SEA GLASS! I love sea glass, and have collected it periodically over the years… but I could never figure out what to do with it. Well, UK based artist Jonathan Fuller clearly had a plan for the bits of wave-worn glass he’s gathered along the Cornish coastline. Beautifully gradated sea glass, embedded into cut wood panels. Ahh, so lovely.

Oh, this is such a sad, beautiful, inspiring project, titled “If We Lived Here” by Portland based artist Paula Rebsom. Usually my posts are quite short, but I had to give you the full {although, slightly shortened} story. Here’s where Paula’s story begins:

Thirty-one years ago, when my mother was 3 months pregnant with me, a harsh winter forced my parents off the farm that has been in our family for over 50 years. The 1,300-acre farm is tucked away in the little Badlands of North Dakota and only accessible by 9 miles of scoria road. After my parents’ left the farm they moved to nearby Dickinson, the land was rented to neighbors and the home was rented out to a couple that left the home in such disarray it was no longer safe for human occupancy. That is when the barn swallows, rabbits, raccoons and mice began to settle into their new home… Last February, after my grandmother gave my parents power of attorney over the property, they burned down the farmhouse, barns and chicken coup for liability concerns … This past September I returned to North Dakota and built a 16-foot tall by 40-foot wide billboard like replica of the home with the assistance of my father just over the hill from where the original homestead was:

I used the last image taken of the home before it was burned as my model for the front of the structure and attached 20 birdhouses that spell out the words “If we lived here, I’d be home by now.” to the back of it.

In its simplest form “If We Lived Here” was built in an attempt to provide shelter for the birds that were displaced when their home was destroyed. In it’s most complex form it is a quiet and haunting, ghostlike reminder of what was, what is no longer, and what may never be. It holds memories far beyond my years and comprehension while at the same time providing a new presence of hope and possibilities for this rural landscape. The landscape my mom was raised on, the land that her and my father would try to make a living off of, a place that I dreamed as a child to call home, the land my sister and I will someday inherit.

See? Sad, beautiful, and oh so inspiring.

Atoms, and spikes, and hives, oh my! The ceramic work of Brooklyn based artist Pamela Sunday is killing me. I want to pick them up, touch them, and most importantly… own all of them! She is inspired by nature and science, and I am inspired by her ~ sigh ~ such beautiful work.

Now this is my kind of litter! New Zealand artist Neil Dawson created this sculpture, titled Horizons, for Gibbs Farm {an amazing place, filled with an insane sculpture collection, in North Auckland}. I’m not sure what those cows are thinking, but I’d be quite happy to have a giant piece of icon-like paper land gently on a hilltop near me! So, so good.

Gasp! Porcelain popcorn, with gold glaze. Um… YES!!! I absolutely love these sculptures by LA based artist Pae White. Oh, and her installation, titled Ashen Roses, is insanely beautiful too:

Amazing, right?! Ah, but that popcorn… I cannot get over that popcorn!! Here, have one more look:

Love! And on that deliciously golden note, happy weekend!

Whoa. I think I’m in love. Here are THREE very good reasons for my art crush on British artist Rachel Whiteread:

ONE:

TWO:

THREE:

Oh my. As you can see, I love so much of Rachel’s work… and how can you blame me? Sculptures on shelves, drawings, and pink resin doors. It’s all so beautiful. Sigh.

{ps. My latest ART GOES HERE post is up on sfgirlbybay today!}

WOW! … and also ew!!! If you enjoy a good old fashioned lollipop from time to time, you might not after this! This series, titled GANGREDINE CONSUMPTUS, was created by ‘ROTGANZEN’ ~ an artist collective based in Rotterdam and Schiedam {the initiators, and main artists, are Robin Stam, Mark van Wijk and Joeri Horstink}.

Now, I don’t want to leave you feeling grossed out by these toxic, yet absolutely beautiful, ‘lollies’ {don’t worry, they’re made out of resin, and can’t actually be eaten – they’re just making a point!}… so instead, I’ll sign off with this other body of work by ROTGANZEN:

Ah yes, amazingly melty disco balls… GORGEOUS, and not at all poisonous.

Yep, it’s my birthday… the last one in my 30’s – um, when did that happen?! Anywho, I have always loved my birthday, and today is no exception! I thought I’d share a few of my favorite images from my “random lovely things” pinboard … because, quite frankly, most of them sort of scream birthday! Ok, here we go:

Thanks for being part of my special day… I’m going to spend the rest of the day riding my new pink bike with my lovely husband, and eating chocolate cake. A lot. See you tomorrow!

{1. Glass bubblegum paperweights 2. Painting by Amanda Blake 3. NOW mirror by Doug Aitken 4. Neon/neutral party decor 5. Donut Queen! 6. Donut painting by Emily Eveleth 7. Mixed media cake by Martha Rich 8. YOU LOOK GREAT mirror by Jade Rude 9. Mixed media photograph by Unknown … to me anyway}

Oh my word… I love this piece, titled Necklace, by Australian artist Kate Tucker. I have boxes of found bits and pieces, and I wish that they were hanging on a wall looking like this, rather than sitting in a dusty box in my studio! Gor.ge.ous. {I had to include that final photo so you could see the scale!}. And… if you’re not quite jealous enough, then have a look at these lovely, inky, gouachey, mixed media pieces that were also part of this show:

Sigh.

Hm, jealous isn’t really the right word… I think obsessed is much more accurate! Yes. I am obsessed with the tiny, lovely little world of Duesseldorf based artist Sabine Timm. I’m about to show you what seems like most of her flickr stream, but I couldn’t help it {hence the term “obsession” I suppose}:

Gah!! Yep, I want to live in a teeny tiny house so that I can invite Sabine over for a teeny tiny cup of tea on a little bitty table… I call dibs on the chair though:

{via Luna}