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Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Otherworldly Plants Sprout Colorful Stems and Blooms in Kaori Kurihara’s Incredibly Detailed Ceramics

An abstract sculpture of an imaginary plant made from ceramic.

“Clown verdoyant” (2023). All images © Kaori Kurihara, shared with permission

Elegant petals, scalloped fans, and seed-like textures coat the Kaori Kurihara’s whimsical ceramic sculptures (previously). She incorporates delicate botanical details with eccentric forms, melding realism with fiction. “I try to associate imaginary plants with a more realistic feeling, so I observe more consciously the environment in which they grow,” Kurihara tells Colossal. She also grows different types of plants from seed in order to observe and record details as they grow. “The aim is to create something that looks more alive and closer to life,” she adds.

Kurihara’s work is featured in the forthcoming book Ceramic Artists on Creative Processes, scheduled for release in February from Prestel. Pre-order your copy on Bookshop, and explore more on the artist’s website and Instagram.

An array of numerous ceramic sculptures inspired by plants and flowers.

A detail of the base of a ceramic sculpture with details that resemble cut Brussels sprouts, tiny cabbages, or flowers.

Detail of “Clown verdoyant”

An display of five ceramic sculptures inspired by plants and flowers.

“Collectionneur de silence” (2023)

An abstract sculpture of an imaginary plant made from ceramic with a large yellow flower on top.

“En réponse au claire de lune” (2023)

Detail of “En réponse au claire de lune”

“Hug Me Quick” (2023)

Two images side-by-side, each showing details of ceramic sculptures inspired by flowers and plants.

Left: Detail of “Collectionneur de silence.” Right: Detail of “Hug Me Quick”

“Danseuse de boîte à musique” (2023)

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Otherworldly Plants Sprout Colorful Stems and Blooms in Kaori Kurihara’s Incredibly Detailed Ceramics appeared first on Colossal.

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Elevate Your Artistry With SVA Continuing Education

A photograph depicting a figure covering themselves in a wet-looking white cloth or garment standing ankle-deep in a body of water. The water reflects from blue to pink the closer it is to the foreground.

Clara Jeanne Reed (Artist Residency Alumnus ’23), “On the Shores of Elysium” (2023). Image courtesy of the artist

Ready to take your practice and creativity to new heights? The Division of Continuing Education at the School of Visual Arts (SVACE) has the resources and expertise to help you go to the next level. With a diverse range of more than 200 courses and 10+ artist residency programs, you’ll find everything you need to achieve your goals and actualize your potential. Whether you’re looking to advance your career, explore new artistic avenues, or simply deepen your practice, our experienced faculty will provide the guidance and support you need to grow.

Head to sva.edu/ce to explore our offerings and get started.

Artist Residency Programs & Intensives

Online and on-campus courses are available in:

Registration Details

Course Advice
If you need advice or have questions, please email ce@sva.edu to connect with one of our course advisors.

About the School of Visual Arts
School of Visual Arts has been a leader in the education of artists, designers, and creative professionals for seven decades. With a faculty of distinguished working professionals, a dynamic curriculum, and an emphasis on critical thinking, SVA is a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility. Comprising 6,000 students at its Manhattan campus and 35,000 alumni in 100 countries, SVA also represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world. For information about the college, please visit sva.edu.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Elevate Your Artistry With SVA Continuing Education appeared first on Colossal.

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Friday, December 22, 2023

Snow and Ice Seizes Barren Landscapes in an Entrancing Timelapse Filmed Across Five Winters

Like the seasons themselves, Jamie Scott’s elegantly shot films spotlighting spring and fall are much more vibrant and full of vitality than his newly released “Winter.” Five years in the making, the latter timelapse documents the icy seizure of plants, leaves, and terrain across New York State and Montréal. Glimmering, white snow quickly overwhelms the frigid, barren scenes, causing pine branches to droop and frost to form on every possible surface from cobwebs to waterfalls.

As entrancing as previous seasons, “Winter” zooms from wide, aerial shots to macro frames highlighting the unique patterns of individual snowflakes. Scott explains that this film was the hardest to create, in part, because of the changing climate. He says:

Twenty years ago when I moved to New York, there were several large snowstorms every year, and snow was practically guaranteed. In the last five years, there has been much less snow, and it’s become less predictable and often only for a few hours, at best. To plan for these shoots, I would look at the long-range forecasts, but it was very unreliable. Originally, I wanted to shoot the whole piece in New York City and focus on Central Park like my previous films, but I had to keep going farther and farther north. As a result, the majority of the film was shot in upstate New York and Montréal.

To ensure he could capitalize on weather events when they did happen, Scott fashioned two weatherproof boxes that housed his equipment for weeks on end. “At times, I was shooting with up to six cameras and four sliders,” he says. “I also lost two drones in the process.”

Watch the full timelapse, which is set to music by Jim Perkins, above, and find more of Scott’s work on Vimeo.

a gif of ice forming on fruit

tiny ice crystals on a dried leaf

a gif of snowflakes gather on a leaf that quickly zooms out

ice hanging on red berries on a branch

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Snow and Ice Seizes Barren Landscapes in an Entrancing Timelapse Filmed Across Five Winters appeared first on Colossal.

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Finely Rendered Birds and Animals Cling to Dried Flowers in Steeven Salvat’s Wheatpastes

four bird wheatpastes cover a conical structure with a cupola on top in a lush green landscape with brick buildings on either side

All images © Steeven Salvat, shared with permission

Sprouting between windows and tucked around corners, Steeven Salvat’s wheatpastes add a dose of natural history to everyday urban life. The French artist has spent the last few years meticulously rendering gem- and mechanic-encrusted beetles and butterflies, amassing a vast insectarium that draws attention to the intersections of art, science, and history and underscores the preciousness of each creature.

During the last two years, though, Salvat has begun to consistently work outdoors and on walls, creating public pieces that capture his painstaking linework on a larger scale. Whether painted in acrylic or slathered with wheatpaste, the realistic renderings are similarly detailed and delicate, conveying the smooth fur of a field mouse or the fluffed plumage of a bird mid-flight. Many of his recent works, part of the ongoing Petite Nature project, pair renditions of oversized dried flowers with tiny creatures “to awaken awareness on the fragility of ecosystems such as grasslands and natural water points, often sacrificed in the name of urbanisation.”

In addition to the wall works, Petite Nature also features smaller drawings on paper, which will be on view in January at Le Cabinet d’Amateur in Paris. Salvat generously shares glimpses into his process on Instagram, and you can find originals, prints, and postcards in his shop.

a wheatpaste of two tiny mice clinging to sprigs of orange flowers on a yellow outdoor wall. a bicycle with a crate is in front and a woman riding a scooter is on the far left

a wheatpaste of a bird and a brown leaf on a yellow wall between two windows

left: a wheatpaste of a dead bird with two yellow flowers growing from its body. right: a wheatpaste of a bird perched a sprig of small white flowers

a painted acrylic mural of two birds perched in bright red floweres on a blue wall

a wheatpaste of a mouse resting atop a bright red flower on a black wall

left: a bird with a scissors and surrounded by red and blue string flies on a wall with a woman dressed in black passing in front. right: a bird with a scissors and surrounded by red and blue string flies on a wall

a woman in a puffy black coat touches the ornate blue and white cage of a yellow bird on a perch in a wheatpaste

a woman in white walks past a wall with a wheatpaste depicting a small reptile curled around a yellow dried flower

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Finely Rendered Birds and Animals Cling to Dried Flowers in Steeven Salvat’s Wheatpastes appeared first on Colossal.

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Thursday, December 21, 2023

In Paco Pomet’s ‘Celestial,’ the Sun and Moon Cycle Through Satirical and Outlandish Situations

two men touch a moon on their floating rig. two others in the distance have the sun in their canoe

“Encounter.” All images © Paco Pomet, shared with permission

A review of Paco Pomet’s paintings from the last few years uncovers an unwavering fascination with the sun and moon. Brilliant glowing orbs appear in the distance and illuminate otherwise gray scenes, while tiny, cratered characters with cartoonish legs and arms wander into homes and hang out on rooftops.

This recurring theme culminates in a new limited-edition monograph featuring 29 paintings created from 2017 to 2022. Aptly titled Celestial, the book evidences Pomet’s enduring satirical and absurdist impulses. In “Encounter,” the moon floats with two businessmen on a makeshift raft, while “On the Road” depicts a vintage car traveling toward a United States-shaped sun on the horizon. The artist has shared previously that he believes human pursuits—and failures—are cyclical, making the sun and moon fitting metaphors for modern struggles, whether in the case of unchecked capitalism and environmental destruction or seemingly endless moral quandaries.

“Celestial bodies and stars have fascinated me since I can remember,” the artist says. “The sun and the moon are an endless source that throw very strong and mysterious statements for us: time, space, duration, darkness, light, beginning, finalisation. Their presence, and the power they have to convey feelings, has no boundaries.”

Celestial is currently available in Pomet’s shop, along with several prints. Find more of his work on Instagram.

A black and white painting of a nurse in a medical room with a sun just above the horizon on the patient table

“Melancholy Surgery Unit”

a blue painting of a cabin with a man propping a ladder against its roof. a tiny moon with legs and arms sits on the roof while the sun rises in the distance

“After Hours”

a black and white painting of a sterile room. on the table, a man and a dog paddle in a small canoe. a sun illuminates a sink

“La Llegada”

a blue painting of a log cabin in the woods. a tiny moon character opens the door to walk in with the light from the sun emerging from the doorway

“Eclipse”

a vintage car drives down the road toward a united-states shaped sun on the horizon

“On the Road”

a black and white painting of people in bed in a hospital with a bright yellow sun in the doorway in the distance

“An Ending”

a book cover with a cartoon style moon sitting on a snowy mountain. Paco Pomet Celestial is written at the top

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article In Paco Pomet’s ‘Celestial,’ the Sun and Moon Cycle Through Satirical and Outlandish Situations appeared first on Colossal.

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A New Image from NASA’s James Webb Telescope Captures Icy Uranus’s Elusive Rings and Extreme Conditions

An image of Uranus captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. It shows a blue planet with a white ice cap, surrounded by numerous rings and some of its moons.

All images courtesy of NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

An ice giant that boasts 27 moons and numerous bright rings, Uranus is one cold, windy, and dramatic cosmic orb. Known as a fluid planet, its mass consists of an “icy,” dense combination of water, methane, and ammonia around a rocky core, with a blue-green color due to large amounts of methane. Its days are much shorter than Earth’s—only 17 hours—making it difficult to capture quality images, as storms and other features rotate so quickly. And while Uranus has the distinction of being the first planet discovered using a telescope, it has taken until now to capture its dynamic character in this much detail.

NASA just released an image captured by the powerful James Webb Space Telescope (previously) using its NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera), which reveals an unprecedented glimpse of a seasonal ice cap with bright storms at its base. “Because Uranus spins on its side at a tilt of about 98 degrees, it has the most extreme seasons in the solar system,” NASA says. “For nearly a quarter of each Uranian year, the sun shines over one pole, plunging the other half of the planet into a dark, 21-year-long winter.”

The image also captures 14 of Uranus’s 27 moons, some of which orbit within the rings. Using Webb’s sensitive imaging and a number of filters to glean more precise attributes, we’re even able to see a dim ring named Zeta that often eludes other telescopes.

Learn more about the mission on NASA’s website, and you might also enjoy Webb’s depiction of a dramatic dying star, released a few months ago.

An image of Uranus captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. It shows a blue planet among a field of stars, with a white ice cap, surrounded by numerous rings and some of its moons.

An image of Uranus captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. It shows a blue planet among a field of stars, with a white ice cap, surrounded by numerous rings and some of its moons. Labels on the moons are Oberon, Titania, Umbriel, Perdita, Juliet, Portia, Bianca, Rosalind, Puck, Belinda, Desdemona, Cressida, Miranda, and Ariel.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article A New Image from NASA’s James Webb Telescope Captures Icy Uranus’s Elusive Rings and Extreme Conditions appeared first on Colossal.

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Wednesday, December 20, 2023

380 Artists, 51 Countries, 14 Years: A Community Embroidery Project Connects Women Around the Globe

a woman stands with her side to the camera wearing a wide skirted red gown with embroideries cloaking the surface

Lekazia Turner, Jamaica (2022). Photo by Mark Pickthall. All images courtesy of Kirstie Macleod, shared with permission

In her early 20s, artist Kirstie Macleod became intimately aware of the ways working with a shared purpose has the potential to form immediate bonds.

Macleod spent her childhood living around the world, moving from Venezuela to countries like Nigeria, Japan, and Canada, to name a few. At 21, she traveled to India, where she immersed herself in the country’s textile industry and craft traditions. She didn’t speak the language but found a connection, in part, through making. “I’d often be with people with whom I couldn’t communicate with words, but I could sit with them and stitch a jacket,” she told Crafts Council.

She clung to the idea that embroidery could serve as both a physical and symbolic link between people from different backgrounds, ideologies, and religions, and in 2009, she launched “The Red Dress,” a collaborative project featuring embroideries by hundreds of artisans around the world.

a detail of floral embroideries on red fabric

Embroideries by FanSina artisans, Egypt (2015) and Zenaida Aguilar, Mexico (2018)

In Egypt, about 50 Bedouin Jabaliya women who are part of the FanSina collective created herbal motifs with curved flourishes inspired by their Mt. Sinai surroundings. During an exhibition in Warsaw, a group of Ukrainian refugees melded long stitches with tight French knots to render a bright yellow sunflower with one petal in pale blue. And in Chiapas, artist Zenaida Aguilar sewed a pointillistic patch of native flora and fauna, a symbol of her ability to thrive and support herself after leaving an abusive marriage.

Aguilar’s story isn’t unique among those involved in “The Red Dress,” many of whom are women in vulnerable positions in their communities and living on little means. Part of the project is to ensure that artists are compensated and have the opportunity to sell more of their work in the future. In total, Macleod commissioned 141 embroiderers to contribute, and these artists will continue to receive a portion of exhibition fees, profits, and sales through the project’s Etsy shop.

Additional contributions came from enthusiastic audiences along the way. A total of 380 embroiderers from 51 countries have since laid millions of stitches on the panels of burgundy silk dupion.

a group of people sit on the floor and stitch around the hem of the red dress worn by woman standing. a christian shrine set up on a table with a blue cloth and religious iconography are in the backdrop

An embroidery group in Aguacatenango, Mexico, stitches on the dress worn by Vanessa Aguilar Juarez (2021). Photo by Kirstie Macleod

The form of the dress is also emblematic. A garment historically associated with feminity, the gown is regal and elegant, if not conservative, with full-length sleeves, a corsetted bodice, and a wide, billowing skirt. Literally covering the wearer’s body with the contributions of artists around the world, the 6.8-kilogram dress “is weighted as much by the individual stories and collective voices waiting to be heard as by the threads and beads that adorn it.”

Macleod wrapped up the project in June, 14 years and 3 months after it began. The dress is currently touring and on view at The Frick Pittsburgh, with a stop at Fuller Craft Museum in Massachusetts in February 2024. Additional shows are scheduled around the world through 2026. “I intend to bring the garment back to all the commissioned artisans who shared their voices in the cloth, so they can exhibit their own work alongside ‘The Red Dress’ in their chosen venue, in their own country,” she says. “I am about halfway so far!”

As “The Red Dress” makes its way around the world once again, Macleod is also in the process of culling 150 hours of footage into a documentary and creating a book to share the project with a broader audience. Ultimately, she says, the dress is about peace and unity, “remind(ing) us what is possible when we come together in community and collaboration, supporting and uplifting one another rather than trying to walk this life alone.”