Belgian artist Fred Eerdekens:

Shadow Artist Kumi Yamashita:

Graphic artist Áron Jancsó:

Shadow sculpter Tobias Rehberger:

Yours in typography,

Anya

In a very fitting promotion for a film about creative people who support clean and sustainable beaches, American ad agency BBDO SF, along with Barefoot Wine and the Surfrider Foundation, developed this inspiring and eye-catching billboard poster. As you will see from the video posted this mammoth piece of art was constructed using around 18,000 pieces of beach trash, collected from around the Southern California Coasts. The project took four local artists four days of careful selection, positioning and adhesion to create this brilliant display.

The colourful artwork not only successfully promotes Barefoot’s new film ‘One Beach,’ but also sends a clear message to viewers that litter belongs in the garbage and not the beach.

You can also check out the movie Barefoot Facebook page.

Yours in inspiring design

Dawn

As part of Splendid (a partnership between Lismore Regional Gallery, Northern Rivers Performing Arts and Splendour in the Grass) artists, Jimmy McGilchrist and Lachlan Dowd will produce an interactive digital media project called Curious Creatures. Strange and beautiful creatures will be projected from the surrounding woods onto the festival fence line, as they roam the perimeter and respond to the actions of passers-by.

Another Splendid project is Close Encounters, by artist Jordana Maisie. A huge 6.5m UFO hovers over the crowd, with its mirrored surface reflecting the world around it. The crowd is invited to send a text to the phone number provided and have their message enter the dialogue appearing on the LED screen that wraps around the edge of the object.

Can’t wait! See you there!

Yours in festival arts,
Anya

I woke up this morning bursting with blog article ideas – weekend outings, upcoming events, social media trends, mind blowing marketing campaigns – but then I got to work, and the words disappeared like water droplets in the desert.

I was stuck at a creative roadblock and regardless of the subject I started on; I failed to find the flow. I started searching online, frantically trying to find a theme that could inspire readers, inspire creativity and give me a topic all rolled into one. But alas, nothing was found. Until that is, I employed a little technique I learnt during a Copywriting course with Ad School last year.

The technique is easy to learn and simple to perform. All it requires is a piece of paper, pencil, a few words (maybe a dictionary will help) and 100 blank boxes on a page.

So I took a deep breath, opened my dictionary and based on the first word that appeared (pineapple) I started drawing whatever came into my head. For one whole minute I let my stream of consciousness flow, and it was refreshing not to have to get it “right” first time around.  I continued doing this, randomly finding words in the dictionary and drawing whatever idea, thought, or image came into my head until 10 minutes had lapsed.

Until that is, I arrived here, telling everyone about the 100-box technique and how it’s a lifesaver for anyone in need of a creative solution.

In times of creative droughts, how do you find and cultivate your creativity?

Yours in creativity,

Sheri

I’ve always driven past billboards/ads/posters and eagerly scanned their content for some form of inspiration to bring to my day. But it seems that beer advertisements with half-naked models, realestate billboards with cheesy agents and towering fast food burgers just aren’t cutting it for me. I can’t help but feel like big businesses have lost the ability to communicate to and understand how the everyday man/woman ticks.

Then I came across this project by Candy Chang in New Orleans. Her public art project invites passers by to chalk their own ending to the sentence: “Before I die I want to…” on a disused building in her neighbourhood. The public are invited to share their most intimate or crazy aspirations, inspiring fellow pedestrians to chalk up.

The opportunity to fully voice your opinion uncensored creates a huge opportunity to be completely honest and think deeply about your answer. This got me wondering that, with all the leaps and bounds in social media, are big brands really connecting with their customers and getting honest feedback? The disconnection with using faceless technology to communicate still creates a barrier. What would happen if companies started using such ‘in-your-face’ approaches as this public art project? Would there be a more honest approach with feedback if both parties are face to face and therefore more accountable for their words? I would personally love to walk into a store or management office and write up on their wall my review of their service (a bit extreme maybe, but boy would I feel like I was being heard!).

It could be a reminder to the bosses on the top floors that the decisions they make effect people, the environment and communities, not just dollars and annual figures. Maybe a utopic idea, what do you think?

Yours in thought,
Tara

Green Earth Day could not be possible without the passionate volunteers of the Green Earth Group (founded by Leigh-Chantelle Koch). It’s a team of like-minded individuals who have come together to make a much needed platform to provide education and encouragement to the community. This helps to plant the seeds of change needed to ensure that we’re protecting the health and integrity of our environment for future generations.

This diverse festival is focused firmly on family and includes everything you need for a great day out such as stalls, food, speakers, live music and entertainment, video zone, as well as short film, art and fashion competitions and an action-packed kids’ zone. There’s yoga for kids with the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga, face painting, bubble blowing, games, storytelling and kids gardening. What better way to make a change than by reaching out to the young generation to engrain their belief structure at an early age.

Despite the lack of sponsors & contributions due to the recent Brisbane floods, Leigh-Chantelle’s dream has not been quashed. “The time has come for everyone to step up and take responsibility for our actions. With the devastation that Queensland, Australia and other countries are experiencing, we are being called to action, to work together to create the changes that our universe is crying out for,” Leigh-Chantelle said.

The passion, commitment and dedication one person has, when combined with other likeminded people is, according to Leigh-Chantelle, what makes the magic really happen.

“My goal is to encourage people from all backgrounds to be involved in a positive way to help our environment,” she said.

“People see that Green Earth Group is coming from a sincere and positive place and want to get involved from the grassroots up in helping us enact the positive changes that are needed in our society. We have had an overwhelming response from people young and old who want to be involved.

“Every single person involved with Green Earth Day volunteers their time, energies and skills to our yearly environmental event.”

Come along this Saturday for a day of fun and learn how you can help to save our earth.

See www.greenearthday.net for more information and find them on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Yours for the Environment,
Amber van Sloten

A new mini hotel has opened in the heart of Madrid and it’s proud to say it is rubbish! The Beach Garbage Hotel is built out of 12 tonnes of rubbish from dumps and Western European beaches. An art installation by German artist Ha Schult, the structure is sponsored by Corona, as part of their ‘Coronita Save the Beach’ campaign which aims to protect Europe’s beaches.

The temporary hotel has five rooms decorated with torn Persian rugs, tyres, plastic containers, wooden frames, musical instruments, street lights, pieces of carpet, socks, and children’s books. It opened on 19 January and will close on 23 January. The exclusive hotel is occupied by some lucky winners of a competition run on facebook.

Read more

Yours in recycling,
Anya

This YouTube video goes for about 9 minutes and you might be thinking that watching the ink making process for 9 minutes is 9 minutes of your life that you will never get back! BUT, once you start watching I am sure, like me, you’ll be glued to your seat and watch the whole thing! It is very interesting and the presenter is the president of the company and his passion for his craft is admirable.

Enjoy, yours in ink!

Paul.

If you’ve been missing Miss Posh Poodle from Brisbane’s LaTrobe Terrace you’ll be happy to know she’s relocated to the newly opened Woolloongabba Antique Centre where sisters Sarah Jane Walsh and Megan Rizzo will have you embarking on an antique experience like no other. The centre is at the heart of the newly renovated Woolloongabba Antiques Precinct where beautiful cafes, restaurants and boutiques can also be discovered. The street lamps have a wonderfully retro feel injecting a quirky, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ feel into the streetscape.

At the Woolloongabba Antiques Centre you’ll find Brisbane’s best Antique dealers in Traditional Australian Antiques, Vintage Clothing, Retro Homewares, Art and glassware. It’s the place to go for Art Deco, L’Art Nouveau, Fine French Antique Furniture, Hollywood Glamour Fashion, Rockabilly Fashion of the 50’s and 60’s, Kitchen-alia, Rural Antiques and Quirky Collectables.

So take yourself back to a time where men sported safari suits with a comb in their top pocket and women wore Jackie Onassis sunglasses with a maxi skirt. You’ll love the live music on Saturdays, the fancy Italian style espresso bar and the ample parking space. Go play dress-ups at the Woolloongabba Antique Centre, 22 Wellington Road, Woolloongabba QLD. www.woolloongabbaantiquecentre.com

Yours in new discoveries,
Janet

Feel free to blink though, these photos won’t let you miss an inch of detail! Also, check out Alan’s flicker page for more high speed photography: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763834@N02/

Yours in space and time,

Tara