Henry Payer Jr. at AIAI, Santa Fe

I absolutely love this painting by Henry Payer Jr., a student graduating from AIAI in Santa Fe. The painting is in the senior show at the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum. I like the use of the "noble savage" stereotyped pose but without romanticizing the subject. The body and background are flattened, while the face is sculptural. In his artist statement he talks about the importance of color in the religion of the Hochunk (a.k.a. Winnebago) tribe, and symbolism. I have since seen some of his other work and it's impressive.I'll try and post some here if I can get permission from the artist.

The Dana-Thomas House

The Dana-Thomas House in Springfield, Illinois is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's first commissions. It contains a lot of unique features, such Wright's only hanging glass window (beautiful but not functional), his only animal art glass motif (a butterfly, probably requested by the patron) and a semi-prominent entrance (again, probably as per his patron's request). It's also one of the only building of his on which the roof does not leak. ;)
The plaster frieze was destroyed by the elements but restored to its original glory when the plaster mold was found in the basement. The plaster is glazed with several colors and looks like aged copper or stamped tile. The signature geometric art glass is inspired by the sumac plant, a decorative emblem that appears elsewhere throughout the house, such as in the mural in the dining room.

Because of copyright issues, cameras were confiscated at the door of the house, so you'll have to go there to see the interior yourself.

White Sands National Monument

Another equally surreal place in New Mexico is White Sands National Monument, which consists of 270 or so miles of lunar landscapes. It makes you feel as small as you really are, which encouraged sledding and sand angels on our part.


At sunset the shadows of the dunes change color every few minutes. The electric blue was a good one:
I've read (but have not confirmed) that the park is open til 11 on nights with a full moon. You can also camp there.

The Surreal becomes Real - Carlsbad Caverns

Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico is AMAZING. It's pretty difficult to capture on film, but I got a few images I like. Next time (when I'm less nervous about hanging out in a cave) I'm going to draw down there. It's AMAZING. seriously.

The Art of Ruins and How the West is One at the MFA Santa Fe

This diminutive sculpture by Charles Simonds is hidden in the corner of the courtyard at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe. Conservators are not allowed to go near it, and it is gathering dust and cobwebs until one day it will decay. (I'm guessing the museum is counting on this event happening to their investment later rather than sooner.

The museum shows work by artists who worked or work in New Mexico, the most well known being Georgia O'Keefe and Marsden Hartley.


A current exhibition "How the West is One" (until April 20, 2010) shows the union, rather than the splintering, of the three main cultural influences in the state: hispanic, american indian, and anglo.

Junkyard Bugs - Carrizozo, New Mexico

Southern New Mexico is becoming a haven for working artists who don't mind living the simple life (and occasionally being viewed as satanists). The town of Carrizozo boasts a few galleries, studios, and some un-controversial public art. This was my favorite of the bunch. Click on the photo to see the detail better.

20 to Watch - Austin Museum of Art

I went to see a group exhibition of new art at the Austin Museum of Art in Texas. The show represented the work of twenty local (or semi-local?) artists, and this is a brief glance at my three favorites.
Sarah Sudhoff 's "Repository" series of photographs documents her diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer.

Yoon Cho 's 3 minute performance video "Hair" shows the artist and her husband getting the same haircut, exploring the process of assimilation.


Jules Buck Jones 's deliciously surfaced alligator drawings, positively prehistoric in scale, play with classical drawing, and semi-abstract pattern making.

An excellent show, and I'm always happy to see art I might not get to otherwise.

20 to Watch at the Austin Museum of Art (until May 11, 2008)

The Beer Can House - Houston, Texas

I've seen many photos of this famous beer can house in Houston, Texas but nothing really prepared me both the ordinariness of the neighborhood (suburb-ish) and also the sound. Those streamers hanging from the eaves are actually the bottoms of beer cans strung together, and they rattle and jingle in the breeze. Everything is made of beer cans, including the roof but with the exception of the driveway which is concrete with embedded marbles. Houston wasn't exactly my type of place but seeing this house was worth the drive through. Click on the photo to see more details - like the ladder going to heaven.

Why I like Florida

I'm often asked if I like living in Florida. So, here's one reason I like Florida: this is where we keep our trash.

My favorite houses

There are many ostentatious displays of wealth to gawk at in Florida but my favorite houses are the ones that show impeccable attention to detail. These are a few I like so much that I ride past them on my bike just to visit them.



This one makes me think of France... outre-mer...I love the vines on the risers of the front steps.


These photos aren't much good, but this is probably the one I would probably like to live in (and conveniently it's for sale!). Unfortunately I missed the flowering of the wisteria over the garage door - if you can see there is only one cluster of blossoms left, hanging down right in the middle.




However, just because it's gigantic, and right on the beach doesn't mean I won't like it. For example: