had a little visitor over last week!

visited the headlands art center with shara.
it was such a serene place and felt so good to be surrounded by eucalyptus trees!

marton perlaki

An interview with Ken Matsumoto, sculptor and director of Art Object Gallery.
San Jose, California
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+ Describe your job
I’m not sure that one could call what I do a “job”. Essentially, I spend my days either making things or tending to the gallery business be it talking with artists, hanging shows, or doing PR. That’s probably the job part of what I do…tending to gallery business. That’s not to say that I don’t gather satisfaction from it, it can be seen as just another “thing” I’m making. In that sense it has been sort of a long term project as the entire space is constantly changing from one year to the next not according to any plan or strategy. It’s more like something appeals to me or makes some “sense” and I’ll do what I can to make it happen.

+ A brief bio
Born and raised Catholic in Oxnard, California. Third of seven kids all parochial grammer schooled. The nuns were very civilized women in that they appreciated the arts be it music, dance, visual arts, etc. It was always a part of our school day. They encouraged me and I enjoyed the attention that my creations received. This continued to my freshman year of high school. The rest of my high school years were at a public high school. Instead of art, I took drafting classes and learned the language and the tools of mechanical drawing (very important for communicating with engineers, fabricators, etc.). I was drafted into the army (also very important) and because of my work experience was given the title of illustrator for the psychological operations group of the special warfare division in North Carolina. I lived with people from all walks of life from coal miners, drug peddlers from the ghettos of Chicago, to linguists, artists, photographers, most with advanced degrees. I learned that I had a lot to learn and using the GI bill benefits I attended college after my stint was over. SBCC and SJSU in 1983 MFA.

+ What inspires your work?

Initially it was a sense of space. The vistas of Augerbury Point in Death Valley, looking across the granite peaks of the Sierras. I was looking to replicate that sort of feeling. Well, that’s sort of impossible so I looked to capture something of the process that marked the earth. Eroded the surface, made visual the passage of time. I came to see the manmade marks as being erosion as well and that led me to the idea that man is a part of nature. So that means whatever mankind does is as much a part of the natural order.

+ How did Art Object Gallery come about?

I moved into my current space in 1996. I immediately set about converting the dirty dark warehouse into a couple of studio spaces. In order to afford the space I had to develop a space to sublet. I created a 900 sq ft space to rent and took the rest of the indoor space, approximately 3500 sq ft, for myself. This was a generous amount of space especially since much of my work takes place outdoors. I decided to further develop in 2000 and opened the ArtObjectGallery in April 2000. Was warmly received to say the least. The first show I combined the mailing lists of three other artists and we drew an incredible crowd.

+ Favorite local places
Roy’s Station, Palm Haven, the ocean, Camera 12

+ Favorite magazine/ books...
Just finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (amazing beautiful prose) and now King Leopold’s Ghost. History of the Colonial Rule in the Congo. NY times Sunday paper. Best, simply the best.

+ What are your future aspirations for Art, Object Gallery?
To see it go on after I leave in ten years or so.

+ Dinner is....
Salad (with beets, gorgonzola, nuts, arugula, romaine,) salmon sashimi, uni, age dashi with large bonita flakes, and pho.

+ Listening to....
Satellite real jazz, Frank Sinatra, and Copland.

Art Object Gallery will be presenting an opening reception for 3 Painters on Saturday, May 12th from 7-9 PM.

592 North Fifth St.
San Jose, CA 95112

spring sale at Anaïse
20% off all spring/summer clothing with code "printemps"

dreaming of visiting TRUCK furniture in osaka one day.

there is an excellent interview with tokuhiko kise, the creator of TRUCK, in the latest issue of Inventory Magazine.

a few glimpses of Magasin Général...



ANAISE




beautiful prints from lotfi



michelle lane



michelle lane



ceramic necklace wall hanging by katy krantz

hope to see you this weekend at Magasin Général!

coffee and dinner at piccino!




a few links...

+ leonor antunes [via araks]
+ 1980 by Ezginin Günlüğü
+ qigong in berlin. kristina is such an amazing photographer!

video stills from carlotta manaigo
[via cheryl]

p.s. ANAISE turns 1!
Take 15% off all spring items with code "FETE"

I have some exciting news...

Shara Lotfi and I are hosting a pop-up event, Magasin Général, in San Francisco on April 21st and 22nd. We have a stellar group of California-based designers, shops, and makers who will be joining us.

Please stop by and say hello!

Many, many thanks to Chris Koehler for the beautiful poster!

An interview with Kit Grill, an artist and designer based in London.
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+ Describe your job
I work as an artist in London. Currently I am getting work ready for a show for in May of this year.

+ What inspires your work?
Nature, people, experience, peace and quiet, my work.

+ Favorite local places
I really enjoy the space, architecture and conservatory at The Barbican and similarly the structure and space at the Tate Modern. For less man-made environments I love Victoria Park in the sun. Normally, I leave London to get some nature.




+ Favorite websites/shops
Well my girlfriend introduced me to your blog and couple of other great ones but aside from them most of my time is spent on The Guardian, iPlayer or You Tube.
For shops I enjoy BFI film shop, Le Grenier, Rospo, Margaret Howell, Atlantis Art shop, Tate Bookshop and Uto Beer in Borough Market. All these were determined by me struggling to walk out without buying something!

+ Favorite magazines and books...
Just Kids by Patti Smith
De Profundis, The Ballad of Reading Gaol & Other Writings - Oscar Wild
American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis
Where I lived and What I lived For - Henry David Thoreau
Apartmento Magazine

+ Dreaming of....
A studio in the French countryside with a view of the sea, to paint in full of pots of pigments, paintbrushes, sunlight, blank canvases, wine, cheese, musical instruments, cats, dogs, friends and my girlfriend!

+ Dinner is....
Salad with chopped vine tomatoes, cucumber, nectarines, mozzarella, pepper, oregano, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Parma ham.

+ Listening to....
Currently listening to Roxy Music, Grimes, Arthur Russell, Jackson C Frank, Bert Jansch, The Doors, Talking Heads, Otis Redding, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Benny Goodman, Frederic Chopin and Schubert.

the spring collection has finally arrived at ANAISE!
I'm really excited to introduce two new lines, Electric Feathers and Vanessa Bruno Athé.

shara in her LOTFI dress,
a new piece from her beautiful spring collection.

julia reimann
[via i'm revolting]

"concrete ball" by James Nares
[via decade diary]

someone is hard at work!

c's home and garden. he has so many beautiful orange and grapefruit trees.

shared a meal at souen with sasha
while in nyc...
so happy to have finally met her!

lovely emma!



a détacher
such an inspiring, beautiful space. i always look forward to coming here.



electric feathers at maryam nassir zadeh!