Art Fund Cooks Up A Clever Way To Help UK Museums and Galleries

above: Photographs by Maja Smend, food styling by Kim Morphew, prop styling by Lydia Brun

A new fundraising initiative from the Art Fund encourages art lovers to create edible masterpieces with all funds raised going toward helping UK museums and galleries.

Artists & Illustrators Draw On Their Love Of Animals For The Creative Pet Project.

I know there are many wonderfully innovative and creative projects out there asking for your funding on sites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter. But this one is truly worthwhile and supports two causes close to my own heart - Animals and Art. Rob Snow and the artists put a ton of work into it and the rewards for contributing are terrific (shown further down in the post), so I hope you will consider helping them fund the project.


above: "Rooooaaar!" by Rob Snow, the brainchild behind the Creative Pet Project

Over the past two years, 111 artists and illustrators from around the world have come together to form the Creative Pet Project. Their intent is to create a unique and beautiful book - but a book with a difference. The aim of the book would be to raise funds for numerous charities which support animals. For this reason the criteria for inclusion in the book was to have a companion animal and, at the same time, include animals in the artwork.





Many a well-known name in art genres such as pop surrealism, lowbrow art, and children’s book illustration have come together because they share a goal and motivation; to help animals.



Just a few participating in the project are Tara McPherson, Martin Wittfooth, Chet Zar, Dilka Bear, John Brophy, Ana Bagayan, Sas Christian, Brian Kesinger (of Teagirl fame) and Brandt Peters/Kathie Olivas. The talent in the book is endless.


above left: artists Sas and Colin Christian with Bunny and Brody; above right: artist Carol Rizzo with her cat, Bear.

Many of the artists (65%) have rescue animals. They have become passionate about their connection to animals, which shows in the amazing artwork which this project has selected. To give you an idea of some of the talent included, here is a selection of some of those featured in the project (click their names to visit their sites/article sites). Raffaele Bafefit, Ana Bagayan, Dilka Bear, Chris Brett, John Brophy, Chris Buzelli, Rachel Caldwell, Erica Calardo, John Casey, Mary Chiaramonte, Sas Christian, David Cowles, Chris Crites, Antonio Segura Donat, Lola Gil, Paulina Góra, Fabio Hurtado, Jon Jaylo, Andy Kehoe, Brian Kesinger, Jean-Christian Knaff, Anita Kunz, Jen Lobo, Tara McPherson, Jackie Morris, Ricardo Martinez Ortego, Yuko Shimizu, Heiidi Tailleferr, Martin Wittfooth, Chet Zar

Artwork from the Creative Pet Project:


The book is now ready, and ready to print. On Saturday, February 1st they launched a funding campaign at Indiegogo (igg.me/at/cpp-book), in the hopes of raising enough money to publish the book as well as continue the project for further volumes.

The charities to benefit from the book are planned at three per volume. The first volume's proceeds would go toward PETA, IFAW and Born Free USA. These charities are doing invaluable work for animals, the environment and education.

Below is the pitch from Rob Snow, the creative force behind the project, used on Indiegogo:


The perks/rewards:

For helping fund the book, perks include wonderful prints by the artists who contributed to it.

The Creative Pet Project asked the contributing members to add some pieces of work to the possible perks included for this campaign. Many have given permission to do limited prints of the work included, some signed, some unsigned. Original pieces, and other items to interest you in contributing. There are so many they have listed them so you can see and choose the week that you'd like to get the perk.

Week One ~ 1st - 7th Feb and Week Five ~ 1st - 7th March:


1. "Madonna" by Anita Cruz - limited edition print ($300) Signed 14.5"x16" 1 available
2. "Boris" by Kristin Tercek - limited edition print ($50) Signed 11”x14” 1 available
3. "Foxes" by Yating Sun - limited edition print ($50) Unsigned 11”x15” 4 available
4. "Rooooaaar!" by Rob Snow - limited edition print ($150) Signed 27”x19” 10 available
5. "Pets" by Rob Reger - limited edition print ($50) Unsigned 8”x10” 25 available
6. "Las Abejas No Tienen Rey" by Sergio Chaves - limited edition print ($40) Unsigned 11”x16” 10 available
7. "Manny" by Rick Dienzo Blanco - limited edition print ($30) Signed 10”x10” 25 available
8. "Wisdom" by Jon Jaylo - limited edition print ($80) Signed 11”x17” 10 available
9. "Somewhere" by Dilka Bear - limited edition print ($68) Unsigned 12.7”x16” 3 available
10. "untitled106" by Paulina Góra - original painting ($250) Signed 27”x19” 1 available
11. "Water Animals" by Rachel Caldwell - limited edition print ($250) Signed 13”x13" 1 available
12. "Wisdomseeker" by Lorena Krause - limited edition print ($50) Signed 7”x11” 1 available


Week Two ~ 8th Feb - 14th & Week Six ~ 8th - 14th March


1. "Mr.Froggy" by Erica Calardo - limited edition print ($60) Signed 5.83"x8.27” 1 available
2. "Crow" by Yating Sun - limited edition print ($50) Signed 7”x11” 3 available
3. "Where are you" by Jen Lobo - limited edition print ($50) Signed 7”x11” 10 available
4. "C'mon Baby Light My Fire" by Anita Kunz - limited edition print ($300) Signed 14.5”x16” 1 available
5. "pro32" by Paulina Góra - original sketch ($35) Signed 8”x11” 1 available
6. "Betula" by Kristen Tercek - limited edition print ($50) Signed 11”x14” 1 available
7. "Sunrise" by Cole Lemke - limited edition print ($50) Unsigned 11”x16” 10 available
8. "Gatorcat" by William B Hand - limited edition print ($80) Unsigned 16”x21” 10 available
9. "Somewhere - part 2" by Dilka Bear - limited edition print ($68) Unsigned 12.7”x16” 3 available
10. "India" by Jean-Christian Knaff - limited edition print ($90) Signed 16”x11” 80 available
11. "Blancaflor" by Tesa González - limited edition print ($100) Signed 16”x11” 10 available
12. "Pimp My Ride" by Rob Snow - limited edition print ($120) Signed 16”x21” 10 available
13. "Pet Portrait" by Lou Pimentel - limited edition print ($150) Signed 4.5”x6” 1 available

Week Three ~ 15th - 22nd Feb & Week Seven ~ 15th - 22nd March


1. "Cat Lover(s)" by John Casey - limited edition print ($68) Unsigned 11”x16” 10 available
2. "Hope for Rain" by Marco Piunti - limited edition print ($60) Signed 16”x21” 10 available
3. "Zephur" by Kirstin Tercek - limited edition print ($50) Signed 11”x14” 1 available
4. "The Monkees" by Anita Kunz - limited edition print ($300) Signed 14.5”x16” 1 available
5. "En Attente Expectations" by Marty-Cruz - limited edition print ($30) Unsigned 8.27”x11.69” 10 available
6. "Girl Green" by Yating Sun - limited edition print ($50) Unsigned 11”x17” 3 available
7. "Human & Pet #1" by Marty-Cruz - original sketch ($58) Signed 5,83”x8,27” 1 available
8. "Morphseeker" by Lorena Krause - limited edition print ($50) Signed 7”x11” 1 available
9. "Shell" by Elena Ospina - limited edition print ($50) Unsigned 11”x16” 20 available
10. "Jimi Hendrix" by Anita Kunz - limited edition print ($300) Signed 14.5”x16” 1 available
11. "Rod Stewart" by Anita Kunz - limited edition print ($300) Signed 14.5”x16” 1 available
12. "The Unloved Ones" by Mario Sánchez Nevado - limited edition print ($50) Unsigned 16”x11” 50 available
13. "Tea" by Lazarina Nedelcheva - limited edition print ($40) Unsigned 11”x19” 10 available

Week Four ~ 23rd - 28th Feb & 22nd - 29th March


1. "The Stones" by Anita Kunz - limited edition print ($300) Signed 14.5”x16” 1 available
2. "Bioseeker" by Lorena Krause - limited edition print ($50) Signed 7”x11” 1 available
3. "Can't Resist" by Lazarina Nedelcheva - limited edition print ($40) Unsigned 11”x19” 10 available
4. "Hex" by Mary Chiaramonte - limited edition print ($50) Signed 18”x24” 1 available
5. "Steampunk Girl" by Yating Sun - limited edition print ($50) Unsigned 11”x17” 5 available
6. "Fox with Baby's Breath" by Yating Sun - limited edition print ($50) Unsigned 11”x17” 5 available
7. "Hide" by Lazarina Nedelcheva - limited edition print ($40) Unsigned 11”x19” 10 available
8. "Elvis" by Anita Kunz - limited edition print ($300) Signed 14.5”x16” 1 available
9. "Postcard Set" by Liran Szeiman - limited edition print ($22) Signed 4”x6” 1 available
10. Human & Pet #2" by Marty-Cruz - original sketch ($58) Signed 5,83”x8,27” 1 available
11. "Come Closer" by Lazarina Nedelcheva - limited edition print ($40) Unsigned 11”x19” 10 available


The Impact
The impact of your help will be to provide much needed funds to help animal charities in their crucial and critical work with animals, and environmental issues alike.

• To stop deforestation and land erosion.
• To stop animal trafficking and the extinction of species.
• To stop over fishing of the seas and illegal whaling.
• To stop animal abuse in many aspects from domestic/industrial and wildlife.



For more information, and to pledge some money to make this project work, or to pre-order a copy of the paperback or hardback versions, please visit the campaign site here . They have many perks and rewards to help you choose how to fund the project. For the cost of a cup of coffee, you could help make a difference.

Hardback
Beautiful hard back book with presentation box sleeve. Each purchase here comes with a ePub version as well.

• 111 Full Colour Paintings and Illustrations.
• 111 Portrait images with pet of the artists involved.
• 11.6" x 11.6" in dimension
• Biography of artist and pets.
• Image description.
• Over 250 pages of literature.
• Including charities work program spreads.
• Contributor thank you section.
• Comes in a box sleeve presentation.

$65 + P&P - Order here

Softback
Beautiful soft back book with satin finish cover. Each purchase here comes with a ePub version as well.

• 111 Full Colour Paintings and Illustrations.
• 111 Portrait images with pet of the artists involved.
• 11.6" x 11.6" in dimension
• Biography of artist and pets.
• Image description.
• Over 250 pages of literature.
• Including charities work program spreads.
• Contributor thank you section.

$50 + P&P Order here

PDF of the book
An exact copy of the book in PDF format, to view on computer or tablet. Printing has been disabled.
$15 - Order here

eBook
A ePub version of the book. Redesigned to suit the ePub format.
$10 - Order here

Infographic


For your interest, they have created a very cool infographic (of which a very small part is shown above) to help explain the contributors presence. The full PDF version can be seen here: http://www.creative-pet-project.com/pdf/infographic.pdf

The Creative Pet Project on Indiegogo

My Valentine To You: The Evolution Of The Kiss In Art.

Ah, the kiss. The most romantic expression of love and tenderness. You may think that kissing as a subject in fine art is trite or cliche, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been depicted beautifully by many of the world's most well-known and respected artists. As my Valentine to you, I have rounded up some of the most interesting and iconic expressions of "The Kiss"  (Le Baiser, Der Kuss) by established artists over the past 150 years.

THE KISS:
The Kiss has long been a favorite subject for painters but no one has captured it quite like the pieces shown below, many of which have been reproduced over and over again. Here are some very famous - and not so famous - versions in chronological order starting with one of the most well-known examples that inspired many of the others, Francesco Hayez' The Kiss.

Francesco Hayez, The Kiss, 1859:


Auguste Rodin, The Kiss, marble sculpture. The piece was initially commissioned by the French State in 1888 and carved between 1888 and 1898. It was cast in bronze by Rodin as well:


William-Adolphe Bouguereau's most famous painting, Cupid and Psyche as Infants, is often incorrectly labeled as Le Premier Baiser (The First Kiss, 1873), 1890:


One of the earliest known paintings of a same sex kiss is that by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. He actually painted two works of the female couple in a lip lock in the same year and the two are often confused.

The Kiss, 1892:

In Bed, The Kiss (1892):


Edvard Munch also created multiple versions of his own interpretation of The Kiss in oil paint, lithography and woodcut as shown below.

The Kiss painting, 1897:

The Kiss lithograph, 1897:

The Kiss woodcut, 1897:


Easily the most well-known of Austrian painter Gustave Klimt's work is his The Kiss, painted between 1908 and 1909:


Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi's modern interpretation in stone as well as plaster. He created many versions of The Kiss, further simplifying geometric forms and sparse objects in each version, tending each time further toward abstraction.

The Kiss, stone, 1907-1910:

The Kiss, plaster, 1907-1910:


Rene Magritte's surrealist Interpretation of The Kiss, 1951:


Pablo Picasso actually created many pieces (at least 10) named The Kiss (or Le Baiser) during the years of his life.

First, his figurative version of The Kiss (also known as The Embrace), approx 1905:

His abstracted version of The Kiss in 1925:

His surrealist version of The Kiss  (also known as Figures By The Seaside) in 1931:

In 1969, Picasso painted a series of three pictures on the theme of 'The Kiss' (artist Jeff Koons owns one the momochromatic version on the left of the second photo) a day before his 88th birthday at his home at Mougins along the Côte d'Azur, where he lived the last fifteen years of his life:


And yet another painting of The Kiss by Picasso in 1969:


Joël Peter Witkin, an American photographer whose work often involves corpses, created this grotesque version of The Kiss in 1982:


South African artist Tracey Rose, who works with photography, video installations and performance art, created this live installation of The Kiss in 2001 of which 6 editions of Lamba prints were made:


William Cobbing further contemporized The Kiss by adding yet another medium, video, in 2004:


Inspired by a journalist's photo of then Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East German leader Erich Honecker sharing a kiss, Russian artist Dmitry Vrubel, painted his version of it on a surviving portion of the Berlin Wall in 2009:


And lastly, The Kiss, 2013 as seen by contemporary artist Erwin Wurm:


Interested in an even greater art selection of kisses? Check out The Kiss: A Celebration of Love in Art

And there you have it. I hope you enjoyed my selections and I wish all of you a very Happy Valentine's Day with lots of kisses.

Amazing Photographic Art Installation For The NYC Ballet & How It Was Done.

French artist JR was recently invited by the New York City Ballet to create a large-scale art installation, in collaboration with the dancers of the Company, for their 2014 Art Series.





The artist, who is known for exhibiting his works outside of museums and catching the attention of the public by freely placing his art on buildings and walls all over the world, has created an homage to the human form and dance within the hallways and floors of Lincoln Center for the New York City Ballet's Second Art Series.



above: the artist in the center of his floor installation

The installation includes numerous pieces, all created from JR's photographs of the NYC Ballet Company dancers clad in white. Large images are placed on the windows facing the exterior and can be found in various places in the interior. JR then created ink transfers on wood of some of his photographs and placed these throughout the halls of the venue. The piece de resistance is the floor, covered with a giant tromp l'oeil collage of the dancers against and interacting with white paper, creating a three-dimensional illusion with which he intends people to interact.

JR's photographs for the installation:







The ink wood transfers made from his photos:







The photographic floor installation:





Interacting with the installation:






A poster with an photo of the installation is being used to advertise the NYCB Art Series throughout New York:


Installing the art piece:




Many of the above images of the creation of this extraordinary installation are from JR's own instagram feed.

NYCB Art Series Presents: JR


His work will be on view at three special New York City Ballet Art Series performances on January 23rd, February 7th and February 13th, where all tickets are priced at $29, and all audience members will receive a limited edition commemorative piece.

Performances will go on sale to the public on January 6th.

About The NYCB Art Series:
NYCB Art Series commissions contemporary artists to create original works of art inspired by our unique energy, spectacular dancers, and one-of-a-kind repertory of ballets. New York City Ballet has worked with leading and emerging artists throughout the Company’s history — luminaries like Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Julian Schnabel. We are proud to continue this tradition through annual collaborations with some of the most compelling new artists on the scene today.

About the artist:
JR exhibits freely in the streets of the world, catching the attention of people who are not typical museum visitors. His work mixes Art and Act, talks about commitment, freedom, identity and limit. He creates "Pervasive Art" that spreads, uninvited, on the buildings of the slums around Paris, on the walls in the Middle-East, on the broken bridges in Africa or the favelas in Brazil. People who often live with the bare minimum discover something absolutely unnecessary. And they don't just see it, they make it. Some elderly women become models for a day; some kids turn artists for a week. In that Art scene, there is no stage to separate the actors from the spectators.


above: examples of JR's previous projects

After these local exhibitions, the images are transported to London, New York, Berlin or Amsterdam where people interpret them in the light of their own personal experience.

As he remains anonymous and doesn't explain his huge full frame portraits of people making faces, JR leaves the space empty for an encounter between the subject/protagonist and the passer-by/interpreter. He intends his work to inspire and raise questions.

A big thank you to both JR and Street Art News for the wonderful images, many of which I cropped and altered for visibility.

NYC Ballet
JR