Wednesday Work: STOP Motion/Stop Animation: The Brothers Quay

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While studying abroad in Rome a few summers back, I had the good fortune to be introduced to the Brothers Quay, both their work and the artists themselves, while participating in a philosophy course dealing with ideas of vision and rationality. (or was it reality, or realization??? hmm, it did begin with an 'r'. The whole experience a blur!)

And I don't know if its the changing weather, a changing mood, or if I am just preparing to nestle down in the studio with my demons for a while (oy! demons!), but I have been obsessed - obsessed!- with all things macabre lately (see also, steampunk): The Brothers Quay fitting the bill quite well.

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Twin brothers born in Norristown, PA, these boys are Philadelphia locals made it big. Both attending The University of the Arts back in the 1960s, moving to England shortly thereafter to study at The Royal College of Art in London.

All you really need to know however, is this: Phantom Museums: The Short Films of the Brothers Quay (2010). Netflix it - watch "The Epic of Gilgamesh, or This Unnameable Little Broom" (1985), then watch "The Street of Crocodiles" (1986). Then watch them again. Try to wrap your brain around these TABLETOP realities created from everyday objects, from garbage, from your lunch scraps.

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Their sets are teeny-tiny. Their attention to detail is ENORMOUSly articulate and thorough.

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You want to watch it, own it, be it - NOW.

But...maybe you don't. (I'm heartborken.) In that case, check out these videos on Vimeo, "The Best of Animation/Stop Motion/Puppets" in today's music video scene. The image below is from
N.A.S.A feat Karen O and Ol' Dirty Bastard, the song is "Strange Enough".

Let's go, come out with me, bring your scissors, your glasses, your teeny-tiny working fingers and a video camera, let's make the world a smaller place - one full of much larger possibilities.

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DEFY MONDAY: Singing in the Rain

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There's no smile like a musical-made smile! Hope you all are enjoying the weather out there, and if singings not your thing, check out something kinda glum, here.

Wednesday Work: Lisa Sigal

Line Up. 2008.

To pull directly from a press release: Lisa Sigal's work "lies at the intersection of painting, sculpture and architecture." The thing that attracts me to the work is the play of the artwork in and out of our "real" space - the space we inhabit both in the bodily sense and in the sense of this image up top, the "real" space of our work/play/live.

Art lives in galleries. Art work exists in specific confines. Art work is completed between certain dimensions of frame, or size of wall, area in room, the stretch of a single concrete monument.

I love the image up top because it is boundless, playing with the sea foam green from building to building on a landscape, but also sea foam green in relationship to the green bike lane on the street. Where is the frame around this piece? Where is the gallery?

The Day Before Yesterday. 2008.

I have been feeling tired lately trying to figure out where art lives, and in which medium specific that it breathes. Lisa Sigal's use of many medium & much space, both specific and ubiquitous, makes me feel sure & excited that yes - art is what it should be, part of our lives, the same way buildings and bills and work days are.

One Room Shelter. 2009.

For pure aesthetics I quite enjoy the color choices Sigal makes and her play with bright colors into and on top of worn or undone industrial spaces, along with the construction materials.

View From My Brother's Room. 2005.

The subtle nostalgia, and the abstract narrative. Both of these things I like. I am not pretending to understand it in the way it may be meant to be understood, but I am enjoying it as a tired one does, a feeling of familiar, yet inspiring with its unknown undertones, much like the fall air out there, just starting to nip at the tips of our ears and remind us, summer's over - there's work to be done, lovely, wonderful work.

(some thoughts on architecture). 2010.

All of these images were pulled from Lisa Sigal's website, here. To read more about Sigal, check out this and this.

Defy Monday: Spike the Cider!

Photo: Julie A. Wenskoski

It's that time. Leaves are crunching and orchards are starting their apple and pumpkin festivities. This week begins, in my opinion, one of the best month-long periods of the entire year.

So, you ask, how do you start the week of the best month, the month of "it's AUTUMN"!?

You spike the cider already...

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Below, I've listed a recipe to get you started. It is quick and very easy. My only advice here: put in the things that you like, remove the things you don't, and experiment. Cause if it's apple cider and it's amber-colored alcohol, you pretty much can't go wrong.

Poor-Man's Hot-Toddy

Make each drink individually, to taste.

INGREDIENTS
1 box spiced apple cider mix OR hot apple cider tea
6-8 oz water per drink
whiskey o' choice
butter schnapps (optional sweet licquor)
*orange slice
*apple slice
*cinnamon stick
*(optional garnish)

1. Boil water in kettle, or warm in microwave until almost boiling.
2. Pour contents of cider mix into (or add tea bag to) mug
3. Pour hot water into mix and stir well (or let steep).
4. Pour in whiskey and schnapps to taste, (I prefer half schnapps to whiskey)
5. Garnish with fruit slices and cinnamon sticks

Enjoy!... and remember this anytime you're near a nice roarin' fire.

Wednesday Work: Seonna Hong

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The Corrective Effects of a Brushfire 2009 

mixed media on paper

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Same Bad Habits 2009

mixed media on canvas

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Hold That Tiger 2009

mixed media on canvas

Seonna Hong works as an illustrator and animation art director. Much of her animation work focuses on children's entertainment, though, her art is appreciated by kids and adults alike. I find a truly impressive combination of playfulness and danger in many of her images.

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I Prefer the Low Notes 2007

acrylic and paper on wood

Check out www.seonnahong.com for more images (they are ALL sooo fine, too many to list here.)

The vibrant colors in Hong's work are reminiscent of the coming season. As leaves are changing, and sweaters and scarves are showing themselves, i find myself giddy and excited for Autumn's arrival. Just a few more weeks and it'll be here in full swing!

DEFY MONDAY: Retreat!

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Retreat - already? Yes!

I'm feeling like this canine here, ready to skulk alone and grumpy through the dark and vine-y woods.

I am not bragging, (I am longing!), but I did used to live somewhere a lot like this pictured below. I'm just sayin' - I could leave out my back door, or even my front and be in the woods in a hop & a skip, I did not even need so much the jump.

Today, I am achin', achin' for the same.

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The best I am likely find myself in, resembles something more like the image below, and this is okay,

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Because the dogs and I will curl up and make some of these. Do you want to, too?

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But really, I need to buck up! Its a beautiful SUNNY day in Philadelphia! Oy, I am sure it is just some vitamin D that I need!

In my absence, lovely readers, get out there for me!
& whether it be those urban streets beneath your sneakers, or the green breeze across your cheeks, I suggest you listen to this, The Blow- Parentheses & do read the lyrics, they're lovely.

uh...where have YOU BEEN?!?

Woooooo - the WHIRLWIND of the last month! Where have we been? Its hard to remember, but a little run down and mash-up:


We celebrated a birthday, with YUM cupcakes from Whipped. (Following a WOW, sweetest of the sweet, birthday scavenger hunt.)

then ... summer ended,

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Wouldn't these stars & moon watermelon be B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L at a romantic summer end picnic at dusk with all of your best friends, favorite family, and every gorgeous person you see on the way to the bus? (just sayin')

And SCHOOL STARTED!

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And it was time to get organized, (and finally finish unpacking!)

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Oh, yeah, and there was an exhibition to hang at local gallery Grizzly Grizzly.

No biggie.

I gotta go comb my hair.

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I want the red one.

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We'll see you again soon & consistent.

Lot's of Wednesday Work piling up around here that we are dying to share....

Shameless Self Promotion

we are xHEREX

new work by
Tamsen Wojtanowski

@GrizzlyGrizzly
319 N. 11th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
2nd Floor

Sept. 1-30: OPENING: First Friday, September 3rd, 2010, 6pm-8pm.

If you're in Philly, it'd be great to see you!