Currently

The Centennial of Independence, oil on canvas by Henri Rousseau, 1892, Getty Center

Loving 
1.) Rousseau. I've been looking at random art lately. It makes me miss Art History classes. And The Art Institute of Chicago.
2.) Our pool. We celebrated the summer solstice by taking Raine in the pool for the first time. He was totally weirded out by the flotation contraption we had to put him in, but he LOVED being in the water.

3.) Summer TV! Currently obsessed with: So You Think You Can Dance, Master Chef, and Around the World In 80 Plates. I am rooting for Alexa & Cyrus, Christine & Anna, and Nookie & Avery respectively. Wow. Look at me the reality TV junkie.

Thinking About 
Major blog overhaul. I want to change things up a bit to give ourselves a little bit more privacy/sense of anonymity on this blog and Raine's photo blog, which would definitely require the removal of our last name from the name of both blogs. I haven't changed them yet, though, because I am SUPER stumped on new names. I asked for advice from friends on Facebook and I got some great ideas but my favorites are already being used in the blog-o-sphere. The only nicknames I have ever had are "Bangs McGee" and "Loola," but I'm having a hard time coming up with some sort of spin-off of either of these. Christie reminded me of my blog "Loolababy" (chronicling cool baby stuff I came across while working in the industry) and that kind of made me want to resurrect it--but I should probably figure out what is going on with these blogs before starting another one. Raine's site could just be Blastonius.com, but now that he's approaching a year old, his in utero nickname of Blasty doesn't feel very relevant. His current nicknames are "Bean" (isn't that the universal baby nickname?) and "Sneaker Wave" or "Sneaker" for short. Because he IS a sneaker wave.

So anyway, much to think about for names and how much I am sharing, etc. My favorite bloggers use their own names and the real names of their partners/children, so it never occurred to me until recently to maybe use nicknames throughout the blog. If I do decide to do that, it would take quite a bit of time to go back and edit everything I have already done. Also with social media these days, over-revealing is tricky. I like sharing where we go and restaurants we try, but I'm not sure about all of the check-ins and such with Facebook and Instagram. I'm feeling it out...I'm curious what other bloggers think about all of this.

Anticipating
The 4th of July. I JUST. CAN'T. WAIT. to have an extra day off work. It has been absolutely bonkers lately and I have been really stressed. I'm looking forward to a random Wednesday away from the office with my family. We don't have plans but I'm sure whatever we do it will be lovely.

Listening To
Jared Grabb's new album Pulling Weight.  I was obsessed with Jared's 2010 album Where Do You Hide Your Love Songs while I was pregnant. And the more I listen to the new one, I'm getting a little obsessed with it! I have the cd in the car and we have the vinyl to enjoy at home. AND it is super cool that good friends of ours produced the vinyl (and one of them, Heather, sang on the album with Jared, too! ;)

Eating
Go Raw snacks. I got into them while on the Elimination Diet, and now they are a staple. I like the bars but lately I'm super into the snacky bites. The Spicy Flax Snax is my favorite.

Wishing: 
Dan, Raine, and I could spend a year or two in another country. It must be the shows I'm watching...Around the World in 80 Plates and House Hunters International. Also the fact that one of Dan's closest friends has spent the last 9 years with his wife in other countries. They have lived in Indonesia, Germany, and China, and had a baby in each country while at it! Ha! I see their photos on Facebook and it is amazing. They are able to work in those countries because they are teachers. I don't know how Dan and I would earn income if we were in another country. I also don't know how we would get Hobbes and Rocco there with us. Not that I'm really entertaining the idea. We are "stuck" in our lovely condo for a while. Just wishful thinking!

Sneaker Wave

denver art museum

after our first true vacation ever, i wanted to post about my trip to the denver art museum but i never got around to it. a couple of days ago i found photos of some of the artwork i liked so i thought...better late than never. first of all, having lived a stone's throw from the art institute of chicago museum, it is difficult for me to be impressed by the overall collection of museums in other cities. surprisingly, for being so small, portland's museum is pretty great. denver is a million people or so bigger, so my expectations were also bigger, and i have to say...they weren't met.

i was mostly disappointed just because i was craving a great european collection (having just finished three books about french artists in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries). after reading the private lives of impressionists, there were only three paintings from the book. autumn poplars by camille pissarro, and claude monet's the water lily pond and waterloo bridge. of course i enjoyed the modern art department and most of all (i was ~*pleasantly~ surprised*) the robust western american art (which i thought would be a snooze fest....pioneers, indians, the grand canyon? snoooore.) in fact, the artwork that i enjoyed the most was in this collection.

at the time i didn’t realize that i could take photos inside the museum, so i used my little pad of paper and took notes. i thought i would look them all up on the internet later, but what do you know? i’m having a hard time finding them. so far, these are a few of my favorites that i was able to find photos of on the web (sources noted):

deborah oropallo "cowgirl" 2007 pigment print on paper (photo above) -artnet

keith jacobshagen “by june the light begins to breathe,” 1999-2000; oil - dam

karen e. kitchell “american grasslands: prairie, pasture, crop and lawn,” 1996-1998; oil on wood – miss marrisa lynn on flickr

gustave baumann’s woodcuts, including above, “summer clouds,” 1956; woodcut in colors -miss marrisa lynn on flickr

April Artist of the Month: Bill Rankin

[Tropical Cyclones, 1945–2006. Data from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center and the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Citynoise (Bill Rankin), March 2008.]

This month's artist is making the recent rounds on blogs, including The Lulu Bird and the email subscription for Apartment Therapy. Rankin is a graduate student in the departments of history of science and architecture at Harvard, with side projects including his site, radicalcartography, and work featured in exhibitions and publications. Aside from the site, his maps can be seen in a traveling exhibition, Experimental Geography. The show is currently stationed at Rochester Art Center, in Rochester, Minnesota, February 7 - April 18, 2009. Other destinations planned over the next two years include Albuquerque, Maine, and Ontario.

Is cartography art? Absolutely. It takes a conceptual mind to wed science to aesthetics, building visual models of reality. Rankin distills data from urban development, sociological and personal data, astrology, agriculture, and area codes (to name a few!) into visualizations in both design and animation. I was immediately taken with the first map that I saw (photo at right), as it simultaneously speaks to the analytical and aesthetic pleasure points of my brain.

Links to further exploration of Rankin's work:
Official web site of radicalcartography
Experimental Geography
Bill Rankin student web site

March Artist of the Month: Hayley Barker

[Hayley Barker. The One that Eats Your Fears, 22 wide by 30 inches high, ink, pencil, & gouache on paper. 2008.]

March came and went and I didn't post on Hayley Barker, the artist of the month. I came across Barker through MU's Art Gym. Sadly, Dan and I missed her exhibit, Wolves and Urchins. The day we were in the neighborhood, I think that the gallery was closed for Spring Break. Regardless, I fell in love with the ink, pencil, and gouache works on paper. There is an element of the grotesque in natural elements and creatures that I am drawn to (I'm beginning to establish a theme, aren't I?) She writes in her artist statement:

"I am using the idea of a “monster” as a template on which to build representations of the other as creatures that both explode and implode; living conglomerations that are on the verge of formlessness."

I also love working with these mediums and her work, as well as Rankin's work, has inspired me (after a very long sabbatical) to begin my series involving anatomy and the intangible degrees of pain and suffering.

Links for further exploration of Barker's work:
Hayley Barker official web site
Hayley Barker blog
Gallery Representation at Charles A. Hartman Fine Art

Artist of the Month: Mandy Greer

[Chandelier, Sculpture, The Wolf Prince and The Parrot Princess installation, Priceless Works Gallery, Seattle, April 2004. Photos from Flickr profile]

I came across Mandy Greer while checking up on exhibitions at the Portland Museum of Contemporary Craft. Her undergraduate study included a B.A. in English and B.F.A. in Ceramics from The University of Georgia Athens, and an M.F.A. in Ceramics from The University of Washington, Seattle.

I love the way her installations and sculptures are saturated with monochromatic color schemes, textures like string and cloth, and cross-pollinated themes of domesticity, fauna, and spirituality. They are like frozen glimpses of dreams, suspended and trailing in out of realistic and subconscious images.

"Mandy’s work presents her own elusive interior narratives remade into archetypal tales. These “fairy” tales transcend the personal by mimicking theatrical illusions and tapping into a collective mythology of imagery. By using animal and hybridized forms made up of the flotsam and jetsam of the thriftstore domestic, Greer shoves the viewer into a vivid yet sometimes inexplicable world with the meaning always on the tip of one’s tongue. Her installations attempt to wrap around and contain many paradoxes; the collusion of homeliness and glitz, hunger and indulgence, love and violence, the decorative and the meaningful, the diligence of the handmade and slovenliness of the animal realm. Every surface and stitch is laced with the hope that exhaustive labor holds the promise of the transformative power of Spectacle." (Quote from Greer's Blog.)

Geer's Flickr photos
Greer's personal blog and official web site
Greer's MyArtSpace profile
Details for Greer's upcoming Dare alla Luce exhibition at Portland Museum of Contemporary Craft

Artist: Robert A. Nelson

[The Milk Train Arrives for Loading

Mixed media on paper 30 x 42 inches.]

I wish this image was larger, but this size was all I could find! I was thrilled to see Nelson exhibiting another show in the Pearl at Beppa Wiarda gallery this month. This image just does not do him justice, but I wanted to give you an idea. They are quite large pieces, on paper, usually depicted with mixed media or pencil. With the most fantastic intricate detail, I am always moved by the way his images address humanity, myth, industry, and animal...Often it is violent or disturbing but it still rings true--Humanity, myth, and nature is indeed partially composed of the bizzare, grotesque, and brutal. Anyway, much love for his artwork...If I am ever able to purchase original art for my home, his would be the first I would acquire! See more of his work on the Beppu Wiarda gallery web site.

Fuego & Calendars

["The Gas We Pass" by Shinta Co, I Love You Braille Necklace, and Sofa Pillow T-shirt]

Yesterday I discovered a great store IN THE MALL. I'm picky, so that says a lot. I'm not a big fan of national chains (although I certainly shop the hell out of Target). If you go to the mall to buy a gift, in general you are looking at clothing, candles, Hallmark nick-knacks, and calendars. (Yes, it's that time of year when the enormous calendar booths descend upon the masses...I already have mine picked out--I traditionally get a William Wegman with the adorable Weimaraners. There are always at least 2--one of adult dogs and one of puppies--and the puppies usually win my favor. This year, the choices are:

[Family Calendar, Man's Best Friend, and Puppies]

...but this year, I'm leaning toward the family calendar with the stickers. Stickers! I'll let you know. As an aside, this is not the ONLY calendar I get for the new year. I have a bit of a calendar fetish. Already I have an Egg Press offset printed desk calendar and a letterpressed wall calendar waiting to be used--chosen for that combination of antique and modern that I love so much! We also usually receive a ridiculously funny calendar from Lorri & Carmen at Christmas. Year 1 was "Extreme Ironing" (I have to giggle at the memory of it) and this year was "Nuns Behaving Badly" (find similar here). In the yoga corner of our bedroom, I placed the new calendar by papercut artist, Niki McClure. Each portrait has a single word I meditate on. I've already started using it for this purpose, so I'm in October 2009 while I do yoga. The word is "Mother." There's more. I also have to get the new miniature calendar by Jill Bliss and Saelee Oh for their unique artistry:

[2009: Gathered Together]

[2007: Farm Life]

Oh my heck. I just realized how big of a tangent I went on about calendars. I haven't even finished; I haven't even got to planners and datebooks!)

The orginal point was: I like Fuego. It has a unique and fun selection of T-shirts, cards, jewelry, books, scarves, hats, toys, etc. It's small and a little trendy, but I picked up some fabulous items; A magnet I'm sending a friend and adorable cards to frame for the future-nursery. (Photos later. Haven't I given you enough eye candy for one post?) This is a great spot to hit for stocking stuffers, too. The web site doesn't feature as comprehensive of a selection as the store does, but it gives you an idea. Sorry midwesterners. For shopping the store, it's at Clackamas Town Center on SE 82nd.

The Birthday Day

[An indulgent dessert: Organic Pear & Apple Galette]

The birthday day follows the rules of treating yourself very, very well, with an extra-fabulous treat. This was accomplished by:

• My girlfriend, Melissa, taking me out to lunch and window shopping. We had grilled sandwiches and soup at Paradise Bakery and browsed for what could have been an eternity at Anthropologie. Not only did the little booger buy my lunch and coffee, Melissa also surprised me with a gift certificate to the store! Hurray! I treated myself to 2 pairs of adorable knee highs and a mustard colored crochet neck wrap.
• Dan picked me up and took me to pick out a new pet! We have a big glass bowl with a terrarium Dan designed as a Christmas present last year--but it was failing miserably. I jokingly told Dan, If you clean it out, I'll put a fish in it! So we did~! He let me pick out a beautiful Betta fish ("Siamese Fighting Fish") and we brought him home...Now I have FOUR BOYS to take care of. Our Betta fish is soft in color with shades of pink, purple, and blue, which reminded me of a Beatrice Addressing Dante by Sir William Blake, so I aptly named him Blake! He's very handsome. I will have a picture soon!
• I spent the afternoon in the kitchen baking a dessert for the evening (see above).
• We gathered at Lorri & Carmen's with Matt and Gayle for major yummy food, presents, a little Amaretto, guitar hero, and Saturday Night Live. (The extra treat? SNL had a new skit with my favorite character, Sue, the woman who can't handle suspense played by Kristen Wiig, "Engagement Surprise."

Decorating: Zen Retreat & Pet Closet

This is a lovely parlor-turned-zen-retreat that I keep meaning to share. It's Lorri & Carmen's entry room to their home & Lorri just redecorated what was a formal dining space to a more casual spot for relaxation. I wish I had a picture of the before....It was beautiful with a clean, white, classic look--So the change was drastic! Isn't it great? My favorite aspects are the wall color (brave Lorri!), the Buddha fountain, plush rug, and trunk-like stool.

I've had the decorating bug myself, but we aren't in a position to carry out any major work that I would like to. So tonight? I redecorated the pet closet. Oh yes. Rocco, Hobbes, and I sat down and discussed color swatches, what they hoped the space would achieve for them, and how to make it a bit more Martha Stewart so I wouldn't mind cleaning the litter box everyday. The result?













A hand-knit catnip-filled fish dangles from the doorknob and inside, Hobbes' pink litter box (a gift from Auntie Gayle) with brand new litter--Feline Pine! (We're going for a more environmentally friendly litter. I hope it works because I'm tired of coughing and having a headache when I scoop that clay stuff in his box.)























Top shelf: Feline Pine, kitty bubbles by SmartyKat, Bitter Apple anti-chew spray. Middle shelf: Egg Press dog and lion illustrations, baskets with grooming tools and another hand-knit catnip-filled toy by George. Bottom shelf: Brown bags & a scooper, royal lion illustration by Sukie, box liners, Pure Ayre odor-eliminator spray, and the Dog Owner's Manual. (I also used craft paper to add color to the back of the wall.)

July Artist of the Month: Vicki Fredricks

I decided to feature Vicki Fredricks, an artist I found on Etsy, because we ordered one of her prints. (My first Etsy purchase!) The original acrylic painting was a tad bit out of my price range, but the reproduced print was a cool twenty bucks. Dan and I fell in love with "Ewe and Ram" because they seem to represent the two of us and our partnership--and it will always remind me of our drives through the Oregon country, spotting sheep, cattle, and horses. The print was my graduation gift to myself, and I have a hanging spot ready above our dining table once I get a nice mat and frame for it. To see more of her work, visit her official web site or her Etsy shop.

June Artist(s) of the Month: Marylhurst Senior Thesis Students

This month I am happy to feature fellow classmates who have senior thesis work on exhibition in The Art Gym at Marylhurst. I took classes with many of these folks, and I'm so happy for them and their accomplishments! For those of you who never studied fine art, the time and effort both physical and emotional put toward research and studio work for a senior thesis project is tremendous. To see the end product of all of your hard work installed in a gallery and viewed by the public is one of the most gratifying moments I can imagine. How inspiring! I can't help but wish I had completed my BFA and was taking part in the exhibit. Giving up my art degree was never easy!

Anyway, enjoy reading about the Senior Thesis students here, and don' forget to take a peak at the slide show, because I have only shown a few photos here. The 2008 group of students represent a variety of mediums: painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. My heartiest congratulations to Nathan, Rhonda, Kathy, Sarah, Peter, Claire, Sharon, Reiko, and Christy!

Rieko Warrens.
Orange Pigs, 2008.
Acrylic on canvas.
40 x 30 inches.

Christy L. Weigel
It’s Hard to Tell Which Is, 2008.
Oil, solvent ink and oil pastel on canvas.
36 x 36 inches.

Sarah La Du
Oregon City Marina 2, 2008.
Archival inkjet print.
15 x 15 inches.

Kathy Gredzens
No Girls Allowed (detail), 2008.
Acrylic on wood, fabric, yarn, metal, paper clay, plastic.
78 x 48 x 48 inches.
Photo credit: Aris Gredzens

May Artist of the Month: Diem Chau

With Henny Penny smack dab in the middle of the burgeoning Pearl District, I have the delight of walking by art galleries everyday. Diem Chau is represented by Pullium Deffenbaugh Gallery, a mere skip, hop, and reach away. It's a beautiful, white, open space, peppered with a rotating, careful selection of contemporary paintings, sculpture, prints, and other works. Complimented by the equally spare, pdx contemporary art gallery, with its particular windows full of fantastic installation eye candy, this is one block I love to walk everyday.

While I never had the pleasure of passing by during Chau's exhibition, I adore the photos I have come across of her work. The series of crayon sculptures (in photos) strike me as full of irony with their phallic presence contrasting the tools of childhood scribbles. In person, I imagine the pieces take on a greater nod to childhood innocence and creativity with their tiny groupings set out beneath the average viewer, the pleasing colors, the palpable texture we all know so well of the chalky wax, and the distinct smell. Our senses and our identification with the childhood tools recall our youth, while our towering status over the miniature sculptures emphasize our adulthood. I admire her detailed figurative carvings, the masterful craftsmanship belying the nature of the crayon's use, transforming the tool into the shaped clay, the object. And don't we, as children, have this ability to shape ourselves into what we choose?

Other unique and beautiful series involve ceramic plates with figurative sketches made of silk thread, and porcelain bowls and mugs holding miniature objects created with toothpicks and paper. The small, intricate, simple designs evolve from Chau's inspiration of childhood and storytelling.
The following is a quote from Diem Chau's artist statement, published on the Pullium Deffenbaugh Gallery web site:

"I consider myself an artist whose medium is stories, especially those passed on from grandmother to mothers, from father to sons...I’ve spent countless hours gathering memories and pieces of different cultures by listening to incredible stories...Each story is a journey that gives us greater understanding of our past and our culture. Each story is a thread that connects us to each other, the storyteller holding one end and the audience the other."

April Artist of the Month: Jen Corace

For the month of April, I chose artist and illustrator Jen Corace. Since I moved to Portland, I've noticed her work popping up all over the place related to fabulous places and things. For example: 1.) She illustrated the adorable Little Pea and Little Hoot that we sell at Henny Penny, 2.) Jen was represented by my favorite gallery in Portland, Motel, 3.) she illustrated the site design for my favorite online children's store, Mahar Dry Goods, and 4.) she also illustrates for Portland Mercury.

From her web site bio: "With a background in Illustration, Jen's work is often narrative and explores the juxtaposition of developed environments against more rural settings."