International Art to See: North America

 

Wolfgang Laib at MOMA                                                              American Legends: From Calder to O'Keefe at the Whitney

There's so much amazing art to see all over the the world, so I thought I'd put together some of the temporary exhibitions I'd like to see if I could travel round the world, had loads of time & could afford it! I was just going to do one post, but there's so many amazing exhibitions that I've had to split it up by continents, so stay tuned for South America, Africa, Asia, Australia & Oceania! First up is North America:

If I was in the USA I would go see..... a pollen installation & Legendary Americans in New York.....

Enrico David at Hammer

Some LA Artists by Jason Schmidt at MOCA

Paper figures and artist portraits in Los Angeles....

Jasper Johns at SFMOMA      Girl with a Pearl Earring: Dutch paintings from the Mauritshuis at De Young

Form/Shape and a certain girl with an earring in San Francisco...

 

Divine Depictions: Korean Buddist Paintings at MFA

 
 
Mikalene Thomas at ICA

Lots of Buddhas & Funky Interiors in Boston....

   

                               Blood, Gold & Fire: Colouring Early German Woodcuts at AIC                              MCA DNA: John Cage

 
Religious colour woodcuts & Maps in Chicago....


Sandro Botticelli at NGA


Barbara Kruger at Hirshhorn

An Italian Master & huge slogans in Washington DC....


Claus Oldenburg: Strange Eggs at the Menil Collection


Dan Flavin Installation at the Menil Collection

Rothko Chapel

Strange collages, fluro tubes & of course the Rothko Chapel in Houston (which I wrote about for my thesis but have never seen)

If I was in Canada I would go see.....

Art Spiegelman: Comics, Graphics & Scraps at VAG 


  Ian Wallace: At the intersection of painting & photography at VAG

Comics & paint/photos in Vancouver.....

Peru: Kingdoms of the Sun & the Moon at MMFA


 Jonathas de Andrade at Musee d'art Contemparain

Peruvian masks & a Super 8 film in Montreal.....


Michael Snow: Objects of Vision at AGO 


Phil Collins: They Shoot Horses at MOCCA

Huge objects & dance marathons in Toronto.....

 
New Works by Amy Thompson at OAG

Sakahan: International Indigenous Art at NGC

& Americana collages & lots of blankets in Ottawa

 So much art, so little time, of course there's tons more that I'm unaware of, these are just my  favourites, with some ending really soon (The Claus Oldenburg collages end this Sunday 3rd February) and some upcoming later this year. Sometimes the best exhibitions are those you don't plan to go see, you just see a poster on the street, or find a gallery by chance and it can hold the most amazing thing you've ever seen, that spontaneity, that chance of travel and exploring is just so uplifting and life-affirming, you can't beat it. What do you plan to see, any suggestions?

Next up- International Art to See: South America!

Italy Unpacked 3: Piedmont

The final episode of Italy Unpacked sees the chef & art historian exploring the Northern Italian region of Piedmont. Here's some of the highlights: (also see my highlights for part 1: Emiglia Romagna & part 2: Lombardy)

Hunting for truffles in the woods with Vigo the dog, 

 

 

Getting sustenance for your soul at the Abbey of Novalesa in the Souza Valley. Where there are amazing 11th Century frescoes, in homage to the patron saint of pilgrimage, Saint Elderus (all painted with natural materials),

& Father Danella, a monk at the abbey, explaining the importance of pilgrimage, beautifully......it represents the journey of your life, where you leave everything behind and set out on your own.....where you will only be able to find yourself on your own, in a place you don't know.

 Making chocolates in Turin,

Getting behind the wheel of a tiny Fiat 500,

'Madonna of the rags' by Michaelangelo Pistoletto

A room full of laurel leaves by Giuseppe Penone

Seeing wonderful Arte Povera (in the place it originated) at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Rivoli. Would love to see their new Ana Mendieta - She Got Love exhibition which runs 30th January until 5 May 2013.

 Bartering for rice, for risotto of course!

Seeing a 'gallery' of people's 'thanks of faith' to the Madonna for saving them from accidents,

 
  Visiting Northern Italy's wine region...

& drinking Giorgio Rivetti's new sparkling wine

Now that's the North of Italy unpacked, can't wait to unpack the rest of it...and visit myself.

(all images from the episode via BBCiplayer)

Beef sneak peek

 I've just started doing some food illustrations, here's a little sneak peek of some beef cuts I've been painting with gouache and tidying up in Photoshop. They're making me hungry, could really do with a steak and chips now!

Read Book Covers of 2013

I love reading and I love amazing book covers, getting across an idea that represents a story within a small space so the viewer is intrigued and maybe takes a glance at the back cover is so exhilarating & visually exciting (see some of my favourites here on my pinterest book covers board). 

I'm going to be reading a lot this year (as always) so I thought I'd keep a track of what I've read by designing a new book cover for every book I read. Keeping a minimal asthetic, limited palette and emphasis on typography. Here's my first victim: '11.22.63' by Stephen King, it was a Xmas pressie and pretty hefty, so even though it was really fast-paced and addictively good, it took me most of January to finish it. At the moment I'm reading 'The year of magical thinking' by Joan Didion, I love it's cover, so simple and so poignant, exactly like the book.

What are you reading? Any great suggestions?

Fashion Friday: Rucksacks

 

Eastpak by Wood Wood                                                                           Wood Wood Mills Striped

I'm a rucksack/canvas bag girl but there's no need to discard your sense of style for practicality and comfort. As William Morris most eloquently put it "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful". 

Here's my favourite rucksacks which combine beauty & function:

 

Buben rucksack by Henrik Vibskov Boutique                             Military Backpack with badges                         

Big Access Pack by Mt Rainier Design

        

O'Hanlon Mills Backpack Textbook Backpack                                        Yuketen Triangle Backpack

    

Epperson Mountaineering Climbing Backpack         Herschel Supply Co. Little America Denim Backpack

      

 MAKR Farm Rucksack                                        Topshop blue acid wash backpack