Okay, not really.
I’ve been running around with job interviews, tiny plantlings, making a new piece for Circus Nerve, and fighting off weather-induced migraines.
My life, it is full.
So, this week’s post is about half done (mostly because I forgot I have 30 images that I needed to, ya know, process).
To tide y’all over: Live Action Angry Birds movie trailer (not real unfortunately).
Okay, I don’t know about it being the happiest of all days—that’s probably still Danish Day—but Manifesto Day is still pretty exciting.
So, I’m been working on a PowerPoint presentation for Gnome’s (The Husband) Humanities class, and while I was wandering about the interwebs looking for a last few images, I decided I wanted to have Marinetti’s Futurist Manifesto on hand so that I could quote from it.
…
That lead me to wanting Tzara’s Dadaist Manifesto (or one of them at any rate).
…
It was like Indiana Jones running from the giant boulder. For real. Now, I have several manifestos for Gnome to copy for the kidlets. \o/ for the interwebs!
Here are the ones that I grabbed:
There are tons and tons more on the interwebs; these were just the ones that I grabbed today. <3
Additionally, there’s this really interesting article on Hyperallergic about Sebastian Errazuriz and his Occupy Chair series.
Totally neat, don’t ya think?
I was also really enjoying Haute Macabre‘s really intriguing post entitled “Magical Thinking.”
Each of the images is very different, but they each of have an Asian sensibility of motion, flow, and space (as well as visually referring to Asian icons like the Chinese dragon).
And, that’s all I have for thinky-ness today; my brain is kinda thinky-ed out after the PowerPoint, but I found you pretty pictures! And, here’s some of my newest pieces!
the Nothing (ooze) by Katrina ('Trie) Blasingame
This piece is part of my the Nothing(s) series of which I don’t have very many of them photographed/scanned yet; this particular piece is acrylic paint, ink, and spray paint.
I have written a really ramble-y artist statement for it:
These sorts of organic forms keep showing up in my work, but they’re evolving too. And, they’re showing up in really strange places.
At first, the taxonomic structures were kind of a butterfly/dragonfly/cell(ular) structure reference that was decorative, organic, and often monstrous as well as a base for the chimerae.
Now? It’s just kinda—imposing itself everywhere.
It’s creepy.
The other day, on a whim to create one of these on plex (which I’ve done before but not recently), I was drawing it on top of a discarded atlas page (so that I could see what I was doing and not mark all over my new ginormous self-healing matte), and I had this super-imposed image of a flowing, engulfing nothingness. <–Okay, this could be a resurgence of my interest economic theory but seriously?
But, The Nothing is in slime and ooze and cancerous egg sacs spewing destruction.
So, it’s a happy Nothing. *blech*
‘Though, the egg sac thing is kinda contradictory—except for all of the entire Aliens references.
*waves hand* The cancer-thing is definitely an influence, literarily, from The Witches of Eastwick (novel)…
So, yeah, The Nothing.
I’ve also talked about the inspirations for the Nothing(s) here and here.
spindle's work, zellandine's denouement: 100 years in the tower by Katrina ('Trie) Blasingame
It’s made of handspun yarn (spun by me; the roving is from Interlacements), copper wire, roving I carded myself, wood bead, and spray paint.
There’s that spray paint again.
“100 years in the tower” is the fourth in the spindle’s work, zellandine’s denouement series; there’s even an artist statement to accompany it:
This fiber series, which is composed of scrumbled pieces (largely made up of yarn spun by me and some dyed by me) that are abstracted forms obliquely referencing aspects of fairytales, explores the idea of “woman’s work” in concert with the portrayal of Femininity in fairytales as well as the contemporary flourishing of Granny Arts in the (post)postmodern world.
So, yeah, I’m done for the night.
Courage.
…are you trying to steal my unicorn?
Okay, I was just watching Bitchin’ Kitchen, so that’s what’s with the stealing the unicorn. *whistles*
I’m still feeling under the weather, so I’m just going to say that IQ’s Fall Art Reception was a load of fun and Mother Nature plotted against us with unseasonably warm weather–which, when you like in a place that has as much winter as we do, no one stays inside when it’s unseasonably warm.
Unless, you’re a crazy artist under a deadline.
*beat*
Anyway, it was fantastic, and I hope that Miss Heather invites me to play again. Here are the pictures I took.
Heather Peterman’s Art: Fantastically bright, almost stained glass-like. A unique aesthetic that has a touch of psychedelic, black light posters in it.
Y’all know that you want a piece of her work–whether it’s fiber-based, a print, or an original painting–do yourselves a favor and get yourselves some Heather art. <–And excuse me and my fever-addled cracktasticness.
Shelly Fuchs: A little dark, a little sexy, a whole lot of awesome. And! She has a giant giraffe as part of her display.
Sara DeRuyter of Eleven Moon Art: Colorful, geometric, and fun. This was Sara first time out too. We were nervous together.
Jacy Petersen (here’s her photography page): Organic, touchable, and visually rich. We totally had an art trade!
And, me! <–Katrina (‘Trie) Blasingame:
There were also a couple of guys that I didn’t get pictures of their stuff. Next time.
So, I haven’t forgotten the Branding conversation; I just haven’t been well enough to be completely thinky about it. It has, however, returned to one of my least favorite rants: artists’ pricing of their time and work–or, really, their under-pricing.
I haven’t forgotten, I swear.
So, here’s the currently updated calendar:
Story Beads: Beading to Heal–September 30th $30.00
The ARTgarage has a class cooperative with St. Vinny’s, and this class is being offered through that program. This class is also totally based upon one that I took with Lisa Kay a couple of years ago. She’s totally as awesome as you’d think she’d be winning a Fulbright. Share the love!
So, I had one person signed up for this class, but we had such a good time, I think! Definitely going to see about doing this again in the Spring–maybe as more of a series of “come and learn; come back to hang out and work together!”
“Visualizing Your Hopes and Dreams”: An Art Night for Freedom House–October 3rd, 6-8 pm
It’s basically an art class being taught for the families that Freedom House helps out.
Kelly and I had about 10 people (though 2 were too small to do more than run around) plus Freedom House’s coordinator-lady Robyn (who is totally awesome). We all had a good time, one student tried drawing for the first time in her life, and I made a new friend.
Studio Tour–October 7th, 12-6 at the ARTgarage
It’s really Chris Style’s studio tour, but all the ARTgarage studio artists were invited to join the fun. This tour happens the 8th and 9th also, but I’m only going to be there the 7th and the 9th.
Bay Area Watercolor Artists Opening–October 7th, 5-8 at the ARTgarageNot necessarily my art scene, but ya know, I’m still gonna be supportive!
IQ’s Fall Art Reception–October 8th3-8 pm at IQ’s Bar 2105 University Ave., Green Bay
Studio Tour–October 9th, 12-5 at the ARTgarageSame sitch, different day.
4th Quarter Artists Opening Reception AND the first Artists’ Demo-ing Night (hip name yet to be chosen)–October 13th
5-8 pm at the ARTgarage. The Artists’ Demo-ing Night is something new that we’re trying, so if you’re an artist in the Green Bay area, come to Demo Night! We all aren’t ARTgarage artists either, and we’re willing to share our windfall awesomeness!
Japanese Stab Binding: Books to Heal–October 14th $30.00
Also, a St. Vinny’s class. <–This is looking like it's going to be cancelled. *SAD*
Artist Books: A Bookmaking Workshop–November 11th-12th $150.00
Bookmaking techniques and artist books! \o/
Artists’ Demo-ing Night–November 17th
Same sitch (yes, I did use “sitch”) as the other one.
Artist Dolls–November 18th-19th $150.00
Really, this is ‘Lain’s gig; I’m just co-teaching.
Black Friday Mixed Media for Kids Class–November 25th
Co-taught with the fabulous Miss Carrie. Bring your kids
to be babysatto learn about and make mixed media art while you getsome peace and quietsome Yule/Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah/Saturnalia/insert-your-holy-day-here shopping done.
Artists’ Demo-ing Night (I really hope we come up with a better title soon.)–Decemeber 15th, 5-8 pm
This Demo Night happens during the ARTgarage’s annual Holiday Sale/Show, so it’s a double header.
Miss ‘Lain is also teaching a couple of other classes that I’m kinda helping out with (Mostly so that I can take the class without paying for it! Don’t tell!).
Circuit Bending 101–October 28th $60.00
Puppetry–December 2nd and 9th $150
…really, how much do y’all think a class should be?
I’m out.
Courage.
So, I’m not really ready to be think-y about Branding yet; I’m still trying to figure out what it means for me specifically and what it will look like in practice. I could totally parse it out here, but I really don’t want to subject y’all to that sort of babble–and it totally would be disconnected babble!–so, instead, owls!
Fungoid owlets, to be specific.
And my Fourth Quarter exhibit at the ARTgarage.
And, an Art Reception at IQ’s!
So, I’m going to begin at the end and work back through to the beginning. Cause I’m tired. And it makes sense in my head. Have I mentioned I’m tired?
The Fall Art Reception and Open Mic at IQ’s in Green Bay. It’s totally a Heather Peterman gig, but she totally shares her stage with other artists. She invited me to come and play with everyone else–to the point I’m on the flyer. *hands* Heather is totally awesome and makes beautiful art and bags (I have one; it’s my favorite bag!).
Actually, she had invited me to participate in the last Art Reception, but I wasn’t feeling ready to be out with my art and potentially not sell anything sell my art. <–Have I mentioned that I have raging insecurity? And a height-related inferiority complex? *whistles*
So, yeah, come out to IQ’s on Saturday and see a bunch of fantastic art–maybe even buy a few things–and listen to a lot of good music. The Fall Art Reception coincides with an Open Mic. We might even get The Husband up there to play!
*and we segue over to here in a non-awkward self-aware fashion because I don’t have a good transitional idea right now*
Sometimes, ya really just have to go for the obvious transitions, ya know?
I finished putting up my Fourth Quarter Exhibit at the ARTgarage. Here are some pictures.
From left to right: unnamed friends: AT-AT ($140), unnamed friends: sheepapillar ($150), and unnamed friends: twitter-tail ($130).
Still talking about the framed pieces, from left to right: unnamed friends: squid attacked by bird-blob ($150) and unnamed friends: uni ($130).
Sculptures, from left to right: unnamed owlets: fungoid owlets (1-3/100; small owlets $65, medium owlets $85), unnamed friends: from the 100 acre wood ($1200), and unnamed friends: fungoid owlets (5-7/100; small owlet $65, medium owlet $85, large owlet $120).
The unnamed friends: fungoid owlet artist doll edition is going well. I’ve already sold one–mind, it was sold to Miss ‘Lain, and she always buys my stuff. She’s my own personal patron.
Here are the little buggers (in close-up!) so far:
This little guy was #4 in the edition.
And, I have 10 more owlet carcasses waiting to be stuffed for Saturday.
Have I mentioned that I really like not being afraid of my sewing machine anymore?
So, here’s the currently updated calendar:
Story Beads: Beading to Heal–September 30th $30.00
The ARTgarage has a class cooperative with St. Vinny’s, and this class is being offered through that program. This class is also totally based upon one that I took with Lisa Kay a couple of years ago. She’s totally as awesome as you’d think she’d be winning a Fulbright. Share the love!
So, I had one person signed up for this class, but we had such a good time, I think! Definitely going to see about doing this again in the Spring–maybe as more of a series of “come and learn; come back to hang out and work together!”
“Visualizing Your Hopes and Dreams”: An Art Night for Freedom House–October 3rd, 6-8 pm
It’s basically an art class being taught for the families that Freedom House helps out.
Kelly and I had about 10 people (though 2 were too small to do more than run around) plus Freedom House’s coordinator-lady Robyn (who is totally awesome). We all had a good time, one student tried drawing for the first time in her life, and I made a new friend.
Studio Tour–October 7th, 12-6 at the ARTgarage
It’s really Chris Style’s studio tour, but all the ARTgarage studio artists were invited to join the fun. This tour happens the 8th and 9th also, but I’m only going to be there the 7th and the 9th.
Bay Area Watercolor Artists Opening–October 7th, 5-8 at the ARTgarage
Not necessarily my art scene, but ya know, I’m still gonna be supportive!
IQ’s Fall Art Reception–October 8th
3-8 pm at IQ’s Bar 2105 University Ave., Green Bay
Studio Tour–October 9th, 12-5 at the ARTgarage
Same sitch, different day.
4th Quarter Artists Opening Reception AND the first Artists’ Demo-ing Night (hip name yet to be chosen)–October 13th
5-8 pm at the ARTgarage. The Artists’ Demo-ing Night is something new that we’re trying, so if you’re an artist in the Green Bay area, come to Demo Night! We all aren’t ARTgarage artists either, and we’re willing to share our windfall awesomeness!
Japanese Stab Binding: Books to Heal–October 14th $30.00
Also, a St. Vinny’s class.
Artist Books: A Bookmaking Workshop–November 11th-12th $150.00
Bookmaking techniques and artist books! \o/
Artists’ Demo-ing Night–November 17th
Same sitch (yes, I did use “sitch”) as the other one.
Artist Dolls–November 18th-19th $150.00
Really, this is ‘Lain’s gig; I’m just co-teaching.
Black Friday Mixed Media for Kids Class–November 25th
Co-taught with the fabulous Miss Carrie. Bring your kids
to be babysatto learn about and make mixed media art while you getsome peace and quietsome Yule/Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah/Saturnalia/insert-your-holy-day-here shopping done.
Artists’ Demo-ing Night (I really hope we come up with a better title soon.)–Decemeber 15th, 5-8 pm
This Demo Night happens during the ARTgarage’s annual Holiday Sale/Show, so it’s a double header.
Miss ‘Lain is also teaching a couple of other classes that I’m kinda helping out with (Mostly so that I can take the class without paying for it! Don’t tell!).
Circuit Bending 101–October 28th $60.00
Puppetry–December 2nd and 9th $150
So, that about covers everything…okay, probably not, but it’s all I’ve got right now.
Courage.
Today, the drive-by post. In chronological order ’cause I’m OCD that way.
The most important this week? The Third Quarter Artists’ Reception at the ARTgarage. So–snacks, booze, art, and crazy artists. What could be better?
Come on out and meet the crazies behind the art!
And, if the reception isn’t enough crazy artists in one space for you, try Colloso Picasso at the Wabeno Arts Consortium. <–I can’t go because I’m at the ARTgarage holding the fort down, but y’all should go and then report back to me how awesome it was so that I can be sad in my lameness.
Also, as of Monday, Miss ‘Lain–artist, friend, pain-in-the-ass, and all around good egg– will be a resident of Wisconsin. *rubs tentacles together and adds another artist to the Wisconsin list* We’re going to take over, ya know.
There are still some SAW spots open if you hurry! I’m going to be helping to teach “Painting and Mixed Media.” *hyperventilates* No, not really. It’s going to be awesome. Me, Co-teacher Carrie, and 12 1st-3rd graders. It’s going to be fantastico! <–This is in addition to the three class that I’m scheduled to teach this fall.
In a never-to-early-to-pimp-an-event event-pimping, mark your calendars for September 16th and 17th. It’s the ARTgarage’s Marathon for Literature. If you’d like to sign up to read, let me know, and I will direct you to the person with the reading schedule. If not, come be our audience! 96 different books in 24 hours with snacks!
And that’s it! That’s the post. No deep philosophical ramblings. No pictures. Just all sorts of excitement!
Don’t y’all wish you lived here to?
Continuing my waxing rhapsodic about artists that I really, really enjoy, I give to you–Camilla d’Errico (and on Facebook)!
The first time I saw Camilla d’Errico’s work was in an issue of Hi Fructose (and on Facebook <–Can y’all tell that I’m all about pimping other people across the interwebs?), which, if you haven’t been reading Hi Fructose, you should be. New Contemporary, Pop Art. What isn’t there to luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurve? I totally need to actually just suck it up and get a subscription so I don’t miss anything.
No Ordinary Love
What I love about d’Errico is her use of creatures juxtaposed with anime girls. There’s something incredibly rich about this juxtaposition. Like the creatures are an extension of the anime girls’ personalities; like they’re part of the stories that the girls write for themselves.
Such as No Ordinary Love.
Due to the presence of both the black and white crows, there’s this connection to the story of the crow in Greek mythology and how Apollo initially changed crows from white to black for telling untruths and then, after discovering that the crow had been telling the truth all along, made crows sacred and in charge of foretelling important deaths. <–Please note that actually just turning the crow back to white wasn’t an option.
There is a love story in here somewhere, and while love stories of any sort kinda make me want to hork, there’s something epic to this one. She is the child of Water and Sky, the product of a broken home; she’s not supposed to exist, acknowledged by none.
Then, there are also d’Errico’s nostalgia illustrations.
Glow Friends
Seriously, who didn’t have a glow worm as kid? It’s like the quintessential 80s kid toy. I fondly remember mine–received for Christmas when I was about 8 years old. For a kid who was always afraid of what was in the dark (not afraid of the dark; it’s a very important distinction), a glow worm was more that a great present; it was comforting.
And warm. I remember that it was warm to sleep with. All that glowing makes for warm sleeping.
The little girl’s dress also makes it look like she escaped from whomever was supposed to be watching her after church on a Sunday afternoon. <–No, I have never in my life ruined my church clothes (when I still had to go to church) by playing outside in them. Not me.
And what kinda anime/manga illustration artist would d’Errico be if she didn’t reference He-Man on occasion?
Sorceress
It’s such a beautiful interpretation of the Sorceress from He-Man. All wonderful blue-orange complementary color cord but with that delicate sadness that permeated the Sorceress due to her inability to keep her daughter, Teela, because of her Grey Skull duties and the loss of the Adam’s sister Adora.
Okay, I’m a bit of a dork that I remember this from when I was a kid.
But, it’s really nice to see other artists that are connected to their cultural moments like Camilla d’Errico and Aya Kato (there are other, but these are the ones that I’ve done blog-y bits on so far) and easily, and comfortably, reference popular culture.
And cephalopods.
Tickle Monster
The last couple of days have been kind of an odd.
I stayed up extremely late (like 5 AM) last night because I had more of my unnamed friends decided that they had to escape from my head at that particular moment.
Pushy buggers.
(They haven’t been photographed yet. My little revenge. *cue mad scientist laughter*)
Therefore, productive =/=me today.
So sue me.
Also, yesterday, I did some updating of the images section of the blog. It’s not remotely done yet, but there are a few things with connected concept. Always a bonus.
Yamato Sakura
But! I would like to share with y’all today one of my favorite artists of all time: Aya Kato. <–Why, yes, that is a Facebook page. \o/
Little Red Riding Hood: Encounter
Aya is a Japanese artist–arguably a superflat artist, but not because of the critical looking at consumerism or at sexual fetishism (although, some of her pieces definitely seem to have a fetishistic element to them). I would consider Aya a superflat artist due to the way that she literally flattens surfaces to create depth and shallowness at the same time while combining traditional Japanese art (remember, manga has been around in Japan since the Edo period, and all Japanese superflat art inherently will connect back to that historical moment whether it wants to or not) with modern technology. Darling (2001) writes in “Plumbing the depths of superflatness” that
“Yet in spite of its almost self-deprecating etymology, “Superflat” is far from unnuanced or superficial and has cracked open the discourse about contemporary Japanese culture and society. Its reverberations are now starting to be felt in Western cultural circles. Like a Japanese transformer toy, it has the capacity to move and bend to engage a wide range of issues: from proposing formal historical connections between classic Japanese art and the anime cartoons of today to a Pop Art-like cross-contamination of high and low to a social critique of contemporary mores and motivations. As such, “Superflat” requires exami nation from a number of different angles in order to be fully appreciated and understood, and the best place to start is with Murakami himself.”
New Japan: Learn a Lesson from the Past
Cinderella: Metamorphosis
If we look at Aya’s art, cultural contamination is everywhere from the meta-narrative ofher fairytale pieces to the highly conceptual constructions of her cityscapes. The longing for childhood combats with sexual knowledge. The traditional (and not-so-traditional) East confronts the West.
And, it’s all wrapped up in a candy colored awesomeness.
Puss in Boots
I think the only complaint I have is that, because she is so prolific, Aya culls some of the work from her online portfolio, and my favorite piece–Uma: Puss in Boots–was taked down. But! I am a bad and stalkery internet denizen, and I have a copy of it from when it was still up. <–I am very, very bad.
It’s kinda ironic, if you think about it. Not that the now isn’t beautiful (and I have totally been taking night photos of the snow storm–they are forth-coming).
So, last week, I told y’all about the two pieces that I submitted for “The Voice of Water” competition at College of Menominee Nation‘s Sustainability Institute.
Both of my pieces placed! The photograph placed third, and the painting placed second. Honestly, the third place means more to me because there was more competition for it, but both of the pieces placing is very exciting since neither medium is my preferred medium. <–Although, the painting is kinda sculptural due to the use of modeling paste medium.
What I didn’t remember to tell y’all is that “The Voice of Water” prompt was for World Water Day (I’m not sure I actually knew it at the time I entered). I went to the little showing at CMN because I totally wanted to see the Best of Show (it was an art quilt; it was awesome). I also wanted to see the little kids interpretations of water. They were looking really good. Loads of potential.
Also, today–because World Water Day and a snow storm just wasn’t enough–I did my guest lecture thing for the Husband’s Humanities class. There were a whole four people, but it seemed to go well. Since an hour-and-ten-minutes really isn’t enough time to do more than a cursory drive by of the 20th (and 21st) century, I did a more “let’s talk about how we perceive and define art and how that has changed through the 20th century” thing. The kiddos talked (*shock* *awe*), and there was even a bit of contention between students about what constituted art. I did a drive-by of ontology and a reminder of semiotics, and I got the chance to show them some of my favorite artists.
It was shiny. Probably in my top ten teaching experiences. And! There wasn’t all the normal pressure of teaching since I was just a guest!
Later this week, there will likely be another blog. I wanna show y’all the night photography I’ve been doing (got a new tripod, thanks to the Husband), I can tell y’all about the fabulous coffee and cheese prizes I got for my art placing, and I can tell y’all about Gallery Night at The Art Garage.
*points* If you’re going to be in Green Bay Thursday night, come to the Gallery Night!
Okay, obviously, I didn’t get this posted yesterday. After I turned in the competition pieces, I spiked a temp and was essentially useless the rest of the day.
I’m not really sure today has been better, but I’ve been productive: made three pendants, a morgue-board, and cleaned the house (including changing the bedding). <–I am a super-exciting person, aren’t I?
The competition that I entered into is hosted by College of Menominee Nation‘s Sustainability Institute; it’s called “The Voice of Water.” I entered two pieces: one photograph and one painting. The photograph y’all might be familiar with
since I’ve posted it over on my Flickr-stream and my Facebook photos. I took this photograph on a super foggy day and then manipulated the contrast and color so that it came out in blues rather than greys. For me, this photo typifies water: not only does it gesture at fog and cold, but it also has the murkiness and reflectivity of a lake or a swamp.
I really think this is my favorite photograph of the ones that I have taken up here. It makes me think of mangrove swamps and lurking crocodilians. Two of my favorite images.
The other “Voice of Water” pieces is a painting that incorporated a polymer acrylic image transfer of the above photograph. This piece is painted on a piece of random cardboard I had. I was originally going to paint it on a piece of book board and frame the piece in a vintage frame that I had spray painted pale blue (it has since become my morgue-board), but I didn’t have any book board that would fit the frame. This piece was painted with spray paint, acrylic paint, modeling paste medium, illumination medium, and polymer acrylic medium with a polymer acrylic digital transfer.
The piece itself tries to encompass all the qualities of water from fog to ice to white caps. It also expresses the patience of water, the destructive/regenerative nature of water, and the danger of water.
I like the concept behind it.
There’s something like 20 hours of work in that painting and a whole lot of drying time. But, they’ve been submitted. Hopefully, the judges don’t think they suck out loud. <–Welcome to the insecure-artist section of the day. *eyeroll heard ’round the world*
I’d feel more confident about this piece if it weren’t so completely Impressionistic to me, and I’m like the only person in the history of the universe who really dislikes Monet and the Impressionists.
Yes, I am that person. *hangs head in not-shame*
