Kinetic sculpture of man running with coffee

What can you make with an old can and a couple wire hangers? Aaron Kramer will tell you, a kinetic sculpture! I like things that move, but typically my thoughts go to animation rather than moving mechanical parts. You would think the opposite, since in some distant past I managed to complete a degree in mechanical engineering. But somehow I was better at the math part of it, which is probably why I now write code instead of designing machines. So anyway, back to the sculpture. Aaron gave a workshop last Sunday on how to make a moving one that anyone can learn to put together.

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Discovery: Sérigraphie Cinq Un Quatre

Last week at the Renegade Craft Fair I met the artists from Sérigraphie Cinq Un Quatre, a Montreal studio that bears the name of its area code, 514. I was browsing through the pile of posters displayed in their booth when I overhead one of the artist, Jason Cantoro, saying he and his studio partner, Alice Jarry, were from Montreal.

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Los Angeles Renegade Craft Fair

Last weekend was the Renegade Craft Fair, for the second time in Los Angeles, but for me it was my first experience. It took place outside in a large park north of Chinatown, apparently known as "the cornfield". Events of all kinds easily go unnoticed in a large city like L.A., and I don't remember how I learned about this one, but I'm glad I went, it was quite a huge event with over 200 artists!

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Discovery: Aaron Kramer and the art of found objects

SALVAGED: Aaron Kramer and the Secret Life Of Objects Opening by Craft and Folk Art Museum Here is an inspiring artist, Aaron Kramer. This guy can turn discarded objects into beautiful and intriguing art pieces. His motto: "Trash is the failure of imagination". I wish everyone had this much imagination... but mostly, I'd love to know where he finds such nice trash! See his work at the Craft and Folk Art Museum, the show runs until September 12.

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Side by side: modern art at LACMA

Today was free admission at LACMA in honor of memorial day. Great incentive to visit my favorite museum and look for inspiration. I came home with a few snapshots and discovered funny similarities between the few pieces I randomly decided to photograph. Ha! There must something at work in my subconscious...

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Three Buds by Jean Arp and Figure by Pablo Picasso

Harlequin by Pablo Picasso and Le Boulevardier by Elie Nadelman

Untitled (Dancing Man) by Joel Shapiro and Evening Dress by Alexandra Exter

Discovery: Irma Gruenholz's clay illustrations

I would have never thought of plasticine as a tool for illustrations or how beautiful the results could be. But look at these incredible images from the spanish artist Irma Gruenholz. I just love the poetry of her work. It's a gem I found buried in an article from smashing magazine. Makes me want to run to the closest art store and grab some clay!

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Discovery: animated drawings by William Kentridge

Drawing from 'Preparing the Flute' (Queen of the Night I), 2005, borrowed from Marian Goodman Gallery Over the holiday I went to the Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach and saw the exhibit William Kentridge: Five Themes. I didn't know this South African artist before but after seeing the exhibition I was instantly won over.

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Drawing from 'Preparing the Flute' (Queen of the Night I), 2005, borrowed from Marian Goodman Gallery

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