Phantasmaphile

Jennifer Nehrbass

Jennifer Nehrbass  "Girls with Teeth in the Wrong Places" 2004

The work of Jennifer Nehrbass is unbelievable.  Her paintings are masterfully photo-realistic, and the situations therein are at once outlandish and strangely familiar. 

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Gerda Steiner & Jorg Lenzlinger

Gerda Steiner & Jorg Lenzlinger  "Soul Warmer"  2005

I feel dizzy.  I am completely floored by the installations done by Gerda Steiner & Jorg Lenzlinger.  It took me the longest time to select this image, because every single still on their site is overwhelmingly wonderful.  A frenzy of objects are suspended in the air, forming intricate webs of color, and transforming space into a marvelous otherworld.  This is spectacle at its best. 

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Tori Amos

I like to say that Tori Amos was my musical gateway drug.  If it weren't for her, I might still be listening to C&C Music Factory and Paula Abdul.  But when I was in sixth grade, my best friend played the miraculous Little Earthquakes for me, and I haven't looked back since.  A steady stream of PJ Harvey, Bjork, Portishead et al would soon follow.  And thank god for that.

Now, approximately 15 years later, I find myself gravitating back to her, and those earlier albums which gave me so much inspiration and armor.  I recently finished reading Tori Amos: Piece by Piece.  It's a rambling but brilliant exploration of her creative process and sonic odyssey.  Even more thrilling, it reveals that she is an ardent follower of my hero, Carl Jung, king of psyche and symbolism.  As she writes:

"All storytellers, all troubadours worth their salt know their myths...Muhammad, Zeus, Lucifer, Josephine.  They are all on the list.  As I'm sitting at my piano, in a piano bar somewhere in the galaxy, I look out and see them in the crowd.  The Archetypes have all arrived.  Josephine fighting for a seat next to Cleopatra.  Freyja, surrounded by her cats, hand on her necklace, head thrown back in the air with a throaty giggle, as Aphrodite brings her up to date on her latest sexploits.  Pele letting her hair down and chalking her cue, knocking some balls into the net with Isis...I'm not sure those in the audience are aware of the Archetypes they carry.  We all carry them.  These Archetypes are not only embodied by the songs, but they run through all of our lives, just in different amounts."

For those who are interested, a complete boxed set of her music was just released.  Just in time for the holidays!

Richard Colman

Richard Colman  "Empty Chair"

Richard Colman's pieces make my head swim with joy.  Narratives here are nebulous and layered, with characters nested within each other.  I just love the simplicity of style with the complexity of his ideas. 

Jay Parnell

Jay Parnell  "Legacy of Three Girls Murdered" 

There is something about Jay Parnell's paintings which illicit an acute emotional response from me.  Besides being imaginative and skillfully rendered, there is a passionate pain within each work.  This is catharsis at its most beautiful.   

Charles Vincent

Charles Vincent  "The Heart, the Pen, and the Page"  2004

Speaking of all things winged, Charles Vincent paints fairy maidens with a gracious and contemporary eye.  This painting in particular stands out to me.  I love the juxtaposition of the fantastical with the visceral.

Amedee Varin

Amedee Varin  "The Lady of the Butterflies"

*Sigh*  I am swooning over these antique illustrations by Amedee Varin.  I love when fairies are depicted as butterfly people, as opposed to being shown with the usual gossamer wings.  Yes, I have a hierarchy of fairy breeds.  Because I am eight years old, apparently.

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Old Favorite

One of Bjork's very best - and believe me, that's a tough call.

Francesca Berrini

Francesca Berrini is the mastermind behind the stationary company Unusual Cards.  She marries surrealism with a vintage sensibility through her lovely and often hilarious collage.  I first encountered these cards at one of my favorite neighborhood shops, Cog and Pearl.  I wish these images were available in larger sizes, though.  Perhaps some prints are on the way?

NY Art Book Fair!!!

I so want to go to this!!!

Genevieve Gauckler

Genevieve Gauckler  "Empress of Mind" 

Please do yourself a favor and click on this picture so that you may revel in all of its astounding detail.  Genevieve Gauckler is about as multi-talented as it gets.  Her site is a labyrinth of hyper-charged projects that span a multitude of mediums.  I love her style, skill, and giant sense of humor.

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Lord Whimsy

Lord Whimsy is a connoisseur of all things dandy and delightful.  His book, The Affected Provincial's Companion, Vol. I is a gem of a tome containing his opinions and pleasures therein.  Tomorrow evening at 8pm, one may have the rare pleasure of meeting Lord Whimsy in zee flesh at a book reading which will be taking place at none other than one of my all-time favorite shops, Obscura Antiques and Oddities.  So, your Saturday night should look like this:  6pm - Go to Christopher Mir's gallery opening in Chelsea.  8pm - Attend Lord Whimsy's book reading in the East Village.  Excellent.

Christopher Mir show!!!!!

Christopher Mir  "End Game"  2006

REJOICE!  Christopher Mir's show goes up this Saturday, November 11th at RARE Gallery, and kicks off with a reception that evening from 6-8pm.  (Address is 521
West 26th Street, NYC).  This show is NOT TO BE MISSED.  His paintings are, in the artist's own words, "natural history dioramas of dreams I've never had."  GLORY!

Audrey Niffenegger

Audrey Niffenegger  "Siamese Twin"

Audrey Niffenegger is the creator of two gorgeously illustrated novels:  The Three Incestuous Sisters: An Illustrated Noveland The Adventuress (not to mention the writer of the massively popular book, The Time Traveler's Wife).  Her style is eery and stark, with a nice dose of enchantment.  I came across the above painting on her site, and I would love to see more of her personal work. 

Please

Dan McCarthy

Dan McCarthy  "Let It Be"

Dan McCarthy's body of work makes me rejoice.  He creates cool, natural history themed pieces with a bright, graphic sensibility.  Awesome.

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Hartley

Hartley  "Clinic Visitations album cover"  2006

I love the band Clinic and their throbbing, cacophonous mystery music.  Just got a glimpse of their upcoming album, Visitations, and I am blown away by the cover artwork.  Turns out it was done by the band's guitarist, Hartley.  I'd love to see more of his stuff, if anyone knows where to find it.  (Oh, and the music sounds pretty great, too.  Can't wait for its US release in January!)

Wednesday Kirwan

Wednesday Kirwan - Medusa painting

Ohhhh I love the work of Wednesday Kirwan.  She deftly paints mythological beings in a range of styles, from quasi-realistic portraiture (see above) to whimsical illustration.  Each piece on her site is, without exception, a delight.