art of darkness

I recently discovered Portland-based artist Julia Gfrorer during one of my many Etsy surfing adventures. While her illustrations are a little macabre, I find myself intensely attracted to her work. Purchase prints of her work here.

darkness in white

The porcelain work of ceramic artist Kate MacDowell is a sight to behold. Each piece is lovingly handcrafted, showing off MacDowell's obvious talent, but also capturing a a kind of beautiful grotesqueness that has you wanting to take a closer look. As commentaries on man's damaging impact on his surrounding environment, each piece assaults our sense of comfort by seamlessly blending together man and nature, offering up images of stunning pain.

Fiberarts folds

After the June 2011 issue was sent to stands, Fiberarts, a magazine dedicated to to all things knitted, woven, felted, sculpted, quilted and pulled, decided to close up shop, attributing the folding to a general lack of interest and difficulty keeping it in circulation. Though the mag's mother publisher Interweave is offering up Quilting Arts as a supplement, it is incredibly disappointing to see another unique publication bite the dust. Moreover, Fiberarts' folding marks yet another hit to the stability of the print industry. With this in mind, I encourage readers to turn off their monitors and pick up a magazine, book or newspaper. Hindsight is 20/20, and I would hate to look back ten years from now and regret being part of the growing slaughter of the printed page. Wouldn't you?

Blue, the color of love is blue

A film adaptation of Irish playwright Enda Walsh's 1996 play of the same name, Disco Pigs (2001) details the lives of two extraordinarily close friends, Darren "Pig" (Cillian Murphy) and Sinead "Runt" (Elaine Cassidy), who, born only minutes apart in the same hospital, remain inseparable throughout their childhood and teenage years. Pig, violent by nature, is soothed by Runt - the far more level-headed and independent of the two - but over time his dependence on their friendship grows into obsession. When Runt is sent to trade school, Pig finds himself lost and tormented and begs his mother to tell him where Runt is. She concedes, but tells him if he leaves, he can't be allowed back. Pig agrees and sets off. Of course he finally reaches Runt, but his growing violent behavior and all-consuming fixation lead Pig to his demise. In the heartbreaking final scenes, Pig gives in to his death without struggle, and Runt is freed. Beautifully calamitous and comedic (at times), Disco Pigs is a film worth taking the time to watch.