The Work of / Vivian Maier

Once, a little while back, I was in the gift shop of an art museum and I overheard a woman telling another woman at the counter that she is "tired of street photography".  She felt it was "overdone and not art".  I suggested she check out Vivian Maier's photography, to which she replied that she's sure it wouldn't intrigue her.  She ended the conversation there.  Too bad, I thought.  Too bad.  What remarkable and engaging art she is missing out on...

Vivian Maier, a nanny for much of her adult life, was not officially discovered until after her death about five or so years ago when storage items were auctioned off and came under the care of an archivist, John Maloof- a filmmaker and photographer- who discovered Maier’s work in 2007 and was the first to bring her work to the public and promote it.  Aren't we lucky for that? 

 Here's a self-portrait.  I love the kids in this shot.

Her story is somehow both quietly and boldly present.  Maloof has admirably worked extensively to piece together the bits of her life, collected here and there.  It's a momentous achievement and I am so hopeful that the woman from that art museum gift shop has since decided to have a peek. 

[More on Vivian Maier here.]

The Work Of / Gail Pine

I've got a story for you, if you'd like to hear it. And I hope you bear with me through this because it roots and ends in the hypnotic piece of gelatin silver photography above, which is, at once compelling, spellbinding, and unnerving.   When I saw it- the real deal, in hand, to the touch, with my eyes being pulled into its luminous heart- it was, in that wild glimmering moment, mine.  Sold.  Destined to be in my life every day, beginning as soon as possible.  I paid for it bit by bit until it was time to take her home.

I carried the finely framed artwork with me back to my house, carefully, anxiously, excitedly.  But,  do you know what?  I couldn't find the right place for it for months... months!  It sat, well protected, on a cabinet shelf.  I'd come across it often, take it out, stare at it and, bam!  Those same feelings all over again.  But I still couldn't find the perfect spot for it.  And it so rightfully deserved the perfect spot.

And then, one day last Spring, Sebastian and I, together, decided to end our marriage and I was to move out and into a new home.  It's been a peaceful and loving process between us, and what I was experiencing at that time was a pull toward more peace and more love; spellbound by that feeling of being starkly in the center of something powerful and transformative and feeling unnerved, unsettled with the unknown that was about to unfold right there before me.  But for the first time ever, I was handed a major life change and let myself trust that the unfolding would be magical.  It's true.  I did.  I have no idea where that strength came from, but it came from somewhere and I learned/am learning to go with it.

I found a beautiful little guest home; made it "me" and began to settle into a life where I was still connected with Sebastian and my friends but that also offered up a serene solitude, off and away from my usual stomping ground.  I enjoy being by myself but, once again, the unknown made it so that I felt a little weary being alone for the first time in over a decade.  I kept giving myself the gentle (sometimes %&*#! exasperating) reminders to trust the unfolding.  And so I began.  I unpacked my stuff and then took out this photograph, knowing maybe instinctively, exactly where it needed to go.  The Perfect Spot, finally, is in my office- sun-drenched and airy (and tiny) - where I can see it daily; sometimes with a vase of flowers next to it; sometimes with design materials left by it to rest for an undetermined length of time while I get distracted with another something on the walk to my desk.   In any case, each day, I stop to look at it; a rush of thankfulness for this life.

This image (have I told you?) is entitled The Magic Solitude.  The Magic Solitude.  Can you imagine a more serendipitous connection to a piece of art?  I sure can't.  But here's the thing of the whole matter... these serendipitous connections, the mark of knowing, the depth of life, the intensity that unfolds into something distinctly vital and truth-bearing, into something magical... that, friends, is the work of Gail Pine.

This woman- a photo-based artist of great and meticulous talent- is also my kind and loving friend.  She has the rare gift of insight fueled by deep deep compassion.  She is focused and astoundingly detail-oriented.  She is a collector of the unexpected, and often, the forgotten; the at-one-time discarded and left on the periphery of lives once sparked with dreams and hopes; some realized, some not.  Gail collects these and gives them back their lives; their hopes; their dreams, individually or collectively with a new story for us to reclaim and relate to on the most strikingly intimate level.  She, herself, is of this quality.  And her art is something we all need to know.

I was lucky enough to get to visit her fascinating-in-the-details studio.  You can have a peek, too...

I adore this woman, the kind soul, the artist.  I think you will, too.  For more of her work, to contact her, to get inspired, visit her website HERE.  It's something special and, yes, so magical.

The work of / Popko Shop

Crystal Popko of Popko Shop is a beautifully skilled jeweler (she's also a super funny and happy person- so win-win).  Her background is in fine arts sculpture, but when the steel, plaster, cement and welding supplies wouldn’t fit in her space, her work got smaller...and smaller...

 And lucky for the world, too, because her real butterfly wing jewelry is something special.  Here's what she has to say about the sourcing of the wings, "All of my butterfly wings are from a Butterfly Conservation garden where the butterflies live their full lives until they naturally expire. The gardens collect the wings and I make jewelry with them. I feel this is a great way to reuse these wings so people can appreciate them long after their time." 

And then she has these glitter pop rings.  I've bought a few; they're exactly the sort of festive pop that spruces up bachelorette parties and New Year's bashes...

Want to treat yourself to a pair of earrings or a necklace to capture the perfection of Summer?

There's so much more over at her shop... go love 'em up! 

The Work of / Kerstin Olson Horneman

My friends comprise an immensely talented bunch- I feel really lucky for that.   I believe in surrounding ourselves with people who inspire and Kerstin Olson Horneman is easily on the top of my personal + professional list.  Her floral styling for Blue Magnolia often makes me gasp, thrillingly dreaming of her bouquets filling my home. 

Reverie Magazine, a lovely publication out of the UK, recently called on Kerstin for a spread in their Spring 2013 issue.    Shot at the insanely gorgeous El Encanto hotel in Santa Barbara, her designs integrate beautifully with the historic setting and the charming theme. 

 

Her work continues to inspire me, over and over again.  She's got quite a gift, wouldn't you say?

[ Photos by Jen Huang / Floral Styling by Blue Magnolia / Spread via Reverie Magazine ]

The work of / Sebastian Orth...

Introducing a new series: The Work Of... featuring the work of artists+designers I really like.  

This will be a fun one - at least for me; and hopefully for you, too:) because I get to search out all things that make me feel happy.    So naturally I chose to kick it off with a post on the husband's work.

A tattoo artist by day, he comes home and paints six nights a week (at least).  I've been photo-documenting the process for many of the original paintings of these tattoo flash images.  

Man, was that cool to do. 

I want this one for a carry-on bag...

Plus this California painting is incredible.  

I'm proud of the guy, did you guess?  Click HERE, if you'd like to see more.

(p.s. His book is awesome, too :)