at the Gov's

Who can resist fancy kitties, ceramic gift boxes, silly Santa's and eclectic  illuminations?

  Sharing some pictures taken while I attended this morning's meet the press at the Governor's Mansion where every year fantastic Holiday decorations are put up and historic tours of the residence are scheduled for the public.

Karen's kitties...

Karen Bozik

Phil's Santa's

Phil Bender

Marie's gifts...

EVB Studio 

fabulous crystals and fairy tales from Tracy Barnes

Tracy Barnes

and yours truly with visual storytelling of food and culture from the Balkans

SVHoitt

I had a lively exchange with Dr. Claudette Sweet of Denver's Kwanzaa Committee and found we had a lot of interests in common that relate back to community and exploring history as a means of learning about the world. I was enchanted by her. 

Pretty Little Things

I am madly in love. With porcelain. Look at this gorgeousness:

Pictures I found online from various exhibitions at Ferrin Gallery. Chris Antemann (and other artists) now showing at the Robischon Gallery at 1740 Wazee in Denver from November 10 - December 30 2011

An Evening @Hinterland

Inspiring evening at Sabin Ael's Hinterland space on Walnut in the RiNO Art District.

The effervescent & talented Jeanne Connolly,  in the most adorable handmade bloomers ever, guided loads of vintage fabric lovers and admirers of retro furniture renewal through the spacious front room of the gallery throughout the evening. Great pieces at great prices - I'm not even sure how I got out of there without buying every single lamp! This girl can sew and tac and plissee and design and create something fantastic! Each piece is perfect, not one out of place color, thread or border. As a person who loves well crafted, high quality pieces I really enjoyed myself.

Vintage Renewal Lamps

Later in the evening Norm Broomhall made some lovely melodic sounds come out of his guitar and soul, both which I'm sure have a secret name. It was my first time hearing Mr. Broomhall (I know, aaak!) and like the rest of the evening it was really a pleasure.

Norm Broomhall

In the background of all that happy flowering, the steady flow of subtle, intricate, soul and eye pleasing pieces looking down from the high walls ..............

pieces by Cein Watson.

I really need to get out more.

Mixing up Religion, Sex & Art in Beirut

I discovered a post written by Isabelle Mayault  for  Mashallah News  about artist Chaza Charafaddine.

I think I am in love!

The female artist says “I was educated by nuns and lived in Europe. This is probably why, for me, it’s natural to mix everything.” words that really struck a chord in me.

Not that I was raised by nuns or even had a strict Catholic upbringing, (well, baka did always try to scare me with those demons pictured in the stained glass windows at the Kolster Kapelle  in Benedikbeuren ), but certainly the exposure to and then the repulsion of Catholicism ends up having a twisted effect on most, your truly  included.

Back to Miss Chaza, who lives in Beirut, this particular body of art, which was shown in Dubai recently, mixes La Divina Comedia , Persian miniatures and portraits of beauty particular to transsexuals/1940's movie stars.

The mix of historical icons, the mosaic and riot of color and myth stirs me.

How does the effect of artists mixing religious and sexual, historical fact and fiction/mythology move you to view the world differently?