roadside scholar

stuff i found on the highway of life

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niki in the garden part three

okay, one last look at niki in the garden at the garfield park conservatory in chicago through october 31st. these vivid fiberglass and ceramic tile sculptures by french artist niki de saint phalle are exuberant, playful and absolutely interactive – see for yourself (some local schoolchildren helped me out with this important photo shoot – thanks guys)!

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niki in the garden part two

french artist niki de saint phalle was born in france in 1930. after becoming a fashion model, marrying harry mathews and having two children, niki had a nervous breakdown and spent time as an inpatient in a hospital in nice. it was at this time of crisis that she decided to become an artist. she was heavily influenced by the work of architect antonio gaudi, and spent copious amounts of time throughout her career collaborating with sculptor jean tinguely, the man who would become her second husband. she passed away in 2002, but her amazing artistic legacy lives on in the tarot garden in garaviccio, the niki museum in nasu and exhibitions like this one, currently at the garfield park conservatory through october 31st.

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niki in the garden – part one

i went to see niki in the garden, the fabulous exhibition of large scale fiberglass, stone and ceramic sculptures by french artist niki de saint phalle, a few days ago and took so many photos that i will have to present this in a few parts. this is a special exhibition that is currently at the garfield park conservatory in chicago until october 31st. you will not believe the kaliedoscope of color, enormous sizes and sheer joy that exudes from each and every one of these pieces. i truly hope the photos do them justice!

more to come…

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ball fire candle holder

two thumbs up to this affordable (on sale right now for $7.99!) sandstone tealight holder. it’s 6″ in diameter and comes in white or black. i can picture a bunch of these on a mantel, casting off crazy circles of light on the walls right now.

find it at wrapables.

via cribcandy

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jill lareaux sculpture

i happened across the picture-perfect peachbelt studio gallery in michigan recently while vacationing with a dear friend. it’s housed in an old rural brick schoolhouse (the oldest existing one room school in the county) that dates to 1867 and is listed in the michigan register of historic places. while i was there i saw the intimate bronze and ceramic sculpture work of local artist jill lareaux.

beautiful things here.

see more sculpture (and lovely oil paintings from dawn stafford too!) on the peachtree gallery’s website.

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stone buddha garden art

i wish my yard was big enough to fit this gorgeous sculpture! it’s made of cast stone and aggregates with a steel frame, and is meant to look like a fragment of a much larger sculpture. some of the components will age more quickly than others, adding even more poetic character.

it’s a substantial 36″ l x 24″ w x 9″ d and weighs 60 lb.

purchase it at dharmacrafts.

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handbuilt ceramic sculpture by beth ozarow

look at these calming clay sculptures from california artist beth ozarow. beth builds by slab, coil construction, modeling, or molds, and finishes with acrylic paint. her current collection features works of busts and heads, each piece a combination of its own unique character and a projection of her own quiet energy.

beth likes her focus to remain limited with regards to form and color, until her mind naturally shifts to take her down a new pathway. recent additions to this body of work include birds and other allegorical images, which are becoming progressively stronger, and not necessarily dependent on the human forms that began the series. she frequently does not know what character will emerge during the creative process until the final painting, and enjoys being surprised by letting each piece finish itself without a set plan.

beth received a bfa in sculpture from the rhode island school of design. she lives in san francisco and has space at the clay studio in soma.

more about beth and her work here.

purchase her work at the artful home.

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stainless cocoon collection from philippi

these stainless steel fruit and candy bowls from denmark’s philippi design remind me of a fabulous 1950’s mod spaceship that i would like to fly in, jetsons style.

founded by jan philippi in 1992, the philosophy behind this design house focuses on clear, modern simplicity. the contemporary point of view comes through consistently in all their pieces.

i even like the salt and pepper orbs and the, er, sugar pill bowl.

for more about philippi, click here.

see more from philippi and purchase the cocoon collection at personal interior design.

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