So...what do you want to know about art?
Ask us anything, so long as it's art-related. We'll track down the answers in an upcoming newsletter
Hello! You're reading the CBC Arts newsletter, and if you like what you see, stick around! Sign up here, and every Sunday we'll send you a fresh email packed with art, culture and a metric truckload of eye candy, hand-picked by our small and mighty team. Here's what we've been talking about this week.
Hi, art lovers!
Don't tell Wile E. Coyote, but there's a giant anvil in Vancouver's Leg-In-Boot Square right now, and the artist who dropped it there, Maskull Lasserre, is in no way affiliated with the Acme Company. "Acoustic Anvil" — that's the name of the sculpture, FYI — is Lasserre's contribution to the Vancouver Biennale, and this hunk of sculpted, Road Runner-squishing metal stretches 25 feet long and 13 feet high.
When the artist told us what he was planning, we were immediately hung up on a couple of questions.
How was he going to drop the thing in a waterfront shopping plaza?
What was that all going to look like?
Questions like those are what eventually led us to Maskull's West Coast workshop — and now you can see the answers for yourself.
Why are we telling you all this? Well, beyond getting you to watch this sweet new short doc about Maskull, it just goes to show how every story we tell begins with a pile of questions.
So here's one more...
What do you want to know about art?
Because if you have questions, we'd like to answer them in future newsletters.
What's the difference between modern and contemporary art?
Is it pronounced "GIF" or "JIFF"?
What the #%&@ is a biennale?
Or maybe you want to know more about a story you've seen on the site, or one of the artists we've covered.
Based on the YouTube comments that have blown up on this old Yi Stropky video, we're waiting to get a few questions about his eyebrows. Specifically, how he gets them to look "LIKE DAMN." (We won't judge.)
So, what's your question?
As always, we'll get back to you as soon as we can, but this time, you might see your question (plus answer!) in the next edition of Hi, Art.
And here's one more question for you: how'd they do that?!
Just for fun, six links that'll have you asking just that.
These aren't paintings, they're photos — pastel-perfect scenes captured by Australian artist Ben Thomas. If you wind up booking a trip to Coney Island because of his work, be warned: IRL, the place doesn't look like it's made out of candy floss and ice cream. (Same goes for Montreal.)
And these aren't blobs of paint, they're pencil drawings! (This link's a bit old, but we couldn't resist.) CJ Hendry did this series (Complimentary Colours) in partnership with shoe designer Christian Louboutin last year. Plenty more hyper-realness on her Instagram.
We've run our share of stories about artists who make needlefelt sculptures, but most of that stuff has a sort of whimsical, cartoon bent. Nothing's made us do a double-take quite like these (too?) realistic cat portraits by Japanese artist Wakuneco.
These buildings aren't just incredible, they're impossible. Check out this series of "fictional buildings" by Filip Dujardin — surreal photo collages that are just plausible enough to mess with your head.
The place? A 400-year-old ruin on the island of Paxos. Those giant, floating rainbow-coloured laser beams? That's no Care Bear stare — they're actually sheets of mesh. See more from the art duo behind the installation, Quintessenz.
You've got to see this
Wish you were here - Toronto artist Madeleine Gross paints travel photos from some of the world's most drool-worthy holiday destinations, and from the looks of her Instagram, she's had a way better summer (and spring and winter...) than you.
An artist's guide to falling in love with Lethbridge - If that last link didn't stoke enough wanderlust, get ready for...Lethbridge. There's so much more to this southern Alberta city than coulees and Pilsner, and local artist Shanell Papp is your guide to its sights.
Breaking (and smashing) story! - How, exactly, does one become a professional piñata artist? What, exactly, is a professional piñata artist? Vancouver's Meaghan Kennedy fits the description, and to hear her tell it, making (and clobbering) custom piñatas can be a life-changing experience.
Follow this artist
Kaley Flowers (@kaleyflowers) - For a sweet <ESC>, check out this charming short doc on Toronto's Kaley Flowers. Her sculptures are all about capturing life (and posture) in the Internet age.
Got story ideas? Typo catches? Questions? (And that includes all your questions about art!)
We're always around. Hit us up over email and we'll do our best to get back to you.
And if someone forwarded you this message, and you like what you've read, here's where to subscribe for more.
Until next time!
XOXO, CBC Arts
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