The Exquisite Miz Elsa Mora

Eclectix stumbled on Elsa (or Elsita) Mora while researching paper cut art and we are so happy to have her work on the exhibit card (below). 

She seems to be a one-woman dynamo, creating exquisite, impeccably beautiful art while managing  a family, an Etsy Shop and 5 blogs. The blogs are artworks in themselves, cleanly designed, well photographed with incredible, large close-up details of every work. Elsa also creates miniature books and art dolls. Her “The HeArt of Papercuts” is a wonderful place to get lost, we highly recommend viewing it. 

This is a detail from one of her rings - for your fingers!

Links below for more Mora...

  Elsa’s Etsy Shop LINK

Elsa Mora’s Main Blog

Miniature Artists’ Books

The Hidden Seed: Personal style

Elsa’s Handmade Doll Blog

Originally posted in the Eclectix Paper & Arts Issue, June 2011 along with the online exhibit of paper arts - LINK

Lyndi Sales’ Paper Phantasms

Lyndi Sales is a fantastic paper artist, based in Cape Town, South Africa. She covers all the bases of the paper arts - sculpting books, paper cuts, collage dioramas, large scale installations - from abstract to realism. Some are other worldly looks into parallel universes, some are intricate, detailed creatures or anatomical parts and some are movement-inspired blurs of surreal abstract shapes. 

Artist's Website LINK

Originally posted in the Eclectix Paper & Arts Issue, June 2011 along with the online exhibit of paper arts - LINK

Un-Bound and Upcycled, The Painted Books of Mike Stilkey

Eclectix first saw Mike’s work in person at the Art For The New World show in Bristol, UK. It was this huge work that greeted you as you came thru the door (above). A wonderful mound of books stacked on edge and painted with the image of a young gothic bride and groom couple. Just loved it! His characters have a nice old world feel, harking back to the Victorian-Edward Gorey-Poe eras, yet modern with a human sensitivity and compassion. Stacked into sculptures they re-imagine a bookcase full of possibilities.

Mike's Website 

This was originally posted on the Eclectix homepage, May 2011, in the Paper & Arts exhibit and issue.

Paper Fashion, Nakao's Runway Art Attacks

Brazilian based Jum Nakao makes incredible dresses out of vegetable paper (papyrus or parchment.) They are light, lovely and delicate fashions that contrast well with the dark, robot-like, hard edged models. 

From Jum- “A term used by John Calvin: “The precise use of the vague” - which allows the reading of a more playful universe.”

He creates artistic events or happenings along with his shows. At the end of one - Desfile, the models tear the dresses off themselves, destroying them while the audience gasps in horror - LINK. In another, rats slowly tear and feed upon the dresses LINK.

“That is why we destroy everything, to show that there is something more important, something much more lasting than what people see and value at first sight.”

For an interview and overlook at some of his work - PingMag LINK And a backstage look at Jum setting up a show - LINK

Pulp Fashion Exhibit at the Legion of Honor

The current exhibit "Pulp Fashion" at S.F.'s Legion of Honor is beautifully executed and laid out. All the costumes are created out of paper by the artist Isabelle de Borchgrave and her minions. For info and more photos of the garments, as well as some of Isabelle working, click here.
Isabelle hand-makes the paper, manipulates the pulp, stretching, crinkling and puckering. And then she tears, sews, wrinkles, folds and pleats. If you look closely you can even find the inner structures of cardboard boxes - as in one of the intricate lace collars. Spotted some shredded packing materials in there as well. Multitudes of textures abound- delicate rice papers for gauze veils and petticoats, shiny satin-like papers and matte hued thicker papers. She paints detailed patterns and backgrounds, paying historical homage to the likes of the Medici family, Coco Chanel and Marie-Antoinette. From buttons to bows, beads to lace, corsets to belts (even the coolest little Aladdin-like slippers) no detail was left out. Many of the mannequins were also layered in paper bringing a tactile uniformity to the displays. Every outfit is an incredible assemblage, really makes one wonder just how many hours it took to complete this huge collection.

Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave, 
February 5, 2011 - June 5, 2011

Eclectix Volume 7 On "Paper & Art"

Paper & Art

Eclectix, Volume 7

This issue is all about paper and art. Torn, sliced and/or diced. Books, sheets, cardboard, scrolls and objects. Glued, molded,  drawn on, folded, collaged and sculpted.

For the ongoing exhibition and gallery click here. 

For new homepage related posts, updated weekly, click here.