“Oh Dear” Embroidery Hoop Art by Sarah K Benning
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Shop embroidery hoop art + kits at StyleCarrot partner sites >
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ARTmonday: Heather Robinson
San Francisco-based artist Heather Robinson wrote to me this fall after seeing my blog and Instagram posts about the Truro Art + Cocktails pop up event I held this summer. She was particularly drawn to Sarah Lutz’s abstract paintings, which has a similar feel to her own.
She says: [My] painting practice is fundamentally an exploration of surface through pattern, color, and texture. I have a magpie-like attraction to bright, colorful, decorated objects, but an orderly mind, a love for the grid and a strong schooling (from my architectural design studies) to mistrust the superficial. These contradictory urges come together in my paintings. I work in many layers of acrylic media, starting with a repeating fabric design at the base and adding elements both rigid and planned (geometric stencil repeats) and loose and unplanned (drips, washes, crackled layers).
Antique Sentiments, 24″ x 24″ acrylic and fabric on panel
Counting Myself Lucky, 24″ x 24″ acrylic and fabric on panel
Cross Dot Chrysanthemum Dream, 30″ x 30″ acrylic and fabric on panel
Dot Underwater Wildflowers, 18″ x 24″ acrylic and fabric on panel
Dots (Vibrant), 18″x 18″ acrylic, fabric, and metal leaf on panel
Violet-Eared Waxbill, 24″ x 48″ acrylic, fabric, and metal leaf on panel
Life Is Good, 12″ x 16″ acrylic and fabric on panel
Overload, 18″ x 24″ acrylic and fabric on panel
All artwork courtesy of the artist.
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Try StyleCarrot partner Framebridge. It’s how I frame my artwork >
Foodie Friday: Joanne Chang’s Flour Bakery in Harvard Square
If you live in Boston you know Flour Bakery. Pastry chef proprietor Joanne Chang (half of the husband/wife duo Myers & Chang in SoWa and James Beard award winner), just opened her fifth and sixth locations, Harvard Square and Cambridgeport (soft opening was yesterday). The next outpost is coming soon to Dalton Street just behind the Pru.
Designer extraordinaire Alina Wolhardt of Wolf In Sheep Design has been collaborating closely with both Joanne Chang and her husband/business partner Christopher Myers on the trio of new cafés, which are being built by Cafco Construction Management (also responsible for Row 34 and other area hotspots).
Last week Alina sent along these photos of Flour Bakery Harvard Square shot by the ever lovely Joyelle West, along with some design notes. Alina says, “We took a slight departure in terms of design but still maintained the integrity of Flour’s handmade feel.” Let’s have a look.
The signature communal table—each Flour Bakery has one— is in the front of the space along the curved window.
The communal table was custom fabricated by Boston-based studo FKIA. The walnut tabletop sits on a vintage Eames table base. Eames molded plastic dowel leg side chairs surround the table. The Tam Tam chandelier by Marset is from SoWa furniture showroom Casa Design.
The playful hex floor tiles meet the concrete with a jagged edge. Alina says, “They act as sort of a guide for the flow of the queue.” The white small hex mosaic wall tiles are also done with a jagged edge. IC Lights S Pendants by Michael Anastassiades for Flos hang over the counter. Cafe tables (you can see one in the background) have Carrara-like Silestone tops and bistro chairs from Casa Design.
The Flour logo cut into the stained, cerused quarter sewn oak millwork of the sandwich counter features an antiqued brass yolk of Flour logo and have that spilling onto the floor using antiqued brass.
The cement floor tiles are Popham by Ann Sacks. Alina loves their patina.
Photos by Joyelle West
Flour Bakery, 18 Brattle Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Shop Joanne Chang’s Flour Bakery cookbooks
ARTmonday: Solidarity Benefit for Standing Rock
This is a special edition of ARTmonday to promote a free silent auction benefit in Boston this weekend.As winter descends upon Standing Rock, weather appropriate supplies are needed for continued resistance against the North Dakota Access Pipeline.
The Solidarity Benefit for Standing Rock, this Saturday, December 3, 6-9 p.m. at The Distillery Gallery (516 E. 2nd St., South Boston) will support the frontline, indigenous led resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. DJ Emerson (White Animal Sound), Land of Enchantment, and Creaturos will perform. Then head to Firebrand Saints (1 Broadway, Cambridge) for an after party.
Boston-based curators Olivia Ives-Flores, Oliver Mak, and Silvi Naci have selected a wide array of artwork from local and national artists for a silent auction. Artists include Matt Zaremba, Raul Gonzalez, Heather McGrath, Alex Sewell, Ana Karina DaCosta, Sarah Cronin, Autumn Ahn, Ellen Murphy, Thomas Chung, Shane Butler, Elaine Bay, Nick Zaremba, Josh Falk, Maria Molteni, Greg Burdett, Kevin Redstar, Henry Kunkel, Erin Shaw, Damion Silver, Loretta Park, Zachary Naylor, Brian Hart, Pat Falco, Scott Chasse, Andrew Jacob, Farrell Mason, Cyrille Conan, Marka27, Jesse Hernandez, Marisa Malik, Jay Lacouture, Ryan Lombardi, Kristin Texeria, TJ Kelley III, Percy Fortini-Wright, Nabeela Vega, Dana Woulfe, and more.
Heather McGrath
Zachary Naylor
Leika Akiyama
Elaine Bay
Kate Gilbert
Rosie Ranauro
Josh Falk
Kristen Texeira
Melanie Bernier
Cyrille Conan
TJ Kelley III
Dana Wolfe
Nick Zaremba
Giving Tuesday: Send Money
Marni Elyse Katz/StyleCarrot
Most years my charitable contributions have been focused on arts organizations and the educational institutions that either I or my children attend(ed). This year I gave heavily to Hillary Clinton’s campaign, and following her defeat I set up monthly donations to Planned Parenthood and have been sending bits of money here and there to other causes, including Emily’s List, and also to established print and online news sources.
We are embarking upon a new era; one that demands informed outspokenness, solid actions, and a plethora of funds. In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, please consider contributing to a cause that is important to you and that can help solidify both our democracy and our planet . There are so many; here are nine. Feel free to leave your favorites in the comments section.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Nonpartisan, non-profit organization defending and preserving the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country .
Anti-Defamation League New England
Fights anti-Semitism and all bigotry, defends democratic ideals, and protects civil rights for all.
Emily’s List
Helps to elect pro-choice Democratic women to office.
Everytown for Gun Safety
Fighting for common-sense reforms to reduce gun violence.
Planned Parenthood
Provides reproductive health services including birth control and abortion.
Project Vote
A national, nonpartisan, nonprofit believing in an organized, diverse electorate, works toward Voter Participation, Election Administration, and Government Agency Voter Registration.
ProPublica
Independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.
Southern Poverty Law Center
Combats hate, intolerance and discrimination through education and litigation.
Sierra Club
Preserving clean air, safe drinking water, wildlife.