Brief Bouts of Mischief: David Zinn’s Chalk Drawings Imbue Everyday Street Scenes with Playful Character

All images © David Zinn, shared with permission

Since 1987, Ann Arbor-based artist David Zinn (previously) has gathered a diverse and humorous cast of characters on the sidewalks, streets, and walls of his hometown. In some of his newest works, a tiny tomfool alien explodes a load of asphalt with the push of a button, a dandelion lights the candle of a young dino’s cake, and an unenthused amphibian with “resting frogface” peers from a hole in some mortar.

Zinn recently published two books, including The Chalk Art Handbook, a how-to guide for creating temporary chalk art in public places, and Chance Encounters, showcasing numerous examples of his interventions over the years. Find more of the artist’s work on his website, and follow along on Instagram as he transforms more hidden corners of his community.

 

 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Brief Bouts of Mischief: David Zinn’s Chalk Drawings Imbue Everyday Street Scenes with Playful Character appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/z51gilM
via IFTTT

Through Spliced Stone and Crystalline Patches, Massimiliano Pelletti Brings a Contemporary Touch to Antiquity

“Optical Venus” (2022), emerald and ochre onyx, 44 x 24 x 28 centimeters. All images © Massimiliano Pelletti, courtesy of Bowman Sculpture Gallery, shared with permission

Undulating stripes of emerald and ochre, spliced sections of sodalite and Mexican white onyx, and dense, glimmering patches of crystalline stone characterize Massimiliano Pelletti’s elegant sculptures. The Italian artist (previously) is known for his distinctly contemporary interpretations of classical statues that highlight imperfections, fallibility, and convergence. “Pink Eros,” for example, depicts the god of love through a typically smooth carving that’s met with a jagged midsection and shoulder. Two other “Venus” works combine segments of stone in herringbone, pixelated, and striped patterns that meld the subject matter of antiquity with more modern motifs.

Many of the sculptures shown here will be on view in October for Pelleti’s solo show, Eredità, at Bowman Sculpture Gallery in London. Included is “White Noise,” a new bust that appears wrapped in a gauzy veil and evokes the towels the artist uses in his studio to cover finished works so that they’re protected from dust. He explains:

I always find myself looking at those covered figures that do not have their physiognomic characteristics visible. I am fascinated by them because even if they are covered, you can still read the outlines of their physical shape, leaving more room for imagination… I decided to create some of my artworks in their veiled version. The world of contemporary art is one in which appearance often reigns at the expense of substance. I wanted to allow the viewer to see beyond the veil that is both a visual reality and a metaphor for a mental barrier.

Following Eredità, Pelleti will open an exhibition at Galleria Doria Pamphilj that, for the first time in the space, will pair a contemporary artist’s work with those of greats like Caravaggio, Titian, and Raphael. Follow news about those shows and keep up with the artist’s latest projects on Instagram.

 

“Pink Eros,” pink onyx, 85 centimeters

“Dreaming of Olympia,” 96 x 70 x 47 centimeters

“White Horizon,” sodalite and Mexican white onyx

“Polychrome Venus,” white onyx, sodalite, and volcano onyx, 49 x 40 x 40 centimeters

“White Noise,” Mexican white onyx, 54 x 50 x 32 centimeters

“River,” white onyx and emerald onyx

Detail of “Dreaming of Olympia,” 96 x 70 x 47 centimeters

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Through Spliced Stone and Crystalline Patches, Massimiliano Pelletti Brings a Contemporary Touch to Antiquity appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/FcCfprG
via IFTTT

A New USPS Collection Enlarges the World’s Tiniest Lifeforms to the Size of a Postage Stamp

All images courtesy of USPS

One of the newest releases from the U.S. Postal Service features creatures so microscopic they’re too small for even the back of a postage stamp. Released earlier this month, the Life Magnified collection contains 20 of the world’s tiniest living forms, from a cluster of supple red blood cells and a single strand of fibrous hair to the sprawling network of mouse brain neurons. While most stamps shrink a photo or illustration to fit within the confines of the rectangular sticker that’s less than an inch wide, this series enlarges the images to reveal the infinitesimal in striking, vivid detail.

Included in Life Magnified are several scientists and photographers featured on Colossal, including Igor Siwanowicz (previously) and Jason Kirk (previously). Shop the collection at USPS.

 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article A New USPS Collection Enlarges the World’s Tiniest Lifeforms to the Size of a Postage Stamp appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/T9mrMs4
via IFTTT

In Fantastical Laser-Cut Plywood Reliefs, Gabriel Schama Revels in Elaborate Details

All images © Gabriel Schama, shared with permission

Through a process of meticulous design, laser-cutting, and layering, Gabriel Schama creates incredibly detailed reliefs from thin plywood (previously). His work has focused on symmetrical, mandala-like forms with countless undulating patterns, and in recent years, he’s begun to explore more narrative themes, placing figures and objects into fantastical compositions. In new works, otherworldly birds careen in a flurry of feathers, a bottle of potion roils, and a hanging unit on a wall doubles as a holster for a sword.

One major project that took Schama several months to complete was a pair of panels installed on monumental doors. “The real feat was figuring out how to break the design down into smaller pieces, hiding the seams between the panels in the lines of the design and making the whole thing foolproof for some team of people on the other side of the world to install,” he tells Colossal.

 

“Potion of Dreams”

Over the past few years, Schama has experimented with different colored stains to enhance the compositions but struggled to find results he was happy with. Then, he unexpectedly stumbled upon new techniques and now incorporates varying hues. He says, “I have an old bias towards not obscuring the inherent qualities of the wood, hence sticking to ‘natural’ wood tones for so long, but I have become pretty obsessed with this really vibrant purple pigment I just found.”

Schama has been working on a large chapel- or temple-like structure, with Burning Man in mind. “Every time I’ve posted images of the scale maquettes I’ve made, people go out of their way to offer their help building it,” he says. The artist is also producing smaller pieces to be released as numbered editions this fall. You can follow Instagram for updates, and explore more work on his website.

 

“Bridge of Birds”

“DJ Booth”

Left: “Chapel of the Lilies.” Right: “Thorn and Fang”

“Tension and Release”

“Prince of Thunder”

Detail of “Prince of Thunder”

Installation view of “Thorn and Fang”

Door panels prior to installation

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article In Fantastical Laser-Cut Plywood Reliefs, Gabriel Schama Revels in Elaborate Details appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/WGepzoI
via IFTTT

Can You Reproduce da Vinci’s Masterpiece in Under 60 Seconds? Try with Clone-a Lisa

All images via Clone-a Lisa

It took Leonardo da Vinci four years to paint the “Mona Lisa,” so how well can you recreate the portrait in just one minute? The creators behind Vole.wtf recently released “Clone-a Lisa,” an interactive game that challenges users to forge the art historical masterpiece in under 60 seconds. You can reference the original throughout, and at the end, you’ll see how your work measures up to that of the Italian great.

 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Can You Reproduce da Vinci’s Masterpiece in Under 60 Seconds? Try with Clone-a Lisa appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/BmGQlE5
via IFTTT

Laurent Ballesta’s Luminous Photographs Reveal the Astounding Diversity of Ocean Life

All images © Laurent Ballesta, shared with permission

The earth’s oceans are mindbogglingly expansive, and less than 20 percent has been mapped, explored, or seen by humans. For Laurent Ballesta, the underwater world provides an endless stream of remarkable aquatic personalities. The French photographer seeks exciting formations of fish, coral, and crustaceans, capturing their behaviors and honing in on individual traits: a hefty crab carries numerous barnacles on its back, a colony of shrimp look as if they want to say hello, and a shiver of sharks swarms around a meal.

Trained as a marine biologist, Ballesta has been a photographer for National Geographic since 2011 and won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award three times, capturing life below the surface with an eye for beauty and a focus on scientific inquiry. As the director of Andromède Océanologie for more than 20 years, in addition to leading group dives through Gombessa Expeditions, Ballesta emphasizes undersea exploration where there is “a scientific mystery to be solved, a diving challenge to be met, and the promise of unprecedented images.”

Prints are available for purchase on Ballesta’s website along with a selection of books. Follow updates on Facebook and Instagram to stay apprised of new releases. You might also enjoy taking a deep dive into footage of rare jellyfishes spotted over the past few years. (via Blind Magazine)

 

 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Laurent Ballesta’s Luminous Photographs Reveal the Astounding Diversity of Ocean Life appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/rKhPLG7
via IFTTT

Go Behind the Scenes To Glimpse the Exacting Process of Creating Tiffany-Style Lampshades

Huge sheets of colored glass transform into intricate, illuminated floral designs in a new video from Process Discovery that glimpses the manufacturing process of Tiffany-style lamps. A timeless design originally made popular by artist Louis Comfort Tiffany in the late 19th century, the colorful, luminescent shades remain popular today. And while original models produced for Tiffany sell for tens of thousands of dollars, mass-produced versions like the ones shown here are much more accessible. The process comprises complex steps that follow an intricate diagram, from cutting individual shapes to assembling in a mold to soldering every seam.

You might also enjoy more behind-the-scenes videos from Japan-based Process X.

 

All images © Process Discovery

  

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Go Behind the Scenes To Glimpse the Exacting Process of Creating Tiffany-Style Lampshades appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/9ampMJB
via IFTTT