Nibble, Nibble Little Mouse. Who's Nibbling On My Sugar Greenhouse? Caramel Solarium By William Lamson.

Commissioned by Storm King for their 2012 Light and Landscape show, a show in which fourteen artists used natural light as an essential artistic material, this isolated hillside greenhouse actually has 162 amber-tinted windows made of caramelized sugar.




William Lamson baked the caramelized sugar into the windows of Solarium, tinting each a unique amber shade.





All plants create sugars through photosynthesis; those inside Solarium use light that has been filtered through sugars, a circular process. Weather permitting, Solarium is designed to be viewed from afar, where it appears as a jewel-like object, and from within, for the experience of its unusual plays of light.







William describes the project as follows:
"Like a mountain chapel or Thoreau’s one-room cabin, Solarium references a tradition of isolated outposts designed for reflection. Each of the 162 panels is made of sugar cooked to different temperatures and then sealed between two panes of window glass. The space functions as both an experimental greenhouse, growing three species of miniature citrus trees, and a meditative environment. In warm months, a 5x8 ft panel on each side of the house opens up to allow viewers to enter and exit the house from all directions. In addition to creating a pavilion like environment, this design references the architecture of a plant leaf, where the stomata opens and closes to help regulate the plants temperature. Set within the open the landscape, the house functions as a hybrid sanctuary at once evoking a plant conservatory, a chapel, and zen garden."


Materials: Steel, glass, sugar and plants
Dimensions: 10' 10" x 8' 11" x 10' 3 3⁄8 in. (330.2 x 271.8 x 313 cm)

William Lamson discusses the creation of Solarium, on view in Storm King's South Fields. Film by Kate Barker-Froyland:


images courtesy of William Lamson, Storm King and This is Colossal
A special shout out to Laughing Squid who brought this cool project to my attention.

Metalmorphosis Moving Water Sculpture by David Černý.

Most recently you may have heard the name of Czech artist David Černý during the London Summer Olympics as he was the artist who created the London Double Decker "push-up" bus, Booster (shown below).



A piece of which I was not a fan, I thought I'd share with you something of his I do like. Metalmorphosis is an imposing kinetic installation of a giant head that spits water. Part sculpture, part fountain and wholly impossible to ignore, the piece is 30 feet tall and weighs 14 tons.







Video:


Metalmorphosis:
Stainless steel, motors, computer driven control centre, water, etc.
Installation on 3700 Arco Corporate Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina

Height: 30 feet
Weight 14 tons

David Černý

The Rock Has Landed. Levitated Mass, A 340 Ton Boulder by Michael Heizer, Hits LACMA.

Levitated Mass by artist Michael Heizer, considered one of the last great 'land artists', is composed of a 456-foot-long slot constructed on LACMA's campus, over which is placed a 340-ton granite megalith. At 340 tons, the boulder is one of the largest megaliths moved since ancient times.


above: Michael Heizer, sketch for Levitated Mass, 2011, © Michael Heizer

above: The granite boulder is now carefully positioned atop the center of a 456-foot-long concrete slot, which museum visitors descend in order to walk beneath it.

As with other works by the artist, such as Double Negative (shown below), the monumental negative form is key to the experience of the artwork.

above: Michael Heizer's Double Negative, 1969-70, two trenches cut into the eastern edge of the Mormon Mesa, northwest of Overton, Nevada.

Heizer conceived of the artwork in 1968, but discovered an appropriate boulder only decades later, in Riverside County, California. Taken whole, Levitated Mass speaks to the expanse of art history, from ancient traditions of creating artworks from megalithic stone, to modern forms of abstract geometries and cutting-edge feats of engineering.

Visiting the Quarry: the Making of Levitated Mass:
During the winter of 2011, Director Michael Goven visited the quarry in Riverside, California where the 340-ton monolith was awaiting transport to LACMA.



Crowds gather at LACMA to see Levitated Mass:

In the early morning hours just before dawn on March 10th, 2012, the transporter carrying the megalith arrived at the museum. The transporter traveled through four counties (Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles) and twenty-two cities in a carefully orchestrated journey that attracted thousands of bystanders.  

The Megalith Arrives at LACMA: The Making of Levitated Mass:

As a show of thanks to the many communities which saw and hosted the historic transport of the 340-ton boulder that is now part of Michael Heizer’s Levitated Mass at LACMA, the museum is offering free admission to residents of select zip codes during the week of June 24 to July 1, 2012.

 

Simply show proof of residence in one of the below zip codes—for instance, a driver’s license— at the LACMA ticket office, and you’ll be granted free admission to all of our exhibitions and collection.

90001 90002 90003 90004 90005 90006 90007 90008 90010 90011 90015 90016 90018 90019 90020 90021 90024 90028 90029 90034 90035 90036 90037 90038 90043 90044 90046 90047 90048 90052 90056 90057 90058 90059 90061 90062 90064 90067 90068 90069 90089 90095 90210 90211 90212 90220 90221 90232 90242 90247 90248 90249 90255 90301 90302 90303 90305 90501 90502 90503 90504 90505 90506 90601 90602 90603 90604 90605 90606 90621 90623 90630 90631 90638 90639 90650 90670 90701 90703 90706 90710 90712 90713 90715 90716 90717 90723 90744 90745 90746 90747 90755 90802 90804 90805 90806 90807 90808 90810 90813 90814 90815 90831 90840 90895 91709 91710 91715 91730 91743 91744 91745 91748 91752 91761 91762 91763 91764 91765 91766 91786 91788 91789 91792 92335 92337 92509 92821 92822 92833 92835

 images, videos and info courtesy of LACMA and reuters

Modernist Metal Birdhouses & Birdfeeders By Joe Papendick

Metal sculptor Joseph Papendick creates beautiful outdoor birdhouses and bird feeders. The collections I'm sharing with you here are his modernist and cubist designs. Made of steel and treated with primer and 2 coats of bright and beautiful enamel colors, they are available in the colors shown or any color combinations you'd like.

"Charm" Birdfeeders


These welded steel bird feeders are made entirely by hand and are 12" in diameter The stainless steel screen, which holds the seed, is welded to two stainless steel rods. These rods fit into grooves at the corners of the piece. The rods hold the seed screen in place much like a hammock, and also serve as perches for birds. The entire screen and rod section is removable for cleaning.

"Cheepie" Standing Birdfeeders


These hand crafted, welded steel birdfeeders stand approximately 6' tall. The upright support is welded to an "I-beam" shaped base which has been uniquely designed to allow the piece to stand securely upright when "planted" into the ground approximately 8 -10 inches deep. The 'feeder' portion contains of a stainless steel screen designed to hold bird seed a safe distance off the ground. Shielded to a degree from rain, wind, and sun - the stainless steel screen allows for rapid drainage of any water, and will never rust through. Once 'planted' into the soil, the design allows for the roots of surface vegetation to reach through and firmly anchor the piece into the ground.

"Cubist" Bird Feeders


This first series of "Cubist" bird feeders measure 11" tall X 8" wide. Two stainless steel rods, inserted through holes drilled into the sides of each piece, allow a perforated aluminum screen for bird seed to simply rests on the rods. This feeder screen sits between the boundaries created by two rectangular slats which are inserted through cuts made into both sides of the pieces. An additional stainless steel rod runs perpendicularly through these slats, serving to stabilize the rectangular elements, while also serving as an extended perch for birds. Keeping the various elements separate - without welding - allows for them to be painted separately, now in in the future. These pieces are each treated with spray primer and enamel. Although they are pictured here in only select colors - with white as the sole horizontal color - they can be easily finished in any combination of colors you'd prefer.

"Duo" Hanging Bird Feeders


The "Duo" series of hanging bird feeders measure 14" tall X 18" wide. They are made from hand bent welded steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Divided down the middle by the roof structure, each of the two separate sides holds a perforated aluminum screen for bird seed. The seed screens simply rest upon the two stainless steel rods which are inserted through the piece. Along with two other rods, of differing lengths, these rods also serve as perches for birds . The Longest is 22" wide. The pieces are designed to hang by twin ropes of galvanized steel wire, approximately 20" long. Each of these support ropes rests under the angle of the two bent roofs, coming together at the top in two loops. The pieces are treated with two coats each of spray primer and enamel. Although they are pictured here in only select colors, they can be easily finished in any color you'd prefer.

"Plus" Bird Feeders


The design of this 'Plus' series of bird feeders features two rectangular elements. The two main sections are not welded together. Instead they nest within each other, and a pair of stainless steel rods, running through the middle of both pieces, holds them perpendicular. Three perforated aluminum screens for bird seed rest on these rods. Since they are cut to fit within the three individual sections, the screens also serve to prevent movement of the horizontal piece from left to right. I particularly enjoy it when everything about a design just seems to work together! These pieces measure 12" high, 14" wide, and 5" deep. They have each been finished with two shades of spray enamel, one slightly darker than the other. Any of the pieces in this series can easily be finished in whatever color combination you'd like to see.

"Home" Hanging Bird Feeders


Inspired by the shape of old wooden birdhouses, these new "Home" series bird feeders measure 6" square and 18" tall. On each of the two levels a perforated aluminum screen, designed to hold bird seed, is supported by two stainless steel rods which are inserted through the piece. These rods also serve as perches for birds. The pieces are designed to hang by a rope of galvanized steel wire, 20" long, which has been looped permanently through the top section. They are treated with spray primer and enamel. As such they can be finished in a variety of colors.

Shop for the above here.

HOMA - The Hotel Of Modern Art In The Yuzi Paradise Of China.

Thanks to the kiwi collection, a fabulous site of the world's greatest hotels, I have discovered HOMA, the Hotel of Modern Art in China, part of the Relais-Chateaux group of luxury hotels.

In the middle of the untouched Chinese landscape, surrounded by lakes, rice paddies and cone-shaped mountains, lies the Yuzi Paradise. Amongst the two hundred international sculptures found in this extraordinary setting is the hotel, itself a piece of contemporary art.




Various modern art sculptures and installations, amazing scenery, an indoor gallery, atelier, multiple restaurants, a spa, one-of-a-kind rooms and fabulous activities like river trips, art classes, tai chi, horseback riding, rock climbing and bike riding make this a desirable destination for just about anyone.



A large triangular chalet with grass-covered rooftops and smoked glass windows, the hotel is devoted to contemporary creations and home to the large suites, some of which are duplexes and shown later in this post.

The hotel lobby:

Indoor art gallery:

the Atelier (shop):


The Setting

Set against Guilin's emerald hills, the 1000-acre park is home to sculptures from international artists as well as the unusual hotel.








The Rooms



The only Chinese hotel in the Relais & Chateaux alliance, HOMA has 46 unique rooms. Like the postmodern park it calls home, the hotel's aesthetic is clean and contemporary. Though no two rooms are the same, guests can expect plush linens, smooth surfaces, flatscreen TVs, and pieces of inspired artwork.

The Lotus Suite:



The Family Suite:


The Family Room:

The Cavern Suite:

The Dynasty Suite:


The Libre Suite:



Deluxe Double:

Standard Double:

Standard Twin:


The Restaurants

The Cave Restaurant:



The Lotus Restaurant:

Lakeside dining:


The Spa

The Flying Spa exterior:

The spa lobby:

Spa treatment rooms:



And more
Art classes for any age:


The Swimming Pool:



Words from the founder, Rhy Chang Sao:


Many people have wondered why I should throw myself into a quixotic arts project like Yuzi Paradise and the Hotel of Modern Art. I've been called a fool many times over, so I decided to give my park the ironic name of Yuzi Paradise, or "Fool's Paradise" in Chinese. "The fool enjoys doing what he believes is right", as I've said many times over. We all know that private funding for the construction of art parks is rare enough even in developed countries. Many people of means simply decide to rest on their laurels and enjoy material comforts.

But I, the fool, observed that while China now enjoys more material wealth, we still lack aesthetics in our daily life. To enrich the nation and the world's aesthetics is my life's goal.

This may be hard for some people to grasp. Regardless, I will continue in my pursuit of aesthetic perfection. Life means more than wealth or power. Life needs an artistic, spiritual dimension, and an environment in which to experience it.

As a world famous scenic spot, Guilin boasts a beautiful natural landscape, yet until recently, there has been little of cultural relevance. Since the Song Dynasty, people have been coming to Guilin to enjoy the mountains and the rivers, to be baptized by the beauty of scenery. Now, with our world-class art park, visitors can revel to the wonder of natural mountains in dialogue with human-crafted sculpture.



Yuzi Paradise and HOMA have helped set the course for a new kind of culture, joining talents from China, Taiwan, and other artists worldwide. By infusing cultural elements into our beautiful natural surroundings, we offer a new experience of art and nature. --Founder Rhy Chang Tsao



HOMA
Central reservation office (United States)
+1 800 735 2478*
Or book through the kiwi collection here.