For the Love of Art

Long before I understood what it was that I was taking into the deepest recesses of my nubile mind I have been captivated by dimensions and scale. I think art is best taken in like that openly without preconception or filtering through the critical or cynical mind.

Sculpture is something that truly excites me there is something so remarkable about the three dimensional form and it being appreciable and transitional from every angle.

In terms of sculpture the stand outs are as follows.
Allen Jones 1969

Then there's Jeff Koons and his take on German kitch - think Hansel and Gretel on acid but my heart belongs to puppy. A three story tall steel structure that is replete with floral 'fur' the concept alone is mind boggling let alone its execution. I think he is a contemporary Warhol. This image to my knowledge is the first and original 'Puppy' and has been recreated on a number of occasions around the world including Rockefeller Center.
PUPPY Jeff Koons

Puppy Two

A few years at the National Gallery of Victoria to see Man Ray I discovered the Mr and Mrs Woodman series. Clever Subtle Erotic and Intense they are housed at the Centre Pompidou in France. I am still astounded by the intimacy achieved by these inanimate objects, I find these images beautifully touching.

I have been drawing faceless dolls for years before I seeing these images and related to the tone of the works the juxtaposition of the materials and content, the lack of faces - void of detail that emitted an audible sensual roar. The images shown here are quite tame there are more in the series that take on a more intense and exacting sexual tone. It is also of note the period these works were created.

My version of little faceless beings in love My art 'Love Soaked Sox' and another 'It's All About the Dance - and the music only you two hear. It's all about the Dance

A more recent find a neat little sculpture...'The Power of Love' by Mathieu Lehanneur -you can listen to it...together! 

And if ever you find yourself at http://www.heide.com.au/ Heidelberg Melbourne Australia there is another of my favourites permanently on display there, it is a small scale bronze donkey he is hidden amoungst the greenery on the grounds of the property and is waiting for you. He was first made from carpet underlay before he was cast and is possibly the most adorable thing ever. Did I mention I have a thing for donkeys - I may well have done in a previous post.

Some Images I Truly Adore.

Honey I'm Home...
and it's Martini Time!

I just adore this image and those that follow but this first one is the epitome of style, sophistication and romance...ahhhhh swoon.

The Subtle Siren of 1952.....
This image of a lone woman evokes so much the mood and level of heightened fashion stylization is just divine - beautiful portrait.

Perfection in Red...
Disarming smile, come hither beckoning eyes, she looks soft to the touch. Shamaltsy Perfection!

Dangerously Hot Fox : First Prize...
Clearly on the prowl - she looks like she devours men for the game. Got to love her!

My love of .........Whats Not Fashionable at the Time

Now this may be one of the most risque 'shares' of my entire lifetime. I do like to think of myself of a modernist to some degree with traditional values but I have never been afraid to challenge convention either.

As most of you now know I am a clothing designer, stylist and an artist. My love of beauty and detail goes into the appreciation and creation of my work and the things I have collected over many years.

So with my heart on my sleeve I must confess...amongst my collection of mid century ceramics, vintage sewing accessories, jewelery and clothing including cravats and tie pins and the best cuff links you could ever imagine...tucked in a drawer here and there and yes snuck subtly onto display in my home- lets call it subversively (makes me feel cool and edgy) are my .........pause for effect...........doilies and hand embroidered table cloths and linen.

I LOVE THEM!

There I have said it...they are small intimate treasures hand stitched desires, hearts poured into small neat threads of carefully selected color, hand made lace, starching and ideas of permanence. Small details to cover protect and covet the furniture purchased once to last a lifetime, in a time when in that patient diligence of heartfelt creation pride and dignity was poured.

Young girls were taught by their mothers, aunts, sisters and grandmothers how to sew, how to sit and master the fine grade weaves and knots, how to tat, embroider and sew, these divine little creations were passed on, carefully placed into glory boxes and hope chests...it seems that hiding behind my perm in the mid 80's my mind had notions like that. So there in my best gloried funk traipsing around Melbourne's not so cool streets then Johnston,Greville and Smith Streets, Plenty Road and High Street I gathered and collected all manner of what people perceived to be rubbish...as listed above. You must remember folks this is in a time of Salmon and Grey decor...and while I am at it I do own a hand full of smashing Nanna hats too...they were just to well made to ignore.

Back to the doilies...perhaps I should just let the pictures do the talking - these are taken in my home and perhaps reflect my mish mash approach to the era's I love.

Do you think Janice loved her David? On the other corners of this small square linen table cloth is what I suspect to be the children's initials - one is shown here...

Are you expecting?
I think the babies pillow slip is machine embroidered but is still exquisite to me.

Ok another fetish I have is for donkeys they have the kindest eyes, lovely lashes and work so hard...this is probably my most favorite piece! This is one corner of a square table cloth - so 50's!

Ok so this ones a multiple brag - I threw together the art works and the phone is possibly one of the best things I have ever been given its been embellished to be known as the Glamor Phone and the jewelery box is something else I love given to me by my big sister - the flowers were a gift from the Mothers Day stall from my sons and it all sits upon an embroidered place-mat that's far to delicate to ever be used for those purposes.

Close up.