drop it it's dead, wheels won't turn they won't turn the birdies head, sad eyes like sharpened daggers, you'll never walk only stagger

These are pictures from about a month ago, that were taken on my friend Julia's birthday. We had a small get-together at Marjorie's apartment but we were all pretty drunk so we didn't get that many great ones! It was a fun night with the girls, these are my fav pictures that were taken with Hailey's camera and I just edited them a little bit.

Amanda doesn't like to have her picture taken, but I think she always looks beautiful

Julia knows how to party. Happy 22nd bbgirl!

Amanda, myself, Hailey

A pretty silly picture of all of us; from L-R Amanda, Hailey, me, Marjorie. Up top is Kim and Julia!

floating, bouncing back and one day I am going to grow wings, a chemical reaction, hysterical and useless

Lately I've been really into sculptures and installation art pieces. It might be my new favourite type of art!


I came across artist Jean Shin, who uses everyday objects and transforms them into extraordinary creations- usually quite large in size. "Distinguished by her meticulous, labor-intensive process, and her engagement of community, Shin’s arresting installations reflect individuals’ personal lives as well as collective issues that we face as a society." Some of her materials include: house keys, trophies, old lottery tickets, recycled bottles, pots and pans, used clothing/fabric and more. They are all so incredible, but I nailed it down to my favourite three installations. I think the one reaction I've had to every project I've seen by her, is "that's absolutely brilliant/ why didn't I think of that?" Just completely unlike anything I've ever seen before.


This installation is called Chemical Balance and it was created using prescription bottles from nursing homes, pharmacies and individuals’ medicine cabinets, mirror and epoxy, and fluorescent lights. "Chemical Balance speaks to our culture’s over-consumption of prescription drugs and our bodies’ dependency on these medications."

This installation is called "Umbrellas Stripped Bare" which is pretty straightforward I think. Created using broken umbrella fabric, thread and cable, broken umbrella metal and wooden handles. "The bare ribs and handles form a spiny mass, reminiscent of the chaotic struggle with storms that the umbrellas have endured."

This installation, which might be the coolest in my opinion, is called "Sound Wave". A collection of melted 78 rpm records on wooden armature; in the shape of a tidal wave. "The structure speaks to the inevitable waves of technology that render each successive generation of recordable media obsolete."

These types of projects are relatively new to me but are definitely something I'd like to explore more, seems like something that is right up my alley.

All information and photographs taken from http://www.jeanshin.com/

love me, hate me, say what you want about me; but all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to @#$% me

Today I went to Kingston, Ontario with my friend Nicole to visit our friend Charlotte. Charlotte is about to graduate from Queens University with a bachelor in Fine Arts. After four long years, she put together her final exhibit along with other graduating class members. It was called "Suspend Your Disbelief". We travelled about two hours to visit, spend the day and show our support. It was well worth the trip, and I'm really glad we went.





I am extremely proud of all my friends and their various accomplishments; I know so many talented people with all sorts of interesting talents and hobbies. I've seen Char develop as an artist over the past eight years and even back in high school I could tell she was very talented.


Her artwork, like herself, is very interesting and unusual. Some might even say a little twisted, and I mean that in the best possible way!


Her individuality and "weirdness" is what draws you in. She has always had an impressive knack for spotting the divine, the different, and the new. Whether it's fashion trends, or music, or art, or whatever- she usually knows about it before everyone else does. Always ahead of the times and aware of what's going on in the world.
Basically, she's the epitome of cool.


So obviously, I was really excited to see what she had put together at the end of it all. I had seen bits and pieces of her work over the last few months but wasn't quite sure what to expect when it was all ready to be displayed to the public. I had an idea of what she was going for; the overall theme and inspiration she had been building upon;


Back during the brainstorming process, she had told me of her desire to create art influenced from social networking and the internet and its place in modern society (especially of North American women, around our age).


Portraits have always been a talent of hers, and she has done some really beautiful pieces of family members and herself; but when drawing people she sometimes teeters the fine line of extremely realistic / borderline creepy. Char always remembers interesting people and their faces; even if they aren't conventionally beautiful- that's kind of what makes it work. A little grotesque, a little exaggerated, and sometimes humorous. So, colliding this talent with pop culture references, womens studies (and the influence/background of beauty, aesthetics and fashion) and internet culture becomes:



Black and white prints of nude selfies on top of Marilyn Monroe's face



Heart shaped box



Boot painting on canvas



Fake flowers and clumps of hair



Trays on the wall



Hairball on a platter, Fake nails and a melted candle



Self portrait mirror pic/nude selfie of Charlotte



Collection of paintings on canvas
Clockwise: Tanned beach bod, Kim Kardashian, Hello Kitty fake nails and glitter, Applying eye make up, Chanel bag with daisies, Toddlers and Tiaras portrait



Series of paintings/portraits of young ladies
A few of these are based off people we know in real life and all of them have just a touch of glitter applied in a spot or two


And then the one wall is complete installation; this is the first time she's done anything in this sort of medium and part of the project entailed her collecting old make up from all sorts of people as well as a bunch of trips to the thrift stores.



The entire installation



Dress found at a thrift store



And covered in make up



Shelves of recycled/old make up donated by various people, hairballs and beauty accessories



Nikki checking out the make up, pointing out which ones she donated to the project



Silly pic of me busy on my Iphone, probably Instagramming


This was all set up for a weeks worth of viewing. In the whole building, there were 3 or 4 floors with rooms and hallways exhibiting all the graduating Fine Arts students work. Charlotte had a room to herself, featuring everything I just showed. Along with an impressive artist statement posted on the wall, the last evening it was up she also projected a film she made on the wall which was of our friend Anya applying make up and taking it off etc. I didn't get to see that part but I'm sure it was fabulous.


Finishing college and university is a strange thing because partly you're sad that it's over, nervous for what's ahead and maybe unsure of what to do next. But for people like Charlotte and myself, especially being involved with art and fashion and living in Canada with so many opportunities and career paths to choose- I think it is very exciting, and after four years of being in school I'm dying to get out there and do some real work of my own, follow my own ideas and start projects that I maybe never had time for previously. After four years of figuring out what you're good at, and what you're interested in, by the end of it you might be completely ready and focused on what you want to do/build/create/explore.


Check out more of Charlotte's work on her website:
http://charlotteficekartist.blogspot.ca/


And actually, looking at her site now I am questioning- why wasn't this painting of Britney Spears included?! It's my fav!