What an underrated gem of a show. Would it be too much if I started decorating my house in the style of Pee Wee's?
The talking furniture always reminds me of Claes Oldenburg and his soft toilet.

Student Juried Art Exhibition

I recently entered a few of my prints into the Student Juried Show here in Stevens Point and this bad boy was chosen! As expected, getting into a show is super exciting, especially if you're like me and never have the nerve to show your work at all. The show will be opening Sunday, December 12th from 2-4 pm so if you're anywhere near the Steven's Point area, come check out some great student work.

"dream home" - Intaglio/solar plate collage

This particular series was focused on the circular relationship between nature and technology, an idea that I've been focusing most of my printmaking work on for the past year. The background is a print of a zinc plate that I've been working on since my first semester in printmaking. There are at least 6 layers worth of etching put into that bad boy. It's officially my favorite printing method and I love that I can be as efficient as possible by reusing my materials. I absolutely hate how wasteful we are as artists and it's such a hard habit to get away from. I'll post more of the series when time allows. Until then, enjoy!

What's in it for me?

I absolutely cannot get enough of this song or this lovely video. I caught Avi Buffalo live in Milwaukee a few times this summer and this band is just as adroable as their sweet songs. The fact that they're all so young(fresh out of high school)and becoming so successful is pretty nifty. So check it out and enjoy. If you love it as much as I do you won't be able to stop, so watch out!!

so much for a blog a day...

My computer crashed!! And I'm in bumsville without it. I'll attempt to get another post on here hopefully sooner than later. I've acctually started photographing some prints and should be able to post them within the next few days. Until then enjoy this lovely video.

I first heard of Caledonia Curry AKA Swoon, a few weeks back when I heard her speak at the MAPC print conference. I've been hooked ever since. Her work inspires me more than any artist I have ever know and to be quite honest I'm just plain jealous of her crazy life. Her "raft" projects, such as The Swimming Cities of the Switchback Sea, have me wishing that I were part of a band if gypsies. I might have to just run away and her join her.

Shed your love.

MAPC Print Conference: Minneapolis

So a few weeks back I went to my first printmaking conference for the Mid-America Print Council, which was held in Minneapolis. It was so inspiring to see so many artists gathered to celebrate the under-appreciated art of printmaking and pretty much blew me away. I participated in my first ever open-portfolio. I was pretty jazzed about it, since I don't ever put my work on display. Out of everything I took away from the conference I'd have to say the positive feedback I got during the review was the best part by far. It definitely gave me confidence that I had never had up until that point, and has inspired me to start doing shows. The next conference is over spring break in St. Louis and I can't wait to reunite with the print world and show them how my prints evolve over this next semester. Let's just hope that I produce something worth showing!!

Photos then & now.

I've decided it would be a good idea to show some of my photography work from over the years.I like to look back and see how my work has evolved, as I'm sure we all do. Enjoy my evolution.

My early work looks a little rough. I scanned the photos to make digital copies but need to go back and save them in a cleaner format. My subjects consisted of mostly "collections" of items. I have an obsession with antiques and decay and I think this shows through the soft look of my early photos. This is the one theme that has carried through to all of my work.

My newer work is all digital, so the quality is much better, although I'm not the best with technology. This is my first attempt at getting to know digital cameras and all the technologically induced stress that comes with them...

I started out with shooting some dear friends. I was especially happy with this first one:

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a camera with a really swell macro lens, so I spent some time exploring with that:

I finally stumbled upon a mirrored puddle in my backyard, a mini pond of sorts that fills every year when the snow melts. Through this puddle I discovered the beauty to be found in multiple reflective surfaces. These are my pride & joy. My own little private puddle of peace which led to self-reflection.

I'll add more images as I continue to explore photography. At one point it was my medium of choice, but I've long since developed more in other areas. I always end up coming back to photography in the end.

And so it begins...

I am going to attempt to post on my blog once a day. I've been slacking in this area and think it's time to step things up. Wish me luck and enjoy.

I've decided to start things off with my new obsession: Pigeon Toe Ceramics, a company out of Portland. Their porcelain work blows my mind and has inspired me to take a shot at throwing porcelain myself. I love their simplicity as well as the great uses they've come up with for many of their forms, such as the hanging planters and light fixtures. I think my favorites are the hanging planters. I'll post some of my own porcelain work as soon as it's fired and ready to roll....or hang.

http://www.pigeontoeceramics.com/

First attempt at an environmental sculpture

Located in Jordan Park, Stevens Point

made of leaves, sticks, moss, and berries placed on a fallen tree.

can i just live in here please?

Creative and Unusual Bookcase for Bedroom in Japan by Point Architects - HomeinFurniture.Com

I would like to live in the earth, not on it.

This is exactly what I have in mind.
I would like my home to be a piece of art, with the earth in mind.


A Low Impact Woodland Home

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, almost obsessively.

Out Of The Arm Of One Love.... By Charles Bukowski - Hello Poetry

Out Of The Arm Of One Love.... By Charles Bukowski - Hello Poetry:

"out of the arm of one love
and into the arms of another
I have been saved from dying on the cross
by a lady who smokes pot
writes songs and stories
and is much kinder than the last,
much much kinder,
and the sex is just as good or better.
it isn't pleasant to be put on the cross and left there,
it is much more pleasant to forget a love which didn't
work
as all love
finally
doesn't work ...
it is much more pleasant to make love
along the shore in Del Mar
in room 42, and afterwards
sitting up in bed
drinking good wine, talking and touching
smoking
listening to the waves ...

I have died too many times
believing and waiting, waiting
in a room
staring at a cracked ceiling
wating for the phone, a letter, a knock, a sound ...
going wild inside
while she danced with strangers in nightclubs ...
out of the arms of one love
and into the arms of another
it's not pleasant to die on the cross,
it is much more pleasant to hear your name whispered in
the dark."


and somehow he has managed to explain what I have been unable to put into words.

Raw With Love. By Charles Bukowski - Hello Poetry

Raw With Love. By Charles Bukowski - Hello Poetry:

"little dark girl with
kind eyes
when it comes time to
use the knife
I won't flinch and
i won't blame
you,
as I drive along the shore alone
as the palms wave,
the ugly heavy palms,
as the living does not arrive
as the dead do not leave,
i won'tblame you,
instead
i will remeber the kisses
our lips raw with love
and how you gave me
everything you had
and how I
offered you what was left of
me,
and I will remeber your small room
the feel of you
the light in the window
your records
your books
our morning coffee
our noons our nights
our bodies spilled together
sleeping
the tiny flowing currents
immediate and forever
your leg my leg
your arm my arm
your smile and the warmth
of you
who made me laugh
again.
little dark girl with kind eyes
you have no
knife. the knife is
mine and i won't use it
yet."

We are all hypocrites.
I'm the biggest one I know.
But I'm just trying to evolve.

a gem.

Dream Home.

http://agataolek.com/home.html