Marla Olmstead
Marla Olmstead started painting seven years ago when she was only one, and at four an exhibition of her artwork in New York received rave reviews from critics, with pieces selling from upwards of $5,000. Her abstract canvases combine mixtures of bright colours and use acrylic paint applied with brushes, squirt bottles, spatulas, and her fingers. Various visual manifestations are said to appear to almost everyone who sees her work. According to her father Mark, each painting takes between two and three sittings for the child prodigy and she’s a little but shy, but at her most confident when she’s painting. Marla Olmstead originals and limited edition prints have been sold internationally, and she has attracted attention from global media.
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January 16, 2010 | New Art | by Zolton |
We posted a while back about the debate surrounding the legitimacy of the artwork of child prodigy Marla Olmstead. The furor, in particular, centered around her performance in a controversial documentary, My Child Could Paint That, which looked at the then four-year old, who was already exhibiting regularly, despite her age, and the questions that were raised about the influence of her ambitious father. We’ve since received a long but mixed bag of comments about her work, from statements blaming the media (‘I watched the movie, and I do believe that the MEDIA has the ability to make ANYTHING look different than reality’), to disbelievers (‘not convinced one bit that the paintings she was filmed painting and the others were painted alone by Marla’), to those who think Marla is the greatest thing since, well, sliced bread (‘this child is amazing, her work speaks for itself’). Check out the comment thread and let us know your thoughts.
January 8, 2009 | New Art | by Zolton |
I watched the controversial documentary last night, My Child Could Paint That, which looked at the then four-year old art ‘genius’, Marla Olmstead, who was already exhibiting regularly (and selling her works for thousands), despite her age and the questions that were being repeatedly raised about the influence her rather ambitious father might have been having on her artwork. It was fascinating to watch, both for the trainweck story plots which hijacked its generally reverential tone, and for the process by which Olmstead was creating her vibrant, colourful, and exciting modern art pieces. Apart from anything else, the documentary raised important questions about what actually constitutes ‘good’ art and why some art sells for so much more than others. It’s all subjective, of course, but the outcry that greeted claims of third party interference in her paintings (a claim which has been noticeably muted over the years) suggests that it’s often less about the work itself than about the story or personality behind the artist who created it. Either way, Marla Olmstead is now eight years old, is still painting, and is selling her work for remarkable amounts. If you have a spare thirty thousand dollars or so, this piece above is apparently still available. So crack open that well fed piggy bank and get some modern art on your walls. Read more
My friend Spoon makes whacked-out, colorful portraits, paintings, and custom doormats. Check her stuff out. Read more
Known for his unique scratchboard style and vibrant colors for The Simpsons magazines, Edwin Vazquez is influenced by the history of New York City and pre-Columbian art, while Matt Groening, Ed Roth, Shigeru Sugiura and Suiho Tagawa are a few artists that he gathers inspiration from. Read more
The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project involved fourteen countries around the world filling crates with the best of their local nightlife and exchanging their country’s crate with another. We were there all the way, following Australia’s involvement. And the final stage, with Brazil and Australia swapping crates, was a beauty! As this video attests.
There’s a shop on Smith Street in Melbourne where all young designers go to live. In.cube8r supports all things craft and handmade in Melbourne, running like a long-term market, with the gallery divided into different areas that the artists lease for a tiny cost. There are more than 75 of Melbourne’s top crafters on show and the gallery is always looking for new designers.
Created by fellow nerd, Ben Goldacre, Nerdy Day Trips is a website where users add points onto a giant map to tell all about their nerdy destinations. Click on the points to check out each nerd’s story, and comment, find new destinations to seek out, or add your own fun story.
Already with a Spectrum show under their belt, The Archerbolds are an up and coming Australian band well worth checking out. I saw the Sydney-based lads play recently at the Mars Hill Café and it was evident that they should be permanently rocking out on a real stage; not in front of coffee sippers. Their floating lyrics, smart guitar riffs and meaty bass lines are infused by The Strokes, Mars Volta, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin — ultimately producing a freshly spun modern-vintage sound. Lead vocalist and guitarist Geoffrey ‘Gep’ Rectin says The Archerbolds plan to create a solid sound for next year: ‘Over summer, we’re recording an EP and working on a set sound, defining more of an image’. If their track, Rest Your Soul, is anything to go by, then it should be pretty dandy.
You’d be hard-pressed finding a designer with a more impressive background than Jessie Hill. While most of us were waiting to outgrow our awkward teenage years, she was already on her way to Los Angeles. Leaving her Sydney home at just seventeen to pursue her love of fashion, it wasn’t long before Jessie Hill made a name for herself, styling cool kids like No Doubt and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Read more
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Get lost in a daydream or a craving for something sweet while gazing at these cool sculptures by Brooklyn-based WiNK WiNK PONY. Made using clay, tree bark, wood, and mossy moss.
Matthew Dear’s Black City album totem
Our friends at Ghostly International are releasing Matthew Dear’s Black City album as a limited edition ‘totem’. A what? A totem – a limited edition metal bar used to access a private music chamber. Cool! Read more
Christoph Niemann illustrates a nightmare flight
New York Times illustrator Christoph Niemann has created a brilliant visual diary outlining the peril and pitfalls that beset the everyday passenger based on his recent experience flying from New York to his home town of Berlin. Read more
Honest Food Preparation Instructions
Yes, we’ve all been there: the chinese food from last week that still looks edible amongst the bare surrounds of an empty fridge. But really, we shouldn’t. Just let it be. Or College Humor will expose you! Read more
Pencils made from recycled newspaper
The problem with awesome things like these pencils made out of recycled newspaper is that you almost don’t want to use them.
This pendant by Portland designer Stephanie Stimek hangs from an eighteen inch 14 carat gold chain. Made from a Japanese quail egg, the entire shell has been coated in plastic for strength and is available for purchase through the Lost At E Minor store. Read more
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