Things That I'm Into: Lego Men on Michigan Avenue

Lego Indiana Jones is totally my favorite. 

Things That I'm Into: Public Notice

This site-specific installation (Public Notice) is at the Art Institute on the grand stairs right now and it is really cool. Unfortunately, I went on free thursday which meant it was too busy to linger and take it all in. I'd love to be there on an uncrowded weekday and be able to read the whole thing.  Oh, funemployment, how I miss you!!

I thought Deets would be into it too because it is a transcript of a speech and he's into rhetoric and all. He wasn't that impressed. Guess you had to be an art history major to truly appreciate the finer things...

ps sorry for the absence. lost my computer cord.
pps just kidding, I was actually just being lazy.

Things That I'm Into: Renegade Craft Fair

I've wanted to go to this for a number of years, but this is the first year I actually made it. It was pretty awesome, and I could have spent a gazillion dollars.  

I was on the hunt for some prints for my new office, which currently has four bare walls with only a plant to cheer the place up. Office art is sort of a tricky thing- definitely not what you would put up in your house, but (hopefully) not too boring. I'm also trying to come off as mature and professional at my new job (which, if you know me, can be a stretch) since all the other attorneys are 10+ years older than me. Which meant that I kept having to skip over the hilarious screenprints that involved hot dogs.

Here's what I got:

The Chicago and Illinois screenprints are for my office, the bike one (which looks cooler close up, it has a hilarious story written in the green part) is for our sun room. The tote bag and the t-shirt I just had to get because they were awesome and cheap. I thought the prints were pretty cheap too- all $20 or $10. 

I think the t-shirt is kind of hilarious. 

So true!

Anyway, you should definitely go to the RCF if you have the chance! On the website it says that they have them in Austin, SF, LA, NY and Chicago. 

Things That I'm Into: Chicago Skyline at Night

I know it's kind of cheesy but I can't help staring at the Bean whenever I go by it, especially at night. 

Things That I'm Into: A Space Invader in San Diego

A Space Invader piece (or copycat) spotted in La Jolla, San Diego.

Things That I'm Into: RIP Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010)

I love her, and even though she was old old old, it's still sad to see such an art world legend pass away.

I got to see an awesome retrospective of her work at the Tate Modern in Fall 2008, and it sealed the deal for me that she was my favorite living female artist. Now she has a lot more people to compete with since she has moved into the deceased female artist category.  She's definitely my favorite deceased female French-American artist who is known for large-scale spider sculptures.

If you aren't familiar with her work, GOOGLE. Seriously, it's all pretty amazing. RIP Louise!

first image via the centre pompidou.
second image is mine.

Things That I'm Into: Robert Smithson

A girl (woman? girl.) in my college senior art history seminar wrote her thesis on Robert Smithson's spiral jetty and its relation to science fiction. She was pretty much the coolest.  Since then I've always associated Robert Smithson with super cool people, and just thought that maybe if I knew just a little bit more about spiral jetty then I could be one of those cool people. Clearly that isn't true, but, um, it doesn't hurt to try.

Spiral Jetty is a large, land-based installation piece in UTAH* that was constructed in 1970. It was submerged for decades after the lake rose, but it's visible again because of a drought that has been occurring the last couple years.

I've wanted to see the 32 minute "making of spiral jetty" movie for a while, and it's part of the "Earthworks" exhibit at the MCA right now.** And since Tuesday is FREE DAY I went to check it out.

Here are some excerpts:

The movie is slow moving, but still really interesting. My favorite part is when Smithson runs to the center of the Jetty and you get the sense of the movement of the installation. I'd love to see the piece in person someday. Anyone want to go on a Utah land art roadtrip?

Images from here, here.

* Also known as the best state in the union after Oregon.

** Museum of Contemporary Art, for you non-chicagoers.