Weekly 5 is a round-up the past week’s creative news, discoveries, and happenings in my world!
Best thing that happened in my world this week:
Last week we received a last-minute invite to the Year of the Snake exhibit taking place at Empire Scottsdale – a luxury co-working space located in the Old Town area, and where all the action is. The show featured snake-themed art, an actual snake that made the rounds and received lots of pets from attendees and exotic cars lining the red carpet entry into the venue. While we hadn’t donned our movie-premier best, we felt like we were transported to a Hollywood setting for the evening. The best part was seeing fellow artist friends we hadn’t seen in some time, being among art and even taking in some eye candy in the form of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and even a Rolls Royce Phantom convertible (Alex’s favorite).
In ‘JUJU’s Castle,’ Jean Jullien Reinvents His Childhood Escapes
From COLASSAL
Eighty small paintings accompany the larger installations and sculptures and are vignettes of make-believe and amusement. There are games of chess, hand-made masks and costumes, and even an elephant slide like those found on the playgrounds of Taiwan. Although his works often appear lighthearted, Jullien frequently responds to some of today’s most pressing issues, including capitalism’s grip on society and the all-too-relatable feelings of existential dread. JUJU’s Castleis another response to contemporary life.
Artist discovery: Michael Byzewski
Oh, Hello! I’m Michael Byzewski and I’m the captain of this oddball ship called “Aesthetic Apparatus.” I’m in the process of writing a 45,000 word bio but for now this will have to do. What is Aesthetic Apparatus? A graphic design studio? Yap! An illustration studio? Absolutely. A print making studio? Yes, that too. A horse training facility? Probably not. For over 15 years I’ve done work for everyone from broke local bands to international advertising firms creating impactful, iconic images for them and everyone in between.
I should mention some of the fine people I have worked with in the past such as Blue Q, The Criterion Collection, The Economist, Esquire, Washington Post, The New York Times, McSweeny’s, The New Yorker, Red Light Management, Guitar Center, Warner Brothers Records, Interscope Records, 4AD, 89.3 The Current, Undertow Music, Live Nation, Yep Roc, Andrews & Dunham, Target, Nike, Old Navy, Ray Ban, Stella Artois, Walker Art Center, Absolut, Indeed Brewing, Surly Brewing, Summit Brewing, Sol Beer, Pizza Luce, Dogwood Coffee, Kings Wine Bar and, of course, great bands like Cake, Future of the Left, The White Stripes, The Dead Weather, The Blind Shake, Bob Mould, Nada Surf, The Black Keys, The Decemberists, Spoon, The Kills, Lucero, Heart, The Melvins, Guided By Voices, Dinosaur Jr, The Hold Steady, Frank Black, Josh Ritter and so many more.
©Michael Byzewski
How a Tree Taught Me to See
From BoldBrush on Substack
I can still remember speaking to a tree as a child. It grew right outside my window. In the USSR, we were taught that universe was nothing but matter – and that matter is all that matters. However, something in me resisted. I would look at that maple and ask: “Do you think it’s going to rain?” or: “Will I get a new hockey stick for New Year’s”?
If it waved a branch, it meant “Yes.” If it didn’t, it meant “No.” Believe it or not, the maple was right at least 50% of the time.
©Kristen Eisenbraun
