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A few weeks ago, someone asked me why I prefer profiling indie artists over mainstream. When Viki and I started Lipstik Indie a few years ago, we did so because we fully understand how hard it is for artists to get press and reviews. With every request we get for a review or a profile we are move amazed and in awe of the talent that is out there. Chantelle Gobeil and Vapidus Designs are artists that prove this point. Incredibly talented and passionate, they will give you the inspiration you need to follow your dreams. Rather than review them, I’ve chosen to do a profile. Please check them out and if you are in a city where they are touring, go see them!
“Last year, Chantelle Gobeil, one-half of Vapidus Designs and chief bill payer of the collective, quit her corporate job to live as an artist full-time. While this was a creatively freeing decision, it also freed her of something very important: a steady paycheck! Before leaving the corporate world, Chantelle Gobeil and Mick Fin had three years to gain experience bringing art to the world. Now, we have shed our corporate restrictions, practiced our craft, and prepared a business strategy to facilitate a full-time devotion to bringing art to the masses - who need it! Every year, we plan to add more shows to the schedule to tour our new projects. Last year, we added Mosaic work and Glass work to the show. This year, we plan to do installation work at The Burning Man Project. From painting, to glass, to mosaics, to installation pieces; Vapidus Designs wants to do it all. To unveil our art endeavor to the world, we would like to do 8-10 shows in 2010, traveling around the US in an RV that would be our mobile studio, home, and inventory space. While this RV would facilitate our endeavor to bring our art across the country, it is also incredibly expensive to rent. Additionally, we want to make this trip a yearly event, so that people we meet can count on us to return with more life-changing or life-supporting creative energy. Therefore, we have decided to make our very first, very important large purchase: the VAPIDUS DESIGNS RV!”
How our art changes lives:
“During the summer, while on tour, we talk to hundreds of people everyday about our work - from the technical aspects, to the reasons why we have created: it is truly a beautiful way to spread our art. During the winter months, Chantelle Gobeil runs an on-the-road art school working with seniors with dementia - Chantelle’s Art on Wheels! Communication through art has been a very important part of all the projects we have been involved in: from seeing the face of someone who has not been able to speak a word in years create something meaningful to them that communicates their thoughts and feelings; to watching someone pick a piece from our booth at our shows and almost cry because of the meaning it holds for them. Each year, when we come back from our tour, we receive streams of email from all over the world telling us where their new art is hanging, and how it has affected their lives. As artists, this is the ultimate reward. Sharing our expression from the smallest piece of glass or mosaic to large paintings, and sharing the stories that go with each piece. Because, even the small pieces have a story. People then carry that story home with them and hang it in their space; and continue our story, our expression, and our love of art.”
Prospective Tour Details:
NOHO Pride - Northampton, Massachusetts - May
Fine Art and Crafts at Verona Park, Verona, NJ - May; or The 24th Annual Flemington Spring Crafts Festival, Flemington, NJ - May
Camp Out - Virginia Women’s Music Festival - Richmond, Virginia - May
57th Street Art Fair, Chicago, IL - June
Old Town Art Fair, Chicago, IL – June
Lakefront Festival of Arts, Milwaukee, WI – June; or Stone Arch Festival - Minneapolis, MN - June
Des Moines Arts Festival, Des Moines, IA – June; or ‘The Other Art Show’ - Des Moines, IA - June
Cain Park Arts Festival, Cleveland Heights, OH – July
The Ann Arbor Art Fairs, Ann Arbor, MI – July (there are 4 shows - we will do two)
Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival - Hart, Michigan - August
Burning Man Project - Black Rock City, Nevada - August
Map of the tour: http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms…
What is Vapidus Designs?
“I originally created Vapidus Designs years ago in Montreal as a business means to promote my own murals and paintings. The name was chosen after discussing the visual arts movement with other local artists. "Vapidus" is a Latin word expressing a notion of fading traces. I feel like the sight of the world we socially live in today has faded, and that the simple beauty of the creations of present-day artisans remains unseen too often - we pass each other on the street everyday. I speak directly of the many of us who work at the jobs we must to support the work of the art that we love. It has been my dream to create a space to slow or stop the fading of the visibility and intention of the artists of our times. The purpose of Vapidus Designs is to bring the unknown and emerging artists from their studios, with as much expression and explanation as each desires, as a means to offer our work to the masses.”
Bios:
Chantelle Gobeil was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 1973. Her abstract expressionist art is derived from the concepts of shape, form and movement, and is achieved through the strategic use of color and texture. She uses life drawing studies to create the shape’s focal point which is textured and formed to give the impression of the shape’s forceful yet floating movement.
Chantelle began her art studies at a very young age: first, with the Aubuchon Academy of Art in Montreal. Later she studied at John Abbott College (Creative Arts Program) in Ste Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, and then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Studio Art) Degree at Concordia University in Montreal. She developed her own style which focuses on the living art surrounding her. Chantelle currently resides in Toronto, Ontario. Her style and palette are evolving into a textural and ever-moving experience.
"The Aubuchon Academy taught me at a very young age to express. Mme. Aubuchon taught me to slow down when I created, enjoying the experience of creating and not rushing through it to see the final result. Even as a child, I worked at warp speed, and painting, after this valuable lesson, was the only place I could lose myself and slow everything in life down for just that moment. In later years, painting became meditative for me and at times a trans-like experience where time would pass but not on my realm. It allowed me to hide away from the world whenever I needed to..."
"In later years my work became more about form and feeling. The realism of my early years had left - leaving the brilliance of pure pigment and the rhythm of the paint brush hitting the canvas creating texture. I generally paint with music and depending on the feeling of the music in the background, my work will change and take the form of the music. The rhythm of the paint hitting the canvas has become integral in my creation now. I believe its what keeps my work alive. If you look closely at times, you can tell what I have been listening to..."
As well as painting, Chantelle Gobeil, has also started a line of mosaic work. Mosaic work includes mediation tables, picture frames, paper weights, canister sets, wall panels, stepping stones, pot holders, vases and glasses. All of this work is done with hand cut glass tile.
Mick Fin
Mick Fin found the beauty and serenity of painting and creating, as a small child growing up in rural Wisconsin, United States. She and her grandmother, her child-self painting mentor, share good, fun, artistic conversation still to this day. There will be no listing of Art schooling or degrees found in the Bio of Mick Fin. She has said the backdrop of creativity always existed in her mind, but that she did not begin painting until her mid-twenties. The next question is often "why"? Mick Fin replies "I did not paint until my mid-twenties and the reason is as simple as it is complex. No one taught me the language or the rules of this big world of Art. As a kid I shared artistic times with my grandma, but there was very little conversation involved. I did a lot of watching-how she painted, how she felt when she painted, and how she felt after she painted. By age twenty I was searching for the right ways to live, having already faced so many tragedies of this sharp world, from the trenches of poverty and violence to the very edge of thought where suicide resides. I began painting in my mid-twenties in search of a place of peace in my own thoughts, where words just don't exist."
At age 36, Mick Fin lives between both La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Toronto, Ontario. She found herself with a plethora of work hidden and stacked neatly in one room. The pieces are abstract expressions of color and texture that enable the viewers to truly feel the work. Some series are figurative in their abstraction allowing the viewer to recognize the subject while adding to the feeling from their own experience. Other pieces are a complete abstraction based more on emotion than subject. The content of her work began with expression of self. The evolution of her work, while still emotion-based, now expresses the politics of this artist's life, not as individual, but in the context of community and the world. It is time to look through the abstract eyes of this self-taught artist Mick Fin.
As well as painting, Mick Fin, has also started a line of metal and glass work. Metal and glass work will include porch and hanging ornaments, window ornaments, dream catchers, people, plant bugs, and small sculptures. All of this work is done with copper and silver wire, premium glass beads and tiles.
Using a line from their own profile, 'Metal Taboo displays and celebrates our arrogance, sexuality, vulgarity, frustrations, and angst. Know thyself.' We all know this about ourselves, that we are all bundles of all of these things, especially sexuality and arrogance! No matter how much you try to hide it, we just are and you can quietly celebrate these traits with some straight to the point accessories!
Metal Taboo is a handcrafted company, launched by metalsmith and designer Tiffanie Drayton. She is located in Brooklyn and uses old school metalsmithing techniques to fashion all of her creations. Necklaces with simple charms feature not so simple statements, bracelets, earrings, guitar picks, cufflinks and rings too. Shop departments range from 'All Things Fuck' to 'Lets Talk About Sex' to 'Rage/Sin/Violence/Vice', and every piece is fantastically in your face.
Personal favourites include the 'Fuck' and 'Fucking Genious' necklaces, and the 'My Boss / Sucks Balls' cufflinks. Hilarious! They are rude and fun without trying too hard, you know? A subtle nasty necklace is a lot classier than an overtly vulgar tshirt.
10% of all their sales go directly to charity, with rotating charities to cover more ground. January through April's charity is the Family Violence Prevention Fund, who work with young men to teach the importance of community and leadership skills. Amazing.
http://www.metaltaboo.com/
MetalTaboo.etsy.com
Reviewed by Carolina Smart
Once upon a time there was a little girl who liked creepy things. Dolls, toys, movies, books and jewellery. That little girl grew up and her fondness for all things creepy stuck with her. Then one day she was given a Toronto Zombie Walk Brain Drive brooch and discovered the ghoulish creations of Kyra Teale.
The Krafty Kreep is a line of hand crafted, polymer clay creations that are sculpted in the fashion of horror items. Brains, bloody knives, spider covered coffins and mummies. Kyra’s love of horror, combined with her passion for art inspired her to start the Krafty Kreep.
The Krafty Kreep includes brooches, necklaces, bracelets and sweater clips. This jewellery line is a fun way to express your love of horror or all things ghoulish while adding an individual bit of flare to your fashion. Who can resist the Psycho knife necklace pendant or the Heart Attack Voodoo brooch? These are a few of many tasty looking pieces in this collection.
Even if you aren’t a horror fanatic you will still love what Krafty Kreep has to offer. In a world of mass produced knock off accessories, you can’t go wrong with pinning one of these individual works of art on your collar, hat or sweater.
Bio
Kyra Teale is 23 years old, and lives in Barrie. By day she works at a local animal hospital and by night she sculpts kreepy jewellery. Kyra is a huge fan of horror and incorporates that into her krafts. In late 2008 she began to mix her love of art with her love of horror, crafting smaller items such as jewellery and accessories and The Krafty Kreep was born.
One of the co-owners of Pause Designs contacted Lipstik Indie Reviews with an email saying that they “design and print t-shirts that make people want to give us a high five and demand that we marry their sisters (or themselves) so that we can be related, just for producing a t-shirt THAT great. I know. Intense.”
Intense could also be a word used to describe the shirts at Pause Designs, as many are not for the faint of heart. Some examples include pirates waving hacksaws at their enemies, pandas with chainsaws for arms, and the “pause angel” with the words “trash, whore, smut” inscribed on her descriptive ribbon. These shirts are definitely not for children, and those without a sense of humour need not apply.
While the shirts aren't really on par with places like T-Shirt Hell in terms of potential offensiveness, they do tend to feature graphic violence—as in cartoons doing violent things. Still, they are just cartoons, so is the violence really offensive? I would say no, though they're definitely more on the “adult” end of the spectrum, without being X-rated.
My favourite shirt has to be the “A Little Too Raph” design, which features a pair of ninja rappelling down the front of your shirt. They've even included the hooks, digging into the back of the shirt—a nice touch. I must also admit that the “Best Birthday Ever” design cracks me up, with the little varmint working those elephant feet to crush his enemies. Beware the blood splatter; I did warn you these shirts were violent, didn't I?
In addition to shirts, the online store also sells hoodies, bags, and skateboard decks for the stylish guy or gal. While you're online, grab an iPhone background or wallpaper for your computer from their “media” page.
If you live in Ontario, you can even check out Pause Designs in person at the Golden Horseshoe (288 St. Paul Street) in St. Catharines, from noon to 8 PM Monday through Saturday. Otherwise, check their shop online for all the tees you can handle.
Finally, please note the final Q in the Pause Designs FAQ: “Q: I was born ugly, will Pause clothes help me be cuter? A: Yeah totally! It's a scientific fact the more Pause apparel you own, the higher your sex appeal is.” If that's not incentive enough to check them out, I don't know what is.
SnazzyGirl.com bills itself as “one of the net's top destinations for all things fabulous and fashionable.” Catering to “girls” of all ages with jewellery, clothing, home fashions, and items for both babies and pets, this site has plenty of gift ideas for the ladies in your life—or just for you!
With free shipping in the U.S. (but, tragically, no such deal for us Canadians), this is a great reason to shop at the online store. Of course, if you're a bit of a shut-in like me, you enjoy shopping online anyway and don't really need this extra incentive. Nevertheless, I still think it's a nice touch.
Perusing the list of available goods, I was immediately drawn to their stationery selections. Under the unusual section “calling cards” (well, unusual if you're not a heroine in a 19th-century novel, anyway), I found the clever “To Don't List” created by HobNob Press. Offering a unique twist on the traditional To-Do list, this allows you to be creative with your day, listing items you definitely DON'T want to do and avoiding them with gusto.
Thought I don't currently have any pets, I checked out the “Snazzypets” section and founds some super cute pet tags, which makes me wish I had a kitty to dress up! A rhinestone collar ($17 from Fox & Hounds) and a Bettie Page pet tag ($18 from Barbie's Basement Jewellery) would make a little minou look so chic! I also now know of a great place to stock up on traditional rubber duckies ($4 from Cain & Able), which could come in handy someday.
In terms of general site criticisms, I really wish more of their products had alternate views (particularly their bags, which are difficult to envision holding when you only get a front view), and that their “enlarged” photos were a wee bit larger.
Criticisms aside, I have to admit that I love, love, LOVE the Red Camper line of bags, which reclaim old photo slides and maps and creatively put them to use as fashionable tote-style bags. They're currently sold out of all but their Japan 1960s and 1960s Beach Graduation designs, so get 'em while you still can! They're a bit on the pricey side, at $115 and $170 respectively, but they're definitely one of a kind products that will have you looking snazzy, girl.
Located in Toronto, Andrea Winkler sells vintage and silk-screened clothing online at both eBay and Etsy. Hop on over to her website,
http://www.andreawinkler.com, to find everything she sells under the PrettyRaccoon Clothing label in one convenient location!
Winkler offers a wide variety of affordable vintage clothing for women, with her eBay auctions starting at just $9.99. If you've simply gotta have it, you can circumvent the bidding process and buy directly from the Etsy shop instead, or check out her original creations and silk-screened tops for more selections.
The general theme of PrettyRaccoon Clothing is a natural one, with prints of birds, deer, snakes and trees that are about as Canadian as they come. Additionally, though, Winkler breaks out with whimsical, girly ideas like the giant bows, fleurs-de-lis and layer cakes that look like they belong at a wedding. Ships and anchors sail a nautical flag, and when you throw in the Eiffel Tower you've got a romantic destination for that pirate vessel!
Most of Winkler's custom-made tops are done on American Apparel shirts, though some use one-of-a-kind vintage gear as their starting point. With new original designs available every two months or so, you'll find plenty of unique ways to express yourself with these super shirts.
PrettyRaccoon Clothing is also available in a handful of boutiques throughout the U.S. and Canada, if you're not into online shopping, but you'd be crazy to wander out into the ice and snow when you can have Winkler's fabulous creations shipped straight to your door!
I've always been a fan of odd and unique t-shirts, often searching the web or second-hand stores to find interesting gems. For Halloween I was on the search for t-shirts with Zombies pictures on them. I was finding the same boring, typical blood and gore standards, and then lo and behold I found the perfect Zombie tee. Unfortunately it was a limited edition t-shirt, bonus for me. When my t-shirt arrived it came with a free gift, a three pack of buttons of the Zombies that adorned my t-shirt. Not only was the delivery speedy, but the quality of the t-shirt and silk screening amazing.
When you go to their website you will see a vast selection of tees from the whimsical to slightly bizarre, but always fun. The website store also has mens tees, button and accessories.
Go explore the website and buy something!
Bio
Crywolf was established as a business in May 2008, and was fully launched in September 2008. Both owners Rose and Stephanie have full control over the creative processes of Crywolf from inception to production. Both have come from strong art backgrounds. Rose is a graduate of the Fine Arts program at the University of Toronto and Stephanie is a graduate of the Interdisciplinary Studies program at the Ontario College of Art and Design.
As a prelude to Crywolf, Rose and Stephanie tested their design and entrepreneurial skills through their debut company p0isson, which lasted from December 2005 to May 2008. The reason for the change to Crywolf was to take all of that experience and embody it into a new and improved form. Through P0isson, Rose and Stephanie have done a variety of trade shows including places such as Toronto, Montreal, Michigan, New York, and Massachusetts. Their products are sold in stores located in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. With the start of Crywolf, both partners have agreed to devote their full-time effort into this project and plan to retail through more outlets nationwide and online. The Crywolf line was pre-launched at the 2008 Canadian National Exhibition. There was a great response to the new designs and products.
The designs are as quirky and imaginative as their creators, often including animal imagery and whimsical, uncanny drawings. The designs and the process that bridges art and life are what make their products stand out from competitors. Each shirt is printed individually, by hand and eye, without the aid of any machines. This gives every piece of clothing an individual, and unique touch. Due to this labour intensive process, each design is only printed in a very limited edition. Aside from the clothing, both Rose and Stephanie design, create, and maintain their website, design all flyers and print work, silkscreen and hand cut every hangtag, and sew every label into the shirts. The buttons are also drawn, designed, printed, and individually hand-cut and pressed. The bigger buttons are hand-collaged one-of-a-kind buttons. This entire process is a result of creativity, hard work, and a do-it-yourself attitude, mixed with a labour of love.
The first time I saw soap scum soaps, I giggled, whispered to my friend, these soaps are dirty. My friend went ‘huh, how can soap be dirty?’ She figured it out when she looked at them and started to giggle as well. She also bought a bunch of them as stocking stuffers.
Soap Scum soaps are called soap for dirty people. What you get is a glycerin based soap (yes it’s vegan) with a variety of different animals fornicating. That’s right, plastic toy animals doing the dirty.
Jennifer also creates soaps with poetic quotes in them. They range from Sylivia Plath, Seamus Heaney to John Ashbery.
Soap Scum was created by Jennifer Love Grove. You can catch Jennifer at many of the upcoming Christmas craft fairs. Also check out Jennifer’s blog and join her Facebook group. This group will tell you when and where you can buy her soaps. You don’t want to miss an opportunity.
http://www.waywardarmadillo.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2354723421
In this generation of iPod, cell phones and laptops, one would think that designers of cases for all previously mentioned would stop making the boring black nylon cases. Apple has at least made skins for their ipods, but they all look the same. How boring is that. I recently purchase a fabulous iPod and wanted to protect it from getting damaged while bouncing around in my purse, but I didn’t want my case/iPod to look like everyone elses. In my search for the funkiest iPod case out there, I came across this site, flickabags.com
Alice Cervantes’ Bio
The idea to form Flicka Bags came to former Columbus Dispatch reporter Alice Cervantes on assignment last year.
While waiting with other journalists in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for the return of a Marine Corps unit from Iraq, she noticed every one carried their laptop in the same kind of boring, black bag.
After the story was filed and she returned home, she launched a search for a more stylish satchel. She had just a few requirements: It had to be practical - light weight but sturdy and big enough but not too big - and absolutely, positively, something other than standard-issue black.
When her search dead ended, an idea began to brew. Alice made her own bag - a funky messenger in a bold print with a slim laptop sleeve that fit neatly inside.
Flicka Bags was born with a Web site (www.flickabags.com) and a trusty Singer Rocketeer sewing machine, circa 1962. Now she writes “stories” to describe her bags.
The word Flicka means girl in Swedish. The inspiration for choosing the name came from a year Alice spent living in Sweden – the first time she had to pick up and carry her life’s possessions. The name is also telling of her design aesthetic: playful prints paired with practical designs.
Flicka Bags are named for places, a concept representing the many destinations where life will take us.
“Here’s wishing you a well-equipped trip!”
Contact information: alice@flickabags.com
Review - Feb. 4, 2007
Hip Chick + 1950’s slick = Adrianne Kulling.
Adrianne Kulling is the creator is the sassy website and switch plate empire vintagelove.
Recently featured in Toronto Star and Eye Magazine articles, her hard work and ingenuity is finally paying off and Adrianne is receiving much deserved recognition. Once you swing over to her website www.vintagelove.ca you will understand why. Cruising through such categories as femme fatale, dudes, pride, food, faces, places and odds you will find a versitile collection of retro plates in all different sizes to suit your needs. There is something for everyone. My favourite plates are caught and cool!
And now a little bit about vintagelove!
Stir up the nostalgia with vintagelove light switch plates!
about vintagelove:
A subversive peek into the life of the 50's housewife.
vintagelove is a collection of fabulous fifties light switch plates lovingly cooked up by Toronto artist Adrianne Kulling. Just add a dash of vintagelove and a mundane household object is transformed into a funky and functional work of art.
about the plates:
These uniquely wonderful plates are homemade with care using quality ingredients. All plates are metal and coated with several layers of polyurethane for a high gloss finish. In addition, each plate includes coordinating screws.
about the chef:
As a child, Adrianne would spend hours and hours lost in magazines. Scissors in hand, she would sift through the advertisements, deftly cutting and gluing and creating collages.
As an adult, Adrianne finds herself preoccupied with mid-20th century North American culture, particularly the life of the suburban 50's housewife. This fascination has led to a keen collection of vintage magazines and advertisements.
Adrianne holds her scissors and glue with pride.
vintagelove will be at the Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair this Sat Feb 10th. It's going to be at the Gladstone Hotel from 12-5pm
Review – Feb. 1, 2007
fe·line (fln) Latin flnus, Latin flneus from Latin fls, cat
a. Suggestive of a cat, as in suppleness or stealthiness.
ob·ses·sion (b-sshn, b-)
n. A compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion.
Check out the website www.felineobsession.com , a series of cat paintings. A gallery of colorful playful original prints by artist Mike Goodge, if you are a cat lover you will love his style. My favorite being “CAT BLUES” there is sure to be a favorite for everyone in this outstanding collection. “LIFE IS BLISS” captures the ecstasy of a cat’s life with charm and made me smile looking at it!!
His tribute to his cat “Sandy” is sweet indeed.
Mike Goodge studied at University of Central Florida and has a B.A. Degree in Motion Picture Technology, 1996. Basic training in film, video production, film theory and animation as well as Palm Beach Community College and an A.A. Degree in Art, 1993.
He has also had past exhibitions including the below
-"sandy"
-"charlie"-city of orlando art exhibition. orlando city hall. 2004.
-"xanth" -the humour of art, first thursday event. orlando museum of art. 2003.
-"heaven and hell in laos"-beauty of the far east, first thursday event.orlando museum of art. 2002.
-"african mask:contemplation no.1"
-"african mask:contemplation no.2"-masks, first thursday event. orlando museum of art. 2002.
-"ok i don't love you"-plenty more, h2O. orlando. 2001
You can also find Mike on myspace at www.myspace.com/thegoodge
October 21st, 2006
JB Artistic
Reviewed by Carolina Smart
www.JBArtistic.com - At JBArtistic.com you will find a wide variety of unique home accessories, handmade gifts and fine art by Jeneen Ausk including record cover scrapbooks, record bowls, magnets, painted bottles and much more! Reusing and recycling discarded materials is how this art is made!
Name of item reviewed – Online store and products available at www.JBArtistic.com. If I had to pick a product to be reviewed the scrapbooks made from record covers get a lot of great feedback. I also receive a lot of compliments on the hand painted bottles.
Name of the creator/publisher/distributor – All items at JBArtistic are designed and made by Jeneen Ausk.
Retail Price (please note if this includes shipping, taxes etc.) – Prices vary, crafty items range from $4.00 to $19.00. The paintings on the site start at $19 and go up.
My email is info@jbartistic.com and this can be shared.
Where to purchase your items – My items can be bought at my online store, www.JBArtistic.com. I also have items available at Adorn in San Diego, CA, and Wholly Craft in Columbus, OH.
It’s a very cute website, very cleanly designed, easy to navigate, great priced. the product pages are well organized with just the right amount of products.