Visions West

Art Basel Miami 10th anniversary

2011-12-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

Art Basel's 10th Anniversary

What does it mean? Art Basel Miami has become an epic fixture in the art world! YAY!!

A few of my favorite finds this year:

I can't help but think little bit about Warhol's famous line about the best art being good business. Aritist Paulo Nazareth took a stand (no pun intended) with his his Banana Market/Art Market at the booth of Sao Paulo gallery Mendes Wood. With a sign around his neck reading, "My Image of Exotic Man for Sale". Commentary on supply and demand? I don't know, all I could think of was tally man! tally my banana....

Richard Jackson complementary colors face to face (red/green) Hauser&Wirth

I finally have figured out why I love Jackson's sculptures. Besides the fact that they make me laugh, he's a neo dadist! There's a total disorder to his work outlining a process. They just hit me right.

another Smile inducing piece. What does it mean? More to come Stay tuned!

Houston: Chronicles of Unexpected Art Delights

2011-04-28T16:25:00.001-06:00

Jeb in the Cruz-Diez Disco 70's chamber

Art hotspot Houston was full of highlights: Engaging, enticing and eclectic. Highbrow lowbrow and everything in between. Houston is full of good art. Really good art. Amazing Art. We embarked on a whirl wind tour of everything art in Houston, leaving no stone unturned. Our trusted art guide, Barbara Claiborn, navigated us through the Houston art world.

The Fine Arts Museum Houston is everything a big city art museum should be. After seeing the impressionist exhibit and drooling over a Degas' Horse painting, we strolled over to the Beck building through the hallucinatory Turrell light tunnel and then on to the Law building to the chromatic environments of Carlos Cruz-Diez. This retrospective bears the stamp of a true revolutionary and visionary artist.We loved this room below, but weren't too excited about the very worn little slippers we had to wear. Totally worth it though.

Unfortunately the Houston Contemporary Arts Museum was mostly closed up due to a leaky roof. Their Museum store is to die for delightful. Many unique treasures.No website, which is probably okay because I might go broke.

I can only wonder what Warhol would have thought of The Beer Can House. An engagement with mass culture on the grandest scale! Is this a piece on scale with Barbara Kruger and Andy Warhol or is it the house of a hops lunatic?The creator, John Milkovisch Said,

“I don‘consider this art. It‘s just a pastime. But sometimes I lie awake at night, trying to figure out why I do it.”

More Houston Art Tales soon...................

Stuck in San Diego

2011-02-05T15:12:00.001-07:00

Recently stranded at the San Diego airport after installing art in Southern California, we decided to hoof it downtown to check out the art scene. Although we only made it to the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, MCASD, we were blown away by Jennifer Steinkamp's Madame Currie Exhibit. This new commission is inspired by Steinkamp’s recent research into atomic energy, atomic explosions, and the effects of these forces on nature. The projection of moving flora rendered realistically for this work include rambler roses, wisteria, chestnut blooms, and hop plants, among many others drawn from a list of over 40 plants mentioned in Marie Curie's biography written by her daughter, Eve Curie are delightful, meditative and awe inspiring.

Installation view

Click here to watch the piece in motion on Jennifer's website...truly amazing!

Jennifer Steinkamp

I would love this in my house. It would be like moving wallpaper.

The Museum website says, "Steinkamp is one of the most accomplished time-based, digital video artists working today. Her video installations of projected animations engage space and architecture to foster moments of intense public intimacy in our Age of New Media. Physically overwhelming, her animations utilize cutting-edge projectors and digital masking applications to enhance or contradict the architectural features they inhabit and immerse viewers in new phenomenological territory."

The Staff at the museum went above and beyond, letting us leave our luggage at their front desk while we strolled through the museum.

Derby Days & The Art of Millinery

2010-04-30T16:02:00.022-06:00

The Kentucky Derby is this weekend! For those of you who have not had the opportunity to attend this extravaganza, it is definitely an experience everyone should have in their lifetime.

The people watching in itself is ART. But what we really love are THE HATS.

Whether you sip mint julips in the Grandstand . . .

Or attempt to survive flying beer cans in the infield (it is possible - learned from personal experience) . . .

This incredible tradition of millinery is kept alive through the Kentucky Derby.

But in today's society, where else can you find this ARTform?

British royalty continue to represent the lady-like fashion.

As does the American Queen . . . Ms. Aretha.

Then there are the eccentrics . . .

and of course, there are the ladies of Derby.

We also found artist Kim Frohsin inspired by the drama of this lost accessory.

Why don't we all wear hats more often and express this lost ART!?

This weekend, regardless if you are in Louisville, Los Angeles or Lincoln, Nebraska - grab this timeless feminine adornment and wear it proud. Maybe it's a way we can all have our own personal Grandstand whenever we need it.

Hats off to all the the "real ladies" out there . . . wherever you are!

Migration: Wildlife Invades The World

2010-04-14T22:06:00.010-06:00

Spring is here and that means wildlife is back; returning from warm weather vacations or waking up from long winter hibernation. We love this season of wildlife and the artwork it inspires.

One piece in particluar that we are crazy about is Doug Aitken's video art "Migration." It explores a surreal role reversal between wildlife and domesticated life, where animals are viewed in a human-made wilderness.

In “Migration,” the movements of wild migratory animals in North America are transposed in the ubiquitous spaces of modern roadside hotels and motels.

As the wild birds and animals inhabit these mysteriously vacant and sterile interiors, we are taken on a haunting odyssey through the contemporary American landscape.

The video is peculiar, poignant and (definitely) amazing.

We had to point out one of our favorite stills from the video.

Housekeeping's worst nightmare!

Our dream? To have Doug's next project be an exploration of wolves in art. He can start by using our Denver gallery for the video!

In the meantime, we thought having an art show celebrating wolves at our Denver gallery would be another incredible way to share the inspiration of wildlife in art.

We are so excited and grateful to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for partnering with us for the exhibition "Howl." This Thursday evening, April 22 (the 40th anniversary of Earth Day!) we will explore the life and habitat of the wolf through the eyes of some of the West's most acclaimed artists. Along with supporting NRDC's work on behalf of wolves, we hope to show the beauty and vital importance of wolves in the Northern Rockies.

For more information click HERE or contact us at visionswestboz@aol.com

Timothy Chapman Guest Blogger

2010-03-28T21:54:00.009-06:00

The members of our party have been mystified concerning the

possible advantages of the fantastical and varied patterning of the large ruminant Giraffa venustus. Dressed in botanical curlicues and arabesques, the “lovely giraffe” is a startling animal when encountered.

What is just as remarkable is this animalʼs easy disregard for the

predators which are its neighbors... we have witnessed small groups of these giraffes amble right past a pride of lions to reach a spring for water. Calves poke their insouciant snouts where they ought not be... the tail end

of a leopard sleeping in a tree is just as interesting and unthreatening as a

harmless ground tortoise.

Allison Serofim's livingroom re-imagined with Timothy's art

Photo Paul Costello

A typical giraffeʼs hide is remarkable enough... why in the world

would a beast of such presence take on a raiment of checks and

polygons? What purpose could so obvious a banner serve this giant? It has been suggested that it is, in part, a mimicry of a dappled tree trunk when the giraffe is feeding on a high acacia tree. But of course, as it

moves from place to place, a giraffe in the landscape is as subtle as a hailstorm. We can only assume that the Creator was feeling a bit frivolous as He thought this creature into existence.

The Field Artist has noticed that when a specimen has met its demise, which is nearly always through old age, the corpse may lay for days undisturbed by hyena or vulture. It seems that nothing will touch the

apparently toxic flesh itself, although the locals will strip the glorious hide, provided it has not been too weather beaten, to decorate shields and fetishes. The Field Artist has somehow been able to ingratiate himself with this small indigenous population (which does not seem to care much for the rest of us) and has learned that when a bit of hide scrapings are

carefully combined with certain herbs and ingested, remarkable

hallucinations are produced in the user. These visions, apparently, fit neatly into the spiritual beliefs of the locals.

The Field Artist has reported one of his experiences to me shortly

after its peak. I was awakened one night as he crashed through the brush back to our camp... how he managed to pass from the village back to uswithout eventually winding up as some nocturnal creatureʼs meal remains a mystery. While he was clearly excited about what he had just been through, he said that he preferred not to write it down himself, although it seemed fairly obvious at the time that he was fully incapable of focusing his vision, let alone holding a pen in his trembling hand. I attempt here to relate the details as faithfully as I can.

What we might bring to wear on safari with Timothy

The concoction is taken as a single drop on the wing of a still living

butterfly. Certain species of butterfly purportedly offer up certain types of these visual dreams. This act only takes place in a special hut, decorated in venustus hides, only at certain positions and phases of the moon, and

only under the supervision of the native elders most experienced in these matters. Assuming the user is able to actually swallow a living butterfly and then deftly skirt death, he (or she; apparently there is no gender barrier)

begins to “travel”. In the case of our Field Artist, he floated up to the middle of the small chamber and, in a series of convolutions that defy our notions of space, he watched as the patterns of vines and flourishes of the hides swallowed him up and turned the entire room inside out, allowing him to see the room as some subgeometrical solid, all surfaces of which he was able to see simultaneously with one sweep of his gaze.

After a few more indescribable out-of body contortions, the Field

Artist found himself astride a large bull venustus, its pelt of flowers and fleur-de-lys throbbing, in the middle of a too-bright grassland afternoon (mind you, his experience had played itself out during the African night). The air was pulsing with butterflies of all description and glittered with the opaline scales of their wings. Through the thick glaring light he could discern several black crescent moons in the sky. There were a few other giraffes surrounding him. They stared in his direction, their individual patterns writhing like serpents. Their large wet eyes said nothing, but he had the sensation that they were waiting for him to do something, to act. What they were expecting, he could not determine. As he tried to speak, he suddenly realized that there was a great roaring in his ears like a cutting wind, though the air around him was unmoving. The Field Artistʼs unlikely steed breathed a great impatient sigh, its rib cage expanding like a bellows. As it exhaled again, the Field Artist began to slip, slowly as a struggling scarab in honey, trying in vain to lift his heavy limbs.

The Bornjinee Expeditions 1874-1883

The next thing he remembers is crawling through the darkness, far

away from the small complex of native huts, bleeding from gorse and briar. He made his way back to us, related his story as I have written it down here, drank a gallon or so of water and collapsed into an unnerving sleep.

Whether driven by a fierce dedication to his craft and Science or by an unhappy and imbalanced mind, the Field Artist claims he wants to revisit this experience. Up until these few days later, he has not mustered the courage to walk back to the tiny village and its inhabitants. He has so far, instead, elected repeatedly to go down to the river to listen for the comforting quacking of night frogs.

Timothy's artwork

C.M. Russell's Lucky Charm (hey - isn't everyone Irish today?!)

2010-03-17T15:52:00.027-06:00

"Shape Changer #10" by Rocky Hawkins

It's that time of year again! No – we are not talking about green beer and shamrocks . . . although we love those too.

We're talking about the annual C.M. Russell Art Auction. But this year is a little different, as the C.M. Russell Museum has branched off from the auction and will, for the first time ever, be hosting its very own art sale and auction called “The Russell," which will solely benefit the Museum.

Brilliant artist Rocky Hawkins will be showcasing his dynamic work at this exciting new event.

"Dark Moon Shield Thief" by Rocky Hawkins

"Never Sleeps" by Rocky Hawkins

Above are three new paintings by Rocky, which will be part of the live auction on Saturday, March 20th. All three paintings can be viewed tomorrow evening (Thursday, March 18th) at The Russell reception (for more details and full schedule click HERE).

And, in the spirit of this exciting new show, Rocky will also be doing something unique this year: showing artwork along-side his youngest daughter, Cheyenne! Here is an example of Cheyenne’s work ,which will also be on display at the reception tomorrow evening.

"Spirit Woman" by Cheyenne Hawkins

WAIT . . . we are not done! There is more exciting news to report! On Friday, The Russell is having an event called “Art In Action,” where Rocky and Cheyenne will display their talents live, as each paint a new work to be auctioned later. All proceeds will be donated to the C.M. Russell Museum.

Like father, like daughter.

Without question, The Russell will definitely have the "luck of the Irish" on its side this weekend.

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

How To Have A "Green" Weekend

2010-03-12T17:01:00.015-07:00

A) It's Friday!!!

B) It is almost St. Patrick's Day so why not explore & celebrate all things "Green".
C) We want to give some suggestions for a really great and "Green" weekend.
D) With so many amazing forms of ART and design using existing or recycled materials we just had to talk about it.

These are not your typical recycled items. These pieces are redesigned, reimagined, reconfigured, redone . . .

Genius artist Tom Deininger creates his amazing artwork using found objects. His work is like a contemporary "Green" form of impressionism. Van Gogh would be proud. Just click HERE take a look at Deininger's process!

As for your "celebratory" weekend beverages . . . why not reuse them when you are done, like artist/designer Mark Roeder did.

Now there are a few things we all hate to do on the weekends - like laundry.
But if you are really inventive (and lazy) you could attempt to recreate this piece of furniture art titled "Meltdown" . . . because you know we have all had that one load of laundry that pushes us over the edge.

Now stop reading this blog and go out and enjoy your weekend already - geesh!!!

Accessories for Wonderland

2010-03-06T23:25:00.004-07:00

Everywhere I look lately, things seem to have taken on a "Wonderlandish" twist! Can you believe these amazing and functional suitcases by Sarah Williams?

We can only imagine what might be packed in here!

The modern Alice toting this luggage-turned-ART might be inspired to wear something a little dramatic.

If the trip is long, take along a pack of cards. Ruby Lane stocks vintage cards and games. A great resource whether you're looking for some arcane game or a popular old board game.

Depending where the travels may take you, you might be able to see some of artist Nick Cave's fantastical work.

We were amazed to learn that these "Sound Suits" (as he calls them) are totally wearable and meant to be danced in!

Fun environmental sculptures by Finish artist Jonna Pohjalainen recall something you might find down the rabbit hole!

Lest you find yourself lost after a trip down the rabbit hole, Elisabeth Lecourt's navigable clothes (They are really meant for hanging not wearing) might help those who are directionally challenged.

Down The Rabbit Hole

2010-03-04T10:38:00.009-07:00

Photo courtesy of nydailynews.com

March seems like the prefect month for Tim Burton to release his remake of the children's classic Alice In Wonderland.

Photo courtesy of nydailynews.com

March is the month where the longer days begin melting the frozen landscape and a world we have forgotten (buried under months of snow and ice) reveals small parts of itself. March opens up the rabbit hole, disorienting us with the potential of a new season. Like most of the characters in Alice In Wonderland, March is never what it seems. It teases us with brief moments of warm weather and small glimpses of grassy earth. But as frustrating as this journey might be -- for both Alice and all of us struggling for the "real" spring -- it is also an exciting time with adventures to be found and old treasures to be rediscovered.

The musical artist A Fine Frenzy puts this perfectly with their new video for "Lost Things."

The Weekend Muse

2010-02-26T11:43:00.001-07:00

Have a great weekend!

We want to be friends with Lindsey Vonn.

2010-02-18T12:58:00.050-07:00

We love Mrs. Vonn! She is amazing. Truly amazing. Did we mention that we love her?
Her teammate Julia Mancuso is really incredible as well. These fierce ladies captured gold and bronze (respectively) on Wednesday, and it was just their first day of racing!
And let's not forget Shaun White! He cemented his status as reigning world snowboard champion with a gold medal and his buddy, fellow US Team member Scotty Lago, followed right behind with silver.
You could say the U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams have had a pretty good start to the Olympics! Obviously these athletes create beautiful ART through their incredible athleticism and style. But what we really started to become OBSESSED with was how awesome ski and snowboard designs have become in the last few years. It has taken on a life of its own and become a way for athletes to creatively and ARTistically express themselves. Snowboard and ski designers have earned their place as truly respected artisans.
Just take a look at the evolution of this remarkable ART niche . . .

I also found an incredible website where you can even design your own snowboard! Check out rideharder.com to create your own snow-gliding masterpiece!
Here are a few snowboards inspired by some of our favorite artists' work (click on the images for a larger view!).

From the Banks of the Yellowstone to the banks of the Hudson?

2010-02-14T11:33:00.003-07:00

We love flies. I covet my husbands fly box full of colorful feathery delights. If we were clothing designers we might be inspired, which got us wondering.....

Black Woolly Bugger available at Central Flies

Shoes on Etsy

Necklace by Elva Fields

Saltwater Tan Deepwater Gotcha fly at Saltwater Fly Shop

You Are A Walking Canvas

2010-02-13T17:38:00.003-07:00

Fashion Week began yesterday in New York. Fashion designers from all over will be showing their wearable ART to the world. Personally, we love it.

The visual inspiration that comes from Fashion Week permeates all ART forms. We all end up wearing versions of these fashion artists’ creations – filtered through the function of our daily lives and the idiosyncratic style of our surroundings.

Of course the goddess Meryl puts it much more elquently than we can . . .

You Are A Walking Canvas Part II

2010-02-12T17:44:00.001-07:00

Some of our favorite wearable walking art pieces inspired by nature:

Only a blushing bride on the Rocky Mountain Front could pull this look off.

We love Pamela Love's nature inspired jewelry if you're feeling a like a walk on the wild side.

The Force Art Exerts

2010-02-12T09:53:00.002-07:00

Fashion imitates Art; Art imitates fashion....

Julianna Moore Meets Manet

We have been lately noticing over fashion week, the great force that art exerts over fashion and advertising.The echos of great paintings that bounce to the 21st century from the distant and near past. Where does inspiration come from? We had some fun with our own artists work and pairing them with great icons and art.....

Elegance

Color

Spontaneity

A New Artful Twist for the Old and Everyday in the home

2010-02-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

Tired of stinky old fish mounts? Paint them and put a hat or jewelry on them.

We were sort of tired of the whole wash bucket for sink fad, but this one somehow seemed fresh.

ART designs its very own home.

2010-02-06T16:35:00.003-07:00

Have you ever wondered if ART dreams of a perfect place to live?

Well we have always wondered what it would look like if ART could create its own space.

So here are some ideas of what ART might call home . . .

We can see this painting, "White Surround" by Kim Frohsin, loving to spend her days in a feminine lounge.

Brian Scott's peaceful "wall totems" would definitely enjoy the natural light of this tranquil bathroom setting.

Robert McCauley's animals might create a "nest" in these cozy digs.

The work of modernist master Ted Waddell could easily make its home in this modern setting.

The ART of Calm

2010-02-06T15:20:00.003-07:00

Visions West recently started showing the work of incredibly talented artist Matt Flint. Flint's work creates a world where the observer feels both a sense of ethereal calm as well as the frenetic energy of the natural world.

As the artist explains “My paintings are about the rhythms of the natural world. Ideas of memory, fragility, and interconnectedness traverse the work.

The resulting work is an encouragement to slow down, observe, and listen.”

So our suggestion for a way to slow down, observe and listen (because let's be honest - we could all use it) ? . . .

Enjoy these images of Flint’s brilliant new work in some re-imagined interiors.

"Also In Arcadia II" 20x24

"Double Portrait I" & "Double Portrait II" both 13x15

"Into Sight" 40x60

Portrait of a Doppelganger

2010-02-02T17:01:00.012-07:00

In case you haven't noticed, Facebook has declared this as "Doppleganger Week". By the response it may soon become a national holiday.
So in honor of art and the alter ego, we thought we'd post a few of our own artists' possible doppelgangers . . .

Starting with the one and only Rocky Hawkins . . . and his long lost brother, Mr. Chanel himself - Karl Lagerfeld.

BUT . . .

Can Karl do this ?

Rocky Hawkins - "Two Worlds" 24x24

We don't think so. Sorry Karl, but we would take this new painting by Rocky over Chanel tweed anyday! Although, Rocky's wife Kat might like a pair of your iconic black leather fingerless biker gloves.

Kat Hawkins (center)

If artist Jerry Cornelia changed his name to a symbol, what would it be?

Maybe he should ask his twin, Prince, for some advice . . .

Which one is Jerry?!!

It wasn't hard to figure out artist Sue Tirrell's alter ego. We just had to ask her doppelganger, "Ceramica", for some pictures . . .

Sue - we knew you were always meant to be a Ziegfeld girl!

Artist Judy Scammell recalls dark-haired bombshell Gene Tierney

Factory 20 Eccentricities

2010-01-31T22:03:00.002-07:00

If you are looking for original turn of the century to mid century pieces, light fixtures or oddities, check out Factory 20. Worn with history, they are perfect pieces for a rustic or loft-like setting.The prices are great too.

We love this bizarre light called the "Guppy", it's almost a piece of sculpture itself!

Richard Prince

2010-01-30T21:37:00.001-07:00

“I like to think that I make “hit” pictures. I try to put “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” in my pictures.”-Richard Prince

2009-10-13T18:29:00.000-06:00

A Brief History of American Post War Painting, Moby Dick Chapter 42, The Whiteness of The Whale

2009-10-07T16:50:00.000-06:00