Etsy Pop-Up Shop at West Elm!

This past weekend I was invited by fashion blogger and show curator Camille Styles to participate in an Etsy Pop-Up Shop at the West Elm here in Austin, TX!  I had heard of these pop-ups happening in other cities and I really wanted to participate in one, so it was a dream come true when I was invited, seemingly out of nowhere, to join! Also, I already have been inspired by West Elm to create some art, so it was a perfect fit. There were some incredibly talented artists and artisans there and I was really psyched to show my art along side of them.

Here is a sample of the artists who were there; you can see the West Elm promo post here:

Austin Art Boards Opening Reception

As you may remember from this recent post, I received an honorable mention for a piece I submitted to a city-wide contest called Austin Art Boards.  Here are some pics from the opening reception.  I really enjoyed some of the art; I'm posting pics of some of the other "honorable mentions" who I would have loved to have seen on billboards!

Austin Art Board Winners 2012

Some cool grackles (on the right) by Cathy Savage next to my piece (Misha Blaise).

I would LOVE to see this message large scale, in these cool, big crooked letters. Artist: Joseph Santandrea

This piece by Adreon Henry is bright and whimsical.  It's cheerful and yet still mysterious.

I'm a sucker for chickens, and I love the way the artist Abby Mandel made these guys so stylized.

Show at Paloma Botanical Beauty Parlour

My solo show "KOLO" opens September 14th, 2012 at Paloma Botanical Beauty Parlour in Austin, TX. Join me for the opening party from 7-9 PM. I have a bunch of new work that I will be showing-- mostly paintings! 

I named the show after a dance called Kolo; a traditional collective folk dance, danced primarily by people from countries in the former Yugoslavia.  It is danced in groups who join their hands around each other’s waist; there is almost no movement above the waist. The Kolo costume for both men and women involves beautifully detailed and brightly colored embroidered elements that reflect the ethnic design aesthetic of the region.

My latest work reflects the distinctive elements of this aesthetic, including flat use of line and color, geometric shapes, bold colors and decorative ornamentation. I’m inspired by the elegant detail and complex patterns of global textile design in general, and I do incorporate other influences into my work, but I have been focusing on this region of the world since my own family roots are there. The Kolo dance, costume and accompanying music tends to be super festive and cheerful, and I hope to reflect this vibrancy in my art.
 

Gallery Black Lagoon Group Show

A few shots from the opening at Gallery Black Lagoon two weeks ago here in Austin, all taken with my super crappy phone camera.  Thanks to everyone who stopped through and to the Gallery for showing my work!

Staci, Amitiss and Farzad!

Anis and Alexis!