carrie*connects

Events | Boston MFA Hosts a Giant Karaoke Party

I love this event - a giant dancing and karaoke party held on the Museum of Fine Art in Boston's front lawn to kick off what sounds like an interesting exhibit.

As described by the museum: ""Seeing Songs" presents an eclectic mix of work—mainly from the Museum's collections—that draws on music as inspiration, focusing on abstract as well as representational art and connections to musical forms as varied as classical, jazz, and pop.

From lyrical works on paper by Wassily Kandinsky and a painting by Stuart Davis that depicts music as gesture and improvisation, to recent videos by Gillian Wearing and Candice Breitz that explore the relationship between pop stars and their fans, this exhibition brings together an international group of artists in whose work we see songs."

The Vogue-ing party included a giant screen and a Madonna impersonator which celebrated one of the key pieces by artist Candice Breitz’s - a video installation entitled "Queen (A Portrait of Madonna)".

One thing to note: A stated goal of both the installation and the event was to involve younger people with the museum - they publicized it through social media like Twitter and Facebook, ect to this end.   So I thought it was kind of interesting that the main musical icons featured were Madonna, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond - all artists over 50 that I wouldn't necessarily associate with a your typical urban youth - I would see Katy Perry and Black Eyed Peas perhaps as more appropriate, however perhaps they have not achieved iconic status yet in the eyes of the museum.  Here's a video of the dancing and singing. 

Fab Promotion | Threadcakes Contest

I love this contest that Threadbare T-Shirts has mounted to promote their seemingly endless collection of interesting and artful designs.  Called Threadcakes, entrants pick out their favorite Threadbare T-Shirt design and interpret it with flour and sugar in the form of a cake.  The contest started June 15th and runs through August 3rd - to date the promotion has inspired some very interesting and creative entries such as "The Apple" shown here.

There are two divisions of the contest 2-D and 3-D - 2-D being the sheet cakes with images created in fondant and icing on top much like a photo - and 3-D more sculpturesque.

An impressive roll out of prizes awaits the winners that includes free t-shirts, baking supplies, and ingredients.  To enter visit here.

via {ifitshipitshere.com}

Design | Pamela Sunday's Bronzed Nature

 It's nearly impossible to walk past the burnished asteroids, bronzed land mines, and golden atoms that artist Pamela Sunday creates in her Brooklyn studio.   Created from ceramics, metal, and other materials, Sunday's works are both radiant and restrained - an aesthetic she surely picked up in her days as a fashion stylist.  And while the artist has worked in a number of creative areas, ironically it's her background in mathematics that seems to come forward in her art work.  Inspired by the precise formations and diligent geometry that lie in the genius of nature, these beautiful sculptures are truly engaging.

Art Director's Club of Denver awards Petunia Pickle Bottom catalogs with honors and many words of praise

   

The Art Director's Club of Denver's 53rd Annual Awards revealed a number of amazing projects that design firms in the mile high city have been turning out.  Among the accolades was great praise for our client Petunia Pickle Bottom's fabulous catalogs.  

Proving that they're just as genius at creating marketing materials as they are at creating amazing bags and baby products, Petunia's Spring 2008 catalog was clearly a labor of love.

Created with the firm Genesis, the Spring Collection 2008 catalog features page after page of stylish and playful images depicting vintage moms with their very cool Petunia bags. 

Both the Petunia Pickle Bottom Spring Collection 2008 book, and the Petunia Cake Collection catalog 2008 won Gold Medals in the Brand and Corporate Identity divisions of the competition. 

Of the Petunia Spring Collections 2008 catalog, judge Alan Leusink wrote:

"Small things speak volumes. The “Petunia Pickle Bottom” spring catalog is not only a collection of chic baby accessories, but elegant photography, classic typography and sophisticated design. It's design has characteristics of a familiar children’s book delivered in a refined, aspirational lifestyle—taking you through a world of visuals from Paris to Katmandu."

Shepard Faireys' Vote For Change shoot

Barack Obama's campaign for president is certainly a study in PR and publicity at it's best. 

The art world has been remarkably motivated to create and promote works in support of the campaign.  Above and below are photos from yesterday's "Art the Change"  shoot featuring Shepard Fairey (that's actress Persia White in front of the lens).  Thanks to publicist Yosi Sergant, the work of Fairey has been everywhere throughout this campaign, rocketing the usual bland political paraphernalia into the realm of true art.

Artwork created by Cafepress for RocktheVote in conjunction with Fairey has flown into the American mainstream, and artists all over the country have offered works up for auction that will benefit Obama fund-raising.

Of his part in the Obama campaign Sergant recently told LA Weekly:  “Barack Obama is a figurehead of a movement, I would call it the progressive movement. My goal is to get Obama elected. I use the mechanisms I know, which are basically artistic. Look how important the grass roots are. Look at the effect they can have. I drank the Kool-Aid. I am alive with it, I believe — an Obama saying — ‘we are the change we have been waiting for.’”

Below, Rosanna Arquette poses in front of an iconic Shepard Fairey painting.

The kids are in the picture! Orbit Baby Travel Photo winners announced.

They numbered in the hundreds – but what else do you expect when you ask a bunch of proud parents to share travel photos of their children?

Announced today, Orbit Baby picked the winners of their first ever photo contest.  Kei Okumura and her daughter Koa of Los Angeles made the top spot.

The winning pick shows Kei holding Koa as the two gaze out at the waters near Kailua Beach in Hawai'i.  The entrancing blue water and pensive moment shared between mom and baby captured an ineffable sense of peace and calm. (shown above)

The team at Orbit Baby was truly thrilled to see the myriad of photos entered that captured  the experiences of families in parks, parades, restaurants, and beaches … from Brooklyn to Italy to Tokyo and Los Angeles.

Founders Bryan White and Joseph Hei were so impressed with the entries that they chose to add two Honorable Mentions to the contest.  These awards were bestowed on “Mr Miles” of Cherry Hill, New Jersey; and “Jack” of Austin, Texas.

The “Mr Miles” entry was photographed by Yvonne Geist-Gorman and shows young Miles catching a glimpse of a 4^th of July parade near his home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.   Miles is clearly enjoying his Orbit Toddler Stroller which is patriotically decorated for the occasion. (shown right). 

“Jack” was photographed by Jeff Ebeier and shows his son Jack at Lake Austin gurgling joyously from his Orbit Toddler Car Seat as their ham of a golden retriever, Rahja, poses for the camera. (shown bottom)

Grand Prize winner the Okumura Family has been awarded $100 gift certificate to be used at the Orbit Baby online store.  The Honorable Mentions, received $50 gift certificates.

Be sure to check out the gallery of finalists for the contest at http://www.orbitbaby.com/why/pc_gallery.html

 

Bringing up baby with nature - DeNai Jones gets inspired

When DeNai Jones, head designer at Petunia Pickle Bottom, was expecting her second son recently, one of her prime goals was to create a unique nursery.

"I longed to make my second son Miller's nursery a place of tranquility," says Jones of her design process. "I love color, but this was going to be my one exception."

DeNai opted for soothing earth tones and natural imagery both she and her husband Braden would enjoy.

Here, DeNai Jones outlines her choices for this truly gorgeous baby nursery.

Inspiration and Color Choice:
I found inspiration in the design of my son's nursery from a few key pieces: our Misty Shanghai Boxy Backpack, this amazing wallpaper from Cole and Sons: Trees, and two pillows from Anthropologie. All of these pieces incorporated a shade of grey that I was hoping to use in the nursery and were the perfect elements to create a focus for my mood board. I love a nice monochromatic palette with a splash of color, much like the Misty Shanghai, and these pieces combined these two elements perfectly.

Furniture and Function:
The crib and changing table were the most daunting decisions for me. I love all the new modern and oh-so functional nursery furniture that can be found, but we own an older home so I wanted to find something that would strike the perfect balance of old and new. The Panel Crib by Newport Cottages served up just what I was looking for. As an added bonus-the wonderful people at Newport Cottages indulged me with a custom paint color to match the room's palette. Both pieces contain clean, modern lines, and the changing table converts to a dresser once you are done with diapers-an ideal attribute so that the piece can grow as Miller does.

Hands down my favorite piece is the Luca Glider Chair by Monte Designs. If I didn't have a busy little toddler running rampant I would sit and cuddle my newborn son in it all day-it's incredibly comfortable not to mention so stunning.
 

I love the Tamar Mogendorff mobile. Thanks to Grace over at Design Sponge for introducing Tamar and her incredible talent. The dolls/objects are made from linens, wool, Mohair wool, cotton, vintage fabrics, tweed, antique embroidery, pashmina and other fabrics. Each piece is handmade and the pictures on her website do not do them justice.

My intention when designing my son's nursery was to create a tranquil, organic, and textural experience.

The stump side table and owl night light rounded out what I wanted to achieve, and the cable rug I found at West Elm offers a nubby, wool weave with lots of texture to help soften and warm the room.

Two of the wall art pieces I used to finish the room were from Anthropologie. I liked the simplicity of the art and the organic nature of the two pieces. In addition, I always try to put in every room of our home some sentimental piece or photograph. The archival bird studies were purchased on a trip to Nashville, Tennessee. On a short day trip to Franklin we happened upon an amazing shop dedicated to archival sketches and studies of anything you could possibly imagine. I knew I would use these sketches at some point in my life and this was the perfect spot. Miller loves to look at these while I change his diaper.

Ultimately, the nursery is the most calming place in our home…so I believe I achieved what I set out to accomplish. Now with a two year old toddler and a newborn reeking havoc in our home, it's the place I like to kick up my heels and find tranquility.

Schweppe's is bursting; Adida's is Pink

I came across Debbie Millman's very intriguing eponymously named blog this morning and was really knocked out by these two promotional video/ads from Schweppes's and Adidas.  Millman, who is the President of the Design division at Sterling Brands, a brand identity firm in New York, is also a gifted painter.  Her work, and the art of others makes the site interesting and a breath of fresh air.   

Naturally I love the creativity of these videos, the way they get you to think about their products in a new light.  They lift the notion of viral video to a new level and put art into pop culture without being too esoteric.   

Peace, Prosperity, and Health in 2008!

Catch a rising star

It's unclear if the work by US abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock was purchased recently for some 140 million dollars because the buyer fell in love with the work or was enthralled with the famous names attached to the painting.

Yahoo News Story

But one thing is certain, the piece, which had belonged to David Geffen is the highest sum ever paid for a painting.

The painting, entitled "No. 5, 1948," is a tangled composition of browns and yellows and is unusually large, measuring some four by eight feet.

Geffen also reportedly sold two paintings by US artists Jasper Johns and Willem de Kooning last month, for 143.5 million dollars.

Now, if 140 million is a little steep for you - don't count yourself out of the art collecting market.

The little town of Chester Connecticut, which is increasingly becoming an artist's haven, has a few artists you should consider.

At the EO Art Lab http://www.eoartlab.com on Main Street abstract art lovers can find, distinctive, well-priced works that are certain to speak to them.

Paintings from New England artists Elizabeth Gourlay, Susan Sharp, and Charlie Goodwin; and etchings from Thomas Stavovy (to name just a few) will have visitors hard pressed to pick their favorite.

These aren't sugary, overly sentimental landscapes you expect to find in some backwoods burg.

Each work is substantial in its own right - presenting color and line that move and undulate with that unmistakable genius that resists definition. Works that might not reach the stature of a Jackson Pollack or William de Kooning, but at the same time, just might. (One only needs to rent a copy of the film Basquiat to send your imagination on a whirl).

My favorite, and what will soon hang above my mantle, is a piece by Charlie Goodwin - possibly followed by a Elizabeth Gourlay - as it's almost impossible to nail down just one favorite!

shown above: Susan Sharp's Trace 2A -gouache and pen on paper - be sure to click on the image to see a larger version of the piece.