Wow. Every time I look at these pieces, I’m in wonder. It’s so cool to see the works of artists like Rashad Alakbarov or Kumi Yamashita. These artists have found beauty in light and shadow. They take found materials and transform them into human forms or a city by throwing light on them at just the right angle.

Kumi Yamashita

Akari 2009 || Tokyo Japan || wood, light and shadow

City View 2003 || Osaka Japan || aluminum, light and shadow

Rashad Alakbarov

transparent color plastic shapes

The thing I’m loving about Oakland is the collaboration of artists that is emerging behind so many new galleries. We all long to be around like minded people that motivate and give us creative energy, right? The Compound Studios & Gallery is an artist run space, established in 2008, featuring work in a variety of media by some of the best Bay Area artists. In their beautifully lit space they offer workshops, interactive art shows, art movie nights, and gallery openings.

This week, a show I am quite partial to, opened up; The Art of Letterpress. I have a thing for textures and print as a graphic designer. I can’t help it, but I’m drawn to the world of hand-crafted objects as our world quickly becomes immersed in lit-up screens and perfectly constructed letterforms. The art of letterpress embodies the organic and natural sentiment that gets lost among our techy lives. The show will be up through March 25th.

You will certainly find me back at the Gallery on February 23 watching the film, Typeface. This movie is held in conjunction with The Art of Letterpress show and is a must see for anyone struggling with the love of both analog craft and the digital future.

It used to be that I could paint anything white and it would fit my décor. My sister used to make fun of me for my tiny obsession. For any of you who watch the show Portlandlia, my obsession reminds me of the hilarious skit, “We put birds on things”. I’d find an old picture frame that didn’t quite fit in my room, so I’d paint it white; a cool vintage statue of an owl, I’d paint it white!

Now I’m obsessed with gold. I love the level of sophistication it can add to any setting, but paired with the right color, and only using a hint of it, it can still be playful and fun. So, this goes out to you, Susie (my sis). You’ll no longer here me talk about white! You can also see this post on Brooklyn Bride where I guest blog from time to time.

Tablescape on The Decorista | gold flatware from West Elm | Confetti System Streamers | Foil Stamped Invitations featured on The Sweetest Occasion | gold painted chair from Anthropologie | artwork of Martin Pfeifle | Streamers from Martha Stewart | wallpaper by Verde | DIY star drink sticks | gold painted branches at Martha Stewart | gold installation by Carmody Groarke

Snow Pallet: An installation in Sapporo Art Park in Japan by Toshihiko Shibuya, relies on the neutral landscape created by snow, something we don’t get to experiment with much in the Bay Area. The art piece scatters mushroom-like disks, painted bright colors on the underside, through the snow. The color then reflects onto the snow below creating beautiful pools of soft neon light.

You could apply this simple process of adding color to neutral spaces and objects in many ways to garner a huge effect. We plan to experiment!

Images from Designboom
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At LS we pull inspiration for our events from anything and everything, especially art. Martin Pfeifle’s commentary on space and color translate very easily into an event setting, if you look hard enough. I love the colored paper hanging from the ceiling as a potential backdrop or partition. And, I’m a big fan of this pink spacial field turning into a table with one huge hit of color.

Have a bunch of leftover zip ties in your garage (or is it just me?) and no idea what to do with them? Look to artist Brian Jones for some inspiration. His work explores bringing new life to everyday objects like balconies and watering cans by adorning them with colorful zip ties. The result is quite beautiful. All images below are directly from the artist’s website.

Tuft v. Turf (2009)

Tuft v. Turf & A+B (2009)

Turfside Passage at Knoxville Museum of Art (2011)

Last year, Ai WeiWei, a Chinese conceptual artist, amazed the world with his exhibit titled Sunflower Seeds at London’s Tate Modern. The exhibition carpeted, at a depth of 4-inches, an enormous space with over 100 million replicas of porcelain sunflower seeds. Maybe it’s the marketing side of me or the consumer side that wants to buy these for my own garden, or better yet, see them in a public space.

All Photos By Paul Grover // Daily Telegraph

Crazy Stats
Around 5 tons of sunflower seeds
100 million replicas
1,600 skilled artisans from Jingdezhen in China
2 years to produce

Most of you who have been in the Bay Area for quite some time have heard of the Crucible by now. For those of you who have not The Crucible is a non-profit educational facility promoting creative expression, reuse of materials and innovative design training in the fine and industrial arts for people of all skill levels. You may have also heard of some of their amazing art performances and if you haven’t, you’re just in time to go to their most recent Fire Opera production which opened just last night and will run through the 21st of January.

I haven’t yet had a chance to take in this show, but I have had the chance to see a couple of the Crucible’s performances and can only say that they have never disappointed. Their shows are a breathtaking array of sight and sound, not to mention unusually spectacular and worth every penny! Be prepared to see a fusion of fire and dance and drama ring your core with delight. I’m getting goosebumps (or fired up) just thinking about it.

The Fire Opera show currently on stage is titled MACHINE: A world premiere Fire Opera. It was written, conceived and directed for The Crucible stage by Mark Streshinsky, who has collaborated on previous Fire shows. The music of MACHINE is by Clark Suprynowicz who is well known in the Bay area for his Jazz and Rock infused compositions of opera and symphonic work.

This spectacular performance features five opera singers, a rock singer and percussionists who “play” the scaffolding-like set. Visual effects including a molten metal pour, fire performers and industrial artists, such as glass blowers and blacksmiths. MACHINE will deliver the kind of awe-inspiring performance that Crucible audiences have come to expect.

“I’m incredibly excited about working with some of the Bay Area’s top opera talent,” said Steven Young, Crucible Executive Director. “MACHINE is going to be a breathtaking, world-class opera, and I’m thrilled that The Crucible is part of bringing the work to life.”

January 11-14 and 18-21, 2012
Tickets: $45-$65 {Buy Now}

Directed and Libretto by Mark Streshinsky
Score by Clark Suprynowicz

We’ve done a post on yarn bombing before (knitted cozies designed to adorn public objects). In fact, we’ve dedicated a lot of posts to yarn art in general illustrating our love for the delicate and versatile material. Well here’s another one for you by artist, Streetcolor, at our very own Oakland Museum in their front plaza. The yarn installation adds another playful layer to Jensen Architect’s chalkboard and furniture installation, “Chairs of the Board.” The area is open to the public to enjoy so go check it out before the rain finally starts.

Via Oakland Museum blog

Via Berkeley Today

How beautiful and delicate is this hanging garden inspired installation created by Swiss artists Gerda Steiner + Jörg Lenzlinger? The exhibition was created for the 50th Venice Biennial in 2003. What I love most about it is that the viewer becomes part of the piece as if in an Alice in Wonderland movie. What a lovely idea.