clever promotional piece by Miranda July for her book

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Books

Miranda July is a filmmaker, performing artist and writer. She grew up in Berkeley, California where she began her career by writing plays and staging them at the local punk club. July’s videos, performances, and web-based projects have been presented at sites such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum and in the 2002 and 2004 Whitney Biennials. Her short fiction has been published in The Paris Review, Harper’s, and The New Yorker, and a collection of stories is forthcoming from Scribner in May 2007. July created the participatory website, learningtoloveyoumore, with artist Harrell Fletcher and a companion book will be published by Prestel in fall 2007. She wrote, directed and starred in her first feature-length film, Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005), which won a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival and four prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, including the Camera d’Or. July recently debuted a new performance, and is currently working on her second movie. She lives in Los Angeles.

Click the pic to see her clever promotional piece for her book "No one belongs here more than you" written with dry erase marker on various appliances

Read More...

Cardboard Sound Box (A place for listening)

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Science

Made from 720 half square sheets of 7mm thick corrugated cardboard, stacked in 360 layers, this cavernous sound space is set within a 2.5m cube. As a space for listening to and experiencing music, the initial concept for the design developed from the architect’s ambition to create a strong spatial intensity and a distinct internal atmosphere. With an irregular free-form interior set within a regular cubic volume, the object has a profound duality. Made from one material it also has an implied solidity that strengthens the architect’s distinction between inside and out – a distinction that is heightened when the full acoustic ambience is experienced from within.

Cutting the cardboard took three working days, and assembly just one. The structure sits under its own dead weight, without any fixings or glue. And, for those of a technical persuasion, a simple calculation reveals that the combined compression of the 360 layers of cardboard is 20mm over the 2.5m height, or an average of 500ths of a millimetre per sheet. All services are integrated within the stack, including cable runs and apertures for the six-speaker surround sound system. Read More...

random web pic by kirk petersen

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Photography

from a slide show on file magazine.com, click the pic for more Read More...

Zaha Hadid Architects Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Architecture

zha_abu-dhabi_exterior-perspective-from-the-sea

Zaha Hadid Architects announce the design of the Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre – a new cultural institution for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation on behalf of the Tourism Development and Investment Company of Abu Dhabi. Click the pic to view the site for more. Read More...

right brain terrain's alternative motivational posters

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Design

snip from the site: Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, USA, Right Brain Terrain ("RBT") was established in 2005 to produce Alternative Motivational Posters (affectionately known as "AMPs"). AMPs avoid the all-too-established formula of the mainstream motivational poster: color photograph, giant type, faux frame thingy, and inspirational quote on blindingly shiny paper. RBT believes that such posters serve a purpose and a specific audience, but since they don't appeal to me, I decided to create ones that do.

AMPs are subtle, loud, metaphoric, ambiguous, motivational, literal, symbolic, obvious, bright, dark, distressed, clean, colorful, black and white, surprising, predictable, unique, exciting, boring, inspiring... There are no rules - just gut. The process is a visceral one that is fueled by a yearning to positively contribute to society, for the sheer love of the creative process, for the poetically stagnant nature of posters, and for the deliberate art of contemporary graphic design.

click the pic for more Read More...

Shameless self promotion of my reviews on YELP.com

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Amusing

I'm flexing my writing muscles on yelp.com while I prepare to write a book. To be honest, I come off as half crazy cynic and half wacky embellisher. I can accept that.

click the link to sample the smattering of my musings thus far. Read More...

Funny CNN review of the movie NEXT with Nicolas Cage

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Movies

I don't know who writer Tom Charity is, but he wrote a funny and honest review of the new Nicolas Cage time twisting action flick "Next"

click the pic to read the full review, here are two blurbs that made me laugh out loud:

"Nicolas Cage is Frank Cadillac -- but only for five minutes. Tragically, he jettisons this fine and fitting stage name in favor of the eminently forgettable Cris Johnson, thereby signaling that this will be a relatively subdued Cage performance."

and

"Precious little of this has anything to do with Philip K. Dick's short story "The Golden Man," the film's alleged source material, and if the marketing men want to claim that connection then they had best be prepared for unfavorable "Paycheck" comparisons. (Could this be the worst Dick adaptation yet? Unconvincing CGI effects, crummy story, lousy performances ... it's got to be a contender.)"

Read More...

James Broughton Poem - The Bliss of With

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Poetry

James Broughton was a poet, artist and filmmaker from Modesto California

I love this.

The Bliss Of With

You have come to me out of antiquities
We have loved one another for generations
We have loved one another for centuries

You teach me to trust the voice of my voices
You teach me to believe my own believings
You touch the palpability of my possibilities

Together we reflect what our mirrors conceal
Together we upgrade the sun in our meridians
We remain open night and day to transcendence

You are incompletely disguised as a mortal
You are the eternal stranger I have always known
I saw your wings this morning
I saw your wings this morning

by James Broughton Read More...

Gallery of Mihal Manglulea Photos on Photo-eye.com

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Photography

I love these, they are painterly and poetic. Read More...

a random free access folder of someone's music

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Music

I found this random folder of music via a badly typed search... there are about 30 or so albums of varying interestingness. Read More...

Photoshop Smoke Tutorial

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Useful stuff on the Internet

Nice simple step by step guide for creating "smoke" effect in Photoshop Read More...

Video Tutorial: RSS in Plain English

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Useful stuff on the Internet

There are two types of Internet users, those that use RSS and those that don’t. This video is for the people who could save time using RSS, but don’t know where to start. Read More...

Spooky Sally Cherry Muffin

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Photography

Another German Pin-up Photographer... non pretentious, fun and pretty... click the pic for more Read More...

Pure Nomade’s Hotel Boxes

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Tools

Pure Nomade’s Hotel Boxes. Spotted them in British mags, months ago but didn’t know how to buy — ’til now! These stackable boxes come in eight different groovy patterns and are the perfect thing to stash your ever-growing shoe collection. They arrive flat, and stay that way until you snap ‘em into shape. A dust-lid in front seals the deal and ensures your goodies are easy to find. They can support up to 11 pounds of weight and be stacked up to 10 feet high. Available at Yoyashop.com for $25 each. Pricey, yes. But think of it as a multi-functioning art-installation for your room. Read More...

rug company catalog

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Materials

amazingly artful, beautifully styled Rug Company catalog. The UK-based rug company is known for commissioning today’s leading designers and artists to create their rug collection — everyone from Vivienne Westwood to Paul Smith to Diane Von Furstenberg. The company’s site has loads of beautiful images to scroll through for inspiration. Read More...

The Rag Chair

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Furniture

the Rag Chair by Droog at Greener Grass Design. Made from the contents of 15 bags of rags, the buyer has the option of sending in his or her own discarded clothes to be included in the design. While we love the idea of making furniture from castaways, at $3,325 this seems more extravagant than economical. Read More...

Cup Couture - reusable designe coffee jackets

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Sustainability

Leave it to someone in Seattle (birthplace to the country’s biggest producer of hot beverage waste) to invent The Cupcoat, high fashion thermal sleeves for paper cups. Cupcoats are reusable and tuck easily into a purse or pocket; they fit most 12, 16, and 20oz disposable paper cups, will fit into vehicle cup holders. We especially love the new spring patterns, with Pucci-esque swirls that will compliment our new mini-dresses to a tee. $12 each at cupcouture.com Read More...

craft project - fabris covered thumbtacks

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Crafts

These are easy to make and will turn any corkboard into an eye-popping design. All you need are some Buttons to Cover, fabric scraps, a hot glue gun and simple tacks. Click tthe pic for instructions!
Read More...

clip of Peter Jennings talking about "ecstasy rising" documentary

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Psychedelics

from Larry King Live

Read More...

reveal lighting by adam frank

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Lighting

Reveal is a new type of ambient interior lighting. This product creates the impression of sunlight streaming through a window and onto an interior wall.
A light breeze appears to move through trees in the cast image. great idea. Read More...

Beaker from the Muppet Show covering Coldplay's "Yellow"

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Amusing

REM on Sesame Street - Furry Happy Monsters

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Influences

Classic Sesame Street - Lowercase n

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Influences

I credit this TV memory as my earliest understanding of sensitivity. Read More...

Luke Sandoval cover of the Iron and Wine Version of "Superman"

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Music

People sort of know this Flaming Lips song, which was written by Wayne Coyne who is from Oklahoma after the Oklahoma City Bombing. Read More...

Iron and Wine - Naked as We Came Live

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Music

pretty live version of this great song, Sam Beam (who is Iron and Wine) is an excellent songwriter. This one is about the sad truth that one of always dies before the other. Read More...

Victoria Chocolate Vines Dinnerware

28/Apr/2007 Filed in: Retail Lust

Not sure why, but I love these... Read More...

vintage vantage t-shirts

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: T-Shirts

Somehow I just found this funny. Read More...

The Moscow Galaxy Building Model

26/Apr/2007

They have decided to build this big thing, and named it Galaxy Building, in one of the areas of Moscow. Construction costs exceed $300 million, but there are plenty investors interested in participation. Read More...

Full Bleed T-Shirts

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: T-Shirts

I'm not so sure how to describe Full Bleed t-shirts, but they definitely have some dose of surrealism combined with this kind of humor that just makes you smile (not burst out laughing, just smile and think "hmmm"). some of the best tees in the web Read More...

aluminium pull-tab hand bag

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: Materials

This is not an ordinary bag - this is hand crocheted with over 1600 recycled aluminium pull-tabs.

The best part is that each bag is individually handcrafted by one woman and each comes with a personal note from the artist who made it. $160 click the pic to go there.
Read More...

Barbie's Dog actually poops...

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: Amusing

BARBIE, the doll with everything, has followed in the footsteps of her real-life lookalikes and got herself a dog - complete with toy poop "biscuits".

Tanner the toy dog poops out her toy food, leaving Barbie to pick up the toy "biscuits" with her toy pooper scooper.

The new Mattel set, which goes on sale in Australia in the next few weeks, comes with magnetic dog biscuits, dog bone, chew toy, and of course a magnetic pooper scooper so that Barbie does not have to get her hands dirty.
Read More...

lindsey pickett industrial design

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: Design

Shown here wearing a camera she designed for kodak (the 1881)... nice stuff. Read More...

random web pic - dancer by Elio Montanare

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: Photography

supercooled water video

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: Science

A liquid below its freezing point will crystallize in the presence of a seed crystal or nucleus around which a crystal structure can form. However, lacking any such nucleus, the liquid phase can be maintained all the way down to the temperature at which crystal homogeneous nucleation occurs. The homogeneous nucleation can occur above the glass transition where the system is an amorphous—that is, non-crystalline—solid. This is a video of supercooled water which is recrystalizing as it hits a new surface.

Read More...

Ellen von Unwerth Photography

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: Photography

I had never heard of her, but what do I know? click the pic for a link to a reproduction of her book "Revenge", sexy, sometimes dark, sometimes funny.

Ellen von Unwerth (born 1954 in Germany) is a photographer and director, specializing in erotic femininity. She worked as a fashion model for ten years herself before moving behind the camera, and now makes fashion, editorial, and advertising photographs.

Ellen von Unwerth found fame when she first photographed Claudia Schiffer for Guess? Jeans. Ah... it's all coming back to me....

She has been published in top magazines like Vogue, Vanity Fair, Interview, The Face, Arena, L'Uomo Vogue and I-D, and has published several books of photography. She won first prize at the International Festival of Fashion Photography in 1991. Read More...

Random Screen Art Installation

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: Art

Beer Cans + tea lights + ingenuity = cool art

Random Screen is a mechanical thermodynamic screen that the user can’t control and that functions without any electricity. Conventional tea candles illuminate and generate the changes on the 4x4 pixel screen.

This work is one of a series of low-tech screen projects that was originally inspired by the Blinkenlights media façade of the Chaos Computer Club in Berlin. The predecessor of Random Screen is the Papierpixel project in which a manual screen was controlled by a punched tape system that had to be pre-programmed by hand. Random Screen takes the reduction of the electronics one step further. The pixels become independent and fire goes digital.

click the pick for more explanation and pictures
Read More...

More Book Art from Bookdust.com

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: Art

A collection of art made with books. Shown here is part one of Robert The's Bible series. Read More...

random web pic 0 a Bansky outdoor mural

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: Web pictures

Mathematical sculptures of Bathsheba Grossman

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: Mathematics

Bathsheba Grossman is an artist in Santa Cruz, California who creates sculptures using CAD (computer-aided design) and three-dimensional modeling, with metal printing technology to produce a stainless steel / bronze sculpture. Her bronze sculptures are primarily mathematical in nature, often depicting intricate patterns or mathematical oddities(Squares for example has one side and three edges). Her website also has crystals that have been laser etched with 3 dimensional patterns, including a DNA and Milky Way model.

Grossman's works have featured in art galleries around the world, as well as the New York Times, and the hit television series Numb3rs. Read More...

Graffiti Machine

26/Apr/2007 Filed in: Art

glumbert.com

Dr Teeth and The Electric Mayhem - Behind The Music

24/Apr/2007 Filed in: Amusing

from robot chicken Read More...

hyptrochoid art set

15/Apr/2007 Filed in: Art

hypotrochoid is the mathematical term for a line traced by a fixed point in a circle (your pen) which is rotated around the inside of a larger circle. these beautiful flowing curves have fascinated mathematicians for centuries. different points within the small circle produce wildly different patterns. a classic and absorbing drawing set, easy and fun to use. 11 piece set in a tin with instructions."
Read More...

Modular Arts Wall Panels

15/Apr/2007 Filed in: Design

These panels, are light, will withstand a fire for up to 2 hours, paintable and made of natural substances that won't poison your interiors. Did I mention that the creators of these wall panels won the 2004 Green Product Organic Design Award? Read More...

Tord Boontje - Until Dawn Curtain

15/Apr/2007 Filed in: Cool hunting

Tord Boontje strikes again using advanced laser cutting technologies so that you might enjoy a slightly different curtain panel experience. Read More...

bouroullec algue plastic elements

15/Apr/2007 Filed in: Art

What you see here are these things called Algues. Each algue is a plastic "branch" that can easily clip on to other algues to form wall hangings, room dividers, sculptures, etc...They're really pretty neat and would add a different sort of texture to an interior. So think about it. 50 elements make up an approximate 8' x 11' single screen.

(Each plastic algue's dimensions are about 9"w · 1.5"d · 12"h)

available in white, black, green, or red
package of 6 links $25.00
box of 50 links $200.00 Read More...

By Hanna Wallpaper

15/Apr/2007 Filed in: Design

Amazing prints from Swedish sensation Hanna. Buy several "posters" and use like wallpaper.
Several styles to choose from. click the pic for more examples or the link below to visit design sponge

Via Design*Sponge. Read More...

Inhabit - Braille Wall Flat

15/Apr/2007 Filed in: Design

These are by far the best in the recent world of embossed/textured wall coverings. They give pattern in such a way that adds interest without the distraction of too much detail or texture...

"Inhabit's Embossed Wall Flats are designed to expand in any direction. With peel-and-stick adhesive tabs and an automatic pattern repeat these wall tiles are simple, modern, versatile and goof-proof. You can cover a existing wall, help disguise a not-so-smooth wall or add a modern pattern to any room setting. "

Off-white paintable surface.
Inhabit Wall Flats are made with 100% bamboo pulp.

18" x 18" panels
10 panels per box
Coverage: 22.5 square feet Read More...

window drops

15/Apr/2007 Filed in: Amusing

There's no reason why a bit of cleverness shouldn't be applied to the ordinary window.

Each set includes eight drops of various shapes and sizes.
notes: largest drop measures 5" x 2.5"; smallest drop is 2" diameter

Read More...

melamine plates

15/Apr/2007 Filed in: Design

When it isn't accidenatly being added to pet food, Melamine is non-toxic and dishwasher safe, and with all the interesting designs and patterns out in the marketplace nowadays, it's about time you add some to your cabinet to spice up the dinnerware choices. Just keep in mind to avoid the microwave...small price to pay for the decorative options. Read More...

wearable usb flash drives

15/Apr/2007 Filed in: Technology

I think this marks the beginning of an inevitable trend, or at least the first of it's kind that I've seen anyways... As USB flash drives become more and more prevelant, there's bound to be new ways of integrating it into daily personal fashion. "Hardwood USB by Michael Leung for Lexon features a necklace USB flash drive that creates a closer connection between a person and their data. Currently available in dark wood only."
256 MB Read More...

hand-held rechargeable vacuum by stefano giovannoni

15/Apr/2007 Filed in: Tools

"Stefano Giovannoni, an architect and industrial designer, paired up with Alessi to bring captivating form to an everyday function. The Alessi Handheld Vacuum recharges in its base with an integrated crevice tool and wet nozzle. Crafted out of stainless steel, the sleek form can be stored where it's most convenient, rather than hidden in a cabinet, out of reach and out of view. The base can be wall mounted. Giovannoni's work is in the permanent collections at MoMA Read More...

LampLamp

15/Apr/2007 Filed in: Lighting

This will most likely cause second glances and inquiries aplenty. Pretty clever. "It is an E26/E27 bulb with 30 watts – so flexible to fit into pretty much any socket."

Read More...

Knitta Street Art

13/Apr/2007 Filed in: Cool hunting

Knitta is a community of knitters, they first started, when these ladies realized that they have lots of unfinished sweaters and scarves. They started wrapping objects on the streets and making New York look prettier. Read More...

David Ellis - Motion Paintings

13/Apr/2007 Filed in: Art

David Ellis lives and works in Brooklyn. The artist calls his works ‘motion paintings’ and so they are - vivid and unusual. click the pic to visit his site. Read More...

Aton Clay lamps

13/Apr/2007 Filed in: Lighting

This lamp is made of clay and has cool projection to the ceiling. Read More...

Disposable Chandelier

13/Apr/2007 Filed in: Lighting

When you first feast your eyes on one of Stuart Haygarth’s quirky designs, the first thing that becomes immediately ingrained in your memory is his apparent talent for juxtaposing color with form. His recent design, the Disposable Chandelier, is no exception to the rule. Humorously crafted out of 416 disposable plastic wine glasses, the chandelier is lit with a pink fluorescent light source. Incidentally, a smaller version made with 280 glasses is also available. While the atmosphere created by this piece is elegant enough for any posh dinner party, its unusual construction also provides ample material for after-dinner conversation! Read More...

LEGO Lamp by Sasinan Suthayalai

13/Apr/2007 Filed in: Lighting

This concept is to bring people to join in activities and express their creativities. Designer Sasinan Suthayalai created a lamp which could be played and formed. The connections is made from high magnetic magnets, which allowed electricity to pass by. Each cube has one LED lamp inside. As a result, there is one base cube for plugging to any home electricity, and any pieces which are connected to it will be lighted on Read More...

Medusa Light made from DuPont Corian

13/Apr/2007 Filed in: Materials

Dupont recently held a competition called ‘Skin of Corian‘, calling for designs using their material for new and interesting furniture pieces.

Medusa means ‘jellyfish’ in Spanish. Made from laser-etched Corian, which catches the form of this acquatic creature. A flexible element of colored light can be added, facilitating lamp mood’s change. The Medusa lamp [above], designed by Claudia Carrasco a member of the Barcelona-based design collective Exposed. Read More...

ceramics for breakfast contest

13/Apr/2007 Filed in: Design

Shown here is one entry in the "ceramics for breakfast" contest. click the pic for many more interesting entries. Read More...

Art by Alberto Seveso

13/Apr/2007 Filed in: Art

Flavor Paper

13/Apr/2007 Filed in: Design

Flavor Paper. Founded on the Oregon by a guy named Ted. Later moved to New Orleans, still producing great art works, which are later printed as wallpaper. Each roll of Flavor paper is hand printed, sold in untrimmed 27 inch wide by 15 foot long single rolls. The guys do a great job, every their masterpiece will add a special flavor to any room. click the pic for more Read More...

The Cut Up Book Art of Georgia Russell

13/Apr/2007 Filed in: Art

Georgia Russell was born in 1974 in Elgin, Scotland. She studied Fine art at Aberdeen University and the Royal College of Art and is a visiting lecturer at universities and art schools. Russell has exhibited with England & Co since 2002.

Russell uses a scalpel instead of a brush or pen, and works with obsessive perseverance and patience to make her constructions of cut paper. She appropriates found materials and utilises their decorative qualities and inherent potential as she manipulates, cuts and transforms books, music scores, newspapers, currency, maps and photographs. click the pic for more. Read More...

Flying Bed

13/Apr/2007 Filed in: Furniture

Ok, it's obviously an illusion... created via steel engineering Read More...

Photography of Ahmet Ertug

13/Apr/2007 Filed in: Photography

Ahmet Ertug studied architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, graduated in 1974 and practiced architecture in England, Iran and Turkey. He got involved in photography in London and took photographs of urban life. While working in Iran in 1974-76, he traveled and photographed indigenous settlements and ancient Persian monuments.

He started photographing the Ottoman and Byzantine monuments in Istanbul using large format cameras. His photography has a deep meditative energy and it withdraws the observer into the intellectual content of his subjects, ranging from the vast interior of monumental buildings to the silent gazes of ancient sculptures. Read More...

flower pic

01/Apr/2007 Filed in: Web pictures

edra boa bed 2

01/Apr/2007 Filed in: Furniture

Check out this cool Edra Boa BED. Well, we couldn’t really call it a bed only since it could probably serve as a couch, sofa, bed, pillow, and etc…etc… why it was photographed outside, no idea. Click the pic for more Read More...

Bastard Magazine

01/Apr/2007 Filed in: Design

This downloadable PDF magazine is a submission driven art & design magazine. To view Bastard magazine, you need a computer, Adobe Acrobat Reader and eyes. Read More...

18 free fonts

01/Apr/2007 Filed in: Design

a small collection of free fonts rounded up on Neil Scott's design Blog. Read More...

Chameleon Lamp

01/Apr/2007 Filed in: Lighting

Chameleon is a prototype lamp shade that changes to match any colour you ’show’ it… A traditional bulb at the centre of the lamp provides white light above and below the lamp, while an LED ring around this light projects a selected colour into the shade, while at the same time preventing the white light from diluting the colour being projected.

All you have to do is pick up any other coloured object, hold it to the sensor on the lamp stand and the colour will be projected onto the inside of the shade automatically. Read More...