Sunday, April 17, 2011

Where Is The Kitchen? Its At Bihl Haus!

"The Cabinet of (Foreign) Kitchen Affairs"
click on any image for full size.
The opening night of 'The Kitchen Goddess' was attended by art lovers, the curious and those who simply love love LOVE a sprinkling of kitsch with their cereal.  Bihl Haus hosted the most recent outing of the kitsch-en, and our new and freshly powdered goddesses got a chance to stretch their wings and flirt. 


"Merceureka"
There were quite a few new pieces, such as this sassy vaccuum cleaner, Merceureka. She positively begs to be turned on, and quite honestly, has a mind of her own.  I've never had so much fun pushing around a purring appliance. I"ve started making excuses to vaccuum. Why the front yard just won't stay clean! 

"The Sink of Failed Dreams: Where All Good Housewives' Dreams Go To Die"
And here is a side shot of the sink, one of my favorite pieces. As fun to make as it is to look at, I think I've created a place where you can unzip the mundane, and step into a technicolor world of volumptuous whimsy and tounge-in-cheek humor.  

And our goddesses have evolved too.  From the early days in Colorado, where the goddesses were reminiscent of Jackie O, and just getting their fuzzy house slippers wet...



to the Blue Star installation goddesses that could barely wait to educate viewers on 'How To Be A Good Housewife'...


 
our Bihl Haus goddesses have evolved into the kitchen-conscious audacious group of not-quite-liberated mavens of the pre-microwave era.


You can view the full opening night festivities and see some of the pieces in the slideshow in the post below, called, 'Bitch and Kitsch' at http://retrokitchengoddess.blogspot.com.   Just click on the slideshow to see it in its proper size. 


The kitchen goddesses have now taken off their high heels and massaged their aching toes...

 poured that martini and settled on the davenport to relax ...


and the Magic Chef with his lovely and perfect helper Betty Jean, have packed up their knives and returned to their home turf to insult regular patrons in French while waving their hands at them to dismiss ...


and the mile-long train of devilled eggs has been long-consumed by our lovely guests ...
Adela, a vision in red, with 'Pimento Loaf', her own creation.
so our kitchen goddesses bid you farewell for the time being. 

The kitchen will be on display, up until May 14th at Bihl Haus Arts.  You can visit on Fridays and Saturdays, 1 - 4 pm or by appointment, if you pick up your telephone and call 210,383.9723.  You can purchase a piece of the kitchen to adorn your home and make it even more spectacular, using all the proper colors, or any of the pieces the Golden artists, like Adela above, have created. 

Many people have asked me 'where IS Bihl Haus???'.  Darlings, its easy to find.  A vision in seafoam green and barbie pink, my kitchen lives in the Bihl Haus gallery for the next 4 weeks at 2803 Fredricksburg Road, INSIDE of the Primrose retirement community.  Its right across the street from DeWeese's Tip Top Cafe, where you can also have a delicious chicken fried steak OR grilled cheese sandwich if the devilled eggs and mini burgers in the exhibit leave you hungry for more. 


My exhibit has much less calories than this...

Here is the map for those of you who need more reference.  http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

We do hope you will have a chance to drop by our kitchen. Its an experience we'd love to share with you. When you are there, simply close your eyes and inhale. We just know you'll be able to smell the cinnamon from those oatmeal cookies we cooked just for you. 


And as soon as my bruised toes recover, I'll be updating on my latest adventure, here at http://retrokitchengoddess.blogspot.com.

-- Vanilla, sugar and lots of powdered sugar,

Bitch and Kitsch

hey babycakes! click here to view the slideshow of all
the delicious things we made for you...

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Interview With A Housewife

With only 4 days remaining before the opening reception for 'The Kitchen Goddess' exhibit, we sit down for just a brief moment to see just what this is all about.  I mean honestly, if we're going to drive all the way over to Bihl Haus Arts, we want to know what we're in for over there.  Thankfully, our busy housewife had just enough time for a small cup of tea before rushing off again. 

Whats this all about? 
- (laughter).  Its about tedium, darling.  Welcome to my home.  Look how much time I spent on this ... on everything.  It took me months and months to do this, and its still just ever so slightly off-kilter.  Some things will never be finished. Just as soon as I'm done ironing, I've got to turn around and start over again!  I slave over things to make them just right, but there's always room for more improvement.  But thats ok, because its a housewife's job to make sure we keep trying, keep working.

Working on ...?
- Well, everything of course.  What would the neighbors say if I just stopped keeping up?  My wonderful strong husband just gave me permission for the new kitchen layout and I want to make sure its absolutely perfect.  Thats very important.  Organization is very important.


Why does your kitchen make me feel like I'm in a Dr. Suess book? Whats with all these colors?
- (titter) Oh isn't it lovely?  I can't believe how much of an improvement it is over that dreadful old white Fridgidaire we had five years ago and that stupid rusty Maytag that didn't go with anything.  Everything matches.  Its just like being in The Wizard of Oz, with all these new and exciting colors.  I just get so ... excited to be cooking in a kitchen like this!

Hmmm. OK. Can you tell me about this one piece, "The Sink of Failed Dreams: Where All Good Housewife Dreams Go To Die"? 
- (pause. Puts down tea cup.)  Go to die?  I wouldn't say that. I mean, those dreams were awfully frivolous anyway. This is where I really belong and it's an awfully good life. Who has time for college and .. and a job when there's so much to do here.  Why its positively consuming!  There's really no time left over for such nonsense. I am very fulfilled right here and I've learned so much just with learning about domestic home economics ... so that silly thing about going to school was just that. silly.  They need me here. 


Alright. What do you keep under that sink? 
- Oh that? Thats just the stuff I don't need anymore, never did.  Rat poison, the leftovers ... all that silly stuff that I need to get rid of now that I have a nice new kitchen and a family on the way one day.  I've been needing to clean all that out anyway. 

How much time do you spend in your kitchen?
- (polite laughter) Why, all day, of course!  One day, when we have a big family, I'll be spending time in a nursery with little John Jr. and a sweet Becky Sue, but for now, I have so much to learn!  Home economics is a very very exhausting topic. Oh. I don't mean exhausting in a negative way. I simply mean there is very much to learn!  Did you know that the new ovens completely change the amount of time it takes to cook a glazed ham?  Canned pineapple makes it go so quickly. 



What is the most important tool you use in your kitchen?
- Oh thats easy! That would be my mixer. It matches my new refrigerator. They came together. It make my life so easy!  I get soooo much done with it.  It is so much better than mixing cake batter by hand!  Just look at it. It loves me ... its like its arms are opening for a big hug. (sigh)  Well I really must get back to work. There is so much to do before Friday, and we're expecting company. It was so nice to meet you!


There you have it.  Our housewife is back at it, primping her mint green and barbie pink kitchen, getting ready to greet you on Friday's opening at Bihl Haus Arts.  Do stop by. She'd love to show you around. (there might even be an ironing tutorial if you haven't already mastered this essential craft)

Bihl Haus Arts
2803 Fredricksburg Rd.
San Antonio, TX
This Friday, 5:30 - 8:30 pm