Welcome to Issue 54 of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine with Pop Surreal icon Mab Graves’ magical painting Iolanthe Trusts Her King on the cover. This cover is giving me exactly what I need right now – whimsy!
Enjoy our Editor-in-Chief’s Note from the Editor, published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Issue 54
At this moment in time the world feels dark and chaotic, making many of us feel overwhelmed and stressed or depressed. One of the ways we can counteract these feelings and regulate our nervous system is to inject more playfulness, curiosity, and delight into our everyday lives – aka whimsy! When was the last time you did something purely because it made you happy? For no other reason than it made you smile? Because it was fun?
As children we embraced whimsy, but most of us learned to suppress playfulness in order to fit ideas of adulthood, productivity, or social acceptability. Adding more whimsy is one simple, low-effort way we can weave a little magic, pleasure, humour, and joy into our daily routines – at home, at work, and wherever life takes us.
As children we embraced whimsy, but most of us learned to suppress playfulness in order to fit ideas of adulthood, productivity, or social acceptability. Adding more whimsy is one simple, low-effort way we can weave a little magic, pleasure, humour, and joy into our daily routines – at home, at work, and wherever life takes us.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how I can invite more whimsy into my own life: picking a flower from the garden each morning and placing it in a little bud vase by my computer; tying a ribbon around my puppy’s collar in a big bow; enjoying bed snuggles with both puppies; listening to music while I work, especially songs with quirky female vocals; and watching the little birds drink and bathe in the bowl I’ve placed in the garden.
Other than creating art, and enjoying it in person. How can you add more whimsy into your daily life? I’d love to hear your ideas!
Beautiful Bizarre Curated Exhibition: Glimmer at Modern Eden Gallery
This brings me very neatly to the next Beautiful Bizarre Magazine curated exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco next month. This exhibition explores the theme: Glimmer. A glimmer is the exact opposite of a trigger. Glimmers are small, everyday moments that make you feel joy, happiness, peace, or gratitude – which can help cue your nervous system to feel safe or calm. [The term was coined by Deb Dana].
Glimmers are close cousins of whimsy: small moments that interrupt the heaviness of the day and remind us of beauty, safety, and delight.
In many ways, glimmers are close cousins of whimsy: small moments that interrupt the heaviness of the day and remind us of beauty, safety, and delight. This exhibition has over 100 of the world’s best representational artists all creating meaningful, narrative work that responds to this theme in their unique individual styles. If you are interested in receiving the collectors preview please email Gallery Director, Kim Larson on kim@moderneden.com.
Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
By the time you read this September issue, the entry period for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize will have come to an end and we will have announced all of the winners. As always, we are deeply grateful to all the artists who entered their work. It is such an honour and privilege to see what you create. Huge thanks also go to our major sponsors: RAYMAR, BearWolf Books, Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, MPB, 33PA, INPRNT, and Art & Fable Puzzle Company.
As philanthropists, collectors, and arts-related businesses, their support of artists from different countries, cultures, and educational backgrounds through the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is not only deeply appreciated – it is an incredible legacy for both them and their businesses. On behalf of all the artists whose lives and careers have been uplifted by all of our Art Prize sponsors over the last 9 years, we thank you!
If you are a philanthropist, collector, agent, gallery, arts-related business, or commercial brand, and you would like to leave a real and lasting legacy – one that will change the lives of countless creatives from all over the world – please do contact our Deputy Editor Natalia at natalia@beautifulbizarre.net, about how you can support next year’s Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize. We would be thrilled to hear from you!
As always, this issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine is filled with the inspiring stories of 50+ incredible visual artists from around the world. I hope you enjoy the read!
Much Love xo
Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
