Andreas Gursky/Christie's Images, Ltd., 2011

What you’re looking at is Andreas Gursky’s photo, “Rhein II”, which sold for $4,338,500 at Christie’s in November of last year, breaking the record for the most expensive photograph ever sold at auction. Yes, you read that right. Four million dollars. The buyer was anonymous.

Barry, Baker, Brookline, MA by Joel Degrand on zatista.com

According to NPR’s Claire O’Neill, “The photo comes at the mammoth proportion of about 6-by-11 feet, and that’s got to count for something. Plus (sorry all starving photographers), that price tag is nothing unusual for Gursky. Until the purchase of Cindy Sherman‘s Untitled in May, Gursky’s 99 Cent II Diptychon had been the most expensive photo, which sold at Sotheby’s for $3.3 million in 2007. He has photos in major museums like the Museum of Modern Art and London’s Tate Modern and studied under the renowned Bernd and Hilla Becher in Germany.”

Byron Bay by Daniel Grant on zatista.com

The good news is, we don’t sell $4 million photos here on Zatista. We sell affordable photographs, like the two above and this one:

Sheets on a Clothesline by Norman Lerner on zatista.com

And this one:

Shadows by Jeffrey Hummel on zatista.com

And this one:

Negatives #18 by Klaus Rossler

And that’s barely the tip of the iceberg. So make yourself a pot of tea, grab your lap top, sit back in your easy chair, breathe a deep sigh of relief, and enjoy the bounty of budget-friendliness that we have to offer. It’s art that’s fit for folks with fabulous taste and a budget like you and me!

Related articles

• 10 Ways to Make a New St(ART) (zatista.com)
• Gursky sets record for photograph (bbc.co.uk)

Tangerine Tango!

Prada in Tangerine Tango image: GoRunway/Indigital

Eiseman continues, “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Pantone comments, “Over the past several years, orange has grown in popularity and acceptance among designers and consumers alike. A provocative attention-getter, Tangerine Tango is especially appealing in men’s and women’s fashion.”

“Tangerine Tango is a bit exotic, but in a very friendly, non-threatening way. Tangerine Tango is a complementary opposite that flatters blue or green eyes. When paired with brown, it brings out an amber cast,” says Pantone.

Pantone suggests, “Energize interior spaces with Tangerine Tango patterned home accessories. Pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue add spice to any room. Or incorporate Tangerine Tango appliances and personal electronics for an unexpected pop of color.”

Related articles

• Color of the Year 2011 (zatista.com)
• Color of the Year 2010 (zatista.com)
• Pantone names orange as its colour of the year (money-gurus.com)
• Yellow is the New Red (zatista.com)

Interested in joining our “Most Needy” art contest on Facebook? Take this simple quiz:

1. Do you own a Velvet Elvis?
2. Do you have a Van Gogh, Picasso, or similar ‘greatest hits’ poster from college still hanging on a wall at home?
3. Are your walls naked and in desperate need of help?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, upload a photo of your dreadful art or explain to us why your wall needs updating. Then, tell all your friends to cast their votes for you on Facebook! Zatista will choose a winner from among the 3 most voted for entries. The winner will win $100 in free art from Zatista.

So, what are you waiting for? Enter today!

Related articles

• A Walk in the Park (zatista.com)
• Meditative Mandalas (zatista.com)
• Masters of Gouache (zatista.com)
• Home Sewn (zatista.com)

Beclometasona, 2008 by Damien Hirst gagosiangallery.com

The Complete Spot Paintings exhibit, opening at all Gagosian Galleries today, offers Hirst-o-files and jet setters alike The Complete Spot Painting Challenge where dedicated dot hunters can visit each of the eleven galleries and receive a signed spot print by British artist Damien Hirst.

The Complete Spot Challenge gagosiangallery.com

Spot seekers may supplement the hunt by referencing Gagosian Gallery’s free iPad app which provides an overview of exhibitions and projects at Gagosian Gallery and includes a Damien Hirst “art board” for exploring over ninety spot paintings.

DL-P-Chlorophenylalanine Methyl Ester, 1998 by Damien Hirst gagosiangallery.com

A body of work spanning 25 years, Mr. Hirst’s spot paintings are controversial for a variety of reasons, one of which is, according to the New York Times, “Of the hundreds of spot canvases, Mr. Hirst painted only five himself”.

"Controlled Substance Key Painting," by the British artist Damien Hirst, dates from 1994, an earlier "spot painting" period.

Will this global exhibit be as “fantastically boring” as Richard Dorment, art critic for The Daily Telegraph in London, called the spot paintings? When asked about the premise of the Gagosian shows, he replied: “The accumulation of scores of them in one place like the Tate’s Turbine Hall could make a visual impact, but I can’t see the point of filling all of Gagosian’s galleries around the world. What purpose will it serve?”

Prochlorperazine, 2009 by Damien Hirst gagosiangallery.com

After today, the world (aka the critics) will decide. Meanwhile, let’s go and see for ourselves!

Related articles

• Damien Hirst’s spots: a rough guide to the pricing (telegraph.co.uk)
• Art World Star Doesn’t Change His Spots – New York Times (nytimes.com)
• Will Damien Hirst Dot the Art Market to Death? (bigthink.com)
• Spots (fashioncopious.typepad.com)

photo: Goeril Saetre for The New York Times

I came across this house recently in The New York Times.

photo: Goeril Saetre for The New York Times

Not surprisingly, the carefully furnished (aka, sparse interior) caught my eye. I couldn’t help but wonder: is there any artwork on the walls?

photo: Goeril Saetre for The New York Times

With each photo, the notion became less and less likely. Granted, in a house that doesn’t have running water, I’m not entirely surprised.

photo: Goeril Saetre for The New York Times

Clearly, there is an intention of simplicity in this home. Yet for conversation’s sake, my question to you is: If this was your house, would you hang art? If not, so be it. But if so, what kind of art and where?

photo: Goeril Saetre for The New York Times

Or, is the view of the dense forest outside the windows framed by the clean lines of the house, art in itself?

photo: Goeril Saetre for The New York Times

I must admit, I’d love to spend a weekend away in a place like this. Would you?

Related articles

• What Americans Keep Ignoring About Finland’s School Success (theatlantic.com)
• Cozy Living: Finnish Birch Tree Cabin (apartmenttherapy.com)
• Finnish Spitz Dogs (dogster.com)

image: pastemagazine.com

As December comes to a close, we’d like to wrap up with a look at what got people talking on WallSpin this year. Here’s a round-up of our most popular posts from 2011:

from 'Upset in San Francisco' post on WallSpin – Artist Tom Otterness Photo: Gawker.com

Upset in San Francisco – October 20, 2011
Gawker dropped a bomb on legions of animal lovers in San Francisco earlier this month. New York based artist Tom Otterness, who was contracted by the city to create a series of statues for a local subway station, is known to have…

from 'Sleeping With Art' post on WallSpin – Square Ring by B Perrino www.bperrino.com

Sleeping With Art – September 22, 2011
Barbara Perrino is an accomplished New York artist, versatile in many mediums. After spending years as a fine art photographer she turned to quilts. There’s no fuss, frill, or flower here. These are not your Grandma’s quilts…

from 'Journey to the East' post on WallSpin – Hiroshige "Swallows and Peach Blossoms Under a Full Moon" princeton.edu

Journey to the East – March 29, 2011
The minimalism and elegance of traditional Japanese brush work and woodblock printing has made its way into the work of Western artists of the past and present…

from 'Is It Done Yet?' post on WallSpin – "Untitled" by Fernando Velez Castro on Zatista.com

Is it Done Yet? – March 17, 2011
When I watch my wife, who is a painter, or any of our artist friends work on a piece, I’m always intrigued by how they know the work is done…

from 'In the Studio' post on WallSpin – Frida Kahlo – nytimes.com

In The Studio – Creating Community – March 15, 2011
We live in a time of reality TV and tell-all books, and I think involving artists and non-artists in the creative process sparks that natural curiosity we all have about other people’s lives…

Related articles

• HBR’s Most Popular Blog Posts of 2011 (blogs.hbr.org)
• Best of 2011: Pop Culture’s Tastiest Bits (wired.com)
• ‘Conan’: Best of 2011 (huffingtonpost.com)
• The 10 Best Art Exhibitions of 2011 (complex.com)

1. Gift for the kids – What’s not to love about this modern doll house?

Brinca Dada Dylan Doll House from brincadada.com

2. Gift for the photo lover – Customize your own View Master:

Custom Viewfinder from image3d.com

3. Gift or brilliant idea for the cocktail party – A great way to keep track of your glass:

Chalkboard Wine Glass from chalkboardchina.com

4. Recipe for the holiday menu – This is a proven crowd pleaser:

Paula Deen's Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle from foodnetwork.com

5. Gift for the art lover, yourself or otherwise – There’s nothing better than the real deal from Zatista.com:

Looking South by Jan Ter Weele from Zatista.com

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Related articles

• It’s About Time (zatista.com)
• Wood Works (zatista.com)
• Intimate Interiors (zatista.com)

Tree in the library photo: Chris Scott/flickr

Egg in the library photo: Chris Scott/flickr

Coffin in the library photo: Chris Scott/flickr

Tea cup in the library photo: Chris Scott/flickr

The phantom returns photo: Chris Scott/flickr

Then the sculptures started popping up again, this time with an explanatory note.

Explanatory note photo: Chris Scott/flickr

Since I never want to be the spoiler of a good mystery, feel free to spend a few minutes reading up on this creative whodunit (links below). You won’t be sorry. In fact, you may be inspired this holiday season to give the gift of original art! Trust us, art is the gift that does not disappoint.

Related articles

• Who Left A Tree, Then A Coffin In The Library? (npr.org)
• The Library Phantom Returns! (npr.org)
• Mysterious paper sculptures – Central Station Blog post (community.thisiscentralstation.com)
• Mystery sculptures appear at Edinburgh book festival (guardian.co.uk)

Art installation by Chrisotpher Janney at Miami airport photo: Design Boom

Running through the weekend, Art Basel “features contemporary works by more than 2,000 artists offered from some 265 major galleries representing five continents, as well as an array of events, satellite fairs extending from Miami Beach to vibrant new Miami art districts like Wynwood, and of course the jet-set parties roaring up and down the Art Deco corridors of Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue,” says Time’s Global Spin blog.

Works by artist Jeff Koons at Rubell Family Collection photo: Jeff Koons

Miami billionaire and art collector extraordinaire Norman Braman (who helped bring Art Basel to Florida) tells Global Spin, “There’s no question that this is now the foremost art fair in the U.S.”

Installation by artist Paulo Nazareth at Mendes Wood photo: GalleristNY

The fair’s tenth anniversary will inaugurate a new collaboration with the Bass Museum of Art on the Art Public sector, which will transform Collins Park with unique artworks and performances by renowned artists and emerging talents. For the first time, Art Video will be presented free to the public in SoundScape Park on the large-scale outdoor projection wall of the New World Center, designed by Frank Gehry.

Installation by artist Mike Kelley at Tony Shafrazi Gallery photo: GalleristNY

If the main event is not your cup of tea, follow Huffington Post’s Miami blog for daily reports on the best under-the-radar happenings. There are, quite literally, hundreds of different events going on daily in Miami this weekend. There’s something for everyone during the Miami fair season.

Lanvin's Disco Tableau at The Rubell Family Collection photo: Huffington Post

And when your appetite for art is fully satisfied, head over to the Electric Pickle to check out the beachy club scene and kick back or find your groove via the sounds of Culpirt. If it turns out that music or a 24 hour party is a better fit for you, return to Miami in March for Winter Music Conference.

Jennifer Rubell in front of her installation "Incubation" at Rubel Family Collection photo: Huffington Post

Finally, here’s StyleCaster‘s list of eight artists not to be missed at the Miami fairs. By all means, enjoy! And don’t forget to report your findings back to us here on WallSpin.

Related articles

• Art Basel Miami: How the Seaside City Became a Cultural Hotspot (globalspin.blogs.time.com)
• Scene City: At Art Basel Miami Beach, Insiders Meet Newcomers – Scene City (nytimes.com)
• Live Blogging From Art Basel Miami Beach (LIVE BLOG) (huffingtonpost.com)
• Your Guide to Miami’s Art Basel (marieclaire.com)

With colorful and graphic screen prints happy enough to make even the biggest sourpuss jump for joy, Dallas-based husband and wife design team Jeff Barfoot and Shay Ometz, aka Bee Things, talk to Zatista’s contributing writer Nancy Cost about the best and worst parts of working together, and who gets the final say.

Note: Jeff is answering the questions and Shay’s chiming in on occasion.

Painted Bunting by Bee Things on Zatista

How do you like being a husband and wife design team?
We love it. Bee Things is not our day job – I’m a principal at RBMM, the design arm of advertising agency The Richards Group, and Shay is a Senior Art Director for fashion brand Fossil. Bee Things is our escape, our project that doesn’t have a deadline.

What’s the best part?
Just getting a chance to spend more time together. Our work and family commitments take up just most of our time and energy, so having this gives us a chance to talk and laugh and be affectionate instead of sitting and watching t.v. or burying our heads in our respective books.

The hardest part?
Keeping up with it. We have pretty demanding jobs, and two very demanding young kids. The other hard thing is if one of us is out of commission (sick, traveling, etc.), the whole operation shuts down so the other can take care of the kids. It’s hard, but so wonderful too; I can’t quite describe it.

Who gets the final say?
“Me!” says Shay, with a mouth full of ice cream. We concept and sketch everything together. I’m more the illustrator, so I usually take our sketch and execute it on the computer, get it about 90% there. Shay always knows how to add that last wonderful ten percent, that spark that makes it come alive. Every time I’ve ever put my foot down and argued, she’s been right. I remember two prints where I argued strongly at the very end. On one, I won, and it’s our worst-selling print of all time. On the other, Shay won, and it’s one of our best-sellers. But don’t tell her I told you that.

Waiting for Love by Bee Things on Zatista

How long do you spend on a design before you start screening prints?
It depends. Sometimes they just come right out, and sometimes we have to drag them through the mud for a while before they behave themselves. Some prints we sketched, illustrated, and printed the same weekend. Other prints we have in the works for weeks, not quite right, before they finally talk to us. But when they’re done, we know instantly.

What is your studio like?
Our studio is an outbuilding in our back yard. It’s small, about 200 square feet, but wonderful and colorful and cozy. We print by hand, so the only electronics our there are a stereo (which pretty much plays either NPR or Red Sox baseball games via the iPhone), and an air conditioner. We also have a small fridge full of only two things: emulsion fluid for making screens, and cold beer.

How large can you make your prints?
Our largest size is 24” x 18”, but that’s really stretching our workspace to its limit. We’re at our best around 14” x 11” or 16” x 20”. Most of our prints are 10” x 14”, so people can buy off-the-shelf frames that are either 12” x 16” or 16” x 20” and have a nice, even border around them.

How did you first decide to make screen prints?
When Shay was pregnant with our first son, I filled a brown paper bag with snacks for her everyday. I would draw with crayons on the bag, always something different. Her friends and coworkers would see the bags and say, “You need to sell those!” But we didn’t give it much thought. At that same time, we bought a house with a little studio-shed-thing in the back yard. As we were talking about what to do with the rooms Shay said in an offhand way, “You should make the shed-thingy into a screen printing studio. I’ll bet you would like that.” And I said, “I wonder if you can screen print on lunch bags?” Neither of us had any experience screen printing, even in college. So, I bought a screen printing book and that was that – it all came together. I converted the little structure into a studio and we made our first print right away – with the wrong ink and everything – but we loved the medium.

Blue Jays by Bee Things on Zatista

How do you get inspired?
The best answer is: we’ve let our creativity become our lifestyle. Our dining room table has our computers and sketchbooks and jars of pencils and markers. We talk work all the time, whether we’re cooking dinner or out at the movies. That’s the blessing and curse of doing what you love for a living – we use everything around us all the time for inspiration, but we also never quite get a break from it (which usually don’t mind). We’re so lucky, and we talk about it every day, really. We love our “worklife.”

Who are some artists you admire?
The big ones are Charles and Ray Eames. To us, they really epitomize the wonderfully happy “worklife”. Others are Charles Schultz, American designer Paul Rand, German designer Otl Aicher, and Charley Harper. Shay’s are Paul Klee, Donna Wilson, her Mom, Caroline (a painter), and of course, Charley Harper.

What cities do you like to visit for their art & design culture?
Oh man do we love London. London’s jumble of cultures and people and food and shops is addicting. London has all kinds of little pockets of neighborhoods to discover, and a really interesting mix of brand new modern buildings next to others that are hundreds of years old. We also love New York. It always gets me is how wonderfully schizophrenic and dense the city is. A world-class museum is two doors down from a dry cleaner is across the street from a five-star restaurant is next to a thrift store. You can visit New York a hundred times, live there even, and never stop being surprised.

What do you think Bee Things will be creating or designing in 5 years?
We would love to design home products. We’re always getting ideas for knife racks, cutting boards, clocks, chairs, scarves, hats, mugs, etc. But the initial cost of producing and warehousing products is steep compared to creating a storing limited edition prints and paper goods. So, if there are any angel investors out there reading this, give us a call!

Blue Moth (on yellow) by Bee Things on Zatista

What is your advice to people who are not sure how to incorporate colorful artwork into their homes?
We loooooooove color! We have it all over our home. I think an easy guideline for someone who doesn’t have a lot of bright color in their home is to “double pop.” If you have a room that you are thinking of putting a bright yellow butterfly print in (wink wink!) it helps to have another object in the room, like a vase or single chair, of the same color. We also say that you can’t have too much bright and optimistic color.

What’s hanging on the walls at your house?
We have a our own prints and original artwork and prints by other folks we love and admire. To name a few of the larger pieces, we have a vintage Swiss rowing competition poster, a few original Charley Harper prints, two prints from my design mentor, Jack Summerford, Golden Gate National Park posters by Michael Schwab, posters from some of our favorite designers (Paul Rand, Ivan Chermayeff, Milton Glaser), and a 1972 Munich Olympics poster by designer Otl Aicher. We have a lot of smaller, beautiful pieces that Shay has collected over the years, way too many to list here. They’re all meaningful additions to our happy home!

"Over the River" by Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Mark your calendars for late summer of 2014 – Christo‘s next project has been approved! In the incubator since the early 1990s, Christo and Jeanne-Claude‘s “Over the River” installation includes eight suspended panels totaling nearly 6 miles along a 42 mile stretch of the Arkansas River in southern Colorado, three hours southwest of Denver.

"Over the River" by Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Currently waiting further permitting, construction is expected to begin in 2012 and will culminate in a two week showing in 2014. The New York Times reports, “Christo’s larger-than-life vision [for this project] has divided environmentalists, residents and politicians for years over questions of aesthetics, nature and economic impact.”

"Wrapped Trees" by Christo and Jeanne-Claude

The article continues, “Federal officials said that “Over the River” could generate $121 million in economic output and draw 400,000 visitors, both during the construction — which could become its own tourist event — and the display itself.”

"The Gates" by Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Christo’s projects – including The Pont Neuf Wrapped, The Umbrellas, Wrapped Reichstag, Wrapped Trees, and most recently The Gates in New York’s Central Park – are breathtakingly beautiful to witness. If you haven’t seen one in person yet, now is the time. Run, don’t walk, to Colorado in 2014.

"The Wall – 13,000 Oil Barrels" by Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Which Christo projects have you experienced? Share with us here on WallSpin.

Related articles

• Christo gets permission to wrap the Arkensas River (telegraph.co.uk)
• Artist Christo Gives National Gallery 2 Collages (abcnews.go.com)
• Christo ‘Over The River’ Project: Colorado Approves 2 Leases (VIDEO) (huffingtonpost.com)

photo: Eirini Vourloumis for The New York Times

As evidenced by the universal symbol of hands in prayer, the debt crisis looms in Greece. But in downtown Athens there are signs that the struggles have given birth to an artistic awakening, a recent New York Times article reports.

A work by the Greek street artist Hope is on view at the Kunsthalle Athena as part of an exhibition titled “Summer in the Middle of Winter.” photo: Eirini Vourloumis for The New York Times

“The debt crisis here has created an intriguing bright spot: a burst of artistic activity in response to the national identity crisis it has provoked,” says Rachel Donadio of the NY Times.

A painting by street artist Bleeps.gr photo: Eirini Vourloumis for The New York Times

Donadio continues, “Art galleries are thriving. Street artists paint tiny gems amid the growing downtown squalor. A new generation of filmmakers has captured the air of uncertainty by making the familiar strange.”

Another painting by Bleeps.gr photo: Eirini Vourloumis for The New York Times

Similar to well known British street artist, Banksy, this artist’s identity remains undercover.

image from "Attenberg" by Athina Rachel Tsangari

Greece has submitted the film, “Attenberg,” directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari, to be considered for an Academy Award nomination this year. It’s happened before – creativity and art are not necessarily born of peaceful and easy times.

Rebecca Camhi photo: Eirini Vourloumis for The New York Times

The Times states galleries are thriving, but gallerist Rebecca Camhi clarifies, “People are buying less and less…but there are more visitors.”  That art can be a comfort in times of despair, is not a foreign concept.

A work by Lydia Dambassina at the Kunsthalle Athena photo: Eirini Vourloumis for The New York Times

The exhibition pictured above was held at the Kunsthalle Athena, reported to be a “beautifully run-down old building, a warren of rooms with peeling paint, ornate mouldings and spotty wiring.”

A work by the French artist Matthieu Laurette at the Kunsthalle Athena photo: Eirini Vourloumis for The New York Times

Evidently, art hung on moldy walls – a setting which aptly echoes the economic climate. In this photo, a sentiment many of us can relate to during these uncertain times.

-

Related articles

• In Athens, Crisis as Muse (nytimes.com)
• In Transit Blog: Guess Where This Is (intransit.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Battered by Economic Crisis, Greeks Turn to Barter Networks (stevebeckow.com)
• Pictures of the Day: Greece and Elsewhere (lens.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Artist Paints Burning Bank on Day of Rage (zatista.com)
• Upset in San Francisco (zatista.com)

Circus Liquor, Plein Air by Alex Schaefer on Zatista.com

If you haven’t already heard, Zatista artist Alex Schaefer, painting teacher at world renowned Art Center College of Design, had a little run-in with the law again last month. Stirred by reading on the Internet that September 17 was to be a Day of Rage on Wall Street, Alex wanted to go out and make a painting.

Breakfast at Tommy's Burgers by Alex Schaefer on Zatista.com

In true artist fashion, and true to his emphasis on working from the live model, Alex camped out with easel and canvas across the street from the Los Angeles branch of The Federal Reserve to create a painterly image with a message (read Federal Reserve Bank in flames).

art by Alex Schaefer

Did I mention this is not Alex’s first painting of a bank in flames? He’s been known to paint images of symbolism on fire. Given this knowledge, guess who showed up while Alex was painting? Yes, Homeland Security. It’s happened before.

Bourbon Street, Plein Air by Alex Schaefer on Zatista.com

Indeed sacrifices are made in the name of art, but at least artist’s life is not boring. For more info about Alex’s work and links to other media including The Alex Schaefer Hour and an interview on Dan Rather Reports, click here. For a front row seat to Alex’s plein air painting of the LA Federal Reserve Branch, and his visit by the cops, see his video below:

What’s your opinion? Have any harrowing experiences of your own tell? Dare to share here on WallSpin.

If you missed our post about this last year, here’s your second chance. The Sketchbook Project – a group art project in which anyone from anywhere in the world can participate. Artist or otherwise, you and someone you know can be part of this project. To receive a sketchbook, pay $25, choose a theme from a list of 30 intriguing possibilities including: In Fifty Years, Fears and Tears, Treehouse, Heroes and Villains, or opt for the project to choose a theme for you.

Sketchbook by Duncan Reid

Sign up by October 31, 2011, and postmark your completed sketchbook by January 31, 2012. Tour begins April 2012 and will stop in Brooklyn, Chicago, Portland, OR, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, Portland, ME, Toronto, Vancouver, Atlanta, Austin, London, and Melbourne.

Sketchbook by Ken McCarthy

Creator of the project, Art House Co-op says, “Thousands of sketchbooks will be exhibited at galleries and museums as they make their way on tour across the country. After the tour, all sketchbooks will enter into the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view. For an additional $20, your completed sketchbook can be professionally scanned and uploaded to the official Sketchbook Project virtual archive. Visitors from anywhere around the world will be able to explore your work online.

Sketchbook by Kate Castelli

Once a sketchbook is barcoded, authors and artists can track how many times it’s pulled it from the shelf, on tour and in the library, so you can stay connected with your sketchbook. How cool is that?

If you did this last year, tell us all about it. If you’re doing it this year, we want to know. Happy doodling!

Proposed Apple campus rendering

If Apple built a building, what would it be like? An article about Apple’s proposed campus by one of my favorite architecture critics, Alan Hess, caught my eye last week. “This enormous circle, this infinite loop, this shining doughnut that will be the new Apple campus in Cupertino is both impressive and puzzling”, Hess states in the San Jose Mercury News.

Proposed Apple campus rendering

“If an iPad could be scaled up to building size, this would be it: The design embodies the signature aesthetic of Apple products – minimalist to the point of inscrutability – until they flash to electronic life and become a window to the universe. But what works for a device you hold in your hand does not necessarily work at the scale of an office building”, according to Hess.

Proposed Apple campus rendering

Hess goes on to say, “What’s puzzling about the design, whose blueprints were made public last week, is how conventional it is conceptually. It breaks almost no new ground in reshaping the Silicon Valley workplace, and where it does depart from the norm it causes problems for itself. The new Apple campus makes no essential addition to the successful Silicon Valley high-tech campus prototype introduced at Stanford Industrial Park 60 years ago, which has become as much an architectural icon as the skyscraper. The only difference at Apple will be the packaging, provided by internationally famous architect Norman Foster.”

Proposed Apple campus rendering

Not surprisingly, the planning process for the Apple campus is expected to last for one year. Fortunately, the discussions regarding the design of the space and the area surrounding the building are intriguing, especially as Hess sheds light on the finer points of the campus’ architecture. However, if the topic of a tech campus just doesn’t float your boat, check out some of Alan Hess’ books on other noteworthy topics including: Frank Lloyd Wright, Googie architecture, Oscar Niemeyer, John Lautner, or California ranch homes. If Mid-Century modern tickles your fancy, let me suggest the following:

Palm Springs Weekend by Alan Hess

This is one Hess book I could not live without!

Keyboard (grey) by B Perrino www.bperrino.com

At first glance I thought these patterns were drawings or prints on paper. Without a doubt, these pieces are works of art on another level.

Orange Spiral by B Perrino www.bperrino.com

Not surprisingly, Barbara Perrino is an accomplished New York artist, versatile in many mediums.

Square Ring by B Perrino www.bperrino.com

After spending years as a fine art photographer, she made a ‘special gift for a special friend’ and the rest was history.

Black Rings by B Perrino www.bperrino.com

Here’s a great way to bring a bit of life, texture, and color into a room, without using a frame or glass.

Broken Chain by B Perrino www.bperrino.com

Even if you don’t think of yourself as a quilt person, you’ve got to admit that b/perrino’s color palette and clean, graphic patterns are pretty appealing.

Brown Totem by B Perrino www.bperrino.com

There’s no fuss, frill, or flower here; these are not your Grandma’s quilts. Try combining art like this with great original art on your walls. Sounds like a winning combination, don’t you think?

Jon Call, Interior Designer and founder of Mr Call Designs, a full service Design firm located in New York City is someone you want to know about, if you don’t already. Jon started his firm in 2010 to answer clients needs of resourcing homes at a variety of price points. Since then, Mr Call Designs has established themselves as “the ones to watch” in the world of interior design – creating finely detailed interiors that are accessible, beautiful and modern. Jon has garnered an extensive audience through his blog, Mr Call Blogs, and most recently through his work as Creative Director on The High Low Project, a new show which premiered September 3, 2011 on HGTV.  Mr Call will be speaking about his refreshing concept of luxury and why he’s excited about online art at the Affordable Art Fair in New York, September 21-25. Contributing writer Nancy Cost interviews this month’s Guest Curator, Mr Jon Call.

How did you get started in design?
My first job in the industry was working in the architectural department of Diamond Baratta Design.

What is your concept of luxury?
To me, the concept of luxury is having the freedom to make personal choices regardless of finances, trends, or the fear of what others will think.

Interior by Mr Call Designs

What role does artwork play in your interiors?
I use artwork to give a room a shot of adrenaline. Art brings a room to life and adds personality and character to a home.

How much effort should one put into selecting artwork for the home?
It should take no longer than getting dressed in the morning. It’s an initial, instinctive response.

Can style be affordable?
Making beautiful decisions is affordable. Extravagance is not.

What are a few ways to have fun with an interior without it looking like amateur hour?
Edit, edit, edit! You’ve got to clean your space and do it ruthlessly.

What are two of the most common design ‘mistakes’ people make when dressing their interiors?
Letting nerves get the best of them. Your initial instinct is best. Don’t second guess and don’t settle on a boring decision.

Elle Decor June 2011

What’s trending now?
We’re seeing neutral interiors with strong uses of primary colors. I just got back from fashion week and I was really inspired from the collections.

What’s your favorite thing to buy?
Lampshades!

What’s your number one tip for making an interior sizzle?
Making confident decisions from unexpected resources. I want every guest who walks into that home to say, “Where did they find that?”

What intrigues you about buying artwork online?
Buying art online breaks down an imaginary wall and makes art more accessible. Not only for my clients, but for myself included.

What’s hanging on your walls at home?
I have a 20 ft long wall that I use as a collage wall. It’s very informal. There’s an old poster by Félix Gonzalez-Torres from SFMOMA, and a collection of different art pieces and images.

Drop by and say “Hi” to us (we’re friendly!) Booth A-10 at the Affordable Art Fair in New York City next weekend, September 22-25. Works by the following Zatista artists will be exhibited: Katherine Fraser, Norman Lerner, Ken Horne, Lisa Caccioppoli, Susan Grissom, David Pettibone, Warren Keating, and Maude Andrade. Plus, we’d really, really love to see you.

It’s a casual and inviting atmosphere, suitable for anyone who’s ever been intimidated by a gallery before. Here’s a peek at what the fair has to offer:

Affordable Art Fair Spring 2011 NYC from Affordable Art Fair on Vimeo.

We look forward to meeting you!

photo: Stephanie Diani for The New York Times

In addition to its distinctive design, the juxtaposition of this trailer’s overhauled interior vs. the energy of burning man is intriguing. The interior has a Moorish theme whose nomadic culture appropriately reflects some of the concepts behind Burning Man.

photo: Stephanie Diani for The New York Times

According to the New York Times, “Among those attending [the festival] this year are neophytes Rachel Horn, 43, a Los Angeles interior designer, and Justin Kreizel, 33, her husband and business partner, who gutted and renovated a 180-square-foot 1969 Airstream trailer for the trip. The trailer, which they found on Craigslist for $5,000, has a working kitchen and a full bathroom, a living room, a bedroom and plenty of storage space.

photo: Stephanie Diani for The New York Times

The Times continues, “(Their budget for the entire project, including the trailer itself, was $20,000; as of this writing, what they actually spent had not been determined, but Ms. Horn said they had “gone way, way over budget.”)”

photo: Stephanie Diani for The New York Times

Needless to say, the airstream’s interior is filled with high end finishes one would not usually find in a trailer: custom cabinets, Carrera marble, stainless steel appliances, and a fancy cappuccino machine.

photo: Stephanie Diani for The New York Times

My favorite fact from this article is that Rachel has never been camping before. Funny, huh? I can’t help but be impressed by how this rookie rolls out. And to Burning Man, no less. I wonder where their campsite will be on the playa? Who will their neighbors be?

photo: hilong2 James Price flickr.com

Burning Man 2011: August 29 – September 5. Long live Black Rock City.

Jonn Coolidge apartment Photo Credit: Laure Joliet for The New York Times

Here we see how the combination of architecture and personal taste do not clash, but blend together thoughtfully. This interior is not overly decorated or filled with colors and patterns. In fact, the opposite seems to be the intention, following the modernist aesthetic.

Richard Serra's Tujunga Blacktop hangs in the dining room Photo Credit: Laure Joliet for The New York Times

Simplicity flows from the furniture, to the art, to the frames, for an overall look and feel of clean lines and sophistication.

Yellow Bird cardboard sculptures by Tony Smith and ceramics by Wilhelm Kage Photo Credit: Laure Joliet for The New York Times

Color lovers do not fear – black and white is not the only palette here!

Photo Credit: Laure Joliet for The New York Times

This saturated yellow pierces the space with effortless distinction. Between the natural light and this art, seeing this space makes me happy. I could live here.

Robert Ryman print from Concept Art Gallery in Pittsburgh Photo Credit: Laure Joliet for The New York Times

This photo makes an important point: the art itself is nearly impossible to see but the presence of artwork in a frame gives the feeling of a ‘finished’ room. In my opinion, art is an essential part of every space.

Richard Serra print Photo Credit: Laure Joliet for The New York Times

The strong shape depicted in this artwork jumps off the wall and there’s a synergy happening here between the art, and the lines and color of this corner chair. Very appealing.

Credit: Laure Joliet for The New York Times

The two Robert Mangold prints to the right of the desk above were the first pieces Coolidge bought when he started collecting.

Credit: Laure Joliet for The New York Times

Punctuating the neutral color scheme and abundance of light, the blue in this artwork brings serenity to this room. Similar to the photo of the bedroom, we don’t need to see the entire frame to appreciate how the artwork contributes to the space. Overall, I think this apartment is a great example of how our homes and our art do not have to be fussy. If we give thought to all elements of a room, including the artwork, with a bit of grace and ease we can create a beautifully simple space that makes a great statement.