Human Figures Removed

Just found this site for your perusal. 

 José Manuel Ballester’s artworks feel eerily familiar in the time of COVID-19. The Spanish artist recreates classic paintings like Goya’s “The Third of May 1808,” Vermeer’s “The Allegory of Painting,” and Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus,” except he leaves out one central aspect: humans.

See what you think:

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2020/03/jose-manuel-ballester-concealed-spaces/

Mona Lisa Takes A Break

 

From Deb Sodt 

and The Academy of Art, Creativity & Consciousness:

"Mona Lisa takes advantage of the closure of the Louvre to take a little time for herself..."

Street Art by Tom Bob NYC

There's A Genius Street Artist Running Loose In The Streets, And Let's Hope Nobody Catches Him

Tom Bob refuses to simply live in the world.

He's reshaping it. Creating clever street art on common objects in the urban landscape, he's perfectly personalizing his boring surroundings.

Whether it's turning a pipe into an anteater or transforming a fire hydrant into Princess Leia, there's nothing he can't do.

Usually, Tom Bob operates in NYC, but sometimes he unleashes his creativity elsewhere as well.

What to do with your excess toilet paper

Check the link below for more pix:

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/08/toilet-paper-rolls-squished-into-funny-faces-by-junior-fritz-jacquet/?fbclid=IwAR1wuQD8732B0EtD4jDY4AsGfm01PoXDlphLHhJMFyy8EIxZcOBD37Qhjkc

Art around the house

We're trying not to go too many public places during the Corona Virus deal so those of us in the Art and Laughter group are seeing art in our homes. Here are a couple inspirations:

A very intersting read

Ann Neuendorf sent the following reading to me. It is a conversation with an "art-laborer" who feels the strong calling to create with nature. 

A Conversation with Davis Dimock, by R. Whittaker
http://www.conversations.org/story.php?sid=626

First session thoughts from the group

From Mike Mann:

It was a great first meeting. The artist [Allen Christian] and his art was so accessible. I was moved by his knowing that this was always his calling and his career as an electrician was just a vehicle to get him to where he is now.

 

I was also struck by his intentional purpose of reuse of common materials and his willingness to let the audience find their own reaction and message to the pieces. He was not about demanding that we see what he sees or that we should look at each piece and try to figure out what he is saying with it. This is very trusting and valuing of his audience. As if to say “Yes, you are capable of having an emotional response to this art and your response is just as valid as anyone else’s.” I admire the way Allen seems to have disciplined his ego. Not all can do that.

 

Mike