anger release machine (interactive art)

you know right now i am not even on edge in the urban jungle but this goes along with that supermandolini poster i was talking about: behold the anger release machine by berlin-based artists ronnie yarisal and katja kublitz! it’s filled with assorted glass and ceramic objects that one can purchase to break, for purposes of releasing tension.

what a great interactive piece. although if i was in a snit i’d be sad afterwards if i bought all the lucky cats and smashed ‘em.

the crystal glasses would be much more satisfying.

see more intrigue on their website.

via wrong distance

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design sponge diy contest finalists

i am sure you have read about the supremely excellent diy contest that grace at design*sponge has put together, with exciting prizes or the top winners (including gift certificates from 2modern and subscriptions and merch from readymade magazine). the deadline for entries has passed but now the voting will begin. check out some of the innovative things created by the first few finalists:

side table with newspaper base

doll parts coat rack

perspex interior door panels

that surreal wall rack has got my vote!

check out the other finalists as they are released to the public at design*sponge today and cast your vote for the winner here.

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fun fomato greeting cards

check out these very humorous illustrations and graphic text greeting cards from the creative los angeles stationer called fomato. the creative force behind these whimsical illustrations and witty stories woven into the sentiments prefers to remain anonymous, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy these cards, many in three or four panel versions, and little badges too! (ed. note: sorry if the bigger cards are tough to read - hopefully you can see some of the stories in the close ups…)

i love the style and the bold colors. for me though the intriguing (and hilarious) stories on the longer cards are the hook. i would love to see a print series or a continuing serial of some kind with these wacky characters, since they make me smile so much.

see the full complement on the fomato website. they’ll have an online shop sometime this fall, but in the meantime you can purchase these terrific cards at black ink (boston), zipper (los angeles), magma (london), hazel or paper doll (chicago) and posman books (new york).

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maurizio savini chewing gum sculpture

italian artist maurizio savini creates amazingly detailed and slightly disturbing sculptures out of chewing gum and has exhibited throughout europe. he enjoys using the gum as a medium due to the multiple senses engaged while chewing it, and also because it is a reminder of his youth and adolescence.

maurizio is elusive! he does not appear to have his own website, but an information page can be found here, and also (in italian) at the next door gallery, where he is represented.

via the presurfer and fun forever

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an artist a day website

if you do not already, i encourage you to look at this interesting website called artist a day. they feature one new emerging artist per day in the hopes of creating more exposure for them and art in general, everyday. the people featured work in a variety of media, and a few words about themselves and their vision are included along with one or two images. what a great way for creative people to create additional internet presence for themselves!

local artist gisela insuaste

boston illustrator ria brodell

portland photographer corey arnold

i love this and i love what they are doing, but i want to see more - much much more and more types of media please! they feature wonderful high quality talent here (including the brilliant jennifer maestre and mark khaisman recently), so whoever here among us is making the beautiful things, please go and submit your work for review!

thanks for the tip dear husband!

via joshspear

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jennifer maestre sculpture

(ed. note: welcome first-time readers! if you enjoy this article about jennifer, please click on the other categories to the left to enjoy even more posts about other talented artists and designers. better yet, feel free to be impulsive and click on subscribe to the right, and i will bring the good stuff to you instead! thank you for visiting!)

look closely at the fantastic sea creatures created by south african born, massachusetts based sculptor jennifer maestre and you will see that they’re made of pencils. that’s right, you heard me. jen’s current work is skillfully crafted from hundreds and hundreds of colored pencils. they’re cut into one inch pieces, sharpened and then drilled through to become beads, and then sewn together using a peyote stitch. in each of these incredible works you can feel the approach-avoid paradox from her medium - a clear and surprising achievement (and one of her goals). you can also see the genesis and extension of a simply fascinating idea.

all that contrasty tension in the spikey points and smooth, undulating surfaces serve as reminders of all that is dangerously attractive in nature. the textures, at first glance, give way to a certain complex reveal that comes from deep inside a person who is not only a visionary, but also a truly enlightened master of color.

i love to see the progression and throughlines of artist’s work, and jen’s website is a fabulous example of this. knowing that she started out with the idea using nails when she was a student (see the first 3 photos above), and then having it evolve organically into pencils and then being nimble enough with the concept to extend this thought into something wearable and accessible to people who aren’t hardcore collectors is truly extraordinary and seems so purposeful, and successful to me.

and i want to touch everything, even though they’re sharp, and stick my head inside that tall guy with the gaping hole at the top, to see all the spikes in there. to stare. and think and evolve like the piece itself must have done.

see more magnificence on jennifer’s website.

bonus: check out her beautiful pendants, pins and small sculpture in her etsy shop!

via designboom

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sale at the branch shop

looking to spread good cheer and higher social conscience by giving beautiful and sustainably designed gifts this year? hop on over to branch and see their wonderful array of home and personal accessories they have available, and reward yourself by taking 20% off any purchase today (saturday) and tomorrow (sunday).

enter special code branchfriend when you check out to receive your discount, and support this shop and the responsible labor and production methods used for their inventory. discount does not apply to certain furniture items.

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ornament swap deadline is soon!

i love the idea of creating a little handmade holiday token and releasing it into the universe for people around the world to enjoy, as well as receiving one back, so i’m all for this second annual holiday ornament swap that has been organized by the writers of freshly blended and cake and pie! to participate, click on either of the links and follow the instructions, and be sure to do it by friday november 9th at midnight eastern time!

i am planning to participate this year, and can’t wait to see what people make and receive. yay!

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