Louise Joséphine Bourgeois. . .100 years old today!

 December 25, 1911 (Paris) - May 31, 2010 (New York). . .Celebrating the birth of a phenomenal artist. 


© Viviana de Loera. Drawing inspired by a photo of Louise Bourgeois wearing the latex costume she created & wore, circa 1975, 
and her 1974 sculpture titled, The Destruction of the Father. 

piece by piece...

Some of you will recognize that I've been making a few visual changes to Cosmo, I hope you like. It's for a reason...
I started blogging in 2009 with no specific purpose or direction (which was ok at the time), but now I want a more curated experience both for me and those of you who enjoy reading my random thoughts.  Basically, Montreal, the city where I currently dwell, will have a stronger presence; And, I will allow it (and only it) to influence & guide those miscellaneous posts from around the world. Well, I will give it a try anyway...After all, Montreal is very Cosmopolitan!  


Welcome, passersby, and merci beaucoup to my loyal readers!


The image above is not of Montreal, it's of Los Angeles, a city I love to hate and called home for many years. Oh, those palm trees! The sketch is by the artist, Chris Dent.  His urban illustrations are very Calvinoesque in my eyes. Image borrowed from here.

when I was a child...

It's difficult to ignore the influence LOCATION has on what we create and who we become. . .don't you agree? I often wonder who or what I would have become if I had not been relocated to Los Angeles, California when I was a child.  I also reflect on, what I will be creating 20 years from now, as a result of my recent relocation to Montreal?. . . I have been thinking a lot about this lately, so much so that I've started a new ambitious project.  I'm still working out the details, but the drawing below is a preview.


Even though I am French, I cannot think of one of these pictures being painted in France. Every one of these pictures is American, from New York.  I love this city, its clean-cut look, its sky, its buildings, its scientific, cruel, romantic quality. 
Louise Bourgeois from the book, Louise Bourgeois, La famille; pg 70

© Viviana de Loera. 
This drawing was inspired by a childhood picture of the French-American artist, Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010), when she was 11 years old.  

Some have mentioned that I really drew myself...

Food is a costly antidepressant!

I would love nothing more than to spend an entire day with Maira Kalman just chitchatting about nothing and anything.  I should invite her to come to Montreal, but perhaps not during the winter season, hmm.  I have a feeling she would find the Québécois as hysterical as I do.  (FYI, I mean this with love!)

She recently illustrated Michael Pollan's popular book, Food Rules an eater's manual, and I can't wait to get my hands on it.  Kalman's colorful contributions are priceless, but kudos to Pollan for the obviously enlightening quotes.  A few excerpts below...

Place a Bouquet of Flowers on the Table and Everything Will Taste Twice as Good.

Cook.

Eat When You Are Hungry, Not When You Are Bored.

I wonder if this book will cure my uncontrollable potato chips fetish.  Are they really horrible?. . .even if they're the Natural Reduced Fat Sea Salted Potato Chips by RUFFLES?

Mark LOVES sweets and I've been hooked on the salty-sour stuff since birth.  Mmm, I blame those spicy Mexican candies from my lovely childhood!

**Maira Kalman illustrations borrowed from here.

PART 2: La piel que habito..."Art is a guarantee of sanity"

(Quote by Louise Bourgeois, 1911-2010)


for Part 1: La piel que habito...click here.


I experienced Almodóvar's latest film, La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I live In) last week and it left me in a pensive mood for days.  I read the synopsis, saw the beautiful trailer, and was lured by the gorgeous publicity shots for months. . .but nothing prepared me for the skillfully gruesome masterpiece.  Almodóvar is a genius.  I'm particularly glad he didn't cast Penelope Cruz for the part of Vera, because Elena Anaya portrays her beautifully.  This film is not for everybody, but if you're already an Almodóvar fan, you'll be in awe for days. FYI: Antonio Banderas is fiercely good. 


I'm most elated with Almodóvar's respectful homage to the French/American artist, Louise Bourgeois, who recently passed away at the age of 98. If you are familiar with her work,  you'll understand the leading female character, Vera, with great richness.  


After you watch the film, I invite you to come back to this post and study how I've grouped the selected images below. . .

Quien me quiera amar,  
amará tambien lo peor de mi, con ardor. 
(Buika, "Por el amor de amar")

Why Have You Run So Far Away? 
(Louise Bourgeois, head with pink fabric,1993)

Arch of Hysteria 
(Louise Bourgeois, 1993)

Image credits (from top to bottom)
1. Elena Anaya as VERA with "healing" mask. Image borrowed from here.  
2. Louise Bourgeois UNTITLED, 2002.  Image borrowed from the Cheim & Read Gallery website.
3. Close-up of VERA borrowed from here.
4. Image of Spanish actor, Jan Cornet, as VICENTE.
5. Louise Bourgeois sculpture: Nature Study, 1984.
6. Louise Bourgeois, The Couple (detail) 2007.  (Gouache on paper, suite of 18, Collection Louise Bourgeois Trust, courtesy Cheim & Read Gallery, New York and Hauser & Wirth Gallery, London. © Louise Bourgeois Trust. Photo: Christopher Burks.)
7. Image of Spanish actor, Jan Cornet, as VICENTE.
8. Louise Bourgeois head with pink fabric: "Why Have You Run So Far Away?" (1999).
9. Close up of VERA. 
10. Louise Bourgeois black head with flowers, credit details unknown.
11. Elena Anaya as VERA in arched position borrowed from here. 
12. Louise Bourgeois sculpture, Arch of Hysteria, 1993. Bronze, polished patina, hanging piece, 83.8 x 101.6 x 58.4 cm., Courtesy Cheim & Read and Hauser & Wirth, Photo: Allan Finkelman.


A climactic piece of the story is revealed through a scene where the Spanish singer, Concha Buika, sings the songs, Por el amor de amar (For the love of loving), and Se Me Hizo Facil (I found it easy), which can be found in her latest album, adequately titled, En Mi Piel (In my Skin).  Watch the clip below.

The Public, Criticism, Inspiration

I've been meaning to share with you these images from the video installation currently illuminating the Grand Foyer Culturel located inside Montreal's Place des Arts.  I walk by this foyer as often as I can because it puts a smile on my face every time.  When I stumble upon these experiences, I'm reminded of the fact that I live in an incredibly creative city.  How lucky am I?


Created by the Montreal studio: Baillat Cardell & fils in collaboration with artists Capucine Labarthe and Lino
It was featured in FRAME 's online news page last month, click here to read article.

Siempre nos quedará París. . .

{We will always have Paris}

I recently came across these urban messages and I had to share them with you.  (The lovely rewards of carrying a camera everywhere I go; I strongly recommend it).  

hmm. . .gloomy, melancholic yet charming. I found the first message in Old Montréal, the second one at a university restroom stall, and the birds: (left) Outremont neighborhood (right) Downtown Montréal.

I want two babushkas...

I am fascinated and overjoyed with illustration-graffiti artists that give life to those exterior architectural details that often go unnoticed. 


I stumbled upon these images belonging to the artist Stanislava Pinchuk (aka MISO) currently living in Melbourne, Australia this morning and I just fell in love with her street compositions.  There is something very poetic about the babushka like illustrations framing the neighborhood doors.  Truly sigh provoking!


Photos borrowed from MISO's official site.

...of a Crazy World!

TO those of you who currently dwell in New York City...or are visiting the gorgeous city this week... 

Do not miss the exhibition currently on display at The Jewish Museum,  Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World). It closes this coming Sunday, July 31, 2011.

Enjoy it for me! I am obsessed with her work and well I am also extremely jealous of her vivid career / lifestyle.  

Images borrowed from the artist's official site.

And the Pursuit of Happiness...

235 years of American Independence!


I am celebrating the 4th of July here in Canada by reading Maira Kalman's book, And The Pursuit of Happiness . . . for the second time.  


Enjoy the images below borrowed from Maira Kalman's New York Times 2009 blog (now a book). See here.  
Every American should own this book!!!


Fun Facts:
1. Maira Kalman: author, illustrator and designer.
2. The text is not a digital font, it is Maira Kalman's own intentionally pictorial handwriting.

Maman, you frighten me and comfort me...

Louise Bourgeois (Dec. 25, 1911 - May 31, 2010) was on my mind. . . she passed away a year ago today.  

I was in Ottawa a couple of weeks ago visiting family and I ran into one of LB's Maman (1999, cast 2003: bronze, stainless steel and marble) purchased by the National Gallery of Canada in 2004. 

Haute Couture à la papier...

Today I am bombarding you with the exquisite work of Belgian artist, Isabelle de Borchgrave.  Borchgrave's work is jovial, genially detailed and simply gorgeous. I love it when I come across inspirational craft. True artists really do surround themselves with non-stop creating.  Serious dedication is worthy of reverence, don't you think? If only I had that discipline.   


FYI: If you live in San Francisco, her work is currently on exhibit at FAMSF: Legion of Honor. 

All images borrowed from Isabelle de Borchgrave's official site.

But I am INSIDE officer...

A couple of days ago, I noticed that my friend, (also an influential mentor and role model) the incredibly talented artist Christina McPhee, included one of her pieces for a silent auction to benefit New York's, Storefront Art and Architecture.   I am almost embarrassed to admit that until a few days ago, I had no idea of Storefront's existence...what?  I know.  It has been around since 1982! Why am I making a big deal?  A few fast facts to give you an idea...for those of you who don't already know...
1] The mobil facade was designed by artist Vito Acconci and architect Steven Holl in 1993.
2] The Vice President of the Board of Directors is Charles Renfro.
3] The Board of Advisors list includes...Peter Cook, Elizabeth Diller, Toyo Ito, Brooke Hodge...and of course Steven Holl...among several others...
4] The facade was given a face lift in 2008...more info here.


Only in New York can this project be possible.  I can just imagine all of the bureaucratic [b.s.] involved in something like this.  Just look at that wall. The rotating partitions open onto the public sidewalk.  
In a presentation with Steven Hall and Vito Acconci, the moderator and former Storefront director, Joseph Grima, mentioned that at every vernissage, the attendees argue with the NYC police about what is considered inside and/or outside...having to do with the glass of vino in hand. . .I love it.

The photographs below are from Storefront's archives...more here.

En el fondo...

[At the bottom]

Created by Ana Benítez, recently featured in NOT-PAPER.

“I no longer know what architecture is and what an architect should do...”

{Ya no sé lo que es la arquitectura ni qué debería hacer un arquitecto}
Quote by Luis Urculo Cámara from Madrid.

LUIS will be teaching a workshop, 'Beyond the paper' this August at Domaine de Boisbuchet (located in France).  If anybody wants to gift me this amazing experience, I will not refuse...
Luis Úrculo is my age (don't ask) and has been crafting an enviable profession for himself doing what he loves...merging his architectural foundation with other disciplines like design & technology. He has participated in several prestigious exhibitions, collaborated with Philippe Starck, and he was recently featured in FRAME magazine.

What am I doing wrong? Bravo Luis! Some talent is just meant to be GRAND...Visit his blog (official site is mostly in Spanish).

Image credits: Poster for Domaine de Biosbuchet workshop borrowed from here  Other images borrowed from here.


Video below with Luis in his home/studio in Spanish...(I will find time to translate a few lines soon) more videos here.





This one is fabulous...

Topic No.1: Innovative Conferences, Cosmo THIS! 

Do you collage?

These whimsical yet thought provoking illustrations are by the Colombian artist, Samuel Castaño.  I came across Samuel's work in NOT-PAPER, a fabulous blog.  Every time I see collage work that inspires me, I think of a professor in arch school who use to make his students create collages for homework.  I never had the pleasure of taking his class...a moment of silence.  I hope Prof. Fowler still demands this ritual. We should all do at least one collage a day...it could be very therapeutic. More of Samuel's work HERE. 

where are the tiny people?

Thank you Mr. Sunshine for a beautiful Montréal day. It almost seems like yesterday's squall of piercing snow never happened. I am ready for Spring, aren't you? Before going to bed last night, I checked my gmail.  I opened my weekly update from Pinterest and under the category, boards you might enjoy, I spotted a thumbnail of a tiny house from the ETSY shop, The Oak Leaves...and well...hence this post. The seller is Christina from Fredericksburg, Virginia. I hope she doesn't mind but I just have to share with you a portion of her profile...she writes, 


my name is christina.

i am 26 years old. 

im married to stephen. 

we have three cats and a dog. 

in our little house. 

where i attempt to be an artist. sometimes.


I admire everything about this shop. From the profile, to the care she takes in describing every item she sells, to the whimsical pictures...the Martinelli's apple juice jar, the egg shells...to the specially selected toys...I am beyond delighted.  The tiny houses are perfect for those terrarium projects...all they need is tiny people...lumberjacks, school children, milkmaids...more ideas HERE.

from the top: 1)Apple Terrarium No.103 (sold)   2) Terrarium Accent, City No.3 (sold)   3) Shelf City No.233   4)Shelf City Rowhouses No.1 (sold)   5)Foothill 1(sold)   6)Terrarium No.36 (sold) 7)Terrarium No. 56 (sold)   9)Shelf City   10)Colonial Home NO.25 (sold)