Silk Flower recycling

My best friend had a huge flower arrangement from when her brother unexpectedly passed away recently.  She didn't want to throw them away, and knowing that one of the many things I do is flower arranging, she asked me if I could do something with them for her.

This is what I came up:

She loves them, I got to create something beautiful, and she now has something nice that was born from tragedy.

Underwater sculpture

Browsing the net this morning, trying to decide who my featured artist would be I discovered Jason deCaires Taylor.

You can read his bio here.

A collection of ethereal sculptures and yes they are underwater give you a sense of being timeless, yet you can see time in a sense taking over, growth of undersea plants and animals are evident.

You can find a beautiful and unique collection of photos in his gallery.

I love discovering unique art, and his certainly is.

Reynolda House

I love to see new and interesting things, and museums are on my top list of things to do.

I went to visit Reynolda House for a school assignment.  It's unique, as the main house not only houses the original furnishings but it also holds valuable American artwork from Colonial times to the present.

I was excited to see an original Sheeler there, having done a Master Study on one of his works.

On the lands you will find unique shops and restaurants occupying the original outbuildings of the Estate.

There are gardens to walk through which have been restored to their original beauty.

The staff was courteous and knowledgeable, answering our questions.

The house is amazing, along with the first and second living quarters, the attic houses a collection of clothes, toys and personal items.

Also in the attic you can see the inner workings of the pipe organ.

On the lower level, you will find a recreation area, which includes a bar, an arcade and even a bowling alley.

On leaving the recreation area, you step into a glass enclosed room which houses a huge swimming pool.  It was interesting to see a fireplace adjacent to the pool.

There is so much to see in that fabulous estate you will want to go back again and again.

It's a must see.

Craptastic Art.

I wonder if some things should even be labeled as art.

I was in the a mall with T-Bear the other day, as we were browsing through a store I can not at this moment recall the name, I pointed out a painting and said, I want to learn how to do that.

I was talking the technique which I have since found out uses resin.  Yes, I will have to try it.

But anyhoo, T-Bear says, "It's fuckin ugly."

"I'm talking technique, Dumbass."

Yeah, it was ugly, but I can admire technique even if I don't like something.

But some things just boggle the mind.

Like Andres Serrano's piece of crap, which isn't just ugly, it's offensive.

It's a crucifix, submerged in piss.

Yuck.

My only question...is it dear old Andres' piss?

And this next one?

I scratch my head and say, WTF?

I mean, REALLY?  I can't figure out if that's a wiener or one huge ass booger.

'Nuff said.

I want to put these in my front yard, ya know, to scare off the neighbors, the mailman and random cookie selling girl scouts.

And the piece de resistance...

Because everyone wants a way out of proportion body like that.  Hell, if I had boobs that size I wouldn't be able to stand, forget walking straight.

I would be like a weeble, no worse, I would actually fall on my face.

Hell, I know my art isn't the best, and some people may not even like it, but if I can paste a hotdog on someone'e shnoz and call it art, then I must be doing something wrong.

Featured Artist...Georgia O'Keefe

I have reasons for choosing Georgia as my first featured Artist.  Born in 1887, the second of 7 children, she dreamed of being an Artist.

She accomplished her dreams, her art and life were interesting, passionate and controversial.

She lived in varied places, New York, Chicago, Texas but her love for New Mexico was unbounded and much of her later works were inspired by the landscape there.

She had a long term love affair with Alfred Steiglitz, famous photographer and owner of the '291' gallery.

He was the driving force behind her fame, bringing attention to her art by displaying her charcoal pieces in his gallery at the time without her consent or knowledge.

He also displayed controversial photographs of her.

In an era when women were to marry, have children and be perfect housewives, she spit in the face of convention and lived her life as she pleased.

She colored the world with beautiful art which still inspires today.