It's the Simple Things

Little Iain received an outrageous number of Christmas gifts, especially given the fact that he's only two years old. Everything from an obnoxious light up monster truck (okay, so it was a gift from a 10 year old boy) to Thomas and Friends trains to cool Automoblox wood cars designed by industrial designer Patrick Calello to a spiffy Razor designed for the youngest scooter enthusiastic. However, his favorite gift by far was a cheap light up spinning top ball point pen from Target (a stocking stuffer: thanks Santa). This magic pen could heal sore muscles, whiten teeth, fix boo boos, shoot lasers, etc. Hmm, it's the simple things that seem to capture the imagination of the youngest creative minds.

Happy Flowers

Last weekend, I had the utterly inspiring and mind-blowing experience of seeing the ©Murakami exhibition at MOCA in L.A. The youngest art critic in our family gave the show a big thumbs up and spent two hours in rapt fascination at the sight of Murakami's superflatalicious paintings, sculptures, animations, and glorious installations. I was overwhelmed by the explosion of color, pattern, imagination, insanely surreal imagery, and, of course, happy flowers. To see Murakami's work in person is transformative—for both children and adults. There are some naysayers who take issue with the conflation of art and commerce, but, I view the interweaving of high and low, culture and consumption, museum and boutique as a brilliant commentary on the current state of the bizarre world in which we live.

Speaking of consumption, one of my favorite forms of shopping is consuming the pre-consumed. After the Murakami show, we visited our friends Jeffery and Rita in Claremont. Rita is the director of the Oldenborg Center, where, several years ago, I gave a presentation on the Superflat phenomenon to a fantastic audience of young, dare I call them: scholars. Last week, this supercool (1970s?), wonderfully kitch coffee dispenser was unearthed from some forgotten corner in Oldenborg. Isn't it Murakami-esque? It is now in my possession and I can't wait to have an opportunity to fill it with mulled wine or hot cider or the strongest of holiday spirits—glogg—and bust it out at my next party. The perfect excuse to wear my bright yellow, holiday caftan from Palm Springs. Thanks, Rita.

Jason O'Malley Visits California

Last week, the internationally-renowned and award-winning children's book illustrator Jason O'Malley graced us with a visit. The last time Jason saw Iain, we still referred to him affectionately as Ziggy the Zygote, so a trip to the West Coast was long overdue. Jason began his California adventure with a book signing in Palm Springs for the hot-off-the-press and hilarious WOOF! A Gay Man's Guide to Dogs. Athough Jason is incredibly talented, Iain still took it upon himself to instruct Jason in the nuances of mark-making and the crayon as an often overlooked expressive medium. I sense a creative collaboration in the future.

Shameless Self-Promotion

It's always gratifying when someone out there likes your work. Check out Simply Fab's mention of my baby cards, available at ultra hip and fabulous Handsome Devil Press. If you know a modern bohemian who's expecting, Handsome Devil is your source for luverly and fun cards.

Imagine Peace

I was listening to a Yoko Ono interview this morning on Democracy Now. She was talking about her recent installation of the Imagine Peace Tower installed on Videy Island in Reykjavik, Iceland. As soon as I plugged my laptop in at work, I looked up the Peace Tower and was stunned by its beauty. In her interview this morning, she talked about Iceland and the darkness there and the brilliance of her Imagine Peace Tower in contrast to that darkness and how it works its atmospheric magic in the cold, damp air. I've always loved Yoko Ono's work for its message of positivity and optimism. For example, the Wish Piece:

WISH PIECE

Make a wish.
Write it down on a piece of paper.
Fold it and tie it around a branch of a wish tree.
Ask your friends to do the same.
Keep wishing
Until the branches are covered with wishes.

Yoko Ono, 2007

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I would like to make a little wish tree inside my house and fill it with pretty paper wishes. That way, there would never be any rain on my wishes.

Blog Action Day

In honor of Blog Action Day, I am posting an image of David Trubridge's spectacular pendant lamps, available at DWR.


The lamps, inspired by the crystalline patterns found in nature, are constructed from Australian sustainable-plantation-grown hoop pine untreated plywood. On his website, David poetically describes his process:

My ideas come from the wild places,
edges of turbulence and renewal,
where seas break on beaches and headlands,
where land and air meet on mountain ridges.

I make forms of elemental simplicity,
as the erosion of air and water on wood and stone,
forms that speak of humanity's survival on earth,
of life's fragility and dependence,
of comfort in the ways of the past that have succoured us,
and optimism for a sustainable and enriching future.

I work within the limits of what I have and know,
simplicity and low impact,
natural materials and processes,
leaving a delicate footprint.

What a beautiful sentiment. These lamps are gorgeous, lacy confection and combine an ecological sensibility with a mastery of form. I only wish I could actually afford them.

There's Some Good Art in Michigan

Wow, am I blown away by Matthew Shlian's art. Who would have thought that ball point pen could be such a fantastic medium? His drawings are mind-blowingly intricate and imaginative, with a nice dose of weirdness. I love it when artists employ the most banal materials in their studio practice to create such beautiful things.