cherry

great illustrations, strong lines, bold colors, occasionally revokes traditional art techniques such as printmaking and acrylic effects. also sometimes emotional. great color harmonies. CHERRY

one of my favorites shown above (probably i'm heavily biased seeing as it reminds me of hk). and one below that i find romantic.

click click click: cherry illustration

a wooden shell (the best part of the AGO)

it's kind of a stretch but i'd say i imagine it's like what being inside a whales belly would be. a wooden whale that is.

the art gallery of ontario has this fantastic exterior shell / tunnel length of hall that is completely ribbed in solid, warm, deep brown wooden structure.

it creates this effect of feeling so small and even while being enveloped in something so clearly man made, oddly in tune with nature. the size and sheer length makes it impressive. the only thing i'd change if i could is the view outside. not that i'm against the street of toronto it looks out on, but imagine if you could travel inside this wooden hallway to the most scenic parts of the world. it'd be like a wood and glass space bubble of the most aesthetic kind. i imagine seeing the ocean outside, or mountains, or a city's skyline, from high above the tiny cars and people below.

while the rest of the AGO is definitely worth the visit if you're in toronto (10$ canadian is a fair price for students). this was the part that left the deepest impression on me.

housepaint

over this christmas holiday, i have been to a total of six museums: the guggenheim (in nyc), the royal ontario museum (ROM), the art gallery of ontario (AGO), the skyscraper museum (in nyc), the mercer museum (in doylestown, PA), and the philadelphia museum of art.

when asked which i enjoyed the most, i can't really say or decide since they all have amazing parts and are different from each other.

the photos here show the best part of the ROM museum, their current modern art exhibition called "HOUSEPAINT" featuring twelve street artists. the exhibition arose as a result of the rise and demise of a place called "tent city" where the homeless of toronto gathered and built
makeshift shelters and established a life for 3 years until the government decided to ban them from the area. the works created at the ROM are a number of differently sized canvas houses painted by the various street artists in whatever way they wished. in the back is a gigantic piece featuring the actual wooden front of a suburban home painted and incorporated into the museum as well.



the art is amazing. i'm in love with the graphic styles, the characteristic and individual expression of each artist, the various hand created fonts and typography used as well as the vivid colors, imagery and ideas. they portray ideas. people, patterns and designs are all melded together on these houses and endlessly entertaining and captivating. if you're in toronto, you have to see this exhibit in the ROM (even though admission is 20 canadian dollars...) - i couldnt' tear myself away and i can still picture the houses in my mind.

i literally headed towards the exit and turned around and did another walk through of the area.

i wish you could see it as i did.