Robert Kinmont

 

The quintessence of things.

 

Just About the Right Size

1970/2008

9 silver gelatin prints

 

here and (wonderfully) here

 

(Thank you, Terri.)

Wood chips flying, then: spoons.

via BTWC

Mark Manders, Part I

Why do you want to create sculptures?

Once you've realized on a deep level that there are empty spaces in the human world in which you can show things in their naked form, you just can't let go of that idea anymore. It's magnificent that such a phenomenon has taken shape during our evolution. It's generally accepted that this space exists within, as well as right beside, our world. In this window-like, conjuring space, you can place things or allow them to happen. Art allows us to experience things in their naked form... I could start talking about Duchamp or Donald Judd, who exemplify this idea of nakedness. I feel that, as an artist today with such an enormous world available to me with all its history, I can only really use that empty space as a conjuring space. I no longer have to focus on art per se.

....

Just back from a preview of this show. Absolutely humbling to be around work like this. More on Manders once I manage to wrap my head around even a small fraction of his confounding and beautiful work. In the meantime, this.

The Last Paintings

Joan Mitchell

that's all

wood-clad loft of Best-Things

via accabrera

Laetitia Benat, again

New work. So quiet and strong.

previously here

emerge

William Lamson, Emerge, 2007

A longtime favorite of mine, both the piece and the artist.
By all accounts, Mr. Lamson is a wizard and a poet.
Watch more of his artful antics and mad-hatter contraptions-cum-sculpture here.

(dinner) bell

We grew up in a big old house in New England, a veritable brood.
Instead of yelling into the void of the house,
my mom would ring a dinner bell to summon us all to dinner,
a big cast iron one that never quite suited her.
Carl's bells would have been a more appropriate
match for her sensibilities, suggesting mealtime with panache.

Carl Aubock bells at the perfect Everyday Needs.

(found via The Selby)

well, sure

My house.

Oh damn, just kidding.

here

Oh Brazil

Brazilians make the best leather chairs. It's official.
Always part hammock, cleverly part saddle.

this one

that one

the other one

gods and goddesses, in house

This is too ponderously good not to re-blog: the Motherwell home 1967, via Wary Meyers.
There is beautiful Helen Frankentaler sitting amidst her collection of Best Things.

copy and paste

for more foggy glory like this go to the mini-school

Of All Things Best that is MONDOBLOGO.

Vote of Confidence: Sol LeWitt to Eva Hesse

Dear Eva,

It will be almost a month since you wrote to me and you have possibly forgotten your state of mind (I doubt it though). You seem the same as always, and being you, hate every minute of it. Don’t! Learn to say “Fuck You” to the world once in a while. You have every right to. Just stop thinking, worrying, looking over your shoulder wondering, doubting, fearing, hurting, hoping for some easy way out, struggling, grasping, confusing, itchin, scratching, mumbling, bumbling, grumbling, humbling, stumbling, numbling, rumbling, gambling, tumbling, scumbling, scrambling, hitching, hatching, bitching, moaning, groaning, honing, boning, horse-shitting, hair-splitting, nit-picking, piss-trickling, nose sticking, ass-gouging, eyeball-poking, finger-pointing, alleyway-sneaking, long waiting, small stepping, evil-eyeing, back-scratching, searching, perching, besmirching, grinding, grinding, grinding away at yourself. Stop it and just DO!

From your description, and from what I know of your previous work and you [sic] ability; the work you are doing sounds very good “Drawing-clean-clear but crazy like machines, larger and bolder… real nonsense.” That sounds fine, wonderful – real nonsense. Do more. More nonsensical, more crazy, more machines, more breasts, penises, cunts, whatever – make them abound with nonsense. Try and tickle something inside you, your “weird humor.” You belong in the most secret part of you. Don’t worry about cool, make your own uncool. Make your own, your own world. If you fear, make it work for you – draw & paint your fear and anxiety. And stop worrying about big, deep things such as “to decide on a purpose and way of life, a consistant [sic] approach to even some impossible end or even an imagined end” You must practice being stupid, dumb, unthinking, empty. Then you will be able to DO!

I have much confidence in you and even though you are tormenting yourself, the work you do is very good. Try to do some BAD work – the worst you can think of and see what happens but mainly relax and let everything go to hell – you are not responsible for the world – you are only responsible for your work – so DO IT. And don’t think that your work has to conform to any preconceived form, idea or flavor. It can be anything you want it to be. But if life would be easier for you if you stopped working – then stop. Don’t punish yourself. However, I think that it is so deeply engrained in you that it would be easier to DO!

actual letter (excerpt) written by Sol LeWitt to Eva Hesse. This letter “(…) a deeply caring vote of confidence, was first published in 1976.” -Gary Garrels: ed. Sol LeWitt: a Retrospective, MOMA, NY, 1998.

via Glasstire's Margaret Meehan, where you can read the rest of it

una

Do note that I am greatly restraining myself by only posting eight of una's offerings. Rahr doesn't even cut it.

Also of note, I used to have cover-alls that made me just as happy, though mine were covered in paint.

Hiroko Nakajima

quiet, restrained, explosive

here

a.b.k.

The most beautiful leather bags (and sandals) I've ever seen.

Old World and forever new.

Alya B. Kazakevich

brassy

Carl Aubock at Mondo Cane last year.

rahr-issimo.

Patrick Seguin's so cool

Jean Prouve

Cite armchair, ca. 1933

This is my favorite chair in the world.

So when I discovered this apartment in T Magazine fours years ago,

I noticed that the guy that lives here has a few, and then some.

That's because Mr.Patrick Segiun does this.

If you have a minute, look at these videos he's made on Prouve's prefab structures.

They are fascinating and delightful.

(Anyone know what music that is playing on video #3? So awesome.)

austere swank

here

here

I am a tremendous admirer of Paul Rudolph's high gloss,

matte concrete hybrids. He's uncategorical.