lovely monster

just checking in to give you some out takes from the office job : this big lovely floating island has kind of taken over my life for the moment ...

It's a site specific installation where I work at the Miller Gallery in Kutztown by Onishi Yasuaki ... hot glue, fishing line line and some plastic sheeting.

I love that everyone's first instinct is to go underneath it, what's that about?  everybody loves a tent? it is kind of reminiscent of being under one of those play parachutes ... 

Here are some fun little townie kids rolling around underneath pretending to be underwater.  

and then the students pretty much come in and fall asleep! classic college move!

sucked in!

Heads up - I've been sucked into the world of Pinterest - a place where I can create mood boards of babies, geisha, motorcycles, Bruce Springsteen, and disco balls!

I'm also using it to create spaces for the inspirations for my little jewelry collections:

I'm just getting started down this black hole - wanna come along? you can follow my adventures here: http://pinterest.com/skylarkstudio/

hibernation begins

I'm entering into hibernation mode - getting ready to tackle a new year with a bunch of new selling venues, also looking forward to adding a few new pieces to my collections.  We're also in the middle of an epic building project for our new studio space - tackling monsoon rains, freezing temperatures and some serious first timer mistakes.

In my dreams, it will end up looking like this:

(Vermont Timber Works)

Realistically the only thing we will have in common with this barn is the fact that ours will also have four walls and a roof.   But, it's what you do within those four walls that counts right?

this is not a classic rock tribute I swear

So I'm making up some small little things for the show this weekend. It started off with this little guy ...

I know triangles are all the rage right now but I swear I was thinking a little more along the lines of this.

Hipster Triangles

Then along came these guys ...

so it's starting to look a little like this ...

NOT INTENTIONAL.  Although I must say I'm not upset by this, I will always be a classic rock queen in my heart.  Did you know that each member of Led Zeppelin created symbols for themselves? (Something about runes and possible occult (!) references ... here's more if you need to know.)

I was one of those little sisters that raided my older brother's room all the time - borrowing his Dungeons & Dragons manuals to sketch from, wearing his soccer jerseys,  stealing his Jethro Tull and Rush tapes.  I became a Zeppelin freak at the ripe old age of 12.  We also only had 2 radio stations in town, classic rock and the Debbie Gibson one. ugh.

So I will wear these in tribute, to some seriously geeky rock gods (who apparently like to be shirtless) and to the millions of bad tattoos inspired by them...

If only my brother had listened to Adam Ant, my life could have been so different ... 

it's all happening ... in philly this weekend!

So this weekend is a big one in the city of brotherly love. First (and most importantly) I'll be vending at the Art Star Holiday show at the 23rd St. Armory.

It's all free and fun, 19th and 20th, from 11-6pm. There is a VIP party Friday night if you are interested (fancy!)  Z-town will be out in full force - Chez Sucre Chez and Spread the Love will be there too ...

Next! the Tweed Ride is also happening! Saturday behind the Art Museum ...

pic credit

and last but not least, the Philadelphia Marathon! Our girl Robyn is running and I'm hoping to be able to cheer her on Sunday morning as she comes in first across the finish line ...

So it's going to be a mess of tweedy bikers, runners in short shorts and cool crafters all within 5 blocks of each other. Let's pray for easy parking!

cataloging myself

The problem with having a library degree on top of an art degree is that I am constantly wanting to put things into categories and neat piles. This can get frustrating when you are trying to do it to yourself and your own work. What shows should I apply to? Who is my market? Where is the best place to sell my work?

It can lead to basically comparing yourself to everyone else - a dangerous road to go down. and throw in a heavy dose of art school indoctrination and you can find yourself saying, what's the point? it's all been done, hasn't it?

So I was really energized reading a piece of writing by one of the professors I work with (it's in this month's Professional Artist magazine, article by Matt Daub). The overall theme is about making your mark in the art world, but he had some good insight on the different ways that it can be done.  While his approach was toward fine art making, I can see a definite parallel to anyone making anything.

Here's a summary of his nice neat breakdown of some the basics in this thought process ... (to note, I'm not sure if the visuals are exactly the best representation, just the first that came to mind and most easily recognized)

"The most highly regarded artists are those who invent something never seen before, 

a new way for us to encounter our world and experience art ..."

Jackson Pollock

  
"then there are artists who break no new ground but still possess a singularly keen vision with enough insight and creativity to distinguish them from others working in the same fashion ..."

Van Gogh

"some artists are more pedestrian, yet through their discipline, diligence and 

persistence have left behind a body of work that we cannot ignore..."

Monet

"others may be recognized primarily for their stunning virtuosity of craft ..."

Leonardo Da Vinci

"some lack craftsmanship but are refreshingly original in concept ..." 

Duchamp

"and finally, some have no formal training but create obsessively with a 

point of view so unexpected we have to take notice..."

Adolf Wolfli

While I'm not sure if I feel like I fit into any one of these groups precisely, defining these little groups is somehow reassuring. The world of marketing products is a whole different animal, but we're all trying to make something original and worthwhile.

So what do you think? too confining? too conservative?  what's the point of labels anyway?! just make the work already!

are these the finalists or what?

I never have any idea what episode or season even, we are all on with Project Runway. I don't have cable so I try to hobble together free online videos somewhere.

So did you know that the final 9 actually get to show at Fashion Week?! Something about the timing of the actual fashion week and where they were in the filming of the show.

I can't help but getting a little annoyed with the drama at the end of every episode - the tears, the why I deserve it stories, the over the top artistic journeys - HEY! guess what? everyone is going!

as always some stinkers and winners amongst all the collections but let's give some serious kudos to Laura for her way cool metal dress ... 

I think this version below is a little more flattering and subtle - and check out that crazy awesome bracelet!

and while we're looking at wrists - I LOVED Anthony Ryan's bright blue wrist skin paint - all his models had that going on.

and let's give a shout out to the villain-turned-sweetheart Bert.  This dress is so pretty and shimmery!

so maybe these guys didn't the home visit from Tim Gunn?

(here's the link to all the collections - click it just to see the nutso eyebrows Oliver put on his models!)

page 645 out of 789

So right now I'm on page 645 of The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. it's probably a cliche to say, but this book is changing my life. It's the exact book I needed for this exact time in my life.  It's the longest book I've ever read but man, is it awesome. I think everyone needs to read this.  Kinda mind blowing that it was written by a woman in 1943.

It's one of those empowering books about integrity and innovation and selfishness, really.  basically a book about getting in your bubble and doing what you want to do no matter what the cost.  and it doesn't hurt that it's a phrased within a giant architectural metaphor.  My love of architecture is extreme.  To create a structure that will stand for decades and subconsciously physically affect thousands of people is serious business.

I saw these pics on Miss Moss and I can't help but think it could be something like Howard Roark would build, the main character in The Fountainhead.

 dreamy, right?  (it's on the Isle of Capri, built in 1937).


I also just watched the documentary about Julius Shulman, the man who photographed all those amazing modernist homes that popped up in the 1950's in California. He helped bring the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra and Charles and Ray Eames and all those amazing mid century designers to the forefront of design.  (and how about this, Howard Roark was based on Frank Lloyd Wright).

I'm always obsessed with people's living areas and work spaces, I don't think people realize how much of an influence it has on your psyche.  Shulman really captures the spirit of these places.

Let's hang out here shall we? I'll wear my best vintage cocktail dress.

this sunday! what are you doing?

getting back into the swing of selling at some retail shows ... so on Sunday October 9th I'll be at the Lancaster Museum of Art for their Tasteful Crafting Event.

I'll be there with my girls, Kimberly of Chez Sucre Chez, Melanie from Spread the Love, and Jen from Jen Lindsay Design.

awesome!

 I'm excited to be doing an event in a mansion! with beer and wine too! fancy times ... 

ultimate studio

I sure wouldn't mind working here in this place - the studio of Teresa Elliot, painter of freaky dreamy steer ...