ARTmonday: @StyleCarrotCurates Best Nine 2016

@StyleCarrotCurates Instagram Feed Best Nine 2016

All photos by Marni Elyse Katz/StyleCarrot

Along with everyone else with an Instagram account I created a #topnine2016 for my @StyleCarrotCurates account, where I exclusively post artwork that I live with, work with, or discover as I go about my life. (My main account @StyleCarrot has a broader reach, featuring interiors, food, cocktails, art, nature, and other beautiful things that catch my eye. I hope you will follow both @StyleCarrotCurates and@StyleCarrot on Instagram!) Here’s a bit more about the top nine (plus one, which tied for ninth place). They’re all wonderful works and include a pieces from a couple of the world’s best known artists, local New England artists, pieces I’ve shown in my curatorial endeavors, and also an artwork from my living room.

Abstract Painting By Karine Leger At Lanoue Gallery

Que Tourne Le Vent, acrylic on canvas, 48×48

Abstract painting by Canadian artist Karine Leger from her exhibition at Lanoue Gallery in Boston’s SoWa district that I saw at a First Friday a year ago. I love her work and clearly so does everyone else as this is the most liked post on my @StyleCarrotCurates Instagram feed.

Abstract Paintings By Sarah Lutz At StyleCarrot's Truro Pop Up Gallery

Rapture and Persimmon, oil, resin, spray paint and paper on linen, 48×36

These two stunning beauties are by my friend Sarah Lutz, who lives and works as a full time artist in New York City and Provincetown. She and Mike Carroll of Schoolhouse Gallery in Ptown  lent me the paintings for a pop-up art gallery cocktail party I threw at my home in Truro this summer. I wanted to keep them forever; it’s as if Sarah painted them for the space. Although I didn’t splurge on these (they are still available; let me know if you’re interested), I did acquire a Sarah Lutz original at the Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill auction. I posted it here, and although it didn’t make the top nine likes on IG, it easily tops my list of personal favorites.

Fish Prints By Pete's Fish Tales On Nantucket

This fall my husband and I took a weekend jaunt to Nantucket. Another big thank you to White Elephant Elephant Hotel, Hy-Line Cruises,Lola 41, and the boutiques I visited, which included Pete’s Fish Tales Prints. Artist Peter Van Dingstee studied the Japanese art of gyotaku which entails creating prints on rice paper using actual fish. Here he has rolled out a large swordfish print. You can see more of his work on the full blog post I did here.

Photograph By Hannah Bates At SMFA Sale 2016

from the Synthetic series

It’s not fall without plenty of shots from the SMFA Sale. This portrait by L.A. fashion photographer Hannah Bates is right up my alley. So much so that my husband purchased it for me for Chanukah. At least I think he did; there’s been an artwork just this size wrapped in brown paper in our living room since that night. I’ll find out for sure when I return to Boston after holiday break; fingers crossed.  Hannah Bates is an MFA candidate at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Sea Inspired Collage By Providence Based Artist Jenny Brown

Celestial Anemone, pen, ink & collage on paper, 11 x 8.5

Providence-based artist Jenny Brown makes the most magical marine-inspired mixed media collages. I hung three at my pop-up this summer and a Truro couple bought two for their daughter. Jenny gave me this piece, which is a print of an original, this fall when I returned the third piece. I still need to have it framed, but it the meantime it’s propped up on my living room bookshelf.

Abstract Art By Ellsworth Kelly At SMFA Sale 2016

A work by Ellsworth Kelly at the 2016 SMFA Sale.

Abstract Paintings By Boston Artist Laura Allis Richardson

My Garden Door and Entering the Garden, oil on canvas, 25×25

A new acquaintance told me to check out Boston-based artist Laura Allis Richardson, who works at Fenway Studios. She graciously invited me for a studio visit (full blog post here). I left with these two pieces, now on display and for sale  at Webster & Company in the Boston Design Center. (I can help if you are interested.) Mr. Webster and I have mounted a new exhibition for the Fall/Winter 2016-17 season; here’s a peek.

Louise Nevelson Sculpture At Boca Raton Museum

Last February I went to the Boca Raton Museum for the first time, where I spotted this Louise Nevelson assemblage. I still remember learning about Louise Nevelson’s work in the Art Since 1945 class I took at summer semester at NYU in college. A week later I went to a dinner party at a friend’s parents’ home on Fifth Avenue (or maybe it was Park Avenue?) . . . in their foyer was a small Nevelson sculpture, as well as a Giacometti.

Modern Dancer By Walkowitz In The Home Of StyleCarrot Blogger Marni Elyse Katz

This is a favorite piece from my personal collection, purchased for me by my husband at Skinner Auctions, so I’m thrilled it made it into the @StyleCarrotCurates #topnine2016.  It’s a dancer by the Russian-born, American artist Abraham Walkowitz. The piece, which sits on my mantle in Boston, pictures modern dancer Isadora Duncan, of whom he has done over 5,000 drawings. It inspires me during my living room yoga sessions.

Abstract Paintings By Maine Based Artist Jenny Prinn

Jitterbug, oil on canvas, 24×18 •  Sun on the Shore, acrylic on canvas, 24×24

This is technically the tenth, but it tied in the number of likes with the dancer above. This Instagram shot pictures a stretch of wall on the second floor of our Truro house, hung with lots of artwork for the pop up. The two paintings on the left are by Maine artist Jenny Prinn. I first hung Jitterbug at the model apartment I decorated at Troy Boston. Later both pieces hung at Webster & Company. I haven’t returned them to Jenny yet so if you’re interested they are still for sale!

•            •            •

New Year’s Resolutions for 2017

Empty Bed With White Sheets

Photo by Marni Elyse Katz/StyleCarrot

A friend posted her New Year’s resolutions on Facebook last week saying that she heard that telling people your resolutions helps you stick to them. In this realm of fake news masquerading as fact, I vow to confirm information prior to spreading it, even something as benign as this.

Indeed, according to the American Psychological Association, discussing intentions strengthens accountability. Forming realistic resolutions—and not too many of them—helps too. As does being specific rather than generalizing.

I spent the morning lolling in bed with my tea, paring down and honing my list of New Year’s resolutions. Here’s what i’ve settled on, in no particular order. Feel free to share your resolutions below. They say it helps.

My resolutions for 2017:

• I will continue to voraciously read well-researched articles on respected sources, eschew sensationalism, and keep an eye on what the other side is saying. Becoming better informed was the single positive outcome of the election for me.

• I will be involved in our political system in a way that effects change in the 2018 midterm elections and the 2020 presidential race. I have some ideas that I’ve been researching and discussing, and will keep you informed once they’re better developed. (Unless you think a design blog isn’t the place?)

• I will blog regularly, creating more original content. (Sorry I dropped off this past year.)

• I will tackle one de-cluttering project per week.

• I will do cardiovascular exercise daily. Really.

•            •           •

ARTmonday: 12 Photos from the Fraction Holiday Print Sale

I received an email last week from local photographer Dana Mueller that  one of her prints would be available for a limited time at the 9th annual Fraction Holiday Print Sale. I loved her photo so I clicked through to see the others and it was instantly smitten. I hadn’t heard of Fraction Magazine, an online publication dedicated to fine art photography.

The Fraction Holiday Print Sale offers more than 100 prints starting at $75; most of them are about $100. Every one of them is wonderful. I limited myself to two photos—Mother Bird by Joy Christiansen Erb and Be the Light by Puspa Lohmeyer, both which arrived very quickly. (Prints ship directly from the artists.)

The prints are numbered and signed originals. If you order before this Wednesday, December 14 the site says you are likely to have it by December 24th. The sale goes through 8PM December 31st. Here are a dozen of my favorite photographs from the sale. 

Interior Photography From Fraction Holiday Sale

Kurt Simonson, Veranda Window (Swedish Light), 2011

Interior Photography From Fraction Holiday Sale

Fritz Liedtke, Isola

Portrait Photography From Fraction Holiday Sale

Heather Evans Smith, Wrench

Landscape Photography From Fraction Holiday Sale

Shawn Bush, Burro Schmidt

Interior Photography From Fraction Holiday Sale

John Paul Evans, till death us do part – 6

Still Life Photography From Fraction Holiday Sale

Bootsy Holler, Treasures (Pack 03)

Still Life Photography From Fraction Holiday Sale

Joy Christiansen Erb, Mother Bird

Landscape Photography From Fraction Holiday Sale

Deborah Hamon, Ice Diamond

Interior Photography From Fraction Holiday Sale

Puspa Lohmeyer, Be the Light

Interior Photography From Fraction Holiday Sale

Lucia Ferreira, Fern #1 ( The Secret Garden series)

Landscape Photography From Fraction Holiday Sale

Dana Mueller, Untitled (diver), 2015, (May Days series)

Interior Photography From Fraction Holiday Sale

Peg Shaw, Hover (4.1)

•            •            •