Thursday, June 28th, 2012
Judith Braun has been an established artist for quite a few years. A regular on the NY art scene, before her divorce and hiatus from the art world, she has returned with a new and unique take on the childhood past time of finger painting.
She creates her murals using nothing but her hands and some charcoal dust. The mesmerizing images follow the “symmetry of the body.” You will get lost in the intricacy of each image. She began the project in 2003, using abstraction to keep the interpretation open to each viewer as well creating a definite image for her series “Symmetrical Procedures.” Her technique evolved into “Fingerings,” where she used her body and the “diamond dust” to create incredible pieces that invite you in and evoke a feeling a wonder that you probably thought you left behind in kindergarten.
You can see more of Judith’s work on her website.
Friday, June 22nd, 2012
Purchase work from “In Bloom” here!
Wednesday, June 20th, 2012
A staple of modern art has been always been the combination of two different elements in order to create a beautiful new form. Izziyana Suhaimi’s works are a notable example of this exact principle. Suhamini is a mixed media artist who employs drawing, watercolor and embroidery to create truly unique pieces.
The process began when Suhaimi was working on medical illustrations for a school project. She decided to experiment with embroidery in order to add some more texture to the heart she was working on and a style was born! She describes her preference for embroidery by saying, “I am attracted to the evidence of the hand and its time-consuming aspect, which runs counter to the instant gratification and mass-production centered age of today.” We should all definitely keep an eye on Izziyana to see what she’ll be doing next!
Friday, June 15th, 2012
In photography, negative space can both decontextualize and recontextualize a depicted subject. Negative space decontexualizes subjects through isolation, removing them out of their normal setting. Viewers are able to consider the subject as a thing-in-itself, or at the very least, reconsider it without the influence of a specific setting. Negative space recontextualizes subjects when it is used to play with your perspective. For instance, if you’re a human being looking at a gorilla, the gorilla appears large and intimidating. But if you photograph a gorilla with 75% white space, you can make that gorilla appear small and harmless. Since it can do these two things, negative space will provide a feeling of either balance or imbalance to a photograph. Let’s not forget, too, that at the simplest level, negative space provides a resting place for the eye and eliminates distraction. Turns out utilizing a whole lot of nothing in your photographs can provide extra interest to the subject itself.
Katie Harris
Nathan Harger
DJ BOY
Kristen Williams Mitchell
Lee Cullivan
Ibai Acevedo
Max Wanger
Wednesday, June 6th, 2012
On a recent leisure trip to Atlanta, GA, we were introduced to… The Goat Farm. Don’t let the name fool you (completely). While there are indeed some goats wandering around, The Goat Farm is much more than a tucked-away farm near Midtown Atlanta. In fact, it is home to many local artists, event designers, dancers, exhibitions and other creatives who need an inexpensive, inspiring place to work in Atlanta. Now that we’re back from our extended weekend, we decided to dig a little deeper into The Goat Farm and share our discoveries with fellow non-locals.
A Little History Lesson
The Goat Farm Arts Center has had an interesting past. Built during the 1880s, it was originally the E. Van Winkle Gin and Machine Works, often referred to as “The Works,” a manufacturing plant for award winning cotton gins distributed to farms across the country. During WWII, production was altered to help with the war effort. They shifted to producing to ammunition and mortars. The 1970s brought an influx of artists and musicians following The Works purchase by the eccentric Robert Haywood, a former Army Ranger and industrial engineer known for pedaling all over the property in a gold hard hat, khaki shorts and boots, brandishing a shotgun to scare off pesky developers. Haywood would be the man to bring the goats on the property in order to fight back the growth of the kudzu plant that runs rampant over all over the southeast United States. Following Haywood’s death in 2009, The Goat Farm fell into disuse. Fast forward to July 2010, The Goat Farm was purchased by Hallister Development in order to preserve the property as an art-friendly community.
What’s Happenin’ on the Farm
The Goat Farm Arts Center, now managed by Anthony Harper and Chris Melhouse, has transitioned into a successful for-profit enterprise comprised of studio space, a unique event venue and a number of small businesses:
Amy Osaba – Event Floral Design
Fresh Root Farms – an organic produce supplier.
PushStart Kitchen – restaurant.
Warhorse Cafe – a coffee house and library that hosts many literary events.
Subject Matter Experts - a collective of entrepreneur advisors.
“While we do support the arts, and this space is a way to do that, we want artists to learn how to market themselves and create sustainable lives,” said Harper in a recent article for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “These residents aren’t slackers; they’ve got rent to pay and businesses to run.”
The complex is comprised of 12 acres including a rehearsal space, live-work artist studios, non-traditional auditoriums (Goodson Yard, The Rodriguez Room and Robert’s Hoard), a venue for live indie music, and, of course, a cozy home for goats (plus a few chickens, turkeys, and dogs). It hosts film screenings and theatrical performances, food truck festivals and gallery shows throughout the year. The Goat Farm has been called the “Best Visual and Performing Arts Center on the Rise,” by Atlanta magazine. In addition to the in-house artists and “experiences” offered by The Goat Farm, they also have programs that reach out into the community to help other artists and local teens. The Stimulus Diffusion, a career development and education platform, and The Creatives Project, an arts outreach program, both give back to the community that has been so welcoming to the farm.
In short, The Goat Farm Arts Center has created an incredibly unique opportunity for its community and the artists that it houses. It has created a place where the arts flourish, a place of inspiration in the chaos of a big city.
Summer Events at The Goat Farm.
Monday, June 4th, 2012
Hey Guys,
It’s that time of year again, when we repeatedly suggest that you vote for us in the Orlando Weekly’s Best of Orlando Poll. If you’ve never done it before, the list is long and you’re required to vote in at least 15 categories. It’s a great way to give props to your favorite local establishments and let the rest of Orlando know.
Now, we don’t want to do all the work for you or tell you how to vote, but we put together this list of businesses we frequent ourselves, places that make Orlando awesome. If you’re up to it, you can put your vote in for:
Best Comic Book Store – A Comic Shop
Best Tattoo Parlor – Ascension Tattoo
Best Art Gallery – Twelve21 Gallery
Best Bicycle Store - Ace Metric
Best Wine Shop – Tim’s Wine
Best Yoga Studio – The Yoga Shala
Best Hair Salon – Alchemy
Best Movie Theater – Enzian
Best Coffeehouse – Stardust Video and Coffee
Best Pizza – Valdianos
Best Beer – Orlando Brewing
Best T-Shirts – Mother Falcon Clothing
Don’t know who these people are? Here’s a short description with a link to their websites. If you haven’t had a chance to check them out, do it.
A Comic Shop
A Comic Shop has a selection for miles, featuring the latest and greatest releases in the comic book world. Their friendly staff of “comicologists” will help you navigate the back-alleys of their inventory for issues and titles you can’t find anywhere else in town.
Ascension Tattoo
There’s a whole lot of tattoo going on in Orlando, but no studio is quite like Ascension. We love Ascension for its extremely talented artists and unique atmosphere. Their art gallery showcases beautiful pieces that just may inspire you to adopt some body art of your own.
Twelve21 Gallery
Twelve21 Gallery is all about spreading awareness of Orlando’s tip-top-notch local artists. With consistently fresh and innovative exhibitions, a night at Twelve21 will connect you with Orlando’s most talented artists and most enthusiast art lovers.
Ace Metric
Whether you’re looking for a new set of wheels or some hot cycle accessories, we recommend Ace Metric. Their sleek and stylish store is unlike any other bike shop we’ve seen, always a good excuse to ride through the beautiful Winter Park area and snoop around their inventory.
Tim’s Wine
The experts at Tim’s Wine Market thrive on interacting with their customers and sharing their love of wine. Unlike alcohol superstores, there’s always a friendly face to help you choose a wonderful wine for any situation and flavor preference.
The Yoga Shala
Yoga Shala is the most peaceful place in Orlando to introduce or regain some Zen in your life. Their commitment to individualized instruction is a refreshing alternative to the growing trend of group yoga and makes it much easier for beginners to learn and get their yoga on.
Alchemy
Alchemy is the “coolest” hair salon in Orlando, promoting a truly unique salon experience. The salon is a great place for music, art, and fashion lovers who want their hair done by interesting and talented stylists that are dedicated to making you look exactly the way you want.
Enzian
The Enzian makes other movie theaters look silly. Between the comfy armchairs and delicious food and drinks at their Eden Bar, you can’t beat this truly original cinematic setting. The Enzian is community friendly too, offering free events like the Wednesday Night Pitcher Show, a recurring outdoor movie screening experience.
Stardust Video and Coffee
If you’re a coffee lover, you probably already know about Stardust. There, customers can enjoy the tastiest coffees and foods inside a large, unique, community-oriented atmosphere. Stardust is also a great place to catch up with friends, get work done, catch your favorite local bands, or bring home a movie you’ll never find in a Red Box.
Valdianos
Pizzeria Valdiano is a restaurant where anyone can come in, enjoy a wonderful meal, and have a great time. The “secret” recipes at Pizzeria Valdiano are authentic, original hand-made creations that have been developed and perfected over the last 30-years. You’ll be impressed with the quality and service provided in this great family atmosphere.
Orlando Brewing
Orlando Brewing is one of Central Florida’s best-kept secrets. Tucked among warehouses, rail yards, and medical offices on the south edge of downtown is one of about 10 organic breweries worldwide. Orlando Brewing is a beer lover’s oasis, a pristine place to enjoy beer unmarred by cigarette smoke, food, and even the drone of televisions.
Mother Flacon
Mother Falcon is known for their quality, custom-made t-shirts. Their concept is simple and effective. Simply choose a shirt from one of their signature cotton collections (brand/style), pick your graphic or supply digital artwork and in within 45mins, you’ve got yourself a snazzy new shirt.
Want to help us out? Tell your friends to vote for us too.
Voting ends Midnight 6/27.
Monday, June 4th, 2012
We present a new and improved look and functionality on Twelve21Gallery.com, just in time to coincide with this past weekends opening reception for Brandon McLean’s “In Bloom.”
We are most pleased to show off our newest section of the site: “Buy Art.” So, if you missed “In Bloom,” you can check it out here. You can preview and purchase pieces in our latest gallery exhibition, as well as pieces from past featured artists. To view the title and price, simply hover over the thumbnail. Interested in buying? Simply click the thumbnail for a larger view, add it to your cart and check-out. Beauteous, no?
The new website, as well as the featured video on the main page, was conceptualized and materialized by the modern day mythic heroes at Laughing Samurai.
BEFORE:
AFTER
That’s what we call an upgrade.
Don’t substitute a visit to our website for a walk through our gallery. Brandon McLean’s work will be hanging until June 22 and we are constantly working to bring more awesome shows in the future! Here’s a preview of whats on the walls, with emphasis on our shiny new floors:
