reasons to be cheerful: part 10

Virgilio Guidi (1891- 1984)

"girl at the window" 1921

I have borrowed from a title of a song by a UK group I happen to be rather fond of called 'Lemon Jelly' with the reasons to be cheerful bit as it seemed such an appropriate (if quirky) way to honour this rather superb and quite wondrous blog that the image "girl at the window" by Guidi comes from on their July 4 post. The blog is Art in Connu and specialises in little-known and under-appreciated art. i can think of at least 10 reasons to be cheerful that this blog exists.

!. We hear so much of really so few of the doers in histories of any kind...let alone art.

2.Whilst focusing on 19 and 20th century art it is not limited to this.

3. Collections are catorgorised into comprehensive topics.

4. Nationalities of artists listed are broad-reaching.

5. great links to other Art-related blogs

6.  Exensive list of art resources

7. Artist website links related to research on blog

8. a wealth of imagery from accomplished artists.

9.diverse ideas and approaches to painting for inspiration

10. your thoughts on viewing this blog!

"Reading Girl" by Heinz Tetner ( 1920-2007)

javier jaen benavides- Barcelona, Spain

all these images were found on the blog of Javier Jaen Benavides and I have to admit I cannot read spanish so its best to refer to his wonderful blog to see more about his work. I like how much is conveyed through these images and the ideas represented in them. My attention was brought to this work above by the fabulous Thea from her blog which is also well worth a look!

NOTE: I posted this  a couple of days ago and just now,  2 days later, I am pleased to say Javier Jaen has come back to me with a translation of his Blog statement about his work:

Born in Barcelona in 1983, he has Graphic Advertising and Fine Arts studies. His work has its main focus on cultural and institutional campaigns, working for theatres, libraries and public office.

 He is director of the graphic experimentation fanzine ArtAfacta.org

His work is in close relations with symbolic, ludicrous and two-sided languages, where subtractions and additions abound. He is interested in wordplay and the formal relations between literary and visual language.

He looks for narrative and aesthetic scenarios within close and everyday experienced contexts. His works involve techniques such as collage, appropriation, the object and image recycling.

Thanks for sending the translation javier jaen...shall look forward to see what is happening down the track with you!

equilibrium and other things...

Just found a note to myself to look again at the Land Art work of Richard Shilling and was inspired to post this for a little contemplation. Its titled 'Equilibrium Stack'.

Also liked this for the  new focus it gave to the leaves...named 'three framed Rowans' and posted on 27 June, 09

June 25th post referred to the exciting arrival of the artist's newly published book 'Land Art'.

Rainbow Sun Wheel from Friday, May 29, 09

3 Colour Tear Drop, June 14, 09 

late friday evening inspiration...

Here is an artist, Nathalie lete, who lives and works in Paris employing a variety of mediums,techniques, art forms and influences  in such an original and arresting way. Below is just a hint at the range of her work and certainly her website is a delight. To quote from this animated artist's home-site  her work is "colourful, naive and poetic, sometimes strange, to the point of tending towards art brut. Her world is nurtured by popular and folk art..." I loved the following images from her website...starting with a fabulous large rug, ceramic pieces, a comissioned work for Issey Miyake, and 2 images from her studio/workshop I believe. Quite wonderful!

shawl museum for pleats please, issey miyake, spring 2006

Anna Hepler: exploring complexity and restfulness

I came across work by this artist recently and was very drawn to her way of working with space and also the predominance of the sphere. After gaining Anna's blessing to show her work I took time to investigate her work more fully, finding this quote from Anna "there is nothing more restful than the perfect circle. The sphere is one of those perfect forms that allows you to appreciate the chaos without being overwhelmed because you are contantly held in stillness by the overall shape".  I like the way her work has a wonderful dynamic quality and yet it is contained as she suggests.Much of the artist's work explores the fragility of fleeting moments.
For an excellent series of images and more on Anna Hepler's work visit her blog and her website.

an exciting development in an extraordinary story!

On May 7 I posted here on the work of Zanis Waldheims and conversations were had over his extraordinary body of work. I have had a fascinating comment come in from hexodus to say that at the beginning of this year he learned about his grandfather with whom he'd lost contact when he was young... his grandfather being the artist Waldheim. To read more on this amazing story go to here . It must be very affecting to meet the friends of his Grandfather who kept together sketchbooks, documents, personal effects, drawings, art pieces, annotated books, manuscripts, photographs, letters, films, audio tapes...from 1945 to 1993....and created a website dedicated to the artist. Thankyou for the message hexodus and best wishes on your journey!

Yes We Can Architecture

As seen on www.dezeen.com in the post dated  June 29th, 2009:   Qui est "in", Qui est "out" by Yes We Can Architects. These London based architects used hula hoops in this construction. I love this!

The instillation was in the courtyard of the 18th century Hotel d'Aures music school as part of the Festival des Architecture Vives: In (side) Out in Montpelier, France last summer. 300 hula hoops were used on a tight budget of 900 Euros assembled by a team of 4 in 2 days. The title is after a song by Serge Gainsbourg, 1966.