Thursday, March 13, 2014

The Collective Art Subconscious

Today my sister and I went to one of my favorite events in Austin - Renegade Craft Fair - SXSW edition. This is without a doubt the BEST assortment of artisans in a show anywhere on the planet. If you live in Austin, I beg of you - go to this show this weekend.

And THIS one was the best one yet. It was HUGE and I saw (and bought) some amazing things this time, some of which I will be showing you soon - SQUEE!

But each time we go to this show, we notice something very consistently - the presence of little cultural and artistic themes that are very pervasive, no matter where in the world the artisans are from.

One year, it was very smart-arsey  T-shirts and posters - really hilarious, snarky sentiments.

One year, it was microscopic things - fishtanks with scenes of teeny tiny people in them next to their teeny tiny swimming pools.

One year, it was sort of a wistful, kindergarten sweetness

One year, it was incredibly detailed drawings of all sorts - this was one of my faves. 

One year it was sort of dark, animal themed artwork - strange taxidermy and prints and notebooks with anthropomorphic animals being dastardly and saying wicked things.

It's really bizarre how consistent these themes are across these artists from all over the world. We concluded that it must be out there in the universe like air, being breathed in by all of these same people and turned into art.

This year, the themes were as follows:

  • Primitive tools/survival gear


  • Things made out of watch parts


  • Wood - we saw EVERYTHING made out of wood - Iphone cases, prescription glasses frames (I almost bought some of these) - you name it.

  • Drinking.
  • Axes. Seriously - we saw sooooo many handmade axes and hatchets. It. Was. Awesome. My sister loved this one. I felt like it was an essential zombie apocalypse tool.

It was an insanely fun show. 

Also a gorgeous day, which will end with much patio sitting and grilling. Such is our difficult lot here in the center of the Great Republic.

But I HAD to play in today's Ways to Use It challenge - it's all about rainbows. I had to go back to my beloved Sweetie Pie stamp set and the matching Sweetie Pie Frames. This was so simple and cute. I stamped the circle-y image in Coastal Cabana (stamped off once) and then stamped and colored the image with Touch Twin Markers.
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Stamps: Sweetie Pie, Sweetie Pie Frames
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Coastal Cabana
Paper: Whisper White, Crafter's Companion Marker Paper
Accessories: ShinHan TouchTwin Markers: WG5, PB73, P81, YR24, R136, YR132, Y37, P83, R139, B67, R131, R15, GY48



Renegade Craft - I love you! :)

Loveyameanitgooutsidebye.

3 comments:

  1. I went to a craft fair in Austin once a few years ago. Those are still some of my favorite things in the whole wide world. The card is adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  2. the axe is kind of scary! i love love your card...you are convincing me I NEED that stamp set!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yay! So glad you went. My girl, Caitlin, is a vendor (Little Low Studio) with the Austin Maker's Group. They put together a combined booth of amazing Austin-based crafts. I haven't been yet but she says it's the best Renegade ever - more vendors and even better quality.

    ReplyDelete

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