Designskool.net

Brooks Salzwedel

by Justine on February 20, 2013

“Held Up” 2008 12″ x 8″ graphite, tape, resin

Today I’m admiring the wintry images of Brooks Salzwedel. A graduate of Art Center College of Design, Salzwedel creates his misty images with layers of resin, illustrated with graphite pencils. The results are somewhat haunting. A juxtaposition of awe and serenity as colossal feats of Mother Nature and human kind are wrapped in a ghostly shroud of snow or fog – majestic but frail, floating, fading, ephemeral.

In photos, such grand natural themes remind of the great American landscape painters like George Inness, whose atmospheric paintings captured the quiet splendor of our Nation’s landmarks. And yet, in person, many of Salzwedel’s images are actually quite small. Some, like those created in vintage tins, are even intimate enough to cup in the palm of your hand. Such big themes rendered on such a personal scale only serves to heighten the drama.

“Triple Structure” 2009 21″ x 14″ graphite, tape, resin

“Little Big Mountain,” 2012, 12 x 16″ graphite, mylar, tape, panel

“Nest High” 2008 12″ x 9″ graphite, tape, resin

“Reflection” 2010 16 x 24 inches mixed media

“Plume #2″ in a tin

Brooks’ originals and prints are available at Gallery Nucleus and here. Check out his Facebook page for upcoming shows, including one in NYC from March 14 – April 6.

{ 1 comment }

winter weaving

by Justine on February 19, 2013

in Cape Cod,kids

This weekend, Oliver and I headed to Marnie’s for a foraging expedition. Our objective was to collect whatever we found and weave it.

We set out without any real preconceived notions of what we were looking for or what we wanted the outcome to be. Instead it was an extemporaneous exercise, designed to get us out into nature and experiment with our findings. The results were secondary. This time, it was the process that was important.

Olie and Marnie take cuttings

A Cape house with orange door

seed pods

an “L”

black-eyed-susans past

a winter path

Marnie displays some of our finds

pause for a tree climb

Marnie with our gatherings

a visitor at the door

while Marnie makes tea…

a heart on the door

a makeshift loom

twine

Marnie demonstrates

Olie tries his hand

meanwhile Mom makes a wreath from honeysuckle

my wreath in detail

Marnie and Oliver’s woven work

the weaving in detail

{ 3 comments }

valentine pink

by Justine on February 14, 2013

in color,decor,kids

Bella Notte‘s Linen Whisper Sheer in Perfect Peach via Remodelista; pink earmuffs from Rainbow Mittens

Petal pink!

Pour moi, mes enfants, et ma maison.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

pantone chips via StilInspiration; Arvella scarf

Donkey piñata from Lieschen Mueller; pink watch from Cold Picnic; Bensimon sneaks

detail, radish bag by Myriam Balaÿ Devidal; neon necklace by Lieschen Mueller

{ 3 comments }

valentine picnic

by Justine on February 13, 2013

in holiday,kids,life/family

When the boys are away…. the girls will have a pink valentine picnic.

{ 1 comment }

my little valentines

by Justine on February 13, 2013

in holiday,kids

Just completed Valentines for my little loved ones. Oliver’s is the Serengeti Sun and Solvi’s is the Balloon.

{ 0 comments }

margo weyer

by Justine on February 12, 2013

in art/crafts

You know what they say about one person’s trash. Well, to artist Margo Weyer, this detritus is not just treasure, it’s art.

After 10 years working as a stylist for magazines and in interior design, Margo Weyer felt her creative energy was sapped. To get these juices flowing again, she took up running, and while on the road she noticed beauty amongst the rubbish that littered the street. These bits she began collecting, eventually composing them into works of art that became her Streetcombing Project.

In these pieces Margo Weyer causes us to rethink that which we have casually tossed aside as useless, ugly, or broken. Scrutinizing these found objects for their own instrinsic value, Margo sees past commonly-held concepts about an object’s worth. Viewing them not as at the end of a journey, but still on the path, she juxtaposing these diamonds in the rough with other ephemeral goods to bring forth a new identity, a new beauty and value. The resulting compositions are poetic and fragile. Haunting they are like spirits transitioning between two selves, yet hopeful. Ultimately, in raising this junk to the level of art, Weyer entreats us to reexamine and reassess our own debris, those characters, feelings, and episodes in our own lives, which we may have cast off, buried, or dismissed.

You can see more of Margo’s work on This is Paper. To follow Margo’s Streetcombing project and submit your own on her facebook page.

Photo by Ingrid van den Brand.

{ 1 comment }

winter wonder weekend

by Justine on February 11, 2013

in kids,Our House

{ 0 comments }

cocoa and snow

by Justine on February 8, 2013

in kids,Our House

{ 1 comment }

valentine productions 2013

by Justine on February 7, 2013

in holiday,kids

It’s that time of year again. That time when I need to mass produce Valentines for my children’s classmates. Growing up, making Valentines with my many creative mentors: Mom, Pat or Marnie, was a tradition. So much so that now it appears to be part of my DNA, and I find myself unable to simplify my life by buying cards. Ah well, at least it’s still fun.

Last year’s mass production involved tissue paper. This year, we went with “all you can do with stickers.” Project one, the more ambitious venture, involved using foam adhesives to create a print roll pattern. Oliver immediately rejected this as way too involved, and certainly not enough fun to entice him away from his new dragon story. So Solvi and I soldiered on together. Once we’d finished however, Oliver did join us for the more straightfoward sticker fun.

Solvi applies her stickers.

paint

and roll

the results (with a little help from Mama)

finally Oliver emerges from his room to make Valentines

Solvi could make them forever.

detailed work

kid’s Valentines

Mom tries her hand at simple sticker Valentines

two favorites

and a mobile

{ 1 comment }

war and tulips

by Justine on February 6, 2013

in Our House

When I bought my house, the previous owner informed me that there were journals in the attic from the early days of the home. I was delighted at the time, and imagined myself immediately pouring through them.

Well, of course, life took over, and so I’m a bit horrified to admit that it took this history major until now to look through these prized records. Worse, it wasn’t even me who initiated the review. Sneaking up to the attic one day, my brave children discovered the leather bound, gold trimmed “magic books” and started “casting spells.” Unfortunately, they neglected a cleanliness charm, and the historic grim on their hands and faces gave them away. So it was that I decided it was time to rescue the fragile books from my imaginative, but not too gentle, progeny.

And what a find! The journals, dating from 1903 to 1949, are the daily records of Fred T. Dolbeare, who was probably the son-in-law of the original owner, William Bosworth. (I will have to do more research on both.) As you can see from the closeups, the records are quite detailed, providing a wonderfully personal perspective on history. Apparently, just like me, the Dolbeares had some connection with Cape Cod, for Mr. Dolbeare mentions the opening of the Cape Cod Canal on the same day that World War I started. (Of course, being a Downton Abbey fan, I went right to that date.) In reading this entry, which records his daily routine alongside major world events, it is possible to put yourself in the mind of the average citizen. For example, it is interesting to note that, on this day at least, Mr. Dolbeare seems most concerned with the effect of the war on his stocks. Perhaps a natural response for one so far away, who could not yet know the devastating course of history.

I look forward to delving in Mr. Dolbeare’s reactions to events as they progress and will keep you apprised.

“Tuesday, July 28, 1914
Arrived Boston at 5am and immediately proceded home for breakfast. Raining and cloudy all day.
Lester to Sandwich to be present at 275th anniversary of town and opening of the Cape Cod Canal.
War declared by Austria against Serbia. Situation bad throughout Europe.
Stock markets all over the world had a bad slump. CPR dropped 15 pts. Other R.R.s down 3 to 5 pts.”