Italian artist Moira Ricci is present in all of her photographs, much like another favourite photographer of mine, Cindy Sherman. The difference between the work of these two women is that Moira is not the main subject of the shot, but always a secondary character in the scene… oh and did I mention that some of the photos were taken before she was born? Yep. She has placed herself into photographs with her mother, essentially stepping back into her family memories as an observer. Wouldn’t it be great if you could actually do that?

{The series is titled, series 20.12.53 – 10.08.04, the dates of her mother’s life from birth to death.}

Sweet Mother of Buttony-Goodness!  That was my first thought upon finding the work of Virginia Echeverria Whipple…  clearly, I found the button pieces first. I was sufficiently jealous and thought I had my post ready to go. Then, just to be sure that I was doing my homework, I started looking around the many sections of her vast portfolio. Man alive, it was a mixed media gold mine! Buttony-goodness and then some!

{I found Virginia on the always inspiring Design For Mankind}

Well, she may not feel different, but her new dress makes me feel great! This little painting, on a wood block, arrived in my mailbox yesterday morning direct from Aris Moore herself. She sent it as a ‘thank you’ {totally unnecessary, but why on earth would I turn down a piece from her} just because I thought the smart people over at Australia’s very cool frankie magazine* would love her work, so I sent them her link. Turns out that they do love her, no big surprise, and are featuring her in their upcoming February issue. Great art karma for everyone… including me who now has a lovely little addition to my art collection!

{* If you’ve never seen frankie, do yourself a favour and get a copy. It’s a bit tricky to track down if you’re not in Australia, but it is available at a bunch of cool magazine shops around the globe… totally worth the hunt because it’s beautifully designed, really well written, and filled with amazing art, music, design, craft etc etc.}

Uh-oh. Looks like ‘Netherland’, from yesterday’s post, might have a little competition for my heart.

It always amazes me how many artists use found imagery, yet it all looks so different… well, the really good stuff anyway. And speaking of really good stuff, this is the work of artist/illustrator Matthew Billington. I haven’t been able to find any details on him, so instead of reading facts, let’s just have a quiet moment and relish in the jealousy. Ahhhhh…

I was flipping through the latest issue of Juxtapoz yesterday and landed on an ad for Parlour Gallery in New Jersey. David ‘Netherland’ van Alphen, a Canadian now living in Chicago, was the featured artist. It was love at first sight. Rainbows, wood grain and some strategically placed stereo equipment was all it took…  what can I say, the heart wants what the heart wants.

{If you’re in the Chicago area you can check out Netherland’s show, until January 24th, at Rotofuji Gallery… 1955 W. Chicago Ave. in Chicago’s “East Village” neighborhood, immediately next door to Rotofugi Designer Toy Store.}

I would love to own any of AJ Fosik‘s insanely beautiful wooden masks. But I wouldn’t hang them in my bedroom, for the obvious fear of nightmares involving Chinese dragons and Haida totems chasing me through a blindingly neon forest. Maybe in the living room? No, then I’d be constantly overwhelmed by my jealousy of his unbelievable craftsmanship, intricate design and stunning colour choices. Hmm, maybe it’s best that I just leave them at the Jonathan Levine Gallery in New York for now… until I can work through a few of my issues.

{I’m also a bit jealous of his gold shoes, not to mention the feature article that went along with them in TOKION Magazine, November 2009}

Damn, I really wish I thought of this. Mixed media installation graffiti… is that even a thing? I guess it is, because Seattle based Vincent Pacheco {aka Mudchicken} is making me insanely jealous with it. Not only is he running all over town turning concrete walls and abandoned buildings into gallery space, he’s also the founder of WAFA, ‘a global artist collective dedicated to the support and development of emerging artists.’ Wondering what WAFA stands for? Check the url when you click through to the site… I couldn’t agree with it more!

{One of my favourite artists, Anthony Zinonos, is a member of WAFA. I wonder if they’d make me an honorary member if I begged?}

Ahh, Paris. Home of fine wine, croissants, galleries galore and… Tombées du Camion {Fallen off the Truck}, a small shop, packed to the rafters with the most inspirational ‘junk’ you’ve ever seen. I’ve been to Paris four times but somehow I missed this. Damn. Ok, that’s it… I’m going back. There’s a vintage doll leg in there with my name on it.

{I found about this amazing little place via Junk Culture.}

A little bird told me about Dolan Geiman… ok, it was the Twitter bird. Dolan started following me, and moments later I was on his site, filled with jealousy, and following him. His work is an amazing combination of found objects, salvaged surfaces, drawing, painting, and screen printing. He lives in Chicago with his operations manager, marketing director, bookkeeper, web editor, wife, and occasional bait carrier/fishing assistant. Quite the entourage… actually, that’s all just one person, his life & business partner Ali Marie Geiman. He does the art and she runs their sustainable, eco-friendly business behind the scenes. Apparently it was a three month hiatus in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay that helped them clear their heads, gain perspective, and put this life plan together…  can somebody give me the quickest route to Chesapeake Bay, because my bags are packed!

Something like a phenomena is right. If I told you that ‘Tartantoes’ was the alias of an artist from London, who had shown work all over the world, and her latest much anticipated solo show was opening this weekend in New York, you’d probably believe me right? Well, you shouldn’t. She’s actually a sixteen-year-old cheerleader from Indonesia. Yep, I know. My reaction went a little something like this…

‘What?! THAT’S WHACK!’

You too?