Showy Primrose Pollen

The pollen of Showy Primrose (Oenothera speciosa) (magnified 200x)

Borax

  

Uses of Borax: (sodium borate)

* Anti-fungal
* Flux
* Fluoride detoxification
* Curing agent; for snake skin, taxidermy, salmon eggs for fishing
* To stop leaks in car radiators and engine blocks
* Treatment for thrush in horse hooves
* Improves "fit" for glazes and slips on ceramic ware
* Color fires/flames with a green tint
* Fire retardant 

Pollen Spores and Asteroids

These images of pollen spores, bacteria, coral, shells and planetesimals are part of my source material for the textile and ceramic sculptures I am currently working on . . .

Scanning electron microscope image of pollen grains from a variety of common plants: sunflower (Helianthus annuus), morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea), prairie hollyhock (Sidalcea malviflora), oriental lily (Lilium auratum), evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa), and castor bean (Ricinus communis).

ArtSlant Winner

I was chosen as a 'showcase' winner on ArtSlant...

5th 2012 Showcase Winner 

Check it out at   ArtSlant Installation Showcase Winners

Wire and Textile Sculptures

I am working on some new textile and wire sculptures that are an extension or a continuation of the Cavus sculptures.  Reworking the armatures to be less expensive, yet still flexible and lightweight. Not sure if I will still be able to get the organic, airy feel while still referencing organisms and atoms.

I have also decided to create some unique and interesting business cards and finish up my website. Not sure what is more work - creating the art or finding a venue so that others can see it...

Curiosity

Tonight begins a new two year journey on the face of Mars for the Curiosity rover! Stream it live on NASA website.

Mars Rover "Curiosity"

The Mars rover, Curiosity, is set to touch down in 4 days!

2012 Olympic Opening and Worm Holes

Some of the visual display of the Olympic opening ceremony remind me of worm holes... gotta love the LEDs and current technology that gives us the opportunity to have such aesthetic pleasure.

I wonder what kind of lighting they used for the kids' blankets?

Art Slant

Check out my ArtSlant profile!

http://www.artslant.com/la/works/show/595417-translations-of-vibration

Myopia Cavus Videos

Thank you to everyone who visited our installation and especially to the performers for making this show a success!

Here are a couple of short videos of part of the installation that have been posted on youtube.

Myopia Cavus through 3D glasses

1 minute video

Myopia Cavus 2

3 minute video

Where Stars Are Born

Myopia Cavus at The Market Gallery

 

for the black light and laser CAVUS

textile sculptures:

Myopia Cavus

 

THE MARKEY GALLERY

1057 S. San Pedro St. #201 Los Angeles, CA 90015

Stacey Kalkowski & Paul Wilkens

Present

MYOPIA CAVUS

July 6 - July 21, 2012

“Myopia Cavus” is a multimedia phenomenological cave installation.  The installation is a transformation of architectural environments juxtaposed to natural cave environments.  The phenomenological cave installation experience takes place through the use of paintings, sculptures, multimedia projections, sound, and light.

Each painting, sculpture, video, and sound juxtaposes the physical environments to create interaction with the viewer.  The artists are challenging notions of physical and psychological space in abstract painting, sculpture, video, and sound.

General Information

Opening:  The opening reception is scheduled for Friday, July 6th, 6:00-9:00 p.m. at The Market Gallery in the busy downtown fruit market district, located at 1057 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA  90015

Directions:  Exit the 10 Freeway at San Pedro Street. Proceed north on San Pedro Street to 11^th Street. Turn left on 11^th street and turn right into the gated parking lot. We provide free, secure gated parking within steps of the gallery.

Special Performances by Clowns and Fetuses presenting “The Richard Sharpe Shaver Cave Mysteries”:   Who are the Deros/Teros and how have they existed without our knowledge? + Special Guests

Parking:                                 Secure public parking for The Market Gallery is for free in the gated lot by the entrance.

Hours:                                    The Market Gallery will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 11AM - 5PM  or   by appointment. 213-746-0646 diana@citymarketla.com

 

Textile Sculpture

After spending several hours at the garment district in downtown LA, I finally chose several different fabrics for the sculpture. The tubes have evolved to 6" wide by 15 feet long with soft random spikes.  I decided to use white velvet (fake velvet - a poly blend) and fluorescent threads that I found in a bargain bin in one of the stores on Pico.

I realized that I had packed my sewing machine pedal in some distant galaxy and only had a small battery operated mini-machine.

After struggling with the dinky machine I made up my mind to find an alternative solution - and sure enough! A craft and sewing store in town has several machines set up for customers to use and I was able to get most of my sewing done. It has become a bit of a performance piece because the sewing machines are in the window that faces the street.

I am now hand stitching in all of the spikes!

I love the colors which remind me of the images that I found on the internet that were a visual digital representation of possible multiverse and string theory examples.

Tubular

I am currently contemplating textile tubes between two and three feet across and 20 feet in length. I will be visiting the fashion district in Los Angeles on Friday morning seeking textile treasures and possibilities for this work.

Paul Wilkins and I are doing a collaborative show on the 7th of July at the Market Gallery. Black lighting, smoke, lasers, and textiles along with performance art/sound. Phenomenological journey exploring string theory with visual and sound sculpture.

The Shape of Space?

Our modern understanding of the universe is that it is infinite and expanding (from a point in space where the big bang originated in a sudden and violent expansion of quark gluon plasma).  Recent observations by astronomer and cosmologist, Alexander (Sasha) Kashlinsky may show that the universe has an edge and there may be many other universes.  He observed that a cluster of galaxies are clustering together as if being pulled by another force - what he calls Dark Flow. This Dark Flow appears as a cold spot on the 'soup' of sound of our universe.

If the universe is not infinite, but has a shape then what is it?  Kashlinsky along with an astrophysicist, Jean-Pierre Luminet, theorize that the universe is a dodecahedron.

Human Geography

I just read a fantastic passage by Foucault:

The space in which we live, which draws us out of ourselves, in which the erosion of our lives, our time and our history occurs, the space that claws and gnaws at us, is also, in itself, a heterogeneous space.  In other words, we do not live in a kind of void, inside of which we could place individuals and things.  We do not live inside a void that could be colored with diverse shades of light, we live inside a set of relations that delineates sites which are irreducible to one another and absolutely not superimposable on one another.
    
- "Of Other Spaces", 1986

Translations of Vibration