Lego Street Art

I've seen knit bombing, sweater bombing, plastic cap bombing, and I've even been thinking about organizing my own hubcap flower bombing in my town. Now there's Lego street art - aka Lego bombing!

It seems to be popping up around the world, and after searching through tons of websites that all listed source after source, I finally landed on Dispatchworks.info with an interactive map of the world - just click the country of choice to find the lego bombs in action.

lego in Arnsberg, Germany

lego in Barcelona, Spain

Lego in Lausanne, France

Lego in Nabeul, Tunisia

Lego in New York, New York

Lego in Venice, Italy

There are plenty more examples to see at Dispatchwork. Are you  inspired to go out and lego bomb in your area? If you do, make sure to send Dispatchwork your photos and location!

Until next time...

Mike

Recycled Road Sign Sculptural Fence

The latest edition of Artizen Magazine is published - turn to page 32 for my article featuring an unbelievable sculptural fence made from recycled road signs in Pennsylvania (United States).

You won't want to miss this project that took nearly 10 years to build, is as long as four (4) football field lengths, and represents a true commitment to community art and sustainability.

I would be so happy driving past something like this every day in my own community. Hmmm...maybe it's time to schedule a meeting with the city council! Do I dare? Do you?

Read full article here.

Until next time,

Mike

What's That ?!

Are you ready for this edition of "What's That ?!" Take a minute to get yourself a cup of coffee, kick up your feet, and settle in to the blue velvet chair. This time we're paying a visit to Borneo-born Hong Yi, a young architect by day, artist in the after hours.

Inspired by one of his songs, Hong Yi pays homage to Taiwanese singer Jay Chou with his portrait. Can you see what she 'painted' it with?

How exciting to be this young and talented.

Like many, Hong Yi begins her day with a warm cup of coffee. It's what she does with it afterwards that is genius.

Most people find it annoying when the coffee spills over onto the saucer, making a mess. Not so with Hong Yi. She's creating!

By now I don't have to tell you that this portrait was made with coffee cup stains. Did you see it in the first photo?

Relax for 2 more minutes and watch the video as she creates this beautiful portrait.

Not finished with your own coffee yet? Why not watch as she paints basketball star Yao Ming - using a basketball as her paintbrush!


Go on...you know you want to. Get out some paper and start creating with coffee in hand.

Until next time...
Mike

What's That ?!

Today's edition of What's That ?! spins me right round baby right round like a .......

Do you see it right away? What these wall posing people are made of?

Here's a closer look.

Did you guess it was made from this?

This isn't exactly a DIY unless you happen to have a CNC router at home to cut out the identical figures. This fun piece of LP art took shape over a couple of months on the wall behind the counter at Renga Arts. The LP people are cut by CNC, then heated and hand shaped into these 'performance' poses.

There are lots more funky junk creations to be found on the Renga Arts Facebook page. Hope over and tell them we say 'hi' from Blue Velvet Chair.

Until next time...

Mike

Stumble this post

What's That ?! - Recycled

It's time for another edition of "What's That?!" Have a look at these lovely pieces of art below from Marang Studios.

If you've been working with these materials, you might already recognize them given the colorations of the art pieces. Any guesses?

It's one of my favorite things to work with right now. Rolled magazine pages. I absolutely adore the color possibilities!

I've actually started another project with magazines. This time I'm not rolling...I'm folding...kind of. Fingers crossed I can make it work and share it with you. Otherwise it will most certainly end up in my 'epic fail' file. That would actually be a good one to share with you one day as well. I guess I'm not alone with my list of failed projects?

Until next time...

Mike

Stumble this post

What's That ?! - Repurposed

This week's "What's That?!" is bursting with color, but exactly what are these art pieces made of?

A closer look and now its becoming...

...crystal clear. Clothespins!

Check out the folks at We Make Carpets (Dutch) temporary contemporary carpets  and enjoy their little bursts of creativity.

Until next time...
Mike

Stumble this post

What's That ?! - Recycled

It's time for another What's That ?! to take us into the weekend.  Any guesses for the material used for this brightly colored wall art?

Here's a closer look.

Would you believe me if I told you it was...

...the insides of spray paint cans?

The folks at Canlove even use the bottoms and tops of the paint cans for art.

If you caught the "50 Ways to DIY Your Valentine - Recycled and Repurposed" post last weekend, you'll recognize their work from one of the fabulous hearts I featured.

Make sure to hop over to their site and learn how you can get involved by donating cans, time, money or space. Help support their 'No Can Left Behind' campaign to clean up the environment and create new and beautiful art.

Until next time...

Mike

Stumble this post

What's That ?!

What's that? Well, whatever it is, it's oversized and I like it!

Let's take a closer look. Hmmm...it's becoming clearer to me.

Knives! Lots of them. Stuck directly in the wall.

The material might be deadly, but the message is divine.

Iranian artist Farhad Moshiri's latest installation titled 'Life is Beautiful', was created using hundreds of knives stabbed directly into a gallery wall. 

I'm not sure if I'd try it at home...but I can admire it from afar!

Until next time...
Mike


Stumble this post

What's That ?! - Repurposed

Okay. This has never happened before. I'm posting a "What's That ?!" series two days in a row. But after Amy over at The Salvage Collection pointed me to this artist for her fabulous button art, I saw these other works of hers and just had to share with you. Uh, excuse me one moment. Note to self...must practice patience in this new year.

So, can you guess what these whimsically twisted horses are made of?

No? Want another look? And don't miss the fabulous recycled jeans flag on the wall!

They are made from...drumroll please...

...COCONUT HUSKS! 

What I absolutely adore about Ann Carrington's creations is that she works with a variety of materials. Recycled and repurposed materials. My favorites are the plush fur rug, the tree made from tires and innertubes, and of course the button stamp art.

Do you also keep a mental list of people you'd like to have in the same room one day? Mine just keeps on growing. 

Until next time...

Mike

Stumble this post

What's That ?!

It's 2012 and time for a new year of "What's That?!".

What is "What's That?!" you ask? It's a series of posts that showcase unbelievable creations that make you take a second look and ask yourself, "What's That?!"

Here we go. Can you guess what these art pieces are made from?

How about if we take a closer look.

That's right...buttons! Nevermind the obvious question of where Augusto Esquivel gets all of his buttons. Just look at the thousands of strings it must take for some of his art pieces.

Now that you've seen the work up close, imagine what it took to create these pieces.

And how in the world does he transport them? 

I'm just at a loss of words when I see creations like this. So I'll let Augusto's words speak for themselves.

"I realize how insignificant and small a simple sewing button can be as it lays in my grandmother’s sewing box, but at the same time how unique and precious it can become as part of a work of art. Like an atom in a molecule, each button serves and shapes the whole. I hold the button to my ear and it whispers to me, “I want to be…..”

Until next time...

Mike

Stumble this post

Art Without an Imprint

I see genius like this and I am happy to sit on the sidelines, hoping that a small speck of artistic dust blows my way. This is truly art without an imprint (ok, an imprint on the mind, yes, but not one on the earth) - destined to be blown away by the winds, and washed away by the waters.






Brochure from Peter Hinson on Vimeo.


Oh how I could linger long, because every single one of Jim Denevan's art works steals my breath.

sand

ice

earth

Don't miss having a look at snapshots of the documentary of the world's largest work of art on the icy Lake Baikal in Siberia. It's absolutely mesmerizing.

Until next time...
Michael