So let's say that you've just spent your entire Saturday, from 10am to 6pm, posing for over a dozen amazing artists at
Studio 117b just east of LA, and say that you're an amazing little badass named Jin N Tonic, and say it's Saturday night and you look fuckin good dammit, and you happen to be connected with some of the most amazing and talented people in the world.. Do you go home and catch up on your endless emails and continue prepping for your manymanymany Upcoming Travels..?
Yes. Yes you do. Because you are a badass.
But ALSO somewhere in the busy evening you MUST take a break to venture over to Angel City Brewery - basically an adult playground with brews and food trucks and a three story slide and oh yeah, awesome ART - to check out The Opening Exhibit of "Organic Form," an incredible solo exhibit featuring the work of (nadina), as curated by (the very wise) Jerico Woggon and supported by Art Share-LA!
I don't remember exactly how I came across (nadina)'s simple, powerful, delightful work, but when asked at the door I replied, "umm through a friend of a friend on instagram?" Like many amazing people in my life, I don't recall how our online friendship/mutual art-love began, but it's always so wonderful when I get to meet an artist - and their art! - "in the real world" (whatever THAT means).
And ohmygoodness did I looooove meeting the art! And of course the artist too - she's captivating and delightful just like her work. I also loved meeting the many delicious beers available on tap, as well as the fried collard greens at the Konestruction food truck outside.. Basically, it was a lot of really good meetings!
Back to the art . . I couldn't help but fall in love with (nadina)'s naughty, miniature sprites and their fruit/veggie lovers the first time I saw them!
What an incredible, simple, somehow innocent, but also entertainingly naughty idea! When informing my assistant of the night's planned "work" festivities, I told him about the artist:
"you know, @nadswese on instagram. she makes the like hot androgynous people getting sexy with fruit."
Once again, my third grader-turned sailor comprehension of the english language has unjustly oversimplified some truly awesome, artistic shit.
I believe the curator and (nadina) herself quite eloquently describe the power of her work much better than I ever could:
"...explores distinctly emotive anatomical forms and harmonious integrations of raw expression and sensuality."
"Poignant"
"Featuring delicate pencil sketches, bold outlines, and bright combinations of succulent colors, she emphasizes the relationship between form and sentiment."
"...[it] may appear simple, however it is complex, powerful and elegant."
"Ask (nadina) to describe her artwork and you will get a puzzled, prolongued pause. Ask (nadina) why she creates her artwork, and she will answer, "Because it makes me smile".
It is bittersweet that this particular series has, for the most part, come to an end. The enchanting artist is already deeply immersed in thought towards her next venture, latching on to words and ideas as they come to her and letting them sprout and grow in her mind, waiting to see what next new inspiration takes hold.
(*pssssst by the way, the thought process that led to the fruit/veggies series is HILARIOUS but I promised the artist I wouldn't share. *insert eggplant emoji*).
But honestly, you just need to check this shit out for yourself.
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