Kinu

There is joy and again a folk art feel to the silk painted illustrations of Kinu 

Gemma Taccogna

 

I have just found the work of Gemma Taccogna ( 1923-2005) it is just wonderful, she was a fantastic artist, designer and crafts person. 
These are her marvellous paper mache heads, made to display hats for Mr John a famous milliner on 5th Avenue. Mr John loved these heads and used them to display his hats.
Highly finished they look more like ceramics than paper mache and they have a wonderful presence and serenity. 
"Like anything in life, whether you are making a cake... even in the crafts there has to be a great pleasure, an involvement. And a certain humility because its wonderful to surrender to your craft, not to be the impatient one who wants the immediate gratification." Gemma Taccogna

Vyacheslav Legkobit

 

 

Time for some colour and pattern inspiration from the wonderful Ukrainian illustrator Vyacheslav Legkobit, who could fail to be happy when the bluetits are painting the sky blue? Have a lovely weekend.

Scarey Madness Too

Last images of the Burry Man, for strangely the further away from the Burry Man day we get the more they scare me.

What happy madness is this

I have been so excited all week, and this is why. The second Friday of August is a very special day in South Queensferry, Scotland, it is 'Burry Man Day'. I asked if I could accompany the Burry Man this year all day, and photograph the whole process.

The Burry man this year is John Nicol who has been the Burry Man for thirteen years, an amazing achievement considering how grueling this process is.

Apart from all of the preparations, the Burry Man has to walk through the streets of South Queensferry for nine hours without stopping for more than a lean against a wall or railing. Following a route that covers over seven miles. He does this whilst encased in a costume of incredibly prickly burrs that cluster in his joints and around his eyes and mouth. The burrs make it very awkward to move and so he has to walk with legs apart and his arms supported.

At most houses the Burry Man is offered whiskey, which, because of the restrictive nature of his costume, he drinks through a straw, this apart from being part of the Burry Man tradition is also to help keep him dehydrated as he cannot relieve himself all day. The Burry Man is a traditional event that is believed to have been happening in South Queensferry for over 900 years. The Burry man has to be a local man and collects his own burrs (approximately 11000) and decorative foliage. The Burry man brings the town of South Queensferry good luck and giving the Burry man whiskey and money is supposed to bring the individual good luck. (pictures)

Zhang Wanying

There seems to be an oriental feeling to the artroomplant this week, continuing today with Jinshan peasant paintings by Zhang Wanying; square, detailed, bright jewels of paintings. Jinshan peasant painting is the folk art of southeastern Yangtze River area of Shanghai. The works incorporated printing , dying, embroidery, paper cutting and wood carving.

Frank Calloway

Using ballpoint pen, crayon and marker on butcher paper often over 30 foot long, Frank Calloway often works for seven to nine hour stretches on his drawings. Frank has schizophrenia and has lived since 1952 in mental health centers. His age is disputed, and although he celebrated his 112th Birthday three years ago, others claim he is now 96 years old. What ever his age, his work is magical and epic, in scale and detail.

Rodney Hatfield I

Thanks Dom for an introduction to the wonderful work of Rodney Hatfield here are his wooden assemblages.