Pinterest-ing.

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

I was just introduced to a new site that essentially allows you to make an online inspiration board.  And not only can you create your own inspiration boards, you can peek at other people’s as well!

On Pinterest, you can set up several inspiration boards, one for fashion, art, interior design, whatever it is that fluffs your peanutbutter.  After you’ve created these boards, browse the web as usual.  When you see something that strikes your fancy, you can “pin it” by simply clicking on the Pinterest button on your browser, and it adds an image of your item to the appropriate list.

This is brilliant not only for inspiration, but also for cataloging.  Planning a special project, designing a room, and need a place to keep all your sources and images in one place?  Pinterest is perfect for just that.

I like to go poking through other people’s boards.  By doing this, I find new shops I’ve never been to, blogs I’ve never read, photographers I had not yet discovered.  Take a poke through my board here.

You need an invitation to join Pinterest.  If you are seriously interested, I have four remaining invitations.  Pop me an email.  The first four people to request an invitation will get one!

It’s a Material World

Monday, July 26th, 2010

A few weeks back, I made a trip to Mass MoCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) in North Adams, MA with a good friend.  I never realized that I was lucky enough to have the country’s largest contemporary art museum only an hour and a half away.  I love visiting Mass MoCA, but I must confess, it’s been close to 2 years since I’ve been there last.

What is there not to love about Mass MoCA?  The drive to North Adams is breathtaking, they always have great shows running, they have a permanent Sol Lewitt collection, and honestly– I think I’m in love with their graphic designer.  All of their materials, the brochures, the information graphics, the billboards, the websites, everything is stunning.  Case in point: My friend was enthralled by the exhibit, while I was still standing in the doorway, admiring the font the title was in.  (Although, I don’t know whether that says more about me than the museum, but anyway.)

The major exhibit running on the day of my visit was titled Material World.  It featured room size installation pieces using many different forms of material- rope, strings, paperclips, bubble wrap, astroturf, you name it, it was fair game.  I love whole room installations.  First of all, the scale gives you such a surreal, larger than life feeling.  Secondly, it allows the viewer to be interactive with the piece, to view it from all angles and see how your experience changes.

Don’t let me forget the Gravity is a Force to be Reckoned With Exhibit!  This was a little living space, housed inside a very large room.  The walls were glass, and when you looked inside- everything was upside down.  As in the furniture was on the ceiling.  And it wasn’t just the furniture, they paid attention to other details as well.  The kitchen even had an upside down french press on their upside down counter.  (These upside down people have discerning taste in coffee.)

Here are some of my images from my visit to Mass MoCA.  You can see the rest of them on my Flickr page here.

Eli Levenstein- Reading Room for Mass MoCA

Big Boss, Orly Genger

Alyson Shotz- The Geometry of Light

Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle- Gravity is a Force to be Reckoned With

Turning Creativity on it’s Head.

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

It’s high time we redefined creativity. You don’t need be an artist, a musician, or writer to be creative. We were all born with the capacity to be creative. Let me say this another way. You are creative. And I can hear you saying, “No, I’m not.”

Creativity is all about coming up with new ideas. It’s about seeing, experiencing, and savoring the world around you. It is a way of life.

The Born Creative workshop series will be starting on March 4, 2010.  This 4 week course aims to help people reconnect with their life through creativity and curiousity.  Even for those of you that say you’re not creative.  Especially for those of you that say you’re not creative.

Take a stroll on over to the Born Creative Facebook Fan Page.  Once you’re there, become a fan!  You won’t just get boring old updates about the course (because the course is fun and exciting!), but also fascinating information on how people are using creativity in ways that you never imagined.

Below you’ll find a list of the workshop descriptions, and all the necessary details.  If you know someone in the Western MA area that would be interested in being happier and more effective in their career (isn’t that everyone you know?) then forward on the details!

Schedule

Thursday, March 4 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Overcoming Obstacles to Creativity
In this class we redefine creativity, conquer old stories and beliefs, bust through creative roadblocks, learn to trust our ideas, and grow through play.

Thursday, March 11 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Developing Awareness
Learn valuable techniques to help you become
more mindful in your everyday life, and how paying
attention and being an active learner can increase your joy and creativity.

Thursday, March 18 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Gaining New Perspective
Begin to see different possibilities and points of view. Understand how looking at things from a new angle
can aid in generating new ideas and in building and maintaining relationships.

Thursday, March 25 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Creative Problemsolving
Creativity isn’t just for artists. Pick up new
brainstorming strategies to assist with challenges at
home, and in the workplace.

Pricing

Classes are available in a 4 week package for $100,
and can also be purchased individually for $25*.
All prices include materials.
Please call to reserve your space.
Limited seats are available.

*we recommend the package plan (like people, the classes work better together!)

To sign up for this workshop series, simply send me an email at BornCreativeWorkshops@gmail.com.

Payment will be accepted through Paypal, cash, or check.

Arts Night Out.

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Some great things you can’t plan for.  You make your plans, go on your way, and are completely blown away by the amazing things that come across your path.  This past friday was one of those nights.  I planned on participating in Northampton’s Arts Night Out– an evening where all of the galleries seem to have something going on, along with free admission to the Smith College Art Museum.  To be honest, the words free admission were enough to get me to go.

I made my way to the Smith Art Museum, but never actually got to see any art (I had seen it all before, at least).  Upon my arrival, I immediately discovered that the Northamptones were singing in one of the upstairs galleries.  The Northamptones are the much revered A Capella group of the Northampton High School.  They are good.  I mean good!  They rock out songs like Bohemian Rhapsody and I Am the Walrus.

And the music wasn’t over.  I wandered downstairs to hear the sounds of Unit 7, who call their style “Speakeasy music for the 21st century.”  Anyone that knows me can tell you how much I LOVE this kind of music.  It runs through my veins.  The music came complete with flappers, who came out with black bobbed wigs, fringed dresses, and graced us with the Charleston.

The A.P.E. Gallery was next.  I had an idea that something was going on here, but had no idea that it would be this.  This installation/performance art was put on by the Royal Frog Ballet.  In addition to the people in period costume, there was also a real Victrola playing records (they had to wind it up every once and a while), and a projector playing old time movies (the ones where everyone looks like they’re moving really, really fast.  There are just no words to describe how visually beautiful this was.

A.P.E.’s description of the event.

The night finally ended up with a soy hot cocoa from Haymarket, and listening to people sing kareoke at the WWII club.  Because no night is complete without hearing some poor guy belt out Sweet Caroline at the top of his lungs.  Good times never felt so good.

Born Creative Workshop Series.

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

I’ve hinted at a new project that I’ve been working on for a few months a few times on this blog.  It’s finally ready to be unveiled, and I am very excited to share it with you!

Beginning in March, for those of you in Western MA, I will be presenting a new workshop series called Born Creative.  I believe that we are all born with a capacity for creativity, and by reconnecting with it, we can live happier and more productive lives.

Below is a description of the series, as well as all the details for any of you that might be interested.

Live a more joyful life. Have fun.
Build better relationships. Be a problem solver.
Become a better job candidate (yes, you heard right!).

Overview

It’s high time we redefined creativity. You don’t need be an artist, a musician, or writer to be creative. We were all born with the capacity to be creative. Let me say this another way. You are creative. And I can hear you saying, “No, I’m not.”

Creativity is all about coming up with new ideas. It’s about seeing, experiencing, and savoring the world around you. It is a way of life.

In this four week workshop series, we will uncover the simple
acts that creatively inclined people do everyday, and learn how to incorporate these acts into our own lives. Each class will include special exercises, projects, discussion, and of course, fun!

You won’t become an artist. You’ll simply change the way you see the world.

Schedule

Thursday, March 4 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Overcoming Obstacles to Creativity
In this class we redefine creativity, conquer old stories and beliefs, bust through creative roadblocks, learn to trust our ideas, and grow through play.

Thursday, March 11 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Developing Awareness
Learn valuable techniques to help you become
more mindful in your everyday life, and how paying
attention and being an active learner can increase your joy and creativity.

Thursday, March 18 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Gaining New Perspective
Begin to see different possibilities and points of view. Understand how looking at things from a new angle
can aid in generating new ideas and in building and maintaining relationships.

Thursday, March 25 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Creative Problemsolving
Creativity isn’t just for artists. Pick up new
brainstorming strategies to assist with challenges at
home, and in the workplace.

Pricing

Classes are available in a 4 week package for $100,
and can also be purchased individually for $25*.
All prices include materials.
Please call to reserve your space.
Limited seats are available.

*we recommend the package plan (like people, the classes work better together!)

To sign up for this workshop series, simply send me an email at BornCreativeWorkshops@gmail.com.

Payment will be accepted through Paypal, cash, or check.

Become our fan on Facebook!

Paper Hearts.

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

When I think of hearts, I think of them as being frilly, sappy, seasonal and occassionally cliche– and believe me, I am anything but frilly.  Sarah and Bendrix, a shop based in England, have changed my mind.  Their art uses hearts as rich and beautiful texture.  I find myself actually wanting to hang one of these in my house, year round.  Shh, don’t tell, you’ll ruin my rep.

You can buy these pieces on the Sarah and Bendrix Etsy shop here.

All images property of Sarah and Bendrix.

via Decor8.

No More Lonely Nights.

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

You have all gotten the dreaded spam emails, telling you buy repl1ka watches, or send money to a Nigerian prince.  Artist Linzie Hunter has taken this normal nuisance and turned it into fun, letterform illustrations.

Visit Linzie’s website here.

Buy her book on Amazon.

All images are property of Linzie Hunter.

Missed Connections.

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

You see them posted in newspapers, on Craigslist…  Those missed connection notes, that say “I saw you in the grocery store, and you were too beautiful for me to say hello.”  I’d be lying if I didn’t have a secret fantasy of stumbling upon one of these notes and realizing that it was me that they were talking about.

Illustrator, Sophie Blackall, has taken these missed connection listings and turned them into art.  Some are thoughtful, and like in real life, some are just awkward.

Visit the illustrator’s blog at missedconnectionsny.blogspot.com

Visit her Etsy shop to purchase prints at http://www.etsy.com/shop/SophieBlackall

All artwork is the property of Sophie Blackall.

Living Out Loud.

Friday, December 11th, 2009

I have been doing a lot of research lately on creativity.  Why some people have it, why certain people think they don’t, and what activities we can participate in to foster the creative mind.

One name that keeps coming to me over and over again is Keri Smith.  You may remember her from when I mentioned the book, How to be an Explorer of the World.  I recently picked up Smith’s book Living Out Loud, and turned each page with sheer excitement.  This book, much like How to be an Explorer of the World, offers exercises in creativity.  These are not exercises meant to make you a better drawer, or painter, but to get you to pay attention, see the world from a different perspective, and conjure fresh ideas.

After visiting Keri Smith’s website, I have to admit, I have a little professional crush.  Her ideas are fantastic and witty, and I only wish that I thought of them first!  Take a trip to her site, and make sure you take a look at the Artist’s Survival Kit.

All images are property of Keri Smith.

Eye Candy from Imagine Studio.

Monday, December 7th, 2009

CouCou by ImagineStudio.

Birds of a Feather by ImagineStudio.

These beautiful photo fusion images don’t need much commentary by me.  Sit back and take them in.

Prints are available on the ImagineStudio Etsy site.

All images are the property of Imagine Studio.