Phantasmaphile

Julian Pacaud

Julian Pacaud  "Ornithology"  2004

Julian Pacaud's collages are peculiar and gorgeous.  Retro people populate apocalyptic and dream infused worlds, creating timeless, unsettling narratives. 

Via

Voodoo Love

Inside of New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum

So, I'm back from New Orleans.  It was an utterly glorious trip, and I fell head over heels in love with the city.  Besides being beautiful, it is chock full of magical voodoo goodness.  We went to Voodoo Authenica, a great supplies shop with altars to various voodoo gods in the back room.  The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum was a phenomenal place to visit and is teeming with wonderfully cluttered exhibits and displays.  There we met Voodoo Priest John T. Martin, and his gracious snake, Jolie Verte.  After having a consultation with him, we ended our day by paying homage to Voodoo Priest Marie Laveau with a visit to her tomb.  Can't wait to explore the city some more on my next trip!

New Orleans

So sorry for the lack of posts lately.  I'll be in New Orleans visiting a dear friend (anything I should see while there?).  Back on Tuesday, and I promise to write more actively upon my return. 

XO,
Pam

Su Blackwell

Su Blackwell  from "The Secret Garden Series" 2006

Su Blackwell creates marvels.  Using a beautiful paper cutting technique and a literary imagination, she makes stories literally spring forth from their books.  Enchanting!

Via

Fuco Ueda

Fuco Ueda  "A Birthday of L"  2005

The heroines of Fuco Ueda's paintings are often on the brink of danger.  These beauties are at once victims and agents.  But whether the threats are self-inflicted or not, they make for fierce and beautiful narratives.

Aya Uekawa

Aya Uekawa  "Japanese Team Player Candidate"  2005

Aya Uekawa uses pattern in what I'd call a controlled frenzy.  Her work contains several styles and textures in one painting: her smooth-faced women are graphic foils who attempt to remain composed amongst the harmonious clashing.

Denise Kupferschmidt

Denise Kupferschmidt  "Water Totem"

I find the paper assemblages done by Denise Kupferschmidt to be absolutely alluring.  Images from old books are scalpeled and scalloped to form a stacked, ephemeral shrine to natural history.   

Via

Morgane Le Fay

I have been thinking a lot about fashion lately, and the ways in which it can yield walking works of art.  The exemplary fashion house that springs to my mind immediately is Morgane Le Fay.  These are the sort of dream clothes that I would wear if I had mountains of money.  The pieces looks like the ghosts of flowers, a parade of hushed reverie.  I pass the store on Wooster Street frequently, every now and again going in to be amongst the flowing shapes.  It really is a magnificent feeling.  The designer is Liliana Casabal.  She is a brilliant romantic, and I admire her for consistently maintaining a balance between the contemporary and the ethereal. 

Quote

"What do they call it … the primordial soup?  The glop?  That heartbreaking second when it all got together, the sugars and the acids and the ultraviolets, and the next thing you knew there were tangerines and string quartets."

-Edward Albee

Scooter LaForge

Scooter LaForge  "Siamese Girls with Crown"

Looking at a painting by Scooter LaForge is like listening to a hallucinogenic bedtime story, if that makes any sense.  His bright color palette and deviant characters will supercharge your dreams, that's for sure. 

Maggie Taylor

Maggie Taylor  "Twilight Swim"  2004

I am very impressed with Maggie Taylor's technique.  Using digital manipulation, she creates pictures that are at once antique yet contemporary, and psychological yet soulful.