Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Art Photography from Yasmina Alaoui & Marco Guerra

Ah, do we have a treat for your eyes today. These lovelies are created by the team of Yasmina Alaoui & Marco Guerra. Marco shoots the nude models in black and white, then Yasmina overlays them with her stunning Arabic Henna patterns.

The results are breathtaking.

"Golden Veil" by Yasmina Alaoui & Marco Guerra

"Gold Mask" by Yasmina Alaoui & Marco Guerra

"Dream #1" by Yasmina Alaoui & Marco Guerra

"Dream #7" by Yasmina Alaoui & Marco Guerra

"Red #3" by Yasmina Alaoui & Marco Guerra

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

The Silent Evolution - an Underwater Art Installation by Jason deCaires Taylor

This is such a great idea - help rebuild coral reefs that human activity is destroying  AND create some groovy art. The symbolism of Jason deCaires Taylor's The Silent Evolution underwater sculpture installation is pretty obvious - people are why coral reefs are threatened and it is people who will rebuild them.

The first set of photos is from when the sculptures were first installed, over time you can see the figures attract corals and provide infrastructure to rebuild reefs.


Silent Evolution by Jason deCaires Taylor

Silent Evolution by Jason deCaires Taylor

Silent Evolution by Jason deCaires Taylor

Silent Evolution by Jason deCaires Taylor

Silent Evolution by Jason deCaires Taylor

Friday, June 28, 2013

Kinetic Wind Sculptures by Anthony Howe

Today it's all videos since we're talking about things that move in the wind (a perpetual favorite topic of mine!)

It was really hard to choose which pieces to feature first from artist Anthony Howe because they are all so phenomenal. Once again, I need 30 acres and a botanical garden so I can start a collection of this guy's work.....

Lovely, lovely stuff.




Thursday, June 13, 2013

Inorganic Flora Art - Macoto Murayama

Artist Macato Murayama has created these gorgeous images by dissecting flowers, sketching their parts, and then modeling them in 3D Studio Max. We don't often think of what marvels of engineering flowers are (and we also don't tend to view them as what they really are - the reproductive organs of plants...)

I found these flower images breathtaking even when deprived of their normal color and I found myself still imaging their scent.


Satsuki Azelea, modeled by artist Macato Murayama

Chrysanthemum, modeled by artist Macato Murayama

Japanese Lily, modeled by artist Macato Murayama

Spider Lily, modeled by artist Macato Murayama

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Lotus House - Ken Kellogg, Architect

So, a rare opportunity cropped up for a tour of some of Ken Kellogg's fantastic work. The only one I could get to was the (luckily) the one I wanted to see the most, the Yen House in La Jolla (also called the Poppy House or the Lotus House.)

Pictures from the tour - which supports the Institute for Organic Architecture he is constructing.

Best quote: "Architecture is a love affair with nature."

Lotus House - Kendrick Kellogg, Architect

Lotus House - Kendrick Kellogg, Architect

Lotus House - Kendrick Kellogg, Architect

Lotus House - Kendrick Kellogg, Architect

Lotus House - Kendrick Kellogg, Architect

Monday, May 20, 2013

Stillness - Poetry

Today, something a little different. I've been delving back into the world of poetry and want to share a first effort.


Stillness


My mind needs a garden.

A place to find stillness of the soul.

A place with both familiar paths
                      and unknown trails leading off into dappled woods.

A bench to rest a weary life.

Quiet.

Peace.

The lullaby of running water.

A sense that there is something bigger at work.

A letting go and finding clarity of purpose.
                Or maybe finding that I don’t need one - that the only task is to just be
                              and do no harm.

Color.

Scent.

Sudden bursts of beauty, unfurling, nodding in the breeze.

I want a place
in which to bloom.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Creative Cob House - Somerset

Thanks to a commenter, I stumbled upon a whole trove of amazing examples of organic homes over at naturalhomes.org.  The first one that caught my eye was this piece of livable art built by the Goatlings in Somerset, UK.

It will come as no surprise that one of the owners is a artisan woodsmith. I may need to import him when I build my house ;)



Cob house in Somerset, UK

Cob house in Somerset, UK

Cob house in Somerset, UK