My personal taste when it comes to art is work that pushes boundaries and exhibits a really insane level of skill, theme, and creativity. My go-to source for that kind of inspiration and influence across design, fashion, beauty, music, food, and visual art is the global cultural video channel nowness.com. They exhibit work by exceptional talent, which connects audiences to emotional and sensorial stories designed to provoke inspiration and debate. And, videos can be viewed in ten languages!
Transfixed by racial & political tensions saturating the news, Woman In The Woods guest artists Jon Boogz and Lil Buck switch off the TV and release their emotion through dance.
A unique portrait of Kenzō Takada, told through his hands. Takada was the founder of the fashion brand Kenzo and died this week from COVID-19 at the age of 81. His art lives on
My last thought is to remind us all that you can never be too young or too old to be an artist. Want proof? See the elementary kids at Wondermint Kids cooking and making upcycled art and the teen Washingtonian girls at www.girlfolk.com who are creating their own magazine by inviting girls from around the world to submit stories.
You’re also NEVER too old to BECOME an artist. Artists get better with age and their art can convey themes and ideas that only come with time. Take the PNW painter, Geddes. Years before she ever painted, she would tell friends “I know I’m a painter.” However, with kids to raise and a busy career, she didn’t have the energy to paint, but she did have the faith that it was only a matter of time. After her children grew up and she concluded a long career as a textile designer, she was accepted to the San Francisco Art Institute at the young age of 60 and became a painter. And, wow, has she succeeded. Now in her seventies, she is the closest thing I’ve seen to a Francis Bacon or Egon Schiele in the U.S. You can see her stunning work at GeddesArt.com or listen to my conversation with her at Ōde.
You can read more about Ayn’s work at ayngailey.com and explore her new literary project Ōde at odeislove.com. Follow Ayn on Instagram @ayngailey.
