Blue Period

A few years ago, Joanna Goddard wrote a fascinating article for New York Magazine about New Yorkers who dress in all one color--that isn't black. I love these quirky New Yorkers' discipline and vision. It's like Picasso's Blue Period but through clothing.

I'm joking that I am having a "Blue Period" right now. It's like a silly way not to take my frustration/disappointment from this job search too seriously. It's just an artistic phase. Maybe I will wear only blue this week?

Some blue inspiration:

Top photo from The Sartorialist

Middle photo from What I Wore

Bottom photo also from The Sartorialist 

Our Apartment

...has stained glass windows. A beautiful way to wake up every morning.

Coolest Balloons

Just discovered inflated/deflated on Pinterest, and I am mesmerized by these simple yet mysterious little balloons. One of my biggest "artistic" interests is the aesthetics of handwriting. I love the look of sprawling cursive or quick slanted lines. Handwriting is manmade yet natural, utilitarian yet intimate. It's especially intimate on inflated/deflated, where each balloon's message feels like a private thought or secret. From the inflated/deflated website:

The words written on our balloons range from humorous quotes to heartfelt feelings and memories. These words are marked on the surface of inflated balloons, and like that of one’s thoughts being released, so too is the air of the balloon. Deflated the once largely marked letters become small, expressive, and intricate forms.


Inflated/deflated is a collaboration of Chicago artists Jillian, Lauren and Kady, whose individual websites are available on the inflated/deflated website.

Roy Lichtenstein Retrospective

Yesterday, I went to the Art Institute of Chicago to check out the Roy Lichtenstein Retrospective, which featured paintings, drawings and sculptures from throughout the artist's expansive career. Almost everyone is familiar with the Lichtenstein comic pop art, but he applied his signature primary colors and bold lines to more than comic book reproductions. For example, I had no idea that he did landscape paintings inspired by the Song Dynasty school. Pretty neat stuff! I'd highly recommend going to anyone who can make it. (The exhibit is open through September, I believe.) The colors and textures are so bold and intense, and my pictures definitely don't do it justice. Also, the exhibit featured several pieces from private collections that couldn't be photographed, but it was such a privilege to see them. Below are some of my favorites that were "legal" to photograph.

The "Classic" Lichtenstein

Landscapes

Nudes

In the "Nudes" room of the exhibit, there was a large wall plaque that started, "Like Matisse and Picasso, Lichtenstein was attracted to the nude female form late in life..." A middle-aged man with glasses and a trench coat was reading the plaque next to me, and he stopped and said, "'Attracted to the nude female late in life,' well of course! It's not like it's some huge artistic mystery! They just weren't getting any!" I laughed out loud.

And finally, because it's absurd and a little perplexing, a still life:

I love Lichtenstein!

Awesome Place Mats

How rad are these place mats we got in Portsmouth, NH? They are prints of local artists' work that were then laminated. My mom said we should hang them on the wall and not eat on them!

Chicago Trip Part 3: Chagall Windows

My favorite part of the Art Institute of Chicago is the stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. Each panel represents a different art form.

Aren't they breathtaking? I could sit there and stare at them for hours.

Chicago Trip Part II: Adventures in Modern Art

I love to poke fun at modern art (a blank canvas is such an easy target!), but I actually appreciate how whimsical and subjective it is. For example, the artist who installed the beaded entranceway had another piece that was just a huge pile of brightly wrapped candy. Andrew and I passed over it with quizzical looks, but on our way out we saw a little boy run up to it, and he was entirely in awe. Part of the thrill of the work was that visitors were allowed to take a piece of candy with them. That boy was the happiest museum-goer I have ever seen, and I was totally humbled.

P.S. This is why I am "sad" standing by the Jackson Pollock. (Andrew and I watched an absurd number of Woody Allen films while we were recovering from our New Year's Eve hangovers.)