It's a rare treat when I get to actually go see some of the amazing things I feature on this blog!
I was delighted (DELIGHTED, I tell you) to run across this fantastic lighting sculptural display at the LA County Fair this week called Luminasia.
49 artisans from China have built this spectacular display right on site in Pomona over the course of 6 weeks. I have to admit that I have no love for the gaudy, carny atmosphere of county fairs but this is worthy of the trip if you can avoid the instant-heart-attack food offerings. Bonus: you want to see this at night when temperatures have cooled off.
Sometimes art is not only a love story between a creator and a medium, but between two creators and a medium. Frankly, I'm more than a little envious that Naomi Zettl & Andreas Kunert have a relationship based on love of each other and their art. We should all be so lucky to have someone share our passions so completely and be able to translate that into something beautiful that can be shared by everyone. I've been making my first forays into working with Pebble Mosaics and they are so much harder than they look. My tendency is to not want to waste material, but that's just not possible within the confines of a pattern. You have to choose the right pieces, the ones that result in the best design realization, and not all your pebbles meet the grade. What's not shown in the photographs - the piles of rock that didn't make the cut. The challenge for those of us who hate to waste is to find ways to use them somewhere else.
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.
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.
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
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
