Maira Kalman

Image: "Maira Kalman at the Contemporary Jewish Museum" Courtesy of Susan Magnolia. 

Video: Illustrator Maira Kalman Explores Art and Existence by thinktv. 

Nice video where Kalman gives biographical info as well as some insights into her work.

Stefano Arienti's Library

Stefano Arienti: Library - installation video from Lehmann Maupin on Vimeo.  

Artist Stefano Arienti "transforms his source material through a minimal gesture (like folding or puncturing) that he repeats systematically, almost obsessively.  In doing so, he subverts the visual cliches of popular culture."

I like in this piece, called Library, Arienti encourages the viewer to explore and discover.

Joseph Tatum

Video: Library from Joseph Tatum on Vimeo. 

Joseph Tatum's video work as a student is impressive.  Check out his work on Vimeo and his well-designed site.

St. Vincent + Ron Mueck

Video: St. Vincent "Cheerleader" from Hiro Murai on Vimeo. 

Great song by St. Vincent directed by Murai with an homage to Ron Mueck.

Stephanie Rond's Toys and Tools

Image: Detail of Toys and Tools Announcement by and Courtesy of Stephanie Rond

Columbus-based artist Stephanie Rond's Toys and Tools solo show is coming up.  Check out Rond's innovative style where street art blends with "human nature, animal instinct, [and] gender."  For more info on Stephanie, check out her site.

May 4, 2012
6:30 - 9p
Ray's Living Room
17 Brickel Street
Columbus, OH
614.228.1150

[p.s. Thanks, Stephanie, for sending the announcement!  Your work is reproduced nicely.  The card stock is a perfect weight.  And the hula shirt stamp is classy.]

Nirvan Mullick

Video: "The Box Man" by and Courtesy of Nirvan Mullick.  

While Caine's Arcade is rightly getting a lot of air time, I thought I'd highlight another of Mullick's gems, The Box Man.  It's a great short animation that makes me miss film festivals of yore at Little Art Theatre (not that Spike & Mike rubbish, more like the goodness that is known as the National Film Board of Canada).

Aminah Robinson, Todd Slaughter, & CML

Video: Columbus Metropolitan Library - Commissioned Art 1991.  

Aminah Robinson & Todd Slaughter discuss their commissions for the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

Interesting note: Slaugher's work looks like it could be cast bronze, but it is actually wood.

Side note: While I interned at the Columbus Museum of Art, I had the pleasure of archiving some of Robinson's personal correspondence and ephemera.  It was one the highlights of my summer.

Amalia Amaki + VSU's Odum Library

Image: "For the Love of Books" by Amalia Amaki Courtesy of Valdosta State University

This beautiful mixed-media piece was commissioned by Valdosta State University's Odum Library in honor of William H. Mobley IV, a Valdosta native and former curator of the Library of Congress Archives.

"Suddenly a universal piece about joy, support, aspirations, and promise, is wedded to the specific: here, locally, through books donated by Mobley, through the library and the university, the sky becomes the limit of student aspirations."

For more information about Mobley, Amaki, and Odum, please visit their blog post here.

Fairey + West Hollywood Library

Image: Shepard Fairey's Mural taken by Joshua Barash Courtesy of the City of West Hollywood

The new County of Los Angeles Public Library opened in Oct. 2011.  The county in collaboration with Cadillac and L.A.'s Museum of Contemporary Art installed a number of public artworks.  In the video below, Shepard briefly describes his work.

Gordon Smith + Surrey Centre Library

Image: "Winterscape" by Gordon Smith courtesy of Surrey City Centre Library

Nice video of Gordon Smith talking about the commission with a little biographical info.

New Eames Documentary

Video: EAMES: The Architect and The Painter - Trailer

Looks to be good. I've seen a few other docs that were OK-ish, but I like the editing in their trailer.

Airing on PBS' American Masters on Monday the 19th.

Johan Rijpma

Wachtmelodie from johan rijpma on Vimeo.


Johan's works have a great atmosphere. Their strangeness reminds me of Steven & Timothy Quay. While Guizmodo highlighted Johan's latest piece, I'd like to highlight Wachtmelodie, a stop-motion short that mixes photography, rubber bands, and video.

Black White + Gray

Video: Black White + Gray: A Portrait of Sam Wagstaff and Robert Mapplethorpe Trailer

An interesting documentary with, as you might have guessed, an emphasis on Wagstaff--a collector whose story I was not familiar with.

Lynn Whipple

Image: Lynn Whipple's She Would Look Good in a Paper Bag

While in Orlando, FL, I came across Lynn Whipple's amazing mixed-media art. Her work was on display with other artists at the hotel that we were staying at which was near several arts institutions.

For more info, please visit http://lynnwhipple.com/

The Universe of Keith Haring

Video: The Universe of Keith Haring trailer

Nice doc I recently watched on Haring.

Dylan Kehde

Image: Hanging Orb by Dylan Kehde

Dylan Kehde makes absolutely beautiful sculptures out of glass, light, & electricity.  Don't call 'em light bulbs.

Matte/Mattson Show

image: The Matte/Mattson Show Announcement

Check out an old friend's upcoming show.

I use the same promotional strategy when attracting folks to library events.

Fairey @CincyCAC

Image: Fairey's limited ed. print of the CAC

Shepard Fairey is currently on show at Cincinnati's Contemporary Arts Center. The limited edition print above was created to commemorate the show's opening, and CAC sold out of the print in just 1.5 hours. Whew. More are available in a drawing to be held at CAC's annual benefit (which Fairey will be DJ'ing!). Fairey's work will be on preview until Aug. 22, 2010.

For more info, go to http://www.contemporaryartscenter.org/ShepardFairey

Boryana Rusenova-Ina

Image: A Few Moments Later 1 by Boryana Rusenova-Ina

Boryana's Fragmentation work is just beautiful. She captures a narrative that explores time & place through the lens of perception. There are two things I personally love about this particular piece. 1) Her photography mixes seamlessly with her painting--even creating a woven pattern on the left. 2) Graffiti-like drips at the bottom.

Check out her work at Art Access Gallery's It's All New show starting on the 23rd (with reception on March 26th). Her husband, the talented Mr. Ina, will also be showing in Feb. at Art Access. Both are part of Couchfire Collective.

Cornel West, Jane Austen, & The Morgan Library & Museum

Cornel West: Reflections on Austen from The Morgan Library & Museum on Vimeo.

Cornel...he's a "Jane Austen freak."

This and other reflections were produced in association with the exhibition A Woman's Wit: Jane Austen Life and Legacy.  The exhibition runs until March 14, 2010, at NYC's Morgan Library & Museum.

Others who have participated include the recently posted Siri Hustvedt, Harriet Walter, and the very interesting reflections of Fran Lebowitz.