[Editor's note: While your Flavorwire editors take a much-needed holiday break, we'll spend the next two weekends revisiting some of our most popular features of the year. This post was originally published September 28, 2011.] The historically minded artist Mike Stimpson lends a tinge of childhood innocence to legendary moments in a collection that uses LEGOs to recreate famous photos (and one famous painting). By placing the original pictures side-by-side with his versions, he simultaneously pays homage to and updates these classic images, including the soaring Lunch Atop a Skyscraper, the darling kiss in V-J Day Times Square, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-In. Page through Stimpson’s playful LEGO remixes after the jump. … Read More
Wanted: Women Who Rock Coloring Book
Who could resist the opportunity to color in our favorite rock ’n’ roll gals while supporting a great cause? The non-profit Girls Rock! Rhode Island recently published a killer coloring book loaded with pictures of women musicians who kick butt. Illustrated by a slew of local artists — including Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females — who donated their work, the coloring book is loaded with 22 ready-to-color drawings featuring the lady pioneers of rock present and past like Nico, Patti Smith, Kim Gordon, Bethany Cosentino, and Sharon Jones. Every copy sold supports programs Girls Rock! Rhode Island provides, including empowerment workshops and camps where young girls and women to learn to play instruments, form bands, and perform original songs for a live audience. Have a peak at thecoloring book below, and purchase it on Etsy. … Read More
Fashion Designers’ Crazy Homemade Christmas Trees
Over the past 16 years, Parisian charity event Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs has called upon lauded fashion designers, artists, and architects to put their own spin on the classic Christmas tree — for a good cause, of course. Masterminded by Marie-Christiane Marek, the yearly event is held in early December and showcases innovative tree creations by fashion’s most adored houses. The designs go on display for the public to enjoy before being auctioned off to support a children’s charity — this year’s proceeds supported Association pour la Vie-Espoir contre le Cancer (A.V.E.C.). Given full creative license, the designers have kept a basic tree silhouette in mind, but completely departed from the norm, fashioning gorgeous trees composed of an ever-expanding variety of materials, like Stella McCartney’s festive ode to knitting and Chantal Thomas’s bizarre mannequin-leg masterpiece. Check out Christmas trees by the likes of Christian Dior, Chanel, and Sonia Rykiel after the jump. … Read More
Fausta Facciponte’s Unsettling Photographs of Forgotten Dolls
What becomes of our discarded childhood dolls? Do they make their way into the loving arms of another kid or wind up lonely, collecting dust at the bottom of a discount bin? Canadian artist Fausta Facciponte explores the afterlives of abandoned dolls in her haunting photo series Doll-O-Rama. Part of her Lost and Found collection — for which Facciponte captures forgotten items — it aims to show off the beauty that lies behind the worn-out eyes of old, thrift-store dolls, although the vibrantly colored, large-scale depictions of the lost, battle-scarred toys give off a more unsettling vibe. Page through the evocative images below, and find out more about Facciponte’s work at her website. … Read More
Ed Loftus’ Unsettling Photorealistic Graphite Drawings
Oakland-based artist Ed Loftus transforms graphite lines into breathtaking works of art in his latest exhibition, Big Things to Avoid. The visually enthralling collection features thought-provoking, photorealistic illustrations that juxtapose trash bags, beautiful scenery, and people to delve into what the Gregory Lind Gallery, which is showing the series, describes as “the larger themes and subtexts of the human condition, including fear, the concept of the inevitable, and the single-minded nature of obsession.” The self-taught artist, who originally hails from the UK, seeks inspiration from photography both archaic and recent. Beginning this weekend, San Francisco locals can check out Big Things to Avoid in person at Gregory Lind, where the show will run through January 21st. Sample Loftus’ latest batch of drawings after the jump. … Read More
Festive on the Cheap: A Last-Minute Guide to DIY Holiday Decor
Have you finished decorating for the holidays yet? If you’re planning to deck the halls last-minute this season, don’t sweat it. We’ve got you covered with fun DIY projects that’ll add a dose of cheer to any home. A quick trip to the craft store and household objects are all you need to fashion a winter wonderland out of cardboard, top the tree with a sweet felt star, or spruce up a bland wall with a lovely, Christmas carol lyrics-adorned banner. Pop open a bottle of wine and unleash your inner Martha Stewart with our roundup of simple holiday home decor projects. … Read More
Olaf Cuadras Ferré’s Cartoon Posters for Classic and Cult Films
Artist Olaf Cuadras Ferré is a man of many hats. Not only is he an illustrator, an art director, and a graphic designer, but Ferré is also a talented poster artist, creating a series of cartoonish images inspired by classic and cult films. The simple design of the posters — featuring iconic characters, evocative typography, and a monochromatic background — is complemented by bold colors and an attention to detail in the depiction of characters’ facial expressions, clothing, and props. Check out the series, which captures the essence of such films as The Royal Tenenbaums, Pulp Fiction, and The Big Lebowski, after the jump, and keep up to date with Ferré’s projects by following his Tumblr. … Read More
Arts and Crafts on Film: A DIY Hall of Fame
Film is a big-budget industry, but sometimes even multi-million-dollar projects can use a dose of DIY ingenuity. Usually featured in movies where fantasy or dreams play a major role, arts and crafts can introduce surrealism into a narrative and lighten even the darkest of tales through cut-paper sets, felt sculptures, and cardboard cities. While some directors get their craft on through creative characters that fashion homemade treasures of their own, others incorporate it into their production design. Check out some of our favorite films that boast an arts-and-crafts aesthetic, from such auteurs as Michel Gondry, Miranda July, Spike Jonze, and Wes Anderson, after the jump. … Read More
Mark Mawson's Explosive Photos of Neon Ink in Water
Expanding on his awe-inspiring Aqueous collection, which we spotlighted a while back, photographer Mark Mawson has returned with a newer, brighter, absolutely gorgeous addition to his series of ink-in-water shots. Titled Aqueous Fluoreau, the Sydney and London-dwelling artist’s latest batch of photos stray from the sea creature-reminiscent shapes from his previous works, steering towards a more explosive aesthetic. Neon pink, yellow, and aqua hues pop against a black background as they take on the shape of mushroom clouds and swirl together, creating a vibrant, kaleidoscopic visual. Get lost in the Mawson’s creations after the jump, and check out his website for more. … Read More
Fascinating Photos of Gamers vs. Their Avatars
Bridging the gap between virtual realms and reality, photographer Robbie Cooper depicts gamers side by side with their avatars in his eye-opening photo series, Alter Ego. Inspired by a 2003 shoot with a CEO who divulged to Cooper that he used Everquest as a medium to communicate with his children post-divorce, the project found the photographer capturing gamers in China, France, Korea, and Germany. The resulting photos, which were collected in a book, provide nuanced visual commentary on both their individual subjects and the virtual lives of people around the world. While some avatars look remarkably similar to their creators — a few even accurately depict the gamers’ wardrobes — others are drenched in fantasy, departing dramatically from their creator’s gender, race, or physique. See some of our favorite shots from Alter Ego after the jump, and visit Cooper’s website for more. … Read More
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