Our First New Hampshire Dinner Party

The snow storm 1/2 hour before the guests are set to arrive

Whether we have guests or are enjoying alone time in NH, we eat very well. This weekend, however, was our first attempt at cooking for a small group. While the rosemary chicken and onion tarts cooked, we (mother included) set the table and brought furniture and lighting in the house to simulate a finished dining room...though ad hoc, we think there was a rural chic to the room...and the night was a big success.

Always turn the porchlight on...welcoming and they can find you in the storm!

Though we began to remove the wallpaper in the bathroom, a lit candle in an iron sconce makes it look almost intentional

Layering candles, books and a sculpture on a quilt made the table look warm and casual

The next day, even the tulips were tired....but still pretty

Maybe it's Maybelline

Walking up 15th Street in Chelsea today, we smirked as we looked down...even the mud puddles seem kind of glamorous in Manhattan. Not a block later we found a lips shopping bag tucked into an old wine rack on the curb. Maybe it's the glamour of NYC or maybe it's Maybelline; either way, we like it.

Wired

While gathering inspiration for our friend Julie's new bakery, we found a bunch of vintage kitchen utensils, seemingly shaped by a single piece of wire. The flow and movement of these utilitarian pieces made them feel like works of art, and immediately brought to mind the early works of Alexander Calder--drawings and wire sculpture made from a single line. "Stick figures" never looked so good...

Pair of wirework sculpture by Fredrick Weinberg

David Hughes, New Yorker 2006

Vintage kitchen utensil found in Montpelier, VT

Wirework sculpture of Josephine Baker by Alexander Calder

David Hughes, Tales From Gizzard's Grill

Wireworks face by Alexander Calder

Salesmen and Australians: The Art of the Geometric

Recently, we found a small collection of garden trellis salesman samples from the 20's or 30's that we couldn't wait to have stands made for. With their chipped and peeling paint, broken wood pieces and tiny rusty nails, each stands as a geometric sculpture of tiny grids with a strong evidence of hand and age. Excited to post the images of them we took this weekend, we found Australian artist Terri Brook's paintings with the same characteristics. A nod to Twombly and Komarin are evident in Ms. Brooks' work, but her pieces are truly her own--powerful and subtle at the same time. They are poetic canvases that are a must to see!

Trellis sample found in Pennsylvania

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Terri Brooks, Horizontal and Vertical Tracks

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Terri Brooks, (l-r) City Reflections, White Dot, Buried Dot and Red Dot

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Terri Brooks, Beige and Bone Spontaneous

Terri Brooks, White Linear

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Terri Brooks, Beige and Grey

Terri Brooks, Weave

New Mexico to New Hampshire: Bringing Higgins Home

Victor Higgins, Taos in Winter

We've always loved the art of the Taos Colony of artists, and a special favorite has always been Victor Higgins. After a "weathering" Saturday of ice storms and snow, we woke up Sunday to some beatiful sights...with the bad comes the good. The colors, the lovely forms softened in the ice, reminded us of Mr. Higgins. Turns out, even though Taos and the 1920's are far, far away, winter can enchant us anytime and anywhere.

Branches incased in ice, New Hampshire

Bird's nest with snow cap

Victor Higgins, Gray Day

The view of Grange Hall from our house, New Hampshire

Victor Higgins, Reflected Light

View of our barn in the distance

Barn with sunlight hitting ice covered branches, New Hampshire

Victor Higgins, Taos Winter Evening via Encore Editions

Frozen In Time

We've been battling the elements in New England this weekend from snow and ice to sleet and freezing rain. That said, it's still beautiful outside. We're off for the day, but will be back tomorrow!

While We're on the Subject...

Beggar 1

There are so many sensational artists to be found on the Archie Bray Foundation site. Anne Drew Potter continues to excite us, so we thought we'd share a few of her works...

I Just Can't see in Black and White, SoFa Gallery

I Just Can't See in Black and White (detail)

Nena and Chique, UNT Installation View

Nena

Physicality in Sculpture: Classical and Current

We were astounded by the physicality of the Roman horse head sculpture we stumbled upon the other night at Rogue Classicism. Every inch describes a muscular, powerful force in a style that's so realistic, it's almost stylized. Not surprisingly, we loved it, and were reminded of a favorite sculptor of ours, Beth Cavener Stichter. She too has the seemingly innate gift of capturing fluid, liquid-like movement in her realistic animal sculptures. Of course, there's much more than the obvious virtuosity of the sculpture, see for yourself...

Beth Cavener Stichter, Breathe

Beth Cavener Stichter, Cornered Rabbit

Roman Funerary Monument via Ian W. Scott's Flickr Stream

Beth Cavener Stichter, Please

Beth Cavener Stichter, I'll Not Tell

Woody Neutrals

Clara Carvajal sculpture

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via {me}longings

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Vintage steering wheel on stand at home in NH

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via the city sage

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