{"id":4281,"date":"2009-10-07T00:32:15","date_gmt":"2009-10-07T07:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mehallo.com\/blog\/?p=4281"},"modified":"2009-10-07T00:31:53","modified_gmt":"2009-10-07T07:31:53","slug":"blackbird","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mehallo.com\/blog\/archives\/4281","title":{"rendered":"Blackbird"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2018Just be nice to people. Not because you think it will get you into heaven. Just because it’s right.\u2019 -Natasha Newton, Blackbird Sings<\/em><\/p>\n

This is one of my favorite quotes. It was posted under ‘Religious Views’ on the Facebook page for UK-based visual artist Natasha Newton. And if one could have the title of \u2018social networking ambassador,\u2019 it should go this particular blackbird<\/em>. <\/p>\n

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myspace came first<\/strong>
\nI didn’t trust MySpace. I’d heard about the freaks, the stalkers, the time wasted. But it was Natasha\u2019s simple page<\/a> that said to me, MySpace isn\u2019t as stupid as it seems to be.<\/em> She was the first one I followed out to Twitter<\/a>. Because she does it right. <\/p>\n

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Her posts are always intelligent, smart, incredibly well-planned out and silly. It\u2019s all in the attitude. And the niceties. Natasha is Emily Post<\/a> \u2013 but, with an edge. If something\u2019s not right, she\u2019s extremely vocal about it. And that makes friending and following all worth while.<\/p>\n

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professional work<\/strong>
\nOver the past few years, I\u2019ve been able to follow Natasha\u2019s career through posts and tribulations. Sales that are great or sluggish. Sink or swim.<\/p>\n

There is obsessive detail in her art that I simply love. Her dedication to the ‘craftsmanship of art’ \u2013 she doesn’t just throw things together – harkens back to the work of William Morris<\/a> (1834-96); her detailed, yet simple visuals cast a similar spell. <\/p>\n

And as of this year, we finally have one of her hand-drawn collage pieces in our collection. We have a parrot – named Cluck Cluck<\/a> – so another bird in the house (above, Frida) was a few clicks away. (And the packaging was nicely prepped too)<\/p>\n

And she\u2019s always posting whatever is going on, whether it be her jump to Macintosh<\/a>, founding the League Against Assholes<\/a> or rye observations of the triviality of the American media (nothing to link to, she\u2019s kind enough to take her posts down if they hit too much of a nerve \u2013 Americans can be sooo sensitive, <\/em>I\u2019ve pointed out). Commissions, shows, Esty<\/a> and Moo<\/a>, it\u2019s fun to be a fan. <\/p>\n

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\nAmit Erez’s self-titled CD,<\/a> art by Natasha Newton<\/em>
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photography<\/strong>
\nBut what really lured me in his her photography. Technically astute, personal and always beautiful. I have her MySpace photography account<\/a> in my top friends because I always love what I\u2019m seeing. They\u2019re not just snapshots. And the ongoing london project <\/a>\u2013 her collaboration with composer Leon Milo \u2013\u00a0can\u2019t wait to see where that ends up.<\/p>\n

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natasha\u2019s world<\/strong>
\nNatasha has a solo show going on right now<\/a> at the Serena Hall Gallery Southwold, Suffolk, UK (it just opened today). The gallery site is here.<\/a> <\/p>\n

Where Natasha lives is filled with joy, sadness, wonder, funky moustaches and oddly timed karate chops \u2013 most of which one can only experience if they follow on Twitter<\/a>, fan on Facebook<\/a>, follow her blog<\/a>, Flickr<\/a> or friend through one (or all) of her MySpace accounts<\/a>. Enjoy sharing in the adventure.<\/p>\n

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All images in this post are owned by visual artist Natasha Newton;<\/a> please, no copying, stealing or any other monkey business. Thank you.<\/em><\/p>\n\r\n\t

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