Funny how I just mentioned the hair dryer as a source of vulnerability for the so-called “Invincible Snowman.” Turns out my buddy Lee made a snowman, “Wheezy Joe,” who chose this method to end his own frosty life.
Man, he shot himself point blank with that dryer…
Is that…blue blood?
Ah, Lee…always the bringer of controversy. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Here are some skull themed selections from a wonderful series by James Hopkins: Vanitas.
See the rest here.
I recommend checking out the other sculpture sets on the site as well.
I’m fascinated by random cultural explosions that take place around arbitrary objects. Bacon has become a veritable phenomenon over the past two years, and I’m noticing steady growth of the toast trend.
I’ll refrain from posting images of pictures burned into toast…it’s been done ad nauseum. I will, however, show you this meta-toast mosaic:
It’s not just an emergence of toast products I’ve noticed (such as Tic Tac Toast
Now let’s enjoy some brief nostalgia.
In 1989, After Dark introduced the Flying Toast Screensaver (first for Mac, later for Windows):
Later, Sims Carnival allowed for more intergalactic toast possibilities.
Who can forget the 1990’s pioneer of these crumbly, starchy heroes, POWDERED TOAST MAN?
High-velocity raisins, corrosive croutons, acidic marmalade, flying butter pats…and of course, flight. He had it all.
Years later, we meet Mr. Toast and his mini empire.
There are countless variations of Mr. Toast images and products. Personally, I’m a fan of Vampire Toast:
(Love the shiny cape…very classy)
Slightly more menacing is this toast from one of my favorite web comics.
Never thought toast could be sad? Well, My Paper Crane proves that it can be, if aware of its ominous scorching fate.
If you prefer your toast enraged and screaming, you can now purchase a Mini Toast Pocket Friend:
In fact, angry toast does seem to be all the rage (pun intended).
There was even a design contest based on the concept.
But wait! Not all toast is tragic!
Look at Senor Happy Toast, gleefully self-buttering:
And my own soft toast creations, circa 2006 (and part of a complete plush breakfast) were pretty happy too:
Yummy Pancake’s Mr Toastee flickr set runs the whole gamut.
Happy…
Dressed up…
Drunk…
Whole wheat, original and rye (together in perfect harmony)…
Some modern toast creations include bizarre, counter-intuitive designs like this Soft Toaster Cell Phone Holder, complete with bear face and ears:
(The toast, also with a face, is supposed to “wipe off” the phone…wonder if it’s large enough for touch screen phones)
Are you…
(Image source link now dead)
What are your feelings about the growing Cult of Toast?
I’ve got to see Nouar’s new exhibit at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery.
I can’t get enough of her anthropomorphic treats, with their wide gleaming eyes and sultry stares…vibrant conglomerates of consumerism, temptation and gluttony.
Some evoke post WWII era food ephemera (a time period with some wonderfully “kitsch-alicious” styles).
And just take a look at these tater tots! They look all hopped up on sugar and ready for Ritalin. This woman is so gifted…
See pieces from You Look Good Enough to Eat here.
Love Week went by very quickly, and I’m left with a bunch of things I meant to post. So here they are, with minimal explanation.
FOOD:
Chocolate skulls…
This post from Let Them Eat Cake has some of the greatest chocolate skulls I’ve seen.
And now some Love Carrots…
HE(ARTS) and CRAFTS:
Geekalicious Reutersvard inspired heart (Source)
For the knitters.
Paper Ribcage with Heart (one of my favorite Valentine crafts this year).
Just an art piece I find striking (from here)
GREETINGS:
I’ll finish up with one of my favorite passages on Love. Kahlil Gibran has some deeply moving words on the subject. Read them HERE.
Creature Effects specializes in prosthetics, makeup and props for television and film. Some of their creations rank up there with the grotesque images of modern pop surrealist painters.
They are masters of raw, sublimely ugly beings.
Yet they are also capable of evoking pathos.
See their lovely collection here.
And if you’re interested in other accomplishments of gore and movie magic, click here and here.
I’ve seen many examples of water photography, but none so stunning as these “Waterfigures” by fotoopa.
It’s as if the water molecules are engaging in celebratory play…
Some resemble gardens in alien worlds…
And some show alien worlds themselves…
Perhaps it’s the human tendency to anthropomorphize, but many of the water structures appear creature-like, with movement, energy and life force…
If you’re interested in the complex process behind creating these images, many pictures come with an explanation.
See the whole incredible set here.
Bodily function references are rare on this blog, but Peskimo’s Monster Burp toy is just so cool.
I’ve never seen a figure in which an anthropomorphic bubble of air serves as the focal point of the toy…rather than the creature who is emitting the air. Love the concept!
Bet that little burping fella feels a lot better now.
Found through Vinyl Pulse
I love anthropomorphic sculpture, so I was delighted to see pictures of the Defenestration installation in San Francisco.
Teamwork!
I have no idea why I enjoy the idea of furniture coming to life and fleeing a building, but I do. They’ve just…had enough!
More photos at Yatzer. It’s an exodus worth seeing.
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.
SheWalksSoftly 