Mark’s Mobiles @ Milwaukee Art Museum

I am honored to announce that, beginning in January 2012, a selection of my mobiles will be available at the celebrated Milwaukee Art Museum (http://mam.org/) in their amazing museum store.

When you think of the Brew City, Miltown, Mildoggy, The Mil, or just plain ol’ Milwaukee, do you think of a mecca for the world’s finest art, architecture and education?

If not, you should.

The Milwaukee Art Museum is iconic. It contains 20,000 works of art. Is visited by 300,000+ people a year. Offers some of the nation’s best educational art programs for kids of all ages. And, has been collecting art for over 120 years since its start as Milwaukee’s first art gallery way back in 1888.

The 341,000-square-foot museum is also one of the world’s most progressive architectural wonders and was designed by the likes of Eero Saarinen, David Kahler, and Santiago Calatrava.

I’m so pleased that a handpicked collection of my mobile designs will now be available in this premier destination for art and culture.

The museum’s tagline is “ART LIVES HERE.”

And, now, I’m thrilled to be living (t)here, too.

If you’re in Wisconsin or just have a few minutes to explore their site online, I highly encourage you to spend a day discovering all this marvelous museum located right on the shore of Lake Michigan in downtown Milwaukee has to offer.

Mark Leary Mobiles Featured in World of Interiors, January 2012

I am honored to announce that one of my all-time favorite mobiles, Red Rover Red Rover, will be featured in the incomparable World of Interiors, January 2012 edition, page 110.

Published by Condé Nast – the same folks who slap together lil’ magazines like Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, and Style – World of Interiors is a UK pub described as “the most influential, inspiring and lavishly produced design and decoration magazine money can buy. The integrity of its editorial is matched by the quality of its production and by its ability to bring together the broadest spectrum of houses, art features and product shoots. It is a unique resource for affluent and intelligent individuals who are passionate about the way they live.”

If you ask me, it’s just damn sexy.

And, I am stoked that the World of Interiors’ “Inspiration Editor,” Annabel Freyberg took a liking to my mobiles and chose to shout out across the big blue to showcase Red Rover Red Rover in their first edition of 2012. This is the same mag that did a phenomenal Alexander Calder story in their recent May splash featured on Calder.org itself!

My mobile complements a pictorial editorial (say that 10 times fast) about the Paraná Delta retreat of famed Argentinean designer Roberto Bergero.

Whoa! Hands down one of the coolest pads I’ve ever seen. What’s for dinner, Roberto? I’ll bring the Malbec!

Thanks to Kathryn & Matt @ Hanging Mobile Gallery for helping making this all happen.

And, cheers to all for a magnificent 2012 filled with life, love, laughter and lots of deep breathing.

Now Spinning @ The Original - Permanently!

I'm pleased to announce that The Original Dinerant in the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon is now the permanent home to eight of my larger mobiles.

Designed and created for the lollipop circus art exhibition in June, the swirling whirlers were just too perfect of a fit to go anywhere else, so The Original snatched 'em all up! Many of these spinners are one-of-a-kind and were custom made just for this show, so you'll only see them blowing here.

So, next time you're passing through the PDX and have a hankering for ridiculously scrumptious food and art that moves, do your tummy and art-heart a favor and head over 300 SW 6th Avenue.

In addition to its permanent collection, The Original always has fabulous traveling shows with some of the best local and national artists anywhere ... and they serve up a mean martini, too.

Cheers!

New "fresh" Show @ Red Brick Gallery

fresh through november 15th

it's that time again...

join me, the gallery girls, and a handful of amazing southern california artists at Red Brick Gallery's latest show, fresh.

filled with the funky fun of fantastic florals and fabulous flotsam & jetsam photos, paintings, mobiles and more, this aquatic-themed show is all aces.

as an extra added burst of splish splashin' goodness, check out a selection of my newest mobiles (made over the Paint Ventura weekend) that are now spinning proud throughout the gallery.

so, if you're all about the blues (not the sad ones) and greens (not the envious ones), then you will love everything jen and phyllis have pulled together for this watery wonderland.

be sure to swim on by and say hello!

Paint Ventura ROCKS!!!

"Ventura-ness-osity," by Jim Martin

Ahhh yeahhhh!

Paint Ventura (www.paintventura.com) rocked!!!

Thanks to everybody who came out, down, over and up to make this such a super fun weekend!

For me, the trip down was EPIC (as in “wow, who knew Ventura was sooooo far from Bend.” Um, almost everybody ... except ME!).

But, the feeling of running on the beach with the waves crashing, the perma-grin I had from meeting such inspirational and energized people, and the taste of salmon and asparagus and the all-night laughter of Jen and Phyllis – well, it all made up for the drive ... and a LOT more!

And, even though never-ending, the drive itself was gorgeous, too.

Perfect moment: Waking up with a smile on Sunday, a six-mile run on the beach just steps from my hotel, the warmth of a southern Californian sun and sky and on my skin, diving into the ocean for some much-anticipated bodysurfing, breakfast of huevos rancheros, coffee, and the Sunday paper in Santa Paula, and a feeling that ALL was right with the world.

Come on NOW!!!

Moonshines over fiery starlit Hoodoo, snowy plovers, Saturday Cajun brunch with bloody marys, big dogs, soft pastels, bent metal, front-row seats, open doors, and stories galore ... this was something special.

Again please!

Artists that you need to check out ASAP:

• Jen Livia (host, gallery owner, person extraordinaire): http://www.liviastudios.com/www.liviastudios.com/Welcome.html and http://www.redbrickart.com/livia.html
• Kim Sawyer (bleep, bleep, bleep): http://www.etsy.com/shop/visionquest and http://www.redbrickart.com/sawyer.html
• Tasia Erickson (magical, spiky, brilliant): http://www.redbrickart.com/erickson.html
• Phyllis Gubins (more, more, more): http://www.redbrickart.com/gubins.html and http://www.redbrickart.com/gubins-custom.html
• Jim Martin (whoa): http://www.redbrickart.com/martin.html
• David Rivas (you must ask him about process): http://www.redbrickart.com/rivas.html and http://rivasart.com/
• James Scolari (an eye!!!): http://www.redbrickart.com/scolari.html and http://www.jamesscolari.com/
• Sue Harding (paint genius): http://www.redbrickart.com/sharding.htm
  
• Colleen Friedman (jewelry master): http://www.redbrickart.com/friedman.html

Suffice it to say, I’ll be back...

And, it was great...

And, Jackson, you rule.

Now Showing @ The Atomic Pop Shop

"contemplating calder" by kerry beary

If a time-space teleportation device – cleverly disguised as a couch named “bob” – is loaded with a cargo of garlic granola, bacon air guitars, coconut-flavored treats, and chickns playing Beethoven on their beaks, leaves the gentle, sweet enchanted lands of bantu-bantu at half-past zydeco, what is the likelihood it will arrive in Bend before my latest delivery of EIGHT new smoken token mobiles arrives in Baton Rouge, LA?

It’s a tough conundrum of a question, I know. Indeed, it’s enough to make your heart fulter, your lobe explode, and your gluten go free!

Although I could patiently create a 7-step Hassn proof that explains why the Atomic Pop Shop in Baton Rouge is just about the coolest place on the planet, I’ll simply say Kerry Beary (gallery owner and artist extracoolinaire, http://www.etsy.com/shop/kerrybeary) and her hip retro shop on Government Street in The Capital City are aces.

If you’re in the Baton Rouge area, I highly recommend you drop in and go for a spin in her fun digs and check out some of my new designs including lil’ red hood, jumblaya, blorange, and crazyam.

And, of course, don't forget to stock up on your supply of Tabasco while you're in town, too.

Paint Ventura - Painters, Sculptors, & Mobilists?! Oh MY!

Paint Ventura (http://paintventura.com/), southern California’s premiere all-media plein air art event put on by Red Brick Gallery (http://www.redbrickart.com/), is coming up fast ... and - wait for it, wait for it - I’ll be making the trek south to participate in this super fun three-day event!

Red Brick Gallery has been so good to me, I just couldn’t say no, especially when I was given the opportunity to teach my very first mobile-making workshop... (http://www.redbrickart.com/mobiles.html)

Here’s the scoop:

Friday, Sept. 9th 5-8pm, "Paint Ventura Paint Out and Arty Party." 20 Artists will be creating work at Red Brick Gallery during their kickoff event wine and snacks provided by local restaurants. Yum! And, along with a number of other talented artists, I’ve donated one of my mobiles to be raffled to help Red Brick Gallery raise money for a cool local charity.

Saturday, Sept. 10th 11-5pm, "Paint Ventura" 100+ artists will be creating, selling and teaching workshops along Main St and CA St in downtown Ventura. I’ll be at Red Brick Gallery handcrafting unpainted metal mobiles, butand will have plenty of colorful spinners with me to sell as well. There will be live music, performances and book events at participating locations throughout downtown. The public is encouraged to streak down Main Street with wild abando ... um, oh wait a minute, you are actually invited to watch the artists at work and seek out a new creative side of your own.

Sunday, Sept. 11th, I’m really excited to be offering my first mobile-making workshop (http://paintventura.com/workshops.html) from 2-5 p.m. In this three-hour class, students will learn the ins and outs of making Calder-style mobiles. Then, in an effort to keep lawsuits to a minimum, attendees will make their own *foam* mobiles with more finger-friendly tools and materials than high speed drills and jagged metal. Good news is tetanus shots are not required! Spots are limited, like for real, so if you're interested ACT FAST to sign up by contacting Red Brick Gallery @ 805-643-6400. Additionally, WAV (Working Artists Ventura) will be hosting a wine tasting and Studio Tour on the Avenue (another reason why my power tools are being left at home).

So, if you’re in the area, please drop in to experience this art extravaganza and support your local artists who are doing good in the world and, of course, feel free to stop by and say hello to the non-local artist (me), too.

PS – Keep an eye out (but, please be safe about it) for an upcoming announcement of my newest gallery in the spicy Land of the Blessed Tabasco coming soon!

New Show at Red Brick Gallery / Ventura Westside ArtWalk

Jen Livia and Phyllis Gubins are at it again!

I'm honored to be included in their latest show "Full Bloom" which opens this Thursday, July 14th at Red Brick Gallery (www.RedBrickArt.com).

In addition to my mobiles, they are featuring several new artists including Illona Aguuayo, Tasia Erickson, Debra Hintz, and Gwenlyn Norton as well as their favorites Joe Cibere, Jim Martin, Stephanie Kiker, Kim Sawyer, Theresa Davis, Dan and Sue Harding.

Don't miss their Artist Reception during the all-new Ventura WestSide ArtWalk July 23rd and 24th where they will have several artist demonstrations and live music.

For more on the show, please check their website at Red Brick Gallery (www.RedBrickArt.com) and to see more on the new Westside ArtWalk please click their site at www.WestsideArtWalk.org.