SheWalksSoftly

Google Image Odyssey: Wunderkammer

September 1st, 2008

This image search was inspired by MoMa’s current exhibit Wunderkammer: A Century of Curiosities. I truly hope I can make it to MoMa before the show closes.

Vintage:

And some modern takes on the subject:

Rust, dust and dolls…

Cabinet of Sculptural Crochet!

I never realized that years before I knew what the word Wunderkammer meant, I was quite busy cultivating one of my own in the form of a very eclectic toy shelf (now packed with oddities of all types).

Traditionally…

Cabinets of curiosities (also known as Wunderkammer, Cabinets of Wonder, or wonder-rooms) were encyclopedic collections of types of objects whose categorical boundaries were, in Renaissance Europe, yet to be defined. Modern science would categorize the objects included as belonging to natural history (sometimes faked), geology, ethnography, archaeology, religious or historical relics, works of art (including cabinet paintings) and antiquities. -Wiki

Many of my hopeful travel destinations revolve around where I can find some of the best “Cabinets” in the world. I love the aesthetic of encased organized chaos.

I’d like to create some mini cabinets of curiosities to give away. They would make stellar gifts for about .00125% of the population.
Oriental Trading Co. Pre-Halloween Megapost

August 31st, 2008

Indulge me. Halloween is the one holiday when people suddenly become open to the darker side of things and step into a world that I appreciate year-round. I will never get over my love of Halloween kitsch. And what better place to find it than Oriental Trading Company?

Got my first catalog of the season! Let’s view some highlights, shall we?

The Organ Harvest Gummy Candies are on the very top of my wish list. If they look this great when they arrive, I’ll need to stock up. This is some LOVELY gummy design work:

The attention to detail in the Road Kill Gummy Candy is incredible.

Ah, the “Realistic Color Changing Brain.” Something for my future office, perhaps? Yes, I will be working with brains (conceptually…not actual brain meat).

There is also a Realistic Color-Changing Heart…now on sale.

I’m not usually a fan of tacky plastic wall/door coverings, but I think they did a good job with these kitchen cabinet and refrigerator covers (maybe it’s just my weakness for the “mad scientist” vibe)

I got supplies for my infamous “Guts Party” last year (which actually took place about as far from Halloween as possible in the calendar year) from Oriental Trading.

When I ordered the Candy Blood Bags I was unaware of the actual size…about 1″ X 2″. I had psyched myself into believing they were close in size to REAL blood bags. You can imagine my disappointment.

(Picture that moment of hilarious confusion when I realized I could palm about a dozen of these)

Another purchase that was tasty, yet under par, was the Cherry Filled Eyeball Gum. The picture makes it look like there is a substantial “blood” center, but the reality is a dried up red splotch on hollow gumball insides. The flavor was good, but it disappeared fast. Consequently, I stuffed about ten of these in my mouth, one after another.

I’ve pieced together lighting setups like this before, but I find the Black Leaves Light Set rather beautiful, for any time of the year.

Please feel free to direct me to catalogs, sites and sales that feature Halloween memorabilia.
Chris Roth

August 31st, 2008

Chris Roth brilliantly entitled the above image “FINALLY.” Perhaps this will form the basis of a trendy, expensive, celebrity endorsed religion. Octopus God wants your money…and your soul.

He also has some wonderfully creepy images:

Some that had me happily puzzled upon initial viewing:

Wonderfully bastardized fairy tales:

And editorial:

His site is most definitely worth a visit.
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie

August 30th, 2008

During the 1920’s, May Gibbs wrote a series of books: The Gumnut Adventures, featuring amazing (and mildly disturbing) characters such as “Snugglepie and Cuddlepot:”

And Obedelia:

May Gibbs (1877-1969) emigrated to Australia from England with her parents when she was four years old. Part of her childhood was spent at a farming homestead in Western Australia where Gibbs’ love of the unique species in the Australian bush developed. The nuts, leaves and flowers she discovered as a child provided a lifetime of inspiration for her iconic and imaginative illustration work.

Children everywhere couldn’t help but wonder when they saw such things, whether Gumnut Babies really did live there, especially when they could actually see their scribbly writing on the trees. Gibbs took what every child could easily find and gave it a fantasy life of its own.

I can’t help but wonder if this series resulted in hordes of very paranoid, frightened children.

You can actually buy the book on Amazon.

Source and more pictures/info.
Who’s Gonna Save My Soul?

August 30th, 2008

I’m actually not a Gnarls Barkley Fan (something about his voice grates on my nerves a bit), but I can’t deny the brilliance of this video. It’s honest…AND it features a disembodied anthropomorphic heart.

Really, what more could I ask for in a video?

The guy’s statements eerily remind me of how my own sensitivity manifests in a calm and composed argumentative style. Fighting, in the traditional sense, seems like a colossal waste of time and energy. I prefer to express heartbreak in carefully crafted, poignant sentences. Thank goodness this situation bears no relevance to me.

From i09
Bruce Mozert

August 29th, 2008

After my recent post about Jason Taylor it feels fitting to appreciate another kind of underwater photography; the gravity-defying kitschy scenarios that Bruce Mozert brings to life.

I love this. Such innocent wickedness. (*evil smirk*)

His subjects look surprisingly at home underwater, like any typical retro poster boys and girls. He doesn’t seem to have a website, but he does have a book. And there’s a nice little collection here.
The Colors of Microbiology

August 29th, 2008

Colour Lovers just had a great post about the Colors of Bacteria, Fungi and More.

Some of the brilliant colors come from image enhancement, but many are produced by the microorganism’s natural absorption of light at different wavelengths. Some of the growth mediums also add a chromatic boost.

Nature will often paint a pretty picture in the ugliest of places.
Dissected Knit Rat (with Special Guest Waffle Bunny)

August 29th, 2008

I absolutely LOVE the new trends in bizarre knit patterns, many of which have an anatomical theme. I haven’t yet ventured into knitting much beyond scarves and blankets, so projects like the knit lab rat are slightly intimidating.

This is the latest creation from CraftyHedgehog who previously brought us the dissected frog pattern.

Another emerging craft is needle felting (basically the process of sculpting and manipulating wool with very sharp tools). I need to try my hand at this, though I’m not sure if I could make a creature as great as WAFFLE BUNNY!

This amazing little guy comes from Licorice Tree.
Hairless

August 28th, 2008

I’m sure many people would find these little guys cringe-worthy. They’re far from the designer pets that serve as mere accessories these days.

But I find hairless animals exceptionally interesting. The lack of fur draws attention to the actual expression of the animal. They look like they have PERSONALITY, like they just…know things.

(Who would dare mess with this animal?)

If I ever opened a cabinet and found this guy staring straight at me, I’d certainly be curious about him, after catching the breath that had just been shocked out of me.

Although originally the result of a genetic mutation or severe immune deficiency, there’s a growing trend in breeding hairless pets. But breeders beware…painful conditions often accompany hairless mutations. The infamous ear fusion experiment still upsets me, especially because in later photos the mouse looks like he’s absolutely praying for grim death to come take him.
Quentin Bertoux

August 28th, 2008

Quentin Bertoux really runs with the concept of using a single duplicated object to add movement and life to a photo.

I love how his subject seems completely at home amidst the chaos.