On TV and at Crate & Barrel

Almost a year later, I finally have been able to get a good screen grab of my Crate & Barrel print on Property Brothers. It was shown on the "Chris and Mike" episode on HGTV early in 2014. This picture was at the 38:53 mark in the broadcast.

The signed giclee (licensed) print of my painting is 60" x 30" framed. It's been available at Crate & Barrel since August 2013.

The original painting, Seasonal Fences - Spring #3, is mixed media on 22" x 10" x 1" cradled board, created in 2011.

Next up for the print's screen time is The Good Wife. I'm not sure when, but soon I hope. Since I haven't started watching the series yet, I hope someone will let me know when they see it.

More About My Print on Property Brothers

I was excited to see this post on the Property Brothers Facebook page this morning:

"Take a look back at some of the most popular makeovers from HGTV's Property Brothers," which led me to a photo of the dining room that had my print hanging on the wall. I was disappointed that it only caught the righthand side of it.

Below is a picture I took when the show was on TV one night, hence the warped view. It's hard to take pictures on a TV. I hope that some day I can get a good picture of it from the show.

The print has been available at Crate & Barrel's website, catalog, and in stores since last August.

If you want to see it on Property Brothers, it's the Chris & Mike Episode HPBRS-606H. The upcoming schedule on the HGTV website.

My Print on Property Brothers!

Seasonal Fence Print, a print of my painting Seasonal Fences - Spring #3, made it's TV debut on Property Brothers on HGTV last night. I want to thank everyone who helped make this happen!

I'm going to try to get better pictures. This one was taken of my TV with my DVR on pause.

The print has been available at Crate & Barrel's website, catalog, and in stores since last August.

As a painting, Seasonal Fences - Spring #3 is mixed media on board that measures 22" x 10" x 1".

The Seasonal Fence Print at Crate & Barrel is a giclee print on paper, signed by the artist (me). It measures 30"W x 0.75"D x 60"H framed. Other details on their website. 

Goodbye to an Old Friend of 40 Years

All My Children, which I've been watching since I was 14, ends today. Over the years, the show has kept me company through lunchtime while in Art School, and while creating artwork and designing websites in adulthood. I will miss the story lines, especially the show's focus on social issues, all of the characters (well almost all of them), the happiness, the sadness and the humor that has entertained me since 1971. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to everyone involved in the show. Thanks also to Mrs. M-S who introduced me to AMC when we were neighbors back when I was in high school, and to all of my art school friends and family members who either continued to watch, or who sent me clippings or links with news about the show.

Stephan Colbert Talks About Art

In Stephan Colbert's July 14, 2011 segment "Improvised Expressive Devices," subtitled "Enhanced interrogation turns Gitmo into an artists' colony full of literally tortured artists," he not only talks about the art. He also humorously makes fun of artists statements at about 2 minutes in to the 3:19 minute video. Enjoy (after you get through the commercial).

Reality TV Meets Contemporary Art

Starting tonight at 11pm on Bravo TV, "Work of Art: The Next Great Artist."

You can read an opinion piece about it on the LA Times' Culture Monster blog, and here's another on Big Red and Shiny's blog.

I'm not sure if I can make it up late enough to watch, so my DVR is set just in case. I'm not a meat loaf lover so I won't be running to the fridge. I'll watch and see what happens.

- - - - - - - - - -

Note: A few hours after I posted this, I read the review "Questions about art get a jolt of reality TV" by Sebastian Smee in the Boston Globe (June 9, 2010). Instead of the TV critic reviewing the show, one of the Boston Globe's art critics reviewed it. I would have expected an art critic to rip the show apart, but he didn't. I found his review interesting, and now I'm intrigued.

Project Runway - Use of fabric

I am really enjoying Project Runway Season 7! Not only are they back in New York, but the designers are extremely talented. Paying attention to the use of fabric in the first two episodes only ......

The picture above shows the results of two of the designers who dyed burlap last week for the potato sack challenge. On the left is a detail of Amy's dress, and on the right, Anna's. Nice!


I love how Emilio created these stripes and patterns with his fabric when creating these two dresses. Wonderfully done.

For anyone who doesn't have cable TV, you can watch the show online starting the Saturday after the first run of each episode.

What's the Point of Art?

Watch this Stephen Colbert interview with Thomas Campbell, the Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, from November 9, 2009.

There is comedy in this clip, but it's also quite educational. Mr. Campbell discusses tapestries as an art form, and how they were valued in the Middle Ages. Stephen asks if art is only good art because an art critic says it is? Can good art be good art if no one knows it's good art? Can good art exist without an audience? And more...

Project Runway - Wedding Dress Redesign

We watched Thursday night's Project Runway last night. The challenge was called "A Fashionable New Beginning" (episode 8), which was a redesign of actual wedding dresses.

It was another good Jeanne challenge, seeing that I've spent the last number of months redesigning used sweaters. If I was on the show, I would have loved this challenge! I immediately had a lot of ideas.

Some of the designers did a good job, but I think it was difficult for many of them. I found it interesting that when they were picking the wedding dress to redesign, they all felt that the more fabric on the dress, the easier the challenge was going to be for them. I didn't necessarily think the more fabric the better.


An example is the dress in the upper left picture. The designer who was working on this dress struggled and struggled on it because it was the slimmest wedding dress in it's original form. I thought she could have taken the bottom part of the dress that she cut off, and used it to create layers on the skirt, if she wanted to make it fuller. I also thought it would have been a great opportunity to use disperse dyes to change the fabric color, but maybe she didn't know about them, or maybe none were available. And, as she was complaining about how to change it from being a totally white dress, I kept saying to the TV, "use stitching." I'm glad she eventually figured it out.

See all of the designs.

Project Runway - Newspaper as Fabric

I'm catching up on watching Project Runway Season 6. I didn't realize we were 2 weeks behind, so last night we watched "Newspaper as Fabric" (episode 5) from a week ago. I LOVED it!

I think that the designers did a great job. Sewing newspaper is not an easy task. It can rip very easily, and a lot of attention had to be made so the newspaper clothing wouldn't tear when the model was wearing it.

There were "looks" created by the twelve designers, and I have to say that even those that weren't as good as the better ones still had interesting things about them. Even the design that sent one designer home had some interesting things about it, when you looked past the problems. My four favorites are shown here in this post. See all twelve of the designs.


I hope to catch up on episode 6 this weekend. Can't wait.

The Sculpture Diaries

I hate channel surfing, and I get aggravated when other people do it, but that's what I did on Monday night. I wanted to watch something intelligent on TV as I was unwinding before bed. My husband even commented that he was surprised that I was doing it, and so was I but I found a gem of a show, "The Sculpture Diaries," on the Smithsonian Channel.

Here's a blurb about it on their website: "Stressing the global primacy of sculpture, Januszczak travels to the most spectacular sculptural locations in the world - and visits some of the most revered contemporary sculptors, including Antony Gormley, Marc Quinn, James Turrell and the Chapman brothers. In three epic journeys, Januszczak uses sculpture to explore attitudes to sex, power and the cosmos, to demonstrate why sculpture has been, and will continue to be, at the heart of our cultural lives."

If you have cable TV, check it out! I loved every minute of it, and the fact that there were no commercials made it even better. Thanks Smithsonian!

Inspiration, Connections and Project Runway

When I saw this fungus growing on a tree stump while on my walk yesterday, I couldn't help but think of Uli Herzner's dress on last week's Project Runway: All-Star Challenge. I'm sure I'm making a connection that wasn't even considered, but ...


I really enjoyed both Project Runway and the Project Runway: All-Star Challenge last week, and I'm very happy that Project Runway is back on the air.

Also, hooray (I was going to say bravo but that wouldn't be a good choice of words would it?!) for Lifetime TV for deciding to put each episode online, for those who do not have cable TV. Between that, and how full their website is with information about the show/s, it's obvious that Lifetime is using online media to its fullest to promote the show. Good job!

Project Runway!

Here we go! Project Runway begins tonight, after a long absence, and a move to the Lifetime TV network.

Read a review about the show in the NY Times, "Designers, Start Your Engines for Season 6," by Ginia Bellefante on August 19, 2009.

Even if the show is really about creating fashionable clothing, I do enjoy when they use unusual materials for a challenge, even if it's not really wearable as everyday clothing.

I'm not a big TV watcher, but I'll be enjoying it tonight. There's the All Star Challenge at 8pm, Project Runway at 10pm, and I'll also give Models of the Runway a try at 11pm, if I'm still awake. Otherwise I'll watch it off my DVR. (Please note all times just listed are for eastern time. Click the links to find the air times in your part of the US.)

The Fashion Show Finale

I watched the season finale of The Fashion show last night. Without spoiling the end by announcing the winners, I have some thoughts I wanted to share.

When I was in Art School, final critiques of our art work could be pretty tough, and sometimes they were very mean, and did not offer any positive suggestions, which I think makes for a better learning experience.

On last night's The Fashion show, besides summing up the season, and showing different out-takes, I listened to very good suggestions from the judges that I hope the designers will listen to.

I thought that during the season, and especially on the finale last night, the three judges, Isaac Mizrahi (a fashion designer, and the host of The Fashion Show), Fern Mallis (Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion, and known as the creator of New York's “Fashion Week”), and Glenda Bailey (editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar), offered very valuable ideas and opinions about fashion, and the fashion industry to not only the three finalists, but also to the other designers too. The more blunt criticism was offered gently, and there was almost a nurturing feel to a lot of what was said. Glenda Bailey even offered to privately talk to each designer about their work, which in my opinion, is worth more than prize money. Good for her! I wanted to reach into my TV and give her a huge hug.

As I said on July 2nd, I've learned a lot about sewing and wearable fashion while watching The Fashion show. Even if the show was meant to be a replacement for Project Runway, which has moved to Lifetime TV, I think it's its own show, and it does show promise for the future, assuming Bravo TV offers future seasons.

And Even More Art Goes Reality (TV)

No word from my friend who went to audition for the Untitled Art Project on Bravo TV in New York City last weekend, and I've heard that there will be auditions for the show in Boston in August (more on that when I have more info), but here are some interesting reads:

"Hundreds Try Out for Art-World Reality Show," By Randy Kennedy on July 19, 2009 in the NY Times.

"Posting Notice: The Untitled Art Project Edition," on ArtFagCity.com on July 20, 2009.

"All Bravo, all the time...,"
by Matthew Nash on July 20, 2009 on Big Red and Shiny.

... and ...

"Bravo's Untitled Art show might be more interesting than I thought...," also by Matthew Nash on July 20, 2009 on Big Red and Shiny.

I'll post the Boston audition info ASAP. I promise! I just need to confirm my info.

- - - - - - - - -

Note added on July 23rd:

The Boston Bravo TV auditions is apparently a hoax! I posted an article about it on examiner.com. Check it out.

Even More Art Goes Reality (TV)

I found more articles about the casting call for the Untitled Art Project on Bravo TV that I think are interesting. If you don't know about the casting calls or the show, you can read my July 7th and and 5th posts about it.

Read a conversation with Sarah Jessica Parker in ArtNet News on July 6, 2009. 

And speaking of the casting call, read this from ArtFagCity.com, "Let’s Fire Up the Rumor Mill! Bravo Casting Calls for Untitled Art Project," on July 13, 2009.

I have a friend who is planning on going to the casting call in New York this weekend. I'll try to find out more about her experience and report back.

More Art Goes Reality (TV)

More information about the Artists Reality show on Bravo TV that I posted about on July 5th.

It's interesting to read the questions (pdf) for the artists applying.

If you want to apply, here's the link. Casting calls start on July 11th. Good luck.

Art Goes Reality (TV)

On Thursday, May 14th, I posted "Artists on Reality TV," and it looks like it's really going to happen.

An article in the NY Times "Art Goes Reality," by Edward Wyatt on June 30, 2009 explains, "The series, which has yet to be named, will feature 13 aspiring artists who will compete in sculpture, painting, photography, industrial design and other disciplines to create “unique pieces highlighting art’s role in everyday life.”" Read more, including casting call dates.

If you're curious to know if I'll be auditioning, the answer is no. I'll most likely watch the show, but I don't have any desire to be on it.

The Fashion Show

I've been watching the The Fashion Show on Bravo TV, and I like it. The show has a more educational slant than Project Runway.

Each week the designers take part in two challenges, a mini challenge, and the elimination challenge. The Mini Challenge is very short, and is usually educational from a TV viewers point of view. In the the elimination challenge, the designers are assigned a theme when creating clothing that is not only functional but also attractive. A variation of the winning outfit each week is offered for sale on Bravo TV's website.

I have to say that I've been sewing for 35+ years (that makes me sound old but I'm not), and I almost always learn something during the mini challenge. I also enjoy watching the designers create their clothing for the elimination challenge each week, seeing it as the models wear it on the runway, and listen to the critiques at the end. The canned lines like "you're hanging by a thread," and "we're just not buying it" are goofy, but otherwise I'm enjoying the show.

Isaac Mizrahi is the biggest reason to watch The Fashion Show. His fashion/design/sewing knowledge is worth its weight in gold. I've also been learning a lot from the comments of the guest judges.

My friend Elizabeth Barton wrote a post about The Fashion show that is a good read called An Interesting Exercise. Check it out.

The Fashion Show is on Bravo on Thursday nights at 10 pm ET/PT. If you aren't watching it, Bravo repeats each episode often, so it's not too late to catch up.

Project Runway used to be on Bravo. Check out past seasons. It's moving to Lifetime TV next season, which I'm looking forward to watching when it starts on August 20th at 10pm ET.

Artists on Reality TV

Artists, look what's coming up on reality TV......

"Bravo Announces New Series

AMERICAN ARTIST (working title)
Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Sarah Jessica Parker and her production company, Pretty Matches, will team with the Emmy-nominated Magical Elves ("Top Chef," "Project Runway") and Eli Holzman, to produce "American Artist" (wt), an hour long creative competition series among contemporary artists. "American Artist" will bring together twelve aspiring artists to compete for a gallery show, a cash prize and a sponsored national tour.  In each episode, contestants will create unique works of art highlighting art's role in everyday life, while they compete and create in a range of disciplines including sculpture, painting, photography and industrial design (to name a few).  In working beyond their preferred mediums, artists will have to adapt quickly to changes in order to succeed. Completed works of art will be appraised by a panel of top art world figures including fellow artists, gallerists, collectors, curators and critics.  The finalists' work will be showcased in a nation-wide museum tour. "American Artist" is produced by Magical Elves and Pretty Matches for Bravo. Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alison Benson and Eli Holzman serve as executive producers."

... and ...

"Artists -- specifically painters -- from South Florida can audition for "Work of Genius," a reality TV series and fine-art competition to be aired on the FOX Station Group this fall. During 13 episodes, undiscovered artists will live together and compete for to have their careers transformed. The series will include grueling art challenges and artistic tests in different styles, forms and mediums, but the grand prize of $100,000 may be worth all the trouble. -- Miami Herald Staff" Read more (scroll down to the "More Artists Wanted" section).