Curio: Liz Love

Alexa here.  In the tsunami of Elizabeth Taylor tributes this week, Nathaniel's 79 ways to celebrate stood out for me (I've done more than a few, including falling in love with Monty again). So I thought I'd add to the list, with the help of a few curios to add to your shrine.

Revel in her beauty again with the help of Tim Snyder's prints.

 Plan to send your mom this gorgeous Mother's Day card by Fortune Cookie Crafts.

Charitable baubles after the jump

Click to read more ...

Curio: Gus Van Sant, Painter

Alexa here. Lately James Franco has gotten a lot of press for his artistic aspirations, earning multiple degrees while he exhibits his artwork in Berlin, seemingly hosting the Oscars as an afterthought.  So also getting attention is "Unfinished", an exhibition of film and visual art by Franco and Gus Van Sant.  Most of the attention is focused on Franco, and what the show reveals about him. (For the exhibit he reedited footage from My Own Private Idaho, creating a 12-hour-long film titled My Own Private River.)  

But what I find interesting about the show, currently showing at the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills, is seeing what Gus Van Sant is like as a painter. He studied film and painting at RISD, and was there at the same time as David Byrne (apparently urging Byrne to keep singing).  These watercolor portraits of young men, shown alongside Franco's film, obviously recall Mike and Scott from My Own Private Idaho, and share the film's dreamlike, loose, almost gangly quality.

more paintings after the jump...

Click to read more ...

Curio: Type Is All You Need

Alexa here with your weekly art break.  Although film is a medium that makes meaning with images (with "show, don't tell" as a newbie screenwriter's mantra), it can't be denied that the words spoken in some films have taken on a life of their own; movie quotes are simply part of the vernacular. In that spirit, here are some artists that have cleverly distilled a movie down to its words, sometimes with unexpected results.

Kiss Bang Bang by illogicality.   

A Blade Runner moment from Jan Skácelík.

More images after the jump

Click to read more ...

Curio: Oscar Minimalism

Alexa here.  In the weeks since the Oscar nominees were announced, graphic artists have been busy designing alternative posters for the best picture contenders, and I've been busy bookmarking.  But this week, with all the competing films floating in my head, I'm especially fond of designs that manage to strip a film down to a single, representative image. David Lopez took it upon himself to design a poster for each of the nominated films by doing just that.  His poster for The Fighter is especially effective, but I do wish he could have included the full title in more of his designs.

More Minimalist Beauties after the jump

Click to read more ...

Curio: Odd Doll

Alexa here with your weekly arts and crafts.  As Nathaniel pointed out, Black Swan has been quite an inspiration for graphic artists out there (with many a swell poster or t-shirt to be found).  But I think this doll, created by Sébastien Lepitre, is the most beautiful Black Swan creation I've seen so far.    

Sébastien started as an uninspired graphic designer and now follows his dream of creating heirloom-quality dolls and home products.  His Nina doll is so exquisitely crafted that I would think the Mulleavy sisters had a hand in stitching the tutu.  I can imagine it rising from the trash heap of Nina's discarded stuffed animals. 

Alas, while this Nina doll is sold, he also has a sweet pair of Grady sister dolls for you Kubrick fans, and a Pris replicant doll for you Blade Runner lovers.  

You can see more on his website and etsy shop.