Coping Mechanisms for a Creative Heart

Amber Jean Young recently graduated from San Francisco Art Institute and is breaking out in the art scene with a solo show, Letters Home, at Michael Rosenthal Gallery.

Her knitted, stitched and crocheted 2D and 3D works explore interpersonal and familial relationships, as well as personal history. Investigating coping mechanisms and the complicated emotions such as disappointment and failure that arise through loving others, her work is punchy and “cute” with a cheeky dose of kitsch.

Young describes the utilization of “cute” in her work as being aimed at people’s tendency to make light of subjects and events that are painful and private. She believes “cute” is a dynamic esthetic because it is sad and funny, pathetic and bold. While the show recently closed, you can lean more about the exhibit here.

Imagery via San Francisco Art Enthusiast

July 9, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Los Angeles: Leap Second

Kon Trubkovich’s newest series translates the psychological underpinnings of the weak TV connection. The theme suggests that behind the static and disruption is a broadcast confirming our existence. Prominent in the exhibition are a group of large-scale portraits of the artist’s mother, culled from a home video, documenting the final party she threw in the U.S.S.R before immigrating the the family to the U.S.

Defining a transitional moment of flux, these works illuminate the difficultly of tracing the past. Through oil on linen, Trubkovich visually describes the sensation of relating to a person or physical location that no longer exists and aims to parse latent tangible codex.

In Erich Fromm’s book, The Art of Loving, which inspired Trubkovich’s exhibition, the author suggests that love is a refuge – a remedy for isolation and our disconnection from each other and nature. By archiving whispers of feelings and recollections, which are dangerously close to disappearing forever, the artist simultaneously forms a pictorial and emotional space. Click here for more info.

June 21, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Chaotic & Melodic

Today’s feature is all about the crazy. Organized chaos will forever be a part of the design process. When I think the number of versions that get made before that final goes up and out, it’s remarkable. The artists and designers showcased today have honed their style documenting energy and movement through texture and while some of the pieces may look like a work in progress, they’re final, and in my opinion, beautiful.

Emulating musical notes, Tom Phillips reveals a love of mixed-media which reminds us a lot of Kandinsky‘s later work. Bringing a street angle to the mix we have Ben Quinn‘s graffiti markings. Translating that energy through embroidery, print and fashion, we have Isabel Marant’s SS12 shorts and a recent instagram of a worn and torn rug from Of a Kind‘s new Downtown office.

June 18, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Venice: Circling Nature

Artist Don Suggs has a fascination with circles and enjoys incorporating them into his work. His latest pieces are inspired by the colors of nature in select environments that he then distills into glossy painted concentric circles. Taking up two floors, his exhibition displays work using this concept in two different ways.

The first floor shows Suggs’ Abyss Pools and Travertine Springs, inspired by the color palettes of dark pools and mineral springs, crafted into layered circles against a white or grey background. On the second floor, Suggs’ presents his Paradise Prints, which are archival inkjets inspired by landscape, printed in small editions of five or fewer. Click here for more info.

L.A. Louver: 45 North Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA, USA

June 18, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

New Aesthetic, PBS & Holograms

I’ve grown to really enjoy the PBS Idea Channel. A thesis relating to popular trends is formed, dissected, and illustrated by the animated host, Mike Rugnetta. Today he discusses a movement called New Aesthetic, characterized by the notion of nostalgia and it’s translation through artistic digital media. To illustrate his point, he weaves the music industry’s recent fascination with resurrecting dead stars through holographic imagery to Japan’s Miku Hatsune. Have a watch, what do you think?

June 1, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Drawings from Burma

Officially back from two weeks of incredible travel. As I sort through priorities and start playing a wonderful game of catch up, I figured I’d share an illustration that came home to New York with me. Every time I visit a new place, I like to buy art from the region and this was a very special find from Bagan. Many of the children sell postcards of pre-printed photos by the pagodas. This boy made his own interpretation. Regardless of where you go in the world, children’s drawings are unfiltered and universally special. What do you collect when you travel?

May 29, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik