Mark Selander's Artwalk "Machine Safari" (9/8/2012)

Here are a few Photos of Mark Selander's artist reception on September 8, 2012

You can see more pictures on our facebook page.

Mark Selander
Machine Safari

I used to watch Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom with it's grainy footage of cheetah's chasing antelope, hippos roaring their maws from muddy banks, and elephant stampedes. The fact is however, that I have always been more fascinated by the mechanized creatures that inhabit the urban built environment. These machines are so ubiquitous that it's easy to take them for granted, but consider this: much like an animal, machines are a picture of efficiency and purpose when applied to the proper task. They excel at doing what they were built for and fit into an interrelated ecosystem of mechanically enhanced labor. Like the house cat is a relative of the lion, the common garden shovel is a distant cousin to a 20 ton excavator.

Every week I drive around Seattle looking for new machines in the wild. I do my best to channel Wild Kingdom's host Marlin Perkins, reporting back in vivid technicolor the wonders of the construction site. Where he had a helicopter, I have my Honda Element. I roam SODO instead of a Sub-Saharan savanna, and being stuck on Mercer during it's endless overhaul is actually kind of a treat as dozers, graters, and haulers push around piles of dirt and concrete. Machine Safari is drawn and painted one machine at a time - almost always on site. Next time you drive by a machine, or even open your tool-shed, take a closer look and imagine the world you already live in.

 

 

Joseph Joseph Kitchen Tools. Great new Kitchen line at Annie's

New at Annie's Art and Frame is Joseph Joseph, a contemporary and inventive Kitchen Line. Along with color coded handles, each utensil uses the "elevate" system which keeps the business end off your counter in order to improve hygiene and minimize mess.

Baking Gift Set: adjustable rolling pin, elevate pastry brush, elevate small spatula and pie kitchen timer.

Folding chopping board and salad bowl with servers.

New at Annie's: Charley Harper

Charles Harper (1922-2007) was a Cincinnati-based artist who made more than 50 designs for conservation groups and national parks throughout the U.S. Describing his own work, he once said, “I don’t try to put everything in, I try to leave everything out.” Annie's is happy to feature his artwork in our windows this month, in addition to carrying cards, calendars, and puzzles in the store.

Item of the Week: Bears!

Bears everywhere at Annie's! These bears are iPop magnets: powerful little magnets that come in dozens of other designs, too. The small magnets come as a set of four, and are $13.00. The large magnet comes as a single, and is $7.50.

New Underpinner for Annies!

After 20 or so years, we reluctantly retired our faithful joiner and introduced it's more modern counterpart.

Item of the Week: Space Intruders erasers

New at Annie's, some alien invaders for your desk. They come as a set of three, and are $2.25.

Card of the Week: Boxed Notecards

These elegant notecards from Madison Park Greetings are printed with soy-based inks on 30% post-consumer recycled paper. There are 10 cards in each box, and they are $11.00. Annie's has a wide selection of boxed notecards, including some letterpressed designs. A great value!