According to the filmmaker Matthew Allard:

Japan has always been on the forefront of cutting edge robotics. Its roots can be traced back 200-300 years ago during the Edo period when skilled craftsmen created automata (self-operating machines). Using nothing more than pulleys and weights they were able to make the Karakuri (Japanese automata) perform amazing tasks.

Japan’s modern day robots can be traced back to the Karakuri. Today Hideki Higashino is one of the few remaining craftsmen who is determined to keep the history and tradition of Japanese Karakuri alive.

Learn more about Karakuri here

Derek Weisburg lives and works in Oakland, CA.

Artist Statement:

I create works of art that are emotional and psychological self-portraits. Through my work I aim to make sense of my life, my experiences, and the times I live. I do not wish to represent like a photo, instead to achieve an innerness. My goal is to create images, which are accessible and allow the viewer to have an experience which can not be easily articulated, but felt. Simultaneously igniting contemplation, reflection and a lasting relationship with the work. I attempt to express basic human qualities, which are universal and timeless. At its core the works reflect humanist ideology; searching for truth and universal morality based on the commonality of the human condition.

Through thought, feelings become knowledge. To know ones feelings is to know ones self. especially through experiencing feelings, which are uncomfortable and unfamiliar: pain melancholy, etc. When my mother passed away I began to include these feelings as well as themes of death, afterlife, spirituality and the metaphysical into my work. While still philosophically closer to a secular point of view, for my mother’s sake, I want to believe in an afterlife. In traditional Jewish thought, The voyage of the soul is dependent upon the actions of the ones who are living. in my case the actions are carried out through making my art. Making this work became a ritual to continue the existence of my mother or at least a spiritual existence. The actions are meant to bless, help, and accompany the deceased on its journey. (source)

*All sculptures are ceramic

See more of Weisburg’s work here and here

Israeli-based designer Idan Friedman embosses portraits on cheap aluminum trays as part of his Profiles project. See more of Friedman’s delicately executed portraits here

Artist Statement (Excerpt):

The things I make are a complex description of simultaneous unmaking and making, deconstructing an object or a body before putting it back together again – this could be interpreted as a violent process, but is often a very delicate and fragile one, a process of transplantation rather than dislocation. The works are an attempt to change the relationship of the object to the body, making visible the invisible, opening up something normally closed, softening a usually hard surface.

I am exploring the significance of surfaces in our construction of knowledge through making and experimenting, playing on our instincts and assumptions built from an historical optical hierarchy and propensity to touch what catches our attention. Our surfaces do not just act as boundaries between our inside and outside, between ‘us’ and ‘that’, but play the most vital role in our perceptions of the world around us.  The objects I make attempt to unpack these perceptions and interrupt these interfaces to bring our assumptions to the surface.

From Harrison’s ”Breaking” series. All figures are mixed media.

Harrison’s sculptures, prints and drawings and  will be on display at the Jealous Gallery starting on April 28th.

See more of Harrison’s work here

Urs Fischer was born in 1973, in Zurich, Switzerland.

Artist Statement (via Whitney Biennial 2006):

Urs Fischer’s artistic practice is founded on a consideration of the nature of substances, the act of making, and the unpredictable processes that can result from combining the two. With an extraordinarily wide range of materials—Styrofoam, clay, mirrors, fruit, wax, wood, glass, paint, sawdust, and silicone, to name a few—he resuscitates art historical genres such as still lifes, nudes, portraits, and landscapes in potent sculptures that reflect the complexity, wonder, and banality of everyday life. His works reverberate with material transformation and decay as well as with poetic internal collisions and contradictions that cause his sculptures to oscillate between seeming beautiful or ugly, elegant or awkward, graceful or burdened.

See more of Fischer’s work here and here

“Noisette” – mixed medium, 2009

“A Place Called Novosibirsk” – aluminum/epoxy resin, 2007

Click the link below for our calendar events March 25, 2011 through April 1, 2011. Lawrence Final Fridays is this week, so make sure you check out all of the great art that will be up. This intrepid reporter will be checking out all of the new art throughout the rest of the month due to the KU basketball game going on smack in the middle of the opening of these Lawrence art shows. Also, the folks at Q5 will be doing their monthly show at Henry’s this week, and I am pleased to be a small part of the show courtesy of Adam Dorssom and his Backgammon Showcase. If he still will take my pieces!

Calendar link for events

Highlights:

• Lawrence Art Party
Hobbs Taylor Lofts (740 New Hampshire in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, March 25, 5-9pm

From the Organizers:
The March 25 Lawrence Art Party is going international this month! We’ll have Flamenco fusion guitar and dance, and dozens of amazing artists!

Music and dance will be by Ole Music and Dance of Spain. In addition to the flamenco dances such sevillana and bulerias, you will also hear Latin inspired rumba and tangos, as well as selections by guitarist Jarrod Stephenson in his own flamenco fusion style!

We have AMAZING,WONDERFUL ARTISTS, INCLUDING TWO KU GROUP SHOWS!!!!!!!!!!

KU GROUP SHOWS
Sculptor Matt Burke’s students as many as 30, will be showing wood boxes and drawings. I saw some of the wood works under development, and they are going to be fascinating!

Textile Design Students from KU – Six members of the KU Textile Club will show their work! The artists are Krista Mustain, Jennifer Hunt, Ren Doshier, Sarah Sullivan, Lauren Tweedie and Neil Goss.

INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS
Bill Bowerman, creator of unique and striking scan art.

Louis Copt has beautiful paintings and photographs in collections throughout the US. He is known worldwide for his prairie fire paintings, and has been showing new, innovative work at the Lawrence Art Party. Don’t miss a chance to see what Louis can do! http://www.louiscopt.com/original_art/prairie_fire/prairie_fire.php

Dan Dishman. Dan is a painter and photographer. His oil paintings are a ‘must see’ for art lovers. His facebook page is at
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=62903066

Tony Frentrop. Tony loves working with wood, and it show – he will show furniture, sculpture, and more. Don’t miss his work!

Christoper Ford, creator of the “Urban Stump”, one-of-a-kind tables

John Hachmeister, KU sculpture professor and thermite wizard, will be accompanied by an 8 foot monkey! Check out some of his work at http://tinyurl.com/johnhachmeister

Emily Johnson. Emily’s mixed media pieces are very personal, lyrical, and touching.

Laura Jost. Laura makes wonderful tile art. You’ll think they are paintings. Check them out! http://www.lorajost.org/

Baker Medlock. The Robot Man, Baker also creates wonderful metal insects. Everything he makes is from scrap. Check out the wonderful robots he has for sale now, in the window of the Hobbs Taylor Gallery! One of them is 7 feet tall! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=149657781730480&aid=57603

Kaylyn Munro will be showing new works. Her still life paintings are amazing. I will send pictures next week. In the meantime, visit her blog at kaylynmunro.blogspot.com

Daryl Nickel will be showing his hand-made furniture, including a new piece…all curves!

George Paley George will show his new Jamaican Mask series. Under development for two years, with his first American showing at the Lawrence Art Party!!!! Pictures will be posted soon!

Frank Shopen. This will be Frank’s first Lawrence Art Party. I can’t wait to see his sculptures! https://sites.google.com/site/shopendesigns/

Celia Smith, Lawrence painter, will be showing at the Lawrence Art Party for the first time. I can’t wait to see paintings! For a preview, check out http://www.lawrenceartscenter.com/Artists/Celia_Smith/001.html

Gary Mark Smith, international street photographer. Gary just posted a great portfolio of photos from New Orleans. http://www.streetphoto.com/NewOrleans.htm

Garret Tufte, author and artist, will unveil a few of his pieces. Garret blends science, technology, and art in a very intriguing way!!!

New artists are always welcome at the Lawrence Art Party. If you are interested in showing your work and having a great time, just send an email to eric@whirledart.com, with the subject “artist request” (without the quote marks). You will receive an immediate response with more details.

Check out the two sets of photos from the February 25 party, by Kyle Rogers and Wes McCauley, at the Whirled Art Facebook site http://tinyurl.com/whirledart.

• Build This Cardboard Thing
The Lawrence Percolator (940 New Hampshire in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, March 25, 5-9pm (Ongoing until Apr. 30)

From the Organizers:
Cardboard Construction Workshops March 26 & 27 1 -5pm
Parade and Opening Reception Friday, April 1st at 6pm

Eric Farnsworth will be leading the workshops where you can participate in building creatures that will be apart of the parade and opening reception. Juniper Tangpuz will be showing his amazing works in the gallery.

From the Organizers:
Cardboard Construction Workshops March 26 & 27 1 -5pm
Parade and Opening Reception Friday, April 1st at 6pm

Eric Farnsworth will be leading the workshops where you can participate in building creatures that will be apart of the parade and opening reception. Juniper Tangpuz will be showing his amazing works in the gallery.

From the Organizers:
The March 25 Lawrence Art Party is going international this month! We’ll have Flamenco fusion guitar and dance, and dozens of amazing artists!

Music and dance will be by Ole Music and Dance of Spain. In addition to the flamenco dances such sevillana and bulerias, you will also hear Latin inspired rumba and tangos, as well as selections by guitarist Jarrod Stephenson in his own flamenco fusion style!

We have AMAZING,WONDERFUL ARTISTS, INCLUDING TWO KU GROUP SHOWS!!!!!!!!!!

KU GROUP SHOWS
Sculptor Matt Burke’s students as many as 30, will be showing wood boxes and drawings. I saw some of the wood works under development, and they are going to be fascinating!

Textile Design Students from KU – Six members of the KU Textile Club will show their work! The artists are Krista Mustain, Jennifer Hunt, Ren Doshier, Sarah Sullivan, Lauren Tweedie and Neil Goss.

INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS
Bill Bowerman, creator of unique and striking scan art.

Louis Copt has beautiful paintings and photographs in collections throughout the US. He is known worldwide for his prairie fire paintings, and has been showing new, innovative work at the Lawrence Art Party. Don’t miss a chance to see what Louis can do! http://www.louiscopt.com/original_art/prairie_fire/prairie_fire.php

Dan Dishman. Dan is a painter and photographer. His oil paintings are a ‘must see’ for art lovers. His facebook page is at
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=62903066

Tony Frentrop. Tony loves working with wood, and it show – he will show furniture, sculpture, and more. Don’t miss his work!

Christoper Ford, creator of the “Urban Stump”, one-of-a-kind tables

John Hachmeister, KU sculpture professor and thermite wizard, will be accompanied by an 8 foot monkey! Check out some of his work at http://tinyurl.com/johnhachmeister

Emily Johnson. Emily’s mixed media pieces are very personal, lyrical, and touching.

Laura Jost. Laura makes wonderful tile art. You’ll think they are paintings. Check them out! http://www.lorajost.org/

Baker Medlock. The Robot Man, Baker also creates wonderful metal insects. Everything he makes is from scrap. Check out the wonderful robots he has for sale now, in the window of the Hobbs Taylor Gallery! One of them is 7 feet tall! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=149657781730480&aid=57603

Kaylyn Munro will be showing new works. Her still life paintings are amazing. I will send pictures next week. In the meantime, visit her blog at kaylynmunro.blogspot.com

Daryl Nickel will be showing his hand-made furniture, including a new piece…all curves!

George Paley George will show his new Jamaican Mask series. Under development for two years, with his first American showing at the Lawrence Art Party!!!! Pictures will be posted soon!

Frank Shopen. This will be Frank’s first Lawrence Art Party. I can’t wait to see his sculptures! https://sites.google.com/site/shopendesigns/

Celia Smith, Lawrence painter, will be showing at the Lawrence Art Party for the first time. I can’t wait to see paintings! For a preview, check out http://www.lawrenceartscenter.com/Artists/Celia_Smith/001.html

Gary Mark Smith, international street photographer. Gary just posted a great portfolio of photos from New Orleans. http://www.streetphoto.com/NewOrleans.htm

Garret Tufte, author and artist, will unveil a few of his pieces. Garret blends science, technology, and art in a very intriguing way!!!

New artists are always welcome at the Lawrence Art Party. If you are interested in showing your work and having a great time, just send an email to eric@whirledart.com, with the subject “artist request” (without the quote marks). You will receive an immediate response with more details.

Check out the two sets of photos from the February 25 party, by Kyle Rogers and Wes McCauley, at the Whirled Art Facebook site http://tinyurl.com/whirledart.

Hand-sewn and designed rugs made from recycled teddy bears. The process starts with the departure of the loving life Teddy Bears have when they are in the hands of their owners.The rugs not only reference the personal histories of the toy’s owners, but investigate the rug as an object organizing and displaying memories and lineages. In Eastern Cultures, the oriental rug centralizes the living space in pattern, operating beyond utility to depict the spiritual and mental world in woven form.

“Royal” -  stuffed animal skins, 9′ x 7′, 2010

“Rose Petals” – stuffed animal skins, 8′ x 7′, 2010

Artist Statement:

I aim to create art that fosters exchanges between people rather than encounters between a viewer and object. Through these exchanges, meaning is elaborated collectively, rather than in the space of individual consumption.

My artistic practice investigates how stories, rituals and traditions transform our relationships with the objects and places around us. I create responses to social narratives through situations that unveil the tensions between the natural-becoming-unnatural, and the unnatural-becoming-natural. My work discovers illogical, surreal scenarios from otherwise realistic or “normal” settings, revealing unconscious transience in beliefs and behaviors between these two worlds.

Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, I now make my home in Miami, FL.

“Sand Castle” – human hair, 2′ x 3 ‘ x 3′, 2008

“Myself” – human Hair, wooden brush, 7″ x 5″, 2007

See more of Woodgate’s work here

Thanks to Kit Leffler for the tip. (Sorry it took so long.)

Erik Mark Sandberg was born in 1975 in Farmington, Minnesota, and currently resides in Los Angeles.

From the artist statement that accompanies Sandberg’s latest solo show with Johnathon LeVine Gallery (NY) entitled Get Pretty Now, which is on display through February 19:

Sandberg’s portrait series depicts anomalous figures whose features are obscured by a thick coat of colorful hair, wearing fluorescent-colored clothing with loud, graphic prints. His abstract paintings are equally striking, vibrant and texturally rich, complementing hues and patterns of the hairy subjects in his figurative works.

Cultural dichotomies are a source of inspiration for much of Sandberg’s imagery, and his use of hair is (in a broad sense) a visual metaphor for their effects. In the artist’s own words: “My work investigates the psychological effects of trying to achieve smoke and mirror standards of beauty, standards that run in opposition to contemporary mass-consumed food advertising.” His bold color choices, while mainly intuitive decisions, also offer conceptual reinforcement. On the subject of palette, the artist says: “Fluorescents and neons have a very manufactured, artificial quality. They’re exotic, living outside of the normal spectrum.”

Thematically, the artist explores consumer culture, celebrity idolatry and social dysfunction in the digital age, with a focus on the relationship between projected idealized archetypes and their unattainable emulation.

See more of Sandberg’s work here

“Boy with Sweater (Yellow)” – oil, airbrush, resin, glitter and silkscreen on panel

“Girl with Summer Fever (Black)” – front view