Daily Art Muse

art saves lives

Susan Lomuto — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:05:46 +0000

june sekiguchi: connecting patterns

Susan Lomuto — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:14:14 +0000

Layered shapes of painted wood come alive with the patterns and colors of other cultures in June Sekiguchi’s sculptures. The artist skillfully combines shapes to showcase the depth and shadow play of each intricate scroll-cut pattern, capturing the viewer in a wooden web.

Stacked Building Boxes, acrylic on scroll-cut wood, various dimensions

In one series of sculptures, Sekiguchi deconstructs a Pakistan fabric printing technique, in another she takes our memory of the basic building blocks of our childhood to a different place, making the simple shapes larger than life, creating an architectural translation that she plays with by rearranging the sculptures in different configurations. Watch for a new direction in this artist’s work - she learned how to weld as a way to explore bending and curving materials to communicate ideas.

Ripple Effect, acrylic on scroll-cut wood, 22″ x 22″ x 9″

I explore pattern in a cultural context. I am interested in the transition where universal patterns evolve into an ethnic identity and how that further synthesizes into a significant personal aesthetic.

Stacked Building Boxes, acrylic on scroll-cut wood, various dimensions

Jack, acrylic on scrollcut wood, 24″ x 24″ 24″

Akrak Series #1, acrylic on scroll-cut wood, 24″ x 24″ x 3″

My approach to piecing together the constructions is generated from the idea of separate entities combining to form a greater whole. Individual elements are constructed in successive layers or placed side by side where the layers create textures of light and shadow that act as frames and screens that can enhance and reveal while also filter and obscure what is behind.

For more about how Sekiguchi’s Japanese roots influence her work read this article in the International Examiner. Additional artwork at ArtXchange.

july breeze

Susan Lomuto — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:59:01 +0000

kat cole’s home base and an update

Susan Lomuto — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:54:07 +0000

When 23 year old Kat Cole moved to Pittsburgh in 2007 after completing her undergraduate degree in Virginia she didn’t know that the move would give her the motivation, materials and tools she needed to shape found metal, silver and copper into the tiny houses, streetscapes, and neighborhoods that have become her signature. Gritty, rust-ic and time-worn the tiny houses stand together in solidarity and they appear as though they are trying to tell us something…but what?

Two House Brooch, found metal, copper

House Necklaces, found metal, copper, silver

Cole drew from her experience of moving to a new city to depict “the loneliness of being transplanted and the strangeness of becoming familiar with a new place.” Next month she will change her home base again when she moves to North Carolina to pursue graduate studies in metalsmithing. We wish her well and look forward to seeing how she uses the experience to develop her artistic vocabulary. More at Facere Jewelry Art Gallery.

House Earrings, found metal, silver

House Update

Remember this post about our new home? That sale fell through two weeks later and we immediately resumed the arduous task of finding a new home base. Earlier this month we found one and this morning we meet with a home inspector to complete one of the last necessary steps in the process. If all goes well we hope to close in early August - maybe in time for my birthday? It’s a big one (the birthday) and cause for celebration for many reasons. I’m collecting good thoughts, positive energy and warm wishes as offerings to a Universe that ultimately knows better and always protects as it guides us.

shadow box brooch

Susan Lomuto — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:00:37 +0000

rebecca barton: metals graduate student

Susan Lomuto — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:37:31 +0000

After completing her BFA with an emphasis in metalsmithing and jewelry in her hometown state of Illinois, 23 year old Rebecca Barton recently pulled up roots and moved to Kansas to attend graduate school. In her artist statement, Barton describes what fuels the work:

“As a way to explain a state of being, plants have become the focus of my investigations and detailed depictions. Fusing realistic imagery with metalwork, I depict vulnerability and insecurity through the use of plants as the palette for my emotions. Plants as metaphors, both in literary iconography and visual symbolism, can describe changes and stages of life.

I’m quiet when I look at these pieces and I want to see more. She’s one to watch.

Just Begun, ring

Trapped, open

Trapped, closed

brian dettmer carves a new definition for book

Susan Lomuto — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:57:02 +0000

Throughout history writers have connected us to new experiences, people and ideas with books that enrich, enlighten, educate, romance, uplift, devastate and distract. Brian Dettmer’s altered book sculptures are meant for the same curious sort who dares to pick up a book and be transported to another place. Full of intrigue and mystery, Dettmer’s carved books are as layered and complex as the characters in a good story.

Full Set of Funk, altered set of encyclopedias, 9.5″ x 66″ x 6″

Standard American, altered vintage encyclopedia set , 9.25″ x 26″ x 9.5″

Standard American, detail

Packer Schopf Gallery describes Dettmer’s work as “sculptural subtraction.” The artist, adept at uncovering secrets, exposing hiding places and revealing beauty, conveys old messages in new ways. By ‘taking away’ - carefully removing pieces and parts of a book’s pages with scalpel and tweezers - he alters our perception and accomplishes the unthinkable: Brian Dettmer creates new connections.

New Books of Knowledge, altered set of encyclopedias, 16″ x 26.5″ x 10″

New Books of Knowledge, top view

New Books of Knowledge, detail

In the video below, listen to the artist talk about his work, including an explanation of how he created his new, animated sculptures. If you want to know more about his process read this BPM Magazine article.

For Brian Dettmer’s most recent work, visit his Flickr site. Even more at Toomey Tourell Fine Art. And books aren’t the only thing he alters. His altered cassette tape skulls are scary. More work-in-progress studio shots here.

Books being prepped in the artist’s studio

Kingdom, altered book, 9 5/8″ x 10.75″ x 9.75″

Many thanks to Seth Savarick to thank for letting us know about this fascinating work.

chocolate pot

Susan Lomuto — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:03:41 +0000

lovers arise ring

Susan Lomuto — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:00:37 +0000

beach stone rings

Susan Lomuto — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:57:47 +0000

nahabetian’s metal, wire, mesh

Susan Lomuto — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:15:10 +0000

Geometrical, architectural, textural, colorful, wonderful…these are all words that come to mind when looking at Dennis Nahabetian’s work. The New York artist, who has an MFA in jewelry and metalsmithing from Southern Illinois University, developed a technique that allows him to manipulate wire into vessels and jewelry that beg the question “How did he do that?”

Spring Lotus Vessel

Nahabetian’s portfolio includes vessels that derive from meditations on nature, architecture and decorative objects from history along with a selection of smaller scale jewelry designs based on “nature, music notations and rhythm”. What a spectacular interpretation of complex forms and expert manipulation of materials.

Wave Ornament Bracelet

Vessel #74b

Here in the Northeast the week promises to be filled with Summer sun (finally!). My plan is to harness that warmth and light and turn it into my own renewable energy source - care to join me? First let’s take a peek at this slideshow from Nahabetian’s Crafthaus profile.

Find more photos like this on crafthaus

polly whitcomb: clay and corrosion

Susan Lomuto — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:03:25 +0000

After a long, successful career as a production potter Polly Whitcomb began making stoneware and found object assemblages a few year ago and she is enjoying a new kind of attention with the one-of-a-kind art works. Whitcomb offers a fresh interpretation of simple shapes with clay glazes that complement the aged patina of their found object counterparts. When I saw images of her work on the Patina Gallery website I assumed they were brooches. Looks can be deceiving. The assemblages are wall sculptures.

Blue Rain, stoneware clay and found objects

Tango, stoneware clay and found objects

Double Whammy, stoneware clay and found objects

Ribbing, stoneware clay and found objects

Encircled, stoneware clay and found objects

The New Mexico based artist fabricates simple stoneware forms, deftly combining them with found objects until she finds the most interesting arrangement to showcase the shapes, textures and colors perfectly. I do like the idea of translating these into smaller, wearable art, don’t you?

From the Patina Gallery:

Her vocabulary of shapes is deliberately small; spheroids, pods, and disks are sufficient for her purpose. So direct and unembellished, they entice touch while providing dimension and contrast to the found elements she combines. And just as she works with a small selection of forms, she designs within a select, limited palette of color: shades of ochre, grey, and blue.

vintage alphabet

Susan Lomuto — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:10:21 +0000

I thought you might enjoy this image of vintage letters that I will be listing on Etsy soon. They are a hard, thick plastic, each side wears a different color, and they stand almost two inches high. Their bright, bold, colorful cheeriness made me smile - kid style - yeah, that kind of smile.

Vintage Alphabet Circa 1946

elephants, luck and muzylowski allen revisited

Susan Lomuto — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:57:25 +0000

I’m thinking about elephants today. This lumbering, awkward animal is revered in many parts of the world. A symbol of strength, power, perseverance, wisdom, patience, longevity, good luck and dignity, the elephant is also highly regarded for its intelligence and memory. So I’m thinking about elephants as I move clumsily through my day today. I’m in good company. And I’ve got the perseverance part down, really I do. But perhaps some of the elephant’s luck, patience and wisdom will rub off on me - that would be a good thing today. Lots to do. I hope to have more to report soon.

Shelley Muzylowski Allen thinks a lot about elephants too. When we visited the artist in 2007 she was focused on horses. Her most recent work includes several blown glass elephants with just the right muted color palette and delicate surface design to make me sigh and let my mind wander for a few moments.

The Elephant Cage and detail , 14″ X 11″ X 7″, blown glass, silver foil, steel

Silver Elephant Trolley, 7″ X 6.5″ X 6.5″, blown glass, silver foil, steel

Tattooed Elephant Trolley, 7″ X 6.5″ X 6.5″, blown, hand sculpted & engraved glass, steel

renee adams’ artificial reality in polymer clay and mixed media

Susan Lomuto — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:00:35 +0000

Drawing inspiration from botanical images by 19th century biologist Ernst Haeckel, Renee Adams constructed her own imaginary hybrid species using polymer clay, glass, wood and acrylic paint. The Washington artist, who has an MFA in sculpture, strives to create work that “questions ideals of beauty and the way in which we manipulate nature and ourselves to attain it.” Adams uses flocking directly on polymer clay (Bindybop, below), something I haven’t seen before. You can see more out-of-this-world sculpture on her website and from a recent exhibition at Swarm Gallery.

Crowned Polylyp, glass, polymer clay, wood, flocking, mixed media, 13”x5.5”x5.5”

Blowpod, wood, polymer clay, leather, seed pod, 6”x10”x7”

Gussy, polymer clay, acrylic paint, mixed media, 60”x10”x14”

Bindybop, polymer clay, shoe polish, flocking, 9”x4”x4”

Flinderspindle, polymer clay, shoe polish, leather, wood, map pins, 12”x7”x7”