Cultural Compulsive Disorder: 'Art Held in Contemp.' Volume 8 by Briana Melendez

I've always been a visually stimulated individual. As a kid I was always mesmerized by the vibrant colors in nature & much to my parent's dismay the metal radiators in our home quickly became works of abstract art as I was entranced by the melting of my 64 colors of Crayola. The MOMA is by far my favorite museum in all of NYC. I can never get enough of the smooth perfection in marble and the vibrant colors of early 19th century paintings. As much as I love all these beautiful representations of creativity I could never feel connected completely. They are products of bygone eras that while I can admire I could never fully feel a part. That all changed a few years back. I picked up this art magazine called 'Juxtapoz' & BAM! It hit me like a Batman punch. There were images I understood, images I could relate to. Artwork that made sense & represented me. Knowing that 'my' art was alive & kicking has sent me on a quest to look for artist & works of art in which we all can see a little bit of ourselves. With each new installment I'll be aiming to do just that. Sit back & enjoy the ride, I know I have been.

Amy Sol has been stalking my dreams.......OK she really hasn't but, if you were to take a look at her work you would definitely be getting a peep into my subconscious. With her use of muted colors and fanciful characters Sol creates imagery that is as delicate as wisps of smoke. After viewing her pieces, I can't help but feel all soft and squishy like a Gund. Check out her blog for to see the thoughts behind her process and some really cool side projects.