Cave Digging with Ra Paulette

I've long been a fan of James Hubbell's statement "A house is a piece of sculpture that you live in" and I'm adding a second quote to that from Ra Paulette "I want to create a space that's transformative".

This is exactly what draws me to organic architecture - transformative spaces. Maybe it's just me, but I don't find boxes transformative. They're just boxes that hold your stuff. The curves and softness of organic shapes is what I find transformative. 

I find beauty transformative. 

I find artistry and craftsmanship transformative. 

I hope you find Ra Paulette's work as transformative as I did.

The caves are carved by hand into the sandstone cliffs of Northern New Mexico by Ra himself. 

Art Caves Carved by Ra Paulette

Art Caves Carved by Ra Paulette

Art Caves Carved by Ra Paulette

Art Caves Carved by Ra Paulette

Wire Fantasy Sculptures by Robin Wight

It's fascinating how fast word spreads amongst the arty folk when something "cool" is discovered. Robin Wight is enjoying his newly acquired fame and I'm going to pile on because pretty must be shared....everywhere!

By the way, if these inspire you, there are kits available and the artist has detailed drawings and photos of the works in progress. It always looks so simple...hey, I've got wire in the garage!...but the reality is always that creating takes time and mastery.

Butterflies by Robin Wight

Cobwebs by Robin Wight

Wishes by Robin Wight

Raindance by Robin Wight

YinYang by Robin Wight

Awesome Glass Artist Dale Chihuly

Apprenticeship wanted.

With one Dale Chihuly, glass artist.

Teach me your ways, oh great one, for you make magic and I would make magic, too.

Drink in the lovely....

(The Dream House definitely has a glass studio!)

Macchia Forest - Dale Chiluly, Glass Artist

Persian Blue - Dale Chihuly, Glass Artis

Neon Forest - Dale Chihuly, Glass Artist

Ikebana Boat - Dale Chihuly, Glass Artist

Creative Stone Mason - Thea Alvin

I LIKE ROCKS; I LIKE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, AND I LIKE HOW THEY SAY IT.

- Stone artist Thea Alvin 

I'm on a "rock" mission lately while I design a pebble mosaic for my front yard, so my ideation travels brought me to the work of stone mason Thea Alvin. She makes the most amazing arches out of stone, which are shown in her video below. 

I love it when I can find video of an artist talking about their creative process - about why the love the medium in which they work. The essence of art is love; love of the creative, love of the making, love of ambiance, and most of all the love of the medium in which they work. 

Home Studio in Vermont -  Artist Thea Alvin

Pool Fountain at Tarr Steps House, UK - Artist Thea Alvin

Arch at Duke, Nicholas School for the Environment, NC - Artist Thea Alvin

Orchid Vertical Garden by Patrick Blanc

Every time I look at one of Patrick Blanc's creations I start planning my own vertical garden for the back wall behind the garage.

Then I realize just how hard that project will be and I move on to easier tasks :) Art is always like that, no? It looks easy until you try it yourself and realize the skill involved.

Patrick Blanc, it should also be noted, has a really cool website that's worth the visit.
http://www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com/

This particular exhibition was done for the New York Botanical Garden's Orchid Show and features 7,000 orchids in the display.

Vertical Garden by Patrick Blanc for the NY Botanical Gardens Orchid Show

Vertical Garden by Patrick Blanc for the NY Botanical Gardens Orchid Show

Vertical Garden by Patrick Blanc for the NY Botanical Gardens Orchid Show

Vertical Garden by Patrick Blanc for the NY Botanical Gardens Orchid Show

Drops of Light - Art Lighting Installation by Torafu

In my fantasy world where I have a ton of rooms and spaces to decorate and create compelling experiences for people, I'd put these as the main overhead lighting in one of them. Probably combined with Troika's "Light Rain" so you get the movement under your feet, the sound of rain, and the visual of the glass beads suspended from the sky over your head.

Add in a bar, and the whole thing would be a rocking experience.

The bulbs in this installation by Torafu Architects are hand blown, from recycled materials.

Lighted Water Droplets by Torafu

Lighted Water Droplets by Torafu

Lighted Water Droplets by Torafu

Bioluminescent Caves of Waitomo

As a prelude to my showing off a bioluminescent build in Second Life that I've been working on, how about we tour some bioluminescent caves?

These strike me both beautiful and creepy at the same time. The light is emitted by a living organism and the idea of all those living things over my head in a cave is more than a little disconcerting. They could FALL! On me!  Yikes....

It also might be that I've seen too many nature-out-of-control horror movies ;) It's all fun and games until Glowworms are exposed to random nuclear radiation and grow to enormous size with a taste for humans ... Actually, I don't think anyone's made THAT movie, yet.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves on the North Island of New Zealand

Waitomo Glowworm Caves on the North Island of New Zealand

Waitomo Glowworm Caves on the North Island of New Zealand

Waitomo Glowworm Caves on the North Island of New Zealand