Music For Your Studio; Vol. 30

Both the "Against the Tide" and "Annie Laurie" eps are available for download at the Radio Dept. website, along with several live recordings and various b-sides. They are one of my favorite bands.

New to Our Collection

Jesse Riggle, "Diane, last night I dreamed I was eating a large, tasteless gumdrop...", Acrylic on Basswood, 5x8", 2009

My wife had this painting of Agent Cooper from the TV show Twin Peaks commissioned from Jesse Riggle for my birthday. It was a fantastic surprise. I've mentioned Riggle's work on this blog previously and now I'm the proud owner of an original.

"Even in the End" by Peter Sutherland

A slim edition of black and white images printed by hand from photo engraved copperplates. Available October 1st (Thursday) - pre-order here.

Letterpress printed.
Engravings by A&G, Los Angeles.
Black ink on 80lb. Finch Opaque Vellum paper.
6 x 9 inches.
24 pages.
Hand sewn binding.
Edition of 500 plus A.P.
Signed and numbered.

Painting of the Day; Lady in a Fur Wrap

El Greco, Lady in a Fur Wrap, oil on canvas, 1577-80, 23.23"x24.41"

Found Friday

This photo was my great find at the flea market this last Sunday. It's a big print too - approximately 9x12". It was in with a lot of other photos of this kid and his family in Germany during WWII or shortly after the war. This shot was the best of the bunch.

Antti Laitinen "It's My Island"

Flavorpill writes, "Helsinki-based artist Antti Laitinen offers an absurdist take on the notion of property and nationality with his solo exhibition of video, photography and installation work. The artist painstakingly built his own island in the Gulf of Finland out of 200 hand-filled sandbags..."

Paco Pomet and Devin Leonardi

Two artists exploring the monochrome - Paco Pomet (another tip by Wes Freese) and Devin Leonardi.

Paco Pomet, Storytelling. Óleo-lienzo. 110 x 130 cms. 2008

Paco Pomet, Ocupación. Óleo-lienzo. 110 x 130 cms. 2008

Paco Pomet, The searchers. Óleo-lienzo. 70 x 90 cms. 2008Paco Pomet, El regreso. Óleo-lienzo. 120 x 125 cms. 2006

Devin Leonardi, Fording the Rappahannock, 2007, Acrylic on paper, 14 1/2" x 16 1/2"

Devin Leonardi, Wind-in-the-Cedars, 2006, Acrylic on paper, 36 3/4" x 36 3/4"

Devin Leonardi, Doe Run, 2007, Acrylic on paper, 11" x 15"

Devin Leonardi, The Plains of the Bay, 2007, Acrylic on paper, 37" x 46 1/2"

The Return of "Music for Your Studio" vol. 29

Pistol Disco, "Evergreen" - album available at the artists website for free download. Click "download evergreen." For fans of shoegaze, Radio Dept., CFCF, Broadcast, and hazy drums. Highly recommended.

Sculpture by Andreas Blank

I really enjoy these quiet stone carvings by Andreas Blank:
Monument 4, marble, alabaster, basalt, (27x15x5"), (35x27x8"), 2009

Untitled, serpentinit (African Stone), 32x39x14", 2005

Still life 3, marble, alabaster, limestone, serpentinit, 43x35x18", 2009

Mia Mulvey at Vertigo Art Space

After the Biographic opening on Friday we walked down to the opening at Vertigo Art Space (also on Santa Fe Dr.) where we saw a great show by Mia Mulvey. It was exceptionally installed - balancing areas of gridded patterning (see above) with more lyrical, curvy positioning on the wall (as seen with the giraffe skulls). Her use of color was restrained - consisting of mostly monochromatic skulls placed on the walls and on the floor. While the subject of extinction has been explored in a variey of ways, I found her approach to be quite fresh. I'm really glad to have caught the show - it will be up September to October. Her statement on the work is as follows:

"This body of work is taken from 3-dimensional prints of actual biological specimens. Replicating anatomy that is "true" and tied to a once-living, individual animal has been central to this work. These animals exist as X-ray CT scans of specimens in the Digital Morphology Library at the University of Texas in Austin. The 3-D scans were then printed on a 3-D printer and/or CNC milled out of foam and reproduced in porcelain.

The animals I have chosen to work with are all protected and thus threatened in the wild. They represent a larger population of animal species and their current status in the world. As humans, our views of these animals, and all of nature, is most often as a place “out there”, limitless and enduring. Our views are also often cluttered with romantic notions of exotic travels and attractive museum displays.

Our world's animal population is dwindling due to the fragmentation and loss of habitat from deforestation, farming, human encroachment, hunting, and climate change. These works deal with the ideas of beauty, collection, extinction, death and ultimately our relationship with nature."

The work of Patti Oleon

I found Patti Oleon's work at Freese blog - run by Seattle-based artist Wes Freese. Wes has posted an insightful interview with Oleon and I'd recommend heading over there to read through it. Oleon talks about her concepts and process and expands upon the mood or tone she is conveying through these exceptionally rendered works. These are paintings I wish I had done:

Patti Oleon, Windows and Mirrors, 2008, Oil on panel, 43" x 30

Patti Oleon, Library I, 2008, Oil on panel, 30" x 47"

Patti Oleon, Blue Room, White Windows, 2008, Oil on panel, 40 1/2" x 30 1/4"

Fall All Leaves All Fall

Ed Ruscha, "Fall All Leaves All Fall" (2009) - image from the NYTimes

This is my favorite time of year. We took a short day trip to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park yesterday to enjoy the beautiful, eerie sounds of elk bugles and the yellow aspen leaves.

Drive-by out-the-window photo by Lorna Cochraneriver reflection photo by Nathan Abels - after Alexander Binder

Photo of the Day

Originally uploaded by jennilee marigomen

Another Scotland highlight

Of course I found Gillian Kyle's work at a street market in Glasgow on my last day in Scotland when I was cashless. I was happy to find that her work can be ordered online. She makes drawings of very Scottish things - Scottish foods, Scottish animals, etc. - which are then screen-printed on totes, t-shirts and tea towels. Great designs.

Glasgow breakfast tea towel

Highland Coo canvas tote

a Highland Coo I took a photo of in Glasgow on the grounds of the Burrell Collection

Opening Tonight!

I've got a piece (pictured on the card) in "Biographic" at the Abecedarian gallery opening tonight.

Scotland Highlights; Vol. 3

By popular demand - here are a few more photos from the trip:

Scotland Highlights; Vol. 2

Here are a few of my favorites of the many photos we took while in Scotland: