Anni Albers... again and again.

Anni Albers - Second movement II - intaglio print

I'm working on making a quilt for my bed that is at once my bed-spread and my artwork.  I'm unabashedly a person who likes to make all the "things" in my home count and mean something to my soulful-living-self.  At the start of this undertaking, I went back to my favorite textile designer of all time - Anni Albers.  Wife and partner to Josef Albers, she was also a student of Bauhaus, and the two of them came to the United States as part of the mid-century Jewish flight from Europe that so enriched our culture in more ways than most of the American public has any understanding for.  Both of them, through their teaching, design work, and art work made strong marks on the American aesthetic we take for granted today.  They did that through the framework of color theory and design theory that many attribute to Bauhaus, but Anni and Josef were truly unique voices nonetheless.  They integrated art with design in a way that significantly elevated public and private environments and culture.  Without going on and on about who they are - everyone should look them up, books listed below - I'll just share a few images of Anni Albers' printed patterns intended for textile printing.  These are the inspiration - through their aesthetic and theory - for my own design.  It is my intention to ride the inspiration of her design theory and art work to create a quilt that reflects my own soulful place in my bed (along with my partner Christian).  I'm dyeing the fabric now... process pictures are in order I guess, so I know I'll be posting about this project again.

 

Anni Albers - Triadic Series D - print

The sketch that I'm working with, color palette in progress:

Books:

Anni Albers : Selected Writings on Design - The fifteen essays gathered here illustrate Anni Albers's concept of design as the pursuit of wholeness.... (wow, seriously changed my work when I read this).

 Josef + Anni Albers : Designs for Living - this book was given to me by a mentor who gets me, Michael P. Johnson.  He pointed out that my husband and I have much in common with this dynamic pair and I am forever inspired by that comment.
 
There are SO MANY books on these 2 most influential artists/designers.

Nina Bednarski, Craig Grabhorn, Mark Bystrom

Wood Thrush - Nina Bednarski

I recently visited Wisconsin to see a group of friends whom I admire and love from afar, though we used to be neighbors in Madison.  It occurred to me, having caught up with everyone about their doings, that I'd not talked about these friends on my blog.  Without further adieu - my friends making art and food and other beautiful things in and around Madison, Wisconsin:  Nina Bednarski, Craig Grabhorn, and Mark Bystrom.  There are more beautiful friends doing beautiful things of course, but I'm spotlighting these 3 today!

Pop Forest - Nina Bednarski

Nina and Craig are a talented artist couple designing and making awesome stuff for art, home, employment, etc.  Their home in Lake Mills, WI is virtually an Artists' Resort...  and I often wish to be there in their garden of fertile creativity or swimming in the lake nearby.  Nina now works on a contract basis so that she can focus on the work from her personal studio, so her primary output are her paintings on canvas and glass.  She's been working with bright, colorful enamel on glass for most of her art making years, creating beautiful scapes of natural botanicals and wildlife using a graphic style.  Her website is lovely and soon you can see her work at Madison's Obrich Gardens - a huge solo show for Nina running September 30 - Jan. 6.  I'm fortunate enough to have one of her Bird Heroes pieces gracing my own home.  Craig is also an artista mucho talentoso!

Mustache - Craig Grabhorn

Working by day as a designer in Trek Bicycle's apparel department, Craig creates incredible designs for businesses, bands, events, weddings, etc. with his cute but smart style.  He and Nina are starting up their own housewares design co. to be based out their own (named) Chalet and partnering with other craftspeople (ie: ceramicists, seamstresses, etc.) and I'm looking forward to the smart goods they've been talking about.  Craig's artwork emphasizes his personal themes and interests while expounding on his graphic style - you can really see the relationship between his art and design in looking at his poster designs. Craig has a nice blog where he talks about travels, gardening, the Chalet, and even politics (these guys are activists after all) - see Living Texture.

Poster - C. Grabhorn

 Craig and Nina have befriended my other good friend Mark Bystrom and the designer love spreads as they have worked to create a lovely look for some of Just Coffee Cooperative's awesome coffee!  Mark Bystrom, a dear friend and talented purveyor of fine food, fine liqueurs, infusions, and preserved fruits often gifts his family, friends, and the world with his constant creative output!

label design by Craig for Just Coffee

His work with Just Coffee often leads to good coffee, good design, and good partnerships resulting in products like Just Coffee's Early Bird Blend (for which I got to do the label design - see the old post about it).  Mark often sends gifts in the mail with examples of his genius like Raspberry liqueur, Peach Bitters, and a few pounds of amazing coffee.  Mark also works as a chef for the Farm to Table dining club at LightYears (West of Madison near Spring Green, Wisconsin).  It is a very very very good idea to make a reservation at LightYears for a dinner infused with French wisdom from co-founder Serafina Kent Bathrick.  Brilliantly prepared summer meals are served on a terrace overlooking a vista of rolling hills and neighboring farms. A good review of LightYears by Laura Murphys (see #11 on the list). Call 608 929–7829 for info, reservations and directions.  Seriously.

my liqueur collection from Mark

It's not enough - everything I've said here, but I've taken the time to write it because these people are doing genuinely good, skillful and honest work in the name of art and joy.  I love them and look forward to seeing them each year on our annual July trip to Wisconsin.  I wish them each the most and best happy returns for all they do.

Everything We Love // Hari Panicker & Deepti Nair presented by GroundSwell Gallery

Tonight, GroundSwell Gallery opens Everything We Love, a show of graphic prints, paper cut shadow boxes, and paintings created by the husband and wife art duo, Harikrishnan Panicker and Deepti Nair. 

Opening 7 - 10pm Feb. 11
(House DJ, House cookies, House coffee - no fakes!)
Show runs through March 6, 2012.  

at GroundSwell Gallery 3121 E. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80206

Hari and Deepti's work is hugely influenced by the life experience and folklore they grew up with (both from India) and the whimsical ideas that breed within them. They have been collaborating on various artwork and events from being the branding artists for Bordo Bello 2011, creating poster art for Artcrank Denver, and being a regular at the Denver Chalk Art festival and Heart Art Denver.  They did their first collaborative art show in October 2011, titled Cuts and Drips at the Super Ordinary Gallery in Denver, CO.   Everything we Love is a series of painting, prints and mixed media pieces depicting the elements that keep them going and inspire them to create art and be together.