Lori Ellison at McKenzie Fine Art (Jan 5 - Feb 11, 2012)

James Kalm (a.k.a. Loren Munk) filmed our friend Lori Ellison's art opening in NYC on Thursday night. 
LINK to video. 
Lori's drawings and paintings show a deep appreciation for the importance of design in art. She patiently builds intricate patterns on paper or wood using subtle textures and optical illusions. These meditative works are executed with the precision of Indian miniatures. Like woven textiles or combs created by insects (with their natural irregularities), William Morris' patterns or early examples of Op art, these creative works are mesmerizing and uplifting to behold. I'm sorry I can't see them in person (the great video helps), but if 

you are in NYC, be sure to catch this wonderful show at McKenzie Fine Art (511 West 25th Street).

Bubble Houses by Wallace Neff

Wallace Neff designed Italian-style mansions for Hollywood celebrities, but he also designed some revolutionary bubble houses. Many were built in Falls Chruch, VA and elsewhere. Here is a bubble house that he built in 1946 in Pasadena, CA. Artist Steve Roden and his wife Sari actually live in the last surviving one (a single dome "shell" house that the architect built originally for his brother, before living in it himself). You can read stories here and here. PHOTO gallery. (L.A. Times) 

I'm jealous!

 (thanks, beatgrrrl )

National tricone ukulele 1928

This is a style #1 National brand German silver tricone ukulele that we have at home - most likely from 1928 (based on a National advertisement that I saw). The pear-shaped body is exactly like the mandolins that National offered at the time. It has 3 small resonator cones inside.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Origins of Modern Art- Maurice Denis 1870-1943

I enjoy looking at the design elements, colors and compositions of these paintings by French artist and writer Maurice Denis

Read about him here and see more of his wonderful paintings here. 

There is a beautiful museum in France that opened in 1980 located in Saint-Germaine-en-Laye called the Maurice Denis Museum. It was once his house. Before that, it was a hospital.

Looks like a great place to visit. It is dedicated to his work and the work of his artist friends of the Nabis movement (inspired by Gauguin at Pont-Aven, it lasted from 1888 to 1903). Read about the Nabis. LINK

2012 Blues Calendar with Free CD- can't beat it.

The free CD that comes with this year's blues calendar is excellent! Tampa Red, Jenny Pope, Lane Hardin, Papa Charlie Jackson to name a few favorites of mine. I blog about this calendar (Blues Images) every single year because it is so fabulous and they never seem to run out of great 1920's artwork or music. They only have a limited supply left, so get yours today.

Check out the complete track listings and buy HERE. 

I am painting away to this music and, boy, does it help my creative juices flow! It's a great way to bring in the new year - with hokum music.

The Art of Amy Crehore

The Obliteration Room by Yayoi Kusama

Japanese artist and dot-woman Yayoi Kusama doesn't quit. Have a look at her "Obliteration Room" at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. She constructed a large domestic all-white environment and for two weeks had kid-visitors place thousands of multi-colored dot stickers all over it. Before and after photos can be found at This is Colossal. Kusama's Look Now, See Forever Exhibition runs until March 12, 2012. She's cool and one of my favorite artists. A fearless woman.

(Thanks, April!)

The Art of Amy Crehore

German Cinema Cards

Pretty collection of German Cinema Cards to look at on cigcardpix's flickr:

  LINK 

(Internet Weekly  via MonsterBrains)