Where Street Art Meets Pop Expressionism

2010-01-02T19:35:00.000-08:00

ReThinking Art One

Are students getting what they need from high school art programs? Ian Sands takes a look...

2009-12-29T14:15:00.000-08:00

2010: A Look @ Where We Go From Here
(aka: pioneering sticky note art)

2009 showed us the last of the foam installation board critters (at least for now) and opened the door for the post-it note critter. Only issue, what to post them to??

With an objective to display, the simplest solution seemed to be sticking them to a sheet of paper. However, this felt unnatural.

Truth be told, the only way I feel the post-it note critters work is to post them directly to the wall they are being displayed on.

But lets be honest, it's hard to find a exhibit hall that will let me stick post it notes directly to the wall, let alone draw on the wall with marker. I needed to find a alternative solution.

Solution 1: The altered book. Sticky notes and marker work great in old books. Only challenge is displaying.

I like the idea of displaying the altered books.. maybe on a book case or even constructing a shelf for the wall. I like the idea of people picking up the books, turning the pages.. might even attach a marker and let them write stuff in the books.

Solution 2: Boxes.
There just happens to be a stack of boxes in my studio. Boxes are fun to paint on, fun to sticky note to, and fun to marker on.

boxes are fun to stack, fun to stack books on, and can be placed anywhere from a gallery to a street corner.

So in 2010, be on the lookout for Boxes.

Stacks are standing by...

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2009-12-26T06:59:00.000-08:00

The Best of Ian Sands, 2009: Shameless Self Promotion.

January: Vintage 21

Checking out the Yeti. This is the one that started the entire series of foam insulation board critters. Exhibited at Vintage 21, First Night Raleigh.

February: Cary Final Friday

From the Newimal Collection, exhibited February 24 - March 24, 2009 at Coffee & Crepes Crossroads Plaza Cary, NC

March: Street Art Workshop

Was invited to host a Street Art workshop @ Eva Perry Library.

April: the National Gallery

As it turns out, some of my art was seen at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Highlighter Fox right next to Lichtenstein.

May: The First Lost Critter

Twenty two critters were created and placed at various location in Downtown Apex, NC. On benches, curbs, on top of newspaper boxes, on brick wall and even tied to poles and street signs.

June: The Ice Eggs

Watching the birds interact with the nests gave this the feeling of being one of our most successful street... or uhm.. beach art projects yet! About two hours later the eggs were completely melted and the tide took the seaweed drifting back out to sea.

July: Name the Zonkey Winner

We left this little zonkey sitting inside the Looking Glass Cafe & Boutique in Carrboro, NC with the following message: Please take a minute to enter a name for this Zonkey. 1st place: Debra the Zonkey. Runner up: Hannah

August: 500 Critters Released in Apex

This August, 500 critters will be lurking around various locations in Downtown Apex, NC. These foam board critters will be left on benches, curbs, on top of newspaper boxes, on brick wall and even tied to poles and street signs. The lost Critter Project is a collaborative public arts effort between the businesses of Downtown Apex, NC and Apex High School Art students and teacher.

September: Zonkey Turns Up In Cape Cod!

Almost 800 miles and 2 months after Zonkey's last sighting in Morehead, NC, Zonkey number three has turned up in Woods Hole, MA!! Better know as Cape Cod.

October: Bus at the Gallery

The Art-On-The-Move bus was part of a gallery exhibit.

November: Post-It Note Critters

At school I stuck a few post it notes to the whiteboard. Later, I drew some eyes on one of the post its. That got me thinking. I wonder how many critters I could make with these post it notes?

December: Merry Moosifesto!

Let's all gather round the Crittermas tree and sings songs about the soon to come days when moose will replace reindeer! Moosifesto is on and happening now at Wake Forest Coffee Company in Wake Forest, NC!

2009-12-12T08:05:00.000-08:00

A Moosifesto
Society of Moose Against Using Reindeer
(S.M.A.U.R.)

For hundreds of years Santa Clause has been delivering toys to children around the world. Though he is not beyond using outside assistance, Santa has been able to distribute presents on Christmas Eve without the help of FedEx, UPS or the United States Postal System. His primary mode of transportation has been a sleigh driven by an original team of eight tiny reindeer with the occasional help from a mutant red-nosed deer, and a misguided or perhaps delusional dog.

As members of SMAUR, we now provide the following reasons for the immediate elimination of the use of reindeer and the prompt replacement by flying moose.

1. More Torque:
Pound for pound, moose produce massive amounts more torque than reindeer. Where horsepower, or in this case reindeerpower, is needed for speed, torque is the ability to overcome resistance. Though it is true that speed is necessary to circle the globe in one night, it is the initial ability to pull the sleigh, weighted down by a ginormous amount of toys and often hindered by heavy, laden snow, which is needed before horsepower can even be applied.

2. Ease of Spelling:
Riendeer? Reindear? Raindeer? “I” before “E” except after “C” and sometimes “Y”? Isn’t rein spelled r-a-i-n? And deer spelled d-e-a-r? Let’s face it. Without a spell checker, reindeer is just too hard to spell! Moose on the other hand is simple. Only five letters and no confusing vowel arrangements.

3. American Made:
Moose are born and bred and raised if the good old US of A! Hiring moose to pull Santa’s sleigh is not only good for America, it’s our patriotic duty. Imports, such as reindeer, are manufactured abroad in such un-American places as Northern Europe and even Russia! Look for the “Born in Maine” label next time you consider hiring your sleigh team.

4. Better Night Vision:
All it takes is one foggy Christmas Eve and Santa can be shut down in a heart beat. An entire year’s worth of elf work, down the drain all because of low hanging cloud vapor. The issue, poor eye sight on the part of reindeer. This is more than a threat as it almost happened Christmas Eve 1964. Thankfully, the travesty was narrowly averted after a red fog light was attached to the nose of Prancer. Prancer was later said to have been so humility by the event that he and Cupid fabricated a tale of a red-nose reindeer that saved the day. These so called “close calls” can easily be prevented through the intervention of a deer removable, keen-eyed moose replacement task force.

5. No More Reindeer Games:
Reindeer are generally poor-spirited creatures that tend to weed out the vulnerable in the herd and deliberately poke fun of them till, tired and weak, they leave the comfort and safety of the compound. Many times the stronger of the deers will laugh and call the weaker reindeer names. On some occasions there have even been reports of the more feeble reindeers not being allowed to play any reindeer games.
Moose have a motto. No moose is left behind.

Conclusion:
We believe every effort should be made to, and a call for, a cease and desist order to be implemented, for all reindeer regarding any attempts to fly, pull, or be in connection or association with, Santa, the elves, toy delivery or Christmas in any way, shape, form or means.

Furthermore, SMAUR is advocating for the establishment of the Meese Labs where moose and geese can be cross pollinated to form a new species of flying moose (code name: meese). Meese will merge the flight path navigational abilities of the Canadian goose with the strength, torque and American brand name that we have all come to respect and love, of the moose.

Merry Moosifesto!

And now for that hit song off the Moosifesto CD.. Trapped Beneath the Mistletoe!

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2009-12-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

Merry Moosifesto!

Let's all gather round the Crittermas tree and sings songs about the soon to come days when moose will replace reindeer! Moosifesto is on and happening now at Wake Forest Coffee Company in Wake Forest, NC!

Copies of the Moosifesto are available, hanging right next to copies of the Moosifesto CD! Just look under the moose.

What did this squid have for lunch? You decide! There's a marker hanging to the left of his tummy that you can use to draw on the paper provided.

What Moosifesto celebration would be complete with out a few Moosifesto toys? Here we have the Moosifesto action figure.. some assembly required ... batteries not included.

One last shot of the Moosifesto Crittermas tree.

Merry Moosifesto!!

2009-12-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

Artist Inspired 3D Christmas Trees

This is a design project by Art 1 . The assignment, design a 3D Christmas tree that is obviously influenced by an artist.

Tree above inspired by the artist Norman Rockwell

Check out more trees by Apex artists at the Apex HS Art Blog!

2009-11-14T07:38:00.000-08:00

Post-It Note Critters

At school I stuck a few post it notes to the whiteboard. Later, I drew some eyes on one of the post its. That got me thinking. I wonder how many critters I could make with these post it notes?

So last night I filled the sheet with post it note critters. I'd like to do a entire wall of these, Maybe an entire gallery. I wonder who will give me a gallery wall?? Anyone? Anyone?

2009-10-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

Art History 2010

Just in case you weren't sure which class to register for...

2009-10-12T14:32:00.001-07:00

The Post It Note Ceiling Fan

Being sick all weekend you end up spending a lot of time staring at the ceiling fan.

After a time, you start to ponder, what would it look like if it had sticky notes stuck on it?

The next thing you know you're posting the video on your blog. So here it is:

2009-10-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

Critter Visits the Biltmore!

Remember Critter the Cow? He was one of the Lost Critter Project critters.

Then Christy's Creative Space thought it would be a fun idea to send Critter on a Blog tour. So Critter ended up taking a plane to Texas were he visited the blog of PJ Hoover. Remember all that?

Well, At Critters second stop he visited Beth's Blog and she took Critter to the Biltmore!

Now I hear Critter is taking on a new adventure. Critter is on his way to Korea!

You can keep track of Critter's adventures at Christy's Creative Space.

2009-10-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

The Skateboard

I've always thought skateboarding was like flying, the way the rider defies gravity on the half pipe.

One of my students brought in this old board. He was going to throw it away so I asked if I could paint it.

Note: I painted the skateboard on my desk, on top of my lesson plan book.

This is the final product.

Skate or die!

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2009-10-08T13:52:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to remind everyone that Friday is International Bring an Art Teacher a Scone Day!

2009-10-05T17:20:00.000-07:00

The Making of 3D Moose

I know it's still Fall but as the cooler air pushes in I can't help start thinking about Moosifesto! Yes, Moosifesto, that special time of the year when moose everywhere rise up against, and someday will take over reindeer as the predominant hoofed Christmas mammal.

So, to celebrate this year's Moosifesto, I've been working on a 3D moose for the Wake Forest Moosifesto exhibit.

3D moose hangs nicely on my wall. 3D moose is coming out better than I had originally thought. This might lead to future 3D critters.

Here we find 3D moose getting fitted for his Moosifesto antlers. With an eight foot antler span, 3D moose is quite large!

A few coats of house paint and 3D moose's antlers are almost ready to go!

Next step, cut out antlers, attach to 3D moose and dangle Christmas bulbs...

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2009-09-26T05:29:00.000-07:00

Make Me Your Art!

Help! I'm lost!
Thank goodness you found me!
Take me home and make me your art!

Have you found any Lost Art lately?

We'd sure like to hear your story. Please take a photo and email us at: ZonkeyStreet@gmail.com

What's This All About?

Need something to spruce up that office cubicle?
Can't find that one special centerpiece for the coffee table?
Have any of your friends ever said, "Dang, this house needs some art!"

If you answered yes to any of these questions than today is your day!

Take Me Home and Make Me Your Art is a free, giveaway project that can fill the art void in your life. That's right, the art is free! All you have to do is find it.

Tens of pieces of free art have already found their way into the hearts and homes of art collectors across America. Soon, hundreds more pieces will join them waiting for you, the new art collector to Take them Home and Make them Your Art!

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2009-09-18T18:01:00.000-07:00

Zonkey Turns Up In Cape Cod!

Almost 800 miles and 2 months after Zonkey's last sighting in Morehead, NC, Zonkey number three has turned up in Woods Hole, MA!! Better know as Cape Cod, Zonkey was found on August 19, 2009.

Zonkey number three first turned up at the Sanitary Restaurant in Morehead City, NC on June 19, 2009.

To date: 3 finds

Where will Zonkey turn up next???

Read more about the Adventures of Zonkey...

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2009-09-14T15:50:00.001-07:00

Getting Ready for Moosifesto!

December is still a few months away... but I like to have some time to prepare for a show. And this show is going to be a little more than the last show cause this show is Moosifesto!

Moosifestio is going to be more than an art exhibit. it's going to be an interactive visual, written and musical experience.

Sure, there will be the classic ian sands framed art we've all come to know and love. But this show will also include, moose action figures (as seen on TV and above), the Moosifesto Christmas soundtrack and the Moosifesto 32 page full color illustrated book! How very exciting!

The center piece of Moosifesto will be this 6' long, 3' tall 3D moose head! (Seen here still in the works).

Several of the planned pieces will be interactive. For example, there will be the X-Ray Zonkey where you get to draw what zonkey ate for lunch!

Another interactive piece will be the Mix and Match creature. Here, you'll get to choose 7 different body parts to three different animals. Mix the fox head with the cat body and the elephant legs and arms!

Look for Moosifesto this December at Wake Forest Coffee in Wake Forest NC!!

2009-09-12T15:38:00.001-07:00

Critter Goes on Tour!

This is Critter the Cow. you may remember Critter from the Lost Critter Project. Critter was one of the 500 critters created and then hid in downtown Apex, NC. See photo below -->

The Lost Critter Project is over but Critter has found another project to take part in and this one, i had nothing to do with.

Turns out the owner of the blog Christy's Creative Space thought it would be a fun idea to send Critter on a Blog tour. Christy posted a photo of Critter on her blog and challenged her reader to give her a good reason to send Critter their way.

In return, the winner would give Critter a tour of the town, take him out and show him a good time and then a few days latter, have their own contest giveaway. The winner of that contest would do the same until Critter had made his way around 15 blogs to finally end up back here in apex, NC.

The first first place Critter went was to Texas were he visited the blog of PJ Hoover. My understanding is that Critter had a great time in Texas, were he spent some quality time with a couple of tortoise.

You can keep track of Critter's adventures at Christy's Creative Space.

2009-09-07T16:52:00.001-07:00

Sayings from the Uncut

Uncut was a piece from the Halle Show back in April. On the piece I created several of my foam board creatures however, I didn't cut them out. I left them suspended in the foam board.

Now that I'm preparing for for the December Wake Forest exhibit, I thought I might release some of the critters and use them for the show. The thing is, a lot of the writings from UNcut and not on the critters and are being cut away. So, I thought I would take a moment and capture them here.

So, in no particular order, sayings from Uncut:

You could stop reading my art and go make your own.

Motty, one of the elephants from the periodic table of elephants

Motty's tail is a long and tragic story

You'll never know what life is about until you know at least 3 steps of the "we're all in this together" dance.. or the safety dance

Happy is not such a bad thing

I tell myself I don't make enough pancakes and that is my "real" problem

Hello Motty, you are a fine looken elephant

Walk with me and you'll know more about me then you ever will reading my blog

Like all big people, I thought the same thing when I was your age... too bad we all forget!

It's all pink when you think about it

If less is more, what is more? (third base)

If I "cut" this, you will never read this

The best thing about my art is that for 3 minutes you forget all about your bills

All you need is 2 cups of paint, a brush and bad 80's music all of which are easy to find if you search any local Food Lion

Stop reading my art, i'm not reading yours.

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2009-09-01T15:39:00.001-07:00

Scheduled Art Exhibit for my Bus!

I just found out that the Art-On-The-Move bus is about to be part of a gallery exhibit!

The Art-On-The-Move 2009 reception will be held on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at the Fish Market Gallery at the corner of Fayetteville Street and Hargett.

how very exciting!!

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2009-08-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

How to Milk a Dinosaur and the Best Review Ever!

Ian,

My son (who is waiting to start kindergarten next week) asked me to read to him this afternoon and brought me "How to Milk a Dinosaur" I thought we'd read a chapter or two - well, he wouldn't let me stop. We did it in one sitting.

I didn't want to stop, either. You did a great job. It was tight, it was intelligent and funny, it was fun to read aloud.

Thanks for a great story!

Kathy V.

Get your copy of How to Milk a Dinosaur!
Available on Amazon!

2009-08-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

the Lost Critter Project in the News

The Lost Critter Project has been getting some press. We were interviewed by the Southwest Wake paper, the Apex Herald, and NBC ran a spot on the 7:00 o'clock news!

2009-08-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

Toys

When all the critters have been collected and the idea of drinking hot coffee starts to sound appealing again, I'll be exhibiting at Wake Forest Coffee.

This year I want to incorporate all the arts, not just visual. Along with a healthy collection of foam board moose there will be the illustrated book The Mooseifesto, the music CD, and interactive games and toys.

One of the toy ideas is to create collectible action figures. Here are a few of the pieces I've started work on.

The Pigrate... Here we see the Pigrate sort of stuffed into his plastic casing. I still need to work on the illustrated board that goes behind.

One of the moose from Moosifesto. This one will be on display in Wake Forest.

Moose stuffed into his plastic casing.

2009-08-09T13:20:00.000-07:00

Facebook Lost Critter Project Fan Page

No need to be impatience...

The Lost Critter Project is now on Facebook!

Video, media links, and 100's of fan photos...

Become a fan!

2009-08-06T06:20:00.000-07:00

500 Critters Released in Apex as Part of the Lost Critter Project

click here for high res version of this image

This August, 500 critters will be lurking around various locations in Downtown Apex, NC. These foam board critters will be left on benches, curbs, on top of newspaper boxes, on brick wall and even tied to poles and street signs. The lost Critter Project is a collaborative public arts effort between the businesses of Downtown Apex, NC and Apex High School Art teacher, Ian Sands.

Participating business are assigned a custom lost and found box that will be displayed inside their establishment. 50 foam board critters have been created for each business. Each critter holds a sign that reads: Help! I'm Lost! Thank goodness you found me! Please take me back to the (name-of-business). I miss my brothers and sisters!

To create the 500 critters, Ian Sands enlisted a team of art students. "We spent two weeks working on this project," Remarked Ian Sands. "The art room looked like a factory assembly line with students painting, others cutting and others gluing."

The Lost Critter Project bolsters Apex, NC’s reputation as a town of cultural arts and exciting happenings. Ten businesses are participating in the Apex Lost Critter Project. The participants are:

The Blue Tiger
The Red Canvas
All Booked Up
Studio 123
Green Pea Nursery
The Apex Chamber
Peak City Film Festival
Realty World on Salem Street
New Hope Valley Railway
Apex Yogic Living

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2009-08-01T06:34:00.000-07:00

Making of the Lost Critter Project: Part 2

100 critters down... 400 to go.

The crew of the Lost Critter Project.

We met everyday this week and worked on the critters. There were plenty of jobs to go around... sketching, painting, outlining, cutting, gluing, labeling...

there are ten differnt critters. see if you can guess which is which..

The zonkey, yeti, cow, mouse, moose, squid, elephant, frog, cat and the raccoon which started out as a wolf but then we received a change request. However, 10 wolves we created before the raccoon change request was received. I believe this makes them collectors items.

This is a board of feet prior to cutting. The feet are probably the hardest parts to make, especially cutting them out. Also, keeping track of how many critters have been made and how many feet you still need to make can be extra tricky.

Here is a shelf of completed critters. They will sit here till next Friday.. day one of hiding...