Self-described as creepy and whimsical, Colleen of Loopy Boopy creates art dolls that are eerily beautiful. Each polymer clay piece is sculpted individually and only once — Colleen doesn’t even sketch them out first! She then adds embellishments, often vintage textiles, and finishes them with a little paint. Her inspiration comes from within — whatever her mood is that day — and from all around her — the amazing characters that make up New Orleans.
Once again, NOLA proved itself as one of the best cities around: the weather was beautiful, the parades were awesome (if not exhausting) and, as always, the food was amazing. I more or less plan my trip around food whenever we go down there, so if you ever need some tips, I’m your girl.
Anyway, last time we were there, we were introduced to the French Quarter studio of Jamie Hayes, one of my friends’ favorite artists. He is an amazing illustrator with a distinctive style — and when we stopped by his storefront last week, his new Mardi Gras poster was on display:
Ceramicist Jack Kalish has spent several years perfecting these adorable bookends. I love how realistic and soft they look, and the clever name he gave them — Bukushuns — or “Book Cushions.” Below he shares his inspiration, process and how they came about.
I originally fell in love with ceramics during my senior year of college at Rochester Institute of Technology where I took an elective course in the subject. This is where the idea first came to me to create the Bukushins as my final project for the course. I was inspired by Wendell Castle, an artist-in-residence at my college, in his remarkable ability to render wood into seemingly soft blankets, sheets, and pillows as is seen in the incredible piece “Chair Standing on Its Head.” Not knowing what I was doing, I meticulously carved two pillows out of solid clay, and they shattered in the kiln!
It was not until after I moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 2007 and discovered Choplet Studios that I again had my hand at ceramics. Having taken a course on mold-making there, I decided to try to make the Bukushins once more. This time, slip-cast. Again, I carved the pillow out of solid clay, and used it to make the mold. After casting, firing, and glazing the pillows, I fill them with sand to add weight, and seal them with plaster. I am constantly refining, tweaking, and improving the process.
I am interested in creating work that is both functional and artful. Though professionally, I mostly work with computers as an interactive designer and developer [check out Jack’s commercial work at www.kalicious.com], I really love working with my hands as well, and ceramics is my outlet for that. I currently produce my work at Choplet Studios in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Thanks very much, Jack! Bukushuns are available to purchase here.
Pamela Tang’s shop is full of interesting textiles, clothing and home goods, but my personal favorites are her abstract paintings. I love her color combinations and the textural quality of her pieces.
Based in Vancouver, Richochet Studio creates familiar objects in fine porcelain — elevating the everyday to the sublime. I love the elegance of the pure white forms and the detail that makes them seem so real. Begun by Jeremy Hatch, Ricochet studio is now an artists’ co-op of sorts, currently collaborating with Diyan Achjadi and David Khang. See more pieces as well as shots of the artists at work on the Richochet Studio blog.
622 press | LETTERPRESS GOODS MADE BY HAND 