Spiritual Shapes/Celestial Jello Molds

I recently google image searched the word “ultraterrestrial” and found my art work among some truly astonishing imagery. It did make me stop to question my appropriation of the word as a handle for my work; who am I to lift this amazing phrase and associate it with myself and my humble art offerings?  Until now it did not quite sink in that this is a developed theory regarding highly evolved alien species that exist among us and have always been here– I haven’t done any reading yet but it looks like there are some very awesome looking books written about it which are on my reading list. I did make a short tumblr post about it here. i hesitate to associate myself with hardcore UFO/alien believers because, well, I’ve never had any alien experiences! And I feel like most of the people into alien theory are those who have had encounters, not just curious outsiders.. But the idea is beyond intriguing.  Soo…back to my google image searching…I came across the website of The Celestial Visionary Art of Erial which has completely blown me away. Just LOOK

Without making this post ridiculously long…

One thing that I have been thinking about is the emotional impact of certain shapes and colors. When I make art work, those are the two driving forces, it’s so strangely intuitive and pleasant to hit certain “notes” when making certain shapes or color combinations- a common experience for artists. It does make me wonder about this unconscious phenomenon- what is it? What is it that makes those shapes or colors pleasing? What makes certain musical notes addictively pleasurable? When I look at this guy’s work it seems like he’s completely captured that vibrational hum of absolute bliss…the colors, the shapes, the light… it’s so beautiful it’s almost scary. If I’ve ever seen a vision of heaven that could be real (and not religious propaganda) Erial’s art work is it.

To go on a slight tangent– I recently discovered this product which became an instant obsession. It’s a line of makeup called “Aqua Petit Jelly”  by a Korean line called Holika Holika. Aqua Petit Jelly has captured something very special in the form of perfect make up concept and packaging. Notice the jello-mold shape. Very pleasant. It is one found in the Celestial world of Erial. 

and today I stumbled across this. It is no surprise that this type of food was popular during the “space age” of the 1960s and 70s..It’s very unreal, unearthly, very lunar, very looney. I can’t get enough of that quintessential Jello Mold Shape- just realized how much it looks like a rocket ship or a UFO..

Right? So that wraps up my art thoughtz for now…thanks for reading!

My portfolio is up!

Finally got my work up all in one spot, I am massively thankful for the people at cargocollective, they couldn’t have made it easier. I have up my recent paintings, 2d and 3d collages, sketchbook pages, plates, and jewelry. Here’s a screenshot, click here to go to the actual site

Check-Marks at OPEN SPACE Galery in Baltimore, opens March 8th

Reblogged from :

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Excited to announce this group show that OPEN SPACE Gallery in baltimore was nice enough to ask me to curate. Opens March 8th, as the kick-off event for Open Space's Publications and Multiples Fair held March 9th and 10th. There will be lots of art stuff happening in Baltimore that weekend, so well worth your time to head out there for this show and much more.

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Very excited to be part of this show-- the other artists are fucking amazing. Unfortunately I won't be able to be there in person like expected but if you are in the Baltimore area go !!

Seashell Souvenir Art

I have a MASSIVE LOVE for kitschy seashell art.  Today I found this wonderful piece from Goodwill to add to my collection

I also recently purchased this seashell chandelier which couldn’t have been better suited for my kitchen (the ceiling hook was already there and I’ve been looking for something to hang since we moved in)

As a kid I have hazy but lovely memories of collecting and decorating seashells in Fire Island, New York. We sold them out of a wagon, and if any money was made I am sure it was used to buy candy, for me- Fruitstripes gum and Astro Pops.  Unfortunately no photographs were taken of our creations, but I kind of feel like I am re-living a lost era when I make sea shell art now.  I have a bigger ocean-themed sculpture in the works , which these little dudes might become a part of…

Also….I have been pretty curious about seashell souvenirs as an art form, since many of the pieces (which are still being made today in abundance) are pretty fucking incredible. To sell them as anonymously made souvenirs with no information about the designers or craftspeople is to me a bit of a travesty, but for the most part that seems to be the way it’s been for a long time. If I was a documentary film maker this would be a topic of high priority!! Who is behind all of this? Elves?  Will someone please shed some light? I spent a little while scouring the internet on seashell souvenir wholesalers websites and ebay and what I found is pretty mind blowing. Here are about a million of my favorites:

This is a Victorian-era postcardThese are resin cats with mother-of-pearl pieces cast inside

Apparently this souvenir is called a “Mermaid Spoon”. I want one!

Hope you enjoyed this!

Virtual Window Shopping- Etsy Handmade Edition

Items I am lusting over at the moment and would have already purchased if I was rich.

Troll paperweight by ISpyPaperweights. The only paperweights worth spending money on that I’ve ever come across.
vintage Hmong shirt collar from dellshop. Ridiculously gorgeous. Previously have purchased this and these. This shop is priced so affordably, it’s really a steal.

Hmong/tribal style backpack from PiuHmongBag. This is essentially my dream backpack.

Handmade pouch by RabbitCave. A girl can never have too many of these, especially when they look like a dream. (also- tassels and pom poms need to be on everything, amiright?)
Red Healing Hands Earrings by youflamingbrute, an awesome and very exciting new shop.

Coral Pink Feather Bow Tie Necklace by ourhousedesign. They also have them as actual bowties!

Crying Eye Mobile by one of my favorites, Jikits. The corner of my bedroom cries for this.

Ruby Red Tinted Balm by FatandtheMoon. I adore everything about her shop I’m really feeling the packaging and minimal all natural products. Will definitely be purchasing at some point.

All right, thats all folks!

Ultra Terrestrial on The Emma Edition

My last post was kind of dreary, sorry!

But today I’m very pleased to say that the brilliant Emma of The Emma Edition was kind enough to interview me for her blog series Rad Talk.  This is very satisfying for me because she is one of my favorite bloggers ever and she does such an amazing job curating, championing and exemplifying DIY art and culture.  Emma asks some pretty awesome questions in her interviews…  Watch me try impart multiple layers of sociological significance into craft supplies like pom poms and glitter.  Thank You, Emma.

Also sure to also check out her new project Do Not Enter Diaries it’s soo goood

Mushrooms = god?

I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, in a good way. I could take hours to explain it all, but I am just going to post videos and links. It’s hard to talk about. It’s heavy shit. It divides people, and makes people angry, but the ideas are making their way into consciousness and that is the most important thing.

Our world needs good thinkers. We need to be smart, to be critical, and to be wiling to move ourselves out of systems and rules that make no fucking sense and that are damaging our planet. It’s pretty hard to be into anything else when you have any amount of insight into the the way systems of power operate. I sometimes question why I feel like I should be making art when it would probably be more practical to learn how to do something like grow my own food or just be more politically involved.

But, I feel that my skills lie in some intuitive, spiritual sense. I am interested in getting people to see themselves as something powerful, to be confident to express themselves. And also to constantly question . To see through the bullshit. To defy authority. To question public education. I don’t really know if I am good at helping others to do this. I spend a lot of time talking about it with friends, in living rooms, at bars. I want it to be beyond that and I want it to be connected with my art making. I recently brainstormed with a friend about having an art show on a farm here in Iowa, that would include psychedelic art and pieces related to growing food/organic farming/crazy bullshit related to that. That makes me excited. I want to open up dialogue for artists who are interested in this, because it seems like it’s a thing. It’s cool to see so much awesome art on tumblr, but I want dialogue! I need this stuff to get real, to be physical and tangible.