Keith and Jan Rolston have contributed to Sheldon in many ways over the years, but after a winter vacation to Phoenix, they wanted to bring something especially colorful to the
Rolstons donate sculpture to Sheldon preschool
PHOTOS: Speed Art Museum Breaks Ground On New Sculpture Park
The new outdoor space, which is set to open in 2025, will feature a collection of sculptures and a shade canopy created by 150 native trees.
Why You Should Become Your Own Photography Customer
Whether you are a professional or a hobbyist, going through a period where you are not feeling creatively inspired can be incredibly frustrating. So, what can you do to break out of that and get back to making photos that make you and your clients happy? Sometimes, the best solution is to become your own customer.
Coming to you from Keith Cooper, this excellent video essay discusses the idea of becoming your own photo customer. The idea goes something like this: when you are feeling uninspired or lacking creative ideas, instead of trying to mine your own brain, ask yourself what your target audience or clients are looking for in your images. This will often help you draw connections across your work and uncover common threads that you might not have noticed before. And this works whether you are a professional or a hobbyist; if you are a hobbyist, simply consider those in your audience whose opinions you value, when they are fellow photographers, friends and family, or followers on your social media channels. Even if you have no problem feeling inspired right now, it is a worthwhile exercise that can help you discover more about your own work and what makes you tick. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Cooper.
This new public sculptures by the High Line actually terrifies us
Cult Pokémon characters get a (scary) makeover.
Joana Vasconcelos’ ‘Plug-in’ Retrospective Buzzes with Three Decades of Energy and Power
Detail of “Valkyrie Octopus,” installed at MAAT. Photo by Bruno Lopes. All images © Joana Vasconcelos, courtesy of MAAT, shared with permission
From a towering solitaire diamond ring made of wheels to a sprawling, embellished textile tree, Joana Vasconcelos (previously) is known for creating monumental sculptures and public artworks that reframe familiar objects and materials into striking installations. Plug-in, a new retrospective at MAAT—the Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology—in Lisbon, explores nearly three decades of the Portuguese artist’s comprehensive oeuvre.light
Focusing on an undercurrent of electricity and power, Plug-in brings together new pieces in dialogue with earlier works. For example, two sculptures reimagine vintage cars: “Drag Race,” an ebulliently baroque Porsche, sports gilded woodwork that nods to track racing, self-expression, and pop-culture phenomena like RuPaul’s Drag Race. “War Games,” on the other hand, is encased in toy rifles in an antagonistic tug-o-war between play and violence. Red LED lights switch on and off continuously, and “the interior is filled with hundreds of stuffed toys that wiggle noisily, clamouring for attention and space,” says a statement.
“Drag Race” (2023). Photo by Lionel Balteiro
Vasconcelos often incorporates textiles into her works, working with beads, brocade, fringe, and a wide variety of fabrics. The lavish “Valkyrie Octopus,” part of the artist’s expansive Valkyries series, is shown for the first time in Europe since it was originally unveiled in Macau. Illuminated with tiny lights, the inflatable form coated in patterns looms across the entire width of the room. Plug-in invites visitors into a multi-sensory experience in which flashing lights and shiny surfaces question how we define luxury and power.
The exhibition continues in Lisbon through March 31, 2024. And if you’re in Florence, you can also visit Vasconcelos’ Between Sky and Heart at the Uffizi through January 14. See more on the artist’s website and Instagram.
“Valkyrie Octopus” (2015), installed at MGM Macau. Photo by Luís Vasconcelos
“Solitaire” (2018). Photo by Bruno Lopes
“Árvore da Vida” (2023). Photo by Bruno Lopes
Detail of “Árvore da Vida.” Photo by Didier Plowy, courtesy of Centre des Monuments Nationaux
Installation view of “Drag Race” (foreground) and “War Games.” Photo by Bruno Lopes
“Strangers in the Night” (2000). Photos by DMF Lisboa
“I’ll Be Your Mirror” (2019). Photo by Bruno Lopes
“War Games” (2011). Photo by DMF Lisboa
Detail of “War Games.” Photo by DMF Lisboa
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Joana Vasconcelos’ ‘Plug-in’ Retrospective Buzzes with Three Decades of Energy and Power appeared first on Colossal.
Native America
Tuesday, October 24 at 9
Season 2 of Native America is a groundbreaking portrait of contemporary Indian Country. Building on the success of the first season, this four-part Native directed series reveals the beauty and power of today’s Indigenous world. Smashing stereotypes, it follows the brilliant engineers, bold politicians, and cutting-edge artists who draw upon Native tradition to build a better 21st century.
About NATIVE AMERICA
Smashing stereotypes, Season 2 follows the brilliant engineers, bold politicians, and cutting-edge artists who draw upon Native tradition to build a better 21st century.
Each hour brings a core tenet of Native heritage to life through contemporary stories of the here and now. “New Worlds” reveals the power of Indigenous art and engineering, and the musicians, astronauts, and builders who are constructing a better, Native-led, tomorrow. “Language is Life” explores how Native languages and communication have fueled the Indigenous soul since time immemorial. It uncovers the remarkable linguistic revitalization taking place through the dubbing of Hollywood blockbusters into Native languages, and the use of state-of-the-art technology to recover secret inscriptions that were once lost to time.
“Women Rule” showcases the diverse ways women lead across Indian Country, from state houses to the front lines of the environmental movements saving our planet. And “Warrior Spirit” uncovers how the long legacy of Native resilience lives on, both in a proud tradition of contemporary Native military service, and in world-leading feats of athleticism. It reveals a powerful Native drive to represent their communities, through going for gold in championship boxing, risking it all in Indian Horse Relay races, and honoring heroes of the past who laid down their lives to fight colonial oppression over 300 years ago.
These thematic episodes are filled with inspiring stories of Native resilience, resistance, and revival. They uncover the active dialogue between past and present that powers Native America as it enters the 21st century. And they showcase the foundational beliefs and traditions that Native Americans are carrying forward to this day, even as they live fully modern lives.
Native America was produced by a team with Native leadership at every level, created through active input from Native American participants and communities, and filmed by Emmy-award winning cinematographers. These aspects combine to create a depth of access and sense of up-close intimacy that is rarely seen on television. It is a series that was designed from the ground up to illustrate how, from the halls of Congress to the surface of Mars, the future is Native.
Local artist Bill Strobel represents the past and present with a new-look Eagles wing wall
Before last year’s Super Bowl, artist Bill Strobel created a Jalen Hurts mural at Brown and Corinthian Streets in Fairmount, a project he took on himself. Now, Strobel is being commissioned by the Eagles to design the wing wall in Lincoln Financial Field’s Pepsi Plaza for Sunday’s Kelly Green game.
“It is just a small part of the Kelly Green rollout, but it is super cool to be doing this,” Strobel said.
Strobel has art featured inside the stadium’s Hyundai and Tork Club levels and the Pro Shop, as well as around the city. It was his Hurts mural that he painted last February that gained him traction with the fan base and organization.
The Camden, New Jersey native created the mural on his street corner by the Eastern State Penitentiary.
“I did it because I wanted to,” Strobel said. “It was a lot of fun and I received great feedback. It was almost like a little pilgrimage to help people heal from the loss.”
After the season, Strobel invited his neighbors and Eagles fans to write messages of thanks and support in chalk on the mural.
Fans thanked the quarterback for everything he did and congratulated him on a successful season.
Beyond Just Shopping, Art Market is About Connection
Many people start their connection to handmade goods at a local farmers market, craft market or gallery. At Art Market, all of these forms are brought together under one roof to elevate and honour the handmade experience.
Handmade is for everyone from every walk of life. Artists create for the world to see — it’s not contingent on your stage in life or your pocketbook whether you can access these artworks. It’s about what is appealing to you and coming together with an artist whose work speaks to you — it’s a connection, which can grow into lifelong relationships. Purchasing something handmade helps define us, our home and our surroundings. Art and craft are meant for longevity, to ponder over or brighten up a room, and to connect fibres, colours and fashion. Whether you use it in your kitchen or on your dining table, smooth it on your hands or it comes from yummy recipes passed down from generations, buying handmade is supporting an expression of an artisan’s mind. This is what intentional purchasing is all about!
Why does handmade matter?
As shoppers, we believe we’re getting a deal and saving time when online scrolling, trying to find what we want. But often, we end up not getting exactly what the screen shows, and then we have to take the time to return it and start all over again. (Not to mention paying a restocking charge.)
With big box stores, you wind up buying the same thing as everyone else. At Art Market, artists bring back creativity, quality and originality. You can touch, taste and feel the difference. Hold an artisan piece in your hands and ask the maker directly about the materials and time investment for it. You can see the colours with your own eyes, measure for that exact space you need, try pieces on and get guidance on sizing for all shapes and sizes. You can taste the flavours before you buy, and ask as many questions directly to the maker as you need to feel comfortable before you purchase. This is why handmade matters!
What to expect at Art Market
Artisans and shoppers alike are gearing up for this highly anticipated art and craft event of the year, running November 16 to 19, 2023. Enjoy various live demonstrations such as seeing artists painting on canvas and clothing, sketching, drawing, shading, carving, sculpting, throwing pottery, and pressing magic into paper. With more than 200 unique booths and 50 craft categories, you are sure to discover a treasure or two.
Shoppers can enjoy a glass of wine or beer as well as live music on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Take in the festive entrance space that invites inspiration for your new art purchases and drop your ticket in the box and cross your fingers for the hourly $100 gift certificate draws happening throughout the day from Thursday through Saturday. Don’t be surprised if someone slips one of the sought-after Art Market red bags on your shoulder if you have too much to carry. Plus, on the Sunday, the first 75 shoppers receive a free poinsettia to start the festive season.
Mark your calendars for November 16 to 19, 2023, and check out Art Market. This annual Calgary tradition for the past 37 years presents an amazing selection of quality art and craft. Buy your tickets here.
This content was supplied by the advertiser for commercial purposes. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Avenue staff.
Casa MRGT: Where Industrial Charm Meets Urban Elegance
The latest project from lamatilde, Casa MRGT, is a 4-story loft apartment inside an industrial building in the Barriera di Milano district of Turin, Italy. The apartment brings together an urban and minimalist aesthetic throughout its 350 square meters (over 3,767 square feet) of inside space, in addition to a 250-square-meter rooftop terrace. Designed for a Canadian-born car designer, the loft captures the essence of the neighborhood, exuding an industrial and contemporary vibe that aligns with lamatilde’s signature style.
What sets this project apart is its commitment to an open floor plan that’s highlighted by voids thanks to the addition of geometric volumes incorporated to define the spaces. Dark metal finishes starkly contrast with the expansive light surfaces, celebrating the interplay of light and shadow that streams through the apartment.
Stacked metallic volumes offer additional enclosed spaces, including a burnished carbon steel sheet metal room dedicated to a home theater on the bottom, and a cozy guest room paneled in micro-perforated sheet metal above.
Casa MRGT’s ground floor is a garage that doubles as a gallery for the owner’s classic car collection. With vibrant yellow accents and exposed structural elements, the space is an eclectic backdrop to the cars it houses. A private freight elevator and a steel staircase connect the garage to the rest of the home, transforming from raw industrial materials into more welcoming domestic finishes.
The second floor boasts an open-concept living area with a custom designed kitchen island by lamatilde. Charles couches by B&B Italia and vintage Wassily Chair armchairs by Knoll create a blend of modern and classic design. The dining area features a large Tavolo 25 table by Desalto with Calligaris chairs, illuminated by an Algorithm chandelier from Vibia.
Tucked away behind the kitchen, two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms offer cozy accommodations.
The third floor is home to the primary bedroom, which is built off of a central walk-in closet. The open space includes a walk-in shower and floating black bathtub in the middle of the bedroom. The space leans towards a contemporary minimalist aesthetic complemented by iconic design pieces, such as the LC4 chaise lounge by Cassina.
A wooden slat structure can be opened and closed allowing for personalized light and privacy while overlooking the open living space below.
Finally, the pièce de résistance is the fourth floor, a rooftop terrace that offers panoramic views of the city. It features a pergola, outdoor kitchen, seating spaces, sauna, and a swimming pool (!!), all encircled by lush greenery and small fruit trees.
Photography by Alessandro Saletta – DSL Studio.
A new alligator sculpture in Union Square has us wondering if the animals are really living in our sewers
Are alligators New York’s unofficial mascots?
