Nick Georgiou: Book & Newspaper Sculptures

Sculptures made from newspapers and books, inspired by death of print, Nick GeorgiouSculptures made from newspapers and books, inspired by death of print, Nick GeorgiouSculptures made from newspapers and books, inspired by death of print, Nick GeorgiouClick to enlarge

Reflecting on the shift away from print to digital in our current society, New York artist Nick Georgiou (presently residing in Arizona) creates sculptures, both two- and three-dimensional, by meticulously hand-stitching books and newsprint that he finds on the streets, and then integrates into the urban environment.

From Georgiou’s blog:
My art is inspired by the death of the printed word. Books and newspapers are becoming artifacts of the 21st century. As a society we’re shifting away from print consumption and heading straight towards full digital lives. My sculptures are products of their environment —both literally and figuratively. As often as I can, I use local newspapers to add authenticity, and the form the sculpture takes is a reflection of the personal connection I feel to that particular city. From a day-to-day standpoint, I’m heavily influenced by my surroundings. These days, I draw inspiration from America’s South West, and in particular Tucson, AZ–where I’ve lived and worked for almost four years. Going from NY to the desert is a pretty dramatic shift. Your concept of space expands when it’s not obstructed by buildings. You pay closer attention to nature because you’re always in it—and you do what you can to preserve it.

You can see much more of Nick’s work on his blog.

via citizens artist collective

Mathilde Roussel: Lifes of Grass

Grass sculptures, contemporary sculpture, cool art installation, mathilde rousselGrass sculptures, contemporary sculpture, cool art installation, mathilde rousselGrass sculptures, contemporary sculpture, cool art installation, mathilde rousselClick to enlarge

French artist Mathilde Roussel created these suspended anthropomorphic sculptures titled Lifes of Grass using soil and wheat grass seeds that, just like a chia pet, slowly transform with the growth of grass.

From the artist’s website:
I strive to show that food, it’s origin, it’s transport, has an impact on us beyond it’s taste. The power inside it affects every organ of our body. Observing nature and being aware of what and how we eat makes us more sensitive to food cycles in the world – of abundance, of famine – and allows us to be physically, intellectually and spiritually connected to a global reality.

Roussel has exhibited these works in numerous gallery spaces since 2010, especially in Brooklyn and Manhattan, but most recently at Anatomia Botanica exhibition at the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, Nashville.

via feel desain via notcot

Eric Mistretta: Mixed Media

Student work, mixed media, Affordable art fair, Family Business The Virgins Show, Eric MistrettaStudent work, mixed media, Affordable art fair, contemporary art, balloon, Eric MistrettaStudent work, mixed media, Affordable art fair, contemporary art, balloon, Eric MistrettaClick to enlarge

Mixed media New York artist and student Eric Mistretta seems to be making a splash. First, his quirky yet touching pieces that range from type on paper to type on balloons, taped doors to painted pantyhose and paintings/collages made with melted candles and smoke (just to name a few) appeared in the Virgins Show at the recently opened Family Business Gallery in Chelsea, a space opened through the collaborative forces of Maurizio Cattelan and New Museum director Massimiliano Gioni, and now he’ll be showing his work at the Affordable Art Fair starting Wednesday. These colorful, offbeat pieces that seem to use found materials, made me smile.

Born in Queens, NY, Mistretta is an MFA student at the School of Visual Arts, “makes a great bolognese” and keeps a food blog in a addition to his art blog.

via artlog

Alison Knowles: Make a Salad on the High Line

Alison Knowles, Fluxus, Art, High Line, NYC event, april 22nd, Make a Salad, collabcubedAlison Knowles, Fluxus, Art, High Line, NYC event, april 22nd, Make a Salad, collabcubedClick to enlarge

If you find yourself in NYC this coming Sunday, you may want to head on over to the High Line to see Fluxus artist Alison Knowles restage her 1962 Make a Salad performance piece in honor of Earth Day. Knowles will be chopping lettuce and other ingredients, in collaboration with Jessica Higgins, to the beat of live music by Joshua Selman. Originally premiered at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London in 1962, the artist has repeated the event over the years at such venues as the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Wexner Museum in 2004 and most recently at the Tate Modern in 2008. The vegetables may vary from event to event, but the music is typically Mozart.

Having taken part in (and thoroughly enjoyed) the High Line’s last communal food event —the Social Soup Experiment—this past fall, I imagine this will be a lot of fun.

This Sunday’s event (April 22, 2012) will take place on the High Line at West 16th Street in the Chelsea Market Passage. Salad prep will begin at 10am through 12 noon at which point Knowles and her team will toss the salad for spectators. 12:15 to 1pm the salad will be served up to audience members. Oh, and it’s free!

Photos courtesy the artist and the High Line.

UPDATE: See follow-up post here.

Steven Holl Architects: Queens Library

NYC architecture, New Architecture, Contemporary Architecture, Libary Design, Queens, Steven HollNYC architecture, New Architecture, Contemporary Architecture, Libary Design, Queens, Steven HollNYC architecture, New Architecture, Contemporary Architecture, Libary Design, Queens, Steven HollClick to enlarge

Daniela went to hear New York based architect Steven Holl speak in Providence the other day and sent me a link to his Queens Library in Long Island City, here in NYC, due to be completed in 2013. What a lovely addition to the currently not-very-interesting Queens waterfront. Plus, designed so that a “Manhattan view” stair rises up from the open arrival space, visitors are greeted both with a view of books and the Manhattan skyline over the East River. Not bad.

The 21,000 sq. foot library will be broken up into three separate areas: children, teen, and adult. The plan integrates energy-efficient design and a great amount of public space, including a public reading garden with a bosque of ginko trees, and a rooftop reading garden with amazing panoramic views.

The concrete structure is painted white inside while the exterior insulation and foamed 100% recycled aluminum rainskin give it a bit of sparkle. At night, the building will have a glowing presence on the Queens waterfront, joining the iconic Pepsi sign.

Rivane Neuenschwander: Continent Cloud

cool art installation, continent cloud, MOCA Sydney, Rivane Neuenschwander, contemporary artcool art installation, continent cloud, MOCA Sydney, Rivane Neuenschwander, contemporary artcool art installation, continent cloud, MOCA Sydney, Rivane Neuenschwander, contemporary artClick to enlarge

Brazilian artist Rivane Neuenschwander is known for her poetic-styled installations. Currently on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, is her previously exhibited piece titled Continent-Cloud. Composed of a polypropylene lining that supports small styrofoam balls which occupy the entire gallery ceiling, the balls are moved around by hidden fans creating changing forms in constant movement. The way these forms rearrange themselves is evocative of clouds moving across the sky, while at the same time some of the solid masses are also reminiscent of land formations on the globe, hence its title.

Neuenschwander’s installation will be up at MCA as part of their Marking Time exhibit until June 3, 2012.

Photos: Reuters: Daniel Munoz; MCA; and Stephen Friedman Gallery

 

Nuovo Teatro dell’Opera Firenze: ABDR

New Florence Opera House, ABDR architects, contemporary architecture in Italy, TravelNew Florence Opera House, ABDR architects, contemporary architecture in Italy, TravelNew Florence Opera House, ABDR architects, contemporary architecture in Italy, TravelClick to enlarge

Well, if Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s Venus or Tuscan cuisine wasn’t enough of a lure to get you to Florence, as of this past December there’s a new opera house, as well. Designed by the Italian architecture firm ABDR, il Nuovo Teatro dell’Opera di Firenze is only one of the projects included in a new music and cultural district linking the city with Cascine Park referred to as Parco della Musica.

The 1800-seat opera house also includes a smaller hall that seats 1100 and will be used for concerts and recitals. The design intertwines many outdoor terraces and spaces with the interior ones, using pathways to connect these areas. There is a 2000- seat open air facility as well. The large complex is decidedly modern with dramatic angles and curves, with a nocturnal glow caused by the dramatic lighting that shines through the woven exterior. The interior includes smooth geometric lines and warm wood panels.

via floornature

Javier Siquier: Graffiti Removal

Javier Siquier, Spanish Street Art, Graffiti, Graffiti removal, OA, collabcubedJavier Siquier, Spanish Street Art, Graffiti, Graffiti removal, OA, collabcubedJavier Siquier, Spanish Street Art, Graffiti, Graffiti removal, OA, collabcubedSpanish graphic designer, illustrator and street artist Javier Siquier seems intrigued by reversal. Recently, he created a series of work on the streets titled Graffiti Removal where he whites out graffiti, leaving blocks of (mostly) white paint, as if redacting the words from the streets.

In the works above, which I really like, he neatly whites out the surrounding area exposing just enough graffiti, making it neat and graphic. Almost like a patterned appliqué. Love it! Conversely, in his exhibit presently up at the SC Gallery in Bilbao, Siquier frames photos of his Graffiti Removal works and paints the gallery walls to overlap the frames. A nice effect.

via vandal hostel via escrito en la pared

Matt McVeigh: Shopping Cart Sculptures

Shopping cart sculpture, Sculpture by the Sea cottesloe, Australia, cool contemporary sculptureShopping cart sculpture, Sculpture by the Sea cottesloe, Australia, cool contemporary sculptureShopping cart sculpture, Sculpture by the Sea cottesloe, Australia, cool contemporary sculptureThe multi-talented Matt McVeigh is an Australian set designer, painter, costume designer, puppet-maker, and sculptor. Most recently he has created a series of sculptures involving both life-size shopping carts and miniature ones. In these sculptures McVeigh explores consumerism and its resulting social issues by referencing the instability of our culture and the endless pursuit of more.

Last month in Cottesloe’s 8th annual Sculpture by the Sea, McVeigh had both an outdoor (top photo is The New Covenant) and indoor (bottom photo: Covenant Under Question?) sculpture exhibited.

You might also like last year’s submission, Ascension, as well as his kinetic piece Stentor.

via sculpture by the sea

Good Design Lasts

2804 Pencils to create signage, typography, signage design, office design, Spagnola and Associates2804 Pencils to create signage, typography, signage design, office design, Spagnola and Associates
Click to enlarge

New York design office Spagnola & Associates faced the challenge of designing their new office space. They created a 20′ wide dimensional wall to stimulate ideas and complete the office. 2804 pencils were hammered into pre-drilled holes in the panels. The completed wall reads, in custom designed letters, “good design lasts”. The entire process is documented in the stop motion video above.

Timotheus Tomicek: Video Portraits

Video portraits, moving photographs, contemporary art, Tomicek, Volta 2012, cool artVideo portraits, moving photographs, contemporary art, Tomicek, Volta 2012, cool artVideo portraits, moving photographs, contemporary art, Tomicek, Volta 2012, cool artOne of my favorite exhibits at Volta last month was Viennese artist Timotheus Tomicek’s video portraits or moving photographs. In many cases these seemingly-still images are reminiscent of Renaissance paintings yet all have a subtle indication of modernity. Also, upon closer look, many of these are actually videos, where only the slightest of movement can be detected: a slight breeze, movement of water in a glass, or the shaking of a hand over a precariously balanced stack of dominoes. Though different in style, these works remind me of the wonderful VOOM Portraits by Robert Wilson exhibited five or so years ago, in concept.

You can see two of the moving photographs in action below, and more of Tomicek’s work, both still and moving, here and here. And more of his video portraits here.

Reece Jones: Control Test

All Visual Arts Gallery, Control Test exhibit, Reece Jones, Charcoal Landscapes, Mythic Visions of forestAll Visual Arts Gallery, Control Test exhibit, Reece Jones, Charcoal Landscapes, Mythic Visions of forestAll Visual Arts Gallery, Control Test exhibit, Reece Jones, Charcoal Landscapes, Mythic Visions of forestClick to enlarge

These charcoal drawings by London-based artist Reece Jones are truly stunning. Having been recently exposed to the challenges of drawing with charcoal via Daniela, I have a newfound appreciation for the medium and these are exemplary examples of it at its best.

Presently, Jones has an exhibit at All Visual Arts in London titled Control Test. These natural landscapes all include a large rectangle of light a la James Turrell or Doug Wheeler. The contrast of the natural forms and the geometric unnatural lightform is very striking, from shape to the glowing white amidst the generally dark and heavy charcoal.

From the text on the gallery’s website by Richard Dyer:
…The rectangle of light hovers in the centre of the pictures, like a ghost of the blank paper before a single mark is made. Optically the intervention of the luminous shape operates as a doorway through the space of the sublime landscape. Doorways, gateways, archways, are transitional spaces, liminal thresholds between one order of existence and another, here abstracted to a featureless geometric shape; the space to which the threshold opens up is free to be populated by the speculative imagination of the viewer. It is at once an opening into a void and a solid object or barrier; it dominates the landscape, an almost sentient presence, like an inversion of the black rectangular ‘sentinel’ in 2001: A Space Odyssey

You can see more of Reece Jones’ work here and here, or visit the London exhibit up through April 21, 2012. The bottom four works are actually watercolor and polymer varnish, not charcoal, but lovely as well.

via all visual arts

Nidos Urbanos: Urban Nests

Bird Houses on side of building in Barcelona, Dom Architects, Sparrows come back to nestBird Houses on side of building in Barcelona, Dom Architects, Sparrows come back to nestBird Houses on side of building in Barcelona, Dom Architects, Sparrows come back to nestClick to enlarge

In Barrio de Gracia, Barcelona, a bare concrete wall on the side of a building had been occupied by sparrows, nesting in random holes in the wall. Eventually the wall was repaired, plugging up all the holes, and the sparrows disappeared. In an effort to bring the sparrows back, Dom Arquitectura placed colorful birdhouses equally spaced in rows on the same wall. Not only do the birdhouses bring joyful color to the wall, but the sparrows returned adding life, flight and song to the neighborhood. Nice!

via plataforma arquitectura

Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre

Sustainable architecture, Australia, Charles Wright Architects, reflective facade, collabcubedSustainable architecture, Australia, Charles Wright Architects, reflective facade, collabcubedSustainable architecture, Australia, Charles Wright Architects, reflective facade, collabcubedcool architecture, sustainable architecture, rainforest, reflective facade, visitor center in AustraliaClick to enlarge

Situated in the midst of the rainforest in Far North Queensland, Australia is the cleverly camouflaged Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitors’ Centre designed by Charles Wright Architects. The mirrored – almost prismatic – façade, walls and soffits of the recently completed building reflect the lush green surroundings adding a coolness to the tropical location.

Met with the challenge of designing an iconic “green” building, Wright Architects responded by producing an ESD canopy as a gateway into the gardens. The structure is a sustainable solution that doesn’t rely on complex technology yet provides thermal convection, water harvesting for reuse, chilled thermal massing for cooling, and renewable energy generation. The Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitors’ Centre is an example of a new progressive direction for tropical design. Plus, it has a very sci-fi look, to boot.

If you like the look of this building, check out Rob Mulholland’s Vestige Installation too.

Photos: Patrick Bingham-Hall

via australian design review

Studio 400: White

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Thesis book show installation, cool and fun art installation, student work, collabcubedCal Poly San Luis Obispo College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Thesis book show installation, cool and fun art installation, student work, collabcubedCal Poly San Luis Obispo College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Thesis book show installation, cool and fun art installation, student work, collabcubedClick to enlarge

Now this looks like a fun class! Design, developed and installed by students in Professor Karen Lange’s Studio 400 class at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo College of Architecture and Environmental Design, White is their recent book show installation. White served as a showcase for Studio 400’s thesis books, filling the gallery with 80,000 square feet of plastic sheeting that was loomed, crocheted, stapled, bent, and tied over a 4-day period. The result was a fun, comfortable net, creating hammock-like reading spaces within which to peruse the hanging books. Must have been a blast.

You can watch the process in the video below:

If you like this you might also enjoy Ernesto Neto’s installations and For Use.

via sinbadesign/archinect

AVPD: Spatial Works

Spatial installations, cool art installations, multiple doors, Aslak Vibæk and Peter Døssing, Hitchcock HallwaySpatial installations, cool art installations, mirrored hallway, Aslak Vibæk and Peter Døssing, Broken View, collabcubedSpatial installations, cool art installations, mirrored hallway, Aslak Vibæk and Peter Døssing, Broken View, collabcubedClick to enlarge

AVPD, a Danish studio created by visual artists Aslak Vibaek and Peter Døssing, unites knowledge from fine arts, architecture, science and the humanities to create works that focus on the perceptual relation between man and space. These installations or spatial works have a fun house quality to them, with their mirrored hallways and infinite doors. The top photo shows their installation aptly named Hitchcock Hallway, while the next five images below are from their Broken View installation where a single corridor appears to become two. The bottom four images are from Diagonal View, which has an equally deceiving hallway.

From AVPD’s website:
We define our spatial works as meta-architectures where the normal perception of the spectator is challenged and displaced and a new experience of space is made possible. In our works, we try to rethink the triangular constellation of the subject, the object and the context. We are interested in how spatial constructions effect the perception of the spectator and how she/he grasps the space in a cognitive, emotional and intellectual way.
Our domain is reality and our artistic praxis is a spatial laboratory.

There are many, many more of these works to be seen on their site as well as videos and plans that explain each one, though I’m quite sure that nothing beats walking through them live.

via galeria leme

Delancey Underground: the “LowLine”

James Ramsey, RAAD, Dan Barasch, PopTech, Arup Engineers, Lower East Side Underground Park Proposal, Kickstarter Project, Delancey Trolley StationJames Ramsey, RAAD, Dan Barasch, PopTech, Arup Engineers, Lower East Side Underground Park Proposal, Kickstarter Project, Delancey Trolley StationJames Ramsey, RAAD, Dan Barasch, PopTech, Arup Engineers, Lower East Side Underground Park Proposal, Kickstarter Project, Delancey Trolley StationClick to enlarge

This is a project that I’m very excited about. Being a big fan of the High Line, the idea of revitalizing another set of unused train tracks to create an additional public park space in NYC sounds great. The Delancey Underground project (a.k.a. the LowLine) is the brainchild of James Ramsey (RAAD) and Dan Barasch (PopTech). They propose to convert the former Williamsburg Trolley Terminal – opened in 1903 but not in use since 1948 – into a 60,000 square foot underground green space beneath Delancey Street in the Lower East Side. They have found beautiful architectural details in the abandoned space such as cobblestones, vaulted ceilings and crisscrossing train tracks.

Dark and gloomy you say? Well, Ramsey has designed a new technology that would direct sunlight below ground via fiber optic cables. Solar collectors would be placed at street level, collecting sunlight throughout the day which would then be reflected below ground. This light would not emit the ultraviolet harmful rays, but would support photosynthesis enabling the growth of plants and trees.

Arup Engineers are now working with the team on a series of feasibility studies as well as on the sunlight irrigation prototype.

The project has a Kickstarter page with three more days to go and information straight from the creators. They have met their initial goal but, as always, a project like this could use more money. In addition, from now until the end of April, the Mark Miller Gallery on Orchard Street has an exhibit previewing the LowLine Park titled Let there be light, with large renderings, a 3D model of the space, animated video and protoypes of the solar reflectors.

via lowdownny and inhabitat

Key Frames: Groupe LAPS

Light installation, static fluorescent bulb stick men that appear to dance, Lumen, iLight Marina Bay, SingaporeLight installation, static fluorescent bulb stick men that appear to dance, Lumen, iLight Marina Bay, SingaporeLight installation, static fluorescent bulb stick men that appear to dance, Lumen, iLight Marina Bay, SingaporeClick to enlarge

Key Frames is a light installation created by the French design/artist studio Groupe LAPS — six artists and designers with combined expertise and technical know-how who work in film development, light installations, and multimedia applications. Using LED light tubes, Key Frames consists of multiple static stick figures that, when paired with a dance soundtrack, flash on and off in a choreographed display that evokes movement. Totally fun.

Originally designed for the Fête des Lumieres 2011 in Lyon, France, Key Frames was just included as part of the iLight festival at Marina Bay in Singapore.

You can see it in action below:

Photo credits: Reuters; flometal’s flickr; bernardoh’s flickr; and Groupe LAPS.

via voanews