Ayumi Horie.

While catching up on my daily readings I came across this mind blowing video of potter Ayumi Horie dry throwing a bowl. I haven't been in the ceramics world  (I guess you could say) for a long time, so I had never seen this technique done before. Below are a few of her pots. Enjoy!

Ayumi Horie

[via design*sponge]

Mark Bradford.

Mark Bradford's use of layering in his collages and other artworks is very intriguing. I bet each piece takes months to finish. I was first introduced to Bradford at the Modern in Fort Worth, and was drawn to it by its size (it covered the whole wall it was on). He doesn't have a website, but you can find out more about him through PBS' Art:21.

Mel Chin.

Conceptual artist, Mel Chin, agreed to become a visiting artist/professor at the university this semester for a five week course. I was very fortunate to get into the class (so many complications) and experience his genius. I cannot stress how thankful I am that he agreed to come here. He made us think about so many things, and the world around us. Mel is one scarily smart, funny guy whom I miss terribly. Unfortunately our class was canceled for a week due to an ice storm, but we were all productive through the mess. At the end of our class we had an exhibition at the Walton Arts Center. Mel wanted it to be an equal exhibition between all of us, and not focused solely on him. Since most of us had created work during the storm we decided that that was what we would exhibit, and aptly named the exhibit Shelter From the Storm. The above photo was our concept wall displaying all of our drawings and ideas cultivated throughout the class.

Extraction of Plenty from What Remains: 1823 -

Two columns which are exact replicas from the White House squeeze an empty cornucopia made of mud, banana, mahogany, coffee, and goats' blood. Mel relates back to the history of the cornucopia, and refers to the fractured ability of Latin American countries to prosper on their own because of America's foreign policy. The "cracks" at the top of the columns are the signatures that are on the foreign policy.

Revival Field

Safehouse

After hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Mel struggled with what he could do to help. He eventually decided that there was nothing he could do, and decided to look elsewhere. His research led him to discover that there was a harmful amount of lead in New Orleans' soil before the hurricane. Determined to save the city from the horrible health problems (ADHS along with violence) that the lead was creating he founded Operation Paydirt. Through Operation Paydirt children (and other citizens) draw on Fundred dollar bills that are going to be exchanged for the money and jobs needed to fix the soil. He created Safehouse to be reminiscent of a bank safe. It is the headquarters of Operation Paydirt and contains a display wall of some fundreds collected so far. Please visit the Fundred site to find out more, learn what you can do to help, and to find a pick up location in your area (pick up is scheduled for October of this year).

Anna Wingfield.

My friend, Anna, creates these mysterious and magnificent oil paintings. She is interested in perspective, and paints these straight from her memory of her current apartment. Anna imagines the rooms empty and the walls invisible. Her color palette explores the various temperatures of whites (with browns), and the feelings they can create. I hope that is she able to part with one of them someday!

Lucy laziness + her new habit.

While I was getting ready to go to my only class of the day this morning Lucy hopped up onto the toilet and sat down. She had never done it before, so I was very surprised. If only she was capable of using it, sigh.

New dresser.

This was the dresser I was talking about a day or so ago. It was still at the place when I got there! I'm not really liking my black picture frames anymore. I have several of my friends' works in need of frames; a trip to Ikea is needed desperately. My room feels even smaller now, but is happy it has more storage.

Happy Birthday, Zuzanne!

Am I still alive?

Technically, yes. I have become sort of a hermit crab lately; sticking to the comfort of my bed, and wasting endless hours on a senseless computer game (and the internets). I need to calm that part of my life down again because I've become sort of useless.

School is back on the scene after our break from the ice storm adventure (four days of no classes, and only two days with no electricity). I'm finally popping out some prints in Etching II (photos will come soon), so now I feel somewhat satisfied in that class. I am finally focusing on a concept this semester, which I've never done before (because it wasn't stressed). My prints are going to surround the drama that is my step-family, and dealing with my parents divorce (which is about time since that was over 17 years ago). I have so much anger and stress built up inside that I need a way to get it out. My mom is bringing her wedding album and yearbook this weekend when she visits, so hopefully I can get some more ideas from those. My roommate and I have been cleaning in preparation for her visit (ha).

I finally ordered the quilt I had been eying at CB2 when I discovered it was on sale (around 50% off!). Suzanne and I went to my favorite flea market and furniture store a couple of weeks ago, and I found a beautiful Danish Modern dresser that is begging for me to take it home. I need more drawer space, and for $97 I might be willing to go for it.

Chicago is just (about) a month away, eek!

gift cards = unnecessary waste

I was thinking about this a few weeks ago.