Banjos and Brain surgery

This Nashville musician went to great lengths for his art. Eddie Adcock had brain surgery without any anesthesia, so that doctors could implant electrodes into his brain that would allow him to overcome his hand tremors and play his instrument again. 

Dottie Attie, painter

Dottie Attie is an American painter who uses the modernist grid other paintings from the art historical canon as points of departure, in order to create relevant works with contemporary messages. For example, above she uses John Copley's "Watson and the Shark" and adds text about Copley's life.  Below, Vermeer's influence is evident. 

Below: Dark panel at upper left reads "FATHER ALWAYS SWORE" and on the right "THEY WERE AS DIFFERENT AS APPLES AND ORANGES." 

Saved by Science

Justine Cooper, an Australian photographer, has created a series of large-format photos taken behind the scenes at the American Museum of Natural History. In the storage area rarely seen by the public, an elephant foot wanders out of a locker, a lizard is frozen in perpetual escape mode in a jar, a t-rex grins, and tiger pelts hang in a closet like so many last season's dresses. 

Unfortunately, I can't make the pictures any larger. If you would like to see a slide show of larger images, please visit www.justinecooper.com or www.seedmagazine.com 

The Curious Gaze returns with Tara Donovan

Untitled, 2003. Styrofoam cups, hot glue.

The Curious Gaze is back! And with a fascinating sculptor's work no less!

Tara Donovan is a Brooklyn-based artist who creates naturalistic yet otherworldly sculptures out of commonplace materials such as styrofoam cups, fishing line, and drinking straws. Here are a few images from www.acegallery.net although it is worth visiting the website because there are too many amazing images to post here. Never has Elmer's Glue and tempered glass seemed so lovely.

Untitled, 2001. Steel pins held together with friction and gravity.

Haze. Plastic drinking straws.

Nebulous, 2002. Scotch tape.