wrapping things up in Austin...

I am so overwhelmed by the generosity and warmth I have been shown not only by my students, but also by Austin as a city. I spent the day visiting with good friends, eating wonderful food , and lingering in my favorite vintage stores. When I got home this evening I found a posting on face book by Lindsey, truly one of my favorite students to date. Thank you UT for all I have learned while teaching these past 2 years and thank you to all of my students for giving me so much back in return.

finals week...

Great work all around today. I love finals week when the semester seems like it will never end, then suddenly it's spring and every student just clicks. My 3d foundations and ceramic sculpture classes pulled off some solid pieces and showed great leaps in thought, form , and hard work since the midterm review. Vanessa "Crook" was a high light in 3d for her site specific name as form installation. I wish you could see the details and intelligence that went into this costume and environment. In advanced ceramics Moses Tsai 's monkey's were the stars. A big jump in form and surface from last spring. His installation included masks, footies, and the hospital smell of bleach (maybe a little to much bleach!) I've included details of all. As well as a class portrait.

Patte Loper

I was reminded today of an artist whose work I'd seen at an art fair when I lived in NY. She mixes animal imagery with icons of modern architecture, art, and design. This image is based on the photograph above it, which is documenting an early Jan Dibbets piece. The photo was originally used to illustrate a 1970 ArtForum article. Not sure I like all of her work, but definately respond to the formal use of color in the above work and the premise.

Asa Ames: late 1800's

Asa Ames was a folk art sculptor who worked in wood in the mid to late 1800's. There is a great article about him and an exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum in NY. You can go to this link for the article and to see more of his work.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/arts/design/25ames.html?ex=1209787200&en=a8a6a180f2baf7c9&ei=5070&emc=eta1

http://www.beklina.com/lina_rennell.html

These are something on the "I want list". Beautifully designed.

Hooray for student work!

 

Sara and Ilea are 2 graduating seniors in my sculptural ceramic class. They worked together on their final installation and wow!!ed the class. This was a good day for teaching.

I found this image when I was searching for Japanese textiles. It was on a blog about Zakka. Zakka (from the Japanese 'zak-ka'（雑貨）or 'many things') is a fashion and design phenomenon that has spread from Japan throughout Asia. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and outlook. The interest in Nordic design or Scandinavian design, both contemporary and past, is also part of this zakka movement. Zakka can also be contemporary handicraft. Zakka has also been described as "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane".

Anni Leppala

Ernesto Neto

new book I must have.

This book is out of print and I only had about 2 days with it from an inter-library loan. I copied the essays but would have liked more time with the images as well.

miwa koizumi

Scoli Acosta's installation Bountiful

So this is my new blog...intimidating idea, but I wanted a place not neccesarily for my art or art alone...more a place to collect ideas and images that make me happy, make me think, and help me to remember.