is a blog about living with good art.
is a Brooklyn-based blogger and art consultant. She loves discovering and connecting with others through art.
or send an email to kate[at]arthound.net.
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I always liked geometry, doing proofs and all that, but these little pie charts take it to a whole new (aesthetic) level. And by “pie charts” I mean magnets and pins. I would snap up the magnets if only they would work on our sadly nonmagnetic refrigerator…
Made by Studio Fludd, a young design collective from Italy.
via thoughtful day (via bloesem).
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Karen Ryan is a British designer whose work reflects on domestic life through an inquiry of everyday objects. In her series Second Hand (via heart and design) Ryan removed the glazes on vintage china to reveal alarming messages, perhaps signaling the inner-psychology of the objects’ past owners. Ryan uses charged words like “Guilt” and “Anger,” inciting us, the viewers, to conjure up these unknown histories. We ask ourselves, “Who owned this plate and what occurred behind their closed doors?” The series taps into our fascination with the private lives of others but, like the walls they were once housed in, these plates don’t say much.
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As the artist explains, “I remove the decorative patterns that camouflage our everyday lies and in its place I leave words that prick our conscience and create portraits of hidden domestics left open for others to interpret.“
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I have a weakness for simple, modern ceramics. In stores I stop to ogle and handle every little bowl, wondering if it feels as good in my hands as it looks. Through my passion for modern ceramics I’ve gained an understanding of the principle that good design, no matter how simple, is inherently beautiful. But ceramics are not just pretty objects to look at. From your morning cup of coffee to your midnight snack, they are a part of your everyday life.
Photo of our cupboard by Jill Slater for AT; Heath Ceramics
While I find all of the designs in this round-up inspired, Heath’s Coupe line (above) holds a special place in my heart as it’s what we use in our household. The line, which we have in linen and mist, is so modern in every sense of the word that it blows my mind that it was designed by Edith Heath back in 1949. It turns out my grandmother has a casserole she purchased from Heath back in the 50′s and now I have the same one.
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A Round-up of Modern Ceramics (dinnerware and decorative objects)
In the spirit of promoting alternative and affordable art, this week’s picks all fall into the “art-as-household-objects” category. We have tea towels, a t-shirt, melamine plates, a mug, tiles, decals and a calendar, many by artists we’ve previously featured!
And I should add that this is just the tip of the art-as-household-objects iceberg! There are so many artists today selling their work in non-traditional forms which we think is fantastic because:
- this kind of art is very affordable
- it means a steady, secondary income for the artists
- and it’s much easier to justify the $$$ if you can USE/WEAR it!
This week’s picks were found on:
Lumadessa, a design shop by Josh Brill, offers free iPhone wallpaper of its charming Flora Fauna collection. Fun and Free!
There is a movement in the art world of artists spurning the idea of art-as-sacred-object and redefining art by way of unexpected application. Many of these artists are turning everyday objects, as mundane as magnets and tea towels, into art that is innovative, authentic and practical.
As the public also questions the elitist notion of art-as-institution, it will discover the rich market of low-brow art* that these talented but disenfranchised artists have taken to.
So, in the spirit of promoting art in all it’s glorious forms, I’m highlighting artists whose work can be downloaded as desktop wallpaper/skins (mostly for free). Why not make our computers are little more expressive? Plus, when art is free, it’s practically a crime to say no.
Wallpapers and skins:
Tiel at tsktsk
* Art with strong street or folk influences. Art in alternative media (e.g. art as magnets, tea towels, handmade cards, notebooks, desktop wallpaper, ceramics, and so on…)
