stampede.

Hello! I'm back after a bit of a long absence, but as I've said before, nothing stops the blog--so after that little hiccup--let's get back to loving all the amazing stuff there is to love.

Today I'm featuring the fantastical paintings of Portland, OR artist Josh Keyes. In Keyes' fabulous world, it seems that civilization and nature have collided (spoiler alert: nature won), while the animals have risen. Predators abound--but they're not who'd you expect nor where you'd expect to find them. Our planet has been completely turned on its head, and humans are nowhere to be found. Hee!

God, I think it would be so fun to have a fabulous home with a room solely dedicated to these paintings...although falling asleep could be a little tricky.

All art (c) Josh Keyes via UFunk

Now let's take a look at some of the fun things happening tomorrow (Saturday) night:

Movies outdoors are all the rage in L.A., and the Autry is in on it. They'll be showing Grand Budapest Hotel.

Dance maven Heidi Duckler takes over the gorgeous Brand Library in Glendale with her latest show Brush Up. If you've never been to the Brand Library, you are missing some place special.

Photo via Heidi Duckler

The bG Gallery at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica hosts "Island Girls," a group show of women artists.

You're Not Crazy; You're Just Rad (c) Sarah Steiber

And Jack Rutberg Fine Arts presents Ruth Weisberg: Reflections Though Time.

Waterbourne (c) Ruth Weisberg

That's all for now, but I'll be back soon with more to love. xoL

clare elsaesser

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

We are back, and today we are loving the paintings of California artist Clare Elsaesser. I came across one of her works on Pinterest and was immediately drawn to a style that's both whimsical and haunting. I especially love her series of figures burying their faces in flowers. The hidden visage is running theme in all her paintings. They're eerie, seductive, and I love them. Clare's etsy shop is filled with stunning (and reasonably priced) pieces--check them out.

Dress Up

Flower Child

Gone Wild

Grew Into

Overgrown

So Much

All art © Clare Elsaesser

And just a few more things to love.

This past weekend, I attended the most incredible experimental dance performance evereachmore presented by The Bowtie Project. Bowtie is a collaboration between Clockshop and the California State Parks to bring art and performance to a recently-opened area next to the L.A. River just off of Frogtown and Glassell Park. Clockshop is an L.A.-based organization that hosts art events illuminating political and cultural ideas.

evereachmore is the creation of the amazing taisha paggett and local dance troupe WXPT. It was an exploration and celebration of ethnicity and queer identity. Instead of being performed on a traditional stage, the dancers rose up from the banks of the river, "migrating" to a sacred circle as the audience mingled and followed the performers for almost a mile. The result was both epic and intimate.

Photos via The Bowtie Project

Today I was thrilled to discover China has a Watermelon Museum. Founded in 2002 and located just south of Beijing in one of the largest watermelon-harvesting areas in the world, the museum focuses on the history and culture of this wonderful, refreshing fruit.

I just love that a Watermelon Museum exists somewhere on our planet.

Photos by Kendra Schaefer via Atlas Obscura

And I love this photograph of Blondie.

Debbie Harry, 1977 by Richard Creamer

That's all for now. I'll see you soon! Love, Lexa.