"Papau New Guinea: Stick Money". Rings made from giant clam shells used for trade. The height of the stick money represents wealth.
The Papua New Guinea Spirits & Headhunters exhibit featured a unique collection of tribal masks and warrior necklaces. This one is made of whale teeth. The art of this region is rarely shown and remined me of a mix between Aboriginal and Native American art.
Posted by KSD Designs on Wednesday, March 16, 2011,
In :
Art
JR is street artist who breaks barriers with his paintings. During the TED 2011 conference JR's explains his work and his next project, insideout project.
"Face2Face" is a series of posters on the Israeli Palestinian barrier which depict an Israeli and a Palestinian from the same occupation, side by side, making funny faces. It's a clever way of bringing together the neighboring countries.
Posted by KSD Designs on Friday, March 11, 2011,
In :
Art
Japan's ice sculpture art is impressive and intricate. There are recreations of buildings like the Temple of Heaven, movies, and sports. The Sapporo Snow Festival lasts for just one week, so catch it before it melts! Continue reading ...
Posted by KSD Designs on Thursday, February 3, 2011,
In :
Art
Exploring museums just got easier as you can virtually view paintings via Art Project by Google. It works much like Google maps only for the inside of museums, allowing you to navigate each gallery and explore artist's work from multiple museums at a glance.
Check out this video.
It's the next best thing to visiting a museum in person as you can zoom in on paintings to see every detail.
See if you can guess which painting this image is from:
Posted by KSD Designs on Tuesday, January 11, 2011,
In :
Photography
"I thought I could shoot people on the street the way designers looked
at people, and get and give inspiration to lots of people in the
process" - The Sartorialist
The Sartorialist gives new meaning to street photography by shooting well dressed people on the streets of NYC, Milan, to Paris using a canon 5d and 50mm f 1.8 lens. Check out his blog here.
Legos are used to recreate famous photographs including this one of Tienanmen Square. View this NPR post about the explosion of creative lego art using video and other media.
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Thursday, November 11, 2010,
In :
Art
Ned Kahn'sartwork is powered by nature- whether it be wind, water, or light.
In his most recent 2010public art project displayed at the Marina Bay Sands Resort in Singapore, he created the Wind Arbor. The entire western facade of the building is covered with 260,000 aluminum metal "flappers", which reflect light creating a shimmering piece of art when activated by wind.
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Tuesday, November 2, 2010,
In :
Art
For all you multitaskers out there- check out Contail. It's a device you can add to your bike so that you can paint and ride at the same time. It sure gives a new meaning to "street art". Check out how you can use it to make your own public art project:
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Sunday, October 24, 2010,
In :
Art
From one of my readers, I recently discovered a series of art and design TED talks that discuss new forms of art (full article here). Three of the artists particularly caught my eye because their creativity stretches the imagination and challenge the perceptions of "what is art". In their work, all artist use new forms of mediums, from light, to microscopic objects, to sugar and wire. The videos are sure to help you think beyond theacrylic and canvas medium.
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Tuesday, October 19, 2010,
In :
Art
To showcase Istanbul's history, a group of artists created an installation project called The Yekpare Istanbul Urban Screening Project. Projectors displayed different colorful montages onto the Haydarpaşa Train Station, one of the city's famous landmarks (also featured in the 2009 Chanel campaign ads).
This video shows the architectural projection in its entirety.
If you thought this installation was mesmerizing, you may also like this one.
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Saturday, October 16, 2010,
In :
Art
Vincent Van Gogh painted several self portraits during his career. Each one is unique. This video captures the metamorphosis of the many faces of Van Gogh.
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Monday, October 11, 2010,
In :
Art
Have you ever wanted to turn your cash into art? Literally?
Well, take a look at the Mint.com slideshow of Money Graffiti. Artists drew new icons on their cash, from Lady Gaga to Spiderman. I must say, it makes for "note"-worthy art.
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Thursday, October 7, 2010,
In :
Photography
Depending on your artistic vision, photo blurring can be a blessing or a curse. You may actually want your photos to be "artistically blurred". In the recent ad campaigns for W Magazine, Alexander McQueen and Giorgio Armani, the photos were intentionally blurred to create a soft illusion. It is a great way for photographers to break away from the clutter of crisp and sharpened photography that we've been used to seeing.
Photo: Giorgio Armani Photo: Alexander McQueen Photo: W magazine
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Tuesday, September 28, 2010,
In :
Photography
Fashion photographer, Steven Meisel, recently exhibited a collection of 3D photographs for Italian Vogue magazine called "Scents of the Future". As its title suggests, the images are multi sensory with each photo scented with floral fragrances and displayed in 3D. The photos are featured in the September issue of the magazine, which includes a pair of 3D glasses which you'll need to view the images in their entirety.
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Saturday, September 11, 2010,
In :
Art
You may know Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami as the designer behind the colourful Louis Vuitton bags or the Kanye West album cover art and video. Now you can view his artwork in the ultimate art installation venue at the Palace of Versailles as his sculptures are displayed in 15 rooms.
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Saturday, August 14, 2010,
In :
Art
Remember those painted trash cans in Encinitas? Well, the same idea has been applied to another commonplace and unsightly object: utility boxes. Artists all over California have been turning these boxes which once obstructed the scenery into forms of art. Some blend into their surroundings while others enhance it. Check out these cool ones:
This modern one was found in Oceanside, CA
Blending into the scenic landscapes of La Quinta, CA
The Art of Chase can be found all around Venice. The walls are bright, colourful and feature plenty of happy slogans such as: "Do What You Love", "You Can't Until You Say You Can".
Painted in 1989, "History is Myth" is a tribute to Sandro Botticelli's "Birth of Venus".By Rip Cronk.
Jim Morrison was one of Venice's most famous residents. His mural stands on 1811 Ocean Front Walk (at 18th Place) and is also painted by Rip Cronk.
What do you get when you mix still photos from a DSLR + Photoshop + Adobe After Effects? Running on Empty.
This film was created by Ross Ching and inspired by the photography of Matt Logue "Empty LA".
As someone who favors the environment, I have always wondered what the world would be like without cars. This video shows just how eerie and peaceful it would be at the same time. No more sirens, no more rush-hour traffic all day traffic, no more CO... Continue reading ...
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Wednesday, May 26, 2010,
In :
Advertising
Let's Colour is a worldwide initiative to transform grey spaces with colourful paint. This 2 minute global film was shot by multi-award winning director Adam Berg over four weeks in Brazil, France, London and India. Every location is real and they remain transformed by a palette consisting of 120 different colours. The people in the film are not actors, they are real people who rolled up their sleeves to transform their community with colour.
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Friday, May 21, 2010,
In :
Art
As I was rushing through the Chicago O'hare airport last week to hop on a connecting flight, something stopped me right in my tracks (literally). As I boarded the moving walkway, the entire room became dim with pink and blue mood lighting. As I looked above, to my suprise the entire ceiling was covered in a neon light art installation called "Sky's The Limit". Created by Michael Hayden, the installation consists of 466 neon light tubes that change colors in a mesmerizing display. It gave the ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Monday, May 3, 2010,
In :
Art
During a recent trip to Encinitas, CA I noticed that all the community was especially colorful. All of the trash cans that lined Coast Highway 101 were decorated with inlayed tile art murals created by local artists and The Downtown Encinitas MainStreet Association.
It was unexpected and photo-worthy.
The Scream painting by Munch on a city trash can. Who knew?
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Tuesday, March 23, 2010,
In :
Art
“Mistakes are almost always of a sacred nature. Never try to correct them. On the contrary: rationalize them, understand them thoroughly. After that, it will be possible for you to sublimate them. ”- Salvador Dali ... Continue reading ...
View this fascinating art installation which is a commentary on gender socialization & identity, as well as gender and consumerism.
The blue color means the toys are for a boy.
The pink color means the toys are for a girl.
So many toys, and all one color! This thought provoking art installation made me wonder: how did these colors come to represent gender? Is it a hard wired preference or something that parents and marketers inflict on children? Refer t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Kristen Schoeck on Wednesday, February 24, 2010,
In :
Art
I always keep my eye out for new and inspiring artists. Here, I profile a few emerging artists who happen to be from California: Douglas Miller
I first met Douglas at the Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival, where he has been showcasing his art for over 30 years. He is one of the most prolific artists I have seen and his use of color is perfection. Peggi Kroll
Peggi creates California beach scenes that allow you to look at everyday life with a new appreciation.
Posted by Kristen on Saturday, February 6, 2010,
In :
Typography
If you like to play with your words, check our "Wordle". It is an invention from Jonathan Feinberg and the site lets you cut and paste words which automatically get organized into an artistic collage. From there, you can change the layout and colors.
It can also extract words from a link to your blog. Here's what happened when I added the link to KSD Designs:
Posted by Kristen on Wednesday, January 13, 2010,
In :
Art
As you have seen from my previous posts, environmental causes can inspire some very thought provoking artwork. Art that has a message can be compelling enough to make change happen. Joseph Ellis recently tackled global warming with this recent installation in Beijing.
Greenpeace commissioned Ellis to make 100 life-size ice sculptures of children. The sculptures were left to melt in a Beijing park to raise awareness of global warming.
Posted by Kristen on Friday, January 8, 2010,
In :
Art
1. Hennessy + Ingalls Located on 3rd Street Promenade, H + I is a landmark for visual arts. It has a mind-boggling collection of art, photography, interior design and architechure books (and more) including rare and out of print books.
2. Taschen Impressive collection of coffee-table top books ranging from every kind of artist you can imagine. I came across some huge encyclopedia-style books of art's major icons from Picasso to Botticelli to Hiroshige, and discovered some new ones too. Check out...
Posted by Kristen on Monday, December 21, 2009,
In :
Art
The year of 2009 was marked by many events: the great recession, a new president, and... octomom? Many of these events shaped the art we see today. Here are some of the highlights:
Politics Influencing Art Art is the ultimate tool for democracy, as artists can show their support or protest via their work.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall's Anniversary was celebrated with painted "Dominos" resembling the wall. Shepard Fairey, the street artist enjoyed much publicity in 2009 with his red, white, and blu...
Posted by Kristen on Wednesday, November 25, 2009,
In :
Art
Pop Quiz: What do the following celebrities have in common?
A. Tony Bennett B. Jane Seymour C. Karl Lagerfeld D. Pierce Brosnan E. Tim Burton F. Linkin Park's Mike Shindoa G. Anthony Hopkins H. Frank Sinatra I. Jacques Pépin
Posted by Kristen on Friday, November 13, 2009,
In :
Art
As an artist, I am constantly scouring my surroundings to see what I can find to photograph or paint. But sometimes art sneaks up on you in the most unexpected places when your weren't even looking. Who would have thought that a random gas station or metro stop could pass as a museum exhibit. See what I mean with these images:
Exhibit A: Seattle Public Library: When I traveled through downtown Seattle, I had no idea I was looking at a library when I spotted this enormous modern glass building. ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Kristen on Wednesday, October 7, 2009,
In :
Art
Bringing awareness to green causes is a subject that many artists have had fun with in their recent works and installations. Below are my top 7 favorite creative expressions of environmentalism that are sure to not only make mother nature happy but inspire some much needed reduce/reuse/recycle action from viewers.
1. Nele Azevedo's "Melting Man"
Azevedo's installation in Berlin brings awareness to global warming by placing 1,000 ice sculptured men under the sun's rays. See how quickly they me... Continue reading ...
Posted by Kristen on Tuesday, September 29, 2009,
In :
Art
Koons and Veilhan's art installation display at the Palace of Versailles in 2009.
Veilhan's purple carriage is displayed in the exterior of the Palace.
Watch as Koons himself explains his genius.
Although the thought of contemporary work in Versailles may be enough to start a revolution for some, seeing these works in a typical MOMA-like setting might not be as powerful. The clash between the modern and the historic makes for an interesting display.
Posted by Kristen on Tuesday, August 18, 2009,
In :
Art
This past week, I checked out the Festival of the Arts, which runs until Sunday, August 30 in Laguna.
One of the staples of the festival is the Sawdust Festival. A longtime tradition in Laguna, the Sawdust Festival features small booths with local artist exhibitions. There is live music, food and wine, and of course- Art! The art for sale ranges from unique find in pottery, crafts, jewelery, glass blowing, and fine art. You are bound to find a great treasure for your collection.
