Life Curation

I made a trip over to Bed Bath and Beyond the other day, and since I was right across the street from the American Art Museum I popped over for an hour to view some of my favorite works. Living in a city filled with free museums has its perks - why not get a little culture with your shower curtain? I'm particularly fond of the emerald toned works of Thomas Wilmer Dewing, whose paintings feature women in the midst of activity - often writing or playing an instrument.

The little plaque in Dewing's corner of the gallery explained that he was quite an interesting fellow. A regular at the Cornish Art Colony in Cornish, New Hampshire, Dewing took his aestheticism seriously. Not only was he very particular about the way he dressed, framed his paintings, and lived his life, but when he had visitors he insisted on selecting their outfits for them too. He then planned beautiful picnics which, apparently, were so exquisite it was as if he'd brought one of his lush paintings to life.


While the whole dressing your guests thing may be a bit extreme, I can't help but admire Dewing's philosophy, and the idea of curating one's life is intriguing. If life is ours to curate, then life is really our own little collection of things and experiences. We get to choose what items and experiences to include in our collection, and and what to exclude. It's up to us how we choose to frame - both literally and figuratively - the things and experiences in our collection... what we will display to others... how we care for the things in our collection... I think there's a sense of power that comes from viewing life that way. Or, maybe I just like a good metaphor.

I just finished an absolute gem of a book called Radioactive: Marie and Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss. I'm not especially interested in science and knew nothing about the Curies before reading this book, but nevertheless I highly recommend it. Part work of art, part picture book for adults, every page was a joy to linger over. If you're looking for a hard hitting biography with loads of intimate details or a truly scientific primer, this is not the book for you. If, however, you appreciate creative expression, want to read something completely unlike other biographies out there, and treasure the books in your personal library - then I urge you to pick up this book.

Through it's picture book format, you'll learn a lot about the Curie's research on radiation, their discoveries of radium and polonium, and the effects of radiation on the human body (given the heartbreaking recent events in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami that cut power to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant causing increased radiation levels in the area - it is an interesting time to have read this book). You'll also learn much about the Curie's personal lives and the tabloid-worthy affairs of Marie - it's juicy! Even the typeface used throughout the book was created by the author an has a very interesting history (explained at the very end of the book), and the book itself glows in the dark (an homage to radium)! This is one piece of literary work that really has it all. Just check out some of these pages:

Artist Spotlight: Galen Rowell

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Prior to his death in 2002, photographer Galen Rowell spent his life exploring nature and attempting to capture the beauty of some of earth's most unforgiving peaks. I first learned about Rowell reading Three Cups of Tea - the true story of a mountain climber who builds a school in a small, impoverished village in Pakistan (I highly recommend the book) - and his photos of the famed K2 helped bring the story to life for me. I quickly discovered that his photography of national parks here in the US is also incredibly stunning and have me ready to plan a wilderness escape myself (well... as soon as things warm up anyways).

Much of Rowell's work embodies a sense of transcendence - there's something quite ethereal about it - which he addressed when he said, "If we limit our vision to the real world, we will forever be fighting on the minus side of things, working only to make our photographs equal to what we see out there, but no better". What a beautiful thought and one that speaks volumes outside of photography too.

found

found

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Artist Spotlight: Martin Amm

Photo by Martin Amm

If you could not tell from my previous posts, I love animal art and animal photography. So when I stumbled upon the insect close-up portfolio of Martin Amm, I knew I'd found my kind of photog. Originally from Kronach, Germany, Amm also has some stunning landscape work - those shown here are from Sweden. There isn't too much info about this young artist online, but you can check out a wider range of his work here, which is where all of these photos are found.

Photo by Martin Amm

Photo by Martin Amm

Photo by Martin Amm

Photo by Martin Amm

Photo by Martin Amm

Artist Spotlight: Nathan Sawaya

Who knew Legos could be so emotional? So provocative? So... artsy? Lego artist Nathan Sawaya sculpts, depicts, and creates with the colorful little childhood building blocks and the results are surprisingly cool. Sifting through his website (which you can peruse yourself here) I discovered that the self-proclaimed brick artist has, in the past, offered to do life-sized replicas of yourself or someone you know for purchase through the Neiman Marcus holiday gift book. I can't say that a 6 foot Lego-rendition of your loved one is the perfect gift for everybody... but I can guarantee they won't already have it! Check out his take on Stephen Colbert below.

Blogs Worth Browsing

Photo via MSNBC

Every once in a while I like to spend an hour or two scoping out new blogs to add into my usual rotation of daily reads. Here are a few I discovered this past weekend you just might want to check out yourself...

• Mrs. Lilien Styling House

Beautiful and fun collections of themed photo inspiration. From designer do-dads to neon nail polish to swanky swizzle-sticks, Mrs. Lilien has it all... and she makes it look so good!

Perfect for: Women who'd still like to play dress up
I love Ms. Peaches and Cream
Also good for: Discovering gift ideas for your chic friends
How cool are these glasses?

• A New Dress A Day

Marisa decided to make it an entire year without doing any traditional clothing shopping. She's spending only $365 for 365 days and creating 365 outfits out of thrifted goodies... and they are so cute! You have to see the blog to believe it.

Perfect for: Salvation Army regulars and do-it-yourselfers
Have you ever dyed clothing?
Also good for: Anyone trying to make their mom's old clothes cool again
Perfect example

• Missed Connections

Sophie Blackall paints renditions of the missed connections section of Craigslist (where people write about brief encounters they had with strangers they'd like to meet again). I originally found out about Sophie and the blog Missed Connections on another blog I adore, Cup of Joe.

Perfect for: Believers in the interconnectedness of us all
This one's so sweet
Also good for: Anybody who needs a good laugh at life
LOL

This Is It

Photo via The Source

I went to see This Is It tonight, the film that captures the rehearsals and behind the scenes footage from Michael Jackson's never-realized tour, and I am really happy I did. I don't consider myself much of a Jackson fan but I had heard such good reviews that I wanted to see the film on the big screen before I lost the chance. If you are debating whether or not to spend the money to see This Is It in the theater, I say cough up the dough... you will not get the same experience watching it in your living room. It was really fun to hear so many of Michael's songs in one go, and made me remember how much great music he gave to the world. Seeing the level of work and vision that goes into creating a music tour like this one is amazing, and it gave me a new appreciation for Michael as an artist. The close of the movie brought a sadness knowing that all this work and energy was without the grand pay-off, but I still left ready to break into dance, feeling uplifted by the message of Michael's music. There isn't much time left to see it so be sure to check out your local theater times before it's too late!

Artist Spotlight: Steve McCurry

Photo by Steve McCurry via stevemccurry.com

Steve McCurry may be most well known for a photo of an Afghan girl which graced the cover of National Geographic in 1985, but this photo journalist boasts work from all over the world which is just as stunning as the picture above. McCurry's photos are so rich and intimate that they invite the viewer to think they have discovered this unique moment in time themselves. The color and life he captures make his works especially unique, and they have a way of making me feel more connected to people living such different lives, so far away. You can see much more from McCurry at his website here. Enjoy!

Photo by Steve McCurry via stevemccurry.com

Photo by Steve McCurry via stevemccurry.com

Photo by Steve McCurry via stevemccurry.com

Photo by Steve McCurry via stevemccurry.com

Photo by Steve McCurry via stevemccurry.com

Photo by Steve McCurry via stevemccurry.com

Artist Spotlight: Jenny Meilihove

Artwork by Jenny Meilihove

Jenny Meilihove is a Russian born illustrator living in Jerusalem whose work is both adorably quirky and bright. Her equally adorable website can be found here and an Etsy shop here where you can find originals and prints alike. I especially adore her rich watercolors. Even her workspace (see the last picture) is so fun and creativity inducing. This children's book she's illustrated looks so fantastical... any translators?

If you like any of the pictures you see, be sure to click on the links below - they'll take you to Jenny's website where there are plenty more (many of which I had hoped to post but were too big to do them justice here).

Artwork by Jenny Meilihove

Artwork by Jenny Meilihove

Artwork by Jenny Meilihove

Calendar by Jenny Meilihove

Picture via Jenny Meilihove

Beautiful Thought

Crescent Moon by Carlos E. Hernandez via asod

For today, just a simple, beautiful message.

"Though it is reflected in a thousand rivers, the moon itself is only one."

Artist Spotlight: Regina Spektor

Regina Spektor is a Soviet-born musician whose songs beautifully combine the unexpected. A classical pianist by trade, she's not afraid to switch to an electric keyboard, electric guitar, or play a chair as a drum when the mood is right. Her powerful voice and raw lyrics, however, are what really set her apart from the pack.

I was lucky enough to see Regina at the House of Blues in Boston last night, and it was a fantastic show! She also happens to be tremendously cute...

Artist Spotlight: Ashley Collins

Mend by Ashley Collins via Diehl Gallery

The stunning artwork of Ashley Collins is truly unique from the layering technique (mixed media like aged paper and resin create depth and texture) to the sheer size (many works are 7' x 8' and 8' x 10') to the subjects (simple, neutral color combinations, words and print, and powerful animals). I love the stark yet full nature of the plain backgrounds coupled with striking images that are not overly complicated. To me, her style captures the energy of her subjects in an organic and unrefined way. Not only are Ashley’s final products inspiring, but to see her working in her studio is a treat in and of itself. Check out the photos below to see what I mean. To see more of Ashley’s work and learn more about the artist herself, check out her website here. 

Ashley Collins in her studio via Boise Weekly

Ashley Collins in her studio via Diehl Gallery

Caballo by Ashley Collins via Karin Sanders 

Life by Ashley Collins via Karin Sanders

Ashley Collins Work via Artmajeur

Dune By Ashley Collins via ArtMo

Lazy Sunday: Simple Relaxation

Photo via Random Wisdom

As I type I’m flying somewhere over the Mid-West, on my way back to Denver after a great weekend in Pittsburgh. Yesterday we went to The Warhol Museum and I was really excited to see some of my favorite Warhol prints and drawings alongside cases of Andy’s personal effects – including his gray and black wig! Ok, sort of weird for me to be so excited about a dead guy’s old fake hair, but I was. They even had original sketches of the elaborate shows he produced for the Velvet Underground and original costume drawings from his many movies and theater productions. If you’re ever in PA and share a love of things Warhol I would definitely go. If you don’t care for pop art or know about The Factory, it probably isn’t worth the $15 adult admission price ($8 for students). 

Andy Warhol at The Factory via Magnifique

With midterm exams tomorrow, I am quite ready for this plane to land so I can get back to studying – unfortunately the tiny tray table makes my normally petite laptop seem massive and especially clumsy to maneuver, so breaking out my 10 pound accounting book is a definite no-go.

Were I not on a plane for the next few hours, I think this Lazy Sunday would best be spent doing some yoga, creating a highly nutritious and simple meal, and enjoying some meditation. I’m craving simplicity and clarity lately, and these activities seem the perfect way to start. Yoga is a great way to center your mind and body, build strength, and release tension and toxins from your muscles. Simple, fresh, plant-based meals are very easy for your body to digest and feed your cells with tons of nutrients and anti-oxidants to reverse the damage that stress and external contaminants (think air pollution, too much sun, chemical absorption) can cause. Finally, meditation helps slow our breathing and heart rate, decreases stress levels, and helps us to relax in order to attain deep, restorative levels of sleep. Never tried meditation before? Don’t fret; there are endless ways to get started. In fact, stay tuned, because today kicks off a whole week of simplicity-inspired blogging! First on deck? Meditation techniques for the meditative newbie. See you then!

 

Artist Spotlight: Carbon Leaf

I saw Carbon Leaf perform at Red Rocks last night before Film on the Rocks started (we saw The Princess Bride - so fun) and was really impressed by their live set. Carbon Leaf is a Virginia band that combines a little bit of celtic country bluegrass with a folksy old rock sound. Yes, I realize that sounds like a very eclectic (okay, weird) mishmash of music styles, but the 5-man group pulls it off. The result? Many a catchy melody that will have you rocking in your seat and ready for a beer. 

The song "Life Less Ordinary" is likely the band's most well-known hit which frequented the radio waves in early 2005. I never cared much for the single so I didn't search for more of their work, but last night was a pleasant surprise. You can learn more about the band on their website here and if you like what you discover I'd definitely look into seeing them live. Last night's performance was an opening act for an outdoor movie - the crowd was largely young families - but the band still put on a great performance and had plenty of people dancing on their feet. 

I was hoping to post videos of my favorite songs from last night, but unfortunately the sound quality of the videos I found on YouTube are not up to Apartment 303 standards. So instead I've posted two songs below to whet your appetite (just click once on the large round play button to hear the songs without getting linked to another page) though I highly recommend going to the Carbon Leaf Community Page where you can listen to 10 different songs. My favorites are One Prairie Outpost, Lake of Silver Belles, and Another Man's Woman. 

The Boxer - Carbon Leaf

What About Everything? - Carbon Leaf