STACKED

Steine by Einhorn 3. See Flickr photostream here.

I've come to the conclusion that artists will stack almost anything for the sake of art. From rocks and bones to driftwood and tree trunks.

The City. Assemblage by Wayne Chisnall. See Flickr photostream here.

Found objects to furniture, boxes and shipping containers.

Book Tower. Wheeled sculpture by Wayne Chisnall.

Books, newspapers, concrete blocks, glass bottles .... you name it, it's been done.

Gloria's Piece by Kate Hunt. Newspaper, twine and steel.

Kate Hunt's series of work, made with stacked and bound bundles of newspaper is quite extraordinary. Visit her website here to see more.

Detail of Gloria's Piece by Kate Hunt.

Colony 45 by Randi Parkhurst. Website here.

Velma Bolyard's beautiful handmade papers. Blog here.

Sculpture by Tony Cragg.

Tony Cragg is master of the stack. See his impressive website here.

Assemblage by Tony Cragg

Beauty in unexpected places. Photograph of stacked sleepers by Craig Williams. Flickr photostream here.

A VERY, VERY, VERY FINE HOUSE

Our house is a very, very, very fine house

With two cats in the yard

Life used to be so hard

Now everything is easy

'Cause of you .....

- Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

This was one of my favourite songs many moons ago and it still makes my heart miss a beat when I think of my first love singing it to me . (Listen to it here)

Nicholas Wilton painting the house in his studio.

One of the finest houses I've seen is the one above by Nicholas Wilton . He is one of the 20 artists who have created unique houses to be auctioned off in aid of The Ritter Centre. This is an organization that serves low income families and the homeless in San Rafael, California. Nicholas has written about the progress of his house on his blog, starting here . It is well worth reading to find out the ideas behind it and the meaning of the symbolism.

I love the fact that Nicholas has scratched words into the paint to form sentences which spiral up around the sides of the house. These words are often used by the homeless to describe their experiences.

Threshhold : Folded with Blue and Umber by Kate Hunt at the Cadogan Contemporary.

Folded. Mixed media on canvas by Kate Hunt


Settled. Oil on canvas by Selene Santucci, here.

A Slip in Time & Place. Mixed media by Maurice Gray. See more here.



It Was 5 Years Ago Tomorrow. Mixed media by Maurice Gray

For some light hearted relief have a look at Elaine Thompson's delightful art here. Whimsical houses feature in many of her drawings and paintings.

Hello There. Matted Graphite on Paper by Elaine Thompson

BUNDLES AND PACKAGES, WRAPPED & UNWRAPPED

Shroud No 1 by Lynne Perrella

A second post on wrapped art was inevitable, especially since Lynne Perrella so graciously agreed to share some of her exciting assemblages on my blog. Lynne is the queen of bundle and wrap! Papers and vintage fabric, packaged, rolled and scrolled, wrapped and bound with twine, wire and string.

"I realized that nearly EVERY work of art, currently on my "Assemblages" web page features elements that are tied, bound, wound/round and bundled. Most of all, I love the moment when I take a bundle that I have created and then I take a needle tool and start poking and pulling at the layers, and having them "spill" a bit; just enough to suggest an intriguing opening or a slight "reveal". That's my favorite part. " - Lynne Perrella

Shroud No 2 by Lynne Perrella

One of my favourite images is Lynne's banner, here. It is in fact a composite of several images which Lynnes friend, Michelle has blended and tweaked to present a visual feast for all those who visit her website.

Secrets 1 & 2 by Lynne Perrella

Ledger Bundle 2 by Gail Rieke-Ledger

"Genten" No 403 by Diane Cooper

"Living in Japan, a culture much older than our own, developed within me a love for the aged and worn surface. The Japanese aesthetic has been a major influence on my work. - Diane Cooper

"Bundle" No 3o by Diane Cooper

Crush-white by Diane Cooper at the Jean Albano Gallery

A Matter of Interpretation (detail), Mixed media, Textile by Linda Welch

"The work explores what seems to be an inherent human---call it desire, need or drive--to wrap, to bundle, to protect, to contain, to obscure, or to enhance an object or being. Each bundle has a core component surrounded by multiple layers of material that comprise the outer envelope. Layers provide support and strength. Each piece balances between comfort or confinement, secrecy or exposure. Each has it's own voice." - Linda Welch

Diagenesis Series, Textile, Mixed Media, by Linda Welch

Flathead grid by Kate Hunt

We've seen many examples of packages wrapped and bound . Now for something exquisitely unwrapped. Tim O'Kane's breathtaking paintings can be seen, here.

Poem. Oil on panel by Tim O'Kane

*Calling all Wrappers .... A book for your christmas list ..... How to wrap Five Eggs: Traditional Japanese Packaging by Hideyuki Oka

*See previous post on wrapped and tied, here.