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Gift Guide: Modern Art Lover

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:30:39 PST

If you've got a friend with a membership to the MoMA, who lists Jeff Koons and Andy Warhol in her Top Five, lives in a West Elm showroom, and despises Impressionism, get out of Manhattan. No, just kidding. If you have a friend like that, the perfect gift for him or her this holiday season is some contemporary wall art. Everyone's got space on the wall to fill up, especially those Modernists that favor minimalism. So, I've collected a few modern wall art pieces for your dearest friend. I'm sure you'll see something that makes you think, "That's so her." In my case, it's the Tim Groen Osmosis ($500) mixed media collage at left (hint hint).
For more gifts ideas, holiday home decorating tips and more, check out HolidaySugar, and to see my finds,

Movie Preview: My Kid Could Paint That

BuzzSugar — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 14:00:00 PDT

The description for this documentary caught my eye back in January when My Kid Could Paint That screened at Sundance. The film examines the school of thought that instead of being "genius," abstract art is really a sham, simple art that could easily be done by a child.

Four-year-old Marla started making paintings that were soon being compared to Picasso and other respected artists. "60 Minutes" aired a piece casting doubt on Marla's work, and her family's reputation changed instantly. Her work started selling for thousands of dollars.

Soon, however, this ability of Marla's was called into question: Is she an ordinary child just making paintings that are being misinterpreted by art critics? Or is she truly a child prodigy? And why are we so hungry for child geniuses?

The trailer for My Kid Could Paint That has hit the Web and it looks like an intriguing documentary. The movie comes out October 5 in limited release, so to watch the preview,

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Todd Oldham Walks Us Through His Favorite Pieces in the Kid Made Modern Collection

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:53:21 PDT

Run, don't walk to your nearest Target to pick up Todd Oldham's just-released line of Kid Made Modern DIY art supplies. The collection - which we first told you about back in January - includes 48 affordable kits and pieces (all priced under $20) based on his book of the same name. The multifaceted crayons (one has 64 colors in a single crayon), board book-making kits, and beautiful learn-to-sew kits with Charley Harper images are all designed to bring tots to the table and inspire a love of various forms of arts and crafts. I had the honor of walking through the collection with Oldham himself which was nothing short of impressive. Take a look at some of his favorite products in the line, and hear how the designer believes we can cultivate creativity in our children!

10 Mod Animal Prints That Will Grow With Your Little One

Kate Stahl — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:36:46 PDT

You might want to keep your real-life animals out of the baby's room, but the following 10 animal prints (we're talking art, not Jessica Simpson's favorite fabric) will be a welcome addition to your nursery. Even better, these prints won't have to move out with the crib; they're all modern enough to last your lil one for years to come.

Growing Through Arts' Music Series: Kid-Friendly or Are You Kidding?

Kate Stahl — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:56:42 PDT

We're all about exposing kids to fine arts, but is opera asking a bit too much? Not according to Growing Through Arts, a company founded by former pro dancer and Harvard grad Aleksandra Efimova, which creates educational children's books and toys. The company just launched its second series of books (the first focused on ballet), breaking down some seriously highbrow stuff for kids ages 2 to 6. Growing Through Arts' philosophy: exposing kids to the arts early will help develop creativity and imagination, confidence, leadership, memory, abstract thinking, discipline, focus, and preacademic skills.

The three music series books - The Peter and the Wolf Symphony, The Snow Maiden Opera, and Twist, A Musical - each include beautiful illustrations, a modern take on the classic opera, symphony, and musical tales, and questions designed for parents to ask their children to teach them moral lessons. You'll also find a glossary of terms that will teach kids words that are used in music class, the opera, and the symphony.

So what do you think? Could you get your 2-year-old amped about opera? Psyched about the symphony? Weigh in below!

Take a Peek at the National Portrait Gallery's Queen Exhibit

Annie Scudder — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:04:24 PDT

The Queen: Art & Image is the name of a new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in honor of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee. Just like the span of the monarch's reign, the iconic images range from traditional to modern, with commissioned portraits and works by contemporary artists included in the show. The exhibit hopes to demonstrate the evolution of Queen Elizabeth and how she's been portrayed since the 1950s, and as a result how portraiture has changed over that same period.

After her ascension to the throne in 1952 at 25, images of Queen Elizabeth emphasized elegance and youth. By the 1960s, her status as a mother influenced her public persona, but the monarchy also came off as old-fashioned compared to a changing society. According to the exhibit, images from the '70s portray a more relaxed and familiar queen, and by the 1980s, the royal family, including the queen, were treated as celebrities. With the death of Princess Diana, the 1990s were turbulent for the queen and her family, and the diverse images from that period included in the collection demonstrate the confusion. The queen endured all of this, and by the new millennium, images show a Queen Elizabeth who is unwavering.

Works by iconic artists like Andy Warhol, Annie Leibovitz, and Lucian Freud are on display at the gallery, which officially opens the show tomorrow. It will run until Oct. 21. Get an early look at some now.

Download of the Day: artCircles

Anna Monette Roberts — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:11:04 PDT

ArtCircles, a free iPad app, lets you spin through classic and contemporary art based on colors, words, or curators. Search for things like "blue," "van Gogh," and "kiss," to pull up art circles relevant to those key words. Tap the painting to learn about the piece's history and its artist and to even buy a framed print for your home collection. The app makes it a breeze to discover new masterpieces in the worlds of modern and classic art with a quick spin of a wheel.

Watch a video of artCircles in motion.

Disney Princess It Girl: Snow White's Pop Culture Evolution

Tara Block — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:42:42 PDT

We've all got fairy tales on the brain, as the very first Disney princess, Snow White, is having her moment in the sun. Two star-studded movies about Snow White, her evil stepmother, and those seven mining dwarfs are hitting the big screen this year. First up was the Lily Collins-Julia Roberts version Mirror Mirror, and come June 1 Kristen Stewart will take on the role in Snow White and the Huntsman. Just last night, Kristen and her costars Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron came out for the London premiere of SWATH.

While the flicks differ in many ways, they both portray the heroine as more of a modern woman, who doesn't need a Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet. This is a far cry from the Disney version we're all familiar with, but Snow White has taken on many different forms since being brought to the masses by the Brothers Grimm in their 1812 German fairy tale Schneewittchen und die sieben Zwerge (Snow White and the Seven Dwarves). Find out more about the inspiration for their tale and how Snow White has been portrayed in literature, art, film, and TV over the years.

Go Behind the Doors of Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux's New Beverly Hills Rental

Angela Swinderman Elias — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:57:14 PDT

Known for having a serious house-hopping habit, Jennifer Aniston reportedly has a new piece of real estate to call home. While she's still planning to move into the $21 million Bel Air estate she purchased in January, she's set her sights on a swanky Beverly Hills pad to rent while renovations on her Bel Air home are being completed.

While the selling price for the exquisitely designed, Asian-inspired rental is a whopping $11.5 million, Jennifer Aniston and beau Justin Theroux can shack up temporarily for a mere $40,000 per month. The 6,500-square-foot, five-bedroom, and six-and-a -half-bathroom rental, with exteriors designed by Hal Levitt, is perfectly suited for a modern-architecture enthusiast like Jennifer. The home is equipped with perks like the latest RTI Smart Home technology, a state-of-the-art home theater/entertainment system, a stone-lined temperature-controlled wine room, and LED glass lighting installations that fuse brilliantly with the home's sleek and modern aesthetic. Take a look at the new zen-like pad and cast your predictions for whether or not Jennifer and Justin will want to move once their Bel Air renovations are complete!

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Designer Grant K. Gibson's 7 Smart Tips For Refreshing a Home When You're Renting

Elka Karl — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:00:26 PDT

In a recent article in Architectural Digest, San Francisco designer Grant K. Gibson offered some practical and economical advice for making a rental home shine. Instead of making big budget renovations, Gibson offers great options for making the most of your leased surroundings. Check out the tips below, and then tour the entire apartment on Architectural Digest.

Inject color in your space by going bold in small spaces. Gibson painted his powder room a vibrant orange.
Splurge on high-quality paint, like Farrow & Ball.
If you want to keep walls neutral, refresh an older piece of furniture with an unusual color of paint.
Add modern touches to classic furniture by turning to contemporary art. Seek out original paintings at antique stores or flea markets.

Make changes in spaces that will get the most use, such as the living room.
Change out a busy patterned carpet for something simple, like a sisal rug.
Minimize clutter and keep books in neatly ordered stacks.

Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest