Buy Outside the Box: August 2006

Art From Afar

Why is it we have to travel far to find what we like? While many of us as collectors do support local artists, it is sometimes human nature to look afar for what one wants. Somehow distance or location in a large metropolitan area seems to validate that an artist is good. This distance formula is true of many things not just art. But then again, we have the internet and the globe is our marketplace. I bring this up because I was recently chatting with Buyoutsidethebox.com artist Diana Bradley a Bay Area artist whose work was purchased for inclusion in the art collection at the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco. The irony of this story is that the work was purchased and placed through an agency in Atlanta. Diana’s work is really lovely, and we can see why the Ritz Carlton was interested in having her work hang on their walls. Take a look for yourself. She is also offering a free 2007 calendar that comes in an attractive lucite frame for anyone making a purchase of her work between now and December 20th. Just in time for the holiday season of course. Bradley graduated from UC Berkeley and has also been artist in residence at Yosemite during her career. We are blessed to have her work included on our site.

Also, a concept that has intrigued me for years, is the customized puzzle. I refer you to the icon at the bottom of our blog page, click on the jigsaw2order.com and order your customized jigsaw puzzle today. Our family has loved working jigsaw puzzles for years, but we are into large complicated puzzles nothing under 1,000 pieces for us. This company is tooled for larger puzzles. Check them out today and send in your favorite photos. I know, I know, it sounds trite, but it would make a great Christmas gift giving idea, or you know what Granny always likes pictures of the grandchildren, can you imagine having your own jigsaw puzzle of them.

Labels: art, hand thrown pottery

Are you Barefoot and Pregnant?

Friday’s are like no other day of the week. That’s where the acronym TGIF comes from “Thank Goodness It’s Friday.” We here at Buyoutsidethebox.com relish Casual Friday, and participate in it almost everyday of the week, because we can.

That’s why we are going to do something a little different on Fridays that is if we post a blog at all. I’d like to share with you a tidbit, or piece of wisdom that I’ve garnered through the week. Perhaps it’s not even related to art except for the fact that there is always the “Art of Living.” It’s kind of like the crossword puzzle in the New York Times, where they start out on Monday and make the puzzles a little harder each day until Sunday, when it is the most difficult of all. Only our blogging is in reverse. We start out really serious on Monday’s hammering away at the business of sharing wonderful art with consumers, until Friday comes, and we just want to lay back and let the coon dogs bay. (Yes, we really still have coon dogs in Cleburne County, and those of us who want to walk around barefoot and pregnant do so with pride. Okay, I know these are very arcane references to Arkansas culture, but it’s so easy to look them up on the internet.) Speaking of Cleburne County, you really must acquaint yourself with Disfarmer if you want to be amongst those in the know.

Okay….this is a little deep, and I’ve already quoted Ann Patchett this week, but it is something so wonderful to contemplate over the weekend. Roxanne Coss, opera diva extraordinaire, has just been the recipient of a confession of love by a Russian diplomat. She is discussing it with her translator. “If someone loves you for what you can do, then it’s flattering, but why do you love them? If someone loves you for who you are then they have to know you, which means you have to know them.”

How many people love you because of who you are, and how many love you because of what you can do for them? Flip that thought over and twirl it all around. --Ruth Mitchell

Were you Born to Appreciate Art?

I guess it's just Russian week. You know what they say about things coming in threes. Anyway, I've been reading this highly recommended, award-winning novel, “Bel Canto.” It is very well written, and that one factor has been what has been the motivation for getting through the first half of the book. Really 200 pages is much too long to set the stage. It has been in the second half of the book, however, that I have come to see why the author, Ann Patchett received not one but three prestigious literary awards.

For instance this quote about art, beginning at the bottom of page 218 where Russian diplomat Victor Fyodorov has procured the services of the translator to profess his love to Roxane Coss, a brilliant opera singer who is held in captivity with him and about 90 other people. “Some people are born to make great art and others are born to appreciate it. Don’t you think? It is a kind of talent in itself, to be an audience, whether you are the spectator in the gallery or you are listening to the voice of the world’s greatest soprano. Not everyone can be the artist. There have to be those who witness the art, who love and appreciate what they have been privileged to see.”

The Fortune Teller

That says it all. To honor the beauty of Fyodorov’s words, I share with you the passionate expression of Russian artist Alexey Yesjunin in his work: “The Fortune Teller.”-- Ruth Mitchell

Labels: art, hand thrown pottery

Russian Treasure Hunt

The Daughter of Herodias - Alexey Yesjunin

It sounds like material straight out of a novel and gets my mind wandering to Pierce Brosnan’s antics in “The Thomas Crown Affair.” Irreplaceable artifacts, mostly 19th Century, valued at 130 million rubles discovered missing from the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. As reported this past July 30, 221 pieces were discovered missing in a routine audit after an employee of the museum suddenly died. Not surprisingly, they are pretty sure the heist was an inside job.

Remarkably a few of the artifacts have already been discovered and returned to the museum via a unique online campaign. The museum website actually carries a listing of the missing items.

Check out the list of stolen artifacts for yourself and maybe you can participate in this treasure hunt. For some wonderful contemporary Russian art view Alexey Yesjunin's work. Yes, we featured him last blog, but his work is so wonderful and it ties in well to the Russian treasure hunt. ---Ruth Mitchell

Labels: art

The Power of the Internet Is Mindboggling

Botanical Garden Series #2 - Alexey Yesjunin

As a journalist that has spent many hours in the dark, quiet rooms of libraries sifting through sources and fumbling with micro fiche machines, I sometimes get simply giddy over the resource information the internet offers us today. For instance if you go to Google's new trends search page and type in the word art, you will find out that the cities of New York, Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Diego and Atlanta, in that order have internet users searching for the word "art." Minneapolis, especially so high on the lists, is the shocker.

I can remember when the internet was new, and the sources of information were limited and not very reliable. I don't know where those shady tidbits of input have gone today, but the internet lords (I guess that would be google and a few other major players in search engine technology) are doing a pretty good job of getting information and retail opportunities to us.

For instance if you type in "Alexey Yesjunin" you will be directed at once to buyoutsidethebox.com where you can see the art of this wonderful Russian painter.Enjoy--Ruth Mitchell

A Crafty Suggestion

Sake Set - Andrew Pollack

A recent visit to the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas reminded me of the origins of Contemporary Craft, one of my all time favorite genres of art. I think I like contemporary craft so much because we are living through the evolution of Craft from strictly utilitarian objects to objects that are extremely innovative and which might also be useful. Still today, you say the word craft and people think of craft shows that feature quilts and handmade dolls and toys made of wood and rubber band motors.

When we use the word Contemporary Craft, however we are speaking of something much more than useful items made in the traditions of the past. While wood turning, ceramics and basket weaving may have their origins in very old processes, these are two disciplines that have taken off under the umbrella of Contemporary Craft. Another way to express what Contemporary Craft is as the term 3-D art, but I don’t like this term nearly as much, and that would include sculpture, and sculpture, in my mind anyway, doesn’t belong in craft.

When we look at what the term means: craft according to wikipedia.org it is a skill associated with the practical arts. They also refer to studio craft as craft made by artists working in studios. A little too basic for me, okay how about this as a definition of Contemporary Craft: Contemporary Craft is the art of making art from useful or practical things, the end result being or not being a practical item that has been elevated to fine art through aesthetics and grace.

I invite you to peruse the “Contemporary Craft” pieces on our website. Hint: you won’t find them under paintings and prints.--Ruth Mitchell

Piecing it Together

"The Green Triangle"

My first exposure to art was at the many art galleries in a little place called Door County Wisconsin. If you live in the Midwest you may know it. Otherwise this scenic haven for Chicagoans is probably not in your vocabulary. I recently visited this childhood summer place where I used to frolic through arboreal forests barefoot, picking wild trilliums and generally participating in "make believe" games long before my peers had grown out of them.

Textile artist Deanna Peterson grew up in Door County, and I had the opportunity to visit Shadowlawn, a traditional old great house that her family owns and operates as a rental property now.

Every room was filled with her art, with its deep roots connecting to the women of the past who, never wasting a scrap of cloth would reuse torn clothing and linens into wonderfully reconstructed fabrics for the bed or to be reworn. This utilitarian art is much to be admired, and modern quilters have taken this ancient textile fabrication to new heights. We have a number of textile artists on our website including Deanna, Nancy Billings, and Katharina Litchman. Each artist has a completely unique approach to the ancient art form. We invite you to explore them now.