Book art

I found another awesome art form, figured it wouldn't hurt to write about two things this week!
http://www.slightlywarped.com/crapfactory/curiosities/onemanstrash.htm
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/09/bittersweet-art-of-cutting-up-books.html

The art of cutting up books in order to create something is not something I had ever heard of prior to discovering these web-pages. Being an English major, this idea should seem satanic to me, but I like the idea of creating something new out of something old. Artists such as Brian Dettmer, Jacqueline Rush Lee, Georgia Russell, Su Blackwell, Aaron Packer, Mike Stilkey and Jim Rosenau are just a handful of artists that have contributed ideas and creations to this odd art form.
Once again I'm extremely impressed by the tediousness that some of these artists submerge themselves in-in order to create something new.
These are some of my favorite pictures---

Peter Callesen

Peter Callesen is an artist who, lately, has been creating exhibitions, paper cuts, instillations and objects with paper. This is so amazing to me. So much work must go into each of his pieces of art--some of them are so intriquite!! I can't imagine the fustration of making one wrong cut. He sometimes uses acrylic paint--but most of his work is just paper and glue. His creations vary greatly in size-- ranging from detailed life-sized staircases to minature flowing rivers with tiny boats containing even smaller people.

On his web-page he talks about the meaning behind individual creations. For example he speaks of one of his drawings/performances; "‘The Dying Swan’ reveals different layers of identity, and often he strives at being somebody or somewhere else or tries to achieve the impossible. He is, however, always confronted with reality and failure."

I think it's wonderful that each of his creations has a story or a meaning within it. Here are some of my favorite pieces-- there are many more on the website along with additional information.

http://www.petercallesen.com/index.html

Crop circles?

"Transformers" created from cars in a parking lot--

Designs made in snow and sand with the use of rakes, then photographed with a camera attached to a kite.---

Japanese crop-art. Created by planting different colored rice in with their normal green colored rice.---

Crop circle in Wiltshire, England. It measures 200 feet in diameter.---

There are more examples of interesting and creative crop circles here

----> http://weburbanist.com/2009/02/02/aerial-art-crop-circles/

The ones I posted are my favorites.

I think these are so impressive to me because I once attempted to mow a design into my yard. I had seen a book with tons of different designs that people had created in their lawns. My attempt to create a sunshine upon my parents lawn (needless to say) failed horribly. I can not imagine the level of dedication and planning that goes into one of these creations.

This concept ties to what we were talking about in class a few weeks ago--with are tying to other sujects such as chemistry. In this case it ties to geometry. These crop circles all have to be planned on a small scale and then expanded to fit these gigantic fields. I think the japanese rice art is particularly impressive because it has to be planted in that orientation!

The wonders of sidewalk chalk

So i figured i would take my graffiti post from last week one step further with an upgrade to sidewalk chalk!
I am not referencing the hopscotch, hearts and stars that are often scrawled across sidewalks by elementary school kids or children pushed outside to play. I'm referencing artists such as Edgar Mueller, Julian Beever, Kurt Wenner and Johnnie Walker. These men take it upon themselves to exquisitely decorate sidewalks with chalk and occasionally paint.
Now, I thought graffiti on walls was pretty cool, but this is absolutely amazing. Most of these chalk-creations are done so when viewed from the right angle they are completely 3-d.
This site (which I’ve tagged on delicious) has pictures and videos of a few paintings (drawings? chalkings?) being done-- http://weburbanist.com/2007/09/21/3-amazing-3d-street-artists-urban-graffiti-from-around-the-world/
This site just focuses on one artist-- http://www.rense.com/general67/street.htm
I’ll attach my favorites here =)

Art Crimes

We've all seen graffiti, scrawled across a bridge over a highway, or on the side of some dilapidated Richmond building. To some there may be no doubt that there is no art, no beauty what-so-ever in these neon eye-sores; but I personally believe there is art, and more importantly wonder, to be seen in this form of expression. Now, I’m not saying that kids who write their "street-names" beside some vulgar symbol on a building are artists. I'm more focused on the idea of graffiti that takes real time, passion and talent to create. http://www.graffiti.org/ has a wonderful collection of graffiti pictures from all around the globe, from every state in the US, to Australia, Peru, Europe, pretty much everywhere in the world. Some of these works of art span over 150 feet down city walls, taking days and days of dedication to create the final product. Some focus on particular issues of that country-for example there is a whole collection of graffiti sprayed in response to the attacks of 9-11.
(Like this one from Connecticut)

My point here is not that graffiti artists should be worshipped and have their work put in prestigious museums. I’m simply saying that these people are often adding a splash of beauty and color to their cities. I don’t think that these are “crimes” we really need to worry about; I think instead we should focus on what they have brought to the city. I drive past one graffiti mural on a regular basis, located around the corner of Main and 23rd (may be 24th, I’m not positive.) Every time I pass this two story high piece of art, I feel a sense of wonder. I am amazed at this artist’s ability to make a dull street corner beautiful, and his ability to do so with just some cans of spray paint.