Dali's distant, quiet cousin?

Michael Borremans
Trickland, 2002
oil on canvas 38 x 55 cm

Back in June, I was on the jury of a criminal trial in downtown Los Angeles. We were given generous breaks, including a 1.5 hour lunch every day. We had been told, at orientation, that we could visit both MOCA locations for free by showing our juror badge. So, I took my lunch there one day and saw the Marlene Dumas show, as well as the "Stuff from our Collection" (1980-2005) show. Both were decent, but I am particularly glad I saw the Collection show, because I was introduced to a brilliant painter whom I'd never heard of before. It was Michael Borremans, whom I later researched to live and work in Belgium. The piece I saw at MOCA was lovely--something I learned that he painted in numerous variations--a young girl in a pleated skirt, bisected through the legs by a mirrored surface. It was a quiet piece, despite the obvious surrealist content. I found more of Borremans' work on the Zeno X Gallery website, and found the same resonance in his pieces there. His impeccable composition and sedulous use of color contribute to the quiet, lucious tension set up by the subjects. All else I can say is that they are extremely lovely.

Thunder, 2006
oil on canvas 36 x 34.5 cm

The Table, 2001
oil on canvas 50 x 65 cm

Various ways of avoiding visual contact with the outside world using yellow isolating tape, 1998

pencil and watercolor on cardboard 29.5 x 21 cm

show time!

It's about that time again... that is, time for another fun-filled group show!! I'll be showing a new piece from a new, in-progress series. The flyer, with info, is below. Cheers!

Simon Roberts' Russia

EASTERN SIBERIA: Former Sanitorium, Sludyanka
2004 - 2005
Simon Roberts

Photographer Simon Roberts spent about a year, between 2004-5, taking photographs in Russia. (His map is to the left.) All around, I'd say the images are documentary, although there are many subsets of image types. From landscapes, to portraits, to "moments," Mr. Roberts captures a breathtaking and rather eerie Russia.
I purchased the book form of this collection at my favorite book store earlier in the summer, while visiting my sister in Austin, TX. I've always had a curiosity about Russia, (Trans-Siberian rail, here I come!) and really adore this work. It definitely quenches my curiosities, yet it allows the place to remain mysterious. Motherland has become one of my favorite books. The best part of it is, it's super hearty. If you ever come across it, give yourself plenty of time! You'll not only get to look at tons of beautiful photography, but learn a bit about the country that you never knew before, and get glimpses of the tiniest towns.... here are some screen shots of the book images that I found on SR's website... (...my favs were not in the selection on the site, but these are lovely as well...)

NORTHWESTERN REGION: Apartment Blocks, Murmansk

FAR EAST: Entrance to the Food Market, Khabarovsk

NORTHERN CAUCASUS: Meat Market, Pyatigorsk

FAR EAST: Sasha and Galina Namakonova, Alexandrovosk-Sakhalinsky, Sakhalin Island

i like sharks/street art using storefronts

In the last post, you can see my little shark handkerchief. The choice in subject there was not casual--I really like sharks! (Once upon a time when I was a kid, I could identify about any species by its look.) Anyhow, I've been seeing the Shark Toof paste-ups around LA--ALL around LA, East-to-West sides. Here are a few pics of 'Toof I've taken with my charming little phone-camera----> At first I would just see the shark head itself, and now it's paired with cigarette imagery. Interesting. Let's keep a lookout and see what comes next!

Anyhow, after seeing 'Toof all over the place, I poked around on the internets for more information. I stumbled upon a myspace page where I found some more "gallery friendly" work. Also, he or she is selling t-shirts with the Shark Toof cig pack design on them. One if them is sooo up my alley (A black shirt with gold foil printing! If you know I like sharks, you probably also know I loooove gold.). Okay, so selling things via pal-pal on your myspace page isn't exactly using a storefront. I just wanted to point it out so I could say I appreciate the the more hybrid approach to 'Toof's street art. Why not try and get a little money from fans and supporters to keep on buying paste-up supplies and paint? I think it's rather foolish to try and completely evade the marketplace, in this our capitalist economy. (I know there are lots of differing opinions on street art and graf, though, don't get me wrong.) Maybe I'll stay on my ramen and PBJ diet for another week so I can show some love with a gold Shark Toof shirt...

I would like one of these...

...from a multi-panel piece spelling "SMOKE."

trying new things...

I've been wanting to try hand-embroidery for a little while now. So, last week I bought some hoops and floss and it kinda sat in the bag for a few days. That is, until last night! ---->

With a few tutorials from needlenthread.com under my proverbial belt, I went for it. I like to think the "happy shark" design makes up for the beginner-level craftsmanship. Anyhow, it was fun, and I'll probably be at it again in the future...

Cuddle Party!

Yours truly is in the newest Funny or Die video by Matt Wilson. It stars Nathan Barnatt and Doug Jones of Upright Citizens Brigade. I play the nerdy girl. (What a stretch!) Thanks for the fun times, Matt!

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

real-life stumbleupon: Brian Finke

Yesterday, my friend and I were walking down Beverly Boulevard with the intentions of going to Milk for a delicious baked morsel. On our way, however, I spied this photo-morsel through the window of Stephen Cohen gallery, and pulled my friend in with me.

Sara, Icelandair
40" x 40" 2006

The image I saw turns out to be from a solo exhibition by artist Brian Finke. While the photograph Sara, Icelandair receives front-and-center treatment because it is the biggest and most beautiful piece (of course), there are some other beauts in the show. I found the more contemporary depictions of flight attendants less interesting than those that reflected the days of the "air hostess." The images of the more carefully groomed and uniformed women flight attendants made me think about that very strange intersection of time and circumstance in the story of feminism. Being an air hostess offered women a career and a life of traveling and independence--while on the other side of the coin they were expected to conform to the modelesque image of the ideal modern Woman. I even remember once reading in an in-flight magazine (of all places!) that air hostess positions were framed by airlines themselves as giving women the best opportunity to meet [rich] businessmen--i.e. potential husbands...

art morsel

This is a piece by Brooks Salzwedel, currently on view at the Black Maria gallery in Atwater Village. The show features many of these layered resin works that have a gorgeous, atmospheric quality that must be seen in person...

Peppets Tin
graphite, transparency & resin
3 1/2" x 3" - 2008

art morsel

This is the first installment of art morsel! And, literally, it is a morsel. A photograph by Lynelle Miliate, of a meal she ate in Vietnam...

Vietnam: Dinner, originally uploaded by bnelle.