The Friday Rundown
Unstructured summer, the big storm, a birthday, lots of studio time, and the rundown on everything else this week.
Hi, friends!
This was our first unstructured week of summer and it was wonderful. My mom came to visit over the weekend and we got to see a lot of baseball and visit downtown Swarthmore together. We also got to spend time with friends visiting from Kansas and it was so nice.
Our hydrangeas have reached their peak and their colors are so vibrant and varied, more than ever before. I finally got the chance to cut some to bring inside for our dining room table.
The boys and I stopped at a playground between errands and they, of course, picked up a game of handball (using a tennis ball to pitch and their hands to hit) in the baseball field. This is what summer is all about and it’s so nice to watch them play together.
And, just like Khumbie (the Philadelphia Zoo’s red panda) our eldest son turned 11 this week! And, also like Khumbie, he had a very Harry Potter birthday with a couple of LEGO Harry Potter sets and lots of Hogwarts-inspired backyard games.
Along with thousands of others in our area last night, a wild storm came through and the winds were some of the fastest I’ve ever seen. A tree and a large branch both fell in our backyard. Thankfully the tree didn’t hit anything, but the branch hit our roof. There is some damage, but it is minimal compared to what it could’ve been. We never lost power and the boys were a bit shaken, but perfectly fine. We are so grateful.
+ On My Radar +
What I’m reading/watching this week:
- Planet Earth III - Y’all know the boys and I love nature documentaries. The boys and I have been watching this together and it’s igniting wonder and awe at our natural world again. The videography is spectacular. Have you heard about Siphonophores? I hadn’t, but wow. We also watched Elephant on Disney nature and it was a huge hit.
- A Theater Returns to Its Multicolor Art Nouveau Glory on NYT - In the Italian city of Merano, one of the “few remaining Art Nouveau-decorated houses in Europe” is being meticulously restored. ‘“All this kind of old knowledge and techniques are important to pass on to the next generation,’ [Anton Grusser] said. ‘It’s so worthwhile to restore. Not everything has to be new, new, new.’” It’s amazing how this is a municipally-funded restoration and over here in the US, we’re doing this.
I came across the encaustic wax artworks of Fumi Imamora this week. Using an ancient technique that was once used for coffins, her works feel so serene and fragile.
Raychel Wade Design is an interior designer based in NY. Her work infuses tradition and warmth into interior spaces. Her portfolio is a case study in how incorporating print into a space doesn’t mean it has to be maximalist. She utilizes prints and patterns to add meaning to spaces with a refined touch.
+ In the Studio +
This first week of real summer has been a balm for the soul. The boys had plenty of time outside doing whatever they wanted in the backyard (stick wands, Quidditch, and lots of time on the swing were included), which meant I had ample time in the studio. PTL. It was a win win for everyone.
I finally invested in a step stool so that I can reach the tops of my artworks without having to pull up a dining chair.
Like I mentioned here, I especially love when a medium is limiting for me. I am not bothered that each of the leaves are not exactly the same. The beauty is that they are made by a person and not a machine.
In his 1960 essay, “Modern Painting,” Clement Greenberg writes, “Realistic, naturalistic art had dissembled the medium, using art to conceal art; Modernism used art to call attention to art.” I don’t think it is such a stark dichotomy. I want to meet in the middle in my work. In our world with AI, it’s more important than ever to remember the hand behind the work.
I began this embroidery project months ago and got to return to it this week during baseball practices. The design is inspired by the wings of a moth and I’m excited for how it’s coming out. I already ran out of yarn, though, so I’ll have to head back to Homesewn soon for some more.
+ Throwback+
Throwback to 2020 when I made this Tiger commission. This Tiger taught me a lot of techniques that I’ve used in my artwork since its creation. I don’t do projects like this anymore, but I love looking back at them.
Thank you for being here! Have a great week! -Holly