Work Crush Wednesday: The American Astronaut

From the day I was lucky enough to see this projected onto a movie screen in 2001 (at Madstone Theater here in Albuquerque, NM), The American Astronaut has held a special place in my heart. Black and white, lo-fi, musical, sci-fi, weirdo, amazing.

Behold the glory.

Paying $20 will never bring you more awe and pleasure. Your friends will be so envious that they will probably steal the DVD from you (I have personal experience with this fact).
The American Astronaut website.

Explore that above link some more to discover the majesty of Cory McAbee's creative font. 

Honors Thesis: Movable Parts

My last year has been preoccupied mainly with the completion of my honors thesis work, a series of collectable figurines housed in 5 toy vending machines. Movable Parts refers not only to the fact that the figures are individual pieces that can be manipulated at whim, but also draws attention to the movable nature of the vending machines. Placed in a gallery, as they were for only one night, the machines defy traditional conventions of an art show: each piece is priced so that every audience member can become an "art collector". When the machines are separated and placed in public locations, they themselves become mini-galleries in unexpected places. 

Unlike other shows at the John Sommers Gallery (in the UNM Art Building), the public was not allowed access to the show until the end of the first week.

More Parts after the jump.

Work Crush Wednesday: Antony Gormley's Room and Tanker Drawings

As I'm taking a color theory class this semester, I've found myself noticing color in new ways, especially when color is interacting with itself. I haven't been able to stop thinking about these paintings by Antony Gormley. Although they are just layers of black shapes, there's so much depth and space in these pieces. 

Antony Gormley, Room V, 2014

Antony Gormley, Rest, 2013-2014

Antony Gormley, Room III, 2014.

Sometimes the simplest things are the best. 

Visit Antony Gormley's site for more of his gorgeous work.

Color Theory: Abstract Space

Meant to post this last night, but after spending five hours cutting and gluing hundreds of tiny pieces of paper, I needed to get my body away from my desk. 

Color Theory: Abstract Space, stage 1

Color Theory: Abstract Space, stage 8 (final)

All 8 stages shown after the jump!

More news from nowhere...

Wow. Long time no see. This last year (in which this blog remained silent) was a doozy for me. My time as Director of the ASUNM Craft Studio came to an end, I did a short but fruitful internship at 516 Arts, finished my honors thesis show (more on that to later), and now I'm finishing my my final semester at UNM, and also doing an internship at the Tamarind Institute. Whew. 

Besides my thesis project, artistically, I've been trying to juggle productivity with work and school, as usual. While last year was incredibly productive (as I'll illustrate in my next post), I didn't really have a chance to work on projects just for fun. I did participate in a large group show at Winning Coffee, with a creature theme for the month of October. I used old techniques that I've come to love, but also added some new elements, including the addition of crystals and sea urchin spines to pieces. I was actually very pleased that this piece didn't sell....because I loved it almost too much to part with it. 

The Healers, 2014. Clay, crystals, sea urchin spines,

wood, acrylic, gold leaf.

I've also continued to work on my ceramic Blobbies, which are piling up faster than a mound of tribbles. So for now, I'll end with this photo of some (but not all) of the blobs hanging around my living area. More updates SOON.