BEAUTY: Soft Sculpture--Elodie Blanchard

Textile artist Elodie Blanchard creates fantastical trees that look like they come from a Dr. Seuss story for her series Forest. Her artist statement describes her process:

"Elodie Blanchard is a French-American artist and designer based in Brooklyn, whose textile-based practice transforms discarded materials into sculptures, wall hangings, vessels, and immersive installations. Working primarily with used clothing and textile remnants, she reclaims these forgotten or overlooked materials through layering, stitching, and embroidery.

Blanchard’s work is both intuitive and intentional, balancing technical experimentation with emotional resonance. Her process often begins with accumulation and sorting—collecting fabric like a painter builds a palette—before deconstructing and reassembling it in unexpected ways. Through repetition, fabric manipulation, and exploration, she constructs new forms that embody resilience, imperfection, and playful reinvention."

https://www.elodieblanchard.com/

BEAUTY: Soft Sculpture For Easter--Mr. Finch

For Easter, here is the absolutely charming work of one Mr. Finch, a self-taught English soft sculpture artist who utilizes vintage fabric to realize his enchanting visions. I love how some of the bunnies have wings, or carry mushrooms, flowers and sprouting bulbs...

He sums it up beautifully on his website:

Flowers, insects and birds really fascinate me with their amazing life cycles and extraordinary nests and behaviour.
British folklore is also so beautifully rich in fabulous stories and warnings and never ceases to be at the heart of what I make.
Shape shifting witches, moon gazing hares and a smartly dressed devil ready to invite you to stray from the path.
Humanizing animals with shoes and clothes is something I’ve always done and I imagine them to come alive at night. Getting dressed and helping an elderly shoemaker or the tired housewife.

Making things has always been incredibly important to me and is often an amazing release to get it out of my system.
It’s a joy to hunt for things for my work…the lost, found and forgotten all have places in what I make.
Most of my pieces use recycled materials, not only as an ethical statement, but I believe they add more authenticity and charm.
A story sewn in, woven in.
Velvet curtains from an old hotel, a threadbare wedding dress and a vintage apron become birds and beasts, looking for new owners and adventures to have.
Storytelling creatures for people who are also a little lost, found and forgotten…

He has a SHOP on his site where you can buy his books and cards, but since he works alone, the actual soft sculptures take a while to make and sell out quickly. I will keep an eye on his shop to snag one of these lovely spirit animals.

http://www.mister-finch.com/

BEAUTY: Soft Sculpture--Mr. Finch

Here is the absolutely charming work of one Mr. Finch, a self-taught English soft sculpture artist who utilizes vintage fabric to realize his enchanting visions which feel like magical versions of Beatrrix Potter animals.

He sums it up beautifully on his website:

Flowers, insects and birds really fascinate me with their amazing life cycles and extraordinary nests and behaviour.
British folklore is also so beautifully rich in fabulous stories and warnings and never ceases to be at the heart of what I make.
Shape shifting witches, moon gazing hares and a smartly dressed devil ready to invite you to stray from the path.
Humanizing animals with shoes and clothes is something I’ve always done and I imagine them to come alive at night. Getting dressed and helping an elderly shoemaker or the tired housewife.

Making things has always been incredibly important to me and is often an amazing release to get it out of my system.
It’s a joy to hunt for things for my work…the lost, found and forgotten all have places in what I make.
Most of my pieces use recycled materials, not only as an ethical statement, but I believe they add more authenticity and charm.
A story sewn in, woven in.
Velvet curtains from an old hotel, a threadbare wedding dress and a vintage apron become birds and beasts, looking for new owners and adventures to have.
Storytelling creatures for people who are also a little lost, found and forgotten…

He has a SHOP on his site where you can buy his books and cards, but since he works alone, the actual soft sculptures take a while to make and sell out quickly. I will keep an eye on his shop to snag one of these lovely spirit animals.

http://www.mister-finch.com/

BEAUTY: Site Specific Art--Steve Messam

The whimsical, very large scale site-specific pieces of English artist Steve Messam may seem random and zany but there is a wonderful, thoughtful method to his approach. Each piece is situated in an historic spot to call attention to some aspect of English culture, whether it might be an abandoned stone cottage in the forest for his Architecture of Ruins series, a thousand year old church spire, WWII bunkers on the coast, or even a 1960s Brutalist footbridge. The most interesting part of his oeuvre is that he sews the inflatable pieces himself!

Take a look at his website where he explains his inspiration for these pieces and more, along with some wonderful videos of the process.
https://www.stevemessam.co.uk/

BEAUTY: Soft Sculpture--Natalie Baxter

Natalie Baxter is an artist with a cause. She is an activist and protests via her amazing soft sculpture works that shine a light on the realities of life in the United States at this particular point in time. Her bio on her website says:
"Natalie Baxter (b. 1985) explores concepts of place-identity, nostalgic Americana, and traditional gender stereotypes through soft sculpture and video. Baxter’s work playfully pushes controversial issues, creating an accessible entry point for unpacking matters of tension in today’s political and social landscape."

Betsy Greer, author of Craftivism, commented on Baxter's series entitled Bloated Flags. “In the run up and wake of the 2016 election, the United States came full cycle with its reality television dreams based on opulence over substance, quick quips easy to quote and a lust for drama over authenticity. These flags by Natalie Baxter illustrate this coming to terms with a change in pace by sharing what our nation’s flag may feel like it’s become, bloated, flashy and familiar in shape alone.”

Top to bottom: Aggressive Nationalism; America, Current Mood; First Month; Fly False; Lil' Glory; Nasty Woman; People Will Think You're Making a Trump Flag (a yuge one); People Will Think You're Making a Trump Flag

174 guns make up Baxter's Warm Gun series. Her artist statement says, "Warm Gun examines the United States’ issues of gun violence and masculinity through a collection of colorfully quilted, droopy, caricatures of assault weapons, bringing 'macho' objects into a traditionally feminine sphere and questioning their potency." Beyond that, I feel it also makes a statement as to how so many people in this country think of guns as toys, just another thing to have like a phone or a car...just a cute little plush toy one can buy at the mall...

Top to bottom: Anything You Can Do; Barb; Joie; Manchester; Racist McShootface; Second Date; Shady Side; Spring Break

And what does America love as much as its guns? Why, money of course!

Thanks Natalie for your amazing work and continuing to make important statements despite the trolls!
http://www.nataliebaxter.com/