Tony Natsoulas (born 1959), like his art, is funny, offbeat and awkwardly charming. "I just do what the little voices tell me to," reads the bumper sticker on his pick-up, a statement that seems not far from the truth. A bard, a sonneteer, and a prankster in clay, Natsoulas wants us to appreciate the humor in the banal, and to look nostalgically at some of history's self-indulgent pleasures.

Small in stature-his wife Donna holds his ankles lest he fall in while stacking his top-loading kiln. It is the pounds-per-square-inch of energy and charisma that make Natsoulas a force of nature. His ebullient personality is matched only by his work in clay, which surmounts various technical challenges to become monumental sculpture that shocks, entertains and amuses.

The humor and irreverence of Natsoulas's art should come as no surprise, considering the inspired lunacy of his mentors. A descendant of Pop and California Funk, Natsoulas's work goes beyond both. Embracing what may be best termed "camp"-that which is outrageous in its artificiality, affected, and referencing the out-of-date in an amusing manner-he has manufactured a style distinctly his own.
Learn more online at:
http://www.tonynatsoulas.com/

My work begins with post-consumer material diverted from a destiny as trash. Revitalized from the mundane, these recycled tin containers are deconstructed, cut, folded and reassembled into the extraordinary. Often cut with pinking shears, the metal makes a sharp and pointed commentary. Colors, patterns, words and images are chosen specifically for their societal statements and visual impact.

Conspicuous consumption as a cultural norm flourishes in the rapid-fire pace of changing styles. While my work does not seek value in its materials, it does ask us to re-evaluate how or why an object is valued in our material culture. Does value exist within thecraftsmanship, by who made it, or by what materials are used? Or is value created through mass marketing and mass consumption?

Learn more online at:
http://www.harriete-estel-berman.info/home.html

I recently retired from my job of 33 years as Executive Art Director and Vice President at Chicago’s largest advertising agency, Leo Burnett Company, so that I can work full time on my books and videos. I started my writing career back in 1978, when I authored and illustrated books for Childrens Press (Grolier/Scholastic). Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists is Childrens Press’ #1 Best Selling trade book series, and is a top seller in school and library sales. All of my books introduce children to art, music, and history in an unstuffy, fun way. The books have also been published in many foreign languages including Chinese, Korean, Portugese, Greek, and Hebrew.
I’ve just completed my newest series, Getting to Know the U.S. Presidents.

Learn more online at:
http://www.mikevenezia.com/mikevenezia/About/