fascinating.
Amongst this work she also created some fascinating and provocative pillows:



See more of Alicia's work here and read a brief but interesting review here.

giving....

In yoga today I read from the giving tree, one of my favorite stories reminding us both to have a generous heart but also to be mindful and grateful for the gifts we receive. It created a very nice intention for the class.

Today I am finishing up 2 presents to give- one a belated gift for my mama & another for my dear friend on her 30th birthday. I am really happy with how they are turning out. They are just simple pieces but all the more sweet in their simplicity.
I finished my newest text piece and love it!
It turned out lovely, pictures next week.

Stay cool!

cool stuff!

Sweet Finger

I found this weird and somewhat confusing art & design website Naked- it is not in English so who knows what their thing is...but some of the work shown is fabulous.
Like these stitched drawings by . (above & below)

Barbie Bullet Hole

The cool collage inspired by Scorpio by (or for?)
My favorite might be the still life of kitchen utensils by Opsmaak- I love the quality of the line drawing and use of the loose threads...lovely.


The super cool volvo classic.


The very clear and gorgeous diagrams and instructions on sexual issues.



Gorgeous technique abound.


So many cool works all made in the name of advertising. I wish I could read the website and find more about this design/ad/art firm because they are super cool in their style and unique take. See more work here.

updated.

finally, finally I updated some new work on my etsy. Please check it out and see the new work available. Most of it are pieces from line...
But a few other pieces were added and some more to come....

Otherwise I am working away in my very humid studio.
What are you doing?

girlhood.

I recently saw an image of the above work by artist Karen Searle as was very intrigued and nostalgic about it. I myself have done quite a few dress pieces myself here & here. I feel like so many women artists do a piece related to our girlhood and that little typical party dress is forever planted in our minds. Karen's installation is very lovely and beautifully crochet with wire.


I love seeing crochet work done in different materials. Still a skill I would really like to develop. I feel like it would open up a lot of potential in my own work. The opened and closed spaces that you can create. I will learn it better. I do have the granny square down now. Karen also makes some lovely crochet work in fiber too:
Karen states this about her work:

I utilize the techniques of "women's work" to present the feminine view. My imagery is inspired by womens' lives and womens' bodies, and by the feminine impulse to nurture. My sense of humor enters into the creation process and becomes integral to many of the pieces. I think of my wire sculptures as 3-dimensional line drawings in space. The line and movement of the object and its shadow suggest the energy of a human presence. I think of my work with birch bark and other natural materials as a metaphor for womens' work and women's lives: all involve scavenging, mending, piecing-together, and adorning.

This piece might be my favorite it is from a series of "body bags" that she made. But this one with the plump heavy breasts and full body is so beautiful and so nurturing its like a crochet Venus of Willendorf. Very lovely.

perfectly...

Life is so complicatedly complicated. but so perfectly lovely.

This is the new text piece I am working on... the linen is so lovely in its numerous faint stains, yellow tinge, and sweet edging.
I would like to get it finished today but have an appt. and an extra class to teach so we will see if it happens. Hopefully, I will get a seat on the subway allowing me to work while I travel.

While talking about life and friendship complications with my studio mate yesterday, I came up with another text piece idea that is just perfect. Now I just need to sort through my linens and hope there is one that is just right so I can get started on it soon.
The repetitive stitch has been so healing and relaxing the last few days...I realized I should always be balancing my studio time with one simple stitch piece along with my more complicated ones. It helps rest my brain but keeps my hands busy.

baby...

a sweet little gift I made for my cousin who just had a baby.
She was a very, very high risk pregnancy and thought we are not in touch anymore just knowing she was at such risk was very scary for me. I was so delighted to find out that she safely had a beautiful and healthy little one-
so I am sending off this little bit of love tomorrow for them.


Otherwise, I took the day off yesterday from my bigger works and started a new smaller text piece and am so happy with how it is turning out. Plus it has been nice to just get lost in the simple repetitive stitching of text instead of the much more brain exhausting image stitches.

Lost in my thoughts, my joys, my troubles....the place I love to be lost- within life.

Thanks to the always lovely Angela for her so very nice feature on me here.