Maker Faire is a BIG Hit

I wish I had gone to the Maker Faire this past weekend at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds in California. The event attracted an unheard of 80,000 people, double the number of last year. The New York Times has some great photos including this one of people riding around in cupcakes. I wanna do that! Read John Markoff's article:
New York Times
More links to articles about the faire on the Make Blog
I think they are onto somethin'. People just love making and inventing things. It's fun.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Hokum Scorchers Sing "Let's Get Drunk Again"

Bo Carter trading card by R. Crumb

Listen to "Let's Get Drunk Again", originally done by Bo Chatmon in 1938 (a.k.a. Bo Carter). This song was recorded by the Hokum Scorchers for their first tape in 1990. Lou plays the National Guitar, Amy plays the washboard w/cups and they both sing on this number.

Follow this link and scroll down for music player.

Hokum Scorcher's Song

The Art (and Music) of Amy Crehore

This song changes every Sunday Night, so it will probably different by the time you read this.

Amy Crehore in 5th Anniversary Show at M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs

"The Teaser" painting copyright Amy Crehore, oil on stretched linen
"The Examiner" painting copyright Amy Crehore, oil on stretched linen
"The Nibbler" painting copyright Amy Crehore, oil on stretched linen

I will be showing and selling three of my original paintings from my "Monkey Love Series" in the 5th Anniversary Show at M Modern Gallery in Palm Springs, CA. Each painting has a beautiful black carved frame. The exhibit opens at 7 pm on May 9th, 2008 and continues through mid-June. The theme of this group show is Tiki and it makes up part of a huge Tiki celebration in Palm Springs called "Tiki Caliente" taking place that weekend (May 9-11, 2008). M Modern has a big new gallery and there will be two solo shows opening that night as well : Derek Yaniger and Lyle Motley.

Here is the list of participating artists in the 5th Anniversary Show:

Amy Crehore, Anthony Ausgang, Atomikitty, Bosko, Brandon Steen, Brett Hess, Chris Reccardi, Crazy Al, Dale Sizer, Dave Calver, Dave Pressler, Derek Yaniger, Donella Vitale, Gollyan, Heather Watts, Jacklyn Presant, James Naccarato, Jasmine Worth, Joe Vitale, Joey Remmers, John Bell, Jophen Stein, Ken Ruzic, Lynne Naylor, Mark Bodner, Mark Covell, Miles Thompson, Naoto Hattori, Netherland, Nicole Steen, Pizz, Roger Webb, Sam Gambino, Sarah Joncas, Shag, Thorsten Hasen Kamm, Tiki Tony, Pesci One, and more.

If you would like one of these original paintings, it might be your last chance to get one. The others in my Monkey Love Series have already sold (more than a few to notable people).

contact: M Modern Gallery

The Art of Amy Crehore

(Check my website for Monkey Love print sale during month of May)

He Was Only 27 When He Died

Asa Ames died young and left behind a dozen or so sculptures that he made in the mid-1800's.
They are lovely. You can see them here:

American Folk Art Museum

Or go see them in person if you happen to live near 45 West 53rd Street, NYC.

The New York Times features a slide show as well:

Asa Ames

Thanks, Dinosaurs and Robots.

Felice Casorati Video

Internet Weekly posted a link to this beautiful video found on a website about Felice Casorati. I really need to get a book about this important Italian painter. There are so many amazing paintings on this video that I had never seen. He went through some odd stylistic changes - his work looked a lot like Gustav Klimt at one point. I prefer the less decorative works such as the ones I blogged earlier - the metaphysical works. His work never lacked mystery or soul, no matter which style he chose. His name translates as "Happy" in English. Happy Casorati. His art makes me happy, although it often depicts somewhat melancholy figures.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Orville Gibson's Aesthetic

Photo of Orville Gibson in a funny costume from "The Gibson Story" (out of print?), 1973 by Julius Bellson, photo courtesy of Mrs. Seguine (Orville's niece)

Gibson Guitar Style 03 from 1902

Page from Gibson catalogue 1902

Detail of a sketch by Amy Crehore 2008
I really like the look of the early Gibson guitars. Here is a detail from a sketch that I made off the top of my head and you can see that I drew the bridge in the wrong place. It should be placed higher. I wasn't trying to draw a Gibson or anything, but later I realized that there were some early Gibson models with oval sound holes. Now that I am working on the painting, I am using a reprint of an old Gibson catalogue as a reference to make sure I get some of the features right. I am adding my own decorative inlay on the bottom of the guitar, keeping the dark finish and adjusting the bridge to the right position. And I'm sticking with the oval sound hole. I don't want to show you the whole sketch just yet. My painting keeps changing and when I'm done, I will blog it and compare the sketch to the finished piece.

Check out both of these websites for more photos of actual Gibson guitars from the past:

The Momi.org
National Music Museum

The Art of Amy Crehore

Nice Compositions

Felice Casorati, "Concerto"
Las Mellizas by George Owen Wynne Apperley
Conversazione Platonica by Felice Casorati
I love these two mysterious paintings of nudes by Felice Casorati. I have blogged about him before, but Femme Femme Femme found some examples of his work that I hadn't seen before. Also, here is a nice composition by George Apperley who painted quite a few flamenco dancers (more examples on Femme). I prefer the simple, surreal and classic forms of the Casorati paintings, but Apperley did some very nice portraits of women. Flamenco dancers make colorful subjects.

The Art of Amy Crehore