Three things I am making, loving + thinking about this week: moons + trees + plans |
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Yesterday was the Open Studio + Art Show. It felt really good to host an event at our studio; we haven’t done that since 2018! The house was dressed in full holiday attire and the walls were decked with art. If you weren’t able to see the show in person, I added the work to my website for a virtual viewing experience. Visit makeist.art to see a gallery view of the work and click on individual images for a closer look. |
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Pictured above: three of seven 12 x 12-inch gel print collage panels from the “Bridge to the Moon” installation |
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deconstructed christmas Tree aka cat-proof |
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A Christmas tree is a towering temptation covered in cat toys – we learned that the hard way the first holiday season with three cats. But we love our ornaments and lights and decorating, so we moved to higher ground, hanging garland in the thresholds and above the windows. Turns out, we enjoy our deconstructed, cat-proof “tree” more than the traditional floor standing version. This way, we get to walk through, around, and under the tree. It feels like we are surrounded by Christmas. |
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Pictured above: panoramic and close up views of our deconstructed Christmas tree |
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“The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or perchance a palace or temple on the earth, and at length the middle-aged man concludes to build a wood-shed with them.” — Thoreau |
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I came across this quote at the tail end of finishing up the artwork for this show. It reminds me a bit of the “eyes are bigger than your stomach” adage. As it relates this series of work, my plans were way bigger than my production and ability to execute. I started off with a complicated, multifaceted installation and artwork idea. But what I envisioned and what I actually pulled off are not quite the same. Hence, the name of the primary piece: Bridge to the Moon — a tongue-in-cheek reference to the quote since it’s actually more of a wood-shed compared to my original palace plan. Lucky for me, the artwork also happens to, unintentionally, look like moons. Alas, there are no mistakes, only make. |
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It is both an honor and a privilege to be invited to your inbox every Sunday. Time and attention are our most valuable assets and I do not take that lightly. I am grateful for each and every one of you. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to me if you share it with others. My hope is to grow the Makeist email list organically through referrals so we have an engaged community of connected people. |
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I’m Jen » artist, designer, avid home cook, and cookbook fanatic. Together with my husband, Chris, I own Kitemath » a visual design studio based in Chicago IL USA. In 2019, I launched Makeist » a creative endeavor that combines my love of art, food, and design. Every Sunday I share three things I am making, loving, and thinking about in my weekly free newsletter. |
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The content in this newsletter and on the Makeist website does not include affiliate links, sponsored posts, or paid advertising. |
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