Modern Art Monday Presents: Marie Bashkirtseff, In The Studio

Aug10

in the studio by marie bashkirtseff photo by gail worley
Photo By Gail

Marie Bashkirtseff (1858 – 1884) was one of the most outspoken and persistent advocates for a woman’s art academy in Paris. The dynamic scene on In The Studio (1881) depicts the artist (foreground, tipping her palette forward) alongside her peers at the Académie Julian as they work from a draped male model. Founded by Rodolphe Julian in 1868, the Académie originally permitted men and women to work side by side from a live nude model, but as news of assumed impropriety spread, Julian created separate studios for men and women. Julian’s school  was one of a handful in Paris to provide women with rigorous artistic training. Dying of tuberculosis at the age of 25, Bashkirtseff lived just long enough to emerge as an intellectual in Paris in the 1880s.

Photographed as Part of The Exhibit Women Artists In Paris at The Clark Institute, Located in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Pink Thing of The Day: No Mask No Empathy T Shirt By Austen Marie

Aug7

no mask no empathy image by austen marie

I would never wish for anyone to become ill with the Covid, but if you’re outside your home and you’re not wearing a mask over your nose and mouth, then you are asking for it. No mask, no empathy. Wear one of these awesome shirts, designed by Austen Marie, and piss off the Karens and Chads who refuse to mask up because they are ignorant idiots They’ll be dead soon, so I hope it was worth it. This slogan is available to rock on a variety of T-Shirts, Hoodies and even Masks, and there are many other colors besides pink to choose from, but this is the Pink Thing of The Day, Bitches! Adult T-Shirt prices start at just $19.95, so get some quarantine shopping done now at This Link!

no mask no empathy image by austen marie

Product Review: Red ‘No Guilt’ Reduced Calorie Chocolate

Aug6

red chocolate cover shot by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

After spending four months in the house, you may agree that the current quarantine situation has not been kind to your waistline. Most of us are way less physically active these days, and it’s so easy to reach for the comfort of favorite foods in times of stress. As an admitted foodie, I can especially relate to the temptation to over-snack while working from home. As we all attempt to reacquaint ourselves with self-control, it’s vital to have snacks and sweet treats on hand that you can indulge in while staying on your diet — and if that can include tempting chocolates, how can it be wrong? Please allow me to introduce you to a brand of high-quality chocolate called Red that is reduced calorie, with no added sugar, and insanely delicious. Yes, it exists.

red chocolate badge photo by gail

All Pleasure, No Guilt is the promise of Red Chocolate, created by Swiss-owned Chocolette Confectionary. Red is sweetened exclusively with zero-calorie, plant-based Stevia and naturally-occurring melon sugars, giving it an amazing taste, with a reduced amount of fat. Crazy, but true.

red chocolate ingredients graphic photo by gail worley

Thanks to the absence of processed sugar, Red’s dark chocolate varieties contain up to 50% fewer calories, while Red’s milk chocolate bars’ calorie count is reduced by up to 35%. This mean that the dark chocolate is KETO-friendly (with only 4 net carbs) and both are compatible with Weight Watchers as well! Guilt-free snacking never tasted so sinful. I recently received a selection Red Chocolate bars to review for the blog, and I am not fronting when I tell you that I am personally loving this chocolate. Here’s what arrived in our shipment!

red orange almond dark chocolate wrapped

Red Dark Chocolate infused with Orange and Almond. Oh, baby.

red milk chocolate wrapped photo by gail worley

Red Milk Chocolate. Smooth.

grab and go red chocolate bars photo by gail worley

An assortment of Red Chocolate Grab ‘N’ Go Bars that will set you back just 80 or 100 calories per bar!  We received three of the four available varieties, including dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and milk chocolate with hazelnuts and macadamia.

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Eye On Design: Circ Coffee Table By Grazyna (Gra) Solland

Aug5

circ coffee table by gra for sollands photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

My press comp to 2019’s Salon Art + Design included a much-appreciated perk of access to the Collectors Lounge, which featured a strikingly curated collection of unique art furniture from UK-based Sollands Gallery. Located in Mayfair, an affluent area in the West End of London, Sollands boasts elegant, contemporary pieces bearing the signature style of designer Grazyna (Gra) Solland. Gra, as she is called, is known for her strong sculptural statements, bold use of colors, and highly innovative and individual designs using high-end, luxurious materials. Working with both traditional and contemporary methods, together with a keen attention to detail and exacting quality, are hallmarks of Gra’s exquisite creations.

circ coffee table with cognac glass photo by gail worley

My favorite piece in the lounge was the vibrant, red lacquered Circ Coffee Table (2017). Having spent many years working on her STACK pieces, Gra decided she would like to further develop the theme, but in a much bolder manner. To create Circ, she regulated the wedge shapes and worked with circular shapes in a singular color.

sollands gra catlog photo by gail worley

Photographed in the Sollands Collectors Lounge at the 2019 Salon Art + Design in NYC.

Jean Shin’s Floating Maize at Brookfield Place

Aug4

jean shin installation photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

Fans of this blog will know that I am way into repurposing and recycling items that would otherwise end up in a landfill into both functional items and aesthetically pleasing works of art, so when I read about Floating Maize, artist Jean Shin’s new public art installation at the Brookfield Place mall, I braved the subway to get down there to check it out.

jean shin installation photo by gail worley
jean shin installation photo by gail worley

Known for her inventive works that transform discarded materials into elegant expressions of place and identity, Jean Shin’s art and practice is ingrained with the idea of sustainability. With that in mind, Shin has repurposed thousands of green plastic soda bottles into an elaborate installation that resembles an artificial landscape.

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Modern Art Monday Presents: Amedeo Modigliani, Portrait of a Medium

Aug3

portrait of a medium by amedeo modigliani photo by gail worley
Photo By Gail

Amedeo Modigliani’s mother wrote that at about the age of fifteen the artist attended is first seance. His youthful spiritual and esoteric inclinations took him in the direction of the occult, reflected in this drawing, Portrait of a Medium (1906), made from memory, of a session he attended in Venice, where he studied for two years before coming to Paris.

Photographed in the Jewish Museum in NYC.

A Brief Look at the Two Primary Covid-19 Challenges Faced by Nurses

Aug1

covid nurse
Image Source

All US states are suffering from the effects of Covid-19 to varying degrees, and the American nursing force is playing a huge role in curbing the situation as best as possible. As is to be expected from the biggest epidemic in a century, there are multiple problems popping up every now and then, making the job of medical professionals even more difficult than it already is. If you are currently working in the medical segment as a nurse, a doctor, or in any other active care role, you should be able to better relate with the two primary issues we are going to highlight today.

Shortage of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

It’s true that the PPE shortage is not as bad right now as it was a few months ago, but it’s not something that has completely gone away either. This is particularly true in:

• Rural hospitals and healthcare centers
• Overburdened hospitals in major US cities

The real issue here is not only supply but also the available resources to avail those supplies. For example, consider the fact that an N95 respirator is capable of filtering out the coronavirus, but most of the FFRs are for one use only, especially in a medical care setting where the virus is known to be present. What that means is, in order to keep their staff safe, the hospital has to supply every direct care workers with at least one mask, every single day.

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Pink Thing of The Day: Nancy Pelosi Acton Figure in Pink Dress

Jul31

nancy pelosi action figure pink

The folks at FCTRY, who’ve been turning cultural and political icons into action figures since 2008, are adding a gorgeous Nancy Pelosi Acton Figure to their already impressive line of progressive heroes that includes RBG, Biden, AOC, Sanders and Hillary (which I own) among many others. Nancy is seen here rocking a hot Pink Dress (earning her the honor of being a Pink Thing of The Day), accessorized  with sensible white pumps, while she carries a white gavel in one hand, and Dump’s hideous wig in another (though I believe that is just a photo prop)! Nancy’s incredible likeness was sculpted by Seattle-based artist Michael Leavitt, whose work you have seen on the blog many times. He is so talented! While FCTRY prepares Nancy’s Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for her series, you can help spread the word about this project and possibly earn a free action figure. To find out how to get a free Nancy Pelosi Action Figure, please click Here, then scroll down to the Quid Pro Quo section. Can’t wait to own this lovely and powerful lady!

Greatest Documentaries, Movies, And Series About Cannabis

Jul30

stoner movies image
Image Source

Cannabis, weed, or whatever you call it, has been a part of popular culture and entertainment for centuries. A lot has been said about this plant; discover here what stands out from the rest when it comes to weed on the screen!

Making a Story

These stories have documented the rise of the cannabis industry from obscurity to legitimate business ventures through the CBD products that do not have THC – the psychotropic ingredient that gives the feeling of being high. The latest installments will have you considering the multiple benefits of starting a business with certified CBD hemp seed for sale and making it in the industry yourself.

The Business of Drugs (2020)

This documentary premiered on Netflix and exclusively speaks about the business side of the cannabis plant. It explores the opportunities that are available from the growing of the plant to the creation of high-tech by-products. A far cry from the Cheech & Chong type of production and narrative associated with cannabis. A great choice for those looking for a seriously in-depth look at what goes on behind the scenes of a weed business.

The Future of Weed: High Country (2013)

A production of journalism and reality content Vice, The Future of Weed: High Country gives us an inside peek into all the technology invested in making cannabis products. With a little bit of history and science sprinkled on, the documentary shows just how far the interest of the health industry, with its science, has impacted advancements and taken weed to another level. This one is for the tech-savvy people and those that want to look at the future of cannabis.

Pineapple Express Poster

Pineapple Express (2008)

An explosive, hilarious story of two unlikely friends, danger, and weed, starring James Franco and Seth Rogen. This unpredictable comedy was an immediate success, and stands out in weed films, for its action storyline and solid final results. Pineapple Express is one of those films that has you wondering where your weed limits are, so you don’t end up in the same trouble as the characters. Great for relaxing on the couch with some snacks, with a lot of laughs and excitement.

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Eye On Design: Modernist Table Lamp By Edgar Brandt

Jul29

modernist table lamp by edgar brandt photo by gail worley
Photos By Gail

Best known as an Art Deco metalsmith, Edgar Brandt (1880 – 1960) studied metal working at the Ecole nationale professionnelle of Vierzon and established himself in Paris in 1902. There, he began his blacksmith career; his creations first being marked by the Art nouveau aesthetic. Thanks to his extraordinary technical mastery and ingenuity, he received overwhelming numbers of commissions.

In 1925, Brandt opened an art gallery, where he exhibited pieces created by his contemporaries, as well as some of his works and collaborations, such as the ones with Daum or Lalique. This Modernist Table Lamp (1931) features an S-shaped body on a circular base, in nickel-plated metal, with 2 deep-etched glass cylinders. At 8.5-inches wide at the base, and  12.5-inches high, each lamp is stamped (at the base) with the artist’s Signature: E. Brandt, and Daum Nancy France, for the crystal studio and its location, is etched on the glass. Price point is unknown.

Photographed in the Booth for Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts at the Fall 2019 Salon Art + Design in NYC

modernist table lamp by edgar brandt photo by gail worley