over the weekend i got the chance to walk through central park in the snow with my family. after watching kids sled down hills and sloshing through mounds of wet snow, we trudged down fifth avenue to window shop at all of the fancy-pants stores. my favorite, hands-down, is always bergdorf goodman. the creative directors behind the windows always choose the most interesting artists to work with and this weekend i found that the mens’ windows chose a really amazing local artist.
john welles bartlett is a brooklyn-based artist who created beautiful woodblock prints for the mens’ bergdorf goodman windows. what i loved most about the windows was that the actual woodblocks themselves were on display with the prints. having majored in printmaking, my heart always skips a beat when i see someone honoring the beauty of printmaking materials in addition to the actual finished work. i found myself staring at the windows longer than we had time for, so i wasn’t able to snap shots before i had to catch up with my parents, but i was able to remember john’s website address so i could check it out at home. i was thrilled to see some of the images from the windows on the site. if you’re in the nyc area between now and march 17th, i highly suggest walking by bergdorf goodman’s men’s shop (on the east side of 5th ave) and checking out john’s work. the woodblocks are really, really special and they blend so nicely with the clothing the window designers chose. so a big thumbs up from this sponge and here’s hoping i can see more of john’s work around in the future.
12 Comments
yay, printmakers! having the blocks there helps make sense of the prints for people who are new to the medium. isn’t printmaking the BEST? er, at least i think so :)
I passed by these in the Bergdorf Goodman windows on Friday night! It’s amazing to see them in person! Everyone who can should definitely go!
This is one of my favorite parts of living in New York… When shop windows become art galleries! Love, love, love!
What a wonderful discovery on your day out.
love the bison!
Grace! Fantastic stuff! As a fellow printmaking major, I feel ya’. Just what I needed on an aimless Monday morning. :)
printmaking majors unite! ;)
g
Thanks for sharing this bit of New York.
Oh wonderful things!
I recall being scolded by a teacher for not treating the margins of my woodblocks as sacrosanct because the blocks themselves are also art.
It is great to see the blocks too.
I love the bison too! and the whale. Where can we see pictures of the prints and blocks within the store windows?
at first glance I thought the goat was a plushy and I thought “that is so creepy AND cute – I need that!”
Loving the reality of it to though. Now I’m off to check out John’s website.
Woohoo Printmaking! I love making relief prints. The high contrast is the best. I use sintra board because its easier than wood, so round of applause for John Welles Bartlett; wood blocks are tough. I always slip and cut that crucial line. These are beautiful.
Thank you for noticing this and posting it! I was up in NYC earlier this month and saw these windows, but I didn’t get the artist’s name! It’s great to see it’s getting recognition.
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