Neighborhood Zoo

One day Peter and I were taking a walk in Old Town, and a woman stopped us and asked, "Have you seen the zoo?" We were a bit confused and responded in unison, "The National Zoo?" And she smiled and said, "Just walk around the corner there and look up." So we did. And sure enough, as we got closer a giraffe's head peeked out. Then we saw another giraffe, a billy goat, and a few other animals hiding among the potted plants.

This is surely the first time I've seen wild animals living on someone's patio. You never know what you'll find when you step out the door. :)

The Kreeger Museum

A few pics from last weekend at The Kreeger. It was sunny and perfect and blazingly bright. We spent as much time walking around the sculpture garden and grounds as we did looking at paintings indoors...that's kind of rare for me because paintings/drawings/prints are usually what hold most of my attention. (I do have some photos from inside that I'll share later.)

If you're a fan of Philip Johnson, or mid-century modern architecture in general, it's definitely worth a visit. Buildings in this style are sort of rare in D.C. It's crazy to think this was a private residence before it was converted into an art museum in 1994. Wouldn't that be great...to spend a few decades collecting art for your home and then letting everyone else enjoy it too? Remind me to put that on my to do list. ;)

Dark Star Park

A couple of weeks ago, Peter and I were in our old neighborhood running errands, and I decided to take a detour to get some photos of Dark Star Park. Designed by environmental artist Nancy Holt (and completed in 1984) the work is made up of five large concrete spheres meant to resemble fallen, extinguished stars. It really does look as if these "stars" fell to earth 30 years ago, changing the topography around them...making craters and dips and pools.

Nancy Holt (1938-2014) is most known for her large-scale environmental works that deal with how people perceive time and space. She began her career as a photographer and video artist, and you can see that influence clearly in Dark Star Park; there is a viewing tunnel that acts almost like a viewfinder on a camera, and there are several other points (through the passage tunnel, for example) at which the perspective is physically shaped...just as one would frame a shot before pressing the shutter.

Holt was a pioneer of earthworks and land art, but I think probably not widely known outside certain art circles because her work did not hang in museums. She was quoted in a New York Times article as saying, "If work hangs in a gallery or museum, the art gets made for the spaces that were made to enclose art. They isolate objects, detach them from the world."

I'm very much for art that's in the world. What a difference it makes in life to be surrounded by art.

Read more about Holt's life and work here.

Today's Finds

Miniature terrarium structure from 2of2

Japanese pencil case from Lindock Bag Co.

Blue geometric clay necklace from DannaGart

Handmade pendant light from Light Cookie

Mid Century inspired side table from GoModRetro

How is the weekend over already? Hope everyone's week has gotten off to a good start! :)

Today's Finds

Handmade art doll by MonkEyGstudio

Vintage ABC blocks wagon from msjeannieology

Vintage Ritz wall clock from MyGosh

Llama totem by HandyMaiden

Handmade pencil pouch by printsnpatterns

Today's Finds + Giveaway Winner

Elf art dolls by Yalipaz

Set of three Cathrineholm bowls from Chaps+Rascal

Crocheted hearts cake topper by eljuks

Ombré coral knitted hat by JureamBox

"Friends of the Forest" print by Evajuliet


And now for the giveaway winner from last week:

The winner is Ayla! Congrats! I'll send you an email shortly. :)

Hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving here in the states...safe travels and lots of good food! xo, Mary

Clockwise from top left: Landscape photograph by Lucy Snowe; Lines II original watercolor painting by Louise van Terheijden; Owlet paper sculptures by Kaper - Kate Kelly; "Sepia Pots" print by Francesca Whetnall; and "Almond Jar" print by Briana Taylor.

I was thinking about a lot of ideas when I put together this collection...the calming effect of still lifes (and also nature as still life), harmonious compositions and groupings of objects, and of course, building a color story. I'm in a contemplative mood these days, more than usual even, and this collection is just what I need today.

It's good to give your mind a momentary rest from mid-week craziness and just look at something beautiful, no?

Spirograph

Since I was home much of the weekend not feeling great, I decided to open all those folders on my computer gathering cobwebs. I found lots of things I had the best intentions of blogging about, but of course, never did. So today I'm dusting off a photo of an amazing sculpture by Nick Savvas that reminds me of spirograph drawings, and I'm also including a bunch of spirograph-inspired finds for good measure. (It probably goes without saying that I'd love to plunk that sculpture right down in the middle of my living room.)

Sliding Ladder: Truncated Icosohedron # 1 by Nike Savvas, photo source

Spirograph wall clock by Karlsson

Stretch chairs by Carnevale

Spirograph-inspired necklaces from TrincarUvas in custom colors

Spirograph and strawberry pitcher by ninainvorm

Laser cut spirograph ring from The Little Chilli

Ary Trays Alabasta Folk Stripe Collection tray

Also, check out this great commercial from the 1960s...makes me feel a little nostalgic even though this was before my time.


I don't know what that kid is doing with his mouth at the beginning. This makes me want to see if my parents still have my old spirograph set somewhere in the house. I can foresee hours of blissful wasted time in my future. :)

Over, Under, Next

A few weeks ago, we went to see "Over, Under, Next: Experiments in Mixed Media 1913-Present" at the Hirshhorn. Normally, I'm not able to take photos in most exhibitions, but since most of the works in this particular exhibition came from the Hirshhorn's permanent collection, I was a happy snapper all day. Here are a few highlights:

Flower Overcoat, Yayoi Kusama

Medici Princess, Joseph Cornell

Aviary with Parrot and Drawers, Joseph Cornell

?, Joseph Cornell (Anyone know the title of this one? Can't remember.)

Buddha of Las Cruces (detail), Terry Allen

Fish, Alexander Calder

Peter studying Stalingrad (Victory in the East) by Hans Richter

Untitled, Doris Salcedo

Ruth Szowie, Ray Johnson

From Continent to Continent, Mario Merz

Soundsuit, Nick Cave

This Way In, Jim Hodges

Yours truly looking through Damien Hirst's The Asthmatic Escaped II

I was happy to see a lot of my favorite artists represented in this collection, including many who aren't pictured here. I have such a soft spot for collage, assemblage, found object, and mixed-media art in general. It's like the best mix of artistic talent and creativity combined with a bit of the unexpected, a dash of happenstance that makes each piece unique. And when put in context of the history of art, works like these are nothing short of revolutionary.

The exhibition runs until September 8, and it's definitely worth checking out if you're in town. I should mention, though, that a large part of the 3rd floor of the Hirshhorn will be closed all summer due to budget cuts (fewer security guards) thanks to sequestration. Bummer. There's still a lot to see, though, in the lower levels.

And as always, I encourage you to seek out art exhibitions in your town too; you'll be happy you did. :)