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Kris Chau
I adore the loose, sketchy style of Kris Chau. Her work reminds me of old French fashion illustrations mixed with the covers of some of my favorite childrens' novels (Pippi Longstocking and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle come to mind). Yet there is a definite sophistication of ideas here, with unusual juxtapositions of feminine iconography. Lovely!
Amy Ross "She Wolf Series 7"
Speaking of wolves, I love Amy Ross's She Wolf series, as well as her other mutation-oriented pieces. Her artist's statement reads:
"I am interested in the idea of artist as mad scientist."
Her work is far from monstrous though, as each strange creation is imbued with a sense of grace.
So excited - I'm seeing Bat for Lashes play tonight at the Knitting Factory. (I've written about them before. Do buy the album 
"I do love fairytales, but actually not so much the Grimms ones as the older more barbaric and ancient pagan ones! I love a book called "women who run with the wolves" as it contains Jungian philosophies and interpretations of all the old fairytales before they became too standardized and clean. I was brought up in a strict religion and so the act of storytelling is deeply embedded in me - I think thats why I was instantly attracted to deep southern/gothic American lyrics and music - and then fell in love with the biblical imagery of blues, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, etc."
She is my total soul sister.
(Thanks, Johanna!)
Gwyneth Scally "Cathy" 2005
Ohhh, how much do I love Gwyneth Scally's scarlet-toned paintings? So striking and strange, they leave me feeling feverish.
(Thank you, Suzanimal!)
Cynthia von Buhler "Belen-Gaard"
Paint + moths + bark = a gorgeous homage to femininity and nature. Cynthia von Buhler's mixed media pieces are a perfect blend of imagination and real world elements. I'd love to see these in person, as I'm sure the interplay between the organic and inorganic are a delight to witness. I understand some of her pieces have sound as well...lovely!
Update: She currently has an exhibit up at the Staten Island Museum, through September 23rd. Can't wait to see it!
Raea Zani
Raea Zani sculpts beautiful effigies that are unsettling yet strangely calming. These pieces feel like the spoils from an archaeological dig. One touches them and is compelled to wonder what old secrets are locked within.
Kako Ueda "Gaze" 2005
Kako Ueda's lavish pieces are made from obsessively cut paper, with a bit of watercoloring. They are quietly psychadelic, and fine as a dragon fly's wing.
Tina Imel
Please click on the above image so you can see the details more clearly: the lady is sewing the man's head on with a needle and thread. I just find this to be so incredibly clever and surprising! Tina Imel's paintings overflow with Victoriana, and hold the tension between the super-repressed, uber-feminine surface and the dark impulses that lurk beneath. Very pretty and very powerful.
Lori Field "Area 25"
Lori Field's pieces are pastel layer cakes of beauty. Each work is created with such media as colored pencil, rice paper, thread, beeswax, encaustic, and collage. Jpegs do not do them justice - you must see these pieces in person to witness their divine texture and cloudiness.
Oh my goodness, how did I miss this? Rasputina's new album, Oh Perilous World
Bryan Voell "Metanoia" 2007
I really like Bryan Voell's approach to collage. He leaves the edges of his clippings looking torn and frayed, which infuse his pieces with a sort of haunting, punk rock aesthetic.
I just finished one of the most heart-achingly beautiful books I have ever read. Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine consists of a series of vignettes that take place during the summer of 1928 in Greentown, Illinois. Each episode is written with extreme sensory richness and sensitivity. The book shifts point of view often, though many of the stories are seen through the eyes of Douglas Spaulding, a 12 year-old boy learning lessons about life and death during one golden season. If you read it, you'll be treated to such delicious passages as this:
"...One night each week, he was allowed to leave his father, his mother, and his younger brother Tom asleep in their small house next door and run here, up the dark spiral stairs to his grandparents' cupola, and in this sorcerer's tower sleep with thunders and visions, to wake before the crystal jingle of milk bottles and perform his ritual magic.
He stood at the open window in the dark, took a deep breath, and exhaled.
The street lights, like candles on a black cake, went out. He exhaled again and again, and the stars began to vanish."
And that's only in the first chapter! Bradbury recently released a sequel, entitled Farewell Summer.
I have become addicted to Lula Magazine. It's from the UK, but it can be found at international magazine shops, or ordered online. It is chock full of dreamy, color-soaked photography and whimsical copy. This is a magazine for grown up girls who love fantasy and imaginative fashion.
Cooper Edens from "Caretakers of Wonder"
Cooper Edens is a treasure. His books If You're Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow
My dear friend Noah and I have hatched a magnificent, nefarious plan. Street Mining is a new kind of walking tour. As Noah so eloquently puts it:
"street mining is pretty simple: once a month a bunch of people get together and go walk the streets. each month is guided by a different person showing off their favorite gems. anyone's invited, so why not come exploring? The first one is saturday, july 28th. If you're interested, pop over to the site and sign up for emails. That's going to be the only way to find out where to meet."
The first tour will be lead by yours truly. Since I'm the guinea pig, I can't promise it will go smoothly, but I can guarantee you'll see some cool places you've most likely never been and will get to hang with other open-minded and intrepid people. My tour will be called something to the effect of "SoHo: Curiosity Shops and Culinary Marvels." This ain't your monthly Apple Store pilgrimage, people. Expect taxidermy, potions, and the loveliest chocolates you've ever put on your palette.
Happy Independence Day! I love this patriotic Lady Liberty ornament designed by the very talented Ulla Milbrath. Better yet, you can make it yourself by ordering her kit from Etsy.
Maleonn Ma from "Portrait of Mephisto" series 2006
Maleonn Ma's colorized photos are lush and mysterious. Though washed in pastel, these images have a dark energy that leaves me feeling heady.
Judith Schaechter "Constellation"
Stained glass sorceress Judith Schaechter has a sparkling new web site. And be sure to check out her sumptuous book, Extra Virgin
Just a couple of quick things:
For those that care, the new Fables
Also, the movie version of Stardust
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