Art Review -- Jenny Holzer at the Whitney

Roberta Smith said it best in the NY Times of Jenny Holzer's current show, Protect, Protect: "Ms. Holzer’s terse snippets of prose have warned of evolving threats to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. She has tracked the inner thoughts of bereft lovers or shellshocked survivors and articulated the baser instincts unleashed by social chaos."

Her electronic LED displays had the same effect on my eyes as the way that a Yankee Candle Factory Outlet has on my nose. Although leaving her show made me far more culturally stimulated than a room full of Pineapple Beach scented candles...

See more at the Whitney's exhibit here

Pet Post -- Sedgwick the French Bull

Best road trip companion ever!!

Image Inspiration -- May in Amherst

A big cake and some scratch off tickets -- what more do you need to celebrate?!

The sun through the trees from the deck
(photo credit: Aaron Fischer)

Patrick Stewart Alphabet

via Ollie....amazing find.

Hunter Gatherer -- TONIGHT!!

9:30pm @ Banjo Jims -- 700 E9th St (at Ave C), NYC
Peter Bitenc's band of country rock that will soothe your soul!!

Image Inspiration

I wish this was my hand. It's not. But here's to good luck today!!

Frank Ryan -- AOD

"Unmade 02/05/09," 2009, Oil on panel

This show filled with beautifully textured beds made me sleepy and calm. And yet, the Campari kept me agile and ridiculous. It would have been fun to have an alarm clock go off every now and then...

See more of the show at Walter Maciel Gallery here

Pet Post -- Meet MARS!

Please enjoy some shots of LA's cutest kitty:

Whimsically gazing into the garden

Reflecting on his epic nap on the stairs

Image Inspiration -- Bowling Balls

"Bowling Ball Curtain," 2003

I love Eung Ho Park's Public art commission at PS 270 in Queens, NY. See more of his creative installations here and get Michele Cohen's rad book, "Public Art for Public Schools," here

Titus Kaphar -- AOD

"Our Mother Was Always So..." 2009

"Nip Tuck," 2009

Kaphar is best known for taking American and European portrait paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries and reconfiguring them into an alternate history. These two recent pieces were so texturally pleasing that I couldn't resist them. See more from his current show at the Seattle Art Museum here

Jams -- Jamie Foxx - Brady Bunch

this jam is getting me pumped through the day...thanks to William!

Image Inspiration -- Staying Positive

"Don't Stop - Keep Trying"
Amazing banner made by local Silver Lake kids

Loving Nature in Los Angeles

So nice to feel the sun and take in all the glorious flora and fauna!! And big LOVE to my brother for being such a fabulous host. More LA posts to come...

Image Inspiration - Jorge de la Vega

"Parenthesis," 1967, ink on paper
© 2009 Estate of Jorge de la Vega

I love the idea that this crowd of tangled people is trying to get a closer listen to the live jazz music being played...

Painterly Prints -- Mary E. Wagner

Opening TONIGHT for all of you DC folks!!
Go to the Picasso Gallery for more images and info here

Pet Post -- Meet PICKLES!!

The newest member of David's sister's family! What a treat to have such a sweet pup pics to savor -- thanks for sharing!

Ali Smith -- AOD

"Rising," 2007, oil and acrylic on canvas

I feel like bright colors and thick paint today, and this artist can deliver! More here

Art Review -- Late Picasso

"Buste," November 1970, Oil on canvas
© 2009 Estate of Pablo Picasso

Picasso's current buzz show at Gagosian, "Mosqueteros," left me wondering why everyone thought these his "later works" were so crazy? Yes, this one here (coincidentally my favorite) may resemble an erudite bunny rabbit jester, but it's not a far departure from a lot of the work he was doing just a decade or two before. More images here

Shame on Me

Martin Kippenberger, “Martin, into the Corner, You Should Be Ashamed of Yourself," (1992), cast aluminum, clothing, and iron plate, 68 7/8" high.
MoMA, © Estate Martin Kippenberger

I can't believe I missed this show!! Ironically, one of the pieces in the exhibit (pictured above) illustrates exactly how I feel about missing it... Did you see it? Did you love it?!

Alden Mason -- AOD

"Four Rigamorales," 2008, mixed media on paper

Born in 1919, nothing seems to slow down today's artist. He reflects on his recent works: "Art is seemingly endless and life a brief moment... Life is a fleeting moment/art an endless caress."

Read more in an ArtWorks Magazine article here

The Portrait Artist

Me --as Andrew WK?!
Visit Irving (the artist) at his Fir (?) store on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint, Brooklyn to hear his life stories that will keep you on your toes...

Art Review -- Huang Yong Ping

Gladstone Gallery's latest show draws its visitors into a large room with a curious, monumental, snake-like structure by Chinese artist Huang Yong Ping. I've never seen such a piece that appeals so strongly to children but is equally as unsafe for them. The viewer is cautioned to coil themselves up and around the bamboo pathway, held together with what resembled garbage ties. The creaking creation leads you to the grand sculpture at the ceiling -- something that looks like Matthew Ritchie excavated from the Natural History Museum and then put his own pewter spin on it. All together, this piece was injured by its surrounding environment. Had it been outside and something to discover, the mysterious qualities of the work would have shone more than in an enclosed, white-walled space in Chelsea. Still, I'm glad I got to wander inside.

Image Inspiration -- ART & FUN

Another blazing success at Brooklyn's FEAST last night -- and three cheers to the decoration committee for these outstanding displays of celebration. And what better things to celebrate?!

Maya Lin -- AOD

"Wake Field Series," 1995, University of Michigan

Art21 asserts that the artist/architect's new work "continues [Lin’s] interest in fusing potent social messages with a reconsideration of the natural world through minimalist design."

I want to sit in the grassy waves...

Great NYTimes video interview here
Artist Website here

Image Inspiration -- Keep 'Em Dancing

John knows how much I appreciate weird medical robot pics...thanks, buddy!

Steph knows how much I love it when the elderly dance...thanks for the pic!

via Chris Maynard for the NY Times

Image Inspiration -- Update!

Thanks to my brother, things are looking up!

Image Inspiration

Pretty much sums up today at the desk here. If you have any more uplifting images, please do send them my way... xo

Antony Micallef -- AOD

"Suck Love," 2002

"Tokyo Angel"

I was feeling romantic and messy -- this artist hit the mood perfectly. More here

Shock and Awe

This ruined my morning:

Ron Artest is famous for being the worst/scariest person alive.

But then this made everything better:

Peter's cat is famous for being adorable and strong! Go ahead!

Hannah Whitaker -- AOD

These pictures make me at ease. I appreciate that. More here

Pet Post -- Harley in the Sun

Life is pretty sweet, I gotta say. Take it from this guy.

Armando Romero -- AOD

"The Circus," 2007, Marble

"Magician," 2008, Oil on canvas

I became obsessed with Mexico City's treasured multi-media artist Armando Romero today. It's not often I look at art, simultaneously thinking, "ancient" and, "childhood." AND he has shows in New York, Dallas and Los Angeles coming up! Check out more of his work at Tasende Gallery here

Image Inspiration -- The Ouija Experience

This image both horrifies and excites me. Typically I play in bars or on empty floors and am wondering now if setting up a spread such as this would invite new characters into the experience...

Goal Celebration Fail

"Brothers don't shake hands -- brothers gotta hug!"

via failblog