If life is art, then what is death? Is there still not an undeniable beauty in death & supposed decay - as much as a lovely, ornate door that knowingly closes softly in the velvet of night?

This philosophy that considers the sacredness in all things, even those that many might label unseemly, appears to permeate artist Elizabeth Huston’s darkly brilliant visions.

Her newest venture, Curiosities, showcases the uniquely & gloriously odd. The small, dark corners of our minds where we play with bizarre memories from many lifetimes ago.

When I stumbled upon her creative online store last year, I was immediately charmed by the subdued sense of elegance-with-an-edge style Victorian nostalgia. Butterfly/skull hairclips (scary/adorable and all homemade by Elizabeth herself), spookily pretty handmade dolls (also handmade by artisan Kerry Kate), environmentally sound insect taxidermy specimens, fun vintage medical paraphernalia, authentic mourning cabinet cards, tons of antique-inspired jewelry…and of course, Huston’s own haunting photography books and prints. One must look through her award-winning collective work ‘Sacred ~ New Orleans Funerary Grounds’ from which photos were taken pre-Hurricane Katrina and will never again be viewed in the physical.

A deep love for detail and fine doses of melancholy permeate her work and, dare I say, products. That is not to reveal, though, that you will not find more than a touch of whimsy as well (A pulsating heart nightlight! A novelty skull cupcake pan!). My biggest surprise, however, was at how affordable everything is on the site, especially for one-of-a-kind artwork. You can pick up a very fine piece for under $20, or even a few small ones. And you absolutely must view the actual exhibit and read her very witty essay regarding “Doctors, Hysteria & Orgasm: A History of Vibrators in Amerca”. Absolutely ‘hysterical’: http://www.curiosities-shop.com/exhibits.cfm

My contact with Ms. Huston has been so eloquent and deeply thoughtful, much like her art, that I chose to preserve the purity of her words and allow them to reveal her inner self as they pleased. As Elizabeth, indeed, might proclaim: For Your Consideration…


How has living in Los Angeles influenced your art?

I believe I’m the 5th generation born and raised here, so I am very much a Los Angeles native.

As a photographer, L.A. is the perfect place to live for location shots. Just minutes away from the beach, the deserts, the snow, the sun…from ghost towns, to dry lake beds, cemeteries to movie sets…it’s all here in Southern California .

When I was learning the craft of photography, I regularly set out on day trips, in which I would just drive until I decided to stop. I always ended up somewhere new, and I’d shoot until I was either asked to leave or until I ran out of film. Under these circumstances, I learned to shoot under many different conditions in real time, the lessons of which stay with me even still. To this day, I take those day trips whenever I can. Even if I don’t use the shots immediately, the process of being so in the moment seems to usually lend itself to a new idea for a project.

The landscape of this city is also expansive in the people who live here. I have been fortunate in meeting many good creative souls, experts in many fields – all who are very eager to assist in my projects in any way they can, as I am with theirs. Tattoo artists, painters, sculptors, filmmakers, special effects artists, musicians, writers, actors, fashion designers, shop owners, spiritual teachers, even executives have all contributed to my growth as an artist. I have learned a great deal from these people, art techniques, business practices, even the art of staying graceful in the face of rejection. I know that there are colonies, so to speak, across the world of creative types, but the scope of the people I have met seems to only have been possible in L.A.

How did you begin doing your particular kind of artwork?

The artwork that I create is a direct reflection of what’s happening inside. When I was younger, like many people, I was in great pain, great inner turmoil. My personal demons had such power over me, that the only time I had power over them was when I created something darker than them. This shaped the way I created from a very young age. As I grew older and wasn’t in such turmoil anymore, I noticed that my art started to change. It was just as dark, but took on a more nostalgic tone. It was as if I was expressing the search for that which once caused me such great pain.

Those early days shaped my ongoing fascination with things that go bump in the night. That was a long time ago, and my life has changed dramatically. These days, when I create art, I don’t need to be in pain to express it. I can access that feeling without having to live the nightmare. It’s very liberating and to be honest, I think this work is much better than those early, pain drenched days.

Has any of your art been presented in a commercial form before, like gallery showings or in other stores?

I have had 6 art shows (some solo, some group) featuring my photography over the last couple of years. The biggest showing was a solo exhibit featuring photographs from my book “Sacred ~ New Orleans Funerary Grounds.”

As for my other creations, my jewelry is carried in roughly a dozen shops, with more in the wings. I'm so connected to each piece I make that to be honest, it's hard to do the wholesale route. Of course, like anything it gets easier every time I do it, so I hope to be in many more shops by the year's end.

How do you feel about the state of independent art in the world today?

I feel that there are more opportunities for artists now than there were even just a few years ago, which is a beautiful thing. But as a photographer, there is a concern of over saturation. With digital cameras on nearly everyone’s person at all times, the value of artistic photography isn’t what it was even 10 years ago. Keeping that in mind, I have had to try a little harder at keeping my work fresh, interesting and new...which, really, is a good thing! You don’t want your art getting stale.

Where do you pull your ideas from, what inspires you?

The answer to the first part of the question, for me, is being quiet. My ideas come to me when I’m not looking for them, when I’m not too busy doing something else. For example, my photography field trips have brought me more ideas than anything because I’m keeping my hands busy doing something that I love, which allows my mind to wander. When I let my mind wander, it seems to always bring me back something interesting.

As for what inspires me, I am a very nostalgic person. I have a deep interest in the past, and find that much of my inspiration comes from my collections of antiques – small collectibles, garments and photographs transport me to another time and place. It is that feeling that comes through most clearly in my creations.

What other artists, besides yourself, do you regularly feature on Curiosities?

Right now, we only feature a couple of other artists. The lovely dolls from Kerry Kate’s October Effigies and the spooky changing portraits from Eddie Allen’s Haunted Memories.

I would love to feature more artists on the Curiosities website, and have some negotiations in the works to do so soon! We’re always looking for new artists to work with and feature.

Are you available for any custom work for your customers or clients?

I am available to do custom work on a case by case basis. Since almost everything is handmade by me I can easily change the colors, the metals, and / or the basics of a design to make a more unique piece. I can also make entirely custom jewelry pieces for customers or stores, and have used my photography in creating new pieces. I’m happy to consider all custom requests!

How did you start up your online store? How long has it been open? How is the reception?

I have been peddling my art and wares at art shows, craft shows, car shows, pagan festivals, flea markets and the like for nearly 2 years. The traveling has been a high point in this business. It’s fun to set up shop in a new location every couple of weeks, especially because I get the chance to meet people I most likely would not be able to reach through advertising. One of my favorite customers I met at a show is a self proclaimed “uptight parent” who quite possibly is my biggest fan! She owns one of each of my jewelry designs and some photography as well.

Unlike the traveling Curiosity shop, the online store is fairly new. Building a website took a lot longer than I anticipated, especially since I did all the web design myself. The site went up, officially, on November 21, 2006. The launch was quiet, but was and is very well received. I get so much feedback, almost daily, on the design, products and vision of the website, which is one part of the equation that makes it all worthwhile!

What are your future plans for Curiosities?

Curiosities was born out of my desire to have my own shop devoted to dark art, nostalgia, and learning. The website is my time to iron out all of the wrinkles so that the shop can have the most solid foundation I can give it. I’m shooting for 2009 to open the store. I have so many plans in the works, just thinking about it all makes my head spin. As for what I can divulge, in the more immediate future, look for new designs, new products, new art, more artists, more events, perhaps even a charity .

Curiosities Online Shop
http://www.curiosities-shop.com

Elizabeth Huston Art & Photography
http://photomonium.net