Only One Chance to Make a First Impression

stratagem 2006 (jennifer culp)

Inspiration has come to step up the blog situation, and here's why:

The diverse crowd that visits our blog (various countries, states, and cities) is humbling and impressive; good effort should be made to present something worthwhile to those who stumble upon Menagerie...it's a small world after all.

For this reason, the hope is to keep it visually fresh. Some links have been added--only a few, because it can be overwhelming to come upon a huge list of links, Menagerie features 3 links...the three that are inspiring, (that day) for whatever reason...and they will be rotated on a regular basis, in hopes of not becoming stale.

An explanation of the three chosen today:

Two feature really great art, and KEXP is candy for the ears.
When visiting KEXP, you can stream live, or archive. Check out the various genres, there's something for everyone. Favorite pick: positive vibes/Kid Hops (Saturday the 25th was a good show).



(jen)

Art and Function

I created these card holders for a few reasons:

*first, I was inspired by a gas card that wouldn't play nice with the other cards in my card holder, so I had to segregate it from the others so the swipey strip would continue to work.
*second, I think it's more fun to have something unusual to hold business cards (especially as an artist).

*third, I appreciate re-purposed/handmade, and assume others do too.

*fourth, I think this is a cool way to present a gift card.

These little works of art are fashioned out of vintage paper (with clear contact overlay for protection), yarn, and velcro (basically). Anyway, here's my little latest inspired endeavor.

(jen)

Enough with the mice already!

Okay, so I was out Saturday night at my friend Lisa Norgaard's art gallery (www.norrgardsoptik.com), a reception for artist Tove PisaRelle--beautiful serene landscape painter. When I returned home, my daughter opened the door to greet me with, "you're just in time." Apparently a mouse had just run into her closet; we are becoming very efficient with the mouse capture/release program.

So again, here's crochet as therapy, although my creation isn't nearly as cute as our capture--he (or she) was a jumper, unlike the last one which was very docile.

(jen)

Painting Changes: Happens A Lot

new new independence

For some of you, you're familiar with this piece (if you've visited my etsy shop or have seen me at a show), but I finished final touches to it yesterday. It has been hanging in my room since my last show, and there was just something missing--so here it is complete.

(jen)

Bubble Gum Wrapper Sculpture/ Gold Fish (silver, really)

" Don't ever forget these things:

The nature of the world.

My nature.

How I relate to the world.

What proportion of it I make up.

That you are part of nature, and no one can prevent you from speaking and acting in harmony with it, always."

--Marcus Aurelius (Meditations, Book 2:9, as translated by Gregory Hays)

(jen)

Hey, I Found a Project of Heahter's to Share.

This is a project Heather created last year for the graduating class 2008 of Tops Seattle School K-8. It's inspired by Dr. Seuss's Oh The Places You Will Go (which you can vaguely see by the plaque at the base of the post). The signs point to all places deemed important by the 8th grade graduating class.

Very cool.

(jen)