Oft-Imitated, Never Matched. George Nakashima’s furniture has become a hot collector’s item and is available at fine auctions the world over. You can tour his studio in New Hope Pennsylvania, where his daughter carries on the tradition. Check out more at this website.
-Robert
Elizabeth Matheson is one of North Carolina’s most important photographers. Her work is subtle and quiet, taking as its subject the old homes and landscapes of the South.
In her interior shots, Matheson masterfully captures images that seem frozen in time.
Born in Hillsborough, North Carolina in 1943, she studied with John Menapace at the Penland School over 30 years ago, and has had solo shows at numerous venues including the North Carolina Museum of art and the Gregg Musuem at NCState.
We featured Matheson in our previous post about the art collection at the NCState Chancellor’s House. Four of Matheson’s photographs grace that home’s stair hall and dining room (below).
To take a closer look, check out her upcoming show at the Horace Williams House in Chapel Hill on May 6th. More information can be found at the Chapel Hill Preservation Society.
-Robert
image 1: design lines
image 2, 3, 4, 5: flickr
John Chamberlin (1927-2011) is a great example of an artist who made a career out of exploring one material. For him, that material was crushed car parts.
His sculptures are surprisingly delicate & elegant considering their source. I am always amazed at how Chamberlain was always able to find new colors, shapes, and configurations to explore.
Some belive Chamerlian’s use of metal is akin to translating Abstract Expressionist brushstrokes into three dimensions. Others simply see beautiful compositions. Whatever the source, these are some of my favorite sculptures to look at. I hope you enjoy them too.
-Robert
image 1: blogspot
image 2: daily art fixx
image 3: whitehot
Louise Nevelson is one of my favorite artists. A master of found object sculpture, she was known for her room-sized wall pieces made of wood & painted in monotone. Almost all her work is flat black, but she also created work in gold, white, and green.
By working in monotone, Nevelson was able to emphasize the formal qualities of her objects, elevating scraps of wood to beautiful compositions. She was a master at joining together disparate forms to create a sense of balance and mystery.
Many people acknowledge a connection between Nevelson’s work and the Abstract Expressionist movement of the 1940s-1950s. This movement emphasized grand themes like masculinity, the subconcious, and the sublime, and included painters like Jackson Pollack and Franz Kline.
In addition to working in wood, Nevelson also created a large number of outdoor steel sculptures. These works maintain the vitality of her more intimate works, but on a grand scale. They can be seen in many public places across the country, inluding a plaza named after her in New York’s financial district.
Louise Nevelson’s unique style continues to influence artists and designers up to the present day. Take a closer look and see what you discover.
-Robert
image 1: sfmoma
image 2: art ideas
image 3: dna info
image 4: mutual art
When you think of plaster, you probably think of a material smoothed onto walls. But this simple material – a mixture of powdered gypsum and water – can be magical in skilled hands. Alberto Giacometti, famous for his bronze sculptures, sculpted all of them out of plaster first:
In fact, plaster has been one of the most important artistic mediums for thousands of years – which is why I’m so impressed by the freshness of a new collection by Stephen Antonson.
Using plaster as his main material, he sculpts all sorts of decorative objects. From mirrors to candlesticks and chandeliers, Antonson’s elevates this humble material to serene beauty. My favorite is his lamp for Dessin Fournier:
-Robert
image 1 & 3: West Elm
image 2: tumblr
images 4 : Stephen Antonson
As the Chancellor’s Residence at NC State University nears completion, I wanted to take a moment to recognize Abie Harris, a local artist whose works will grace its walls.
Abie had a long career as the Campus Planner for NC State University. Now in retirement, he is a tireless and prolific artist creating a variety of works on paper ranging from large abstract drawings to dreamy vignettes of Raleigh.
The Chancellor’s Residence will have a total of 6 works by the artist, including a large mixed-media drawing based on Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
Harris created numerous pieces in this series, which feature abstract interpretations of Bach’s music organized in numerous areas of dense linework. Sometimes, these works are created in real time, as part of a performance with musicians.
Abie’s beautiful and poignant work shows that a second career can shine as brightly as the first.
Thank you Abie, we look forward to hanging your work at the end of this month!
For more information on Abie Harris and other local artists, visit the Roundabout Collective in Raleigh.
-Robert
image 1: virtual pianist
image 2: rebus works
image 3: ncartblog.org
image 4: pasinfonia.org
I visited the North Carolina Museum of Art this week, and there was a great surprise in the contemporary galleries – a new large scale painting by Mickalene Thomas called The Three Graces. Painted this year, the piece measures an impressive 9 feet by 12 feet, and is made of thousands of rhinestones and acrylic paint. And it’s absolutely beautiful!
The painting re-casts the Three Graces from Greek Mythology as African American Women dressed in 70’s clothing. According to the artist’s website, she “introduces a complex vision of what it means to be a woman and expands common definitions of beauty. Her work stems from her long study of art history and the classical genres of portraiture, landscape, and still life.”
Mickalene Thomas has gotten a lot of attention recently – a similar painting now hangs permanently in the window of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. I feel lucky to have one of her most significant paintings in the permanent collection of our local musuem.
-Robert
image 1: mickalenethoms.com
image 2: artknowledgenews.com
image 3: lehmannmaupin.com
The Chancellor’s House at North Carolina State University is really starting to take shape! We wanted to share some of the most recent photos with you. The exterior is beginning to look awesome with the addition of concrete patios and planter boxes (below). When all the landscaping is complete, it will be an inviting backyard retreat, and a great place to hold university functions.
Since we last posted, the interior has undergone major transformations with the addition of drywall, paint, and cabinetry. Below, you can see one of the house’s 8 fireplaces, newly fitted with its stone surround and wood mantle. This room will serve as the living quarters for the Chancellor’s distinguished guests. A built-in desk will make it a comfortable place to work.
One of the biggest transformations happened when the staircase was painted. The sensous curves of the stair are newly accented by black picketts lining both sides. It looks really smart!
Upstairs, work is nearly complete on the Chancellor’s family room, a lofty space with tons of natural light. Below, you can see a few of the home’s finished doors. All the doors will be painted black and accented with polished chrome hardware.
The floor stain was finalized last week (below). Applied over a beautiful oak floor, the timeless color we chose will complement the mahogany woodwork throughout the first floor.
When we visited, the kitchen cabinets were still being installed. They are looking great! (above)
The master bathroom is starting to come together – marble tile of different sizes is being applied throughout. Glass panels for the shower will be one of the finishing touches.
There are so many new things to see everytime we visit the house. It’s exciting to see how quickly things are coming together – but there is still a lot to be done! Above, you can see the fireplace in the Dining Room waiting for its wood mantle (above left). One of the most impressive features of the house (yet to be installed) will be the front door and flanking windows. Currently, a temporary plywood partition protects the opening (above right). I can’t wait to see how beautiful the entrance hall looks when it’s finished!
For more on the Chancellor’s house, check out our previous posts:
-Robert
images: by DLL
Sharon Parker is an artist who works out of Artspace in downtown Raleigh (if you haven’t been there you should really check it out during First Friday!). She makes vibrantly-colored sculptures and wall-hangings out of handmade felt. I was amazed to learn that she makes it all from scratch, using raw wool that is worked and dyed to perfection. I think the results of her labor speak for themselves!
But Felt is not only for artists! Designers are increasingly using the material in a wide range of projects from headboards to impromptu rugs. One of the most unique applications can be found in the Fluff Bakery (pictured below), where Lewis Tsurmaki Lewis layered strips of felt on end to create a unique wall covering.
Felt comes in a lot of thicknesses, and in a broad range of colors if you are buying in the thinner range. The basic colors are grey and white, and many have a pleasantly warm, creamy consistency. 
Check out this great chair by Cappellini, executed in purple felt!
And check out this rug by Mary Ann Williams – it must feel amazing underfoot.
What can you imagine doing with this unique material?
-Robert
image 1,2,3: by the author
image 4: Lewis Tsurmaki Lewis
image 5&7: Apartment Therapy
image 6: Cappellini
Need some suggestions on how to wrap those last minute gifts?! As Brittany makes her television debut on My Carolina Today, enjoy her three wonderful ideas for gift wrapping this holiday season. What do you do for festive holiday wrapping? We would love to hear.
