Goin' out west

This evening I will be starting a bus journey through Europe to London in what is perhaps the most foolhardy of endeavours. I will continue posting when possible and in an oblique manner documenting the journey visually on Noodles.

And in a fit of the obvious, this seems an appropriate moment to post this gem:

The Darjeeling Limited

The trailer for Wes Anderson's latest, The Darjeeling Limited has surfaced online. See the trailer below and here is the synopsis courtesy of Fox Searchlight:

THE DARJEELING LIMITED starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman is an emotional comedy about three brothers re-forging family bonds. The eldest, played by Wilson, hopes to reconnect with his two younger siblings by taking them on a train trip across the vibrant and sensual landscape of India.

Links:
Fox Searchlight
Supplemental video link
Wes Anderson wiki
Film Ick (source) + Quicktime links

Interview: KEETRA DEAN DIXON

The work of Keetra reminds me of the pet projects of Amelie of Montmartre with their infusion of optimism and rich creative nature. Indeed, the parallels continue with the inspirational imagery provided in the course of this interview as well as her fascinating photobooth imagery.

Her creations demonstrate not only a mature aesthetic sensibility but a unique view of the world that is at once unpredictable yet consistently her own. A number of artists working commercially often find that their commercial work spills into their personal work, but in Keetra's case her personal work is dominant. It is her personal vision that permeates her commercial designs. They fit seamlessly with her independent creations.


With little background information available online, she has provided the following information as a background to her work:

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A Character Profile of Keetra Dean Dixon, by Joshua Walton.
Some clarification, by Keetra Dean.
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Keetra prefers the trashier version of a grilled cheese sandwich.
She used to live in an Igloo and fight bears on a daily basis for survival.

KEETRA DEAN:
I was born & raised Alaskan.

Joshua:
She only eats the flesh of other designers.

KEETRA DEAN:
I fall on the veggie side of things, but that never squelches my competitive nature.

Joshua:
She'll punch you (HARD) in the face if you say she can't live without electricity for a week.

KEETRA DEAN:
I DON'T NEED NO ELECTRIC!

Joshua:
She feels that cars move too slow and days move too quick.

KEETRA DEAN:
True.

Joshua:
If she ever went to prison she would design the best tats for people.
Oh, and one more thing, she can outshoot me at the gun range every time so keep her on your side for the zombie invasion.

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Some standard stats:
Education: MFA, Cranbrook Academy of Art + BFA, Minneapolis College of Art & Design
Owns her own studio, From Keetra, in NYC. Often collaborates with the Time and Place Workshop.

And so with heaps of appreciation, I'm very pleased to present the following interview with Keetra.

SIOUXFIRE: Were you creative as a child? Were there any key moments while growing up that shape your work? And at what point did you decide that ‘art’ was your calling?
KEETRA DEAN: Both of my parents have had careers focusing on practical fabrication - seamstress & metal smith. So I grew up in a hands on environment, but I don't think I was any more or less creative than other children. I did make my first cash in high school doing portraits of friends & people in the community. It went from there.


SIOUXFIRE: Are there similarities between how you approach a personal and commercial project? And what are the differences?
KEETRA DEAN: I approach commercial work like I approach gift giving. "What would ____________(insert client name) REALLY want for their Birthday?" Where as un-commissioned work is a present all for me! It's problem solving VS a more indulgent exploration. Either way I am looking to make someone smile.

Continue reading the interview & see more images
by clicking here

The Artistry of JAPANESE SWEETS

Attempting to describe the virtues of oriental sweets to westerners is difficult. The doughy, gnocchi-like textures, tempered sweetness, and marzipan-like shapes are a refreshing alternative to the sugared sweets typically on offer in the west. Their colours and aesthetic are wonders on their own.

Given the attention that food has received recently in arts circles, I can't help but consider the possibilities in the mediums used in these confectioneries. Ferran Adrià, chef and proprietor of El Bulli was featured in this year's Documenta art show which kicked off that perennial and pointless question of "Is it art?"

PingMag have a fascinating post on wagashi(Japanese sweets) and their reflections in colour and scent of the seasons for which they are made. Read it HERE and should you have the opportunity to sample oriental sweets, do not let it pass.

Links:
PingMag article
Is food art? - Guardian Unlimited article
Documenta 12
Toraya - Japanese confectionery
Wagashi - Tokyo Cube article
Wagashi wiki

Wagashi Japanese Bakery (London) 02086991393

Featurette: CY TWOMBLY

In a career spanning 5 decades, Cy Twombley's work makes use of a wide variety of mediums and styles often with foundations in classicial arts. His work is difficult to pin down but its subtle balance between order and chaos, comfort and angst is compulsive viewing.

See more of his work and learn more about Cy Twombly at the links below.



Links:
Cy Twombly - Tate Collection
Cy Twombly - Lingering at the Threshold (Tate Etc)
Cy Twombly Gallery - The Menil Collection
Assessing Cy Twombly - Slate Magazine image essay
Cy Twombly - Artscenecal
Cy Twombly - Centre Pompidou (book)
Cy Twombly - Wiki