Kendall Messick’s Burnt Offerings

Messick's "Impermanence" and “Conflagration” photographs are documents of charred beauty. After his house burned down, Messick chose to portray the beauty that is inherent in all things, even destruction. His photographs of his burned-down home and beloved and now charred objects represent what the title says - impermanence.

Some images courtesy of Rebekah Jacob Gallery

Messick's Website Link

(Originally posted in the Eclectix  "BURN" Issue, August 2011,

 along with the permanent online exhibit of fire-related art, LINK HERE.)

Drew Burnham at Bau-xi Gallery

Bau-xi Gallery is located across the street from the AGO in Toronto and we checked it out with visiting there. The current exhibit were works by Canadian artist Drew Burnham, all large wilderness,  landscapes. Generally, I like landscapes - what's not to like? However, they can be boring and empty, lacking interest or spice.  Drew's works were not lacking anything - vivid in color and contrast, fluid in composition - exciting kinetic lines of wild scenes. They had an almost hallucinogenic feel, staring at them it felt like someone had slipped you some magic mushrooms. Trippy leaves, deep flowing shadows and psychedelic colors vibrate the eye, reminding one of Henri Rousseau's "The Dream". Beautiful works that make you want to hike inside them along with Alice in Wonderland.

Playing Dead in Kensington Market, Toronto

Really nice Miles Davis mural on a corner shop

After walking all around the "hip" part of Queens Street West in wilting, hot humidity- we got brave and hiked up to the Kensington Market area of town. 

After some iced coffee we were ready to peruse all the fun little stores, vintage shops and arty places. A more colorful and gritty part of town, with a lot of street art and bright colors.

Stopped into Black Market, a huge place full of vintage clothes, great fluffy prom dresses and costume wear.

Harry Potter wear at Black Market Vintage shop

Up the street was Play Dead, the most interesting and artful shop we found. Street art style paintings, hand painted tees and jackets, lots of dark, skull apparel with some humor thrown in. Art on rough hewn wood and other found objects, gothic clothes and Mary portraits.

Play Dead exterior

Play Dead skull art

Play Dead art

Play Dead art

My favorite piece in the shop was a line up of aerosol cans in an old crate. Covered with Campbells soup labels, ala Warhol - they would have made a great tee shirt for the more hip tourists or the locals wanting to show a little homegirl pride. Alas, none were to be found or I would be sporting one right now.

David Mach’s Match Head Art

Using tens of thousands of matchsticks, David Mach creates detailed models of animals, symbols or historical figures.

David, from Scotland, has a passion for art and matchsticks, so he decided to combine them and create unique masterpieces. Using a clay mold he creates a plastic or fiberglass model of whatever he wants to create, and then begins the process of sticking matchsticks on it, one at a time. Most of his creations are made with tens of thousands of colored-tip matchsticks, imported from Japan, and take months to complete and only a second to burn!

David's Website

(Originally posted on the Eclectix homepage "BURN" Issue, August 2011,

 along with the permanent online exhibit of fire-related art, LINK HERE.)

Herakut in Culver City

On our travels around Southern California in early August, we spotted these great murals by Herakut. They were wrapping the corner of a vacant building in Culver City (maybe Washington Blvd.?)  So glad to spot these, they made the day so much happier with their art! Love the emotive and drippy works by this duo, hope it gets to stay.... maybe a great spot for an art supply store?

Herakut Website

Eclectix Visits The Art Gallery of Ontario

Eclectix visited the AGO, Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto on our travels this summer and wanted to share some of our favorites. Really a place worth visiting with hours of great art viewing, much more than we can begin to share here. Many old school masterpieces by famous artists, some present day goodies and a lot of good local Canadian art, wildlife and scenic landscapes. Included are some detail shots of some of the pieces for closer examination of the images. Give yourself some time if you go!

Kathleen Munn

Kathleen Munn

Janieta Eyre, Androgyne

Master of the Kress Epiphany, Expulsion of the Money-Changers

Detail of above

Collection of antique perfume bottles

Mary Pratt, The Service Station

Just one of the many fantastic antiquities collections

Kent Monkman, The Academy

Detail from The Academy

Our favorite piece from the entire AGO was "Descent" by Fred Hagen, an incredible surreal narrative, (below). This one has to be seen in person!

Descent by Fred Hagan

When you are all tuckered out, ready to put your feet up and enjoy a pint, there is a wonderful little pub nearby, called "The Village Idiot". Good ale and munchies in tasteful vintage decor and open air comfortable setting.

The Village Idiot Pub

Village Idiot interior