ThingsAmongMany

I’m a huge mobile fan. Love Calder’s work. I’ve had a variety of mobiles as decor over the last few years. So, of course, I was excited when, not too long ago, I stumbled onto the work of Julie Frith, a mobile artist based out of California. Frith takes inspiration from Calder’s work as well (good luck finding a mobile artist who doesn’t), but also pulls inspiration from her parents - both artists - as well as a number of other modernist greats.

You can view Frith’s work on her website, which also includes her bio and some other interesting information. But if you’re looking to buy, your best bet is to hit up her Etsy Shop ASAP. All of her works on her Etsy Shop have been marked down by $25-50, but hurry because the sale ends TODAY!

A few weeks ago Danny wrote about Wall Blank, the get cheap art and fill your walls website. And this made me remember another site. Jen Bekman’s 20×200.
The idea is simple:

(limited editions × low prices) + the internet
= art for everyone

Each week the site posts two new pieces, a photograph and a work on paper:

Each image is available in three sizes.

* A small size – an edition of 200 for $20.
* A medium - sized edition of 20 for $200.
* A large - sized edition of 2 generally for $2000

Every piece of art is delivered with certificate of authenticity and numbered by the artist.   There is even the opportunity to purchase the original from the artist.

So how did this all get started?
Jen Bekman opened an apparently tiny gallery 5 years ago on the Lower East Side. Her mission was to support emerging artists and collectors.  20×200 takes her mission further and redefines what it means to be an art collector.  And of course, like any good art lover, all profits are donated — in this case to the Public Design Center.

What I like most about this site is the art. Its’ gorgeous — thought was obviously put in selecting the pieces. I will admit I get super frustrated when I see something I need-want-and-can’t-live-without and then click to find out the only print left is at the $2000 level — but hey, all the reason to visit 20×200 more often.

Ever heard of Charlie Kratzer? Neither had I until someone send me this article. He’s not the newest undiscovered fashion talent. He’s not the next up-and-coming artist on the NY gallery circuit. In fact, he’s not a NY’er at all. Charlie is, however an artist. And his chosen medium? How about Sharpie on basement wall…

Kratzer, a lawyer who works for Lexmark, decided one day that a wall in his basement was just a little too boring painted a plain off-white color. So he did what any four year old would do and grabbed the nearest Sharpie marker. Of course, instead of scribbling randomly, Charlie ended up with a mural that spanned the entire room, recalling settings and characters from a variety of inspiring sources. Through his basement walls, he’s channeled the Marx Brothers, William Shakespeare, his father, Winston Churchill, and a slew of other characters. He’s got his own Monet on the wall (self-drawn, of course), as well as rooms from his days at Cornell Law School.

All that for a whopping $10 worth of magic marker! Not too shabby for a lawyer who makes no mention of attending art school. If Sharpie were smart, they’d bring Charlie out to decorate some rooms in their office or something.