summer

..:: massive photo dump warning ::..

{ summer play }

fort tilden. bike ride.

there hasn't been much going on here fun-wise. in the past couple years i haven't been much

of an NYC summer fan, and i'm glad it's subsiding and we're going into fall...

most of the summer has been spent on working... experimenting...

and instagramming in lieu of blogging, apparently.

and lazy blogging by clustering all the accumulated instagram photos. yikes!! >_<

4th of july on the 17th floor, upper west side.

hanging on our roof.

creepy cat.

silly cat.

some backyard dining on cooler evenings.

{ around the studio }

{ rambles / thoughts}

lots of different kinds of works this summer - most of june, i took a break from my regular

kind of works and did some fun projects for myself.

the wire sculptures seen above are my Ruth Asawa studies.

because i'm very slow, it only took me ages to figure out her techniques (kind of). and i already

knew how to knit and crochet. :/

this reset my eyes and my mind to start some new works - i feel like i finally started to reconcile

some deeper rooted ideas and interests of my own within my work so far... maybe. it's something

i've struggled with in the past couple years.

something about the mathematical nature of the wire looping got me going on geometric shapes

(which i've always loved and appreciated but didn't quite take enough bold steps to incorporate

into my own works) got me started on some other geometric forms and shapes - 3d and 2d both.

having been obsessed with the wire looping for weeks, it was hard to start painting again in 2d.

which is why i started with some wood-cut shapes to draw and paint on.

a compromise, in a way.

thinking and working through all this, i feel that i have a new vision for new possibilities - still

incubating and marinating in my head, but there are some new ideas and projects afloat in my

head. can't wait for the fall/winter/spring!!

+ all works seen above are mostly for my shows in the fall - 2-person show, Borrowed Memories,

at Thinkspace Gallery with the amazing Tran Nguyen.

then a group show curated by Mari Inukai at GR2 for her daughter's 20th birthday.

Motion : The Art of Movement, group show

this saturday, June 9th, Motion : The Art of Movement group show will hold an opening night

at Corey Helford Gallery.

there are more than 20 artists contributing to the show with the theme of movement,

and i'm very excited and honored to be a part of it!

Motion : The Art of Movement

Corey Helford Gallery

8522 Washington Blvd

Culver City, CA

310. 287. 2340

please contact the gallery for a preview list and for general inquiries about the show.

here are some previews by My Modern Met, Arrested Motion, and Juxtapoz.

below is my painting of contribution to the show :

A Mirage, A Dream... 12"x16". Acrylic, Colored Pencils & Crayon on Birch. © 2012.

A Mirage, A Dream... Detail 1.

A Mirage, A Dream... Detail 2.

in-progress photos :

Wild At Heart : Group Show for Wildlife Protection

I'm excited to be a part of Wild At Heart group show at Thinkspace Gallery, which opens this weekend, a benefit art show to support Born Free and to help rescue & protect wildlife.

Wild At Heart at Thinkspace Gallery

Opening Reception : Saturday, May 26th, 5-8PM

(on view till June 9th)

6009 Washington Blvd,

Culver City, CA 90232

thinkspacegallery.com

310 . 558 . 3375

for more information and inquiry, please contact the gallery.

+ preview of all the pieces in the show can be now viewed here online!

+ Arrested Motion has a sneak preview of the pieces in the show here.

and Daily Du Jour has a preview & more info as well here.

+ About Born Free USA:
Born Free USA is a national animal advocacy nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, contributions to which are tax-deductible. Our mission is to end the suffering of wild animals in captivity, rescue individual animals in need, protect wildlife — including highly endangered species — in their natural habitats, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. Every year, millions of animals suffer in fur farms and circus cages. In our campaigns against such cruelties, we use powerful tools including legislation, public education, litigation, and grassroots networking. We also work actively with media to spread the word about challenges facing animals. Our primary campaign areas currently include animals used in entertainment, captive exotic animals, trapping & fur, and the international wildlife trade.

*You can also donate by bringing blankets, toys, pet treats, etc. to the opening!

below is my piece for the show (american bison/buffalo) :

A Sacred Journey. 16" x 20". Mixed Media (Acrylic, Colored Pencil & Crayons) on Wood. © 2012.

Detail view.

some progress photos :

i have to add that the beginning of this piece was so hard, i had to restart a number of times (possibly 8) - but once i got the layout, i am glad that i can say i really loved working on it.

it was super tedious and slow in progress, but still really turned out to be enjoyable.

hope you can make it to the show - it looks amazing from what little i could peek online!

+ ETA : daily du jour posted some pictures from the exhibit which you can enjoy here!

new prints!

4 new prints in the shop!

{ new }

Sleep to Dream

Audrey

{ re-release }

Always

Sometimes

available only at http://shop.stellaimhultberg.com

New Prints - coming soon!

i have 4 new prints lined up to be added to the shop soon : 2 brand-new prints from 2011 pieces,

and 2 re-prints of old limited editions from 2007.

the reprints are 2 of most requested old prints that have long been sold out at first release,

and i'm re-releasing them in smaller version in open edition, at lower price.

they're all open edition so everyone who places an order will be guaranteed to get a print,

which is why i don't have any specific time or date for the release of these prints.

so please check the shop some time this week for the new prints!

http://shop.stellaimhultberg.com

Synergy group show

i'm so excited to be a part of Synergy, a group show curated by LA's Thinkspace Gallery,

that opens tomorrow night at Spoke Art in San Francisco!

Synergy : Thinkspace curated group show

Opening reception : May 3rd, 2012, 6-10pm

at Spoke Art

816 Sutter Street, SF, CA. (map)

www.spoke-art.com

please contact each gallery if you'd like more info on all the pieces.

................................................................................................................................

here's my piece for the show :

Mist. 9"x12". Acrylic and Colored Pencil on Birch. © 2012.


Mist. detail view.

................................................................................................................................

this was a piece started a long while ago (as seen in progress here), and just wrapped up

recently. it's kind of nice if i can get an idea and work really fast and be done, but lately

i've been more inclined to start a piece with a sudden strike of an idea/inspiration, then sit

on it for a while, work on it little by little, and have the piece creep up on me.

i kind of like it - starting something without really having any intentions.

although it does need more planning in different ways, i kind of like having pieces in different

points of progress at all times now.

hope you make it to the show if you're in the bay area - i've seen pieces from other artists in progress, and i sure wish i could be there!

Twin Peaks : Fire Walk With Me

Twin Peaks : Fire Walk With Me

20th Anniversary Group Art Exhibition

Opening Reception : Saturday, April 21st, 8pm-11:30pm

Copro Gallery at Bergamot Station

2525 Michigan Avenue #T5

Santa Monica CA 90404 (map)

below is my piece for the amazing group show celebrating 20th Annivesary of "Twin Peaks : Fire Walk With Me", which opens this Saturday at Copro Gallery, at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica.

last year, i was lucky enough to be in the 20th Anniversary group show of Twin Peaks (the TV series) - i'm so honored to be invited back by the awesome Rob Wilson, who curated both amazing shows.

Broken Flower. 14"x18". Oil on Wood. © 2012.

+ you can see all the artworks and info for inquiry here on the gallery site,

which includes some amazing people who were directly involved with the film and the tv

show (like mr. Lynch himself!).

..................................................................................................

here are some progress photos (originally started half a year ago or so) :

this was my first oil painting in about 2 years - i was so rusty with oils that it took a loooong time.
i started with acrylic & colored pencil, and decided that it was looking a bit dull and

wanted the richness and sheen of oil that i couldn't get out of other media - then regretted

for about 4 days until i got used to the process again.

then it was so hard to scan and photograph the piece due to the rich sheen of oils, and i'm not

even sure the colors look right in the image on top.

the movie really zeroes in on the tragic hidden secrets and rotting cores of a victimized girl (Laura Palmer,

of course), and the frailty of human mind (and its strength, at times) felt kind of like a fragile, falling flower.

last time i'd watched the film, i'd seen it right after the whole tv series.

this time, i watched it by itself - and i thought it really does stand alone, although it probably

helps to know the previous story to all this. it seemed much better and richer this time around,

and felt very David Lynch to me (whose film are not only one of my favorite directors but one of

my favorite influences/inspirations).

i wish i could be there to see all the artwork in person!

please go check it out if you're around LA/Santa Monica area. i wouldn't miss it if i were.

Around the new studio...

it's been over a month since we moved to a new apartment in a new neighborhood in Brooklyn,

and i feel like i've finally settling into my new work environment with some comfort.

the new studio is a small nook in the living room - quite a change from the big room i used to have before,

but i feel like this fits me & my radius of activity better - kind of like my old studio in the apartment before the last.

some things that's been going on around the studio :

speaking of the old old studio, i found these papers i've splattered ink & gesso on in '08 or so,

and put some faces on it - maybe i'll fully paint it later on at some point.

and some paintings :

(a study piece on hands.)

my sculpture crate above - now that i have a rooftop access, i can work messily up there!

which means that i can start slowly acquiring some power tools. yay!

and look what matthew made :

there was an unfortunate bike accident (a hit & run by a car) but luckily he came out unscathed,

but the bike didn't - so with the crushed bike, he made this little stool.

yay for making!

International Women Group Show in UK

curators Frankie Shea & Tina Ziegler have put together a very exciting show with a line up

of 15 international women artists from 10 countries - opening this weekend!

........................................................................................................

International Women

March 31st - July 7th, 2012

Opening Reception : March 29th, 2012 @ 6pm

Warrington Museum & Art Gallery

Cultural Quarter-Museum Street

Warrington WA1 1JB

For previews & inquiries please contact the curators, Tina & Frankie!

........................................................................................................

below is my piece for the show, a piece i've reworked from last year :

I'm Yours, You're Mine (ii). 11" x 15". Mixed Media on Rives BFK. © 2012

detail view :

Femme Fatale

L'ingénue. 9"x12". Acrylic, Colored Pencil & Crayon on Maple Panel. © 2012.

above is the last piece to be finished in my current studio space/apartment, as we're due to move

(within brooklyn, to another neighborhood) in a few days.

i've been cordially invited to participate in a group show entitled (and very tellingly so) "Femme Fatale",

curated by Stephanie Chefas and Nicole Bruckman.

the show opens this Saturday, February 25th, 2012, at Cella Gallery, North Hollywood.

you can request a preview of the show through the gallery, or sneak some amazing peeks through

various art blogs : here, here and here.

also, Stephanie Chefas (who co-curated the show) kindly did a short interview with me

on her site, Platinum Cheese, which you can read here.

also some progress photos (instagrammed) :

above is the first progress shot, dated june 2011 (!!).

it obviously didn't take the entire 7-8 months long to paint this, but there were a lot

of times of resting this piece down and not thinking about it, then picking it up.

the more paintings i make, the more i feel that each of them have a personality of

their own - this one felt like a young, prepubescent tween to me, not sure of its

identity or personality, and kind of springing about unexpectedly.

but in the end it did calm down and sat with me until i "tamed" it to the finish...

though it took some effort.