Jack. Pot.

I’ve never played poker before, but I’m assuming that a bunch of diamonds might be a good thing? In any case, when these little gems showed up in my inbox yesterday I was thrilled! I love these old school portraits, on hand cut wood, by Tucson based artist Erin Wilbur… and let’s just say, if I did know anything at all about gambling, I’d bet it all on ‘Diamond Green Hair Woman’. Love.

So, I’m sure most of you are thinking… ‘Diamonds? Mix Tapes? Big juicy steak? More diamonds? Wait, I thought Valentine’s Day was last Monday?!’, and of course you’d be right. However, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m still totally in love with these salvaged wood bas-relief sculptures by Rotterdam based artist Ron van der Ende. And let’s be honest, I’d be quite happy with either one of those giant diamonds whether it was Valentine’s Day or not… am I right ladies?

Ahhh, the milky blue pools and mossy hills of a far off land. If you can’t afford a trip to Iceland, no problem… pop on a woolly sweater, crumble up some chocolate cake, and just pretend you’re visiting Iceland. Granted, Vancouver based artist Eszter Burghardt actually went there to do a series of artist residencies, but thanks to her craftiness with a bit of Icelandic wool {top three}, a few ingredients from her baking pantry {bottom three}, and of course her trusty camera, she has brought the landscape of Iceland to us. Gor.ge.ous.

{If you would like to whip yourself up a little bit of Iceland’s barren highlands this weekend, here’s what Eszter uses: poppy seeds, coco powder, coffee, milk, and chocolate cake crumbs… mmmm! Oh, and thanks so much to my friend Michelle for sending me a link to Eszter’s work! xo}

Whoa.

These stunningly beautiful, insanely meticulous installations are by Brooklyn based artist Tara Donovan. I was thinking of leaving the close-ups out of the post so that I could have an amazing contest with fabulous prizes for the people who correctly guessed what each piece was made from… but the detailed views were just too fantastic, and I had to show them… oh, and also, I had no fabulous prizes to give out. Ah, details.  Ok, if I had actually planned an amazing contest, with fabulous prizes, these are the answers I would have been looking for: 1. styrofoam cups 2. buttons 3. paper plates 4. scotch tape

{via Curbs & Stoops… who I just wrote about earlier this morning}

I have been following Brooklyn based blog, Curbs & Stoops, online for quite awhile… and if I lived in Brooklyn I could actually start following them around in person too! Tomorrow night {Friday Feb 18th} they are throwing a party to celebrate their newly opened 12,000 square foot, cultural center called ‘The Active Space’… it used to be a feather factory {I’m not sure what happens in a feather factory, but it sounds cool}, and now it’s home to their new residency program, their consultancy studio, a small project space… and lots of plans for huge growth. Anywho, get yourself to Bushwick Brooklyn tomorrow night for five exhibitions, three open studios and a big ol’ party. Hmm, and maybe you should wear feathers… just a thought.

{The Active Space : 566 Johnson Ave. (1st and 2nd Floors) Bushwick, Brooklyn}

*ps. And, it just so happens that this party is part of Norte Maar’s Beat Nite… yep, yet another reason to go to Bushwick tomorrow night!

What do I love more than vintage photography? THIS! I love this more than vintage photography! Yep, vintage photography reenacted decades later {right down to the bubble bath, grass skirt, and raised eyebrows} by Buenos Aires based photographer Irina Werning. Here is her description of this insanely hilarious series titled Back to the Future:

‘I love old photos. I admit being a nosy photographer. As soon as I step into someone else’s house, I start sniffing for them. Most of us are fascinated by their retro look but to me, it’s imagining how people would feel and look like if they were to reenact them today… A few months ago, I decided to actually do this. So, with my camera, I started inviting people to go back to their future.’

{…thanks to Jeff of Liberia 77 for pointing me to Irina’s work.}

Are you missing the pink hearts and red roses from yesterday’s Valentine festivities? No problem. I’ll ease you gently back into reality with these installations, from a series titled shredder, by American artist Jonathan Whitfill. Yep, nothing like a couple of rainbows on found books to get you over V-day and headed blissfully toward spring. Ahhh.

{via sodapopgirl. shake it. (ps. love that tagline!)}

{ps. If two rainbows aren’t quite enough for you, head over to sfgirlbybay… today’s curated collection is an ode to the rainbow!}

Skyscrapers, birds,  mountains, and a lady with a jaunty haircut. Hmm, imagine what might happen if you gave a whole bunch of artists these basic images to start with, and then let them run off to create whatever they pleased.  Well, German artist Marek Haiduk already did it. He calls this experimental project RVLVR. I call it ridiculously awesome.

{1. Jesse Draxler 2. Rubén B 3. Maria Mantella 4. Christopher Berry 5. Jacqueline Bos}

The Diana World Tour {brought to you by the good people at Lomography} has made it’s way around the globe, and is now landing in Australia and New Zealand. There are all sorts of amazing things included in this exhibition, but it’s The Diana Clones Exhibition that’s making my heart beat a little bit faster than usual. Sweet Diana cameras have been turned into sculptural, jealousy-inducing, art pieces by 25 amazing artists. Mushrooms, bunnies and Eskimos? Um, yes please!

Sydney 3 February – 19 February 2011 Blender Gallery

Melbourne 25 February – 11 March  2011 No Vacancy Gallery
Opening Night:  24 February @ 6pm

Auckland 18 – 31 March  2011 The Department Store
Opening Night:  18 March @ 7pm

{via frankie magazine}

Austrian artist Mareike Auer is best known for her simple, humorous paintings that “try to get the bottom of everyday occurrences”. Now, you’re probably wondering why I didn’t show any of those? Well, I was going to show the business man riding a fox, or maybe the glass jar full of horses… until I found this little collection! What can I say, I fell in love. Game on, indeed.