ARTmonday: Carlos Estrada-Vega

I discovered the works of Mexican-born, California-based contemporary artist Carlos Estrada-Vega at Ernden Fine  Art Gallery in Provincetown. His three-dimensional chunks of color are so satisfyingly saturated and rich, like high quality Cray-Pas. In fact, many of the works are created from a mixture of materials that may well produce an oil pastel effect on paper. The paintings consist of tiny square pegs of wood, usually no larger than one inch in diameter, which are individually painted with pure pigment and then attached with a small imbedded magnet on the back to a steel plate. The effect is quite tactile; very much like a modern children’s toy you might find at an art museum gift shop. Here are some examples of his work:

Bonita Carter #43-III, 2008
Oleopasto, wax, pigment, oil & limestone (8″ x 8″)
Margaret Thatcher Projects, NYC

Walt,  2005
Wax/Oleopasto/Oil/Pigments on Canvas on Wood with Magnet Inserts attached
to a Metal Plate (10″ x 10″)
Roy Boyd Gallery, Chicago

Procopio, 2008
Wax/Oleopasto/Oil/Pigments/ Limestone Dust on Automotive Primer on Wood with Magnet Inserts attached to a Metal Plate (33.25″ x 33.25)
Roy Boyd Gallery, Chicago

Bo’quecito, 2008
Wax/Oleopasto/Oil/Pigments/Limestone Dust on Automotive Primer on
Wood with Magnet Inserts attached to a Metal Plate (36″ x 36)
Roy Boyd Gallery, Chicago

Saulito, 2008
Oleopasto, wax, pigment, oil & limestone (6″ x 6″)
Margaret Thatcher Projects, NYC

Working Drawing #6, 2007
oil, wax, oleopasto, limestone dust, and pigments on panel (12 x 12 x 1″)
d.e.n. contemporary, Beverly Hills

Güerita, 2008
Wax/Oleopasto/Oil/Pigments/Limestone Dust on Automotive Primer on Wood with Magnet Inserts attached to a Metal Plate (8.25″ x 8.25″)
Roy Boyd Gallery, Chicago

Maceo, 2005
Margaret Thatcher Projects, NYC

Working Drawing #8, 2008
Oleopasto, wax, pigment, oil & limestone (5″ x 5″ x 1″)
Margaret Thatcher Projects, NYC

79 squares
oil, wax, oleopasto, limestone dust and pigment on canvas on wood
Artnet.com

Stephanie’s, 2008
Oleopasto, wax, pigment, oil & limestone (8″ x 8″)
Margaret Thatcher Projects, NYC

Caridad, 2007
Wax/Oleopasto/Oil/ Dry Pigments on Canvas on Wood with Magnet Inserts attached to a Metal Plate
(17.5″ x 17.5″)
Roy Boyd Gallery, Chicago

Working Drawing #9, 2008
Oleopasto, wax, pigment, oil & limestone (5″ x 5″ x 1″)
Margaret Thatcher Projects, NYC

Paulita, 2004
Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Portland, OR

4 x 4 = 17
Wax, limestone dust, oil, pigment on canvas on wood (16.3″ x 16.3″ x 1.4″)
Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney

Untitled, 2003
Ölkreide, Wachs, Pigment, Öl und Kalkstein auf Papier (9″ x 9″)
Art Forum Ute Barth, Zurich

Annemie, 2004
Limestone and wax on wood on metal (7.9″ x 7.9″ x: 1.2″)
Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney

Working Drawing #5, 2007
Oleopasto, wax, pigment, oil & limestone (12″ x 12″ x 1″)
Margaret Thatcher Projects, NYC

Aria II, 2008
Oleopasto, wax, pigment, oil & limestone (8.25″ x 8.25″)
Margaret Thatcher Projects, NYC

Kazan, 2006
oil, wax, oleopasto, limestone dust and pigments on canvas on wood (38 1/2″ x 38 1/2″)
d.e.n. contemporary, Beverly Hills

Topside view of the cube, Carlitos, 2008
Margaret Thatcher Projects, NYC

Untitled Drawing, 2003
Oleopasto, wax, pigment, oil & limestone (9″ x 9″)
Margaret Thatcher Projects, NYC

Fine Print: Susanna Salk’s Room For Children

Connecticut-based interior designer and writer Susanna Salk has curated an entire book of spectacular children’s spaces, from nurseries to bedrooms to playrooms, in Room for Children: Stylish Spaces for Sleep and Play (Rizzoli, April 2010).

Sure beats the oversize floral wallpaper (on the ceiling!) with gingham border and green shag carpet of my childhood lair. Though actually, that’s sounding kinda groovy now.

Here are some of my favorite shots from the book.

Architecture: Platt Byard Dovel White Architects  |   Design: Tracy Boss
Photo: © Jonathan Wallen

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Design: Kim Zimmerman  | Photo: © Pieter Estersohn

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Design: Laurence Kriegel  | Photo: © Pieter Estersohn

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Design: Sally Markham  | Photo: © Pieter Estersohn

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Photo: © Tria Giovan

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Design: Alex Papachristidis  | Photo: © John Gruen


All photographs from ROOM FOR CHILDREN by Susanna
Salk, Rizzoli, 2010

For more images from the book, see Susanna Salk’s Room for Children You Tube video.

Deal Alert: Daniela Corte Sample Sale

Photo: Boston.com

Local designer Daniela Corte is opening up her otherwise by-appointment-only studio at  211 Newbury St. (note – this is a new address) on Saturday 10am to 6pm for a sample sale of spring and summer pieces, plus past-season items at 60-80 percent off. Prices start at $10; cash or check only.

A few shots from Daniela Corte’s show during Boston Fashion Week this past fall:

Photos: Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe

Deal Alert: Cynthia Rowley Sample Sale in Boston

I was so excited when Cynthia Rowley opened a boutique on Newbury last year. Partially because it reminds me of my twenties in New York City; one of my favorite charity gala dresses is a Cynthia Rowley. I’m doubtful I will ever squeeze into its size 2-ness, yet I will never part with it. That said, I’ve hardly bought a thing at this still new shop. Well, now’s my chance. The Boston sample sale starts tomorrow and goes through Sunday, 10am to 9pm (really, in Boston, 9pm?!), up to 80% off on clothing and accessories. See ya there.

Wear It Now Tulle Dress

Shop Alert: Second Time Around, Three Times on Newbury

Is consignment shop Second Time Around trying to taking over the world? It’s certainly aiming to dominate Newbury Street. Yesterday I spotted its third outpost, at #324, between Hereford and Mass Ave. True, that last block of Newbury is like its own little world, but seriously? If they have that much stuff, then we’re all buying too much and disposing of it too soon. Though they do take on extra stock from area boutiques too. I should probably clear my closet and see if I can get some extra cash. Everyone else is doing it.