my love for you is a stampede of horses.

Scott Campbell: Always Almost There.

Scott Campbell's dollar bill sculptures are pretty breathtaking and well, just kind of nuts. Scott painstakingly draws on each dollar bill, measuring out every line meticulously. Then each bill is laser-cut and glued one on top of the other creating the sculptures you see here. NUTS. His first European solo show Always Almost There opens tomorrow at Lazarides Inc, in London.

This Long Road.

Crystal Morey was sweet enough to send over images of This Long Road at The Compound Gallery in Oakland, Ca. A three person show where she, Derek Weisberg and Ben Belknap show new work of their own as well as collaborative pieces. Morey, Weisberg and Belknap all attended California College of Arts and Crafts (That's right, I left the 'Craft' in there.), where they met and developed a love for figurative sculpture. Their love comes over loud and clear in this show, be sure to see more work online (and sale) here. This Long Road runs through October 11th.

Crystal Morey.

While I was in SF last month, my friend John Casey took me on a great art crawl of Oakland. One of the galleries we stopped by was The Compound. It was there that I saw Crystal Morey's studio. Her sculptures were in progress in all levels. I wanted to sit down at her desk and just pour over everything. Her work really stuck with me, I wanted to post it here on the blog.

Crystal has a couple of shows coming up. "This Town" July 3rd- August 16th at Eclectix Gallery, and a three person show at The Compound Gallery with Derek Weisberg and Ben Belknap

Rebekah Bogard.

Amy Sol posted images of Rebekah Bogard's studio recently on facebook, my jaw dropped as I checked out her ceramic sculptures. I raced to her website and honestly was floored by the beauty and complexity in her sculptures. As a woman myself, I often  think about gender in art, so I was really stoked to read about her thoughts behind her work:

I employ fictional animals in my artwork to explore the narrative of my life and my own personal history as they provide me with both anonymity and security to the secrets I reveal.  I enjoy utilizing animals because they are beautiful and mysterious creatures, vulnerable to relations with humans.  This susceptibility gives them a sense of benevolence that is often lacking in human associations.  I use this vulnerability as a source of power.  It takes a brave and confident person or animal to make themselves vulnerable, for they must have the strength to withstand the consequences...(read more here)

Be sure to check out the rest of her work, hot damn it's rad. Rebekah will be taking part in the 2009 Kokeshi Exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in LA (July11-Oct 4, 2009), where she has been invited to make a kokeshi inspired sculpture. Awesome.

John Casey's Capt. Chest N. Shoulders of the Flying Head and Hands Brigade.

John Casey has been documenting (as he normally does with his work.) his sculpture, Capt. Chest N. Shoulders of the Flying Head and Hands Brigade, that he has been working on for the upcoming show at Needles + Pens. I am so excited to see this guy in person...see more of the progress here.

christine buckton tillman.

These veneer sculptural bows of Christine Buckton Tillman's are so smooth and tactile. They look almost good enough to eat. Get yourself one here. I think three in a row a top a dresser would be perfect.

ryan crowley

To be honest, I cannot wrap my head around what it would take to make a sculpture.  Not only are there two dimensional issues to address, artists must also then grapple with gravity and the tricky disconnect between the materials used and the larger representation in space.  An artist who is way too successful at meeting these challenges is my buddy Ryan Crowley.  His sculptures are like pop culture regurgitations.  Cartoon clichés, corny logos, and American food products are processed into perverse ideological hybrids.  I like Ryan’s work because it’s like encountering an inside joke you didn’t realize you were part of.  They’re nostalgic, critical, and a bit loony all at once.

 

Ryan’s in the process of cooking up a website, but he can be reached at ryan.crowley@massart.edu.  His sculpture, Boot, can also be found in the Tower Lobby at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.  Check it out!

 

 

cassandra smith.

Faythe Levine recently brought my forever wandering attention to Milwaukee based artist Cassandra Smith. As you can see form these images, I stopped in my tracks. Cassandra uses Taxidermy and snack cakes in a decidedly unexpected way. Over email Cassandra explained her thoughts on her work and the ideas behind it:

"The taxidermy is sourced from e-bay or from people who were looking to get rid of it.  I try to get it "used" for moral reasons, it makes it easier on my conscience. The fish, however, are plastic because I wanted uniform repetition, but it's sort of the same concept because they are plastic fish meant to be displayed on your wall in place of actual taxidermy. With the animal pieces I was thinking about the combination of masculine and feminine versions of craft, and how they might be represented together.  I also realized that traditional craft, taxidermy and art are all just ways for us to display our accomplishments and talents to other people. On a simple level, these pieces are also about pattern and form and the way that organic and geometric shapes and patterns play off of one another.

For the snack pieces I decided to ignore their edibility and amplify their attractiveness by covering them in sequins and turning them into wall patterns. This way they are no longer disposable or forgettable. I wanted to make them simultaneously more attractive and less obtainable."

Besides keeping herself busy with her work, Cassandra is also co owner of The Armoury Gallery.

scott radke.

Scott Radke did this amazing piece as a commission. It took him four months to complete and the tallest figures go up to 53". Scott's detail is always amazing. I could stare at it for a very long time. See more photos on his live journal.

souther salazar facebook page.

Check out Souther Salazar's facebook page where you can get a sneak peek into Souther's world. He's uploaded a ton of photos showing his paintings, sculptures, work in process, studio space and kitties and stuff and junk and things! Souther's work has undeniable charm. His nebulous little men, far off playful lands and beautifully, understated color palette is unlike anything out there. I love it. You can join Souther's page here.

rachel denny.

rachel denny's domestic trophies seem so warm, thoughtful and tactile. the knitted fabric is meticulosly tailored to the busts, seeming almost like the original hides. taking found wools and re-creating them as her trophies skins, they're a clever take on hunting and gathering. as a knitter and lover of animals i fell in love instantly when i saw them. all her trophies, (although many have sold) are available through rachel's website. keep your eyes peeled for life size angora rabbits and a show next year at rare device.

scott radke new owls.

scott radke's new owls are so adorable i kind of want to eat them. well, not really as the ceremic shards would be a real downer. but you get what i mean. i know you do. you always do. cause you are so good like that. scott posted 4 new little bumpkins on his website and surprise...they sold in a heart beat! check out scott's blog where he posts images of work in process, gianormous live insects and a groundhog that likes bananas and living under scott's shed.

mitra fabian.

normally i don't post on contemporary sculpture, for no other reason than i don't look for it specifically, so i rarely see work that moves me. i think the last artist i posted on who works w/in sculpture was emily barletta. so note to self, need to open up my research process a little wider. i'll add that to the list of blog things, like get an intern, re-do the lay out and the infinity other things i have going on around this blog. no complaints!

mitra fabian's work grabbed me the minute i saw it. the sculptures themselves are mesmerizing to look at, but when i looked closer...i was absolutely amazed w/ her medium. often just using scotch tape, paper or paper hole re-enforcers, i was really impressed w/ her diligence around these house hold mediums. not only for the sheer fact that she uses such things like scotch tape but the beauty she creates w/ them. stunning.

tara foley at fecal face dot gallery.

tara foley's show say hello to never ending opened on june 3rd at fecal face dot gallery. normally, i would never write this late about a show, but man, tara's stuff just looks so amazing! i couldn't let my computer debacle sabotage this post, her work is just too juicy and awesome to let it walk on by. check out fecal's gallery website to look at all her works at the show. so good. if you are in sf hit them up i know they just extended their hours, tara's show goes through july 3rd.