Fireworks are a funny thing. They celebrate and illuminate and gather people together on the streets and in fields and make them stare at the sky. I’m all for staring at the sky, and this year a week or so before the 4th, I had the idea to have people share with us their firework moments so that we all could stand together in this electronic field and/or street and revel at their power and beauty. Wherever you are when you look at these, think of how life can be an explosion in the dark or when it can be bright in the darkness or how we all are together even when we are not in the same place. ‘Cause baby you’re a firework/Come on show ‘em what you’re worth/Make ‘em go “Oh, oh, oh!” as you shoot across the sky-y-y/Baby you’re a firework/Come on let your colors burst/Make ‘em go “Oh, oh, oh!”/You’re gonna leave ‘em fallin’ down-own-own.
Click “Read More” to go boom boom boom.

In honor of Women’s History Month, Humble Arts Foundation and Affirmation Arts presents its second edition of 31 Women in Art Photography, a five-week exhibition celebrating 31 of the most innovative women in new art photography and featuring our friend Amelia Bauer.

Through April 10th at 523 W. 37th Street New York, NY 10018.

Situated on the western slope of Capitol Hill in Seattle you’ll find Cairo Gallery, currently hosting Brooklyn-based artist Amelia Bauer in her solo show titled STILL.  I went ahead and checked out her work online before the show and was impressed by her wide range of artistic craft. While I sort of knew what to expect, I must suggest seeing her work up close. Cairo couldn’t have been a more suitable space to feature Amelia’s intricate and undoubtedly time-consuming works. Small handmade handkerchiefs line the walls and at first glance you’d mistake them for regular stylish lace handkerchiefs, but upon further inspections you’ll see these are far more unique. Throughout the selection you see men and women crashing through glass with true animation. The enlaced imagery juxtaposes the elegance with perfection. On the floor of the gallery lay a pile of twenty or so pillows, aptly titled Explosion Pillows. Each pillow features its own scene from various genres of American cinema. The likeness to a photograph is truly impressive – how one could needlepoint a car exploding under a bridge this good is beyond me. I recommend getting on a plane and visiting Seattle in the summer because it’s just insane with the urban lakes and swim spots, bustling avenues, and of course the art of Amelia Bauer! STILL can be seen at the Cairo Gallery thru Sept. 1.  Click “Read More” for more images.

Seattle People (or if you are going to be in Seattle), Thursday our friend Amelia has a new a new show opening. I expect nothing less than awesomeness.

STILL Hollywood Depicted in Needlepoint and Lace

A New Project by Amelia Bauer

Last Friday night — before rushing home to watch the first Presidential Debate — your friends at Dossier attended the opening of Amelia Bauer’s Environs exhibition at Capricious Space in Brooklyn. Capricious Space is a relatively new, invitingly cozy addition to Williamsburg’s art scene and was a fitting venue for Bauer’s refined collection of drawings, sculptures and photographs. The exhibition was immediately captivating for its intricacies — for example, the staggeringly detailed work above, titled Web, made of cut paper and gouache.

Sheer weight of numbers attest to the interest in Bauer’s work, which has been featured in Wallpaper* and Matrix magazines, as well a number of McSweeney’s publications. Attendees of the opening filled the gallery and office spaces of Capricious before spilling onto the street — drinks in hand — to mingle and discuss the exhibition. The consensus? Free beer is good, but free beer and Bauer’s art is a winning combination. Click “Read More” to see a collage of happy snaps from the night.

Regular readers of this blog may recognize Bauer’s artwork as the cover art of the forthcoming Department of Eagles album In Ear Park, which was mentioned in a previous post. Word to the wise — the album is out on October 6, through 4AD and it is breathtakingly beautiful.

Environs runs through October 12.

Photo courtesy of Amelia Bauer/Photo collage courtesy of Tom Hines.