Lisa Hoffman

Simon says...on T.V.!

Calling all Simon Doonan fans!
Many of us have been inspired by the fabulous CONFESSIONS OF A WINDOW DRESSER. Simon is the creative genius behind the windows at Barney's, NYC. Need I say more? oh, he's also penned 4 books (CONFESSIONS included, and a visual feast for all) but now....now?....
Look for his 2005 memoir: NASTY: MY FAMILY AND OTHER GLAMOROUS VARMINTS to be made into a British TV series this fall by Jon Plowman, the man behind ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS and THE OFFICE. It'll be showing on BBC2. No word about when it will make it's way to the U.S...with Simon's following?, my guess is soon. Thanks to "W" for the memo!

Hey, Cookie!

 

Looking for a VERY creative wedding or shower gift for under fifty?
(make sure that the recipient actually bakes first)

I know. I still want one.
I like the chewy edges.
I'd rather eat cookie dough than bother cooking it.
I lick bowls (NOT in my cooking classes).
I'm basically, a Sugar Bottom Feeder.

Life in Pictures

Imagery by Lynda Barry
My NY Pals (and those who actually follow my advice and get the NY Sunday Times) have probably already seen this article and sprayed their coffee through their teeth (am I the only one who does that?) this morning. We see so much pass by in the way of scrapbook design, rusty old stuff nailed together and when it's done well, always inspiring, how about something that just FEELS different?
Go to this Audio Tour and see if it hits you the same way that I did. The above image is kinda cool, but when you see Lynda Barry's Other Stuff, I'm guessing that you'll think the same thing. She's a Surrealist Cartoonist and that alone should start your engines. Read about it here.
You can find her in print, on Ebay and she has a FaceBook thingy too. New "Workbook" out next week and I guess that she does very fun, cool and successful workshops. If anyone has been to a Lynda Workshop, please comment and fill us in!...

Just you and me....

Mothers Day. I thought a lot about the "meat" of this post. I decided that it would be a tribute to my son.
That's him, in the picture above. 19 years ago, to be precise. I love being a mother. There were brief times when I wanted to be Mom as much as I want to be the person that empties a dogs anal glands at the vet, but those times lasted 5 seconds and it was just in his teens. The photos in this post were taken a few months after Micah's Beautiful Dad died. A very good friend (and professional photog) asked us if he could come over and record the joy of our Mom-Kid relationship so that we could look back and remember that it wasn't all a nightmare. There are still little flashes of Crazy Love and those moments of : "Hey, it just might be okay, we have each other".

This boy/man has made my life a rich and beautiful tapestry. His humor and courage was immense from the start. To this day, no one can reduce me to tears of laughter faster. I think that I may have the same effect on him, but you'd have to check. He'd be the first one to roll his eyes and give you the truth: on a loudspeaker.

He's grown into the man that we want our kids to be: Kind. Smart. Passionate. A person that works in a field that raises the bar on behalf of the lives of many others.

So allow me to send love to all mothers, but especially all SINGLE Mothers. It's hard. It's frightening. It's nerve wracking. It's the Best Job in the World.
I love you, Micah.
Happy Mothers Day to all, including Pet Mommas. Damn right.
   

My Tippy Hedren Moment

I had to show you this piece by Louisville, Colorado ceramicist & artist, Rita Vali. Although I have her card, there's no web address. Dang. I do have her number, so if you're dying to grab a "Rita", email me. She won't know me from Adam since she wasn't at the studio where I picked this up today. No matter. I'm the Art Yenta. I want you to have EXACTLY what you want.

Queue the Brazilian Soccer Announcer's Voice: SCORE!!!!
Okay. Now if you live in Colorado, you have to get over to Stephanie's studio tomorrow (Sunday, May 4th) to see her new work. Oh my Lord. The piece that I bought is a gift, so I'm not showing it. Yet. Go to her site and get details. If you have time to get to Longmont (you Coloradoans or Wyoming-ites) GO.

I am the Curator

...well Good for Me...right?
I saw that MICHAELS had empty frames  selling for a pittance.  Gee, who wouldn't want these tasteful beauties?....I decided to frame a few of my Paint by Number canvases (some are better left "propped").  Welcome to the World of Cheap,Cheesy and Mismatched. Check out the couple at center.
And now, to find a suitable place to visually offend.....hand me the hammer.

Remember to visit this month's Bonfire!

May Gypsy Bonfire - Lisa Myers Bulmash

I'm freaked out about the whole: "April is over" thing. Where WAS I? What was I DOING?
I usually visit the East Coast in April, but since I have this job, and my BFF is stuck with no time off (her assistant had to leave the country for a wedding...her assistant?) I stayed here in the Rockies. Totally threw me off. I am VERY pleased to introduce you to my May Gypsy Bonfire author. In true Lisa Myers Bulmash form, I asked her for a little snippette of a bio, and she sent me such a great piece, I'm using it here, unedited cause heck, this is what the woman DOES....and way better than I could ever spin it. So Bio, then Bonfire. Go.

in Lisa Myers Bulmash voice:
I got hooked on art at the stamp store two blocks away from our apartment. One class here, another with Tim Holtz there... and then my husband gave me the gift certificate that I used to buy True Colors: A Palette of Collaborative Art Journals. And I began to read.

Once I regained consciousness, all I could do was re-read, and scrutinize, and dream about making something kind of, sort of, like -- like all that.

I'm mostly self-taught. I love to work with decorative papers (mmm, yuzen paper...), transparencies, fibers, Golden fluid acrylics and molding paste, and early 20th century photos from the Library of Congress. Still learning what media and techniques I absolutely must work with, but it's fun to work that out. My previous works include holiday cards for family, altered composition notebooks, and an exploration of what you can do with cigar boxes. Most recently, I created an assemblage for Artfest 2008 depicting a dryad and her child emerging from a tree stump.

Once upon a time, I used to be a TV reporter, but now I work at a major research institution interviewing people for a cancer project. I'm extremely blessed to have a husband supportive of my art, a child who understands that Mommy's paper stash belongs to Mommy, and a "step-dogger" that likes to doze nearby when I'm up late making art.

New Bonfire already?

What the....?
I can't believe that we're pushing May with a short stick. I need a few more minutes in the month, okay?
...no?.....alright.
It's almost time for the May Gypsy Bonfire (the storytelling portion of the Blog).
This month brings us the wonderful Lisa Myers Bulmash.
I knew that Lisa would be a Bonfire Storyteller the moment that we connected and her emails had me laughing and fighting the desire to just give her a quick call, which I eventually DID.
I'll fill you in on her "details" but for now, consider this a Teaser. That's a piece of her art, above.
A Deep bow of Gratitude to Tharpa Lowery, last months storyteller. I received many private emails applauding his honest and refreshing tale of a young man and the moment that a life-changing decision unfolded.....Just....Like....That.   

New York scores again

Thanks to my faithful NY Times, I zeroed in on the work of an artist that is doing inspired and fresh work:
Nathalie Lete. Care for a shot of SERIOUS yet playful Coolness? Go to that website.
You know how we're all totally over the label : "Mixed Media"?..I cringe just writing that overused phrase. Wait. I think that I've callled myself that. Never listen to me.
This talented Parisian IS Mixed Media.Look at her cool studio above. Hey, all of you people jumping on the "Writing About Studios" Bandwagon: Heads Up. If you had hired me, THIS is who I'd be talking to. Her work is on display at the ANTHROPOLOGIE store at Rockefeller Center (those lucky New Yorkers...I still simmer with NY Envy). Her Art Brut imagery references childhood and folk art. If you're lucky enough to get in to the store, you'll see her one-of-a-kind creations, hand painted ceramics as well as lithographs, rugs and bedding. Hey, $12 drawer pulls? ..I can do that. Stoneware plates with Nathalies designs will appear at the end of the month at $24 each. Look at the art in these kids books...reminds me of one of my favorite illustrators, Maira Kalman:

Look at the Hanky Below...I'd frame it or stitch it to the back of my jacket:

Postcards too...cool:

Just go to that website cause this little taste can't possibly give you a feel for the diversity and prolific-ness (word?...no?) of this artists work. Enjoy.

EDIT: Looks like you can see more here.

Stage Dudes?...hoist 'er UP!

I have the coolest job ever- teaching art, mixed media (have you heard THAT term enough?), cooking and set design to adults with disabilities.
I work for the coolest company ever - IMAGINE
We have this production coming up in June. It's a pastiche, a melange, a collection, an assemblage (does that cover it?).  My peeps are doing set design. Here's a shot of a "Banner" that will hang from the ceiling, dangling down 20 feet. There will be a few of these. The stage is huge, like The Kennedy Center. When I saw it I staggered to a chair and demanded a cold cloth for my stress-fevered brow. In spite of the FREAK OUT, this is what I've got along with some other stuff. Not too crappy. I designed this from a painters dropcloth (plastic on one side, paper on the other) from HOME DEPOT. Hey, what's the fun of creativity if you have a big budget?....more to follow. Sorry about the gutter shot (oh LOOK!...it's Lisa and her gutter!). I was loosing the sun....