Marc Davis

The Disney animators are like many of the great Renaissance artists, smaller names working under the banner of a big name. Marc Davis is one of those smaller names, but his individual name is so prevalent in the Disney lexicon that he deserves more recognition than he gets. Not just an animator, his creativity is present in the Anaheim park as well, and now that I know who he is and what is in his portfolio I appreciate the little bits of his skills all the more. He is responsible for many animal characters, as he had a fondness for drawing animals in zoos; though he did get pulled into animating humans as well. I love the fondness he had for animating villains, as they are always more multidimensional than the damsel in distress. Some of my favorite pieces of his work have nothing to do with his animations though, I love the work he did on the actual rides at Disneyland in Anaheim. Specifically The Pirates of the Caribbean ride; he designed this painting that appears as a mural at the ride.


He was also responsible for most of the little bits of humor that make the journey through the Pirate Cove so much fun. This series of videos on Marc Davis is a more complete picture of the man than I can paint though.
 

Yayoi Kusama's Obliteration Room

Yayoi Kusama, who is now 84 years old, is an integral part of the Western world's art community. As noted in Wikepedia, "A precursor of the pop art, minimalist and feminist art movements, Kusama influenced contemporaries such as Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg.[1] Although largely forgotten after departing the New York art scene in the early 1970s, Kusama is now acknowledged as one of the most important living artists to come out of Japan, and an important voice of the avant-garde." She has obviously seen a lot in her time on this earth and has collaborated with a wide variety of people/organizations including Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs. In this exhibit at the Tate in London, she chose to collaborate with the general public.

Eugenio Recuenco

I have no desire to be verbose today; I'm in the middle of training a new teller at the bank, which means that I have been talking ALL day about bank policy, federal regulations, customer relations and other such riveting things. When I leave the bank on days like this I just want to go to Jazzercise where I can zone out and sweat to pop music, then eat a protein rich dinner, and relax at home while I silently look at pretty pictures online. Oh look...pretty...fashion inspired by Pablo Picasso paintings... For more information on the artist, Eugenio Recuenco, you can visit his website here.

"It's An Art Project"

The Gorillas of Isabelle Alford-Lago

Based in Venice California, Isabelle Alford-Lago paints gorillas with attitude. Inspired by people watching, which Venice Beach is a perfect local for, Isabelle channels human character in the hairy guise of prime mates.

“I remember when I first moved here I would bike around and take pictures, documenting what I was seeing. And somehow my observations were translated into big attitudinal, self- content gorillas. I think this character is my reflection on these real basic behaviors you can see in humans.”

More of her work can be seen on her website here.

Krazy Kat Klub, the Speakeasy Tree House

I found this on Messy Nessy Chic, photos from a speak easy tree house in Washington DC in the 1920s. This is the bohemian office space of my dreams! Artists that gather to paint, open space, a fun place for people to gather and have a drink or two. I can picture myself perched up in that tree house with my laptop and a mug of coffee in the morning, watching animals in the yard, or relaxing at night and star gazing.

As you might imagine, an open air speakeasy operating during prohibition, Krazy Kat Klub was raided many times. Apparently the bar is still there though:

“Krazy Kat in 1920 was a Bohemian joint in an old stable up near Thomas Circle where artists, musicians, atheists, and professors gathered. Miraculously the structure still stands, five blocks from the White House, as a gay bar called the Green Lantern. “ – Independent Gay Forum

If I'm ever in DC I absolutely want to visit this place.

Michael Grab

Using simply gravity and rocks, Michael Grab creates sculptures that are impermanent but beautiful. While they are spectacular to see, they are more of a zen meditation for the artist. This video shows a short clip of how he balances rocks upon each other. His work can be seen on his website, Gravity Glue.

“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I’ve learned that whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.” – Helen Keller (Stolen from Michael Grab's blog)

To address the question of why he does it, Grab's blog states, "Alongside the art, setting rocks into balance has also become a way of showing appreciation, offering thanksgiving, and inducing meditation. Through manipulation of gravitational threads, the ancient stones become a poetic dance of form and energy, birth and death, perfection and imperfection. they become a reflection of ourselves in a way; precariously sturdy, mysterious and fragile."

"The trick I’ve found is to play and experiment. If you keep at it, a balance will be inevitable if you make yourself present in that moment of balance."

"Much of the time balancing is also spent experimenting with different ideas and arrangements. Remember there is no right or wrong configuration of rocks. It is about YOU and what excites YOUR spirit."