Spatial Element

Elsi Giauqur's "Spatial Element" (1979)



From the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston website www.icaboston.org:

Fiber: Sculpture 1960–present is the first exhibition in 40 years to examine the development of abstraction and dimensionality in fiber art from the mid-twentieth century through to the present. Adapting age-old techniques and traditional materials, artists working in fiber manipulate gravity, light, color, mass, and transparency to demonstrate the infinite transformations and iterations of their material. Early pioneers such as Magdalena Abakanowicz, Sheila Hicks, Lenore Tawney, and Claire Zeisler demonstrated a revolutionary redefinition of fiber art in the 1960s and 70s, showcasing radical, non-representational forms. Fiber: Sculpture 1960–present addresses the cultural and critical forces that contributed to the initial efflorescence of the fiber revolution in the mid-century, its contraction in the 1980s, and its recent reclamation by contemporary artists.

 

Crisscrossing generations, nationalities, processes, and approaches, the exhibition features approximately 50 works by 34 artists—including works by the aforementioned artists alongside Olga de Amaral, Eva Hesse, Ernesto Neto, Rosemarie Trockel, Anne Wilson, and Haegue Yang—that range from small-scale weavings to immersive environments, all made in fiber.

FEATURED ARTISTS Magdalena Abakanowicz
Olga de Amaral
Xenobia Bailey
Alexandra Bircken
Jagoda Buić
Alexander da Cunha
Ria van Eyk
Josh Faught
Elsi Giauque
Françoise Grossen
Eva Hesse
Sheila Hicks
Diane Itter
Ritzi and Peter Jacobi
Naomi Kobayashi
Beryl Korot
Ruth Laskey
Aurèlia Muñoz
Ernesto Neto
Sheila Pepe
Robert Rohm
Ed Rossbach
Kay Sekimachi
Alan Shields
Sherri Smith
Jean Stamsta
Lenore Tawney
Rosemarie Trockel
Piotr Uklański
Faith Wilding
Anne Wilson
Haegue Yang
Claire Zeisler

Check www.facebook.com/StudioLizzy.com for nine film shorts Nine Kisses.

Saffron, Cinnamon, and Tumeric

The colors of nature are deeply connected with the scents associated with them. Looking out the window at the silvery green of a giant Pinon brings the sweet smell of pine needles to a moment that is only visual. To merely look at the color of cinnamon brings back the memory of the rich homey scent of baking apple pie. Nowhere is this more apparent than in India. It's colors and scents permeate the air and, at the end of a day, can leave a non-native feeling overwhelmed by the cacophony the of visual, aural, and sensual symphony around one.

No matter what their caste is, the women of India celebrate the intense hues of the sari, adding beauty to what can be a very harsh and difficult world.

Color saturates both the spiritual and temporal. It is sustenance and celebration, and it exemplifies the ancient and the modern.

Probably no other culinary tradition is as deeply rooted in color as Indian cuisine. Although Indian food varies widely by region, herbs and spices define a dish more than any ingredient, and take it anywhere from mellow and buttery to fiery and intense. A visit to a spice market is a painting itself that no synthetic colors can truly replicate.

India touches all of the senses and all of the emotions. The colors and scents of this amazing place reach into those emotions and remain with one forever.

And now......

The Reggie Life

When I'm not racing around the dog park, livening things up at doggy day care, poking around my yard, chasing a ball in the house, or trying to rouse my furry housemates, this is where I like to plop.

Mom finally gave up on trying to keep me off the furniture (which is why I get rinsed off almost every day). When Mom and Dad are in this chair and its partner, I whine to let them know I want it. If I'm in one and Mom is in the other chair, Dad won't push me off.....he'll sit on the floor! Mom's tough; she makes me leave. So I get back at her by whining on the floor next to her in the morning while she's still in bed until she finally gets up and then I take her place on the bed.

The two geeks have a tough life. Their big decisions of the day are where to take the next nap. They only move to find the next spot, get a meal, use that blue thing with sand in it, or make me jealous by sitting on Mom or Dad's lap.

Of course they're jealous of me cuz I get outa here and get to go someplace in the car. Ha, Ha, Ha! 



Check www.facebook.com/StudioLizzy and click on the YouTube video of Dyami Clement and Jenevieve Varga performing an amazing rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine."

 

We're so Over, We Need a New Word for Over

Those who were fans of Sex and the City remember Carrie's famous line to Mr. Big. Sex was one of those series that influenced popular culture in our lexicon, fashion, drinks...the famous Cosmopolitan...and inspiring women to dress up and go out again.

As sorry as we were to say good-by to "the girls", leaving Mad Men in 2015 will be just as difficult. Like its ground-breaking predecessor, not only was Mad Men brilliantly written, but its set designs beautifully reflected the time span of the period, and have cemented mid-century modernism's return to every facet of design. The 60's modernism of office spaces and Don and Megan's apartment continued the popularity of this beloved style that resurfaced before we ever knew who Dick Whitman was.

 

 

Unlike Sex and the City, Mad Men began in a period that most of us (especially women and minorities) are very happy to have left behind. And, everyone should be thankful that smoking and drinks in the office, or lunch, are a thing of the past!.

As the series has progressed from 1950's styles and attitudes to 70's mores (thankfully), dress and décor (ugh), we can all cheer Don's fedora that has made its way onto so many artists, musicians, hipsters, and just confidently stylish men and women.

 

The flavor of this remarkable series has made its way into all areas of design. Because mid-century style is so timeless, it will revisit us time and time again.



Lizzy pillow by Cynthia Cavanaugh

Drawing by Cynthia Anna Lindholm, age 11, 1961









Is It Art?

Rick Owens from T Magazine

Is fashion sometimes art? More often not? Terms like "wearable art" and "art to wear" are flung about frequently. Clothing is like architecture and sculpture: it's three dimensional and can be cheap and mass produced to appeal to a broad taste, or it can be a masterful construction of line, mass, texture, and color. What makes some clothing unique as an art form is that it can transform the wearer or it can be transformed by the wearer. Artful clothing doesn't need to be couture or expensive. How creatively the wearer puts it together can make it a work of art, and the wearer an artist.

Missoni

However, there are some pieces that stand alone. Without any alteration by the wearer, these pieces are works of art because of the fabric patterning, color, structure, or manipulation, or the cut and line of the silhouette. These designs are inspired by a time period, a social movement, visual art, or architecture as in Issey Miyake's Staircase dresses,

Issey Miyake Staircase Pleats 1994/Irving Penn Photograph







A woman can be her own work of art, using fashion to create whatever she wants to be at the moment

 

Bottega Veneta from T Magazine

or finding a comfortable look and sticking with it.



Grace Coddington

 



The Reggie Life

I love riding in the car and I go someplace almost every day. A few days ago I road along to the Lamy train station to drop off Dad. I'm buckled in to keep me safe, and I usually just fall asleep unless we're going to the dog park or doggy day care. Then I go nuts cuz I know I'm goin' to Doggy Disneyland!!! I start barking waaayyyy before we get there, and I'm wagging my tail so hard, dragging my people cuz the party boy is comin'. I'm sure no other dog does that.

Lamy Train Station

Me saying good-by

 

So here are the two geeks I live with, Desi and Lucy. I'm sorta scared of Desi cuz he seems like he's not scared of anything, especially me. I swear he could face-off a Grizzly, but sometimes I bark at him just to prove what a "man" I am. Sometimes he rubs up against me cuz he's claiming me or something, I don't know. Lucy's ok; truth is, I'm in love with the gray fur ball. I know that she loves me too, but she plays hard to get but flirts with me. What's up with women? They're so weird. And, about 10:00 at night she starts yodeling! I'm serious - she goes on and on and in the morning we find little towels and socks and stuff all over the place. Cats.....I just don't get it.







Lucy trying to get things going

 

Check www.facebook.com/StudioLizzy and www.etsy.com/shop/StudioLizzy









Dia de los Muertos and Reggie

Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead was over a week ago, but it's not too late to continue the celebration of this famous festival. Most people are familiar with the glorious, colorful costumes and icons of this historic holiday. As a reminder, here's a bit of history: Wikipedia says that, "Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl.The holiday has spread throughout the world, being absorbed within other deep traditions for honoring the dead." The holiday now focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died.

Daughter-in-law Anita Cavanaugh creates beautiful face paintings to honor and celebrate this important holiday. Dia de los Muertos opens the door for some amazing creativity, and Anita expresses a wonderful art form in her "masks".

This festival of the Dead is a rich and wonderful tradition that embraces every person's contribution during his or her life, as well as celebrating their next step to wherever that is,.

And now...

The Reggie Life

Because Reggie is such a clever dog, it's been suggested that he have his own blog. Well, that isn't going to happen, so I told him he could have his own corner of the Studio Lizzy blog. Although he's very decisive, I chose the picture of him, which probably wouldn't be his first choice. One evening our friend Kataya decided that Reggie should be styled. So, no, those are not dreadlocks, they're the remnants of some poor sad puppy toy.

Now Reggie can have the last word.

Hey there, no, I'm not happy at all about the photo chosen to represent me. Now I feel that I have to redeem my dignity by describing my kingly self. I'm a gorgeous, muscular boy who's lumped into the catch-all breed of Pit Bull. Since not a dime has been spent to find out my DNA, who knows what that actually includes. Just trust me, everyone at the dog park comments on how handsome I am and that I have the shiniest black coat.

So, let me just begin by telling the truth about my fabulous breed. We were once America's favorite dog - yes! We were known as the Nanny Dog because we were so good at taking care of the kiddies. Teddy Roosevelt was a fan and Helen Keller trusted her life with Sir Thomas. The list of current politicians, sports figures, and entertainers who adore their pitties is endless, so they're obviously very smart humans to have such good taste.

My corner of the artsy blog will probably be the most popular since I'll be sharing stories about my life here with the Cavanaughs and those two cats...dare I say their names, Desi and Lucy. Yes, I was brought into this home from the Espanola Valley Humane Society as an innocent four month old, and I've survived the torments of those two for almost two and a half years. I'll be three years old in January, so I'm in the prime of my man-hood. And yes, I particularly like those cute girl dogs at the park and doggy daycare, but of course, the Cavanaughs made sure that my adoration of the female could only be platonic. I have no idea why they wouldn't want mini-me's joining the family since I really am quite amazing.

So, this is the start of the famous Reggie Life. Let the games begin.

A Favorite Etsy Shop

Textile designer, Lee Coren makes scarves, bags, and totes from her studio in Jaffa, Israel. She uses cotton, silk, and vegan leather and suede. Her pieces reflect the urban environment in which she lives and works, and her need for, as she says, "escapism and a breath of fresh air." She screen prints and digitally prints from her own photographs, and her colors are spectacular.

Screen printed cotton gauze scarf in blue and jade green

 Vegan suede fold over clutch in geometric screen printed pattern

 Extra large black tote bag, hand screen printed

Please check out Lee's shop on Etsy: LeeCoren. And see today's Facebook post at www.facebook.com/cynthia05. As always, see more new pillow covers at StudioLizzy on Etsy.

Is It Art?

Is architecture art? Are the details of a structure art, or are these photographs the work of art? What makes a structure or details of a structure a work of art?

 Is there art in the line? In the contrast of curves and rigidity?

 Is there beauty in color and texture contrasts?

 Is art always timeless? Or can it be of the moment?

Art is in the details. See beautiful details to create any space at StudioLizzy on Etsy. See today's Facebook post at www.facebook.com/cynthiacavanaugh05