Balzer Designs

Two Classes at The Ink Pad in NYC

Last month I taught two fabulous art classes at The Ink Pad in NYC. Take a peek at the fun we had: Every time I teach I'm always reinvigorated and refreshed by other people's talent, creativity, commitment, and excitement. The best part of class -- teaching or taking -- is the people in the room! Thank you so much to everyone who came out to class. I don't think I'll be doing any more in-person teaching for the rest of the year, and this was a great way to go out with a bang! (I do hope to have some... Read more →

July 2017 at the Whitney Museum

While we went to the Whitney specifically to see the Calder exhibit, we certainly weren't going to skip the rest of the museum! Take a peek at just a little bit of what we saw: Anyone else get Benedict Cumberbatch vibes from this guy? I think it's the nose. This is definitely the most interesting stairwell in the world. I don't always volunteer to take the stairs, but I did at this museum! The Whitney is a stunning building, nevermind the art. The views from their outside terraces are awesome. It turns the whole of New York City into art!... Read more →

Calder at The Whitney

Several weeks ago I visited the The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City to see the Alexander Calder Hypermobility exhibit on the top floor. You may remember that I posted about wanting to go and see it back in June. I'm so glad that I was able to make the trip to NYC to do it! What is this huge crowd staring at? Each day a curator comes to "activate" several of the sculptures -- different ones each time. Sometimes you'll see people standing in front of a Calder mobile or sculpture and blowing on it as... Read more →

Trend Spotting at ABC Home

I've posted about ABC Home many times before. It's an amazing home goods store in New York City. Every time I go there, I find myself inspired. The vendors at ABC Home are definitely wired into what's hot right now in high end design. So, I love to use a stroll through the store as research & education on what's trending. I look for: Colors/Color Combinations Patterns Lettering Styles/Fonts Display Ideas Attitude/Style What trends do you see when you look through these photos? Obviously I didn't take photos of everything. I took photos of the things that interested me. So,... Read more →

Making Space: Women Artists and Postwar Abstraction at MoMA

One more post about the permanent collection at MoMA (Museum of Modern Art). Again, MoMA has so much art in their basement that they can fill the museum many times over with amazing stuff. Making Space: Women Artists and Postwar Abstraction pulls work by women from MoMA's permanent collection. As you know, I'm very interested in abstract painting, but I struggle with it. This exhibit was inspiring and exciting and I'm not sure that it mattered that the art was created by women, but I was delighted that it had been! I discovered some new-to-me women artists who I want... Read more →

Unfinished Conversations: New Work from the Collection at MoMA

Up on the sixth floor of MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) is a very wonderful exhibit of new work. It's all work that has been created in the last decade and that MoMA owns (back to that permanent collection thing from yesterday). I don't always love contemporary art, but this was a truly inspiring set of galleries. Take a peek: I love this combination of drawing and collage! Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back tomorrow with one more peek at MoMA! Read more →

A June Visit to MoMA

On my recent trip to New York City I ducked into MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) for a few hours of happy art wandering. I saw two great exhibits (which I will share over the next two days) plus I got to visit the permanent collection, the Louise Lawler exhibit, and take a second look at the Rauschenberg exhibit (today's photos). (Side note: What is a "Permanent Collection?" It is the art that the museum owns -- as opposed to borrows for a specific exhibit. Most museums have certain exhibit spaces where they show the highlights of their permanent collection... Read more →

Adventures in Arting Podcast: Summer Projects

Today's podcast is all about The 100 Day Project, classes I'm teaching, and visiting NYC (Fancy Food Show, YouTube Space, MoMA and getting my hair cut). If you do not see the podcast player above, please click on this link. You can listen to a podcast anywhere and at any time. It is a recording that is available to you whenever you'd like to listen. If you'd like to download it to your iTunes library, click here. You can also pause and rewind or fast forward as you desire. I like to listen to podcasts while I'm making art. It's... Read more →

Robert Rauschenberg: Among Friends at MoMA

I was lucky enough to be in the New York City area for the opening of the Robert Rauschenberg: Among Friends exhibit at MoMA (Museum of Modern Art). It was epic (the entire 4th floor of the museum) and inspiring (so much good art and excellent signage) and I know that I will be back to visit the exhibit at least one or two more times! If you are anywhere near NYC, you absolutely must go and see it. Until then, here are some photos: I hope you enjoyed that peek at the exhibit. It's so much more than these... Read more →

Three Articles About Museum Movers & Shakers

As you know, I go to a lot of museums. I also enjoy reading about museums, and especially the people behind museum experiences. Here are three articles about "museum people" -- for lack of a better term -- that I thought you might enjoy reading too! The Most Powerful Woman in the New York Art World Her name is Lisa Phillips and she is the director of the New Museum in Lower Manhattan -- a museum that I have never been to, by the way. But, it's definitely on my list now. Metropolitan Museum's Director Resigns Under Pressure They say... Read more →