Category: ART

“I get lockdown. But I get up again” – Banksy Strikes London Tube with Mask Message

Chumbawumba!

 

Despite the lockdown, Banksy has remained active, using his art and platform to celebrate the ‘superhero medical workers’ and address systemic racism.

In his fifth artwork released since the lockdown began in March, Banksy strikes the London tube with some new works and words of encouragement: “I get lockdown. But I get up again.”

The message is a play on the chorus from the hit song “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba. On Instagram—the artist’s only official account—he also encourages people to wear masks, saying: “If you don’t mask – you don’t get.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1583941906523-0’); });

On Lockdown Since March, This Nursing Home is Recreating Album Covers for Fun

This is pretty great

 

On lockdown since March, the Sydmar Lodge Care home in the UK has been making their own fun, recreating famous album covers and sharing them online.

The idea was the brainchild of Robert Speker, who is the Activities coordinator for the home’s residents. Robert explains:

“It has been my job and privilege to keep them entertained during the COVID crisis with no outside entertainers or family. As this situation is on-going it could be months before the situation changes for them and the need to keep them happy entertained and full of spirit has never been more crucial.
 
Elderly people will remain in lockdown for a long time, and I want to make their time as happy and full of enjoyment and interest as possible.”

 

After Speker shared the album cover recreations on Twitter, the project went viral. The international attention inspired Speker to launch a Go Fund Me campaign with all proceeds raised being donated to dementia friends.org.uk, Alzheimers.org.uk and ageUk.org.uk.

The charities were selected by Speker and the residents involved with the project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1583941906523-0’); });

This Free Pour Pegasus Latte Art is Soothing to Watch

No sound needed

 

Check out this lovely free pour pegasus latte art. While I have no idea how it tastes, I found the process quite soothing to watch. For more, check out @milkyfinesse on Instagram!

 

 

 

 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1583941906523-0’); });

A Little Paint Can Turn This Into That

Street artist Odeith is a 3D anamorphic wizard

 

Street artist Odeith (featured previously here and here) has once again outdone himself.

The Portuguese artist has become well known for his 3D, anamorphic street art and his most recent work of a train even managed to incorporate an existing graffiti piece by his friend and fellow artist, Roteweiller.

Below you will find some progress pics along with a video of the artwork coming together. For more, check out his work at the links below!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1583941906523-0’); });

Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” Screenplay, Handwritten in March of 1988

He wrote the entire 173-page first draft in only 2 weeks

 

How cool is this! It’s a few pages from the handwritten first draft of Spike Lee’s critically acclaimed film, “Do the Right Thing” (1989). Handwritten in March of 1988, the 173-page first draft was completed in only two weeks! What strikes me most is his beautiful penmanship and the fact he churned out a first draft so quickly. Goes to show that creativity can come in waves.

The film was a critical and commercial success and received numerous accolades, including Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Danny Aiello’s portrayal of Sal the pizzeria owner. In 1999, the film was deemed “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress, in its first year of eligibility, and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. [source]

For those interested, the complete (and typed) second draft can be found here (PDF).

[Damone Williams on Twitter via Kottke]

 

 

 

 

 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1583941906523-0’); });

Barcelona Opera Reopens to a Packed Crowd of House Plants

These are strange times we are living in

Photograph by Emilio Morenatti/AP

 

This past Monday, Barcelona’s Liceu Opera opened to a packed room of house plants. All 2,292 seats were filled with a leafy friend. It was the opera’s first concert since mid-March.

The string quartet serenaded the audience with a stirring performance of Giacomo Puccini’s “Crisantemi” that was also livestreamed to humans around the globe.

 

The plants were donated from local nurseries and were subsequently delivered to 2,292 frontline healthcare professionals, specifically at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, accompanied by a certificate from the artist who conceived the project, Eugenio Ampudia. [source]

 

The concert is an initiative of the Liceu and the artist, together with the Max Estrella Gallery and the curator Blanca De La Torre.

 

via NPR

 

twistedsifter-on-facebook

 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1583941906523-0’); });

Artist Channels Grief Into Unfinished Portraits Where 1 Year of Life = 1 Minute of Color

“Stolen” is a gripping series by artist Adrian Brandon

 

“Stolen” is a powerful series by artist Adrian Brandon that is dedicated to Black people that were robbed of their lives at the hands of police.

The 11 x 14″ portraits were first drawn with graphite. Brandon then used time as a medium to define how long each portrait was colored in for. 1 year of life = 1 minute of color.

The gripping results are unfinished portraits of people whose lives were cut short. Brandon explains:

Tamir Rice was 12 when he was murdered, so I colored his portrait for 12 minutes. As a person of color, I know that my future can be stolen from me if I’m driving with a broken taillight, or playing my music too loud, or reaching for my phone at the wrong time. So for each of these portraits I played with the harsh relationship between time and death. I want the viewer to see how much empty space is left in these lives, stories that will never be told, space that can never be filled. This emptiness represents holes in their families and our community, who will be forever stuck with the question, “who were they becoming?” This series touches on grief and the unknown.

 

The original series of portraits were exhibited at Brandon’s first solo show in November 2019. He has since updated the series to include more recent portraits including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. To see more of Adrian’s powerful work, please visit the links below.

[via Kottke]

 

ADRIAN BRANDON
Website | Instagram

 

 

1. Aiyana Stanley-Jones
7 years old / 7 minutes of color

ADRIAN BRANDON
Website | Instagram

 

2. Tamir Rice
12 years old / 12 minutes of color

ADRIAN BRANDON
Website | Instagram

 

3. Sandra Bland
28 years old / 28 minutes of color

 

4. George Floyd
46 years old / 46 minutes of color

 

5. Breonna Taylor
28 years old / 28 minutes of color

 

6. Michael Brown
18 years old / 18 minutes of color

 

7. Atatiana Jefferson
28 years old / 28 minutes of color

 

8. Philando Castile
32 years old / 32 minutes of color

 

9. Eric Garner
43 years old / 43 minutes of color

 

 

“I feel rushed as I create these pieces. I want to complete their portraits so badly. To be able to see all the layers of colors in their face come to life. I feel a strong sense of panic during the process, which is a feeling Black people experience far too often when engaging with police. The timer (which I cannot see) is always in the back of my mind. How much time is left? When will this be over? I need more time… They deserve more time.”

 

 

10. Stolen by Adrian Brandon

 

 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1583941906523-0’); });

Stunning 3rd Century Roman Mosaic Discovered Under Vineyard in Italy

Archaeologists have discovered a beautifully preserved Roman mosaic floor under a vineyard near Verona, Italy

 

Archaeologists have discovered a beautifully preserved Roman mosaic floor dating back to the 3rd Century under a vineyard near Verona, Italy.

Trenches dug in the town of Negrar di Valpolicella have revealed long uninterrupted stretches of mosaic pavements with polychrome patterns of geometric shapes, guilloche, wave bands, floral vaults and the semi-circular pelta. [source]

According to The History Blog, the presence of a Roman villa at the Benedetti La Villa winery, still in operation today, has been known since the 19th century. Multiple attempts to unearth the remains have been made over the years but it was only this most recent dig that revealed the most treasures yet, and almost entirely intact!

Photographs via Myko Clelland on Twitter, Comune di Negrar di Valpolicella, Soprintendenza Verona on Twitter
 
[via Colossal]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1583941906523-0’); });

The Street Outside the White House was Just Changed to Black Lives Matter Plaza

A 2-block long mural declaring ‘Black Lives Matter’ was also unveiled

 

In a rebuke to President Trump, the mayor of Washington DC, Muriel Boswer, unveiled a two-block long mural painted onto the street leading up to the White House declaring “Black Lives Matter”, renaming the plaza outside the White House to Black Lives Matter Plaza.

The mural and street sign were unveiled on Friday as the Plaza has been sight for ongoing protests in the nation’s capital. Mayor Bowser is a black woman and Democrat that has been in a battle with the President.

Interestingly, the local Black Lives Matter chapter, panned what they saw as a PR stunt and ‘performative distraction’:

 

On Thursday, the Mayor also demanded the President, “withdraw all extraordinary federal law enforcement and military presence from Washington DC.” She also criticised troops for not wearing any identification, allowing them operate outside “established chains of commands,” she said. [source]

Google Maps has been quick to update the street name on their system and satellite imagery from Friday shows just how big the mural is.

Below you will find videos and additional photos of the mural and street sign change.

 

 

 

Satellite Image from @planetlabs

 

Google Maps prior to the street name change

 

 

 

 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1583941906523-0’); });

Red Paint Completely Changed This ‘Serve and Protect’ Sculpture During the Protests

Art matters, and can be a powerful form of expression and frustration

 

During the large-scale protests this past weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah, a public artwork had its symbolic meaning completely transformed when demonstrators poured red paint onto the giant hands.

“Serve and Protect” is a large bronze sculpture by artist Gregory Ragland depicting two hands side-by-side with their palms facing upward, demonstrating the sign language, ‘to serve’. The public art commission was completed in 2013 and measures 20′ x 20′ x 38″ and is located outside of the Public Safety Building.

The striking symbolism of the bright red paint pooling like blood has sparked debate online. From cries of vandalism to being a powerful political/protest statement, the opinions on such an act span the spectrum. What’s clear is that art matters, and can be a powerful form of expression and frustration.

 

 

twistedsifter-on-facebook

 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1583941906523-0’); });