The aesthetic of funk

"This is my message to the community.  We can create currency from anything we apply our creativity to." 
Xenobia Bailey is another artist I discovered via Etsy videos. 
What an amazing woman.

Artist Discovered: Nancy Hom

I alluded to a wonderful moment at the Autry's California's Designing Women exhibit last week.   All in all it was a wonderful show and I loved getting a chance to see an exhibit devoted to the cutting edge craft of women in the Golden State.

One artist's story really spoke to me (many artists were profiled via short videos).  Nancy Hom is a Northern California artist, community leader, and writer who creates screen prints and sculptures, amongst other forms of expression.  I was listening to her interview and was touched by the way she described herself -- as an artist for the community, a servant artist who takes the joys, struggles, and experiences of the people around her and tells their stories via bold graphics.  She also shared about her working class poor immigrant family background and her focus on themes centered on the feminine, on compassion, and on mothers and children.

Image via here.

The feminine hand in craft

I've been a fan of Tanya Aguiniga for the longest time.  I love her resourcefulness, and that she uses her background growing up in Tijuana to influence her design philosophy and craft.  I also love that she creates things that reflect the feminine hand--that she embraces texture and warmth.  Yet, at the same time her work reflects strength, resourcefulness, and industriousness (all feminine characteristics as well).  I want to learn how to use power tools!

In her studio.

Wearing her rope jewelry.

Margaret Kilgallen

I like things that are handmade and I like to see people's hand in the world, anywhere in the world; it doesn't matter to me where it is. And in my own work, I do everything by hand. I don't project or use anything mechanical, because even though I do spend a lot of time trying to perfect my line work and my hand, my hand will always be imperfect because it's human. And I think it's the part that's off that's interesting, that even if I'm doing really big letters and I spend a lot of time going over the line and over the line and trying to make it straight, I'll never be able to make it straight. From a distance it might look straight, but when you get close up, you can always see the line waver. And I think that's where the beauty is.

It's been a busy season

I've been so busy that I really haven't had time to blog.  I had hoped that by starting this blog I could post insightful, interesting, and thoughtful posts but it's been a mixed bag.  Oh well, as long as I keep enjoying it.  I hope to post a lot more once I get past these last few weeks of deadlines and projects.

That said, I've really enjoyed Netflix's extensive library of art documentaries and art films.  This is one I recently watched on Maya Lin - the woman who designed the Vietnam Veteran's memorial.  Ahh, such a great film and such an inspiring woman.  I'll have to write more on her at another time.

Currently listening to . . .

Neko Case! She has such a unique voice. I've been listening to her album "Middle Cyclone" all week.
And side note - still getting used to posting and linking and all that.