Monday
Saturday
El Anatsui at the Brooklyn Museum
While in New York last month I was lucky enough to stumble into the Brooklyn Museum on their free first Saturday and had my eyes opened to an amazing artist El Anatsui. His exhibition "Gravity and Grace: Monumental Works by El Anatsui" features over 30 works including 12 from his latest series of sculptural tapestries. These tapestries are woven out of metal liquor bottle caps that are deconstructed and then reassembled into towering textiles that can measure up to 30 feet long. Here are a few pictures that I took at the Brooklyn Museum, but in my attempt to avoid having people in the background they don't really show the overall grandness of the work. I've included some extras at the bottom of this post so you can do some El Anatsui exploration of your own.
2010
Detail, Red Block
Detail, Ozone Layer
2010
(Forgot to write down the title, sorry!)
an excerpt from the artist's biography at the Brooklyn Museum
"Born in Anyako, Ghana, in 1944, El Anatsui was raised by his uncle, a Presbyterian minister, who directed his education along European lines, instilling a fascination for subjects from poetry to Latin. At the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi (1965-69), Anatsui focused of Western art, coming to historical African art only as an engaged outsider and treating his interest in the subject as an intellectual project.
Anatsui left Ghana in 1975 to teach art at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, where he engaged with a variety of local art forms and came into contact with a circle of Nigerian artists wrestling with both local and pan-African identity. His practice flourished in the 1980s and 1990s and his innovative use of materials and metaphors rooted in the history of Africa won respect in the contemporary African art world.
A decade ago, Anatsui began a new chapter of his career following his discovery of a sack of discarded liquor bottle caps. The works he created from these materials catapulted him onto the global contemporary art stage, winning particular praise at the 2007 Venice Biennale. In 2010, he retired from teaching to focus on his studio work."
**Special thanks to Kate Belski for being an amazing New York tour guide and friend! <3**
Friday
Ben Franklin and the Peg Leg
If you're in Philly I highly recommend going to the National Constitution Center just to check out these life size bronze statues depicting the members of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Here is a shot of my hometown hero, Benjamin Franklin with the peg legged Gouverneur Morris. The statues are beautifully made and the exhibit is designed for hands on interaction with the public. Just a warning don't sit on the table next to Ben Franklin the security guard will tell you to get off, but do hug them, shake some hands and have fun!
And just so you learn something today, Gouverneur Morris seems to have lived quite an interesting life. Its rumored that he lost his leg after jumping from a window to flee his mistresses angry husband, even though he claimed it was a carriage accident that crushed it. To make things worse he died after sticking a piece of a whalebone in his urinary tract to relieve a blockage. Wow.
Tuesday
classic northwest
Well spring seems to have sprung here in the great northwest and you know what the means.... time for some day trips. Some shots from my recent trips to La Conner and Rattlesnake Ledge.
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Rattlesnake Ridge
mossy rocks
amazing fungi
possibly Witches Wart
All in all this is just to say, get out there and don't mind the rain!
heart northwest
Mass Art Auction!
Hey there art lovers! If you're in Boston stop by the Bakalar and Paine galleries at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design to check out the work up for bid at the annual MassArt auction. Can't attend the fancy gala but want to take something home, perhaps my piece "The Last American Hobo" check out Paddle 8 for pre-auction online bidding, all the info is below. I'm so proud to be an alumni of MassArt, the nations only free standing public art school and just want to spread the word about this great event. Woo! Support MassArt!
"The Last American Hobo"
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
621 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
Public viewing April 4th through 11th
in the Bakalar and Paine galleries
11 am to 7 pm
Online at
Wednesday
new work
Drawer #3
13"x4"x5"
wood, fabric, thread, beads, wire and found object
Paper Beats Rock
5"x10"x3"
wood, fabric, paint, found object
detail, Paper Beats Rock
Paper Beats Rock is on display at Ryan James Galley in Bellevue WA along with some of my other work. Stop by the gallery to see it and work from over 30 other Northwest artists.
989 112th Ave NE, #102
Belleuve, WA 98004
Sunday
brotherly love
some shots from my recent trip to philly
part 1
Designed by British architect John Haviland, Eastern State Penitentiary was opened in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia in 1829. Eastern State was an early model of the Pennsylvania prison system which focused on solitary confinement and penance. At the time the favored prison method was the Auburn or New York system which employed labor and punishment. The prison's layout is in a hub and spoke style with a watchtower in the center and the different cell blocks radiating out. Eastern State operated until 1971 and now acts as a museum.
Special thanks to Lauren for the awesome behind the scenes tour.
a lithograph of the original building by the P.S. Duval and Co. from 1855
part 1
Designed by British architect John Haviland, Eastern State Penitentiary was opened in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia in 1829. Eastern State was an early model of the Pennsylvania prison system which focused on solitary confinement and penance. At the time the favored prison method was the Auburn or New York system which employed labor and punishment. The prison's layout is in a hub and spoke style with a watchtower in the center and the different cell blocks radiating out. Eastern State operated until 1971 and now acts as a museum.
Special thanks to Lauren for the awesome behind the scenes tour.
shots from the watchtower at Eastern State Penitentiary
views from a cell block
Monday
upcoming events
Just a few events I wanted to post that are happening this weekend at the Ryan James Gallery. On Friday the 29th there will be a conversation night featuring the topic What to do with a million dollars in a day? Then on Saturday the 30th Speed N Beats a mash up show featuring fine art, design, and music. Both events run from 6:00 to 8:00. Hope you can take some time out of you day to support this great local gallery.
Thursday
Saturday
Support Northwest Art!
Grand opening at the Ryan James Gallery in Bellevue, WA tonight Feb 15th from 6-10! Stop by and support Northwest business and artists. With over 20 different artists on display I'm sure something will strike your fancy.
Happy Arting!
989 112th Ave NE, #102
Bellevue WA, 98004
Happy Arting!
989 112th Ave NE, #102
Bellevue WA, 98004
Photo courtesy of Ryan Turok
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