Leopard print pants and a Garfield t-shirt? How can you not want to be friends with Anthony Sonnenberg  … that’s what I imagine he’s saying in this photo. I’m so excited to have Anthony on the podcast today because I’ve been following him on Instagram for years, but we’ve never spoken until today. I was feeling a little shy, but with photos like the one above all over his feed, I was pretty sure he’d be a friggin’ delight… and I was right! Listen right up there under Anthony enjoying the great outdoors, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify.

I wasn’t sure where to start because Anthony does so many amazing things, but let’s go with his ceramic sculpture:

So gorgeous! The final sculpture above is from quite a few years ago, but I’m almost 100% sure it was the piece that made me click FOLLOW on Instagram. Looooove.

Oh boy, and speaking of love… ANTHONY’S JEWELRY:

Whoa. So big, so ornate, so everything. I can’t wait to see where he goes with this work… it’s going to be ridiculously good.

Now, I chose to start this post with a photo of Anthony enjoying the fresh mountain air, but I could have easily gone with one of these:

Yep, you want to be friends with him… I know, me too. See? I told you he makes and does zillions of things, and all of them are fabulous!

And finally, this. Here’s the painting of Anthony by UK based artist Sarah Ball, and the photographic inspiration:

Isn’t that lovely? Sigh. So good. Thank you so much to Anthony for recording his first ever podcast interview with me… and for not pursuing his career as a “sandwich artist”!  As always, huge thanks to you for listening to yet another episode of ART FOR YOUR EAR… there’ll be a brand new episode next weekend.

Other links:

1. Anthony on Instagram
2. “I’m not here. This isn’t happening.” at GAVLAK Palm Beach / June 9 – July 25, 2021
3. Conduit Gallery, Dallas Texas
4. Archie Bray Foundation

Well this gets the heart racing on the first Monday back to work, no? ART YOU CAN WEAR! Oh my word, I love every single one of these fun ‘n fabulous pieces {notice I kicked things off with Chuck and Di, obviously}. Mouchkine Jewelry is a collaboration between two French designers, Anne-Christine Nadal and Jean-Marie Boillot, who are also partners in life. Exquisite kitschiness, high and low materials living in perfect harmony, each piece handmade in France. Sigh. So, so fabulous. ps. Don’t you think Frida Kahlo would’ve worn all of this?

This is Brisbane based artist and designer Rachel Burke aka @imakestagram. Can you guess what she desperately wanted to be when she grew up? A lawyer or a doctor? Nope. A fairy. Well, as you can see by the photo above, she nailed it! Rachel makes the craziest most wonderful work – from art you can wear {even if you’re a mermaid}, to art you can sit on … and in, for that matter! And you know what else is crazy and wonderful? Her story. Rachel’s path has been anything but conventional, which actually makes complete sense. You can listen right up there under Rachel in her fairy floss dress, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts / Spotify.

First, let’s start with a few of the images I posted the other day:

Gasp! Remember all of that? Of course you do… how could you forget a tinsel cafe and those crazy dresses. Speaking of crazy dresses:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rachel Burke (@imakestagram)

Ah yes, perfect for everyday wear. Clearly, I’m gonna need some of that bling for my next trip to the grocery store {watch the video!}

Okay, let’s take a look at all of the fabulous brand collaborations we covered:

Yes! Talk about only working with brands that fit your own aesthetic! Love, love, love.

Next, this is just a teeny tiny snippet of Rachel’s artwork currently showing at Saint Cloche Gallery in Sydney:

Okay, there is no way her mom would’ve allowed this much glitter in the house. NO. WAY. The show is open until Dec 6th, but if you’re not in Sydney, you can also buy the work online. Oh, ps. she’s doing an exclusive workshop at the gallery {Saturday December 5th @ 2 – 3:30pm}, and you can buy tickets HERE.

Alright, let’s take a look at Rachel’s super sweet family. Brace yourself for cuteness overload:

Oh. My. Word. Hugo {the baby}, Tom {the lawyer willing to wear tinsel), and Daisy {the wiener}. Seriously, the cutest family evah* … *that’s ‘ever’ in Australian. Also, now do you see why I need those sparkly coats for my full dozen ‘o dachshunds? Yeah, you get it.

And finally, since this is the last episode until after the holidays, I figured we should probably wrap things up with these:

“Merry Craftmas” … you are talking my language, lady! So. Much. Fun! And with that I will give a great big thanks to Rachel for hanging out with me for so long; even bigger thanks to Rachel’s mom for hanging out with Hugo for so long; and thanks to YOU for listening. There will be more ART FOR YOUR EAR in 2021. Stay happy & healthy ~ Danielle xo

Other links:

1. Rachel on Instagram
2. Rachel’s shop
3. Victoria College of Art
4. Universal Store, Australia
5. Frankie Magazine, Australia
6. Material Girl Magazine, Germany
7. ‘‘Apomogy’ Project
8. Alt Summit
9. Next In Fashion, Netflix
10. LEGO Collab.
11. Disney Collab.
12. Rachel’s art show at Saint Cloche Gallery, Sydney
13. Danielle’s Skillshare classes {mentioned in the intro}
14. Danielle’s Liz + pompoms collage

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rachel Burke (@imakestagram) on Mar 1, 2020 at 6:10pm PST

Yessssssss. Seriously, how can you look at all of this and NOT want to be BFF’s with Australian artist Rachel Burke!? She makes everything from sparkly wearable art, to art you can sit on. Her glittery portfolio is filled with both personal work {like that FAB CUTE RITZY pop-up tinsel cafe}, and collaborations with clients {like Mindy Kahling, Miley Cyrus, Sephora, Visa… and check out that floral headband she did with LEGO!}. Okay, I gotta go brainstorm a BFF plan. Happy Wednesday!

Tiny sculptures… that you can wear! Oh my word, this is the work of UK based artist Faye Hall, and yes, it’s jewelry. Here is Faye’s description of her process and her pieces:

“Originally trained in textiles, and with over thirteen years’ experience designing highly tactile fabrics for fashion and interiors, I now apply my perpetual curiosity for surface and materials to create bold pieces of art jewellery which marry my textiles practice and silversmithing. Influenced by my collage work, I am interested in finding beautiful solutions to combine materials of different weights and origins through embellishment and placement. I am very curious about the use of embroidery as both a decorative and construction tool within my work and I like to challenge that fine line.

Every piece of jewellery is handcrafted in my workshop and created in a very intuitive way; I like to be playful with my material choices and to juxtapose elements that you may not typically put together, such as linoleum and silk, or formica and gold. Working with found colours along the way only adds to the challenge of combining components that are inherently different in weight, structure and surface into an intriguing object which is tactile and harmonious.“

Tactile – check … Harmonious – CHECK! Faye’s work can be found in her online shop. Happy Monday.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Artist. Mother. And the #stereotypesweater – – #artistmotherco #artistmother #dentonmakes #fiberartist #contemporaryfiberart #thefiberstudio #knittersofinstagram

A post shared by Cassie (@cassiearnoldfiberart) on Jul 14, 2020 at 3:27pm PDT

Wow. Look at her go! Now that is truly blurring the line between art and motherhood, and I could not love it more! This is the work of Texas based artist Cassie Arnold. I’ve loved those droopy, lopsided, engorged – and super not engorged – boobs for ages, and have been following Cassie on Instagram. Well, a few weeks ago she posted ‘The Stereotype Sweater’ on her feed with this caption: ‘For anyone who has been torn down, labeled, verbally attacked, wrongfully stereotyped… this sweater is for you.’  Thank you, Cassie. Sadly, so many of us need this sweater. Here is part of her artist statement:

“My current body of work explores the unspoken and taboo topics connected to miscarriage, pregnancy, and the transformative female form. By using traditional fiber techniques, stereotypically associated with women, I hope to create more honest conversations through approachable art.”

Brilliant and beautiful. Happy Friday.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Katie Green (@katiegreenart) on Apr 26, 2020 at 6:12pm PDT

Aaaaaah! They’re doing all of the things we’re not supposed to do! So. Much. Touching … and I love it. This is the beautifully bizarre work of Calgary based artist Katie Green. Washy weirdness and masks that I would happily wear to the grocery store. ps. Katie’s also a puppet-maker, which does not surprise me at all.

Gasp! This is the stunning work of Brazilian-born, US based artist Melissa Meier. All of these wearable sculptures {!?} are from her series, titled “Skins”. Here is the description from her site:

In her current series “SKINS”, Meier has created sculptural clothing hybrids, utilizing natural materials such as leaves, stones, fur, eggshells, wheat, rice, crystals, scales, sticks, feathers, pinecones and shells.

Inspired by Brazilian Carnival and Native American skin-walkers, her wearable constructions blend female empowerment with a self-created mythology, developed around the idea of ancient cultures of female warriors, exemplifying strength, beauty and unity of life lived in harmony with the elements. Her warrior women are breathtakingly sensual, while radiating a searing combination of purity and power.

Meier states, “At first I was inspired by the legends of indigenous people and how they used the skins of animals to transform into them, creating a bridge between the human and animal worlds. But as my work matured, I became equally interested in the future of fashion as an extreme form of kinetic sculpture.”

The costumes are developed into moveable, wearable sculptures that are brought to Life as performance art works, serve as independent sculptures and in their final documented form as archival fine art photographs.

This is where the work creates a bridge to the present and allows us to connect with and find ourselves reflected in her images of hidden, treasured cultures, heroines and spirit guides, imagined and real.

Beautiful. {Also, I want the crystal headpiece.}

Well, this artwork seems ridiculously appropriate today. These beautifully bizarre textile masks are the work of an Ireland based artist who goes by the name ‘Threadstories’. See? An Irish artist on St.Patrick’s Day, featuring masks… and yes, that final piece was completed a couple of days ago, and is hashtagged: #stayhome #staycalm. Yep. Happy St.Paddy’s Day… drink your green beer at home. xo

ps. Go check out her Instagram feed as she posts gorgeous videos of her work in action!

Art … for your fingers! What are these elegant, ethereal, translucent rings made from? Salad containers, produce bags, assorted fruit containers, and recycled silver. WHAT. I’ll let American artist (and recently graduated BFA student… as in last week) Charity Ridpath explain:

Year of Plastic

My wearable sculptures are informed by what we as humans make to be thrown away.  This past year, I collected all of the single-use plastic I used in order to better understand my own footprint. With “Year of Plastic” I transformed this collection into nature inspired, wearable compositions. I like to view these translucent forms as a hologram, a dystopian re-creation of something that no longer exists. It creates a link between the abundance of single-use plastic and nature’s destruction. Worn on the body, these pieces create an intimate relationship between the wearer and the material. I subvert the traditional ideas of jewelry as objects with value and symbols of status by replacing gold and jewels with plastic sculptures. The placement of these constructions on the body creates a visual focus on how we physically interact with packaging made of single-use plastic.The experience of wearing these pieces builds a tactile vocabulary that interrupts the common association of plastic products with convenience, and instead highlights their burden. Through this interaction with the work, I engage with the contradiction of single-use plastic; Though it plays an ephemeral role in our everyday, it has a long lasting impact on our environment and consequently, on us. 

Mic drop.