Mindazonaltal’s Flickr photostream is filled with gorgeous surreal vignettes.
As tempting as it is to fill this post with my own commentary, I think everyone should get a chance to form their own impressions and draw their own conclusions from work like this.
See more here
I find it hard to believe that I haven’t posted abandoned playground images before (doesn’t it just seem like something that would be a staple of this blog?). Here’s a little collection from English Russia.
Addict Elephant welcomes you…
Somewhere between a Teletubby…and your worst nightmare…
This beautiful statue serves as a fantastic reminder to take care of yourself and never end up in this hospital (which I’m guessing no one ever leaves).
This fuzzy soul eater is not the worst of them, but I feel he belongs here.
Yikes. No idea…
First thing in my head (no pun intended) upon seeing this? “Hey hey, we’re the Monkees…”
See more here.
I haven’t picked up Legos in decades, which is probably because I never thought of making something this amazing. But Mike Doyle has taken care of that.
Check out that expert Lego rot effect!
A Lego house in my favorite architectural style! The closest thing I’ve seen is the laser cut Victorian doll house I raved about not long ago.
I have kept Science is Fiction
Science is Fiction is a mesmerizing collection of short films by Jean Painleve.
Painleve, a film director, actor, translator, theorist and inventor, was one of the first to create scientific films designed to entertain and inform. His groundbreaking poetic representations of science were viewed as subversive and scandalous at the time. He believed that the portrayal of reality, combined with the imagination and technique of the screenwriter, trumped traditional cinematography.
In order to shoot scenes underwater, Painleve encased his camera in a custom designed waterproof box, fitted with a glass plate which allowed the camera’s lens to reach through. He captures some incredible footage and documents a stunning series of processes shown in accelerated speed. The soundtrack (which he often scored himself) is also amazing. Watching these films is an entrancing, educational journey…not to mention, just plain FUN.
My fellow sci-art fans…rent or buy this collection! I rarely buy DVDs, but this one is going on the wish list. Now I’m off to see if I can uncover any of Painleve’s other films on Youtube…
I must thank Bioephemera for reminding me of this fantastic quote from Asimov concerning the relationship of art and science.
How often people speak of art and science as though they were two entirely different things, with no interconnection. An artist is emotional, they think, and uses only his intuition; he sees all at once and has no need of reason. A scientist is cold, they think, and uses only his reason; he argues carefully step by step, and needs no imagination. That is all wrong. The true artist is quite rational as well as imaginative and knows what he is doing; if he does not, his art suffers. The true scientist is quite imaginative as well as rational, and sometimes leaps to solutions where reason can follow only slowly; if he does not, his science suffers.
My sentiments exactly.
I am a happy inhabitant of the Wonder dimension; realm of the undivided mind.
If you are in the LA area, there are only a few days left to check out Steven Daily’s Covenant show at La Luz de Jesus; a show with an interesting, multifaceted theme.
From the artist statement:
In my formative years, my parents moved from Southern California to the Midwest, Eastern and Southern blocks of America. During this time I experienced Elk Clubs, Shriner Parades, and Freemason Lodges –all things, traditional and secret, talked about behind closed doors.
For the past decade I have been investigating conspiracies. I’ve learned of arcane societies and ritual-based orders built around ancient fraternities. I’ve studied the global elite, and scrutinized an eventual one-world government. The men who formed our government were members of these guilds, and almost every president (with few exceptions),have been party to their aims.
The imagery, iconic symbology, and clandestine rites are striking to me. I find it fascinating that a supposedly free country founded on the Hebrew god, was established by these men who performed ancient rituals in secret. This is my interpretation of the research I’ve performed upon Conspiracy theories, and based on the ancient Oaths and Rituals of the Illuminus orders.
See more (including some great sketch studies) here.
Artist page
I am not a Star Wars geek by any stretch of imagination…but I have to admit this cookie jar is awesome.
Death Star Cookie Jar almost sounds like a band name.
You can order one here.
In my opinion, our innate desire to give life meaning is one of the most meaningful qualities we possess as a species (a purposeful tautology, I assure you). Manifestations of symbolism have always intrigued and delighted me. I recently discovered the custom of love padlocks.
According to this tradition, the lovers write their names or initials on a padlock, attach it to a permanent public fixture and throw away the keys.
Most of these sites are located in Europe and Asia (I’ve never seen one, personally).
Depending on location, the custom varies slightly. Some locks are placed by newlyweds, some by couples in relationships for luck.
Although not remotely superstitious, I am a romantic in terms of my admiration for human commitment rituals. All mysticism aside, I enjoy the fact that humans conjure up these ideas to solidify otherwise intangible elements of existence.
Do these locks really mean eternal love? Does anything? Of course not. The cynic in me knows that even the best laid plans often fail.
But what about the success stories? My grandmother lost her husband at 40 years old. She wears her wedding ring to this day because she was “thankful to have been given the little time she had with the true love of her life.”
The objects we endow with meaning matter. We have the power to make them matter.
Hats off to the couples who “locked” their love and made it ’til the very end (and I’m sure they’re out there). We should all be so lucky.
Seen on Web Urbanist
I couldn’t hold off on posting this, even though I already posted today. Artists and crafters of all types…DON’T MISS THIS. It’s just too great.
Warning: NSFW language.
SheWalksSoftly 