The Object of Objects
You Should Own Art, Edition 30
Here we are at edition 30. That seems both a lot and a little. Thirty is a fair number of newsletters to produce, especially given the time that goes into these and the many, many other things I could/should be doing with those hours. And yet, this has been a going concern for about two and half years. From that perspective, thirty editions of a newsletter is not really all that many. What I’m leading up to is that it’s time to change things up, and I need your help.
Several months ago, when I asked you for feedback on other types of features you’d like to see, the top response was to learn about artwork that other people owned. So, I’m asking you if you’d be willing let me feature art you own and ask you a few questions about it. Or, and, if you know people who would be interested and would be willing to make an intro. This will be an entirely painless process; all that’s required is to answer a few questions and supply a few pictures of the artwork in question. If you’re up for it, simply email me at aric.cheston@gmail.com or reply to this newsletter, and we’ll take it from there.
In the same spirit of vitalization through change, this edition is dedicated to a medium that I am profoundly uncomfortable with. Sculpture is hard for me. I haven’t known how to think about it or what to appreciate. That’s not to say I don’t marvel at the achievements of the Renaissance, or the profundity of works from Brancusi or Giacometti. But it’s harder for me to contend with work that is less figurative and more abstract. Maybe it’s because I have never tried making sculpture myself, or maybe because I don’t know the history of sculpture as well as I do drawing and painting and consequently don’t have the context. Regardless, I’ve enjoyed dipping my toes in waters that are very deep.
I should also say, that this entire line if inquiry was inspired by a work by my friend Drew Miller that my dearest wife gifted me for my birthday this year. Drew is an architect by training, a designer by trade, and a sculptor by nature. Living with On the Wing has been a revelation. The planes respond to the light in a surprising variety of ways throughout the day. Sometimes I feel the object-ness of it, and sometimes it appears weightless. I encourage you to get to know Drew’s work (Instagram, too).
Ok, let’s look at some more work.
Islands 5
Gregory Euclide
USD$500
Sometimes you just have to make a tiny world to invite people to consider their larger one.
You can buy this work here.
And, Gregory is currently running a Summer sale here
Corallium
Claire Ireland
£195.00
Surface, substance, balance, texture. So much to see here.
You can buy this work here.
Claire’s Instagram
Claire’s website
Shrub Nubbin No. 2
CHIAOZZA
USD$350
Chiaozza is a team-up of partners in art and life. They seem like a really good time. I find this delightful. The rest of their work too.
You can buy this work here.
Chiaozza (rhymes with Yow-za!) Instagram
Pillow Cloud II
Atticus Adams
USD$800
The texture and topography are interesting enough. I'd be really interested to see how this work responds to it environment and changing light.
You can buy this work here.
Atticus’s Instagram (wow)
Atticus’s website
La Croix (Pamplemousse)
Nic Dyer
USD$1,000
There are phases in an artists’ careers in which they focus on the quotidian aspects of life. I’m drawn to this because various sparkling waters occupy a pretty central space in my own life.
You can buy this work here.
Nic’s Instagram
Nic’s website
Small Palindrome
Esteban Patino
USD$1,000
I do think this stands on its own, but you really should to see more of Esteban’s work to fully appreciate this. A heck of a body of work.
You can buy this work here.
Esteban’s Instagram!!!
Esteban’s website
Château de cartes (couleurs inversées)
Sébastien Gaudette
USD$825
A Trump l’oeil rendering of a metaphor for instability in aluminum, what’s not to love?
You can buy this work here.
Sébastien’s Instagram
Sébastien’s website
Figure in Niche
Thomas McAnulty
US$1,000
This really evokes for me the casual proliferation of jaw-dropping sculpture you find in a European cities. Small miracles perched on pedestals and nestled in niches abound. (alliteration!)
You can buy this work here.
Thomas’s website
90s Beach Party
Betsy Enzensberger
USD$345
Betsy’s found a bit of niche with the melting popsicle motif. This is the most maximal of all the ones I could find. Seems like a good way to wrap this height-of-Summer edition.
You can buy this work here.
Betsy’s Instagram is everything you’d expect.
Betsy’s website
Alright friends, thanks for coming with me on this little journey. Let me know of any sculptors you’re into and I’ll share them on the Instagram. Be sure to follow the artists on Instagram and tell your friends about works you love.