Oh Christmas tree....sticker

Holly Crap! I just came across these limited addition artist Xmas Tree decals through WOW and I'm in love. We have been so caught up with Art Basel that we have yet to begin decorating or get a tree. I might forgo one this year and go "green" with a reusable 6" sticker in my teenie apartment instead.

Marilyn Minter, Christmas Tree Vinyl Sticker 2008

Fred Tomaselli Tree, 2008 self-adhesive Christmas tree wall sticker 72 h. x 17 w. inches limited edition

No more watering a dead tree, no more fire hazard, no more vacuuming up pine needles well into April. It�s a truly 'green' Christmas tree: reduce, reuse, recycle this vinyl sticker year after year. Save the trees, save water, save your back from schlepping it all the way home. No religion, no broken ornaments. It�s a Christmas tree for the moderately wealthy and super lazy.

Minter will collaborate with Wallpaper LAB and WOW (Works on Whatever) to create a six-foot die-cut vinyl wall-sticker that addresses the powerful and ubiquitous symbol of the season: The Christmas Tree. Minter styled a small tree with her own eclectic collection of shiny ornaments, lighting and photographing it in a way that merges crisp detail with gauzy soft-focus radiance.

inspiration: my dad

Circa '66

Foodscapes: Carl Warner

These beautiful fantasy like "foodscapes by Carl Warner are really amusing me right now.

"Salami Trees"

"Cabbage sea"

"fishscape" features rocks made of oyster shells and crab claws, marrows and asparagus, and a shining, silvery, slippery sea of fish

"Fruit Balloons"

Carl Warner cites as his influences the photographer Ansel Adams and films such as The Wizard of Oz and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The scenes are photographed in layers from foreground to background, as the process is very time-consuming and the food quickly wilts under the lights. The images can take up to two or three days to build and photograph and then a couple of days retouching and fine-tuning them to blend together all the elements.' Via Telegraph

Carl's work reminds me of a few pieces by one of my favorite artists, NYC based painter Will Cotton.

CHURRO CABIN, 2001, oil on linen, 75 x 100 inches

Amazing book: 55 surprise by visionaire

I'm dying to check out the new artist and designer inspired pop-up book by Visionaire at this years ABMB. It looks beautifully executed.

Cai Guo Qiang

Mario Testino

Andreas Gursky

Visionaire 55 SURPRISE
in collaboration with Krug

The new issue of Visionaire pushes the limits of paper with an issue devoted to pop-ups. Visionaire, the limited-edition art and fashion publication, collaborates with the House of Krug, creators of Prestige Cuvée champagnes, on a new issue themed SURPRISE. The books will be produced in a limited edition of 4,000 copies and start at $250. Via Dezeen

bunnies anyone?

"Hase/Rabbit/Coniglio"; large knitted rabbit in the Italian Alps; 2005-2025 by Gelitin

"life (connects the dots)"; 18x24" screenprint, luckybunnyworldwide

"Pirate Bunny"; Rob Jones; screenprint via Richard Goodall Gallery

"petit lapin" by Mr. Clement

Petit Lapin by Mr. Clement and Marie Paysant-Le Roux; edition of 100 with handmade scarves

Small bunny oil painting with hand painted frame; ebay auction

"bunny head"; ceramic and silver necklace by Jade Gallup of me me me

new discovery: Allen Hampton

I was recently introduced to Allen Hampton's art by a good friend of his.  Allen's body of work is diverse, subversive and makes me feel a little uneasy.  His projects range from  sculptural pieces, graffiti, installations to even working with dead pigs and animal blood. 

"untitled (shit rolls down hill...)"; crushed car, metal base plate, wood pallet, dung beetle  (I love that little bug!)

"We're making out in the landfill splashing around knee deep in ash"; mixed media

"I hold your hand in mine, the rest of you is scattered all over."; Mixed media

"The four horse-woman of the apocalypse; pigs feet hand tattooed by artist

Check out his flickr page; polaroids

great article: death of a party?

Check out this insightful article just posted by ARTLURKER:
DEATH OF A PARTY? Will Miami’s nightlife prosper over Art Basel Miami Beach or does the current economic instablity have yet more far reaching effects in store for Miami’s art community?

Spencer Tunick’s 2007 installation at The Sagamore. Courtesy of The Sagamore and guest curator Kimberly Marrero.

Judit Ström

Silhouette Strings II, 2007, lambdiaprint, 18x42 cm, Ed. 5
resources: Helene Nyborg gallery; Galerie Zürcher

This image by Judit Ström makes me feel serene and balanced. Bring on the Thanksgiving!

finally...I decided on peepee

After some serious brain power and scouring the internet I finally decided on what to get my parents for Christmas this year:"Accident", Ricochet Studio, porcelain and gold luster; ltd edition of 10
Their work looks marvelous and I really like the bone china milk carton vases but the second I came across this little boy I knew that this was the perfect gift for mom and dad. You might be thinking that's a pretty random gift to buy someone's parents but I am positive they will absolutely adore this piece. They are the same people who would take out this little naked guy every year for the holidays. When the ornaments were brought out I knew this little nudist was about to make an appearance. (I have since "borrowed" him from them and he now resides in my apartment.)

looking forward to: FRIENDSWITHYOU

It's almost time for Art Basel!!! Included in the laundry list of exhibits and events I want to attend I am looking forward to seeing the FriendsWithYou “Fun House" installation.
Fun House is an interactive exhibition for the lounge of SCOPE MIAMI 2008 in which a giant bounce house presiding over a village of mystical counterparts will aim to unlock the untold healing potential of fun.
The Fun House bounce house will be the center piece in a vast array of interactive structures that will stimulate visitors’ inner children through interplay with the work’s uncommon sense of transparency- custom furniture and zany sounds will further reinforce the lounge’s centralized theme.

cheers

Cheers to my oh so talented friend Ferris who just scored 3 (free!) white vintage Eames Eiffel chairs.

Check out her website to view some of her awesome graphic design work. Here are a few mixed media art pieces that I really love:

mixed media collage with hand stitching, 2006

detail of a painstakingly hand stitched canvas tote bag

inspiration: Andrea Vittel

I love Andrea Vittel's shifting body of work. I think I need to incorporate a little more discipline and control in my life and I am inspired by her theories.
Blurring the lines between life and art, Zittel’s projects extend to her own home and wardrobe. Wearing a single outfit every day for an entire season, and constantly remodeling her home to suit changing demands and interests, Zittel continually reinvents her relationship to her domestic and social environment.-Art:21
"living units":Check out her smock shop project where they sell handmade clothing meant to "save you time, money and energy. Rather than agonizing about what to put on each morning you can move on to larger things like experiencing the world in it's fullest and learning about new things. We promise that your full life will be far more exciting then your full closet ever was."The smockshop is an artist run enterprise that generates income for artists whose work is either non-commercial, or not yet self sustaining. SmockshopBlog
Her inspiration for the project came from working in an office and not having enough money to wear expensive clothes everyday. I don't have the guts/discipline to wear one outfit for an entire season but I do agree that fretting over what I wear to work everyday does waste some time.
Check out a snippet from her Art:21 appearance:

great find: Derringer Cycles

I just found out that my boyfriend wants one of these hand made 1920's replica Board Track Racing Bike Motorcycles. These retro styled bikes by Derringer Cycles can be either peddled or engine driven. I think they look absolutely gorgeous and streamlined but he aint getting one this year.

mini obsession: vintage televisions

I clearly seem to have a thing for nostalgia. I have completely fallen in love with the idea of owning a restored vintage television set.
21" blonde Olympic television; via Sundance Catalog; $850
After spotting that gorgeous TV above I searched Ebay and found this little olive green gem:21" Philco Predicta Blonde Holiday Model; ebay auction
I'm so going to break down and eventually pick one up.

cardinals

When I think of the holidays cardinals usually come to mind.
"untitled" 2006, Marcel Dzama; the royal art lodge
"Welcomed Lunch Guest" photo by Tah Groen; 5x5", $12 on etsyCute vintage wooden cardinal pin found on Ebay.
This piece looks like it might be a Takahashi bird which is a timeless handcrafted collectors item. I once found a gold finch pin worth over $185 at a thrift store for only 50 cents!