Creative License. Comparing Michael Kalish's Works With The Original Art That Inspired Him.

above: a composite of Banksy's Flower Thrower with the license plate version by Michael Kalish

There are actually several artists out who have found creative ways to "up-cycle" license plates from automobiles. One of the most respected and well-known, is artist Michael Kalish.

His impressive repertoire of work contains imagery of American culture - from flags and automobiles to portraits of entertainers such as Johnny Cash. But in the pieces I am sharing with you in this post, he's taken modern, pop and urban art by well-known artists and recreated them in his style using metal license plates.



At first glance, these works of artists Banksy, Warhol, Tom Wesselman, Murakami, Keith Haring, Shephard Fairey and Roy Lichtenstein look like the original pieces until you get closer and see that they've been crafted from metal license plates.

I'm going to share with you both Michael Kalish's creations along with the original pieces that inspired him.

Roy Lichtenstein's Girl With hair Ribbon by Michael Kalish:

detail:

The original by Roy Lichtenstein:


Andy Warhol's Marilyn by Michael Kalish:

detail:

The original by Andy Warhol:


Tom Wesselman's Beautiful Bedroom Kate by Michael Kalish:

detail:

The original by Tom Wesselman:


Banksy's Flower Thrower by Michael Kalish:

detail:

The original by Banksy:


Shepard Fairey's Obama by Michael Kalish:

The original Obama art by Shepard Fairey:


Takashi Murakami's Louis Vuitton Pattern by Michael Kalish:

detail:

The original by Takashi Murakami:


Dog, Baby and other Keith Haring icons by Michael Kalish:

dog close-up:

The original by Keith Haring:


About the Artist:


Michael Kalish is an internationally acclaimed artist and sculptor who has a natural ability to transform ordinary objects into extraordinary works of art.

The subjects of Kalish’s work reference a broad sampling of American culture, from the all-American pastime of baseball and the morning cup of Java to portraits of popular, political and cultural icons.

His signature medium, the license plate, embraces his ideal of Americana with his own contemporary sophistication, curiosity and distinctive style. Many of his unique sculptures have found permanent parking spots in a number of Hollywood homes.

Over the past 15 years, Kalish has garnered national and international press exposure as well as solo shows and representation in galleries around the world. He has been the feature of stories in publications from the NY Times and People to Art in America and USA Today, as well as TV appearances on CBS Sunday Morning and CNN’s “To the Top.” realize marks an entrance into a new medium of work for Kalish, publicly installed monuments.

Michael Kalish

Ninth Mayan Underworld Luxury Watch with Solid Gold Glyph-Engraved Face by De Bethune.

The ninth Mayan underworld - The symbolic advent of a new world by De Bethune

The ninth step of the Bolon Yokte Ku, the cosmic pyramid of the Mayan civilisation, symbolises the advent of a new world, the ninth underworld, according to which the evolution of consciousness is believed to reach its highest level.



On the occasion of humankind’s symbolic passage into this new underworld predicted by the Mayan calendar, De Bethune presents an exceptional 12-piece edition in tribute to the scholarly traditions of this people.



The Ninth Mayayn Underworld watch has a dial in solid gold with hand-engraved by Michèle Rothen and is composed of three parts:
• The outer ring with numerical glyphs in flame-blued steel,
• The inner ring composed of 20 different glyphs symbolizing divinities, animals or sacred objects,
• And the central part representing a period glyph – the baktun comprising 144,000 days.



Renowned for its technical and artistic innovations, the Manufacture De Bethune is building 21st century horology while remaining true to the history of science and art.

The desire to portray the epic adventure of humankind through all its many cultures represented a fascinating challenge for the De Bethune team, which has sought to recreate the deep atmosphere of the ceramics and stones sculpted by the Mayan scribes.



The solid gold dial of these timepieces has been hand-engraved by Michèle Rothen, and enhanced by 31 flame-blued steel inserts. The hour circle displays the numerals of Mayan numbering system, while the inner ring presents the 20 glyphs of divinities, animals and sacred objects representing the various days of the calendar.



The dial centre features the baktun, a period glyph used in particular for calculating the “Long Count” and comprising 144,000 days.

In order to highlight the subtle visual equilibrium of the dial, the hands are made in sapphire rimmed with blued steel according to an exclusive De Bethune procedure.



The Mayan scholarly tradition, partially re-transcribed in the manifestos or codices dealing mostly with astral sciences, testify to a strong interest and a genuine fascination for long periods, dates, and remote events both past and future. The Mayan scholars devised a sophisticated arithmetical system mainly composed of period glyphs and numerical glyphs, associated with signs and hierarchized for the “Long Count” of lengthy periods of time.

With its feet firmly planted in history and its head turned to the future in building tomorrow’s watchmaking, De Bethune offers its own distinctive celebration of the mystical and scientific Mayan genius, and the symbolic advent of a new world.

The ninth Mayan underworld Technical description
Functions: hours - minutes
Movement: Calibre DB 2005 – mechanical hand-wound
Mainplate hand-decorated and snailed, hand-chamfered and polished steel parts, De Bethune stripes
Self-regulating twin barrel*
Silicon/platinum balance wheel*
Triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system*
Jewelling: 29 jewels
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour
Power reserve: 6-day power reserve

Case Drum measuring 44 mm in diameter in white gold with hollowed lugs
Thickness: 12.50 mm
Glass: sapphire crystal, 1800 Vickers with double anti-reflective treatment
Crown at 3 o’clock – adjustment in 2 positions

Exhibition back: sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment
Dial in solid gold hand-engraved by Michèle Rothen and composed of three parts:
outer ring with numerical glyphs in flame-blued steel, inner ring composed of 20 different glyphs symbolising divinities, animals or sacred objects
central part representing a period glyph, the baktun comprising 144,000 days
Hands in sapphire rimmed with flame-blued steel
Strap: extra-supple alligator leather with pin buckle
* Patents registered by the Manufacture De Bethune



Bethune Geneva Office
8, Rue de la Confédération 1204
Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 310 22 71
Fax: +41 22 310 33 40

images and press release courtesy of De Bethune and additional images courtesy of Watchonista

147 Foot Luxury Yacht With An Incredible Interior. The Helix Yacht from Feadship.

The Helix Yacht, the fifth Feadship in the exclusive F45 Vantage custom series, has recently been launched. And while she shares the phenomenal finish and first-class facilities of her four sister ships, this F45 is the first to feature an elegant and Nautical interior by De Voogt Naval Architects and Sinot Design Associates.

Main Deck:




Bridge Deck:



Bridge Deck Lounge:

Main Lounge:



Main Aft Deck:


Skylounge:


Multi-purpose room:


Main Statesroom:



Main Bathroom:


Guest Statesroom:

Guest Bathroom:


The Wheelhouse:



Based in the Netherlands, Feadship is a cooperation between three of the most renowned names in yachting history - Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw, Royal Van Lent and De Voogt Naval Architects - with combined roots dating back to 1849. Recognized as the world leader in the field of custom-built luxury motoryachts, Feadship has continuously been at the forefront of innovations in both technology and design.

Video of the Helix Yacht:


Name: Helix
Year: 2011
Length overall: 44.65m / 146’6″
Beam: 9.20m / 30’2″
Draft: 2.70m / 8’10″
Main engines: 2x MTU 12V2000M70 – 788 kW / 1055 bhp
Speed: 14.5 knots
Fuel capacity: 40,000 Liter / 10,500 US Gallons
Fresh water capacity: 10,000 Liter / 2,600 US Gallons
Design: Studio De Voogt
Naval Architect: De Voogt Naval Architects
Interior design: De Voogt Naval Architects / Sinot Design Associates