Saturday, November 29, 2008

Monday, November 17, 2008

Art Article of the Year:The Magic Easel






For years I have desired to give accolades to local publications for well written and informative articles. Now I have a forum and I will indulge myself. The Chicago Reader cover story of Thursday, October 23rd not just caught my eye, but entangled my thinking process for the next several months. The intriguing photo held me captive until I read and re-read the story. Not only was this piece thorough and well researched, but the back story had an immense amount of information on the topic as well, thanks to the competent writing of Damien James. He documents twin brothers Trevor and Ryan Oakes inventing a new way to draw. At first I thought this was a gimmick, but the story is so concise and the theories are so well explained, you begin to feel as if you are a part of something huge. And you are. Great chronicles are supposed to make you feel that way. I salute Mr. James for such a historically accurate and engaging piece of reporting.

I suggest everyone go read this article for yourself. 

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Artist of the Year: Saira Wasim





After giving it great thought I decided that Lambert Says Art should have a recognized artist of the year. Although many of the featured artists are deserving, one artist's technique, subject matter and final product moved me so much I chose to them high light. May I please have the honor of introducing the Lambert Says Art,  Artist of the Year.

Saira Wasim should be an international wonder of the art world, but this is Chicago folks...Well Lomard. That's even worse- It's the classic story, she went to every single gallery- not even a phone call back-
Finally a New York gallery called her...what is with the Chicago Art scene? It seems deaf, dumb and blind folded.
Her work is the stuff of pop art meets Annals of America volume 4. The fantasy work touches all the hot topics that keep people from going mainstream, but the images are detailed and vibrant enough to be in a nursery. I felt it was a travesty that so little attention was being payed to her work considering the situation in South Asia and the West.
I must admit I have a sensitivity to this type of style, but I feel it is prevalent in a world that has been over run by abstract images for the last several decades.  

This young woman has taken on taboo subjects from Pakinstan and confronted them in a bold and sometimes satirical manner. She mixes her own pigments and  works from a cushion on the floor for about eight hours straight.  Her mother was also an artist and tried to steer her away from this career, but now her whole family supports her.
She graduated from arts college in 1999 and soon began international exhibits.  In 2003 she was included in a ground breaking show at the Whitney Museum for American Art.
Many galleries in had ignored her, but in 2006 Ameringiner and Yohe Fine Art gallery in Manhattan approached her.  Please look her up.
We expect great things from her hear at lambert.

This post was made possible by  the article Quiet Riot, by Victoria Lautman in the Septemberissue of  Chicago Magazine.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Local Heroes


So Alex Ross once again transcended from comic book art into powerful political art and made history. I knew he could do it. He might be one of the most prevalent and most talented artists alive. His classical style and attention to detail combined with his meticulous rendering in water color make him by far one of the most talented painters of all time. He is able to not only capture, but create any image. He has drafted fantasy and blended reality into one realm. Now his images are legend. It is only right that he portrays Obama, because Alex Ross also shares roots form Chicago. This man has been a hero of mine since 1994. It's only right he should hold the limelight being that i also have strong tis to the Windy City. I salute him and our new super president. All the best. More inside  with: Quishenta Jones