Artist Blaine Fontana Completes His 30 Limited Edition Nestkeepers.

above: 30 Limited Edition Nestkeeper Sculptures by artist Blaine Fontana

I'm a big fan of artist Blaine Fontana's work. His installations, his mixed media, his paintings and now these wonderful limited edition Nestkeepers. Thirty little imp-like sculptures each carefully painted in styles varying from japonesque designs to graffiti, exemplifying Blaine's vast styles and talents.


above: four profiles of the varied styles of Blaine Fontana's Nestkeepers.

It was in his 2006 show, The Manifest Soup Transcripts of Four Corners, (at the now closed Lineage Gallery in Philadelphia) that featured the first 8 of the 30 nestkeepers and he has just now completed them all.


above: the first 8 nestkeepers as they appeared at Lineage Gallery in 2006

The nestkeepers were inspired by this earlier painting of Blaine's:


Blaine sculpted the original prototype at which point fellow Otis Alum Daniel Garcia, then in the toy design department, applied his talents with the wax pen on the second casting and together they cast the finals.


above: the last 22 of the final 30 casts. The mold has since been destroyed.

The 30 nestkeepers are created from a solid silicon cast and then each 5" tall form is hand painted and adorned with unique elements, like twigs, nests, flowers, butterflies and even spray can tops.

Please click on the images below to enlarge and see the 30 beautiful nestkeepers.







UPDATE: The $800.00 nestkeepers have long since sold out. But visit Blaine Fontana's online store to see other original sculptures and art available for purchase.

Below are a few examples of the work of Blaine Fontana:





all images courtesy of the artist and society6


Blaine Fontana

Weird & Wonderful Worldwide Web Wonders

above: cool doorknobs, head handbags, lap pillow, taillight lamp and pig speakers


A few funky finds from all over the world for you:


above: Molecule doorknob by Sherle Wagner


above: A few of the weirder ties from the wonderful Cyberoptix Tie Lab.


above: the Hizamakura knee lap pillow comes with a black or red skirt and costs $101.00 USD
buy it here.



above: Dzimtry Samal's Human Furniture Collection, learn more here


above: One of Maurizio Savini's many life sized chewing gum sculptures, see more here.



above: Pig speakers from IDEA japan, not available in the US. In japan, buy it here.


above: Molteni & C's glove chair by Patricia Urquiola covered in Vivienne Westwood's Rubbish fabric


above: the headbag handbags by Raw Edges



above: Thai Baker/artist Kittiwat Unarrom makes gory looking human parts from bread.


above: Tail Light pendant lamps made from repurposed automotive tail lights by Stuart Haygath, available at LIMN.


above: External Hard Drive and Flash Drive concept by Mint Pass.

The Muppets Take Paris. JC de Castelbajac's Fall 2009 RTW Collection.

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac's Fall 2009 Ready To Wear Collection is loaded with Muppets. No, that's not a derogatory term for models, I'm talking Kermit the Frog and Animal- both lovable muppets designed by the late Jim Henson. Whereas JC's Spring 2009 collection was a collaboration with Disney® and featured lots of Mickey Mouse and other Disney character clothes, this fall collection is a collaboration with the Muppet Holding Company, LLC.


above: Jim Henson's Animal and Kermit The Frog muppets appear in Castelbajac's 2009 Fall Fashions

The fashion designer, art collector, and artist nicknamed JD/DC has incorporated many cultural icons and legends into his fashions in the past including cartoon characters, Royalty, celebrities, toys, flags, rock stars, animals and more. His past collections have featured clothes that utilize or represent imagery of LEGO®, Rubiks Cubes, Smileys, National Flags, Mickey Mouse, Hello Kitty, Felix the Cat, South Park, Andy Warhol, Michael Jackson, Barack Obama, Princess Diana and so much more.


above: a few of the pieces from JC DC's Spring 2009 RTW collection which also featured largely blogged about LEGO inspired fashions.

This 2009 FALL RTW collection of his also featured lots of leopard print, hand scrawled grafitti, zippered leathers and primary color geometrics typical of Castelbajac, whose shown his fondness for LEGOs in the past. But the muppet fabrics and actual plushies worn as hats,necklaces, skirts, muffs and more are definitely worth looking at for their sheer irreverence.















The Designer:

above: designer JC de Castelbajac



Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, also known as JC/DC, was born 28 November 1949 in Casablanca, Morocco. As the Marquis de Castelbajac, he is a French nobleman. He has enjoyed international success with some of his creations, including a coat of teddy bears worn by pop star Madonna and by supermodel Helena Christensen in the film Prêt-à-Porter. Recently JC de Castelbajac has befriended designers such as Cassette Playa and The Coconut Twins. His fashion archive was showcased in preparation for his retrospective "Gallie Rock" in Paris by photographers Tim and Barry, modelled by Cassette Playa, M.I.A., Jammer, Matthew Stone, Slew Dem Crew and more.

As well as his imaginative clothing collections, the designer creates home furnishings.

In 1979 de Castelbajac married fashion journalist and model Katherine Lee Chambers. They had two sons but the marriage ended in divorce. The designer is currently engaged to actress Mareva Galanter. (source: wikipedia)

To see the entire 2009 Fall collection visit jean charles de castelbajac's site.