summer

Summer Reading List, part 1. Currently, we are taking a break from the studio, to catch up on reading, enjoy the pool, bbq, drink, and stay up too late. We have some new ideas in the works, just need to let them brew for a while...

the squirrel chandelier!

We could not be happier! This has been in the workings for a while, with a lot of back and forth about how all the parts come together. Mike did an amazing job with the squirrels, giving them little collars for the ringed pieces of cut paper. For the ceiling, we had a die made, so cutting and sewing the long strands was a breeze. The neon worked perfectly, illuminating the space in an eerie light, especially if you drive by the gallery late at night. We love how the neon is bright without being distracting - you can actually look into it to see the squirrels close up.

Hanging Dead Project II

Hanging Dead Project II, from our show at Prairie. After making the navy squirrels, we went back to our old stand by - white. Mike also made the branches a little more streamlined, so they read as brackets rather than trees.. Although, a lot of people asked about the "rats", so who knows? Same varmint family. Details shots below.


Porcelain, china paint, luster, with die cut paper tails.

Close up

A close up of Mike's china painting skills - this harlequin pattern squirrel is pretty amazing! I love the way the image stretches across the back and arms....

opening night at Model Citizens NYC

We have been crazy busy setting up for our solo show that opens this Friday in Cincinnati, so we were unable to attend Design Week this year. Luckily my brother was able to stop by the Model Citizens opening party on Saturday night and snap some pictures of our work and the giant crowds of people! Core 77 did a nice write up here.

"Hanging Dead Project I" made its official debut and we could not be happier with the result.

We are busy installing all this week, but stay tuned for "Hanging Dead Project II" plus a new chandelier that really takes the cake.

Model Citizens NYC 2010

Future Retrieval is a Model Citizen!! We just sent 5 boxes of brand new work to the Model Citizens' pop up exhibition in conjunction with ICFF and NYC Design Week. The opening is this Saturday night, from 5-8pm. (show location and hours listed above) Installation pictures coming soon.

We spent all day Sunday packing up the work. Our dining room before and after (day to night).

Art Chicago

Future Retrieval at Art Chicago!! We had several pieces in the Iconoclast booth, part of the MCA pop up shop. Photo taken with the world's oldest camera phone.

Working with Interior Designers

We have been working with Mark Christofi Interiors for a showroom at W Hotel in Boston. Our aesthetic and Marks vision make for a handsome collaboration as the Wolf Lights are looking pretty sweet in this condo. More images coming soon.

next

We have a couple exciting ventures happening in the next month, so we will keep you posted once they get a tiny bit closer. Right now they are far enough away to keep us in the studio, but not freaking out just yet...
A preview of the squirrel in progress - Sevre patterning across the body with a full tail made from die cut paper. (studio shot) Mike has been putting in serious hours getting this form just right, and has a few more ideas up his sleeve.

musicnow

A close up view of our installation at MUSICNOW, in collaboration with Country Club. The show is located in the Gold Room of Memorial Hall, so we cast everything in various shades of yellow porcelain.
The tops of the pianos (two facing each other) seemed to be the perfect place for "Composite Composition I and II" - very springtime, with canetoads and rats emerging from flower clusters large and small.
Finally, our "Figurine" and "Bust" are displayed in the front entryway case, with rats on gold dollies. A nod to the permanent display on the opposing side of the hall.... And tonight - St. Vincent!!

spring break

A quick peek at the interior of our next show space - we are creating a couple new pieces that will blend in perfectly. Some sort of scenario on top of the pianos and set up in the entryway cases... install in 9 days.

Hunting dogs on the loose

Yes!!! More snarling dogs and we are so excited to get cracking on these bad boys. This 3-d scan data was taken from a German porcelain figurine made in the mid 18th century. We love bringing stuff back.

making molds

(above) Cane toad - negative (in the works)
(below) giant flower - actually working

We have been in mold making mode for the last month, and are finally starting to reap the benefits. Mike's squirrel is looking AMAZING and the giant flower is working like mad. Finally, something is happening... Off to NYC tonight to see the Whitney, Armory Show, and some oldies at the Met this weekend.

the next step

Mike and I spent all day yesterday carving lino blocks - trapped by another fresh foot of snow. Today we made it up to the studio and printed off the first round. Pretty, pretty good. Now, we need to make a jig and set this whole thing up on the big letterpress... I can't wait.

lino block - part two

I finally finished carving my block, part one of a print series currently in the works. It might be a while on part two... We are going to use this for some cut paper backgrounds in our upcoming show this May, so I went ahead and letterpressed over 200 sheets today. While they are drying all over our studio - we will take this opportunity to cut out early and go sledding!

squirrel

Drawn and quartered, ready to be cast. These are some tasty cuts that are ready for seasoning.
It is great after all the hype to get into the next step with this project. Rather than a hairy varmint heating up in a block of plaster we had him? 3-d scanned. Tail coming soon.

working towards something

Currently hard at work on the giant flower. First thing was making the mold of the rapid prototyped flower to be able to make a plaster version to be able to make the "real" mold. Whew. I have cast four plaster flowers so far, and currently am hacking and chiseling them into workable pieces. Sadly, when making the rubber mold I had to destroy the original printed flower... This totally ruined the (in my head perfect dream world) vision I had of all our prototypes on display at MOMA.

the beginning of a lot of new stuff

We have a lot of new projects emerging this year. So far so good - since Mike managed to track down this bear head (that I sadly didn't buy a year and a half ago and have NOT shut up about since) at the antique mall where we bought "wolfie". Not five minutes before he gave me this, I was saying how we had to hunt it down while we were in Oklahoma - the best gift ever. And, it looks like Chewy loves it too...

working

Today we picked up our lion head 3-d print from the lab - and it looks amazing!! Mike covered the entire piece in superglue at a record speed, getting the head ready for molding.

I covered an earlier printout (a giant flower) in foil to begin making mold number 2 - might as well strike while the iron is hot. So, day one back in the studio = goodness.

Nymphenburg!

Oh man were we THRILLED to find this Nymphenburg figurine at our local antique mall! It fits our style perfectly - hunting with ferocious beasts, jaunty caps (kidding) and a little bit of floral detailing. We plan on magnifying some of these details using both analog and digital methods- so watch out for these bloodthirsty hounds. But first, we break.

snake cups

Our newest tumbler design. From our taxidermy how-to manual, this snake has a liberty or death look to it. We just sent a super nice batch of them to Spartan in Austin TX this week. The owner, Currie, also wrote great post about our work on her blog Arrow & Arrow. And we want to say thank you!!
(see below)

pug slug

Our pug slug - the final version (top) and the first prototype (bottom). This piece is inspired from a smaller version made in Germany two summers ago. Another way to play with the notion of grotesque and beauty - combining the ornate flower ball with a mutant type object. That meaty neck doubled up... totally strange.

lino block

The first step towards a series of prints that look SO good in my head. I am going to use some of the patterns from the tumbler series, and combine them with other animals and images that have started popping up around the studio. This will be one of the first (carefully) planned pieces using the letterpress I bought this summer... now just need to power through the carving.

Iconoclast

We are featured this month on Iconoclast, alongside some of our personal favorites like Charley Harper and Harmony Korine. Crazy! Our Illuminated Porcelain tumblers are a super limited edition: 5 copies of 6 designs. Never to be made again...

letterpress mess

So, yesterday I thought I would spend a few relaxing hours letterpressing a poster for the school ceramics sale. Seven and a half hours later, I printed over 75 legible posters - and basically destroyed the studio. Somehow in the process I managed to rope Mike in as well - and this is what we left behind...

hanging dead II

Hooray - the hanging dead squirrel (see here) is 3-d scanned and almost ready for printing. The tail is a little tricky, so we - and by we I mean Mike - might have to sculpt it by hand. But, after tackling the real dead squirrel, it shouldn't be an issue. We both have some great ideas in store for this guy...

Country Club

We were given some space at Country Club alongside the Aaron Morse exhibition, taking up a few walls with our shelved and hanging porcelain work. Christian Strike, let us borrow the Saarinen table on the right that he had refinished with bright orange automotive paint.
We hung our giant wolf chandelier above the table with the little Wolfie sconces on the back wall. The arrangement in this center space made for a fancy domestic showroom setting.
The Illuminated Manuscript style cups are intermingled with some sculptures throughout the space. These limited cups can also be found in detail with the iconoclast editions, just look for Future Retrieval. You will probably find more images on our other blogs. Katie & GMD

Installation (week)

Hilarious photo of Mike today installing our work at Country Club. Two days until the opening, and we are almost ready. Will post pictures of the final installation and space - can't wait.

King of Beasts

This Lion is no coward and a nice addition to our collection of grotesque animal faces. This was 3-D scanned from a tiny piece of antique chalkware. We will be sending this file upstairs to the rapid prototyping lab for maximum build ASAP.

License to Illuminate

Finally finished with our latest edition, cups with hand painted and lustered patterns inspired by the illuminated manuscripts of Medieval hunting scenes. Our animals were drawn from taxidermy lessons of the old school and some of our own dabbles. These beastly boys are ill.