The Kitchen to Campbell's Soup Cans

Although there were several remarkable works of art showcased in the Picasso to Warhol exhibit at the High Museum of Art, one of the most charming things I saw while there a couple of weeks ago, was this little boy sitting on the floor in front of a Picasso, sketching away on his pad of paper.  In a sea of giant art-goers, this kid blocked-out all of the commotion around him and focused on the task at hand – reproducing the intricate maze of lines on the painted canvas in front of him.  If that kind of concentration could be bottled, I’d accomplish a hell of a lot more!

Fixated on The Kitchen by Picasso.

But hands down, the most impressive installation was Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans.  32 canvases, each depicting a variety of Campbell’s soup offered at the time (1962) were hung neatly in two long rows.  The paintings are among Warhol’s first silkscreened productions and are easily some of the most recognizable works of pop art.  Mind you, I’m a sucker for repetition (and pop art) so this wall of soup cans truly took my breath away. 

Campbell's Soup Cans by Andy Warhol

If you’re going to be in or around Atlanta this weekend, the museum is partnering with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the Campbell Soup Company and will be holding a canned food drive.  Canned Food Drive at the High will be running this Friday (Jan. 27) through Sunday (Jan 29).  For every can you donate, you’ll receive $1 off the price of admission, up to 10 cans!

Tim Mancinas? Folk Yeah!

For some time now, I’ve wanted to chronicle the works of art and pieces of furniture that my husband and I have collected over the years.  We have bought directly from artists, through auctions, in stores, online…you name it, we’ve done it.  But for me, personally, I like working directly with an artist/designer.  Although I haven’t had any work commissioned per say (not counting tattoos) I have, as I mentioned, contacted artists directly to see what they’ve got, and have ended up with some great pieces as a result of this method of shopping. 

One of the first artists whose work we had to have, is a gentleman by the name of Tim Mancinas.  We first started seeing his work around St. Louis in, oh, I don’t know, 2006?  2007?  I remember one of his paintings, “Career Woman” was displayed in one of my favorite shops in The Loop – Phoenix Rising.  And he had done a mural for another shop in The Loop (now closed, unfortunately) – Fifi’s.

L - Career Woman by Tim Mancinas, R - Mural by Tim Mancinas. Images ©Tim Mancinas.

We ended up getting his number from the owner of Fifi’s, I believe, and contacted him about his work.  He was actually setting up for a show, and met us for a preview where we ended up purchasing two pieces before his opening!  My husband, being a big Johnny Cash fan, opted for "Cash" and I, being a longtime admirer of Marylin Monroe, went for "Marylin".  I must admit, it was kind of fun seeing SOLD stickers on two of his paintings the first night of his exhibition.  

  

Cash by Tim Mancinas

Marylin by Tim Mancinas

Although many of his paintings are portraits of pop icons, he draws inspiration from a wide variety of origins.  Mancinas mixes pop art with low brow art, abstract expressionism with spiritual and religious beliefs, all of which have become key ingredients in making Tim Mancinas the artist he is today.

L - Ecce Homo by Tim Mancinas, R - Live Blues Tonite by Tim Mancinas. Images ©Tim Mancinas.