Kim Piotrowski Etsy Shop Annual Holiday Sale

Santa in the Corner - Greenpoint, Brooklyn 2008

Welcome to my Holiday Sale for 2013! Enjoy 15% off all original art and prints at kipi.etsy.com

No discount code needed.

_____

Ends at Midnight (Eastern) on Monday, December 2nd 

Culture-Hunting in Vegas

I recently went to Las Vegas for the first time for a brief escape from reality. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I heard from many sources that it's a crazy, over-the-top sort of place. When I arrived, I saw many countries simultaneously in linear fashion. It wasn't fathomable to see Siam, Egypt, and New York all nestled on the famous Strip practically side by side. And yet, in Vegas, I suppose anything is possible. It's a place for bachelorettes, spring-breakers, gawkers, big-spenders, heavy drinkers, those who are down and out, those who are holding onto big hopes, and those who are holding onto wild dreams as well. Sure. But art and culture? 

Then I remembered there was a fairly large Dale Chihuly piece in the main lobby at one of them. Oh yes, that would be the Bellagio. It was a must-see for any art lover. And it was fantastic! Colored pools of glass swirl above your head like thousands of jellyfish. It was larger than life; practically the size of a 2 lane regulation-size swimming pool. Impressive. 

Later that evening, I enjoyed a glass of wine under the watchful eyes of about fifteen Picassos as I overlooked the choreographed fountain show on the main drag. What a combination. And what a spectacle! I was lured even further into the Wynn art collection by a video ad for a recent acquisition at his other property, the elegantly styled Wynn Hotel. It was a Jeff Koons piece entitled simply, "Tulips". I asked a couple of staff members who were strolling through the endless aisles of slot machines about where this piece was located. They chuckled a little, telling me that those tulips cost millions of dollars, I better go see them and make sure I enjoy them! In New York Magazine, I recently read that this work of art cost $33.7M to be exact. Vegas is a crazy place indeed.

Happy All Hallows' Eve

Last year after Hurricane Sandy blew through my little island, I spent most of that week in the library at the end of my street. It was the only place I could get in contact with the outside world. At home, I was one of the very lucky ones with power and heat, but no connectivity. There was no mobile service in the whole area either. The library became my refuge. They had free hot coffee and cookies, and they had wi-fi. After several days, one of the employees gave me this gorgeous fairy tale pumpkin she had grown out back. It became the centerpiece of my kitchen for months. With its really tough skin, it lasted well into March when I put it outside for hungry critters to enjoy.

Etsy Summer Sale - Starts Today!