Choi to the World

Magic TED talk by Marco Tempest

I love the combination of old technologies to create a modern magic show. Fantastic entertainment and educational too! I love TED talks, this one really pops!.  

Origami at TEDtalks

Fascinating stuff. TEDtalks over at TED.com  Of particular interest is a talk by origami artist Robert Lang. His TED talk is about origami in scientific applications. His talk is both amazing and funny, simple and wonderous. He has developed a freeware called TreeMaker that gives you the fold pattern for a stick figure so you can make the most complex origami models like spiders or deer with antlers, all out of a single uncut square of paper. My love of paper is constantly affirmed for its versatility and plasticity, texture, and accessibility and beautiful simplicity.

Pictured above: Robert Lang's sucky mosquito--I never imagined I'd find any mosquito so fascinaitng. Now a house centipede--I just don't think I could give it a second look without a squasher in my hand. Hey Mr. Lang, could you pack enough circles into a square to make a 100 legged creepy-crawly?

Going Underground for Mayday

My nose has been to the grindstone preparing for Mayday Underground 1 week from today! Thankfully my absolutely stunning husband who had this week off took home and baby duty the whole week so I could get into my rabbit hole to do some work.

I don't have nearly as much as I hoped--I always think a day will be more productive than it is. I'm a hopeless optimist--what can I say? But I will have so much more than if I relied on a few sleep deprived hours at night to get things done. I have some new designs and some old favorites to share at the show. The sketch book is brimming with ideas which I'd hoped would all be debuting at Mayday but alas that is not to be. I am trying to stay mindful and present to life, slow and steady as an admired artist just happened to reflect upon today. If I could be one fifth as prolific as she is I'd be thrilled, yet I am contented because I had this extra time to be present to my work, not relying on fits and starts. I keep working and I am seeing results. My baby will only be little for a small while so I'd rather spend time basking in the glow of his smile and be a witness to his learning and growing, creating and blooming. He is my greatest work, much of my inspiration and purpose.

So are some debut photos of some unforgettable fellows and a shadow box all aflutter.

 

 

longfellows and garden greens

Over the Christmas holidays we visited the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh. While there we were consumed with seeing the Christmas displays, the train set, a fish tank, participating in a holiday scavenger hunt, and of course the lush and exotic displays of plants while watching our little one discover it all. It was a rather harried trip with grandparents and cousins and all. In a few quiet moments here and there when I got a moment to really look at what we were seeing I started noticing these lovely Longfellows by glass artist, Hans Godo Frabel.

Now seemed like a good time to show the photos I snapped while they weren't looking.

 

It is as if they are what light would look like if it had weight and form.