a few weeks ago i saw the below image of a palm tree painted on a ceramic spoon on instagram and freaked out (i'm obsessed with all things tropical and palm tree related, go figure cultureisland). the piece is by heather garland and her exhibit love is like a butterfly is currently showing at honey ramka gallery in bushwick, brooklyn until april 3rd. heather reinterprets found objects that are typically banal, adding paint, fringe, pearls, lace and fabric to make them new. she collects plates from the street, junk store, and from friends and takes them back to the studio. heather says, "sometimes i know exactly what will happen when i am in the shop; i know what intervention will happen when i start to paint. other times the plates sit around for years, waiting." this idea resonated me, since i'm an inspiration hoarder myself. i collect pages from magazines, art cards, images on tumblr/instagram plus words and phrases i see everywhere. i am constantly trying to figure out how i can use these hoardings in my work or save the ideas for later. about her plates, heather explains, "i am interested in things sounding or looking so sweet it almost hurts. i am interested in different conceptions of love and domesticity. in the sweetness of domestic life there can also be darkness and mystery." indeed, heather's plates are so sweet it hurts, plus i love the clever names of her pieces.

heather garland // florida // 2016 // oil and glitter on found ceramic spoon rest // 9.5” x 4” x 1.5” — heather garland // florida // 2016 // oil and glitter on found ceramic spoon rest // 9.5” x 4” x 1.5”

heather garland // rainbow brite iud // 2016 // oil and fringe on broken found ceramic platter // 10” x 10” — heather garland // rainbow brite iud // 2016 // oil and fringe on broken found ceramic platter // 10” x 10”

heather garland // pearl harbor // 2016 // oil and pearl necklace on found ceramic bowl // 9” x 9” x 3” — heather garland // pearl harbor // 2016 // oil and pearl necklace on found ceramic bowl // 9” x 9” x 3”

heather garland // something blue // 2016 // ralph lauren sampler under found glass dish // 10” x 4.25” — heather garland // something blue // 2016 // ralph lauren sampler under found glass dish // 10” x 4.25”

heather garland // courting // 2016 // oil on found ceramic plate with 22k gold // 6” x 6” — heather garland // courting // 2016 // oil on found ceramic plate with 22k gold // 6” x 6”

heather garland // standing in the doorway // 2016 // oil and on found ceramic plate with faux fur coat // 33” x 21” x 5” — heather garland // standing in the doorway // 2016 // oil and on found ceramic plate with faux fur coat // 33” x 21” x 5”

heather garland // father and son // 2016 // lace applique on found ceramic plate // 10.5” x 10.5” — heather garland // father and son // 2016 // lace applique on found ceramic plate // 10.5” x 10.5”

heather garland // grandma’s courting dress // 2016 // found ceramic plate with handkerchief // 8.5” x 8.5” — heather garland // grandma’s courting dress // 2016 // found ceramic plate with handkerchief // 8.5” x 8.5”

heather garland // inner strength // 2015 // oil and gorilla glue with plate hanger on found ceramic plate // 9” x 9” — heather garland // inner strength // 2015 // oil and gorilla glue with plate hanger on found ceramic plate // 9” x 9”