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...

                        

Josiah McElheny- Some Pictures of the Infinite

Ready for a glance at infinity? The new exhibition "Some Pictures of the Infinite" by Josiah McElheny opens tomorrow (June 22nd) at the Boston ICA (through October 14th 2012) 
Born in Boston in 1966, Josiah McElheny lives and works in New York City today and creates stunning pieces out of glass, mirrors and chrome.

Trained under master glassblower Ronald Willkins, McElheny worked as an apprentice to renowned glassblowers Jan-Erik Ritzmna, Sven-Ake Caarlson, and Lino Tagliapietra. 


His often massive sculptures are inspired by the enormity of the universe, and phenomena of astronomy, a fascination that was nurtured through a long-term collaboration with the astronomer David Weinberg. Their partnership has resulted in multiple artworks, like the sculptures below, picturing his interpretation of  the origins of the universe, in particular the Big Bang theory. 

Josiah McElheny, Island Universe, 2008. Handblown and press-molded glass, chrome-plated aluminum, electric lighting, rigging. Dimensions variable; largest element: approx. 12 feet in diameter; smallest element: approx. 7 feet in diameter. Photo Credit: Todd-White Art Photography, London

Josiah McElheny, Scale Model for a Totally Reflective Landscape (Industry), 2007. Handblown mirrored glass, low-iron industrial mirror, wood, 13 x 44 x 20 inches. Private collection. Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde

Josiah McElheny, "Island Universe" (installation view), 2009. Courtesy the artist, Donald Young Gallery, Chicago, and Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York.

Josiah McElheny: Some Pictures of the Infinite 
On view from June 22nd through October 14th 2012
Institute of Contemporary Art 100 Northern Ave.Boston, MA 02210(617) 478-3100

Unexpected Treasures - The Geode Project

What an awesome and surreal feeling would it be to walk around the city and suddenly stumble upon a cluster of golden crystals peeking out of a random brick wall?

If you are in LA you can go on the hunt and find them!   "The Geode Project"  is a street art project that scatters 3D sculptures in the shape of crystals and geodes around the Los Angeles area for everyone to find and experience the feeling of stumbling upon an unexpected treasure.

" You might go hunting for treasures but you generally happen upon them during your adventures or casual interaction with the environment. I enjoy the fact that many people will not notice these, but some astute people will; that these will not last forever and the weather will affect them as naturally as it might in nature."

Can please someone do this in NYC??

Happy (sunny) Sunday!

The rain and drizzle finally gave way to some gorgeous sunshine around here and I am planning on soaking up some serious rays today.
How about you?

via: http://www.escapadeblog.com

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” 

― Audrey Hepburn

                                                via : http://camillestyles.com

                                                   via: oceaniaislandliving.com.

Porcelain by Meyer Lavigne

I wish I could eat from this plate everyday. I think my food would just automatically taste twice as good. 

It's from Meyer Lavigne, a small design firm that specialises in whimsically decorated porcelain, sculptures and textiles. 

Gold Sea Platter, recycled porcelain, hand-cut hand drawn

The duo behind the Copenhagen based company Meyer Lavigne is Kristine Meyer and Sabine Lavigne, both graduated from Denmark’s School of Design in Ceramics and Glass Design. 

The trademark of Meyer-Lavigne is their focus on the decorative and the unique expression. It is most important to them that their desig adds something distinctive and personal to the piece so that each piece seems to tell a story of its own. 

"Happy Days", "Rainy Days", "Winter Days", vases/tealight holders

This large hand modulated owl sculpture was part of the group exhibition in Århus in Lynfabrikken Box in 2009. 

Assorted porcelain vases

Assorted porcelain plates, hand drawn

Check out their blog here: http://meyerlavigne.blogspot.de/