Hmmmm...

Audrey Kawasaki

Audrey Kawasaki is another incredible artist I found via Wurtzeltod. Most of the girls in her paintings have this sort of discontent expression on their faces. I thought it was especially appropriate here though...as the girl looks over her specimen collection, perhaps dissatisfied that her collection is missing something. If she just had a Mudpuppy fish (see pic below), then maybe her collection would be complete. Not too different from a gal who collects handbags I suppose...hmmm...desire...Buddha says the root of all suffering is desire, I'm just sayin' ;)

Jenny Kendler

Jenny Kendler is another artist exploring the theme of (Wo)Man and Nature. The body of work for her show titled "Wunderkammer" was inspired by 18th-19th Century natural history collections and memento mori portraits. The exhibit explored the past, present and future.



First, the walls were hung with graphite portraits of humans wearing animal masks, each one the face of an extinct species, each portrait drawn from a photograph taken in the year the animal became extinct. This alludes to the fact that man was ultimately responsible for the fate of these animals. Next, in the corner of the room an installation of colorful award ribbons, each painted with beautiful watercolors of endangered species of plants and animals...reminding the viewer of our environmental responsibilities, lest these species meet the same fate of the extinct.



Last, in the center of the room, a deer skull under a bell-jar grows new life. The image reveals possible future outcomes, it speaks of death and regeneration, and the possibility of healing our relationship with nature.

All of the profits from the sale of her works are donated to environmental charities such as Environmental Defense, Tropical Rainforest Coalition and The IUCN Red List for endangered species research and protection.

Madeline von Foerster

I haven't checked in with Madeline von Foerster for quite some time (Thanks Suzanne!) I fell in love with her work when I saw her Alchemy series for the first time. Her latest series titled WALDKAMMER (Forest Cabinet), rocks my world! Her current body of work is accompanied by a very insightful and sensitive narrative about Man's destructive relationship with Mother Nature, particularly our current deforestation crisis.



These works will be unveiled at Strychnin Berlin in November. Please contact Madeline if you’re interested in seeing some selected works that will be in that show: baphomatty@earthlink.net

Unnatural History

"I am interested in the idea of artist as mad scientist. My drawings offer visual hypotheses to the question: what would happen if the DNA sequence of a plant or mushroom were spliced with that of an animal? Using graphite, watercolor, and walnut ink on paper as well as directly on gallery walls in site-specific installations, I portray animals morphed with branches, mushrooms, berries, and blossoms, thus forming implausible hybrid creatures. These images subvert the traditional genre of botanical illustration by approaching the close study of the natural world through the lens of genetic engineering and mutation gone awry." Amy Ross




"As a contemporary (wildlife) artist, my work is indebted to countless hours spent watching David Attenborough documentaries, infinite trips to natural history museums, and my obsessive, unhealthy interest in all things that scamper and poke about in the thickets and undergrowth. When I first began moving graphite on paper I was rendering the childhood standards: dinosaurs, creepy crawlers and other interesting fauna. Not much has changed in two decades. Imitating the conventions of 18th and 19th century zoological illustration and traditional Chinese fine-line painting, I make strange and lovely images of curious creatures and beautiful beasts." Justin Gibbens

Lisa Black

Here's a creepy curiosity I stumbled upon recently! A wind-up taxidermy alligator "fixed" by Lisa Black. If you like the alligator, wait till you see what she did to Bambi! eeek!

Jamie Baldridge

To say that Jamie Baldridge is an imaginative genius is an understatement. His book The Everywhere Chronicles is at the top of my wishlist! The Everywhere Chronicles is available through the prestigious publishing company, 21ST Editions.



Only 50 editions exsist...33 regular editions at $7500 each and 17 Museum editions at $14,000 each! A beautiful custom made clam shell box, holds a handbound book. The book contains 12 bound prints, plus 1 fully signed and free-standing, pigment ink print for you to frame and display. Dark landscapes, odd characters, and magical surrealism are woven together by a curious fictional journal written by Jamie. Monotype letterpresss text is printed on the finest paper. The book is signed by the artist and publisher. No second editions will ever be made!

Keith E. Lo Bue

Keith E. Lo Bue is my one of my favorite mixed media artists, if not my favorite! Every little detail in his found object art assemblages is amazing and awe inspiring! Much of his art is wearable, I'm particularly drawn to his neck odornments. I couldn't decide on just one piece so I chose three! You really need to go to his website to explore each piece up close. Make sure you click on each image to see the fine details of each piece. This one for example has eight views...the back is magnificent too, if you peep through the lens, a tiny surprise is revealed!

JULIAN DE NARVAEZ

Julian De Narvaez revisits the early 1900's and embraces my favorite aspects of the times: invention, and wonder! Things like hot air balloons, circus sideshows, and handlebar moustaches are fused with surreal landscapes, curious characters, and scenarios.

Richard Russell

Richard Russell belongs to a dying breed of traditional collage artists. I love collage regardless if it's digital or traditional. But I have to admit...there's a special place in my heart for traditional ways. His collages may be on paper, wood, stone, leather, or antique book covers. I'm particularly taken with his Encaustic Collage series, he uses various mixtures of beeswax and damar resin rather than glue. He does use modern collage techniques as well, and as you can imagine they are just as amazing!

Robyn Von Swank

Robyn Von Swank recently did a shoot with Mother of London. Total artistic harmony, don't you think? By the way, I just got my copy of Coilhouse, which features Mother of London! If you order your copy now before it hits the stands, you'll get the limited edition version. The magazine also features an a great article with Jessica Joslin!



I can't wait to work with Robyn! We had planned for her to come to Chicago last April, but I just wasn't prepared! (You might remember me blogging about it.) I'm almost ready though! As soon as that happens everything else will start to fall into place and I can finally get my Website up and running! Fingers crossed!