The Summer of Love: Art of the Psychedelic Era exhibition at the Whitney Museum features a series of work from the 1960’s through 1970’s; the artists that range from Andy Warhol to Lucas Samaras. Work from this era are characterized as being a direct reaction to popular culture and instead of art being an activity only to be performed by (and for) the elite, art was created by people from all walks of life. Two pieces of work, both by Abdul Mati Klarwein, demonstrated not only the new wave of art that focused on every aspect of popular culture, but his work also touches on the rise of consumerism and how it affected old conventions of society.

The first piece, The Aleph Sanctuary, was originally a 3×3 meter, metallic cube which contained over sixty paintings1; each piece arranged to resemble the more famous Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. The deliberate religious architecture behind Klarwein’s sanctuary seems to belittle the Christian institution by rendering the monumental church in a minimalistic manner. The small size of the Aleph Sanctuary can serve as representation of the church’s quickly shrinking influence. The younger generation was no longer restricted to finding happiness through God and the church, but through any means necessary. The pursuits of happiness of this generation ranged from the explosion of consumerism to the use of drugs and excess alcohol.

The original Aleph Sanctuary features a series of paintings that lined its walls1, each depicting scenes that characterized pop culture in the 1960’s and 70’s; however, the most ‘Pop’ artwork inside the sanctuary was the “Grain of Sand” (also by Klarwein). This painting depicts sexual themes, consumerism, racial equality, civil unrest, and the psychedelic nature of the decade. Naked women are littered throughout the entire painting; however unlike the roof of the Sistine Chapel, women of both races are depicted. Women and men of color replace the white religious figures and the Caucasian female on the upper-left quadrant of the painting is shown with red skin and green eyes; immediately this colorization seems to give of the connotation of evil. This is a complete upheaval of society’s current attitude towards different races.

The entire painting is a surreal landscape where fashion and luxury are intertwined; these two elements relating to the heavy consumerism and the rush to be at the top of the market, both as consumer and producer. The painting seems to say that everyone who is a consumer is entitled to these luxuries. The vibrant colors of the painting overall represented the ‘life’ and energy of the decade. The youth was blooming, taking action in everything they could get their hands on. This wasn’t limited to drugs, but it also included activism against the government and environmental issues. These two pieces of art by Mati Klarwein, are the best examples of Pop artwork during the 1960’s, each demonstrating the mainstream culture during the period and the events that shaped the artwork.

“Recognized for her sensitive visual language, Microbo’s original aesthetic universe has risen her to a role where she is perceived as an early and influential member of today’s so called Street Art phenomemon. She reacts to this with a shrug, gently laughing at such labels and pointing out that as advertising companies, political parties and others have always recognized, the streets are the best place to communicate with people.”

To see more Microbiology click here: http://www.microbo.com/paintings01.html

…or view via Microbo’s fun home page: http://www.microbo.com/

Today, Rochester Institute of Technology hosted the annual Imagine RIT Festival. Literally thousands of people came to the RIT campus to see the best of what students had to offer. While there were many exhibits that were beyond awesome, I feel as if I should be a good team member and mention the project that team IV has worked on for almost 20 weeks.

Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival is a campus-wide event that showcases the innovative and creative spirit of RIT students, faculty and staff. Visitors experience the breadth and depth of RIT through interactive presentations, hands-on demonstrations, exhibitions, and research projects set up throughout campus. Inflatables, games and multiple performance stages with live music and entertainment are also a hit with visitors of all ages. Held annually each spring, Imagine RIT is the annual kickoff to Rochester’s rich festival season.

Team IV consists of eight (soon to be graduating) students, four from New Media Design, three from New Media Interactive Development, and one from Multidisciplinary Studies. For two quarters (just over 20 weeks) we have been working on our project.

Newsiversse is an interactive feed reader application that ties into the Twitter API. Currently it takes the most popular content from five sites and displays them as well as Twitter Tweets that (usually) are directly related to the issue that you are reading about. The site went live today for the Imagine RIT festival. (check it out!)

What Is Twitter?

Twitter is a free social networking tool that allows users to post Tweets. Tweets are text-based posts that can be up to 140 characters. Twitter users can link to their friends’ accounts and see when they post new tweets.

What are Feeds and Feed Readers?

Web Feeds provide users of a site with data which is frequently updated. For example, if someone were to look at a web feed for CNN, they could view the most recent articles. Feed readers are tools that look at the data within the feed and present it in an easy to read way.

Why are we so awesome?

Newsiversse not only shows information from feeds but the Twitter tweets that go along with them. For example, if CNN posted an article about President Obama meeting the Queen of England, Newsiversse would show you the article as well as what Twitter users are saying about it. By using Twitter, we can see not only is big in the news but how people are reacting to the news.

Patterns patterns everywhere… though this has slowly turned into a ridiculous idea of mine, mainly because it has taken so long to compile, I hope that it really isn’t so ridiculous. Possibly slightly helpful? or inspirational? Who knows. So now that this post is complete…what exactly is it? This isn’t a post about patterned wallpaper found in your Nanna’s bathroom. This post is a celebration of sorts, of patterns and artists and designers who create them and create with them. So here’s a list of different pattern resources that I found.

Steven Meisel

[Images from http://www.artandcommerce.com/AAC/...]

These two images are from a series by Steven Meisel is actually what inspired me to do this crazy post. A brilliant set of photographs for a Spring issue of Italian Vogue, though I’m not sure about when the issue came out, it may have been in 2007. The human form and organic shape created by the clothing all blend together into an optically exhilarating flow of patterns and prints.

The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones, edited by Maxine Lewis

[Images from http://www.amazon.com/Grammar-Ornament-Owen-Jones/... ]

This book is a great little resource for inspiration, and as a reference to the basic characteristics of cultural ornament. And if you’ve been wondering what history behind it is it offers that as well. I bought it for the pure purpose of visual inspiration a while back and it has proved to be very helpful in times of creative blocks.

The book can be found on Amazon here.

Helen Dardik

[Images from http://www.oneluckyhelen.com/index.html]

These are just a few of a bunch of playful and colorful patterns, and there were oh so many great ones to choose from. Observing the details of each one of Helen Dardik’s patterns is absolutely necessary.

Pattern by Tricia Guild and Elspeth Thompson

[Image from http://belindaschneider.wordpress.com/2007/04/03/tricia-guild-pattern-book/]

This book has received great praise from pretty much everyone who owns it. It showcases bold patterns and their wonderful homes having been incorporated into decoration, a difficult task. Here’s just a little snippet of the product description offered by Amazon:

Tricia Guild is known for her bold and original fabric and wallpaper collections and her extraordinary ability to use colour and pattern in decoration. She is inspired by fabrics, techniques, motifs and designs from all over the world and from every period of history – brocades and damasks from the Far East; the rich history of botanical illustration and flower painting; checks, plaids and stripes from northern Europe; vibrant ethnic prints from India and Central America; painterly designs from Chinese and European porcelain; the bold abstracts and geometric patterns of contemporary painters.

The book can be found on Amazon here.

Rick Leong

[Images from http://rickleong.carbonmade.com/projects/25547]

This artist is based in Montreal, Canada. His many imaginative paintings have a softness to them, the same kind of fuzzy effect that appears in watercolors or painted silk.The patterns that emerge in his work are nature inspired, relating to the ocean… like waves or underwater landscapes, and lush magical forests.

Design*Sponge

[Images from http://www.designspongeonline.com/2008/05/welcome-julia...]

Ever wondered how you could turn that wonderful illustration into your own repeating pattern? Design*Sponge offers a little step-by-step tutorial by guest blogger Julia on how exactly you can do this. A very useful guide and definitely something to read through if you don’t already know how to do this.

Sølve Sundsbø

[Images from http://community.livejournal.com/foto_decadent/1907831.html]

The photo series entitled “Bloom” from an edition of V magazine is photographed by Sølve Sundsbø and captures patterns and texture in extreme movement. The billowing plumes of floral fabrics create spectacular effect, each image featuring a stunning compostion that features body and garment as art.

dchan on DeviantART

[Images from http://dchan.deviantart.com/]

Another set of illustrated patterns that really benefit from a close up. The vibrant illustrations include blob monsters, Mexican wrestlers, music-loving cheese burgers, and dancing condiments. With the wild clash of activity in the patterns it all kind of looks like Paul Frank on acid.

Tatiana Plakhova’s Wrapping Paper Collections on The Behance Network

[Images from http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Wrapping-Paper-Collections/90569]

Though these aren’t downloadable, Behance has a good number of wrapping paper designs by Tatiana Plakhova, all beautifully illustrated. Each has its own unique geometric design ranging from the basic pinstripe, to the 70’s floral, to the very ornate optical illusion.

Patternhead

[Images from http://www.patternhead.com/]

Patternhead is a good place to find some crazy pattern tiles designed by John Rawsterne. There are a number of patterns available for free, and other detailed, high quality downloads available through the Patternhead store.

MEANNORTH: work by Naja Conrad-Hansen

[Images from http://www.meannorth.com/index.html]

This was an especially exciting find because artist and designer Naja Conrad-Hansen has a spectacular and broad collection of work. Her pattern work is more a combination of fashion illustration and an overflow of pattern, sometimes with a hint of photo-collage-like influences. Some very wonderful work here.

Web Design Ledger

[Images from http://webdesignledger.com/freebies/200-beautiful-seamless-patterns-perfect-for-web-design]

Finally, the popularity of using patterns is growing in webdesign, moving into the other parts of the website anatomy, no longer kept only in the background. There’s a long list of different patterns from Web Design Ledger. These patterns were pulled from deviantART and have a variety of uses.

“Charlotte Day combines her passion for pattern and illustration with her love of plants to produce unique botanically influenced designs for textiles, stationery, wall paper, merchandise and editorial projects. While her main tools remain pencil and paper, designs are digitally assembled in order to create perfect repeats and provide work in commercially compatible format.”  (http://www.charlottedaydesign.com)

The above image is some of his designer wallpaper that I thought was fitting for the season.  Simple, creative, and visually remarkable Day’s work is a great example of tasteful wallpaper.  Charlotte’s artowrk is reminiscent of the arts and crafts movement and takes the period of art in a new direction.  Instead of my normal rants and reviews of artwork, I’m simply going to show some of Day’s work.  Make sure to visit her website at:

http://www.charlottedaydesign.com

Artist: Yehrin Tong

http://www.debutart.com/artist/yehrin-tong/work/2341

http://www.animationarchive.org/2008/08/illustration-gustaf-tenggrens-grimms.html

http://ilikepencils.blogspot.com/

http://www.chuckkimmerle.com/

http://www.olofsdotter.com/

http://www.oliververnon.com/2008/07/24/2008/

http://www.naotohattori.com/home.html

http://www.koldobarroso.com/

http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/bamboolove/

http://www.gallery21.com/

http://www.sterlinghundley.com/

http://www.zuzafun.com/surreal-pictures

http://www.vladimirkush.com/home.php

http://www.graphic-exchange.com/archives/home_2008_10.html

http://www.luminous-lint.com/app/vexhibit/_PHOTOGRAPHER_Carl__Chiarenza_01/1/0/0/

http://polarulv.1x.com/

Today, as many of you might know, is René Magritte’s birthday; he was born November 21, 1898. His paintings both witty and thought-provoking are known all throughout the world.  René Magritte was an extrodinary surrealist painter, although like many artists, it wasn’t until the near end of his life that his art was truly recognized.

Many of the paintings in this event come from the massive collection stored in Belgium’s Musees Royaux des Beaux Arts, the exhibition will host  Magritte’s best-known works from the 1950s onwards.

The Son of Man by Rene Magritte

Magritte is great in the way he uses the  contrast between day and night for realistic objects in odd settings, unlike other surrealist artists, who twisted the objects themselves. In addition to his famous paintings, this event will  “explore the role of nature in Magritte’s lesser-known earliest pieces, when he toyed with futurist ideas, as well as forgotten works from the inter-war period.”

Many of the great modern and contemporary artist of today have been influence by Rene Magritte. Some of these artists include John Baldessari, Sherrie Levine, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, Marcel Broodthaers and Martin Kippenberger. Many of these artist either include direct references to Magritte or clearly show many surrealistic representations that were used by him.

As said before the exhibition will contain hundreds of great paintings, if you happen to be passing through Milan, it will definitely be worth a visit.

When questioned about the exhibiton the shows curator Michael Draguet had this to say:

”Nature is omnipresent in Magritte’s artistic voyage, on the one hand it provides a myriad of themes, which the artist explores and combines at will, while on the other it is a framework for everything, a container that shapes every form of understanding.”

Wasted Beauty

http://www.thelotuseater.com/

Chet Zar

http://www.chetzar.com/

Brian Despain

http://despainart.com/

Dan Quintana

http://www.copronason.com/dan/

Jimmy Pickering

http://www.jimmypickering.com/

Laurie Lipton

http://www.laurielipton.com/

Image from http://www.copronason.com/

These stunning images are illustrations by Sam Cotton, recently featured in the Exposure section of Computer Arts Magazine. The UK based illustrator works using a combination of digital and traditional techniques, with a talent for bringing realism into contemporary art. His captivating illustrations are “fashion-based”, gaining a sense depth through the use of the different mediums.

Enough cannot be said about these illustrations, and I was rather excited to find the pair that I did in Computer Arts, but thanks to the powers of the internet, more of his work can be found on his online portfolio:  http://www.hundredpercentcotton.co.uk/

Lets get a short background of Mike Ming out of the way before discussing his work:

“Brooklyn-based artist Mike Ming (born Michael Miyahira) brings fascination with popular culture and life experiences to the canvas.” – Dell.com

He graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1995 with a BFA in Illustration and has since taken his artistic creativity and honed it into a personal and expressive style which he can call his own. Ming was contacted by Dell to provide illustrations for their new inaugural Special Art Edition Inspiron 1525 laptop.

“I want to create a sense of energy, playfulness, sophistication and psychedelic momentum when I started this…This new technique from Dell brings my inspiration—water and the energy it produces—to life and gives computer aficionados their own display of style.” – Dell.com

But what is the technology that makes it possible to have Ming’s creative artistic talent showcased so vividly? Dell describes it best:

“A new Dell manufacturing technique brings alive every color and brushstroke on the laptop’s cover, creating a fluid, graffiti-inspired tattoo effect that lets style pioneers add another level of individuality to everyday life.” – Dell.com

Ming’s work has been showcased in a series of galleries, festivals, and art shows all across the country and if you like the laptops, I highly reccomend visiting his website for more of his ecletic design style.

www.mikeming.com