Arts
One of my favorite sketches. Done with the basic Bic ballpoint pen.
I recently picked up a new miniature Moleskin sketchbook, which the above drawing and many others in my collection were done in. It has been a while since I drew in this old standby, and I had forgotten how much I love the smaller format, the heavy cream colored paper, the ease in transporting a continuous art project.
Looking forward to sharing more snippets from the new Moleskin...
On Thursday night I attended Mark Fox's opening at Robert Miller Gallery in Chelsea.
The work on view is whimsical but also painstakingly rendered. Pieces simplistic in theory become complex through the layers of meaning created in the overlapping of cut-out text and doodles. Words take on and lose meaning as they hang in mid air or weave through other seemingly non-related text. How does each word relate? Is there a hidden message behind each piece?
The idea of creating painted sculpture completely fascinated and inspired me. Seeing a return to painting and being able to get a sense of the artist's hand in each piece was so refreshing.
A definite must see.
Shot at Robert Miller Gallery, 524 West 26th Street, NYC. All photos by Nicole Weiler.
Another piece from the ink drawing series I began a few years ago {first seen here}.
Both sketches are inspired by fashion advertisements - the woman on the left was discovered in an old Ralph Lauren ad and the lips on the right were cropped from a David Yurman feature.
What initially drew me to these images was the sense of drama inherent in each photo. Each seemed to harbor a secret, somewhat foreboding story. Further cropping the subjects with my pen, I accentuated and heightened the sense of mystery and danger lurking beneath the surface. Together, the sketches speak to each other and create an even more complex and dark tale... left for the viewer to create.
A colorful silk scarf is my go-to accessory, oftentimes the final piece I throw on to complete an outfit. An instant mood booster, a quick pop of color, a conversation starter... I love a good scarf.
That being said, I am very excited about Alexander McQueen's collaboration with Damien Hirst.
The fashion house has teamed up with the artist to create a collection of 30 limited edition scarves incorporating the iconic McQueen skull and elements inspired by Hirst's Entomology series.
While I am not always the biggest fan of Hirst's work (depends on the piece), I do love his Entomology series. The exactingly symmetrical overall patterns Hirst constructs using butterflies, beetles, and other entomological specimens are stunning. For me, they recall ancient mural works and weavings.
"Tityus" by Damien Hirst, 2012
Hirst's trippy, kaliedoscopic patterns translate beautifully into scarf designs.
And the film shot for the collection by Sølve Sundsbø {below} is just as beautiful and inspiring.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK_-Ycn69sg&w=560&h=315]
{scarf images courtesy of www.damienhirst.com}
Last weekend I took a break from the city and ventured out to Montclair, NJ. It was my favorite kind of crisp autumn day. The trees were afire in shades of yellow, orange, and red. A bright blue sky provided the perfect backdrop.
The destination was the Montclair Art Museum, which I had never visited. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the museum has an exceptional collection. An exhibit on Native American art was followed by a show featuring some contemporary artists I am very much interested in - including Cindy Sherman, Alex Prager, and Nan Goldin.
However, my favorite part of the visit was just outside the museum walls.
Artist Jean Shin was commissioned by the museum to create the fascinating sculptures that currently reside near the front entrance. Her three pieces are constructed from stainless steel knives, forks, and spoons. Welded together, the cutlery is transformed into a tree stump, a log, and a spindly tree.
Shin has successfully transformed these mundane, everyday objects we usually never give a second thought to into breath-taking art objects. Highly recommended and definitely worth the trip.
Shot at the Montclair Art Museum. All photos by Nicole Weiler.
27 songs in honor of my 27th year.
And a preview of the incredibly inspiring sculptures I saw this past weekend.
Enjoy.
xo.
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Imagine. Sky scrapers at your feet. Sidewalks curved towards the heavens. Brownstones flipped and toppling downwards. Lush greenery spilling out in every direction.
Jennifer Williams makes these seemingly impossible feats a reality in "The High Line Effect," which opened on Thursday night at Robert Mann Gallery in Chelsea. The show is on view through December 7th.
Williams' show focuses on New York City's High Line, the recently constructed (and still expanding) elevated park that just happens to be in the same neighborhood as the gallery hosting her work.
Images in the photo collages highlight the ongoing transformation of this public space as it continues to grow and become an ever-increasingly popular attraction. Cranes, construction sites, and buildings under development collide with bustling streets, rich foliage, and towering skyscrapers.
These images are more than photographic references to the neighborhood in which they are displayed. Each installation reverberates with energy and embodies the sheer electricity of the bustling High Line. Williams' pieces come alive before you, exploding with color, crawling around corners, wrapping over ceiling beams, spilling out onto the gallery floor.
What blows me away most about Williams' work is her ability to capture a sense of movement and life through very simple, basic images. Her photographs are not static records of the world. Together they are mind-bending, lively creations that challenge traditional ideas on perspective.
The way that Williams arranges her photos together creates a new world that feels more real than any photograph does on its own. Despite the fact that buildings are flipped upside down and placed under foot (so far from physical reality) I felt that I could be standing in the middle of the elevated park when standing in front of each installation.
For me, the collages embodied the feeling of walking along the High Line... experiencing the chaotic world around the park, hearing the incessant beeping of taxis, squinting from the sharp light reflected off surrounding buildings, feeling the crisp wind against my face, watching the tourists and city strollers pass by.
A big thank you goes out to my old college buddy, Ethan, who helped prepare the show and invited me and some friends to the special occasion.
Shot at Robert Mann Gallery. Photos by Nicole Weiler and Christine Bilms. Wearing {a delicate one-of-a-kind treasure from the '60s that feels more special with every wear}:
vintage jacket with beading and pearls, Rag +Bone jeans, Rag +Bone boots, vintage bag
Beauty is present in the simplest of things. Over the summer I was inspired by the humble beauty in a cluster of freshly-picked, juicy-red tomatoes. Resting atop a crisp white tablecloth with bright blue lines dancing across its folds, the tomatoes glowed in the warm afternoon light.
I have been painting with pastels for almost fifteen years. Growing up, I spent my summers training one-on-one with artist Rosalie Nadeau in Cape Cod. A talented and thoughtful mentor, Rose taught me to truly see light, shadow, and the complexities of color.
Pastels are pure pigment. Rich sticks of color that can be layered, blended, and manipulated to capture the splendor of the natural world. When painting, I utilize my color palette to express the presence of my subject, the general feel of the moment as I experience it, the fleeting luminosity of light as it colors the scene before me.
There is a beauty and a sadness in the painting process. The painter races to capture the impossible, a brief moment of time that passes instantly and immediately becomes something new. Light fades, flowers wilt, a breeze alters the arch of a branch.
Nothing is permanent. Every moment is important.
New York City is always beautiful to me - no matter the weather conditions. I welcome the rainy, grey days that create tiny, sparkling rivers trickling down the roadside. I treasure the snowy days that open the opportunity for a rare quiet moment in a usually bustling metropolis - still, white moments where time seems to stand still. I appreciate even the angry, windy days that twist my umbrella inside-out as I clomp through the tourist-packed, trash-ridden sidewalks - there is a certain beauty in the pure chaos of such a scene (despite my frustration and loud cursing in the actual moment).
And NYC certainly outdid itself this weekend. Clear blue skies, warm sunshine, mild temperature. The perfect conditions for an arts festival.
The DUMBO Arts Festival spanned from Friday night through Sunday evening. I visited the event on Saturday, specifically to see Andrey Bartenev's "Bubbles of Hope" performance. During the piece, dancers clothed in brightly colored spandex joyously frolicked inside an abandoned fortress-like space. The lively music, imaginative costumes, creative dance moves, and floating bubbles instantly lifted my spirits.
One could not help but smile in the midst of such revelry. Bartenev's mission to deliver a message of harmony and joy was definitely achieved. He also delivered an (unintentional?) education in human anatomy...
Another artist participating in the festival had created an art game on a side street. Colored tape labeled with random statements littered the street. Onlookers were asked to place a penny numbered by the artist on an applicable message and then to look up what emotion the penny's number corresponded to.
I placed my penny on "Everything looks beautiful to me." My number (256) indicated that I was feeling "Appalled." Honestly, all I felt was confused.
My favorite part of the day was walking beneath waving pink flags on a side alleyway. The flags bathed the cobblestone path a lovely shade of pink.
I do love viewing the world in rose colored glasses. Quite literally.
Shot in DUMBO. Photos by Nicole Weiler and Chris Weiler. Wearing {a grunge inspired outfit, a mix of unrelated prints that together somehow works, a sartorial choice that inspires risk}:
Gryphon mixed floral silk dress, Rachel Roy leopard print cardigan, by hudson black boots, ripped American Apparel black sheer tights, no-name sunnies, vintage black leather bag, assorted gold and silver jewelry
Wednesday night I had the pleasure of attending a panel discussion on how galleries choose their rosters and maintain relationships with artists, museums, and other organizations.
The event was hosted by the Whitney Museum at the Suzanne Geiss Company in Soho. Alexxa Gotthardt from the Suzanne Geiss Company, Margaret Lee from 47 Canal, and Andrea Neustein from Miguel Abreu Gallery led the informative and intriguing talk.
Before the discussion began, the attendees and I were able to view the current exhibit at the gallery. Digital Expressionism, a show that explores the place of art objects in an age increasingly dominated by the digital, is on view now through October 17th.
The exhibit features works by Ben Wolf Noam, Greg Parma Smith, and Korakrit Arunanondchai, all artists experimenting with the production of art by digital means.
Upon entering the gallery space, I immediately responded to Wolf Noam's 15 foot digitally painted columns. The colors in the overall patterns were mesmerizing and energizing, and there was a strong sense of movement in the scribbly lines and rough shapes wrapping around the tall poles.
Standing amidst the columns I felt humbled by the sheer height of the pieces... yet energized by the explosion of color and freedom of form in the painting.
Following the talk, my friend and I took advantage of the crisp, mild fall weather and strolled to a tiny, hole-in-the wall sushi joint. There are so many advantages to walking around New York City (even in strappy heels)... there is so much to see at any given moment.
On the edge of Soho I spotted a particularly bright and busy street painting. Inspired by the colorful patterns and uplifting motion in the pieces featured at the Suzanne Geiss Company, I could not help but take a closer look.
While the graffitied wall was created in a different manner and presented in a completely different context than the Wolf Noam works, it shared the same positive energy through its pleasing patterns formed by electric colors and jarring shapes. Again, there was a strong sense of movement throughout this composition that elevated and energized me.
Sparked by the beauty in all of the art I had seen that night, I placed myself into the pattern plane, contributing my own energy and life to the art...
Shot in Soho. Photos by Nicole Weiler and Rachel Kozin. Wearing {an artistic power outfit, I love the unexpected red in the abstracted leopard print of this instantly sophisticated feeling dress}:
DVF wrap dress, Reed Krakoff white and black strap heels, DVF black leather jacket, vintage black leather bag, silver cuff bangle, vintage rings