Here’s a cool project by artist Jonathan Schipper dipicting two cars slowly crashing into each other over the course of a month. There’s also a full sized version yet to be built. This reminds me of Arthur Gansons project “Machine with Concrete” (on display at the MIT Museum) which pushes a piece of concrete an inch or something over the course of a few thousand years, hence, you really can’t see it moving though the gears are cranking right in front of you.
via notcot.org
Pecha Kucha Nights is an event gathering young designers to meet, network, and quickly show their work in public spaces. The catch to the presentations is that each of the dozen+ presenters is allowed 20 slides and 20 seconds each, which is a recipe for a lively, enthusiastic, concise presentation. The idea for pecha kucha (which is Japanese for the sound of conversation) started in Japan in 2003 and has quickly formed groups in key cities around the world.
I love the idea of short presentations as it really forces people to get to the point, and personally, I love the spontaneity when presenters rush and sweat to say what they usually want to say in an hour into a few seconds. Check out their site for locations and schedules or if you have something ya’d like to share with the world, sign up to present! Here’s a presentation from Guy Dickinson in Copenhagen during one of the recent events. (all typed in a bit over 20 seconds!!)
I just finished watching an amazing documentary on the travel channel called “Decoding Ferran Adria” which had me drooling over the visually magical and breathtaking experimental dishes served at the world famous restaurant elBulli and chef/owner Ferran Adria. The mind-blowing combinations in ingredients and creative presentations are truly original and an experience like no other. To make reservations for this restaurant is said to be over a year long. elBulli is only open for 6 months out of the year as it takes the other 6 months to travel, experiment, and come up with new concepts each year in their ultra modern controversial innovation foodlab. Not only do the dishes taste sensational, but the process in creating and manipulating the ingredients to their extreme is astonishing! One fact that I loved was that Adrias lab team consist of a Chemist, Industrial Designer(wohooo!), and several other chefs.
For some pictures of their beautiful dishes check out this flicker set, this one, or this website review. The pictures only give you a glimpse of the real magic that was captured in the video which flooded your mind with simple informational elements that just mystified and surprised you. I couldn’t track many videos online, but there were a few short ones here and here. If anything, I’d say go find that episode, buy it, watch it, drool, and perhaps buy his visually stunning book filled with several images and recipes. Otherwise, if you find yourself in Cala Montjoi Spain, outside the city Roses, about 2 hours north of Barcelona, go there, eat, and make people like me jealous!
More drooling pictures from a recent visit via chocolateandzucchini
“Tim Knowles creates drawings independent of his own hand, using elaborate apparatus or time consuming practices. Interested in the process of drawing Knowles invents experimental and playful procedures to introduce chance and unpredictability into his work. Often he will employ and expose mans relationship to nature, in an ongoing series which will feature in the exhibition, Knowles attaches pens to the tips of branches of various trees; placing paper in front of them he allows the chance movement of the wind to dictate the composition of the final drawing. The artist surrenders final control of the work, questioning the authority of the artist whilst allowing the fundamental and primordial characteristics associated with drawing to be communicated.”
Read more at Rokeygallery
For the first time ever, the exclusive invite-only TED conference experience, which I’ve posted about several times, is launching TEDtalks which is a free video and audio series of some of the best TED speakers for everyone in the world to see and hear. TED is a journey of some of the most mind-provoking idea gatherings in the world which is limited to 1,000 people each year but is now spreading some their love through this new chapter. I’m extremely happy that TED decided to add this feature as every time I return from the TED conference I ramble for endless enthusiastic months to my friends about it. Attending TED is like no other conference and a heaven of ideas for anyone to experience. Though the speakers talks are only a portion of the magical safari, TEDtalks is a first step in sharing the real magic of captivating, igniting, and making real world changes that keeps this community so compelling. Go check it out, get inspired, and start spreading the idea virus! (Sir Ken Robinson on creativity is a must watch video!)
via TEDblog
Martin Laksman has a great set of illustrations, icons, characters, graphics, and logos at his website Laksman.com.ar. My particular favorites: freaky flo, cosos, eggs, egressados, consumerway, letterface, and many more. If your looking for some lively, colorful, fun, and spunky graphics, check out his website and get inspired.
Bastardino is a prickly little pooch in the Cactus Friends series by artist Simone Legno and his art brand tokidoki, which is a pretty krazy page(launch the flash page). Others in the series include the pink and spunky Sabochan and a very green Sandy!
via Strangeco
I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Gregory Colbert speak at the TED conference where he made an extremely rare public appearance talking about his photographic journey and exhibition “Ashes and Snow”. He also spoke about his controversial initiative to start the “Animal Copyright Foundation”, which will aim to collect 1 percent of royalties from companies using images of animals in their ads and distribute these funds to conservation projects around the world, which could become the largest environmental fund in the world. He suggests we should renegotiate our contract with nature. It is common practice to compensate people for fair use of their images in advertising but this has not been the case for nature and animals.
I think this is a brilliant foundation to give back to nature and help keep it sustainable. There’s not much online about this foundation, but lookout for it soon.
more via ethanzuckerman
Samuel Cochetel has some wonderful sketches and illustrations on his website. His styles are broad and I love his loose sketches, the type thats sporadic and spontaneous, like this one here , here, and here. Enjoy!
Having read Cradle to Cradle, listened to Jack Johnsons Curious George CD (3 r’s, reduce, reuse, recycle), and watched Inconvenient Truth, I’ve noticed a rebirth in more products based on reused or broken materials which is awesome! Recycled materials was a mini trend some years ago, which is actually somewhat bad for the earth, but reusing is another option which I hope stays a trend. Posted are three products that fit the “reuse” part of things. First off, is the beautiful Transglass Carafes+Tumblers, made from perhaps broken or thrown away bottles. Next is a “open tote bag” from Shawn Parks made from “safety fence plastic” that pretty much all construction sites use then discard. (Shawns a RISD alum, wohhooo!) Third is a is a clever use of a broken ceramic cat, sold to be a 3D puzzle.
With the World Cup kicking off this week, there have been tons of great ads everywhere, but these political soccer heads really caught me off guard and made my day. “Heads will roll: Just in time for the World Cup, visitors to the Leipzig Museum of Fine Arts can bounce Bush or Blair, corner-kick Clinton or soccer-punch Saddam. Kendell Geers’ interactive art, titled Masked Ball, is one of 24 football-themed works by international artists. “
via sfgate
I had the wonderful opportunity to donate some of my creative time to create an artist bag for Timbuk2’s Charity Auction for the Homeless Youth taking place June 15th, 2006, from 5-8pm, at TIMBUk2 San Francisco, 506 Hayes Street. TIMBUK2 donates hundreds of messenger bags each year to “At The Crossroads“, which reaches out to homeless youth and young adults at their point of need, and works with them to build healthy and fulfilling lives. You can view my bag on Timbuk2’s website here, my detailed pictures here, or other artist bags here. The bags will be available for viewing starting June 12th, so if your in the area, go check them out, attend the silent auction at 5pm on the 15th, enjoy the cocktails & hor’s d’oeuvres, and rock on an artist bag!
