These pictures are NOT animated...

...your eyes are making them move. 

To test this, stare at one spot in each picture for a few seconds and everything will stop moving; or look at the black center of each circle in the first picture and it will stop moving; but when you move your eyes to the next black center, the previous one will move after you take you eyes away from it.

Kind of fun!

A different sort of "public art"

I received an email with pictures of these cats stating that people have paid up to $15,000 to have their cats "painted". A quick check at snopes and this is indeed an urban legend. (These are photoshopped pictures of cats). However, I have to admit, that they are pretty nicely done and although they aren't "public" since they can't move around to be seen. I figured what the heck, they are still nice to look at. My favorites are the fish (very nice) and Charlie (clever)!

milliner genius!

My love affair with hats is cemented every time I spot a Philip Treacy hat. He is one of the most unconventional hat makers I have ever seen. I was lucky enough to attend a show that Cranbrook Museum hosted in 2006. Once you get to know his work, it is readily identifiable. Some would call it crazy, but as with every brilliant artist, one should view a large portion of the work before you make hasty decisions about the work.

One of his more famous recent commissions was a hat for Camilla Parker Bowels for the recent royal wedding of Queen Elizabeth's grandson to a Canadian woman. Pictures of the wedding include photos of Camilla's hat as well as two young ladies with Philip Tracey hats. The butterflies version is shown here.

Hats are one of my favorite accessories! And Philip Treacy is a milliner genius!

Just what is Festifools?

This is a kitty puppet that was showcased at the Festifools 2008 parade in Ann Arbor. Festifools debuted on April Fools Day 2007 and in one short year has grown into a huge celebration of puppet creation for the public! This video shows clips from Millennium Park in Chicago and the second half is from Festifools 2008. For more on this event see the bottom of this blog.

Paintings by Lola

I found these while surfing the web. They have such a feeling of innocence and remind me of my early childhood when one could run out their back door and play for hours with the neighborhood kids. Time was easier then it seems. Life was slower and people were able to enjoy the little things, like wild life. My walks with my dog beget short interactions with bunnies and deers which remind me to slow down. Thanks Lola. I like your art.

Muffin Cars on the loose!

This photo shows an electric muffin vehicle. A what? Yep. A car shaped like a muffin!

It was originally introduced at the yearly Burning Man event in 2004. More recently it showed up at the third annual Maker Faire at the San Mateo Event Center and Expo center. Over 65,000 people came to the event that showcases a gathering of folks from all walks of life who blend science, technology, craft and art to make things goofy and grand. Sounds like an event after my heart!

The above link takes you to brief interviews with some of the items that were showcased, including the muffin maker who is listed in fourth position as Acme Muffineering. How can you resist?

Government sponsored art!

Who says the government doesn't sponsor art? Here is proof in the pudding!

The United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster III Military Transport with the 14th Airlift Squadron located at Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina, files away after releasing flares over the Atlantic Ocean. Smoke from the flare reveals a crisp, dramatic, startling, and beautiful visual of the turbulent air - including two vortices's each with an "eye" - created by the plane as it flies through the air.

Pakistani Painted Truck Art

In Pakistan, art is not necessarily confined to galleries; it is

also found on the road. All around Pakistan you will find brightly colored and decorated trucks. They are covered with paintings, ornaments, reflectors, woodcarvings, and other decorations, which become the most recognizable features of the county. They are the world famous "art trucks". 

Almost every single truck in the country is it's own masterpiece. They provide a moving canvas for the artists, who express their feelings through the medium of art and splendor of colors. The cost for this transition to the truck owner can be as much as a third of the total truck cost. All across Pakistan, this folk art has turned village lanes, city streets and long-distance highways into a national gallery.

More latte art

Now how could I resist posting this? 

Creativity is everywhere! 

Orphan Works Bill

Orphan Works Bill

It started simple enough. This was a bill introduced to help libraries and museums preserve disintegrating works by duplication when the copyright owner can not be found. After years of bouncing around congress, it has become a monster. Currently, copyright is granted the moment a work is created. This new Orphan Works legislation proposes a change in U.S. copyright that would (indirectly) require artists, illustrators, photographers, and any creative individual to actively maintain and defend their copyright by registering each and every work with privatised registrars. Failure to do so would leave everything you've ever created as an artist up for grabs by anyone who wanted to copy, reproduce, create derivative works for, or flat out steal your work. This only hurts the little guy and the large corporations love it. Get informed! A great explanation can be found right here.

Easter Island Heads

I found these sculptures in the Nichols Arboretum in the spring of 2007. If you look closely you'll see that they are small heads fashioned after the mysterious stone carvings on Easter Island. This mystery has always been of interest to me, so you can imagine my delight to encounter these while walking one afternoon. I loved this piece so much that I wanted to make a flip book showing the approach to the sculptures while walking toward them. Unfortunately my camera broke after this photo was taken, so this will have to do in it's place. It's as close as I could get before it's demise.

I was never able to find out who made these delightful pieces. They remained in place for about two or three weeks and then disappeared. This is my personal thanks to the artist for sharing their vision with the rest of us.

The steers of city hall

These "steers" are on display in front of Ann Arbor City Hall at the moment. They are titled Umbororo Crossing and are based on the artists experiences with a nomadic tribe called Umbororo from Sudan. They are the work of Elshafei Mohamed, a graduate student in the University of Michigan's art program. 

I like how they blend in with the landscape. Although I'm interested in why they are headless. What kind of commentary is being made here?

He was recently a recipient of the Golden Paintbrush Award from the Ann Arbor Commission on Art in Public Places. Congratulations Mr. Mohamed! They are also for sale, for more information click on the title of this entry.

A City of Foam

These are images from an advertisement released by Sony called Foam City. The video shows the wall of foam being released and traveling down this area. It's short and fun to watch!

Art in the strangest places

I loved this when I saw it! The deceased requested this expired meter upon her death. Apparently her son purchased it on ebay and had it modified to her specifications. 

Now that is the way to leave this earth, with a great sense of humor! The grave is in Okemah, Oklahoma and placed near a road so it has many visitors. 

Some known, many unknown. 

How great to add joy to a persons life long after you are gone. Especially a stranger. I'm in pure admiration.

Neurosis' & Anxieties

These funny guys are only about two inches tall and they have flip sides as well. Meaning if you look at the two pictures closely you will see that they are indeed different. One picture shows the front and the other shows the back. Now which is which, I have been unable to determine.

The artist named them Neurosis' and Anxieties and I bought them at the Ann Arbor Art Center. I love their size, quirkiness, colors, and cyclops faces! 

Cinco de Mayo

It's Cinco de Mayo! 

This day of celebration commemorates the victory of Mexican forces over the French at the battle of Puebla. It is often confused as Mexico's independence day, which is actually Sept. 16th and occurred 41 years prior to this event. In Mexico it is primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla but it is recognized nationally. In the rest of the world, it is celebrated as a day to honor Mexican heritage. The children pictured here are from St. Paul, Minnesota.

Recycled art...

Isn't it great how creativity kicks in when time is running out? 

Take for example this incredible and beautiful installation by sculptors Dan Havel and Dean Ruck. A few months before this house in Houston, Texas was to be demolished they decided to do a little remodeling. I'm guessing they saw an opportunity to do something freaky crazy cool to a space that was going to be destroyed and turned this old house into a trippy wooden warp zone!

To see more pictures, click on the link above. What an awesome example of public art. Gets you thinking doesn't it?

Yellow is the IT color!

HAPPY MAY DAY!

Yellow is the color you are going to see a lot of this spring. On who, has yet to be seen, but it's in all the stores and magazines. The word is, if you can't wear a yellow dress, than wear yellow accessories.

Even my dog, Cooper, is catching on to the trend

 as seen here at the Arb. These daffodils (all 20,000 of them) were planted in 2003 and bloomed for the first time in 2004 as part of an art installation by Susan Skarsgard. It is a spectacular sight to behold. Now is the time!

Finally, click here to see a beautiful dance by yellow costumed dancers as pictured here. This is quite a lovely and magical clip. The "fan" behind the dancer is really many, many arms. Watch and see the mirage come to life!