Faces + Traces

May 16, 2018

What’s in a face — what is it, really? Some holes, some circles, a bit of hair, a sprinkling of lines, some skin, some bone, some muscle.

What’s in a painting — what is it, really? Some globs, some slashes, a sprinkling of lines, some canvas, some color, some texture.

Trude Viken’s mesmerizing new works at Fortnight Institute effortlessly beg these questions with a combination of humor and horror. Her anonymous portraits are both clownish and skeletal, depicted as they are in textural whimsies of thickly applied pigment.

It’s as if she is pulling the abstract into the figurative, or vice versa, ever aware of the physical reality of the paint and its capabilities of rendering illusion — and, as a result, has created a ghostly limbo from which her characters grin out at us. They seem to laugh, or plea — their skin is made of pockmarked paint, but their emotions still resonate across the distance of Viken’s veil.

Text by John Martin Tilley
Images coutesty of Fortnight Institute

Faces and Traces will be on view through June 17th at Fortnight Institute.

Art

Marimekko Celebrates International Women's Day

The auction will take place exclusively online at on Bukowskis website from February 28th through March 8th.

Take a look at some of the Behind-the-Scenes photos to get a glimpse in the artists' creative process.

Art

Anna Sheffield Visits the Tucson Gem Show

March 07, 2022

For every artist, sourcing materials for their work can be one of the most fundamental steps in the art-making process. For jewlery designer Anna Sheffield, the case is no different. Each year, Sheffield travels to Tucson to attend the renowned Tucson Gem Show— the largest and one of the most prestigious gem and mineral shows in the world. The event is an eclectic showcase of all things gem, including minerals, fossils, and jewelry. Since the 1970s, the show has attracted hundreds of gem enthusiasts, collectors, and professional curators to the Arizona city to browse its vast array of precious stones and connect with other gem fanatics.

On her visit this year, Sheffield shared with office details on her trip, including highlights from the three-day event and the surrounding city.

Text by Maya Pontone
Photos courtesy of Anna Sheffield

"After two years without spending much time around the bevy of diamonds and gems that Gem shows offer, I was overjoyed to be back in the mix in Tucson this year. Highlights were spending time with a couple of new partners in colored gemstones (think Grey Spinel, Chrysoprase, Green Sapphires, and Turquoise). I bought some gorgeous stones, a few that I've never used before that will become one of a kind rings and necklaces," Sheffield said.

During her stay, Sheffield also took the opportunity to explore the city outside of the gem show, visiting the historical sites, local stores, and acclaimed restaurants for a full-Tucson experience. Some of her favorite local spots included the Meyer Ave Cafe and the Coronet.

Take a look at some of the photos from her trip she shared with office below.

Art

Celebrate Love with The Heart Project

February 23, 2022

The Heart Project and Fred Segal captured the Valentine's Day mood with their "Made With Love" capsule collection, released on February 14th at the Fred Segal Sunset store. To celebrate this drop, Hearts and Fred Segal came together to spread the love by hosting a launch party that included live music, empanadas made by Jahmana, an open bar, and lots of love.

The collection includes one-of-one pieces designed by Heart's artist Stefan Meier, crewnecks designed by CID, a Heart's community member, trucker hats, unisex workwear, and baby-tees decked out in graphic hearts. The Heart Project also teamed up with an infamous NFT collection Deadfellaz, Lot, Stock and Barrel, and Vinnie Hager to create several mini-collections available for purchase at their Valentine's Day pop-up.

Text by Oona Oglesby
Photos by Mathew DeSoto

Many NFTs have begun to work in digital and physical spaces, which has the Hearts community especially excited. Hearts holders have the chance to redeem a digital "Love Letter" NFT with Vinnie Hager. Hager's sketches and use of bold colors have taken the NFT space by storm. The chance to obtain this gift is just one of the few reasons Hearts has garnered its popularity. Calling themselves a community space, Hearts always goes to their community first when deciding what is next for the project. They value their holders just as much, if not more than the Heart holders love them.

Hearts did a second pop-up at Fred Segal this past weekend with Delinquentz by Drought. This time Heart NFT holders could come by and either get their personal heart airbrushed onto a t-shirt by Stefan or get a screen printed shirt that featured the classic Heart mascot and the Delinquentz logo.

Check out images from The Heart Project x Fred Segal pop up below.