Weekly Roundup- 11/21

For the sake of refreshing your tired, creative mind in as we approach winter, here are my picks for this week!

Take a close look at these images...they are made using an app called Echograph. I see this catching on quick.

These are PAINTINGS. Maybe artist Jason de Graaf was inspired by "Hand With Reflecting Sphere" by M.C. Escher, especially with this one:

A book about the surge of digital printing onto textiles in the fashion industry. Sounds like a great opportunity for digital artists!

Whitney Carter talks art fairs and Chicago's art scene.

Darryll and I recently attended a "Digital Self" seminar at the Chicago Artists Coalition. Here's a great summary of what we learned.

I always thought that art is so important for children. Here's one mom who's doing it right and the outcome is quite amazing!

My personal favorite

So that wraps up this week in my art radar! Stay warm :)

-Chelsea

Artist of the Month- November- Jesca Hoop

Jesca's latest album art

This month we wanted to bring you another musical artist that we all enjoy here at the studio. I heard about her through Darryll, who heard about her through his daughter, Lauren. She is singer/songwriter, Jesca Hoop. When introducing others to music that I enjoy, I'm likely to try to compare them to other artists. However, I find it next to impossible to make such comparisons in this case. She has a truly unique sound that is haunting, yet sweet. Her voice complements the ethereal music in the background, creating a chorus of sounds that you're likely to hear deep within a mystical forest. We openly welcome Hoop's surreal sound to burrow into our creative hearts, to grab at everything melancholy and bittersweet, and to let those feelings surface.

Darryll's signed copy of Hoop's Phonograph

For her more upbeat songs, the sound is less dark and more childlike and playful, which creates a nice balance. So, for a great example of all that her music has to offer, check out the music player below. Jesca Hoop is truly one of a kind and her newest album, The House That Jack Built, only further proves that she is continuing to do her own thing and defining her own art.

Weekly Roundup- 11/9

Hi all,

Here's a new trend we're starting at DSFA…a weekly roundup of art &design-related links, leading to articles, images, news, etc. There's a lot of information out there, let us break it down for you! We'll share with you ideas and notions that we find interesting, inspiring, or even upsetting. Here's our (small) list for this week! Enjoy.

Would you ever wear this "invisible" bike helmet? Could save a lot of lives, considering the number of people that won't wear a helmet due to…fashion concerns.

Ever find yourself confused with the terminology that comes with the art world? Never fear, Robert Atkins has created a guide to help you decipher exactly how we are defining art today.

Artist Daan Botlek creates street art that is detailed, yet simple. You would definitely have a double take passing these on the streets of Germany.

We have implemented a new way of organizing here at DSFA…and it's FREE. Asana is a lifesaver for those with post-its littering their workspace. Plus, did I mention it's free?!

Apparently this is a thing…photographer Perttu Saksa captures the street performing monkeys that are dressed up as dolls. Um…beware.


That is all this week! Share with us some links that you've found interesting lately!

-Chelsea

Art Basel Miami

Here we are, again, swiftly approaching the holiday season. It happens every year, I know, but I never feel quite prepared for the frigid Chicago weather, the frantic purchasing of gifts, and the making of travel plans. However, there is an upcoming event this winter that allows us to put the holiday madness aside and dive into the world of art and warm weather.

At the beginning of December, we will hop on a plane to Miami, Florida. With the city's iconic Art Deco architecture, Miami make the perfect backdrop to an event such as Art Basel.

Miami's Art Deco District

Originating in Basel, Switzerland, this international event occurs annually in its birthplace, as well as Hong Kong and of course, Miami. It is considered to be the hub, the meeting place, of world renowned art, its creators, and the places that exhibit them. It's a wonderful platform for anyone working with or around art, as well as those who simply appreciate modern and contemporary art. Of the 258 galleries participating in this years Miami show, here are a list of galleries we're most excited to visit:

Richard Gray Gallery

Richard Gray Gallery

As Chicagoans, we are happy to see our city represented at Art Basel. Their display at this year's Art Expo Chicago stood out to me the most and I'm really pumped to see what they come up with for Miami. 

Kavi Gupta Gallery 

This gallery, rooted in Chicago, also has a Berlin location. Its newest location in Chicago is now the largest commercial gallery in Chicago.

Gagosian Gallery

The Gagosian Gallery can be found in fourteen different locations across the world. They are legendary. Enough said.

Baro Gallery
Located in a hangar in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Baro Gallery is home to established and up and coming Latin American artists. Because Brazil is one of Darryll's favorite places to    visit, he is especially excited to discover whats trending in their unique art scene.

Art Basel Miami, 2011

If you are visiting Miami for this event, let us know who you are excited to see!

-Chelsea

Artist of the Month- October- Veronique Meignaud

It's October, and well into the gallery opening season which means we've been busy over here at DSFA. So that is a good thing, but unfortunately, we haven't had time to touch this ongoing project of ours, the DEFINEART blog. However, today I present to you our pick for October's artist of the month.

Leito

This month I'm bringing it back to the contemporary art world and delving into an area we don't often get to explore, illustration. Darryll knows how important it is to remain inspired and since we deal with a lot of photography, he's asked me to highlight someone that I find inspiring to my illustration career. So! Ladies and Gentlemen, Veronique Meignaud!

Chor'Biose
Animation project

I stumbled across this lovely illustrator/art director recently and upon visiting her website I felt as though I was instantly transported into another dimension of shapes and figures. Her focus appears to be digital illustration, but that's not why I felt like I was peering into a whole new plane of existence. The landscapes, figures, and lighting all seem to be constantly morphing and evolving, which is quite a feat considering I was looking at 2-D work. The colors she uses are prismatic and often gem-like.

Cornaline

Her work is truly unlike anything I've ever seen. The animation in the Motion section of her website feels like a natural artistic progression, taking what she does so very well in the 2-D and then actually bringing it to life in 3-D. I felt as though I was looking through a kaleidoscope that was slowly hypnotizing me, lifting my awareness to a new level. I'm so glad there are artists out there, like Veronique, who are able to temporarily enchant their viewers in order to get them to see new places and spaces in their minds. So in my mind, she is not only defining art, but also the unseen world that surrounds us.

 If you'd like to see more, please visit her website.
 If you'd like to see Veronique's talent in action, check out this neat little video on Youtube.

 -Chelsea

Artist of the Month- September- Frederick Sommer

It's time for another artist of the month, but we're taking it back in history this time around. I'd like to talk about an artist that is very important to me, that influenced me when I was a photography student. History knows him to be a man of many talents such as painting and drawing, but Frederick Sommer is most known for his photographic work. 

Figure- 1962

Born in 1905 in Italy, Frederick Sommer found his way to America and into the hearts of over 50 museums nationwide. He was, and still is, a historical staple in the world of photography. I learned about his during my time at the Institute of Design. Sommer was in Chicago to speak to art students about his work. My class, along with the head of the photography department and eventually my mentor, Arthur Siegel, made our way over to the Art Institute to listen. 

Three Musicians (Smoke on Glass)- 1962

  

Golden Apples 

At this point in my school career, I had really only learned the traditional ways to make pictures. You can follow a set of rules to become a successful photographer because that is what history shows us. However, while watching Sommer speak, I knew I was witnessing history unfold into more untraditional avenues. Sommer's rule-breaking, surreal, and innovative work influenced me so much that it changed the way I viewed photography. From that point on, I knew that my camera didn't have to hold my creative mind back. I could make it do what I wanted by forgetting my disciplines and abandoning tradition. Frederick Sommer created his own definition of art, which paved a path that I would soon follow. 

Lee Nevin- 1965

-Darryll

Spotlight- Paul Klein- Klein Artist Works

Paul Klein has an intense passion for art and, more importantly, its creators. He says, "I think artists are wonderful. They make my world better. And if more artists succeed we’ll all be better off. The perspective and enrichment artists provide is irreplaceable.  I treasure artists and their contribution." It's hard to dive into the Chicago art scene and not come across the name "Paul Klein". He is somewhat of the main artery in this community and it's because of his positive attitude towards artists and his dedication to their success. His way of expressing his opinions so openly and honestly has led people to flock to him for advice about their art careers. His trail of influence, spread across Chicago's art community and beyond, is what led me to his figurative door at Klein Artist Works. 

Screenshot of a Webinar in action.

Because Paul is important to us here at DSFA, we want our audience to get to know him and his endeavors a little better Check out our little Q&A session with Paul himself:

DSFA: When did you know you wanted to be involved in the art world? 
Paul Klein: As a kid, I learned how to weld from my mother. I loved welding big ol things and I was thoroughly mediocre so I decided to try a gallery instead. It was a 3 year plan, to be followed with different occupational ideas, but the 3 years lasted over 30.

DSFA: How do you find the Chicago art scene compared to other art centers like New York and LA?
PK: I like the Chicago scene. I just wish people here were more positive about it. So much is a matter of perspective or attitude. I respect what gets seen in New York a lot, but there’s more that goes on in the world than there. I like that L.A. appears to be so supportive of their own.

DSFA:  When you operated your gallery, Klein Art Works, there was a point where you were seeing art shifting into a more tech-based platform and therefore followed suit with what you chose to display in your gallery. Today, are you seeing a similar forward shift in art or are we reversing into more traditional avenues, for example, the way the fashion industry recycles trends?

PK: I don’t see a lot of shifting, but maybe that’s because of how I look at the world. I see images without necessarily seeing the medium. I would like to see more painting.

DSFA: Darryll recently attended a party of yours and learned of the success of many of the other attendees, which speaks volumes of the great experience they had with your program. Since Darryll had such a beneficial experience as well, we can't help but wonder, what is next for you? Anything new in the works? 

PK: Not so much new. I still want Klein Artist Works to be stronger. I’m in the final stages of a book sharing as much information from the course as possible.

Paul (left) with Dutes Miller and Stan Shellabarger

More than just giving advice about your art career, Paul lays out the art world like a map, and gives you the means to navigate it. He is straightforward and genuine and I can honestly say that I felt he had my best interest in mind when speaking to me about the path I'm taking with my work. I highly recommend checking out his webinars if you're looking to hear from art world experts and equip yourself with tools you might not have known existed. Within Paul's program, there is also the opportunity to explore Chicago galleries and/or studios and to have one-on-one interaction with Paul as your guide. A truly priceless experience, in our minds.


Paul's Links:
Klein Artist Works
Art Letter



 -Darryll