Nymphaeum Omega Fountain - Ernst Fuchs Museaum

Maybe it's just my mood, but there seems to have been a little lull in eye candy and things that make me go "ooohhhhh" in my content streams lately.

Or it might also be that blogging is hard work and my few remaining neurons are focused on other projects ;)

But, hark, there is a bit of pretty to be shared - the Nymphaeum Omega Fountain and Moses Statue at the Ernst Fuchs Museum  After much searching, I regret that I can't find any story about how the Pump House for the estate came to be such a glorious creation. Art is like that sometimes. It just is.

Nymphaeum Omega Fountain & Moses Statue, Ernst Fuchs Museum

Nymphaeum Omega Fountain & Moses Statue, Ernst Fuchs Museum

Nymphaeum Omega Fountain, Ernst Fuchs Museum

Nymphaeum Omega Fountain, Ernst Fuchs Museum

Pump House, Ernst Fuchs Museum

Six Tables on Water by Gaetano Pesce

I'm not sure that having little figurines in my table is a concept that works for me on a practicality level, but I absolutely LOVE the idea of these artistic tables as bodies of water.

I'm linking to the artist's website, but I do have to warn that's it's a train wreck and impossible to find information on. Mini-rant: if you are an artist and want people to promote your work you really need to invest in a clean website with easily shareable links. End of mini-rant.

Six Tables on Water, Gaetano Pesce   "Ocean Table"

Six Tables on Water, Gaetano Pesce   "Lagoon Table"

Six Tables on Water, Gaetano Pesce   "River Table"

Six Tables on Water, Gaetano Pesce   "Lake Table"

Six Tables on Water, Gaetano Pesce   "Pond Table"

Guitar Forest, Argentina

So much beauty and art is created from sadness. I ran across this over at Inhabitat the other day and the images stuck in my mind, along with the story. India may have the Taj Mahal as an everlasting symbol of the deep loss of a love, but Argentina has it's own equally beautiful tribute in the Guitar Forest, planted by Pedro Ureta. 

Guitar Forest of Argentina

Guitar Forest of Argentina

Namba Park, Osaka

While, I'm not much of a fan of shopping, I do love a terraced garden. So, when offered an 8 story shopping center with terraced gardens running throughout, I'd have to give that an emphatic "YES, PLEASE."

This looks so unbelievably lovely from every possible angle and I love the way the inside looks like canyon walls carved from rock. Well played, Namba Parks Shopping Center, well played.

Namba Parks, Osaka, Japan

Namba Parks, Osaka, Japan

Namba Parks, Osaka, Japan

Decorative Steel Gates - Bureau A

I'm a sucker for beautiful ironwork and laser cut steel. Which reminds me that I need to post some pictures of my own gates (soon!)

The design on these makes my Eye Candy circuits light up with "oooohhh, ahhhhh."

I also love that Bureau A went to the extra effort of lighting them and treating the gates like a piece of art. Kudos to them for embracing Go Big or Go Home.

The Portal - Bureau A

The Portal - Bureau A

The Portal - Bureau A

The Portal - Bureau A

James Hubbell Home Studio II - Julian, CA

More pictures from my personal collection taken at a previous Hubbell Open House. Don't forget to pick up your tickets for this year, the event is only a couple of weeks away (June 17th!) If you can't make it, fear not, I'll be there with camera in hand during the morning tour.

James Hubbell home studio in Julian, CA

James Hubbell home studio in Julian, CA

James Hubbell home studio in Julian, CA

James Hubbell home studio in Julian, CA

Previous posts on Hubbell Studios:

http://www.eclectitude.com/2012/05/james-hubbell-home-studio-julian-ca.html

http://www.eclectitude.com/2012/02/james-hubbell-house-studio-in-julian.html

Sonumbra Interactive Art Lighting by Loop.ph

Interactive art lighting...I'm there. UK design research studio Loop.ph created this wonderful canopy out of electroluminescent fibers which respond to movement by creating patterns.

Sonumbra - Loop.ph, Designer

Sonumbra - Loop.ph, Designer

Printable Houses

Being a fan of organic architecture, I can't even begin to describe how I reacted to the idea of Printable Houses. To say my eyes lit up and I began to jitter like a caffeine addict standing outside of a closed Starbucks would be an understatement.

If you can do this:

Creative use of concrete by Loughborough University

What sort of other amazing things can you build? Can we finally move past boring boxes?

If the above isn't making your imagination dance, watch the video below:

Just in case the possibilities still aren't jumping out at you:

Printable Wall Surface

Rain Bow Gate - Tonkin Liu

Since I featured the Singing Ringing Tree recently, let's see what else has been cooking in the workshop of architects Tonkin Liu, shall we?

The Rain Bow Gate integrates prisms to create rainbows from captured light, the location (Burnley) is noted for rainfall and the sculpture was name for Rain and for the the lovely aftereffect of rainbows.

Public art is very divisive for me, I find myself underwhelmed with things that offer no sensory experience. Art should do more than just sit there. It should fill the senses and transport the viewer to a changed place. I like museums, but art that you can experience has more impact for me than great works behind glass and velvet ropes.

Rain Bow Gate - Tonkin Liu, Architects

Rain Bow Gate - Tonkin Liu, Architects

Rain Bow Gate - Tonkin Liu, Architects

Aeolus - Acoustic Wind Pavilion

How cool is this?

Aeolus Wind Harp - Luke Jerram, Artist

What is it? A giant Aeolian Harp (wind harp.) Artist Luke Jerram describes how the idea came to him from desert wells in Iran and hearing that the air vents for the tunnels "sing."

To hear the sounds that the Aeolus makes, watch the video below from the artist.

Interactive musical art. It doesn't get any better than this!

Aeolus Wind Harp - Luke Jerram, Artist

Aeolus Wind Harp - Luke Jerram, Artist

Aeolus Wind Harp - Luke Jerram, Artist

Beach Art - Andres Amador

Oh, fleeting moment of art! I honestly can't imagine creating something on this scale and then watching it wash away a few hours later.

Yeah, I know there's an analogy to our temporary spiritual visit on this planet, but still! Only a few hours.... The whole idea pains me as a creator.

At least we have the pictures!

Andres Amador - Beach Art

Andres Amador - Beach Art

Andres Amador - Beach Art

Andres Amador - Beach Art

Andres Amador - Beach Art

Wind Shape - nArchitects

We've danced merrily down the road of Art with PVC pipes before, so it's no surprise that this installation from nArchitects elicited an "oohh, ahhh" response from me.

The project being installed on the castle of the Marquis de Sade in Lacoste, France just makes it all the more intriguing.

Of course, with a name like Wind Shape, you will be unsurprised to find that Wind Shape shifted with the prevailing winds by design. The plastic pipes were woven together with string and by varying the tension on the strings, the whole structure rippled and changed shape in the breeze.

As soon as I figure out how to recreate this in my backyard, I'll post pictures :)

Wind Shape - nArchitects

Wind Shape - nArchitects

Wind Shape - nArchitects

Wind Shape - nArchitects

Wind Shape - nArchitects

Light Rain by Troika

I just seriously love cool lighting - especially light as art. This installation by Troika  debuted at the Shanghai World Expo in 2010.

The source of both, the sound and the droplets of light, are small engines suspended from the ceiling above - each carrying a simple lens, a motor and a LED that is moved rhythmically closer to and further away from the lens, hence projecting a drop of light down onto the floor that rhythmically grows and radiates outwards reminiscent of a rain drop hitting the ground. 

I can only imagine how wonderful it must have been to be able to walk underneath this as the droplets of light dribbled down around you onto the floor. Very, very cool!

Lello Bookshop - Portugal

Hey, it's Friday and time for pretty buildings. Outrageously pretty buildings. Outrageously pretty buildings will AMAZING staircases.  And books. So, pretty building plus amazing staircase plus books equals a +1 for me.

Behold the Lello Bookshop in Porto, Portugal. Famous worldwide as one of the most beautiful bookstores on the planet. Built in 1906 and home to a staircase that is full of awesome.

Oh, stained glass roof. Added bonus points. Website (in Portuguese, duh!)

Lello Bookshop - Portugal

Lello Bookshop - Portugal 

Lello Bookshop - Portugal 

Lello Bookshop - Portugal 

Lello Bookshop - Portugal 

Textural Paper Art from Amy Genser

Paper art continues to be a theme! It's funny how sometimes you go down a creativity rabbit hole and suddenly a whole wonderland appears that hadn't ever known about. Artist Amy Genser uses rolls of paper to create these amazing textured canvas paintings. By combining an artistic idea with her love of water and flow, she created these works that suggest reefs and the "organic irregularity of plants, flowers, rock formations, barnacles, moss, and seaweed." 

Enjoy!

Organic Paper Art from Amy Genser

Organic Paper Art from Amy Genser

Organic Paper Art from Amy Genser

Organic Paper Art from Amy Genser

Organic Paper Art from Amy Genser