Category Archives: art

Feb11

a story in every line.

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A pencil drawing by a 16 year old Irish girl has won a National Art Competition. Shania McDonagh is tipped as a future top artist. The man she drew is a Fisherman and Seaweed Harvester named Coleman Coyne. There’s a story in every line.

 “His name is Coleman Coyne, and he’s from Connemara in County Galway. He passed away earlier this year. The portrait is done using graphite pencil, and it took around 100 hours of drawing to complete the portrait.” – Shania McDonagh

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“youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.”

-stanislaw jerzy lec

 

 

 

 

 

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credits: soul alchemy, word porn

Jan9

bare.

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bare tree at rest in early winter.

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“people don’t remember each tree in a park

but all of us benefit from the trees.

and in a way, artists are like trees in a park.”

-yoko ono

 

 

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kerrytown courtyard, ann arbor, mi, usa

Dec15

great things.

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tiny kinder spent nearly an hour

 focused

working alone

not asking for any help

very carefully snipping tiny pieces

from the roll of sticky green tape

 placing them on her fringed orange paper. 

when she was happy with what she had created

her beautiful piece of art was done.

“great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”

-vincent van gogh

Dec4

re-imagine.

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when you combine

dots, pencils, whales, glitter, markers, acorn caps. and glue

and make them into a good day.

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“the visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper, and re-imagines the world.”

-malcolm gladwell

Nov24

no must.

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cousins take a closer look to discuss jackson pollock’s ‘one’

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“there is no must in art because art is free.”

—wassilli  kandinsky

credits:  jackson pollock, ‘one -number 31,’ 1950,

museum of modern art (manhattan, new york, ny usa)

Nov13

living room.

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Oct6

pigment.

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pigment

every color in the rainbow awaits.

In Tokyo, there is an artist’s dream come true: thousands of pigments with names like “Autumn Mystery” and “Luxury Twinkle” line the neat, airy bamboo shelves of a store called Pigment.

Pigment is dry concentrated color dust used to give fabric, ink, plastics, and, of course, paint their hue. By adding a binding agent like oil or glue to the powder, the pigment becomes adhesive. It’s an older style of paint-making as opposed to purchasing paint pre-mixed, but many artists prefer it for its simplicity and versatility. The store also sells other traditional Japanese painting supplies like brushes, papers, frames, natural animal glue, and ink stones.

Pigment the store is just as beautiful as its contents. It was designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma, whose work connects ancient principles of Japanese art and ideology to the modern day. Much like pigment, it’s simple, natural, and basic but elegant too. The store is made almost entirely of bamboo with gently waving lines, lots of open space, and light. The store does ship art supplies ordered online, but Pigment’s physical store and displays are something to behold.

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‘we all have the same palette of emotional paints

it’s how we pigment them on the canvas of life that dictates our artistry.’ 

-ged thompson (liverpool poet)

 

 

 

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credits: atlas obscura, pigment, tokyo

Oct3

light and shadows.

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kinders explore light and shadows.

 

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‘find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows,

the light, and the dark which that thing provides.’

-junichiro tanizaki

 

 

Sep26

the rock.

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Karen Schaefer took her turn at painting the Rock in Ann Arbor’s George Washington Park, announcing her conclusion about the boulder that was put on the spot in the 1930s. Schaefer wrote her master’s degree thesis on the Rock, (Objects that communicate).

 all kinds of people with all kinds of agendas paint the rock in this decades-old tradition in ann arbor. the chat below was found on my community website and i especially loved how s.a. was at the ready with his how-to directions and a bit of historical support. 

G.A. Does anyone know how much paint is required to paint a message on “The Rock” at Hill and Washtenaw?

P. L. Funny, my husband and I were just talking about this when we drove by it the other day.

S. A.  Old gallon of house paint for the base, one old mop or broom, go to Denny’s down the road, come back and it’s dry for the message.

T. S. Can’t believe that no one has commented that is is illegal and vandalism…

S. A. Even Al Gallup, the living son of the Gallup who placed it there in honor of Washington, is okay with it.

‘passion is one great force that unleashes creativity,

because if you’re passionate about something,

then you’re more willing to take risks.’

—yo-yo ma

Sep23

on target.

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ALPINE, TEXAS

Target Marathon

This is probably not the Target you’re looking for.  

At some point in 2016, persons unknown adorned a tiny cinderblock shack along US 90 with the big-box chain Target’s lettering and bullseye logo. Located about 15 miles outside Marathon (pop. 430) in Brewster County, Texas, the shack is now unofficially known as the Target Marathon.

The raison d’être of the Target Marathon remains unclear. It was perhaps inspired by the Prada Marfa, an art project in the West Texas desert. Unlike the Prada Marfa, however, no one has ever claimed to have created the Target Marathon. Both “stores” are non-operational, although the Prada Marfa does at least contain some Prada merchandise.

The tiny Target contains absolutely nothing, save for some sand and an occasional desert creature sheltering from the midday sun. So if you’re trundling along US 90 and spot the bullseye up ahead, don’t get all excited about discount goods.

But if you appreciate unusual art installations, if that’s what you can call the Target Marathon, then pull over and have a look. Don’t delay, however, or it might not be there at all. As no one has claimed ownership of the Target Marathon, and it could conceivably be stripped, knocked down or otherwise altered at any time.

The Target Marathon is located about 15 miles west of Marathon on the way to Alpine. You’ll see it on the south side of the US 90 alongside some railroad tracks. Entrance is free for humans, rattlesnakes and all other desert dwellers. Target REDcards are not accepted.

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‘a creative project is a moving target.

you never end up where you start.’

-evangeline lilly

 

 

 

 

 

 

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credit: atlas obscura