David Chung (aka “The Chung”) paints a rainbow menagerie of monsters and lovable outcasts.
These colorful creatures, while undeniably hinting at the fact that we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously, actually express a range of human emotions.
Ah, it’s like the darker side of Lisa Frank characters.
This is a bit of a deviation from my typical posts, but story is very close to my heart. I don’t often talk about my chronic illness on this blog, but I’ve been ill for over 20 years, culminating in total incapacitation.
Amy Oestreicher has come through the profound darkness of a truly unbelievable illness. She’s an artist, actress, musician and motivational speaker who has alchemized her challenges into all kinds of profound, creative outlets. Her story is the quintessential Hero’s Journey and (as a soul sister whose guts have also exploded on numerous occasions) I’m grateful to her for publicly spreading the positive messages I’m still too ill to do myself. We are all about, as she puts it, “finding beauty in the detours!”
I encourage you to search through all of her projects, but if you’re able, please check out her one woman show, Gutless and Grateful (coming to NY on 3/11, for my local friends!). Amy is infectiously sweet and positive. I’m grateful to have met this ray of light!
I can never let a new Camille Rose Garcia show debut without posting about it. Just looking at the title of this one made me wish I were 3,000 miles away where I could see it (there’s a bonus Bowie portrait, for all the fans in mourning out there!).
Animus Chrysalis Mortis just opened at Roq La Rue gallery in Seattle. In the exhibition statement, she says:
For this body of work I was inspired by the surrealist and deeply symbolic films of Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jungian archetypes, and Greek mythology.
I created a personal language of symbols, then made a card set and selected at random a different set for each new painting. This method taps into the elements of subconscious influence and chance, as well as mirrors the cut-up method of writing created by one of my favorite authors William Burroughs.
From these subconscious suggestions I created a lush and layered symbolic world that explores the realm of childhood, memory and longing. Ghosts and gardens, snakes and skulls frame fever-dream scenes of wounded goddesses slayed open, fecund gardens growing from their wounds. Vibrant strange gardens populated with insects and dream imagery portray a psychedelic dance between life and death.
See the exhibition online here.
*Sniff sniff* Oh…what…a cartoon made me a little misty-eyed? *Ahem* Of course not!
Check out Marsha Onderstijn’s beautiful hand drawn animation short about what happens when Death falls in love with life.
M1rasoulifard’s Instagram account is filled with gorgeously intricate tessellated ceilings of Iranian mosques.
The kaleidoscopic arrangements of spiraling geometric shapes and indentations are simultaneously hypnotic and mildly disorienting due to the sheer amount of visual stimulation.
Despite not partaking in any organized religion, I’ve always been rather awestruck by religious architecture, as it involves a level of artistry, design acumen and craftsmanship not often seen in other standard buildings.
Whether you worship or not…what’s the most beautiful place of worship you’ve ever seen?
El Gato Chimney is a former street artist living in Milan. A local legend purports that the Devil approached him and offered him success in exchange for his soul. And while he refuses to comment on this modern day Faustian agreement…he has since been featured rather prominently in the art world (tee-hee).
His work often re-appropriates symbols of alchemy, folk magic and various schools of occultism, but he does make a point to extensively study the historical meanings.
Each piece has meaning for him, but he prefers to keep his own interpretations quiet in order to let the viewer fully partake in the subjective experience. Our associations differ so vastly…I think it’s wise to let each viewer construct his or her own meaning and stories.
Most pieces contain elements of ritual, virtue and vice mingling together (which appeals to me because these elements of our existence seem to configure in holographic fashion, rather than staying confined to one-dimensional respective polarities).
We’ve covered The Best Worst Shirt Ever (it really delivers in person). But are you ready for The Best Worst SWEATshirt ever?
BEHOLD! The ZLYC Women’s Dazzle Geometric Cat Print Sweatshirt:
I rarely wear bright clothing, but I might make an exception for this, if I take a sufficient dose of Dramamine first. The reviews are in:
And then there’s this sweatshirt, for which I still can’t figure out the target demographic.
But it sure does complement one’s neck tattoo.
So lifelike!
When my dad began a fundraiser to save my life, I never in my wildest dreams believed that a little introvert who has been largely unable to communicate or set foot outside the house for years due to illness could have friends and strangers from all over the world rallying for her like this. We’ve passed the halfway mark, and I’m unbelievably grateful!
Feeling triumphant…
I’ve spent over 20 years flailing around in a medical system that could not (or would not) help me…and there is finally hope that I can make it. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for making this possible. PLEASE keep this link circulating!
Ilona Sampovaara paints fabulously kitschy, anthropormorphic cats and dogs (as well as some still life and human girls).
Some of them evoke what I can only call a rather brilliant discomfort for the viewer (why isn’t there a term for the opposite of uncanny valley, meaning the sense of unease that can arise when something is incredibly far from natural looking?).
And some are just sweet n’ silly.
She has some great postcard sets (I’m partial to this one).
Thank you for sharing this with me, Rachel! ❤
Sometimes I’ll like an artist but, having absolutely no official background in art, I’m at a loss to describe a particular style. Kevin Hauff is one such artist.
For those a bit more familiar with artistic terminology, how would you describe this style?
SheWalksSoftly 