Writers often turn their relationships — failed and successful — into stories and novels. But they’re not the only creative types spinning exes into gold. Recently, a few visual and performance artists have used dating and breakups as a starting point for their work. At least some people are finding uses for their relationship failures. We can’t seem to figure out what to do with our brokenheart. Keep reading »
The Guerrilla Girls, a group of anonymous activists whose mission is to fight discrimination against female and minority artists in the art world, have sold a bunch of documents, letters, and artwork to the Getty Research Institute for an undisclosed sum. This is kind of ironic because the Guerrilla Girls have protested against the art establishment (which includes the Getty family) since 1985.
The Guerrilla Girls started protesting the lack of women in museums and cultural institutions, covering New York with posters saying things like, “Does a woman have to get naked to get into the Met?” To get noticed, the women began wearing gorilla masks, and their posters became collectors’ items over time, with people spending money to purchase them (which then allowed the Guerrilla Girls to buy ad space on billboards to promote their causes even more).
Painter Justine Lai’s series of erotic oil paintings depicting the artist banging it out with U.S. Presidents massage two nerdy pleasure centers: history and sex. Are you reading this, History Channel? Less Nazis, more Presidential pegging please! The artist’s intent is to break down the mythological idea of the President, expose their inherent humanity and vulnerability, and to comment on the relationship between sex and politics. Since, after all, power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. The work could easily have been an adolescent lark, a snarky art nerd having some frat fun with former Commanders-in-Chief. Instead the paintings transcend this, and end up being rude, gentle, and compelling. Maybe even sexy? Also, you’d never think Abraham Lincoln would close his eyes while getting a knobber. [JustineLai.com via BoingBoing] Keep reading »
Leanne Eisen is a Toronto-based artist who creates dollhouse scenes that depict the human condition. One of her most intriguing photo-based series is “Play,” for which Eisen built miniature replicas of brothel interiors. While most dollhouses contain scenes of perfect domesticity, Eisen’s rooms allow viewers a downsized peek inside the mostly hidden world of prostitution. I asked the artist about her mini-sex work project; her response is after the jump. Keep reading »
The Museo Tamayo in Mexico City has created some shock-advertising that has left some viewers scratching their heads and some suggesting misogyny. In the ad, a woman stands in what one can assume is the museum, her finger on her chin as if contemplating a work of art hanging on the wall in front of her. In response to whatever it is she sees, her heart is exploding out of her chest in the shape of a gory fist. Shocking? You bet. Misogynist. I’m not so sure. Jossip seems to think the violent image is woman-hating: “Because nothing says modern art like a bloody fist violently ripping out of a woman’s chest.” Copyranter, on the other hand, just thinks it’s obnoxious. So, what do you think? To find out, check out the full graphic image after the jump. Keep reading »
I woke one day and decided to be the artist’s model at the local art school instead of being one of the painters/sculptors as I usually am. Most artist’s models always looked a little spacey to me and uncomfortable, even unhappy to be the one standing nude in front of students. What I had not counted on was that the poses I was asked to hold would be more than my small body could bear. By the end of each short session, my body ached, and I was happy enough to step down from the dias and stretch. While I was posing, I had to keep very still and focus on something with my eyes to keep steady. Keep reading »
I’m already a fan of the strange creature art made by LA-based artist Liz McGrath — and I love this weirdly special, customized Valentine’s Day gift that she’s selling in her online store. If you want to say “I love you” this Valentine’s Day in a totally unique way, McGrath’s four-inch, mini-butcher knife with your loved one’s name painted on it is sure to drive your message home to the heart. It comes in its own special knife box, it’s dusted with glitter, and it’s only $25. Remember: “The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing.” — Blaise Pascal [Boing Boing] Keep reading »
Looking to make your cell of an apartment a little less depressing without pissing off your crotchety landlord? Painting your blues away will also mean kissing your deposit good bye and those N’Sync posters are kind of unacceptable at this point. So what’s a budget-conscious girl to do?
Though the options outside of boy bands and large scale art are admittedly slim, check out Kate’s Paperie or Papyrus for vintage-looking wrapping paper sheets worthy of framing. Blown up maps and post cards, old school anatomy textbook images and embarrassing ’70s yearbook pictures are looking for a home at less than $4.50 a pop.
Slide the poster-sized sheets into cheap as hell frames from A.I. Friedman and just wait for your friends to jealously ask where you got your new art. Be sure to tell them it’s from a gallery in SoHo or Paris. Feeling just a tad superior is half the fun. Keep reading »
The Three Laws of Female Robotics:
1. A female robot must always have perfect makeup, even if her arm is falling off.
2. A female robot must have at least one spare head available to her at all times.
3. A female robot will only find a mate if she follows the First and Second Laws.
Broken Robot Girl #1 by Rob Sheridan and Tamar Levine via Chatarra.
This converted mannequin created by Detroit-based designer Bob Turek is causing quite the blogosphere kerfuffle. In case you’re not clear as to what the heck is going on here, Turek remixed a mannequin torso into an MP3 player. Ergo, those are speakers in her boobs, plugged in care of her hoo-ha. As Turek explains: “As part of my object remix series, this stereo forces the music source into the center of attention and creates a radically new user interface.” Interface. Is that what the kids are calling it these days? Unfortunately, some people — some ladies — aren’t too happy with Turek’s transforming the female form into a stereo. Jezebel cries misogyny: “[I]t’s a headless, armless woman whose breasts and vagina are being used to provide power and sound for trivial things.” Boing Boingers are going at it in the comments: “Woman as a faceless functional object. That’s not such a new idea.” I think it’s much ado about nothing. I call for a commenter catfight! Keep reading »
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