Hilla Shamia

Israeli product designer Hilla Shamia creates stunning furniture out of tree trunks and aluminium. By pouring the molten metal directly onto the trunk, the wood darkens and forms the base out of which Shamia then makes stools, benches and coffee tables.

 "The negative factor of burnt wood is transformed into aesthetic and emotional value by preservation of the natural form of the tree trunk, within explicit boundaries. The general, squared form intensifies the artificial feeling, and at the same time keeps the memory of the material."

I think it's the perfect mix out of natural and modern materials. Also, they would look great in my living room....

Hayao Miyazaki Retrospective at BAM Cinémathek

If you live in NY and feel like watching a movie this weekend, you should check out the retrospective of Hayao Miyazaki films at BAM.
For the last 10 days the BAMcinémathek payed tribute to the Japanese director and founder of Studio Ghibli, who has been producing the most successful and unique Anime movies of the last 30 years.
This weekend, Saturday and Sunday,  is your last chance to catch one of his most iconic movies.

"For nearly three decades, the films of Hayao Miyazaki and the company he founded, Studio Ghibli, have revolutionized the art of animation. Miyazaki’s indelible style—which weds the uncanniness of Lewis Carroll and the epic grandeur of Akira Kurosawa—stands as a testament to the beauty and imaginative power of hand-drawn animation, conjuring richly realized worlds replete with mystical spirits and shot through with an abiding concern for the relationship between humans and nature."

The schedule for today includes "Kiki's Delivery Service" and "Howl's Moving Castle" before the retrospective closes tomorrow with the Oscar winning "Spirited Away", which is my personal favorite. If you have never seen a Miyazaki movie and think that Anime movies are just for kids, I strongly urge you to go and see one for yourself. They are magical, sweet, inspiring and in my opinion can't be compared to your average Disney movie.

Kiki's Delivery Service

Sat, Apr 13, 2013

• 2pm
• 4:30pm

LOCATION:

Peter Jay Sharp Building

BAM Rose Cinemas

RUN TIME: 103min

RATED: G

FORMAT: 35mm

Howl's Moving Castle

Sat, Apr 13, 2013

• 7pm
• 9:30pm

LOCATION:

Peter Jay Sharp Building

BAM Rose Cinemas

RUN TIME: 119min

RATED: PG

FORMAT: 35mm

Spirited Away

Sun, Apr 14, 2013

• 2pm
• 4:30pm
• 7pm
• 9:30pm

LOCATION:

Peter Jay Sharp Building

BAM Rose Cinemas

RUN TIME: 125min

RATED: PG

FORMAT: 35mm

Photographer Crush - Masao Yamamoto

If I could name a photographer that I would KILL for owning a piece from to actually hang in my apartment and gaze at every single day it would be Masao Yamamoto. 
Alas, my bank account disagrees but I simply love looking at his work. The composition of his photographs is so perfect, so aesthetic, so calming and beautiful. 
His last exhibition here in New York was at Yancey Richardson Gallery where he showed "KAWA=FLOW".
These are a few of my favorites:

#1529 237x166m/m

#1500 109x164m/m

#1579 227x145m/m

#1531 150x221mm

#1533 170x229mm

#1508 141x210m/m

Masao Yamamotos official representing gallery in New York is:

YANCEY RICHARDSON GALLERY
535 WEST 22ND STREET NEW YORK CITY, NY10011
T 646-230-9610 / F646-230-6131

Ekkehard Altenburgers Mirror House

German born Ekkehard Altenburger lives and works in the UK today. He specializes in unusual sculptures and installations that gives everyday places a touch of the surreal-
You can check out his other projects (LOVE the "Colorspace" !)  on his website: www.altenburger.org.uk
By far my favorite is the temporary installation on the Isle of Tyree in Scotland. It just looks so magical.

Ekkehard Altenburger “Mirror House”,1996

Mapping the Moon

Wow, have you ever seen the moon like this? These images, made by the US Geological Survey  are maps of the moon and so colorful and striking they might as well be artworks.
I always think of the moon as something very fascinating, it's so far away and yet we feel its influence each day in the tides of the ocean.
The images above show the north and south side of the moon, below are maps of the near side.
Enjoy and check out more maps on the official page of the US Geological Survey.

via: http://anthologymag.com

Illustrating summer - Ekaterina Koroleva

Feeling like summer yet?

Born in Russia but living and working in Berlin today, Ekaterina Koroleva is one talented illustrator. I love how she uses color to accentuate in a way that feels dreamy and light.

Her illustrating style seems so free, so effortless like a summer breeze.

Some of my favorites are below but you can check out more of her work here. Take a look, you won't regret it. 

Have a great day everyone!

Dreaming of the Ocean

The hot weather right now makes me want nothing more but take a trip to the seaside and stick my feet into the  cool blue ocean...