Now these are some paws!

How's that for a pair of shoes?! 

These are custom made by an artist from Kharkov, Ukraine named Bob Basset. He makes all kinds of leather items, but these are my favorite. I have a passion for shoes and these would be a wonderful addition to my collection. Especially since I am such a fan of bears, too! 

Grrrreat Shoes! (Couldn't resist....)

Impromptu Art

What a fun find! I was shopping at the farmer's market when I got a great space that was free! Then as I exited my car, I found this lovely piece of impromptu art.

I love it when people take what is at hand and use it creatively to make something unexpected. In this case, the artist(s) used stick and placed them randomly in a sign post. How fun is that?

Unless we have more art in our lives, we will live a mundane existence. Here's to those that add unexpected joy to our lives!

Street finds

I was walking across the street the other day when I found this guy stuck to the street. I'm told they are all over town. How fun! 

One just has to be careful not to get hit by a car while looking at them. 

Cat and Art?

Meet my foster cat, Penelope. She is fitting right into our house. A cat that loves to sit next to a replica of 'The Schoolgirl" by Edward Degas, is okay in my book. 

I find her sitting looking out the window regularly. I suspect she really just likes the view, but who can resist thinking she might actually appreciate art!

Creative and a cause

This catches your eye doesn't it? I have a true respect for window painters. Especially ones how can paint at this detail. 

I found this on the window of a downtown hair salon named Anneke's. I like it that they are promoting a cause that is near and dear to their clientele. Smart advertising with a creative bent. Nice.

Anna Wins!

I love fashion, although you may not know it from how I dress sometimes. But I do appreciate a creative eye and wish I had that ability myself.

I've been watching The Fashion Show on bravo over the past couple of months. I was so pleased when my favorite designer won! Yea Anna! 

She made me wish I had lots of money and a much lighter figure. Very nice Anna! You go girl! Loved your work! This is a dress that she designed. If I were a size 6 I would buy it in a heartbeat, even without a place to wear it. Love it!

On a not so nice note, the show left a little to be desired. It is not anywhere near as good as Project Runway, but it was still a lot of fun. Will I watch it again? You bet. 

Obama Handbag

I found this at a local merchant. I wish the quality of the photo was better, as I couldn't find anything on the internet about this piece. Odd. You would think this would be easily searchable. 

Anyway, I like handbags by Debbie Brooks. There was a store in town that sold her pieces, but my budget never allowed me to own one. If I had the money today, this is NOT one I would buy, but I still thought it was noteworthy.

Gobama!

You Need More Art

These bike racks sprouted up in town almost overnight. When the news reported the installation, they quoted a man that said he didn't immediately know what they were.

Really? It seemed obvious to me. But then I've been entrenched in art my entire life. I think the fact he didn't know there use, is yet more proof that there isn't enough art in our lives. When you don't learn to be creative it is hard to conceptualize items that may serve more than one purpose. Demand more art!

Is this art?

Is it art? Or just plain cruel? 

I hope there aren't any fish in here. If there were, they're gone now!

Maybe the treasure chest went down the drain, too....

Topoware!

Topo what!? Why it's topoware! 

Yes, geographically designed dinnerware for your table. The designers used the concept of topographic maps to design the dishes to your right.

If you look really closely, you will see that the elevation lines do not have feet above or below sea level. What they do have are words like, "modest", "moderate" and "greedy". In case it is not clear, the outer lines are the greedy portions.

Quite clever, don't you think?

I looked at their website to see about buying a set myself (the geography lover), but I couldn't figure it out. If anyone knows how to buy this, would you let me know? I love it!

Isn't She Lovely?

Kid art is the best. It's a complete expression of a child's imagination. They are free to create what ever comes to mind. 

I particularly love this piece by young lady named Emma Jane. I found it in her Moms office. We were meeting for something entirely unrelated and I had a hard time not talking about this first. In fact, I think we did discuss this fabulous piece first.

Unfortunately, this is not technically "public" as it is in an office, albeit in a public space. But I love noting things that make me smile. Perhaps you will, too!

City of Smoke

These photos came from a website that is full of images taken over a period of time, thus giving them a smoky feel. I find them beautiful, yet quite a bit haunting. If they were in color, they wouldn't feel the same. These images have an old, long past quality to them. They certainly don't make me smile while I am looking at them. Quite thought provoking....

Quick 'n simple art

Imagine how much fun you could have with this? If you put a monopoly board in a downtown how much fun could that be?

It's conjuring up all kinds of images of various ways that you could market a downtown. Hmm. The wheels are turning....

Stay tuned!

More Latte Art

Oh, the things we'll do to entertain ourselves...

Art in a cup... 

I like it!

An unusual find

I have the good fortune to live near wonderful places to hike. I came across this while walking in an area behind a friend of mines house. 

If you look closely you can see that the ribs have been chewed off the spine. The other notable item is the area where the antlers connect to the skull. This is the only place that there is any fur remaining. It's almost like the deer is wearing a yarmulke. It's endearing and creepy at the same time.

I've always had an affinity for images of skeletons since I first saw a Georgia O'Keeffe painting. Skeletons are amazing and beautiful in so many ways; artistically, scientifically and structurally. This one made me a bit sad at first, but I grew to appreciate it's beauty.

Things I can't see...

I'm a sucker for animals and bugs, too. Art that encompasses either of these has an advantage over other pieces. I also have an affinity for pigs. I'm not quite sure where that came from, perhaps the movie babe? 

These are pieces from a textile show at the Arts and Crafts Cooperative in Berkeley California. Lately I've been wishing for money to be able to buy art, visit art and just plain old be a part of art. Rarely am I unhappy with my position in life. But lately my love of art (and beautiful cloths) makes me wish I had more money.

The Wedding Feast

This piece by Stephen Fessler is on display at the River Gallery in Chelsea. I saw it at the opening this past Saturday. It is an amazingly sized 84" x 176" with a price tag of $13,000. No mind. I love it anyway. These are the times I wish I made more money, so I could go buy art that I love. And yes, I love this piece. It is full of whimsy and fun. It's size comes from it's first life as a drop cloth. After time when it is sufficiently spotted and mucked up, the artist uses it for a canvas that he creates pieces that evolve and have no planning. Rarely do I wish for a large wall, but for this piece you would need a really large wall. So, a house and the art is what I want....

Floral Art

I've been considering adopting a dog over the past week. I went to the humane society today certain I had found the right dog. Unfortunately he has been through some trauma so it didn't seen right as he was literally unable to walk very far on a leash. 

I've decided to give it time and visit this dog for another day or two. I'm convinced he just needs to build a little trust before I take him home. There is little chance he will be gone anytime soon as he really won't go for a walk. Poor dog. 

Anyway, a friend forwarded me this picture. I'm taking it as a good omen that maybe I am making the right decision. A puppy bouquet for me. Maybe a new puppy for me, too!

A chair for your butt!

Brought to you by paul m. hickman. 

Take a closer look. Those are indeed hundreds of cigarette butts glued to this chair. It was a piece he put together while in graduate school. It toured a bit, but the galleries complained about the smell. Go figure.

Anyway, he found this when I mentioned a friend was trying to quit. So I forwarded it to my friend as a bit of encouragement. 

I wonder what ever happened to it....?

BIG ART!

A giant cigarette butt was dropped in the middle of Trafalgar Square, London as a protest against the city's burning littering problem. Ever since smoking in indoor public places was banned, Londoners have been smoking outdoors and throwing the stubs on the streets. The Keep Britain Tidy campaign installed the giant structure to remind people that cigarette butts littler 78% of all streets in Great Britain.

Maybe this is what should have been selected for Ann Arbor City Hall!

High School Mural

This is outside the parking lot of one of our High Schools. The school is located in downtown Ann Arbor and is a difficult one to get into. They have a limited number of openings each year and one has to enter a lottery to get into the school. 

It is renowned for allowing kids to develop curriculum's that are of interest to the student. For kids who are looking for alternatives to regimented schedules this is a nice alternative. I wish I had known about this option when I was in high school.  

Anyway, this mural is a result of a collaboration of these creative and lucky students.

Kid Art in Downtown Ann Arbor

Every year the art teachers in Ann Arbor select the best of the projects from their classes and post them around town. Different businesses participate and one can spend hours walking the streets looking at windows full of different kinds of art produced by all ages of school children.

When I was a kid I would have loved this project. I was featured in a show at Rackham Auditorium, which was a really big deal to me. It was a big deal to a young girl who came in to look at her piece on display at the Peaceable Kingdom. She was thrilled to see her work on the wall and her entire family came with her to support her. It was delightful!

Elevated 3-D Art

I visited my Dad in Pennsylvania recently. The drive takes me by these pieces on the two (sometimes four) lane highway. I've been wanting to document them for years and finally had the chance to snap a few photos. 

Folks in PA think big when trying to catch your eye on a highway that has all kinds of beautiful things to look at. The views of the countyside are spectacular and competing with that is tough. These two businesses have devised a way to do that. 

These two pieces have become markers for me. They let me know how close I am to my destination. It's a nice thing to look forward to as you are nearing the end of a long drive.

New Ideas for Items Everyone Uses

When keys began popping up with images on them, I thought well, how come I didn't think of that? Yet another example of something that was obviously a great idea that took a while to develop. Now why couldn't it have been me?

Unusual Houses...

... make great public art!

If you have an extra $300,000 to spend and are willing to move to Festus, Missouri, than this home could be yours! If you are interested in learning more, it is listed on ebay.

I love the idea of living in a home like this. Creative, using the natural surroundings. Right up my alley. All except moving.... Not interested in that.

Whoever does, maybe they could hold Festivus parties (remember Seinfield?) in their new home in Festus. How fun would that be?

Horses in town?

I love a surprise! I've been meaning to document this for some time. This is at the end of a short alley in downtown Ann Arbor. I love this little treat that cheers me up every time I walk by. Little unexpected finds (even if they are now known) make an urban area more appealing and fun. The fact that this appears to be a horse family makes it that much more charming. 

A small collection

I rescued these from a neighbors patio when he moved out of my condo complex. He had a 3 year old son and had painted these for him. Unfortunately the father was diagnosed with lung cancer (never a smoker) and he was forced to move. 

When he left I didn't want to see these buried or lost so I brought them home. I've always loved painted rocks. They are such an unexpected pleasure when looking at a garden. Right now they are waiting for warmer weather, just like the rest of us....

The 2009 collection...

No, this piece is not part of a collection from a runway. It's not that kind of collection. It is part of Chris Roberts-Antieaus work and she refers to it as part of her "2009 collection". 

Anyway, I've been a fan of her work for some time. She is in the Original Ann Arbor Art Fair every year and is often the featured artist on their promotional materials. She has a following all over the county.

I prefer her animal themes, which she seems to be getting away from. I have two pieces. 'Long Dog' given to me by a friend and 'Growling Puppy' that I bought several years ago. 

However, if someone where to offer this to me, I'd take it in a heart beat. I love it's size and of course, it is a water theme. Water is what relaxes me. Plus, it is the quintessential hallway piece. It is hard to find something that can command small spaces. This would do it.  

Knitting for pets!

I've always thought that knitting would be fun, but have never been inspired until now. 

These are photos of some of the items you can learn how to knit in a book called, "Pet Projects: The Animal Knits Bible" by Sally Muir and Joanna Osbourne. I might just have to pick up a copy for myself. Maybe just the book, but I'm considering needles too!

When Bear and Cooper where alive, I saved Bears hair (he had so much of it)! I always had this idea of weaving his hair into yarn and then knitting a sweater. Well, they are both gone now, but I still have Bears hair. Maybe I could knit a sweater for Mr. Knuckles?

Dubai's Rotating Skyscraper

Four years ago, architect David Fisher was admiring the view from a friend's New York City apartment. "My friend said, 'Look at this view!' And I thought, Why can't we rotate the entire building so everybody can see?"

Construction begins soon in Dubai. This picture is a mock up of the building and how it will look as it rotates. There are 200 units on 80 floors, that will all have great views as the floors complete the 360 degree rotation. 

Wind turbines and solar cells positioned between each floor should provide enough electricity to power the entire building, and possibly others nearby. "This is not just a tower," says Fisher, "it is a green power plant."

Apartments in the Dynamic Tower range from $3 million to $30 million. There are over 1,100 people on the waiting list. However only 200 will be able to use the drive-in elevator that allows residents to park right outside their front doors. Conjures up interesting images about taking a spin in your sports car, doesn't it?

What do you think, is this art?

This was forwarded to me the other day. Apparently this is a very effective form of speed control. 

People approach the "pot hole" and slow way down so as not to damage their car. They then position their car to straddle the hole and are jubilant when they make it across without feeling a bump. 

I find this humorous and rather cleaver at the same time. This is a creative way to make a living and at the same time make driving safer as long as one doesn't get rear ended while showing down!

This reminds me of a take on Julian Beever's chalk work. He would spend hours drawing on pavement and asphalt creating images that were mind bending. I wonder if who ever created this, saw his work and realized they couldn't spend hours drawing on the pavement , so they came up with this version instead.

Graffiti Ordinance

Here is the graffiti ordinance for Ann Arbor.

(1) "Graffiti" means any mark or marks on any surface or structure made without the prior permission of the property owner and made in any manner, including but not limited to, writing, inscribing, drawing, tagging, sketching, spray-painting, etching, scratching, carving, engraving, scraping, or attaching. Chalk marks on sidewalks in not "graffiti." "Graffiti" does not include any attaching which is permitted under Chapter 82, Section 7:102(3).

(2) No person shall apply graffiti to any surface or structure.

(a) Community service that is as relevant and appropriate to the violation as possible;

(b) Restitution;

(c) A fine of not more than $500 plus costs.

(3) The victim may proceed with any private right of action provided under law against a person who has applied graffiti or the parent or guardian of a minor.

Okay, so it looks like all one has to do is say they approved the work if they like it and want to keep it or are not interested in covering it up. Seems like a big loop hole to me. (See below.)

Bubble Gum Alley

Take a close look. It will become evident why this space has been nicknamed bubble gum alley. Yep. There are hundreds of pieces of bubble gum stuck to this wall. 
So the question is, does this count as graffiti? The new ordinance passed making it the owners responsibility to remove graffiti in several days (I can't remember the exact number). 

But back to my question. Is this graffiti? It is located in an alley that had paintings done on the walls that were someones artwork that had been approved. It survived in pretty good shape until someone came and "white washed" some of the walls and then all kinds of stuff I would call graffiti appeared. Then it started to spill over into this area. Personally I love this and think of it as art on a collaborative level, even if ones only contribution is a wad of gum. 

But again, is this graffiti? I'm at a loss as how one defines that? I guess I should read the ordinance to see how they define it. I'll look into that and check back in. Hopefully with more images of "graffiti".

Art in winter

My dog, Cooper passed away a couple of weeks ago which means I haven't been out walking anymore. I used to carry my camera with me and would snap shots on our walks all over town. Hence, I haven't had much to report as I have been hibernating in my house. 

It was been really cold, tops 20 degrees, so even going for a short walk seems unnecessary. And frankly after walking three times a day, every day for the past 14 years, it seems natural to want to stay in. I'll get another dog - I will always have dogs in my life - but for now, until I'm ready, my art finds have been limited.

This chicken in not one of them. I found this on the Internet on one of my favorite blogs that I follow. But I loved this. I've always been intrigued by recycled art. Who would have thought that old curlers would make good fodder for sculpture? Apparently this person and I think he/she was right!

Black Eyed Susan skeletons

Even in winter, the remainders of falls beauty remain breathtaking. I wish I had taken a close up of these. They really are gorgeous. Especially with their little snow capped tops! Look for beauty and it can be found in many places.