Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Dreams Walking in Broad Daylight

As a means of trying to comprehend the irresistible appeal of Lany Devening's sidewinding, dark-bright sense of place, I like to imagine showing it to an allegedly hip sixty-year-old sci-fi buff with whom I used to work in sales. “Jerry Lewis I get,” I can hear him saying. “Jerry Seinfeld I get. This, I don’t get.” And that’s the point. Devening, proprietor of an Etsy art shop that is quite unlike any other, blurs the distinction between fun and evocative—we’ll call it funocative—to render a set of themes that feel as deliciously dangerous as laughing with a loaded BB gun in one’s hand. A lonely shanty home billows with smoke under an otherwise blue New Mexico sky, the image wrapped in a heart-shaped frame. Four cloned children stride out of a 1950’s classroom, disillusioned by their classmates’ treatment of them. A dog on a porch anticipates the swell of a grasshopper storm.

Whether anyone, including the artist herself, knows the meaning of any of this is beside the point. It is art, the type that simultaneously ups both the IQ and the PQ (party quotient) of any dinner among friends. The fact that the words Lany Devening adds through the mouths of her silent subjects always seem just a little beyond anyone’s reach, well, that’s a good thing in this case. She is, in the end, another fantastic example of the kind of talent that lurks right behind the bushes in Etsy’s own backyard, or in this case right under the sweet dogwood shade of Carrboro, North Carolina. And if you happen to find her art as strikingly magnetic as we do, you’ll be thrilled to know that the artist is offering a giveaway as well. The winner of today's contest will receive a print of Minnesota, courtesy of Lana Devening. To enter, visit LanyDevening.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite piece in Lany's collection. Tell us in an additional post if you subscribe to Wishing Willow, or follow us on Twitter, and "tweet" about the giveaway. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. Contest ends 3/05/09.

Be sure to also enter our giveaways here.

134 comments:

janil said...

I like Rainbow House original cross stitch!
Thanks!

janil said...

follower!
cal_rubies(at)yahoo(dot)es

janil said...

suscriber!

mrchips said...

cool

Gibb Photo said...

I have to say, Minnesota is my favorite! Great work.

KLM39 said...

Interesting art. I like the Hand Puppet.

The Merry Death said...

Cool stuff. I like the Lunatic most.
meredycat*lycos*com

The Merry Death said...

I tweeted under meredycat.
meredycat*lycos*com

lilbabypug said...

Lunatic is more my style. thanks for the giveaway

minishoes said...

WOW! how cool! love these! I like the one called "Lunitic" of the little boy. thanks jacquecurl@gmail.com

Kim said...

I love this: Ribbon in the Sky

Becky said...

My favorite piece is the Rainbow House original cross stitch. Stunning.

thanks so much!

dbkagrayson2002 at gmail dot com

saragillman said...

I like the rainbow house =)
sarawins@hotmail.com

kay said...

oh my..such nice pieces..but i loved the Rainbow House original cross stitch. what a piece! lovely.

kay said...

oh i also am subscribed to you

Keyo said...

love this Minnesota one!!

Keyo said...

am subscribed to you!

Anonymous said...

I tend to like that out of the ordinary so I thought the The Hand Puppet looked interested!


texas_Heartland84[at]yahoo[dot]com

danosor said...

The Hand Puppet is my choice.I am a subscriber.

Anonymous said...

Hahahaha! I LOVE The Lunatic!!

Anonymous said...

Happy subscriber!

Dee said...

Evidence is my favorite, reminds me of the look on my sons face when he's been caught.

Dee said...

I'm a follower

Unknown said...

I like a lot of them, but I think I'm most drawn to the A Rose for Emily print.

Unknown said...

I follow you on Twitter and Twittered about it!

http://www.wishing-willow.com/2009/02/dreams-walking-in-broad-daylight.html

idahomom said...

Bogo Sale Idaho

Anonymous said...

The Open Window - is my favorite.
Love those rainbow colors
ashlomb at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

subscriber- ashlomb at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michw37 said...

Hand Puppet is probably my favorite

Christina said...

Christina - xristya@rock.com - I like Gun and Sparrow, one symbol (the sparrow) so obviously small and vulnerable juxtaposed with (the gun) a symbol capable of taking life away!

Christina said...

Christina - xristya@rock.com - I'm a VERY proud subscriber to Wishing Willow!

AmandaK said...

I love The Hand Puppet. it just really caught my attention!

orchestratenoise0726[at]yahoo[dot]com

wendi said...

Rainbow house is my favorite!

eyeslikesugar said...

I love Sophy Look in the Air.. very creepy and neat. :) Thank you so much for offering this giveaway! eyeslikesugar [at] gmail [dot] com

eyeslikesugar said...

I also follow your blog in my Google Reader. :)

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

rainbow is nice

jenna said...

"Ribbon in the sky" is my fave.

Amber said...

My favorite in Lany's collection is the A Rose for Emily print.

Thanks for the giveaway.
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Miss Spoken said...

I like Evidence
gkstratos@yahoo.com

Smooshy said...

i like rainbow house!

vboackle said...

i like the hand puppet.

PS said...

I totally think I should get this since I'm from MN! Only kidding-what great art...I'm really enjoying Gun with Sparrow. Fantastic.

laroyal said...

I love the Rainbow House original cross stitch....just beautiful! thanks
Laura
laroyal06@gmail.com

laroyal said...

I follow too!
thanks
Laura
laroyal06@gmail.com

Therese said...

I like the hand puppet :)

mel said...

I like the a Rose for Emily best.

mdhohn(at)msn(dot)com

Sunnyvale said...

I like the rainbow house

Roxy said...

I love the Beloved Castaway.

hockiemack@hotmail.com

Roxy said...

subscribe via google reader.

hockiemack@hotmail.com

hawaiijack said...

Rainbow House original cross stitch

rubynreba said...

I like A Rose For Emily

Todd said...

Minnesota is my favorite, but I may be biased ;)

atomic city mom said...

I much like Valley Deep, Mountain High...

Anonymous said...

The Rainbow House original cross stitch is BEAUTIFUL!

kkondek at gmail.com

littlelatina said...

Rainbow house is my fave

Karen said...

Love the rainbow house.

ktgonyea at gmail.com

Sweet Pirate Betty said...

I love Gun with sparrow and The open window! They are all pretty amazing though! :)

Sweet Pirate Betty said...

im a follower! :)

jayne said...

Valley Deep, Mountain High

Gabriel S-J. said...

I really like the Hand Puppet.

Peggy said...

My favorite is The Black Roller
Thanks

Peggy said...

subscriber

matternu@aol.com

Peggy said...

follow

Anonymous said...

I like the childrens picture titled "Nobody Asked Me"
dolniaks@connecttime.net

mverno said...

i like on the prowl

Unknown said...

i like it

banquetbabe said...

I live in MN, would love this, also like the Rainbow house cross stitch

ky2here said...

Gotta be 'the lunatic'.

llinda29 said...

Ribbon in the Sky looks so peaceful

Unknown said...

Being from MN I would have to say the one that you are giving away.

silverbele said...

I would pick the Rainbow House

toughturtles said...

Whirlpool

Melissa Butler said...

The Hearthfire Glows is my fave ~ very different art, but I LOVE it! Many of them "with themes that feel as deliciously dangerous" I agree!!!

Michw37 said...

Hand Puppet is my favorite

Barbara Bee said...

I like The Invaders. I hate to dust and it reminds me of my house.

3oink63moo484 (at) gmail(.)com

Dierdra said...

A Rose for Emily

Dierdra said...

Tweet-http://twitter.com/dlb1980/status/1267818526

vboackle said...

i like the hand puppet.

loisll said...

Very nice, my favorite is Rainbow.

Anonymous said...

My favorite is Charlotte, the Night Wanderer.
-Terra H.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

LOVEIS said...

Rainbow House

Kutty1101 said...

I've lived in Minnesota all my life. I'd love to decorate our house with this art piece!

rosannepm said...

I like Whirlpool
rosans4@comcast.net

rosannepm said...

I subscribe
rosans4@comcast.net

yomomma said...

My favorite is the lunatic. Thanks for the giveaway!

iggysaysno said...

I would choose gun with sparrow

Anonymous said...

def rainbow house cross stitch!
agiles(@)gm(dot)slc(dot)edu

Anonymous said...

follower!

Sir Thrift-A-Lot said...

I like Cloned Lives. Was my favorite before I even noticed the price! A friend of mine is going to school to end up working in the cloning business. Also reminds me of "the masses".

Sir Thrift-A-Lot said...

I like Cloned Lives. Was my favorite before I even noticed the price! A friend of mine is going to school to end up working in the cloning business. Also reminds me of "the masses".

Sir Thrift-A-Lot said...

I subscribe!

MLK said...

I really love this one, The Shadow Puppet: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18773443

All of the art is really amazing, I'm glad I found it!

Anonymous said...

I would love the chance to win, thanks.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

wendy wallach said...

I like A Rose for Emily.

madamerkf at aol dot com

mrchips said...

i'd love to win this

Susan said...

Evidence is the best! unique!

Nickolay said...

Being from Minnesota myself, I really like the Minnesota one


jason@allworldautomotive.com

Crys said...

I like the Open Window.

Soferise said...

have to go with Lunatic...makes me smile

RobA1998@rochester.rr.com

Unknown said...

I like The Lunatic.

matthewsroren said...

a rose for emily!

aglo said...

I like Whirlpool

MOL said...

I think that Rainbow house is my favorite.

Cricket said...

My favorite piece in the collection is 'Fly Away, Love'!

Cricket said...

I subscribe! Thanks for a great blog!

Anonymous said...

I like the Rainbow House original cross stitch.

Leslie said...

Dark Fate

intime said...

Minnesota

arvard said...

I like the Beloved Castaway.

jayne said...

I love Lunatic and Dark Fate

guettel78 said...

Really offbeat and darkly humorous pieces -- I really enjoyed looking at all of Lany's works and reading her descriptions. I would have to say my favorite would be "Them." There's something about the contrast between the wholesome image of the cornfield/rainbow and the unexpected presence of the blood spray. And the fact that the title came from the classic sci-fi b-movie "Them" really left me scratching my head. Thanks for introducing me to her work and for the chance to win!

gkaufmanss@yahoo.com

guettel78 said...

I'm a subscriber.

gkaufmanss@yahoo.com

guettel78 said...

I follow you on twitter (guettel78) - thanks!

gkaufmanss@yahoo.com

guettel78 said...

Tweeted the giveaway: http://twitter.com/guettel78/status/1283570826

gkaufmanss@yahoo.com

demmi said...

A Rose for Emily con5459(at)gmail(dot)com

Smooshy said...

i like beloved castaway!

GracefilledLily said...

I love Ribbon in the Sky with the children in the water. Hopeful and beautifully calming.

lilly said...

man i love them all
lillylulu2@gmail.com

i subscrided and tweeted you

rainbow house

Salleefur/Jesselyn/Jesster said...

I know I am stretching, but hope I"m not breaking the rules here: my favorites are all quite small and of a similar style, so I would love to have all four and display/arrange them as cluster setting. The four designs I would love to work with are:

Beloved Castaway
Fly Away, Love
She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
The Open Window

I can imagine all kinds of hanging arrangements that would grace the right wall space!

Salleefur/Jesselyn/Jesster said...

Yes! I am a follower and email subscriber of Wishing Willow.

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

My favorite is "Them"!

Beloved Castaway & Fly Away Love!

I don't like all the house on fire stuuf or the death stuff.

I cab handle a little blood splatter.

Did anyone esle find her work kinda of dark!

These are like the picture drawn by children who have been abused.
The house fire stuf...I have been thur that & find it hard to even look at them.......to painful.

zestywonderland@gmail.com

just being honest but I did find most of the art work a bit morib!

Unknown said...

Minnesota is my favorite. garrettsambo@aol.com

Anonymous said...

wishing willow is a beautiful work of art.
Lany Devening is truly a wonderful talent

Much Luck

Valancia said...

Ribbon in the Sky and my thanks. skyxsky27(at)gmail.com

Valancia said...

Subscriber here ! skyxsky27(at)gmail.com

Valancia said...

Follower here! skyxsky27(at)gmail.com

liliesrnice said...

I really like the rose for emily.

yadgirl said...

I like Valley Deep, Mountain High.

lilyk said...

The Beloved Castaway painting is very interesting!

ms.lilyk@gmail.com

lilyk said...

I subscribed to your blog.

ms.lilyk@gmail.com

rosannepm said...

I like Clones LIves
rosans4@comcast.net

rosannepm said...

I'm a subscriber
rosans4@comcast.net