Archive for May, 2009
BAA-BAA…Eat at The Black Sheep!!
On the first night of our first visit to the Western Mass area, while we were house hunting in fact, Scott and I ate at a cozy little deli/cafe in Amherst called The Black Sheep Deli. The food was great, the people were super-cool, and the atmosphere was very laid back. We have gone back for lunch many times since then, and each time has been a wonderful experience. Recently, we stopped in for lunch, after checking out the yummy treats at The Amherst Farmer’s Market. On this trip I happened to take special notice of the lovely black sheep themes art in the cafe, and was inspired to create a black sheep piece of my own.
This piece, entitled “Black Sheep’s Baking Day,” features an apron clad black sheep happily baking up a storm. An image of this collage is pictured here, along with some scenes from The Black Sheep Deli. If you happen to be in the Amherst area, be sure to stop in for a bite…you won’t be disappointed! Oh, one more thing…anyone who takes the time to leave me a comment on this post from now until June 6th, 2009 will be entered to win a print of “Black Sheep’s Baking Day!” Good luck!
Defining Art
I realize that I have been somewhat quiet here of late. My site is still in a transition phase from clay work to cut paper collage, and so it has been difficult for me to gather up much blogging inspiration. However, I did see a tiny piece on The Today Show that kind of got me thinking about my definitions of art. This spot featured a guy who, using an MRI scanner, had taken pictures of various objects. According to the about section of his website, www.radiologyart.com, “Artist and medical student Satre Stuelke founded the Radiology Art project to explore the hidden contents and structures of everyday things. Dedicated to the deeper visualization of various objects that hold unique cultural importance in contemporary society, this project intends to plant a seed of scientific creativity in the minds of all those inclined to participate.”His subject matter ranges from TV dinners to toasters to toys, and he invites anyone with access to an MRI scanner to submit their own images to the project.
I have always been kind of on the fence when it comes to calling work like this “art.” I am whole-heartedly in favor of finding new ways to make art, exploring uncharted artistic territory, and just following one’s whims. However, I have always questioned art of the type Mr. Stuelke is making as not exactly coming from the maker’s heart…I mean these are simple, everyday objects viewed in a different way.
TV Dinner
But as I thought more and more about this work, I began to realize that this is really what is at the core of all art…the ability to allow the viewer to see things in a new way. For a clay artist it might be a certain glaze, or an exciting way of placing a handle, for a photographer it could be something as simple as an angle or point of view, or a painter could use the rich layers of pigment to let us see an everyday object in an entirely new light. And so, I applaud Mr. Stuelke is his endeavors to show us how, if seen in an enlightening new way, a TV dinner can be beautiful, and a toaster can enthrall us!
Toaster
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