Get A Life - Become An Art Lover

From: Art Lovers Unite!, Vivienne Westwood, 3Dec10, Get A Life
"...If you become an art lover you get strength. You get a sense of personal progress because you start to understand the world and your place in it. You get out what you put in. That’s my motto.
I’ve given a good summation of my thoughts in this video recorded at the Battersea Arts Centre in London..."

Read more from Vivienne Westwood here and her Active Resistance To Propaganda Manifesto here

2010 Hubble Space Telescope Advent Calendar

From: The Big Picture
"As we find ourselves in December once more, I'd like to present the third annual Hubble Space Telescope imagery Advent Calendar for 2010. Keep checking this page - every day, for the next 25 days, a new photo will be revealed here from the Hubble Space Telescope, some old and some new. This year there is also a temporary RSS feed for the calendar. I continue to feel very fortunate to have been able to share photographs and stories with you all this year, and I wish for a Happy Holiday season to all those who will celebrate, and for Peace on Earth to everyone. - Alan (25 photos total - eventually) [previously: 2008, 2009]"

2 Weeks Of Global Protests

And so it begins...

"Reuters/Christian Charisius: An anti-nuclear activist with a radiation symbol embroidered on his hat, during a demonstration on a field near the embarking station in Dannenberg, Germany on November 6, 2010. German police and anti-nuclear groups expected about thirty thousand demonstrators to try to block the transportation of CASTOR rail containers of reprocessed German nuclear waste from the La Hague reprocessing plant in France to the Gorleben interim storage facility in Germany"

...the 14 days up to 17th November, have seen hundreds of protests and demonstrations all over the globe. Anti-nuclear, animal rights , anti-globalisation, workers' rights, political freedoms, sexuality rights, government dissatisfaction, student protests at education cuts and much more. Is our long-germinating unease with the various status quo that have too long ruled our worlds, finally sprouting buds across the planet?

"Reuters/Paul Hackett: A supporter of Myanmar democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi demonstrates in Trafalgar Square, London November 13, 2010. Aung San Suu Kyi walked out of her home to cheers from thousands of supporters on Saturday after Myanmar's military rulers released her from seven years of house arrest."

Whilst our so called 'leaders' fail us and continue to live under the delusion that current systems of 'civilisation' will and must continue, are we finally waking up to the realisation that change is necessary yet nothing will change unless we actively assist with changing it? Have we stopped believing the lies that keep us trapped in apathy? We can and we will bring about change for the better. It has already begun...

"AP Photo/Spectral Q, Lou Dematteis: Image released by Spectral Q, people form the phrase "THE END?" on an island at the barrier reef off the coast of Belize City, Belize, Saturday Nov. 13, 2010. The demonstration was held on the final day of the Belize Reef Summit which urged global leaders to take strong action for the environment at the upcoming U.N. Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico."

From: In Protest - The Big Picture - Boston.com
"Taking their desires to be heard to the streets, thousands of protesters and demonstrators around the world have recently been marching, shouting, praying, and engaging in both theater and violence to make their points. From quiet, prayerful requests for peace in Mexico to the violent takeover of an office building in London to student demonstrators in Chile and gay rights activists making a statement to the Pope in Spain, the past two weeks has been full of protest.

"Reuters/Stoyan Nenov: Students carry books on their heads during a protest in front of Sofia University in Bulgaria on November 16, 2010. Hundreds of university students and lecturers rallied in central Sofia on Tuesday to protest against the cuts in funding for universities and the lack of clear strategy for reforms of the Balkan country's education system."

Their reasons are many - anger with austerity measures, frustration with incumbent governments and globalization, frustration with policies in other countries - even protests against other protesters. Collected here is a view of protests and demonstrations around the world over the past two weeks."

Jenny Wicks: Dick & Ted

Jenny Wicks is a phenomenal photographer capturing a deep level of emotion and humour in every image. Some of her work inspires simultaneous tears and laughter, other images transport us backwards in time to a part-forgotten memory or sideways into a world we may or may not have encountered before. There is something surreal yet familiar in the colours, tones, subject matter and composition, which transform ordinary scenes of everyday life into dreamlike visions.


Jenny's newly updated website features a project called Dick & Ted which combines nostalgically shot photographs with amusing and inspiring audio of the subjects discussing themselves, the reason why there are more health issues today, the death of a friend and life in general. Their words are wise with experience and alongside Jenny's finely tuned images, are guaranteed to raise a smile.

"...The good Lord has been good to us as far as... age and health..."
"...Yes, he has...I don't know why..."
"...Live as close to nature as you possibly can. You'll not go far wrong..."

From: Jenny Wicks Photography "Dick and Ted are identical twins. Ted is 20 minutes older, although can't be sure. They were born in 1922 and for most of their lives have lived in the village I grew up in. I have always known them ... They are my local heroes" More here

Extreme Knitting

Some seriously impressive knitting going on here from Rachel John of Extreme Textiles. This grandiose work took place as part of the Unravel knitting event held in October 2006.

From: Rachel John"Rachel John currently pulls between 3-200 mixed yarn strands simultaneously and hand knits the resulting yarn into large deeply dense carpets among many other items. This is a completely unique 21st century innovation in yarn manipulation and textiles hand crafting bringing new influences and inspiration to all textiles design and associated tool making..."More here

Further Info: Unravel 2011 | UK Hand Knitting

Thanks to Dances With Wools found via FamilyHandspun who have a great page of links to stitch and yarn related stuff x

London Futures: Wish You Were Here?

The Museum Of London is currently hosting an exhibition of photographs from the future called Postcards From The Future - Wish You Were Here?. No time machine was employed to retrieve the images, simply the imagination and design skills of Robert Graves and Didier Madoc-Jones.

The artists created eight photos for the original Postcards From The Future series way back in 2008 (these can be viewed on the website here). This current exhibition displays 14 images of London digitally transformed to suggest possible effects of climate change on the city. The exhibition runs until 6 March 2011.

From: London Futures - Wish You Were Here?
"The display brings home the full impact of global warming, food scarcity, rising sea levels and how all Londoners will need to innovate and adapt to survive. Examples of the striking images that will be on show include Parliament Square put to work as a rice paddy, ice skating down the Thames, Buckingham Palace surrounded by a sea of shanty housing and the Gherkin occupied by thousands of eco-refugees highlight the shocking realities we could face...

“We want to create a space in which people can consider how climate change may impact on their lives. We are committed to making beautiful and arresting images which tell their own story. We have deliberately chosen ‘postcard’ shots of London, places that all of us are familiar with. By focusing our creative energy on these well- known panoramas, the images have taken on a life of their own...”"

More here

The Big Draw Competition

From: AccessArt
"AccessArt would like to invite you to make your mark on 2010!
As part of the Big Draw 2010, we’d like to create a drawn Visual Encyclopedia, made up of all the objects from our everyday life. We’d like to invite EVERYBODY to send us your drawings of the kinds of objects which we take for granted, and yet which over time, change in style and appearance.

Objects like…?
Anything which is relevant to you: a toy, a wellington boot, a deodorant container, a chair, a packet, a piece of furniture… NOT live things though thank you – NOT people, plants, animals…

AccessArt will then compile all the drawings into an online encyclopedia, and a pdf/book, to create not only a snapshot record of our objects in October 2010, but also a fantastic record of our drawings.

What kind of drawings?
We don’t mind what medium your drawings are in, but we would like the drawings to be on white paper, and please draw the objects in isolation (which means just the object on the white paper – do not draw a background…). And please make sure your drawings are no larger than A4.

Who can submit drawings?
We mean EVERYONE. We want to put all your drawings in one place: artist next to child, teacher next to parent… we don’t mind who you are, how old you are or where you live… And submissions are invited from all over the world; we’d love to see objects coming from ALL CULTURES.

I need help drawing..
If you’d like some drawing tips (either for yourself or to help teach others to draw), have a look at the AccessArt Draw! online workshop, or buy the Draw! PDF.

Deadline for receipt of drawings: October 31st 2010"

For more information and to find out how to submit drawings, visit the AccessArt website here

Mother Nature's Exhibition March-April 2010

Photos related to the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland. This is the 2nd time in a month that Eyjafjallajokull has erupted melting ice, causing flooding and widespread aviation cessation due to falling ash. Pictures sourced via The Big Picture

"This aerial photo shows the Eyjafjallajokull volcano billowing smoke and ash on April 17, 2010. (HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP/Getty Images)"

"The volcano in southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull glacier sends ash into the air just prior to sunset ON Friday, April 16, 2010. Thick drifts of volcanic ash blanketed parts of rural Iceland on Friday as a vast, invisible plume of grit drifted over Europe, emptying the skies of planes and sending hundreds of thousands in search of hotel rooms, train tickets or rental cars. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gauti) #"

"The sun sets in a sky dusted with ash, over Lake Geneva, as seen from the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, a UNESCO site in Switzerland, on April 17, 2010. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)"

"The volcano in southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull glacier sends ash into the air Saturday, April 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gauti)"

More here and here

Copenhagen Comp: Open Bike & Myloop

Here is a super cool idea for a bike by LOTS Design, Koucky & Partners & Green Idea Factory. Joint 1st place winner of the CPH Bike-Share Competition, Open Bike is designed for an intelligent, floating shared bicycle scheme in Copenhagen (where else!). We hope it gets manufactured, takes off and reaches our shores very soon.

From: Erik Nohlin on Industrial Design / Behance
"IMAGINE a bike share system that...is floating and does not need any special parking installations, so you can leave the bike where you want...will learn, adapt and evolve according to needs and user patterns ...makes full use of modern technology for locating, booking and payment, but is as easy to use as ones own bicycle ..facilitates and rationalises bike management, maintenance and redistribution... defines a new level in bike sharing and strengthens Copenhagen’s position as a leader in modern urban transport solutions. This is OPEN bike!"

The CPH jury were clearly delighted with the Open Bike design:
"As a user you only need to relate to the bicycle and the individual technology you can choose to use in reserving a bicycle. In relation to the bicycle’s design the jury wishes to highlight the technological, user-friendly interface, as well as details such as clever placement of lights and seat post. The latter, with its height guide, gives the user excellent odds for adjusting the height of the saddle correctly on the first attempt.

In addition, OPENbike leads us on a beautiful and elegant journey back in time. The basic idea of a floating system sends a tip of the hat back to the white bicycles in 1960’s Amsterdam and the bicycle’s aesthetic qualities relate well to Copenhagen’s bicycle history with its visual connection to our past (and perhaps revitalised) bicycle messenger culture prior to the 1960’s.

These aspects of OPENbike are brought perfectly into play in an exciting, forward-thinking project that elegantly contributes to the branding of Copenhagen and, with its dynamic approach to systems, reminds us that cities, as well as the mobile behaviour of people, change over time." More here

The Myloop design by Thomas Coulbeaut was joint winner of the competition with another clever design incorporating a stacking system to minimise pavement space when not in use and ability to power up with electricity at the docking system.


Here's what the judges had to say:
"...the jury notices that the bicycle’s size and the way it is stacked respects the urban landscape in Copenhagen as well as the challenges of mobility and logistics in the city. Therefore the project distinguishes itself in the way that it is aimed at the future with a point of departure in the reality of the city of Copenhagen.

The end user has been thought into the process in many ways. Myloop has a simple and user-friendly interface where the technology is a help and not a challenge.

Furthermore, Myloop introduces, along with a host of other entries, the possibility of locking the bicycle - outside shops, for example - so long as the bicycle is registered as in use by the system. This angle is commendable because it offers the user of the bicycle the same flexibility that other cyclists enjoy on their route around the city." More here

Check out the other winning designs here

Attention Brighton Crafters

The new year provides inspiration for us to make better use of our current or potential creative talents. But where to start? Well, if you live in Brighton, Leftover Designs may be able to help. Join one of their new creative weekly sessions and get practising your art(s) whilst making new friends and contacts. Whether you're a beginner or already have skills you'd like to develop get in touch with Sibel at Leftover Designs.

From: Sibel Lagerdahl, Leftover Designs, 5Jan09
"I am organising a weekly get together for everyone in Brighton who is having the creative DIY urges, but doesn't want to do it on their own, or lacking the skills.

With professional advice and guidance, you can now learn:
* Dressmaking (advance or beginners)
* Customising and alterations
* Bag making
* Knitting and crocheting
* Accessory and jewellery making
* Card making
All from 100% reclaimed and recycled materials.

It will all start at the end of this month if it all goes to plan. Please let me know if you are interested, and what particular skills and what day of the week that would suit you."

Suggested hours: 6-9pm on either Mon, Tues or Wed evening
Cost: £10 per 3hr workshop if paid in advance for 4 sessions | £15 for drop-in

Email: sibel@leftover.co.uk
Post: Shabitat, Saunders Park, Lewes Rd, Brighton BN2 4AY

Further Info:
Leftover Designs