Anna Hrachovec's solo show at gallery hanahou looks like it is going to cute and awesome! Hrachovec used over 200 balls of yarn to knit a wacky 10-foot installation filled mini-unicorns, a rat infested city, knit monsters and much, much more. The show opening is October 7 and it runs through October 29. RSVP for the opening at the gallery hanahou website.
Super happy to see that one of my favorite artist is having a solo show in Manhattan at gallery hanahou. Stockholm artist Stina Persson creates beautiful ethereal water-colored illustrations. In the past couple of years, she has found herself using the computer more and more to digitally alter her illustrations so for this show, she is abandoning her computer and creating 30 new works created completely by hand in all their imperfect and handmade glory. 
This past weekend I was in Milwaukee and I caught the "Warrington Colescott: Cabaret, Comedy & Satire" show at the Milwaukee Art Museum. I had never heard of Colescott or seen any of his work, but I loved what I saw. An awesome mix of prints that explored complex political and historical events with satire and dry wit. His colors and loose and loopy illustrations struck a cord with me. If you are in the area, check it out until the end of September.
I have loved Jesse LeDoux's artwork for years so I was excited to see that Schmancy Gallery in Seattle is having an awesome show of his work. You might recognize his on the album covers and poster artwork for the Shins, Iron and Wine and Death Cab for Cutie. Check out the solo show called titled "Perfect Forecast" on July 9 2010 from 6pm-9pm at Schmancy at 1932 2nd Ave, Seattle WA.
Interesting article in the NY Times about branding of heroin packets. This quote from the article sums it up nicely:‘ “Even something so forbidden, so demonized, can be branded.” ’
The packets will be part of the "Heroin Stamp Project" at the White Box Gallery in NYC. 
A couple weeks ago, I posted about the Healey Exhibit that was brought to Kansas City by IAMPETH (The International Association of Penmen Engrossers Teachers of Penmanship). The show was amazing! The sheer volume of work featured was overwhelming, from decorative lettering samples and ornate certificates to teaching examples of business penmanship. Each piece was the original art so all the retouching was evident as well as stunningly delicate pen strokes. Many pieces were created at double size and then reduced for publication make the work even cleaner and more precise.
I took so many photos of the exhibition, that I am storing all the images on a separate site. I hope you enjoy the images. If anyone is interested in higher rez versions of any of the files, drop me an email and I will post them.
IAMPETH (The International Association of Penmen Engrossers Teachers of Penmanship) are hosting an exhibition of The Healey Collection Exhibit Saturday and Sunday, May 29 – 30, 2010 from 9am-9pm at the Hilton at the Kansas City Airport (MCI). Tickets are $15 per person.
Horace G. Healey was penman during America’s Golden Age of Penmanship. In 1909 he became the managing editor of the Penman's Art Journal. In his years with the Journal, he acquired a large collection of pen art. Upon his death, half of his collection was donated to the New York City Public Library and the remainder of the collection remained with the Zaner-Bloser Company where it remained stored until it was acquired by Mike Sull on behalf of IAMPETH. The exhibition will include phenomenal Penman’s Art Journal cover art, engrossing art, flourishing, penmanship, broad-pen as well as drawn alphabets, lessons in business writing, Engrosser’s script, Old English, line art illustration and much more.
This Thursday, February 25 from 7-9pm, gallery hanahou will be hosting the opening reception for Danish illustrator Lisa Grue's new show, Owls Have More Fun. The show will feature Lisa's playful and whimsical illustrations on handmade wallpapers, 100 handpainted ceramic plates, a rug and limited edition prints. Get there early and you might be lucky enough to snag some limited owl goody giveaways. Miss the show? Don't fret. It runs through March 26th.
One of my favorite exhibits that I've seen recently is the Slash: Paper Under The Knife at the Museum of Art and Design. I knew the instant I saw the full-sized paper pirate ship coming out of the ceiling in the lobby that this would be a pretty amazing show and I wasn't disappointed. Everything and anything was created out of paper from tanks to full-sized humans to dioramas of heaven and hell. I loved how each piece approached paper in surprising, beautiful and thought-provoking ways. Check out the exhibit through April 4th.
[An empty movie theater, N.Y.C. 1971, by Diane Arbus. © 2003, The Estate of Diane Arbus]
The Cheim & Read Gallery here in NYC has two not-to-miss show going on through February 13. “In the Absence of Others” shows off Diane Arbus's rarely seen work of desolate interiors – a must-see for any Arbus fan. The other show, “21st Century”, displays the latest William Eggleston prints which are beautiful prints full of color and calmness. All the work looks so amazing that I can't decide which show will be my favorite.
[via “Untitled (Rolls of Printed Fabric, Paris),” 2006, by William Eggleston.]
[via T Magazine]
Something simple and beautiful about these Warhol Polaroids. See these in person at the Danziger Projects in NYC until December 12. Can't make it? Check out this slide show from the New York Times. 
Gallery Hanahou in NYC is hosting its third annual holiday plush show. The theme this year is "medium and mini" so all the plush will be smaller scale -- perfectly gift-sized. Fifty artists are featured from around the world. The show opens on Thursday, Dec. 3 from 6-9pm.
Some of the artist's involved are friends of P+P so we'll get the nepotism started first: Robyn Fabsits, and Lisa of QDPatooties will have work in the show. Other (favorite) artists featured are Christina Gordon of Jam Fancy, Anna Chambers, Elisabeth Doherty of Gourmet Amigurumi along with new-to-us artists, Heidi Kenney, APAK!, and Sandra Monat of herzensart.
[Plush by Lisa of QDPatooties]
[Above: Gary Baseman. Below: Buff Monster]
Ana and I have a soft spot for Hello Kitty in our hearts since some of the first moments of our friendship were spent bonding over our mutual love of Hello Kitty. Imagine our glee when we found that the Three Apples Exhibition in LA is throwing a fantastic show where Sanario collaborates with 80 popular artist to celebrate 35 years of Hello Kitty. Everyone from Frank Kozik to Gary Baseman to Tara McPherson to Friends with You will be contributing. Makes me want to take a trip to LA to check it all out. 
[Via Juxtapoz Magazine. Thanks to Thea for the tip.]
Yee-Haw Industries, who are great friends of Pica + Pixel, are having an awesome art opening tonight at Chelsea Market. If you like fun, lovely letterpressed folk art posters, get your butt down to Chelsea Market from 7-9PM to have some Food, wine meet Julie Belcher and Kevin Bradley, the founders of Yee-Haw Industries.
For those in NYC, be sure to trek down to the gallery hanahou on Friday, February 6th and check out their latest show – Forget Me-Not. The show is not about your mother's embroidery, but instead it focuses on modern embroidery artists and how they interpret love. If heading to the opening on Friday, please rsvp. For those who miss the opening, don't fret. The show runs through February 27th and for those with a crafty streak, gallery hanahou holds a special hands-on Valentine's embroidery workshop on Saturday, February 7th. 
[Clockwise from top left: Heidi Kenney, Diem Chau, Shannon Rankin, Orly Cogan.]
We just want to congratulation our good friend Chris Capuozzo who got to see his illustrations come to life in holiday windows at the Saks Fifth Avenue here in NYC. The windows were based off the children's book, A Flake Like Mike, that Chris illustrated. The windows will be up a bit longer so head over and fill up on holiday cheer.
Gallery hanahou opened a fabulous and fun show today in Manhattan called Luv-able and Hug-able which showcases amazing and adorable plushes from over 30 artists from around the world. All the plushes are for sale and if you can't get to the gallery, you can always check out their shop online and snap one or two of the cute little critters.
In conjunction with the show, gallery hanahou is offering two hands-on workshops where you can learn the ins-and-outs of plush creation. The first is December 5th with the Ossu! Syugeibu design team from Tokyo where for $20 during your lunch hour you can churn out a little buddy. The second event is on December 13 where you can make a holiday plush with plush artist Jenny Harada. Email the gallery to RSVP for either event.
Dan Padavic of Vahalla Studios and illustrator/designer extraordinaire Tad Carpenter have teamed up once again to turn a vacant store front in Kansas City into a fabulous gallery and shop. The opening reception is Friday, December 5th in the Crossroads area of downtown Kansas City and it is an even that should not be missed. We'll pass on more details as we get them.
AIGA San Francisco, Chronicle Books and the San Francisco Center for the Book are currently hosting a juried exhibition to identify the 50 best book design for 2007. The exhibit is being held in the lobby of the Chronicle Books offices. It opened on November 7th and runs through November 21 and is open to the public. Chronicle Books also has a shop in their building that will be selling copies of the books featured in the exhibit for sale.
