My Summer of Love

Artist in my home: Madelyn Mulvaney

 
   
"Tempest in a Teacup"
 
 
   
"The Muse Returns"
 
These two photographs are on my walls.

They are square, hand signed / hand titled, and came in a parcel filled with good vibes.  I want to make this middle column wider, so that you can see the full photos whenever I show artwork on my blog.  Any wizards who know the trick, send me an email and tell me how.
 
One day I'd like to share interior shots of my home with you.  You'll be able to view my art collection in the context in which I see it each day.  

Both were taken by a photographer named Madelyn Mulvaney.
 
(photos appear on My Summer of Love with her permission)

There is something about that tower of cups that does wonders for me. 

I feel the overcast sky.  I cannot tell if the storm is clearing up or just getting started. 

I get pleasure out of the saucer filled with sea water. 
 
I like the fact that waves are crashing while something beautiful, that we'd expect to be fragile, stands solid and tall through the surges.
 
The teacups could hold magic in them and could be causing the change in the wind.  Who knows what storms are lurking in those vessels?
 
We're unsure if the stack eventually crashes into shards.   The broken pieces could float out to the depths of the ocean and wash up on a foreign shore with their sharp edges smoothed away by sands and journeys. 
 
All we have is this moment that she captured, and it is ours to think of as we please. 
 
Thank you Maddie for the water in motion. 

Thank you for the brightness of the china and the gilded lips.
 

I wish I had a green typewriter of that shade.  I would love to collect old typewriters, yet they'd present a space issue in New York City.  Even in my current home, where I have more space, I cannot imagine keeping more than one.  My friend Kerri knows there is a specific brand of antique typewriter that I've wanted for a long time in a certain pale color...but you know what Kerri, this green one is looking pretty good to me now too.

I can collect images for my walls; I don't need a room full of heavy metal typing machines, I know. I do think having one of the real deal is worthwhile though.  All you really need is one, when you want to play your fingers across the keys, watch your thoughts turn into literature, and hear the clack of metal letters and ink against paper.

Maddie is a warm and whimsical person, in my experiences with her.
 
More of her work will be coming to My Summer of Love, and I'll tell you a little about the great lady herself.
 
Today, I had to share the pair of images I bought from her.
  
She taught me that when you are feeling like a tempest in a teacup, you make yourself a cup of sea tea.

Anina and the Wolf

 

 

 

 

The copyrights on Anina images are owned by my amiga... a dear, talented girl and beauty, Angela Muss.  These pictures are shown on My Summer of Love with her permission. 

I'm going to write more on Angela.  Right now I just want to make sure I posted this strip of the "Anina y el Lobo" story. 

Sunday mornings are some of the best times to swim around at your favorite blogs.  I want you guys to know I'm here full of things to share with you.   I may do an interview with Angela one day.  She is from Barcelona, my old home town, and is a children's book illustrator.  Her work reminds me of Dutch picture books I read as a child. 

The protagonist, Anina, thinks quickly on her feet.  She is precocious, pretty, quiet, industrious, loves nature and painting, saves trees, drives a wind-up car, and has an enormous poof of red hair. 

My day is unexpectedly full, with a family brunch party, and being called to work at the museum last minute.  I'll add more about Angela's art; stay tuned.  I feel blessed that we're pals, and I want the world to know how great she is.

Summer birthdays

"They were delicious. So sweet and so cold."

- William Carlos Williams

I went to many parties this summer... here are a few of my snapshots. 

I celebrated birthdays for young, old, and in between.

My favorite little girl with a bow I'd given her.  It was handmade of vintage white silk:

"I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth!  How funny it'll seem to come out among the people that walk with their heads downwards!"

- Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

We call him Ollie, he's the owl usually perched high.  His head moves with the wind and he keeps all the birds from flying into large clean windows.

I enjoyed the indoor/outdoor pool, which is so unusual, you can swim through the wall.

I blew up these pink, peach, flesh-colored, and lavender balloons:

I watched a waterfall

Perfectly rare tuna with sesame seed crust, avocado, lemon, wild greens (so healthy if you remove crispy noodle on top)

Baked clams were served with homemade pasta and light brothy sauce

Cupcake

- Rose blooms made out of new tomatoes

- Yellow corn and black bean salad

- Rasp-, straw-, blue-, and blackberries

- Wood plate of bite-sized and heart-shaped tarts, with artfully done marzipan

Hung out with my bright, cool Carolina cousin Casey

We laid on white blankets:

Drank mimosas at the golf course:

Last but not least, here's the little beauty clutching my Japanese parasol. This was taken on our property. I love the way the yard always has a generous amount of both sunshine and shade. It's as if someone from the sky took a pencil, and drew a soft zig zag right down the middle. A perfect balance.

I adore her serious face. As an adult, if someone took your photo with traces of sunblock all over you, I doubt you'd look as cool.

Currently listening to:

Summertime, written by Gershwin, 1935

performed by Billie Holiday, 1936

Summertime, and the living is easy
Fish are jumping, and the cotton is high.
Your daddy's rich, and your ma is good looking
So hush little baby, don't you cry.

One of these mornings,
you're gonna rise up singing.
You're gonna spread your wings and take the sky.
But till that morning,
there is nothing can harm you
With your daddy and mommy standing by.

Artist in my heart: Carlo Van de Roer

 

I'm running to a pool party for Nicole.  I don't want to go 3+ days without posting.  I'll likely do some polishing on this entry tonight.  For now, let me share some images I've been wanting to post. Click on each photo for its full splendor.

 

 

One of my favorite photographers is Carlo Van de Roer.  I can't remember how I was introduced to him.  I believe it was when I spent time in Jen Bekman's gallery in Manhattan, back when I was friendly with Amy Ross.  I must have come across Carlo's work then.  He was one of Jen's "hot shots" right around the time Amy had a show there. 

Carlo, in my experience, has been a very cool guy. This comes as no surprise, because his images are some of the most cooling, soothing, breathtaking scenes of humans interacting with water.  The hues are ghostly in all of them.  Carlo makes me feel as if I've taken a swim.

I'm really into the one right above this paragraph; it was taken in Iceland.   Looks to me like a man with arms outstretched, floating on his back, close to Nirvana. The sea is a dazzling color and reminds me of a milk bath. There's a long cloud of steam or ocean spray on the periphery, which will consume this man (or has already passed over him). It could be something sinister and menacing that approaches, or it could bring salvation to his soul. It's possible we're witnesses to the moment he reaches ultimate peace or ecstasy. It's up to you.

How he managed these shots is miraculous to me. Perhaps Carlo was floating like an orb himself, and was invisible to the people who were his subjects.

 

 

Do you think the man above will be swept out to sea?  He seems willing, to me.

I never want this series to end.  I felt his snowy one wasn't suited for today, a summer Sunday, so, I'm sorry Carlo and readers, I left the snow-themed one out.  However, the snow shot is probably my favorite of all in the series, and will make an appearance come winter.

 

 

In Carlo's own words:

 

The term "orb" is typically used to describe circular artifacts in photographs-- artifacts which by some have been interpreted as spirits.  Despite being debunked and explained (most commonly as backscatter from precipitation or dust), there's a surprisingly widespread belief that orb photographs document the supernatural.  There are organizations, conferences, hunts, field experts, detectors, and websites dedicated to spiritual orb photography.

 

This photographic search for something larger than ourselves was the starting point for this project.  I photographed people in landscapes that are partly obscured by precipitation.  The subjects are seen searching for or interacting with orbs, which are represented as dots covering parts of the scene.  The prints are displayed together, to be read as a group. 

 

 

Carlo is originally from New Zealand.  He currently lives and works in New York City. His photos were used on my blog with his permission.  

 

 

If you ever want for your own, his prints are for sale: here and here.

Image source: www.vanderoer.com

For the object of my affection

 

 

There's a certain someone who makes me feel all the things Scarlett Johansson expresses in this.

image source: link

Fresh peaches

 

Yesterday on my way home I had to pull over, when I saw a roadside stand that our neighbors had placed out. 

As you can see above, a pile o' peaches had tumbled into the grass.

Don't fall, you sweet fuzzy babies

 

Our neighborhood has orchards:

 

and farms, alongside estates and cottages.  It's really a joyful place to live.  

They aren't commercial, they are for joie de vivre.

Across the street, horses were in the distance. My eyes could see them better than the camera could. One white horse moved like a ghost among the rich browns.

6 seconds:

Sun was going down and I know it was getting too dark for photos, but there was a hint of pastel watercolor in the sky.

 

Of course I picked the one with all the leaves:

 

All you've got to do is fall in love

 

A few of my favorite things from

"A Girl For The Afternoon"

- the pansy-violets painted on teacups

- the twirling painted Japanese umbrellas

- the glorious winds in the desert

- the orbs 

- the glittered water swishing inside

- the jewels on skin (I used to wear my tiniest palest pink gemstone on special occasions)

- the antique birdcages

- sparklers

- sunset coloring someone's hair

- patterned tights

- galoshes

- backless dresses (my favorite backless dress is one I bought in Barcelona)

- cream-colored Japanese kimonos with huge printed flowers

- clothes hung on a drying line  (why do I love clothes-lines so much...they must remind me of Bonaire)

I'm dying to know how they got that pinkish violet smoke.  Does anyone know?  I'd love to try it out in my woods.

Sasha recently posted an entry about a moon mirror she found.  She took photos of the mirror reflecting the California landscape. 

There was talk of a photographer who had taken comparable pics in Illinois:

 

  

 

It all reminded me of the little music video I saw earlier this year.  In the vid, there is a moment when a mirror reflects a landscape.  The mirror rests between a model's legs, facing the desert.   It was so lovely and stayed in my memory.  I like the entire video and want to share it with you guys.  

I'd seen dozens of photos of that day's fashion shoot, on an artist pal's website this year.  I never knew there was a little movie filmed.  It was such a happy surprise.  It is on YouTube and Blip Boutique's website.  By the way I have a crush on their guy who talks about Russians.  It's eerie, he reminds me of several old boyfriends.  Not just the way he looks but the way he talks. 

The video was extra appealing to me, because one of the girls involved with the dreamy footage was someone I was friendly with for a spell of time, many moons ago.  We've not connected much in ages, but her artwork is in my home, and I once gave her one of my rad old books (a book I will do a post about some time - I think you guys would like to see photos of how beautiful and spooky a field guide it is):

Lyrics

Wouldn't it be sweet if you could be in love with me, the way that I'm in love with you?  It's so easy to do.

All you've got to do is fall in love

All you've got to do is fall in love

All you've got to do is fall in love with me.

And everyday you don't, it's wasted.  And every night alone is your fault.

The sweetest lips I've ever tasted...the only lips I'll ever want.

 

All you've got to do is fall in love

All you've got to do is fall in love

All you've got to do is fall in love with me

 

-Song by Benji Hughes-

Photos in this post (except the mirror girl and fairy book) are from: the moldy doily and JMM clothing lookbook 2009.

Artist in my home: Dan-ah Kim

In July, Dan-ah Kim put up many new works of art for sale.  Dan-ah is from good old Brooklyn and is selling both originals and reproductions.

Usually, I love and prefer originals.  This time I decided to purchase one of the new prints.  It’s signed and dated, on museum-quality German etching paper, with rose-and-flesh-colored inks.

I often purchase two pieces at a time by any artist I collect.  I really enjoy seeing things in pairs in my home.

So far, I’ve collected one piece, entitled “Mischief Maker.” 

A masked figure in a backless dress swings from a chandelier, covered in vines, crystals, candles, and blooms.

I see her as a flapper from the 1920s, and I’m intrigued by what she dangles over. 

What happens next?

- A clean get-away from a diamond heist 

- A death-defying, smashing crashing spectacle

- Flowers aflame 

- A landing that puts a prima ballerina to shame

- Falling into the strong arms of a mystery gent

- Catapulting onto a mezzanine and tap dancing down the stairs?

The second piece of art I'm thinking of adding is entitled,

“The Stars Are Against Me Tonight.”

This image is haunting.  The midnight blue of the sky, the whirlpool of stars, the arrows swimming towards the girl, the feathery burst.

We’ve all felt that way at one point...and it's such a gorgeous, quiet way to express the feeling of being in the dark, chased, conspired against, cornered, cursed, pierced, or whatever it is she feels.  It looks as if the arrows will rain down on her. 

  

With any luck, all the arrows aim to do is turn her into a beautiful star.

Currently listening to:

Turn Into A Star
by Coal Beautiere

Remaining an artist

 

“Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” 

 

- Picasso

 

Since we were speaking of Mr. Picasso in my last post, now is the time to post this photo.  I was recently graced by an image of Baker, the son of my friends from college.  As teenagers, his mom and I lived a few doors down from each other, in an ivy-covered hall.  This baby, to me, looks very much like his parents:  serious and lovable, with big blue eyes.  He painted a card for his daddy on their very first Father’s Day, and his mom snapped this image. 

 

I’ll seize this moment to remind myself, and all of you, of the great quote above.  This sentiment is what I thought of when I opened my email and saw this little guy’s exuberant arms and expressive eyes.

 

I’m dedicating this post with good wishes to his parents. 

 

I’d also like to send a hug and this wishful quote to my friend Andrea, since she is expecting a daughter this year.  She is working on an art project in her tummy, as she says.

Girl in a Picasso

  

Andrea's recent post called "Running Off" inspired me to share some of my clothing with you. 

Wearing these makes me feel like a girl in a Picasso. 

In Japanese, "pierrot" can be a word for a modern day circus performer, which is not quite what I'm thinking of today. 

The pierrot I'm thinking of is the French figure, dressed in white soft clothing, with a beautiful face. 

I'd love to see a version from Japan, come to think of it. 

Pierrots and harlequins were dancers, and were graceful and mysterious.  Picasso loved them and spent time with them in Paris.  These were the years he's said to have referred to as "the happiest times in my life."  Occasionally, he painted himself or his children as these performers. 

This is called Pablo as a Harlequin, from 1924.  

Angelic, don't you think?  He depicted this subject throughout his life (1881-1973), and the majority of the paintings were in his 20's and 30's.

 

"Tumblers":

 

 

Above Picasso images from:  clickable link

I was a gymnast for 9 years (I miss it!) and I'm attracted to acrobatics.  Balance, strength, and agility are things I love to imagine about these quiet, athletic artists.

Now for my threads.  Here is one of my dresses by Ana!s of Brooklyn.  The designer uses high quality natural fabrics and cares about every stitch.  I own several of her pieces.  This dress is a mini.  It's bubble style, with double layers of the softest cotton.  It feels sooo good to the touch, which is very important to me.  It has an intricately crocheted collar, in a creamy tea color.  It's one of a kind.

To shop Ana!s: clickable link 

The above dress was new.  The rest I'll show you today are all vintage, from my closet, and all are a little see-through.

First, I have what was dubbed "The Ghost Town Sweetheart Blouse."  I really enjoy ghostly clothing.  This was handpicked by my beloved girls at Violet Folklore .

The model is musician Alela Diane.  She has a beautiful look and is a talented songstress; I'm happy Sasha intro'ed me to her.

   

To shop Violet Folklore:  clickable link

 

I have more to say about the girls and I'll save that for another day.

The next top was found at the treasure chest that is Dear Golden. 

I like things that are see-through, while also tasteful and innocent. 

If you can peek at a girl's skin, or get a glimpse of camisole, and her outfit is demure at the same time, I find it perfectly lovely.

This blouse is more conservative than sexy.  Yet, it's silky and transparent, and it reminds me of the Chanel No. 5 box.   It can be worn for museum work and dinner at the yacht club.

Next comes one of my vintage evening gowns. 

It reminds me of Jackie Kennedy. 

 To shop Thrush:  clickable link

The sheer top of the dress is made of a floaty fabric with ribbing.  This piece gives me the Chanel No. 5 feeling too. 

The model looks like Ellen Page. 

 

I'm wishing all of you a peaceful midsummer eve.  Here's wishing you meet friendly ghosts tonight.  Or, if you don't believe in or enjoy ghosts, may you do cartwheels among the fireflies.

Currently listening to: 

Ellen Page and Michael Cera,

singing Anyone Else But You

by The Moldy Peaches