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Took Long Enough! A High Tech Lite Brite From Bandai: Luminodot




The japanese company Bandai has come out with a high tech HD led version of Hasbro's Lite Brite. The toy that lets you add clear colored pegs to a light box backing to create glowing pictures.


above: the original Lite Brite toy

Lite brite was one of my favorite toys as a kid and believe it or not, I still have my original. However, this new one by Bandai, the Luminodot, is sorely tempting me to purchase it. With 1600 colored pegs and a sleek screen, it retails for $179.00 USD.

Like the original, you can use templates to place on the light box under the perforated screen to follow as a guide or randomly create your own designs.






They have Disney licensed templates too:



a few examples of some of their downloadable templates.


They have several templates to choose from. see their downloadable templates here.

Features (as described by audio cubes):
Bandai's Luminodot is the Lite-Brite we always knew we wanted. This 70 by 50 pixelated board is supported by a bright LED backlight. With 1600 bulbs in 12 different colors, each dot is important to finish the master piece. Any type of images can be projected onto the Luminodot, from a simple 2D picture to perspective art works. Featuring a private software that helps the user to create and preview the image. Luminodot is designed with a removable front panel, which allows the user to place the printed image underneath. A one-of-a-kind interior decoration. Available only from Japan.

Specs:
Power: AC adapter
Accessories
1600 color bulbs

In Japan, buy it here.


In the US, buy it here.

Are We Not Men? We Are Rug Designers. DEVO's Mark Mothersbaugh Does Rugs




Mark Mothersbaugh, member of the iconic and influential band DEVO is a visual artist as well as a musical one. In addition to his books, prints, drawings and paintings, he's recently designed 12 different rugs for Walteria Living in Los Angeles.


above: the cover of DEVO's best selling album, Freedom of Choice and Mark Mothersbaugh

The rugs vary in size and shape, are crafted of 100% New Zealand wool and come in various color combinations. There are 4 limited edition rugs that are based on his previous paintings and drawings and 8 patterned rugs, some of which are based on his previous artwork as well, designed by Mark.

His 4 limited edition rugs:




The 8 other rugs:








In addition to the rugs, he's created a wonderful collection of wallpapers for Walteria Living as well. Many of which are based on his Beautiful Mutants images. Here's a few examples:



In his own hilarious words:
Mark's love of art started early in his childhood, just after it was discovered that he was extremely nearsighted and legally blind.

His first correctional glasses offered Mark a new view of the world, inspiring his obsession with imagery and illustrations. His first works, which he began creating in the late 60's and into the 70's, consisted of many different mediums, including rubber stamp designs, ink illustrations, screen printing, decals, and mail art. He participated in local showings, and received recognition for his work in his home town of Akron, Ohio.

With DEVO, his most successful music project, Mark was able to showcase his artistic abilities on a larger scale, and to millions of people. Through their films, videos, costumes, LP covers, stage shows, and printed materials, Mark and DEVO forever altered commonly held preconceptions of how a rock band should function in popular culture.

During his downtime on early worldwide tours with DEVO, he began illustrating on postcards to send to his friends, which he still creates, and has been creating every day for over 30 years; A very obsessive habit which still yields anywhere from 1 to 25 new images per day. These cards were originally created as his personal diaries, and were never intended for public viewing. That all changed when Mark decided to share his postcard works in his critically acclaimed solo shows during the 80's & 90's, and then with his gallery tour in 2003 titled HOMEFRONT INVASION!. This marked the beginning of many solo shows to come.

Mark followed the 2003 tour with his BEAUTIFUL MUTANTS tour in 2004, which showcased his photographic symmetrical creations and 'corrected' imagery. The tour distributed many more of Mark's works throughout the world, and attracted more first-time gallery visitors & art buyers to his shows.

Mark's gallery tours since 2005 have featured new works from both his Postcard Diaries Prints and Beautiful Mutants photographs, giving each gallery a choice of either visual theme.

Buy Mark's rugs and wallpaper here.

Check out his latest Postcard Diaries here.
And The Visual Art Of Mark Mothersbaugh website here.


Sign up to be alerted as to when his prints from his Beautiful Mutants, upon which the wallpaper is designed, here.

A Photographer Who Is Full Of Hot Air: Paul Graves' Balloon Sculpture Series



above: Paul Graves, phenomenon 3, from The balloon sculpture series, 2008

This month Italian magazine Domus' cover features photographer Paul Graves' photo of a balloon constructed person and his innards. Below are more shots from his 2008 Balloon Sculpture Series.




The image as it appeared on Domus' January cover:


A photographer who has worked with balloons before, Paul has created a balloon Garden of Eden for a previous editorial:


See the fabulous details:







Prior to that, he created this fun series of celebrities as balloons, using simply their trademark hair (or lack thereof) to immediately give the balloon the recognizable persona.

Don King:

Andy Warhol:

Pippi Longstocking:

Kojak (Telly Savalas):

Liza Minelli:

David Bowie:


Paul shoots many styles a has a large range to see his complete portfolio click here.

In light of balloon 'fun', and the off chance that you are one of the 3 people left in the world who has not seen the fabulous durex condom ad with balloon animals, here it is for you:

• See a newer post on the Balloon sculptures of photographer Paul Graves, that include his balloon expletives here.

Live Feeds & Schedule: The Presidential Inauguration (History in The Making)



Today is such a historical day with the inauguration of President Elect Barak Obama, I think I will refrain from a new post and instead suggest you watch the inauguration via live feeds and links (and read yesterday's post on the best Obama memorabilia, of course).



The White House has begun a new website starting today:


http://www.whitehouse.gov/



live feeds:
Washington Post Live feed:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/postpoliticstv.html

CNN Live:
http://www.cnn.com/live/

MSN NBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27721638/

Feeds from Ustream:
http://www.ustream.tv/

C-span Inauguration Hub:
http://www.c-span.org/politics/c-span-inauguration-hub.aspx

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