State of the Art
Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
Over the weekend I took advantage of Gowanus Open Studios, an event hosted by the nonprofit organization Arts Gowanus where hundreds of artists working in the Gowanus area throw open the doors of their personal studios for the public to explore. This was right up my alley because 1) discovering small artists/creators is my bread and butter, and 2) I’ve never met a closed door that I didn’t want to peek behind, so I loved being welcomed into people’s private spaces. Though it was impossible to hit up every single artist over a two-day period, I did manage to visit a good chunk; below, three of my favorites whose work really tickled my fancy. Definitely consider supporting them and the rest of the artists who participated!
Weave a Web
THE SHAPE IT MAKES - ALLIE REX (PRICE UPON REQUEST)
Stare too long at artist Allie Rex’s intricate installations and your vision may start to blur into one neon-bright mass. But rather than paint and canvas, her optical illusions are crafted from cut-out strips of paper daubed over with paint; the result is a delicate geometric web that plays with color, pattern, and shape, reflecting the light and casting shadows on the wall. The structures sag under their own weight and sway gently in the breeze, looking like the spiderwebs you might encounter in a technicolor Oz.
Happy as a Clam
GLASS OYSTERS - MAP GLASSWORKS (PRICE UPON REQUEST)
I found myself captivated by artist and glassmaker’s Michael Potecha’s glass oysters, which, with their swirling colors and fluid, organic shapes, almost resemble agate slices. Imbued with rich shades of lemon yellow, tangerine orange, and rosy pink, streaked through with iridescent ripples, they turn the pedestrian bivalves — lowly bottom feeders thanklessly filtering the water of contaminants — into magical palm-sized gems, each one containing a pearly treasure. The moment I move into my own place, I plan to commission Potecha to make me an oyster side table.
Wall to Wall
COSMIC JOURNEY OF THE STAR-NOSED MOLE - CRISTINA SALAS
I’ve always enjoyed mosaic art — there’s something so invitingly tactile about them that makes you want to reach out and brush your fingers over the pebbles and glass shards. Cristina Salas is a multimedia artist who works with ceramics, paint, textiles, found objects, and more, but I was really wowed by her full-scale mural installations, which are so charming and whimsical that they look like scenes straight out of a children’s book. This one currently resides at Caroll Hall, an event venue in Bushwick — which is also where Salas hosts her weekly Mosaic Nights, a mosaic-making class for beginners that I promptly signed up for. We’re making mosaic coasters!! How cute is that??
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!