Portfolio - Nava Lubelski

The most recently exhibited paper work created by Nava Lubelski is Portfolio, a rolled coil arrangement that appears to be an organic organism casting out tenuous roots. It was included in a solo show, Roomful, at LMAK projects in New York last autumn.

Portfolio, 5" x 25" x 16", cut and shredded portfolio of drawings, glue, 2011

The cut and rolled papers used to create Portfolio were actual art school drawings created long ago by a family friend, an elderly woman who gave them to Nava. It's an interesting concept... literally making art from art, so I wrote to Nava and asked her to share her thoughts on the piece.

She replied that the woman hadn't pursued an art career and Nava felt this had caused some regret... "She offered them with the suggestion that I might find it interesting to see how they used to teach drawing back in the 40s, but my understanding was that she desperately wanted someone to want them. She never asked me what I did after I accepted them."

"I'm always interested in paper that has this kind of poignancy to it, as well as the disconnect between paper that has been hoarded (in this case for over 60 years) and has simultaneously become a burden. "

Portfolio - detail

"There's another aspect to this piece in that it constitutes a kind of "betrayal", as my art practice requires a destructive component. I am well aware that seeing the drawings destroyed was not the intention when they were bequeathed to me. There are a lot of questions raised, I think, about value, about intention, about waste, morality, re-birth, ego, etc... probably many more than those I can think of."

Nava's work can currently be seen in Sydney, and in Boone and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Visit her website for more information.
Additional rolled paper works created by Nava have been featured here and here.

Flower Ring - Inni Pärnänen

Jewelry designer Inni Pärnänen of Finland worked with unusual materials to make this lovely ring.

photo by Sade Kahra

Composed of burnt paper, candle wax, iron, and cotton thread, the dimensional flower is a striking art piece. She also uses traditional metals to create jewelry along with a few oddities... cow horns, for example! Visit her gallery.

Facebook Finds this past week:

Frame a stylish geometric print
A new take on recovering hardback books
Paper and Present (think wrapping supplies, washi tape, and baker's twine) is celebrating its first anniversary with discounts and a giveaway - your odds of winning are superb.

This weekend is not only nice and long due to Memorial Day here in the U.S., but it's the kick-off to summer too, my very favorite time of year. Have a good one!

CONFETTISYSTEM

I marvel at people who are able to take ideas that are so very simple, yet incredibly effective, and turn them into a sought-after business. Paper fringing, for example... Nicholas Andersen and Julie Ho of CONFETTISYSTEM do a tremendous amount of it. And yes, the name is all caps - it attracts attention, as does everything they make!

Mannequin heads inspired by exotic birds created for the clothing line, Opening Ceremony.

Based in New York City, the duo have backgrounds in set design and sculpture, and began making decorations for friends' parties and musical performances after discovering how well their ideas meshed.

Target

Playful designs, all hand-fringed, have been created as props for window displays in flagship stores and to decorate private celebrations.

J.Crew

Articles about their work are name-dropping extravaganzas... brands such as Lanvin and Mercedes Benz, and music artists Beyonce and Beach House have utilized CONFETTISYSTEM's festive creations.

This gold T was the cover design of the New York Times Style Magazine, March travel edition.

Simple tissue paper and cardboard are used most often, although Nicholas and Julie also work with mylar and fabric. In addition to garlands, tassels, and confetti-filled geometric piñatas, they have a line of intriguing twisted silk charmeuse necklaces available via the website.

Their work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Japan, and Holland.

Need some cheering up? Browsing CONFETTISYSTEM's fun projects just might be the ticket. And here's an interesting 01 Magazine interview with Julie and Nicholas.

Paste Collages - Denise Fiedler

It never fails that I come across something eye-catching each time I scroll through Pinterest. You too? One recent morning it was the winsome image of a book page pooch...

Just one click transported me to the whimsical world of Denise Fiedler's collage art, simply called Paste.

It takes talent to inject personality into scraps of of paper! A variety of vintage printed pages are fair game for Denise's collages of dogs and other animals, as well as people. She accepts orders for custom designs if you have a special idea in mind.

Denise worked as a designer for stores such as Marshall Field & Co. and Crate and Barrel, and then started her own textile-based fashion and home accessory business in San Francisco. In 2009 she added original collage design to her bag of creative tricks after coming across books and flash cards in a box of flea market finds.

The hoopoe bird and three egg nest are limited edition pieces created from 18th century hand-made marbled endpapers from France.

For style mavens, Denise creates fashion and furniture collages... this mid-heel shoe and Bertoia chair, for example. At times she uses marbled paper from India, antique letters from France, and European paper trims.

Paste collages are mounted on 4-ply board and framed in black or white. See many more designs on the website and at these U.S. retailers.