Just for Fun...

Presenting Bee-Bot! A dear friend visited from out of town recently. It just so happens that art student alumni, when brought together, will make useless objects just because they can. For this meetup, we created a mini cardboard robot to visit and photograph the Midwest together.

Before (@ the Bean!)

A 6 pack of beer and a paint job later, the Bee Bot was born. We met all sorts of folks I would normally have been to shy to approach! Many gave the raised eyebrow, not understanding what function he served. Many however, understood it a was a just for fun project, and shared a laugh with us. A great, inexpensive way to meet new people in a new city. :)

Belmont

After Paint Job

Minneapolis Sculpture Gardens

Greek Town

Wisconsin Sinclair Dinosaur

 Have a great day everyone!

SOFA Chicago 2010

Only a month late, I wanted to share a few thoughts and photos from the SOFA conference! (Sculptural Object & Functional Art)

John Littleton and Kate Vogel, "Diana," 2010 Glass

 In the middle of moving I was a bit delayed in posting anything about the conference, but it was a spectacular show this year. The art exhibited at the fair was a confluence of 80 plus galleries from 10 countries exhibiting glasswork; ceramics,  photography, painting and metalwork.While not for everyone, the art has a very distinct "feel" of commercial gallery work versus your more avant garde , boundary pushing art. However, with heavy hitters like Dale Chihuly having a main exhibit this year, it was a makers dream come true!

 It is a unique show in the sense that a) there are so many galleries exhibiting at once, and b) many of the artists are present to talk about their current work, and even let you touch and hold it if you like! Top it off with live glass blowing demos from the Corning Museum of Glass (NY,) add a little wine to the mix and you have a pretty decent art show. And if you still have a craving for more historically appreciated, magnificent art- only your history teachers have told you about- you can visit the collection at  The Art Institute of Chicago (SCAIC) for a perfect weekend.

 Here are a few snapshots from some pieces that really touched me:

Dale Chiluly, "Turquoise and Crystal Chandelier," Glass,  2010 

Milton Tomlinson, "Glass Fix ",  glass and steel, year unkown

Joey Richardson, "Invincible Spirit," sycamore and acrylic paint, 2010

John Littleton and Kate Vogel, "Diana," 2010 Glass

Jonathan and Kate Vogel, title unknown, although you can almost read it!

 Susan Saladino, "The Last Bird # 9,"mixed media, year unknown

 Literally not even a percentage of the work shown at SOFA. Think "warehouse full of galleries" and you'll understand it is easy to get lost in it. Till next time, see you on the flip side! Stay tuned for new spoon rings in our Spoonier series, including rare and original 100% Sterling Silver rings.

 ~Wendybird