As someone who still holds down a day job while reserving her craft and design exploits for the wee hours, I was excited to be invited (by my sister who works there) to an art show at the offices of Martha Stewart called “After Hours” featuring creative works by employees of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia–which I promptly dubbed “mARTha” (hey, I thought it was clever). Because MSLO employs so many talented people, it was a nice event to honor and showcase the brilliant work they do outside the office, too. There was photography, ceramic ware, mixed media, textile art and design, painting, jewelry, drawing, bookmaking, and more.
Click here to see the recent TV segment in which Martha highlights some of her own favorites from the show (she starts talking about the art show about 1 minute in). In the meantime, here are some of my favorites along with some behind-the-scenes action (they brought in the camera crew to film footage for the show)! …With apologies for the poor snapshots–they’re not doing the pieces justice.
1) Bicycles by Sean Ennis, graphite on painted masonite — I could imagine a whole wallpaper of these bikes! 2) Untitled Accumulation by Tom Borgese, plastic toys — my photograph doesn’t do a great job sharing scale and size, but what a collection of combat guys, sorcerers, and alien beings.
3) Untitled Landscape 1 (of 2) by Sophie Nicolay (yes, that’s my sister!), sumi ink and charcoal — yes, I’m biased, but her drawings always amaze me. 4) Cute as a Button Necklace by Sophie Nicolay, shell and metal hardware — don’t you want one for yourself? I do!
5) Ribbons & Thread by Kristen McKivor, ribbon and thread on muslin — I love the simple beauty of this handstitched alphabet. 6) On the Tracks: View from the High Line by Michelle Bylenok, watercolor — I haven’t yet been to the High Line Park and this watercolor is making me set a date!
7) from Postage People; Series One by Sophie Nicolay, postage stamps and mixed media — a playful, irreverent exploration in the puzzles in found materials, these stamp people are so expressive! 8 ) Untitled by Erin Furey, latex gloves — Erin was the organizer of the whole event; her piece, comprised of what looked like burned/melted gloves was draped in a corner near the DJ booth. It looked fascinatingly like scarred skin!
9) Darcy Miller’s family collection — known for her work in Weddings, Darcy has the perfect solution to saving and savoring any memory or milestone, with a crayon collection, rhinestones, or elegant calligraphy. 10) Also a part of Darcy Miller’s collection, a tote bag, hand-embroidered with the shape of a child’s drawing — which remind me of the illustrations in this book! I definitely want to try this — I’ll have to get my niece to draw me a picture.
11) Untitled by Stefanie Lynen, silk screened fabric — gorgeous. I want it! 12) Cantito Farm 6:00 a.m., Cantito Farm 6:25 a.m., Cantito Farm 6:27 a.m. by Martha Stewart, color photographs — even Martha herself contributed, though with everything that woman does, it’s a miracle she even had time to snap the shutter!
13-14) Of course the food itself, too, was a work of art; Peter Callahan was responsible for these taste-of-fall masterpieces that tasted every bit as good as they looked.
So, dear readers, what kinds of creative things do you get into after hours?
*And, if you know any of the artists and know they have websites that I have not linked to here, please email me so I may update!
[ Posted on October 15th, 2009 ]
That necklace is beautiful, and I think it’d look even MORE beautiful with your Take The Plunge halter top. Hey, would your sister be willing to post a tutorial so that we can make metal button necklaces at home? After all, nothing goes better with DIY clothing than DIY accessories, designed by the Nicolay sisters. 🙂
Wish I could have come too! Nicolays ROCK!