Art and Medicine

Thanks, boingboing, for making my job easy today. I plucked these images from the Science Museum website after reading about this interesting collection of old objects on boingboing. The Fortean Times has an article about the collection called Medicine Cabinet of Curiosities. Have a look. It's art and medicine combined. (For you, Raliegh).

If I have not been blogging as much lately, please forgive me. I am suffering from a sore back and sitting at the computer does not help me at all. I am currently painting Tickler Uke #2 and it is slow going. Maybe I need a little hike and some fresh air. I'm as pale as these figures. More later!

The Art of Amy Crehore

"Black Pop Surrealism" Exhibit at SICA Opens Friday, March 27th

If you live in NJ or near the Jersey Shore, you can see this exhibit at
SICA, The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts
BLACK POP SURREALISM
March 27 – May 1, 2009

SICA, The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts, (20 Third Ave., Long Branch, NJ 07740) is proud to announce an exhibition “Black Pop Surrealism”, curated Jenn Hampton, the director of the Parlor Gallery. A reception: Sun., March 29; 3-6pm.
Gallery is open 1-5pm Wed, Thurs, Sun and 11am-6pm on Friday and Saturday.

The artists Ms. Hampton selected for inclusion are Booga, Kevin Bourgeois, Jason Bruntton, Amy Crehore, John Detrich, Kristen Ferrell, Heather Gabel, Gris Grimly, John John Jesse, Charles Kraft, Jessica Lawson, Otis Link, Francesco Locastro, Angie Mason, Tim McCormick, Sergio Mora, Mark Mothersbaugh, Charlie Ownes, Chris Peters, Michael Peters, Kevin Peterson, Michele Piano, Porkchop, Robert Preston, Ragnar, Celeste Rapone, Jack the Ripper, KRK Ryden, Pet Silvia, Nicole Steen (of the Pop Tarts), Tammey Stubbs, Donald Topp, Brian Viveros, Adam Wallacavage, Jon Watshak, Chet Zar, and Richard Zimmerman.


This show is made possible in part by funds from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, our members, and by the contributions of individuals like yourself. SICA is a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to establish a uniquely stimulating and creative environment in which to experience the contemporary arts. The primary goal of the center is to increase the general public’s accessibility, awareness and appreciation of the contemporary arts in central New Jersey. For more information on SICA, visit www.sica.org
SLIDESHOW of SOME WORKS in this Exhibit
I'll be showing my "Story of Lolita, Part Two" and "Snake Tamer's Ditty".
The Art of Amy Crehore

Femme Femme Femme

Patrizio Di Renzo

Jesus Molina
Femme Femme Femme blog is back - they are on wordpress now (due to a recent blogger.com "content warning" label). This is a french blog chock full of images of women in art history from photographers to painters (as shown above). It is all about "woman as muse" in ART throughout the centuries. I have never known them to select images that degrade women in any way. They always kept the images flowing - honoring women with humor and grace. A full range of styles. As someone who loves to paint women, I always enjoyed this blog. Here's the new link:
Femme Femme Femme

Looking Back on L.A. Last Month

Click to ENLARGE

The night after my solo show opening in L.A., I drove over to Chinatown to attend another opening on Valentine's night. This was the "Movers and Shakers" show at POVevolving Gallery.

What a great show it was, curated by Gino Joukar. I was honored to be in it. You can see my "French Bubble Gum Encore" painting on the left side of this photo. More photos of this show can be found here (dailydujour). Chinatown was so much fun, however, I was not feeling that well and had to go back to my hotel early. Getting soaked the day before in a downpour, walking to the La Brea tarpits, and then playing hokum music at my own show really wore me out, I guess!

The Art of Amy Crehore

More photos of Tickleroos

I love this photo by Thinkspace gallery of my painted, restored vintage ukes (my "Tickleroos") all lined up and set up with strings...before they were actually hung on the gallery walls.

CLICK images to enlarge for better view.

Also, here is the complete postcard that they designed (Anthony Clarkson did the graphics) for the show (front and back). I am really proud of the way it all came together. To see these uke babies hung between my paintings in a wonderful gallery in L.A. was truly a thrill that I will never forget.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Vintage St. Patrick card
Originally uploaded by riptheskull

For collection of vintage cards
follow the link.
Thanks, riptheskull.

New Prints, Tickler Uke Number Two, SICA Exhibit

These things will all be happening by the end of March. New letterpress prints and limited edition giclee prints. My Number Two Tickler Ukulele (finally! Ha ha!). A pop surrealism exhibit in New Jersey at SICA. Check back here for news. I may be gone for a bit next week, but I'll be back...so don't go away.

The Art of Amy Crehore

2 Days Left to See "Dreamgirls and Ukes" at Thinkspace

This video was actually taken of The Hokum Scorchers on Feb 13, 2009 at Thinkspace on the opening night of my art show. I believe there are a couple more videos on YouTUBE of the rest of the performance. My solo art show will only be up for two more days, March 5 & 6th. Be sure to catch it if you are in Los Angeles. Hours: 1-6pm. 4210 Santa Monica Boulevard.

Thanks to Dinosaurs and Robots and King David Ukulele Station for recently blogging about the art in this show.

Here's a link to my Complete Art Show on FLICKR . I think I managed to pull off a really different type of art show with the help of Mr. Reimuller and the good folks at Thinkspace. I owe them all a ton of gratitude.

Teenar- Most Outrageous Guitar?!

Can it be? Teenar is still making news - even a couple of years after we brought her out of the mothballs. This old mannequin is Number One "Outrageous Guitar" on the internet according to Music Radar .

(Thanks, Mark Lowrie for heads up.)

This guitar was made by my luthier, Lou Reimuller, back in 1986 from a vintage mannequin. Exactly what is so "wrong" about her, I'll never know! She's just art made out of a found object -a "sculpture". But, she also happens to play. The outrageousness must have to do with people projecting their own thoughts onto her and the whole idea of someone playing her. But, she really doesn't mind. She's not human!

Self Decapitation

Do you ever feel like doing this? Releasing your own head from your shoulders? I do. Promotional poster for Magician Kellar by the Strobridge Lithograph Co., Cincinnati, New York, 1897. "Trials and errors" has collected a nice set of performing arts posters on

flickr (from the Library of Congress). This is one of them.
LINK

Uke Backs and Me

Photo of the backs of some of my ukes and a photo of me at Thinkspace measuring for the mural in the front room of the gallery. You can see the duco finish 1930's Stella uke, second from left. It's amazing-looking on the back! What a collection of fine specimens!

The Art of Amy Crehore

DREAMGIRLS AND UKES SLIDE SHOW

Only a few days left until my show closes in L.A. - last day is March 6, 2009.

The Painted Ukulele Headstocks in my Fine Art Show

Peekaboo

Slither
Geyser

Crehore

La Pacifica

Demon

Nymph


Moth


Squirm


Lucky 13

Tuxedo

Wasp

Here are the painted headstocks of the fine art ukes in my solo show, "Dreamgirls and Ukes".

I came up with these names (and headstock logos) based on my paintings on the bodies of the ukes. These are painted fine art "sculptures" that are also rare antique musical instruments. They all actually play and were set up by a luthier. The ukes also relate to the framed oil paintings (on linen) in the show, using some of the same motifs on both. I wanted the show to be not only painterly, but literary and musical. Poetic, like surrealism and dada, yet also all about design, too. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed collecting and painting these ukes and having them restored. I saved them from the trash bin in some cases and also enhanced them. It's a miracle they have survived this long (some are 90 years old!), since many ukes have gotten destroyed over the years. Playing them wears them down, too, and it has always been up to the person who owns them what he or she will do with an old instrument. Mint condition ukuleles are ones that no one has ever really played, and because of that, we are able to experience them without seeing any damage. Some people just love to look at rare things. Some people love instrument design and wood. Some love to collect historic things. Some love fine art. And some love the sound of an antique instrument. These are all one-of-a-kind fine art objects. There will be no others like them. Some of the antiques ukes are so rare you will be hard-pressed to find another like it.

The Art of Amy Crehore
See my previous posts for the bodies of these instruments!

All of these designs are copyright 2009 Amy Crehore

More Photos of My Art Ukes

La Pacifica
Nymph
Squirm

Peekaboo

Tuxedo

Wasp

Geyser

Crehore

Slither

Demon

Moth

Lucky 13

Regal

Here are close-ups of my painted designs on the bodies of my restored antique ukes in my solo show at Thinkspace gallery in Los Angeles. Some are painted on the original art deco backgrounds, some are painted on hide heads, and some are on mahogany or koa wood. I will post the headstocks next. These ukes have all been restored professionally. They are mostly from the 1920's and 1930's. Some were already in near mint shape, but some had to be re-built, parts added or glued. I had so much fun thinking up the perfect design for each.

SLIDESHOW of "Dreamgirls and Ukes" on flickr (Show runs until March 6, 2009)

Thanks to Johnny at Drawn.ca for blogging about the ukes today.

The Art of Amy Crehore

All of these paintings on ukes are copyright 2009 Amy Crehore

Four More from my Solo Show

"Second Fiddle Infatuation" oil on linen, 18"x12"Amy Crehore 2009
"Monkey Love Song" oil on linen 16"x18" by Amy Crehore 2009

"Hokum Hallelujah" oil on linen 12"x 18" by Amy Crehore 2009

"Dragonfly Vanity Waltz" 10" x 18" oil on linen by Amy Crehore 2009
CLICK TO ENLARGE

Here are four of the major works in my Dreamgirls and Ukes exhibit in Los Angeles, CA.
See these hanging next to beautiful antique, restored ukuleles that I also hand-painted with original designs. The effect is wonderful, I think. This show only runs until March 6th, 2009.
Thinkspace Gallery
The Art of Amy Crehore
Slideshow of exhibit
All of this artwork is copyright 2009 Amy Crehore

Ukulele Girl

Sophie Madeleine plays the Beard Song on the ukulele. Couldn't get much sweeter than this.

Thanks, Mark F at boingboing

I wonder if she knows about my "Dreamgirls and Ukes" art show happening right now in L.A.? Corktown Ukulele Jam of Toronto, Canada does. They have a new "gallery" section on their website where they posted my entire flickr slideshow.

Check out their wonderful website: HERE (torontoukes.com) Thanks, Steve!

A Set of Curtain Paintings in my Solo Show

"Hoop Dream" oil on linen 6"x 12"by Amy Crehore 2009
"Smoking Pussycat Dream" 6" x 12"oil on linen by Amy Crehore 2009
Some of those vintage portraits from the 1920's of Ziegfeld girls have hoops in them. I painted my first hula hoop painting back in 2005 (one of my "Little Pierrots" called "Hula Hoop Blues") without realizing that it was a classic motif in the old photographs of Alfred Cheney Johnston. The pose in this "Hoop Dream" painting was inspired by one such photo. The bottom painting has a pose that I just made up with a funny little cat smoking, also from my imagination. I thought it would be nice to make a pair of paintings that related to each other.
The Art of Amy Crehore
See these at Thinkspace Gallery in L.A. until March 6th.

All artwork in this show is copyright 2009 Amy Crehore

The Lion Paintings in My Solo Show

"Please Don't Bug Me Blues" oil on linen by Amy Crehore 2009 12" x 18"
"Weed Smoker's Dream" oil on linen by Amy Crehore 2009 18"x 12"

"Stuck Here Blues" oil on linen by Amy Crehore 2009 14" x 14"
Click to enlarge
The lion is a nice, gentle guy at heart, but sometimes he is a bit rough. He's quite a large creature. Very comfortable as a bed or chair for our girl. But, she also wants to get away from him sometimes and finds that she is stuck and he is holding on. He would be sad if she escaped. The monkey on the lion's back might represent his"addiction". And the roses seem to grow too wild and wrap around her legs (thorns) leaving a bit of blood on her ankle. She's got her vintage ukes: the green one and an old banjo. And there are a couple of big flying insects hanging around - bugging her. The flowers are over-size lollypops. "Weed Smoker's Dream" is an actual title of a blues song from the 1930's by the Harlem Hamfats.
The other two (song) titles I made up. The Art of Amy Crehore
See these at Thinkspace Gallery until March 6th, 2009.

All artwork is copyright 2009 Amy Crehore