Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Tourner La Page
Mini Public Library Project
The project is a part of John Locke's Department of Urban Betterment program. The goal is to improve urban spaces and encourage sharing. You take a book, you bring a book back. He hopes to challenge people to engage with their street surroundings. To open your eyes and look around, instead of looking down or meandering mindlessly without seeing what's right in front of you.
Hopefully the project can catch on and spread to more cities. In my opinion there can never be too much human interaction, or too many libraries! Technology will always evolve and its up to us to make sure that our surroundings don't become victims to our neglect. Just because phone booths are considered to be "obsolete" doesn't mean that there is no other purpose for them. Upcycling - the concept of taking something old and turning it into something new - is something we should all try to incorporate more often.
images via Graceful Spoon
Create Your Own Before I Die Wall
If you remember my post about the Before I Die wall? In case you don't it's an extremely passionate project that is bringing together communities and inspiring individuals all over the world. The coolest part is that the creators of the project have come up with a toolkit so people can make a wall of their own. The kit includes a title stencil, guide, metal chalk holders, gloves and chalk. The best part is, you can also download these files anytime if you want to create a stencil of your own. Be sure to visit the project website for more info.
Before I Die Project
Candy Chang is an artist and designer based in New Orleans, she's created countless projects but this one is one of the most inspiring. One day she just took over an abandoned house in her community. She painted the side of it in chalkboard paint and stenciled in the sentence:
“Before I die I want to _______.”
The beauty of this project is that it allows you to get to know your community members in addition to functioning as a piece of public art. The project has spread to other countries all over the world. It's been replicated in 30 countries, including Kazakhstan, Portugal, Japan, Denmark, Australia, and South Africa. Every person, no matter their location, comes together to share your dreams. Chang's hope is to better communities and give people from all over the chance to be heard. It's so easy to get caught up in our day-to-day lives and forget what really matters. This project encourages all of us to reflect and remember the dreams we once had, in hopes of reigniting the passion that was once within.
"At their greatest, our public spaces can nourish our
well-being and help us see that we’re not alone as we
try to make sense of our lives. Each passerby is
another person full of longing, anxiety, fear, and
wonder. With more ways to share in public space,
the people around us can not only help us make
better places, they can help us become our best selves."
Candy Chang
Meet the Landscape Artist: Richard Shilling
images via Richard Shilling
Richard Shilling is an accidental artist who stumbled across an Andy Goldsworthy sculpture in the middle of nowhere a few years ago. He was so intrigued that he asked around, did some research and discovered that the work was indeed Andy Goldsworthy's. He was so inspired by his land art that after learning all that he could about his work he went out and started to make his own. The further he delved into the world of Goldsworthy he became extremely passionate about land art. It inspired him and led him to connect deeply with nature and the world around him.
Shilling explains land art as a simple process that involves wandering around somewhere in nature without any preconceived ideas. Once he see's a shapely rock, or a breathtaking leaf this will inspire him to create something with these items.
He has some advice for those that want to create land art:
1. Go somewhere and open your eyes.
2. Look at what is out there. See the colors, shapes and forms.
3. Select the materials that appeal to you because of their shape or color.
4. Collect as many of these items as you can.
5. Make a pattern, swirl, circle, or anything that you like with what you have found.
This will lead to a better connection and appreciation of nature, while sparking your inner creativity too! So get out there and try to make some land art of your own! I know I will as soon as I find some time, and I'll make sure to post whatever I create.
Saying Goodbye: Tribute to Oscar Niemeyer
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images via Raisin Feed/The Economist
I just wanted to take some time this week to pay tribute to another great architect. This Wednesday, Brazilian architect and iconic figure Oscar Niemyer passed away at the age of 104. He was a modern designer who went against the grain of Brazil's standard-issue neoclassical style. He was a completely innovative designer who created something completely revolutionary for his city. By giving his iconic buildings curves he made thought provoking and whimsical structures for the public.
The day after his death Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes declared three days of mourning to honor Niemyer. Brazil lost a great man that day, but so did the world. .
Picture's two, three and four are of The Museum of Contemporary Art located in Niteroi, Brazil. It is one of my favorite pieces of his by far. It fits Brasilia, Brazil's futuristic capital, just perfectly. I can't wait to graduate, because I am seriously considering taking a couple months off to go live in Brazil. I know enough Spanish to survive, but learning Portuguese is a challenge I'm definitely willing to take!
