sebastian errazuris

I will occasionally complain about the limitations and demands of being a mother and a student, but sometimes it's really an advantage. For example, last saturday, Felix and I took the bus--for free, because my student id card doubles as a buss pass and he won't have to pay until he's 5--to the carnegie museum of art and carnegie museum of natural history where we also got in free, for the same reasons.

Last time, we went almost immediately to the dinosaurs, and when we finally we made it to the art gallery, Felix was tired and expressly not interested. This time around, I got smart. I realized: he doesn't know his way around! He has to go wherever I go. It's so obvious! And so I got my way, at least for a little while. 

Though we inevitably spent most of our time looking at dinosaurs, one thing we could both agree on was the latest installation by Sebastian Errazuris: "Look Again."

I had no idea that this was here in town but I'm so glad it is! It's the first-ever solo exhibit for the Chilean-born, New-York based artist, which must be so exciting for him! You should go see it if you can--it's a really comprehensive collection of his work. If nothing else, do it for his porcupine cabinet:

I love what he does with furniture and sculpture. It's novel and innovative, but it also makes perfect sense. Like the piano shelf, which is comprised of individual sections that can be raised and lowered to accommodate any and all of your stuff. Not only is this beyond clever, the lowered sections of shelf also leave a blank space of wall, framing the objects you're choosing to display. Ingenious.

This is an artists whose every work I want to mention, but if you want to know more it would be easier for you to visit his website. And don't forget to see this exhibit if you can. Inspirational!

nerdalert: way to go, cmucc!

 Isn't Andy Warhol the coolest? I like to think of the native Pittsburgher as a local mascot of sorts for those among us who don't follow the Pirates, Penguins, Panthers, etc. And as much as I love Phipps, my very favorite place to take out-of-town visitors in the citty is The Warhol, which Felix and I have patronized at least five times in the past year. And it's been worth the short trip to the North Side every time; his body of work is almost overwhelmingly varied, and every time we've visited there's been something new to see and learn. For example, did you know the socialite founded Interview Magazine in order to get invitations to parties and premieres? Pretty clever. 

We went just recently for bf's bday, but it looks like we may need to plan another visit soon, because have you heard the news? A bunch of nerds (jk you guys)/my future fellow classmates in the Carnegie Mellon University Computer Club just unearthed a dozen or so of the artist's "digital art experiments" previously and proverbially locked away within the confines of an obscure data format on some junky old floppy disk. Comodore International had commissioned Warhol to generate the digital works, including a manipulated portrait of Debbie Harry, back in 1985 in order to promote the launch of Amiga, their new line of home computers.  They probably looked pretty futuristic at the time, but now they seem digitally primitive, like someone messing around on microsoft paint... in a good way! I wonder how they'll choose to present them at the museum? Can they get their hands on any old Amigas, do you think? 

I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

via the bbc

be my fauvalentine

I was into hearts and candy pinks this time last year, working in the bakery. But as my focus has switched from pastry to interiors, the kind of romance I'm feeling this valentines day season is more domestic; cheerful yet subdued. Something very like the mood Henri Matisse captured in various still-lifes and portraits during his Fauvist period. Those warm chalky pinks, electric blues, deep greens. It's cozy and relaxed, but with an air of luxury and decadence thanks to the carved furniture and rich textiles, the rooms filled with plants flowers. This is what I'm working towards in my own home. I've already taken the first step, painting my dining room pink. 

 

flaming june

I feel like I need to take a little break from Beyoncé. You know what I mean? Between playing the new album and watching the videos on repeat, she's basically all I think about! It's sort of like staring at the sun too long: glorious and inspirational, but ultimately not good for you. But there are plenty of other lovely ladies we can talk about/stare at/obsess over. Like, for example, did you happen to see this also very inspirational editorial by Annie Leibovitz in the most recent issue of Vogue? In it, Jessica Chastain stars in the reinterpretations of various well-known portraits of feminine beauty. Of course, she's is perfectly cast in the cover shot, Leibovitz's take on Frederic Leighton's Flaming June, but the text all over it kind of ruins it for me. Thankfully the rest of them are pretty spot-on, too. Like Van Gogh's La Mousmé, for example, or La Robe Du Soir, by Rene Magritte. But I think Le Retour De La Mer, by Felix Vallotton, must be my favorite!

 La Mousmé

 Portrait of Mrs. Grover Cleveland

Frauenbildnis

 La Robe du Soir

 Julia Margaret Cameron

Le Retour de la Mer

images via vogue.com

baby love

Lately I feel like all I do is talk about Felix! He's the star of my facebook, instagram, and probably this blog, too. Yes, it's hard to make friends with grown people in a new city, even if you didn't have a little one, and especially when you work from home. But also, he's the funniest guy around and so cute, so why would I want to hang out with anyone else! I hate that it's impossible not to sound trite when talking about your children. But, at least I'm not alone! Judging by her new surprise album--which is all over the place to the point that it already seems silly to even talk about it or how good it is--Beyonce seems similarly consumed by her own new little family.

I like how this sweetest song to her little one sits comfortably alongside such super sexxxy tracks as Blow and Rocket. It just proves she's just living a real life--or at least singing about one. And she does it so well. Better than almost anyone else, seems like. She's no angel, obviously... but at least she's trying! amirite? Both the Knowles sisters do a good job of making motherhood look soulful and stylish. Remember this one?



Not quite as glamorous, but just as sweet!

little women

Maybe it's because I keep seeing pics of all the partypeople having celebrated halloween over the weekend, or maybe it's because the only time I really see any young ladies these days is when they come over to watch Felix while I deliver wedding cakes to other young ladies with their bridesmaids all about them... but, lately, I'm really missing the girls! You know, just girls, any girls--sisters, girlfrenns, anyone. Chase and Felix are so so sweet, but lady time is important! I have been hanging with some cool new friends one-on-one, but there's something about being with a gaggle of girls that you just can't beat. It's easy to make friends with individual females, but I fear I may have missed the window for sister-club recruitment; you'd think mother-baby groups would be just the thing for someone like me, but the whole point is hanging out with people who don't talk about children. Ever! Or at least, not exclusively. So, I'm excited to be going to columbia this christmastime, not only to see all of my wonderful lovely sisters whom I miss, but also to see my childless ladyfriends! In the meantime, I'm captivated by this sweet, wintry editorial, starring four 'sisters' with maybe the best names of all time. Hedvig? Tuva?!

photos by Elisabeth Toll for Scandinavia SSAW, Spring/Summer 2013

lovely logos

Speaking of bird illustrations, how good are these logos by Bulgarian graphic designer Stephan Kanchev? I think I'd like to see him illustrate the zodiac. Do you think he would, if I asked him??

via animalarium

Florentijn Hofman's Giant Rubber Duck

If you live in town, you already know all about this but, if not, guess what?! Florentijn Hofman's giant rubber duck is in Pittsburgh! He set sail from the Roberto Clemente Bridge last Friday, kicking off the International Festival of Firsts. After bobbing briefly down the Allegheny, he landed at Point State Park, where he'll remain moored through October. A thing I'm learning about Pittsburgh is that almost everyone has a two year old, so you can imagine the kind of reception this installation has received. Last sunday, hoping to spy him from afar--and with a mind to avoid downtown parking--we headed up Mount Washington, my new, second-favorite spot in town.

We got some great views of the city; I don't think I'll ever get tired of looking out on Pittsburgh! Luckily, we are also able to catch our first glimpses of the ducky himself. He looked like a toy from so far away!

That's like, five times as crowded as I've ever seen Point State Park (though I've never seen it on the fourth of july). It was still bustling when we went to see the you-know-what in person, earlier this morning. 

I really can't say enough about Point State Park--it's perfect! So grand, so dynamic, so perfect for picnicking. Its sweeping lawns and little wooded areas are perfect for Felix to run about in, and of course, there's that fountain! But what he loves most of all is to play cars along the long stone stairs that face the river. And let's not forget, the duck certainly didn't disappoint! He's just so jolly, after all. 

It's hard to show how big he is in person, so its easier to tell you that he's 40 feet tall--smaller than usual, in fact; the design had to be modified so he could fit under the bridges. He's been all over the world, you know! Sydney, Hong Kong, Amsterdam... read about him in Wired, even! Along with the people, there were a bunch of ducks and geese gathered all around, too, which made me smile. It was like a spin on Ten Little Rubber Ducks, the based-on-a-true story by Eric Carle, which I checked out from the library last week in order to generate some buzz, as it were, before the main attraction. It's a really sweet story, and I highly recommend it--Felix loves the surprise at the end, and I love Carle's bird illustraions, always. 

photos by me (and chase); collage illustrations by eric carle