The Wire Sculpture of Gavin Worth

I am enthralled with these wire sculptures created by artist Gavin Worth.  Worth is a self-taught artist born in Zimbabwe, raised in New Mexico, and currently teaching in Cairo at the American International School.  He has a degree in acting and spent several years in the theatre before taking up art full time.

His wire sculptures seem disarmingly simple, almost like sketches. I love how they are there but not there, fully-realized forms that have no substance, and seem to occupy no space.  They are more like the memory of movement or of a moment than weighty art pieces.  He describes his process as follows:

By bending black wire into something of freestanding line drawings, I create sculptures that engage the viewer by involving them in their subtle changes. When the light in the room shifts, so does the mood of the piece. A breeze might softly move an arm. My wire sculptures tell stories of simple human moments: a woman adjusting her hair, a face gazing from behind tightly wrapped arms, a mother gently cradling her baby. The honest, unguarded moments are the ones that I find to be the most beautiful.

He has also does illustration, web design, painting, and has recently started exploring paper cutting, including this arresting portrait of his grandmother.

Amazing!

Juliana Santacruz Herrera

I love the incredibly colourful work of artist/yarn bomber Juliana Santacruz Herrera, who fills some of the many potholes found on the streets of Paris with intricate designs made from colourful yarn stuffed into the crevices.  The bright colours against the mostly monotone streets are arresting - almost shocking - and to my winter-weary eyes, so cheerful!

Thanks to Melissa for the head's up on Juliana - Melissa's blog is amazing.

Lynn Jackson

One of the booths that stood for me was that one Toronto artist Lynn Jackson, who showed her knitted metal sculptures.  They were so whimsical and unique.  I read on BlogTO that she knits them using copper wire and regular knitting needles. She bases them on childhood memories, creating items of clothing and these wonderful stuffed animals.  They would such a great piece in a modern kid's room, the perfect mix of industrial, wistful, and playful.

Giants in the Landscape

I love these incredible figures stringing wires through Iceland.  They are prototypes that will probably never be built, but were designed by the American firm Choi + Shine Architects for a 2008 Icelandic competition.

In their words: 

LAND OF GIANTS

This design transforms mundane electrical pylons into statues on the Icelandic landscape.

Making only minor alterations to well established steel-framed tower design, we have created a series of towers that are powerful, solemn and variable. These iconic pylon-figures will become monuments in the landscape. Seeing the pylon- figures will become an unforgettable experience, elevating the towers to something more than merely a functional design of necessity.

The pylon-figures can be configured to respond to their environment with appropriate gestures. As the carried electrical lines ascend a hill, the pylon-figures change posture, imitating a climbing person. Over long spans, the pylon-figure stretches to gain increased height, crouches for increased strength or strains under the weight of the wires.

So beautiful!  I love the idea of taking something mundane and predictable and turning it into inspiring art.

Found on a few things from my life, one of my favourite, favourite blogs.

The Jealous Curator

Have you guys seen The Jealous Curator blog?  It is awesome - her tag line is "A collection of artwork that inspires & depresses me.  You know it's good when I'm left thinking DAMN I WISH I THOUGHT OF THAT." Which is just a genius subject for a blog, and so well put.  Anyway, she has a couple of things on there that I had to share, cause they are so cool.

First up is Coloured Pencils from artist Jonna Pohjalainen.  In her words:


"I travelled to work in Pedvale with empty hands. I admired the lovely rural scene and the sunsets of Pedvale. I used local aspen in my work because of its lively forms and beautiful, grey colour. While you sharpen your pencils you can see time passing by. Colours bring joy and happiness in our everyday life. I chose a place of of my work because of the sunsets. You can sit and meditate near my work and look at the sunsets. Without sun there are no colours and life!"

So cool, right?  Then we have the amazing collages of Australian Liesl Pfeffer.  Incidentally, she sells these in her Etsy shop - for around $20!!

incredible pencil sculptures

Pencil sculptures - say what?  The two words sound funny together - but just look at these incredible, tiny, inticate pencil sculptures by Brazilian-American carpenter/artist Dalton Ghetti.  I am blown away.  He uses a razor blade and a sewing needle among other implements to sculpt both the wood and charcoal of old pencils. In-SANE.

Found on Say YES! to Hoboken.

clothes light

This amazing light, made for a restaurant in Florence by designer Gaetano Pesce was recently auctioned on the site WrightAuctions.com.  It went for a mere $6,250.  I think it is so neat.

Found on sfgirlbybay.

Anna-Wili Highfield

I forget where I first saw these incredible paper sculpture by Australian artist Anna-Wili Highfield*, but once I had seen them I couldn't get them out of my head.  She paints archival cotton paper, then tears it up and re-stitches it together around copper pipe.  The results are quite magical, I can only imagine how striking they would be in a room.  I particularly love the ones that are suspended from the ceiling or attached to the wall, although I would not object to getting one of the others as a gift... I guess you could attach any of them to the wall!  Kate, you and I may have to duke it out for the raven.

I thought this little turtle was pretty cute too.  She also does some pretty spectacular copper wire sculptures - how amazing would they be in a big loft space?

Natasha and Steve, you need this giraffe.

* I remember now, it was on Black*Eiffel.  I love that blog!