Instead of reading between the lines, look between the gaps. Artist Donna Ruffmeticulously cuts dazzling patterns on the front pages of newspapers, namely The New York Times for her fine art pieces.
Artist Donna Ruff’s cut out masterpieces, photo from In Habitat.
Ruff says that “I like to cut away or remove parts of pages so that there is a kind of conversation between what is printed on the page and what is removed – the positive and negative space are equally important.”
With one look at her exquisite artworks, the patterns seem to have been cut out with the aid of an assembly line cookie-cutter machine. Ruff hand-cuts each and every New York Times front page from the easily accessible page corners to the much more difficult internal nooks and crannies.
Her works create a different way to explore the paper, trying to decipher the story on the pages while stepping back to appreciate the intricate and elegant hand cut pieces.
Another fine art piece by artist Donna Ruff, photo from Illusion.
The New York Times inspired and played an important role in another artwork, one that can be seen while visiting the influential newspaper. Since 2007, The New York Times building has been showcasing an expansive media art installation called “Movable Type” by artists Mark Hansenand Ben Rubin.
Art Installation “Movable Types” at The New York Times building, photo taken by Paulina Tam for The Bare Square
Five hundred and sixty identical vacuum fluorescent display screens are hung from multiple wires that stretch across two huge walls. The screens are synchronized displaying data from The New York Times historical databank, feedback from readers, and as well as up-to-the-minute breaking news.
A close up on one of the media panels of The New York Times installation, photo taken by Paulina Tam for The Bare Square
Another close up on one of the art panels, photo taken by Paulina Tam for The Bare Square
In addition to The New York Times informing and entertaining readers since 1851, it inspires artists including Donna Ruff, Mark Hansen, and Ben Rubin to create timeless treasures of their own.
What’s that in the sky? It’s not a bird or Superman. It’s a plane. No surprise? Look again.
On September 28, 2012, the Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world’s heaviest aircraft, ascended to a staggering 33,300 feet in the sky to attain the Guinness World Record for hosting the highest altitude art exhibition ever.
Soviets designed the considerable aircraft to transport the Buran orbiter, a failed space shuttle copy from the 1980s. Only recently did the Antonov Company and the Producer Centre Boyko in the Ukraine team up to create a devilishly fun art plan. They planned to use the Antonov An-225 as the venue for an awe-inspiring show and take it airborne. Called “Aviasvit XXI,” their unique airshow correlates with the 8th International Air and Space Show, and showcases the magnificent airplane on its maiden voyage around Kiev, Ukraine with a bellyful of fantastical art pieces.
Over 500 works by 120 talented and local Ukrainian artists, including Vladimir Piven, Lafeta Marina, andTaras Trindick, filled the aircraft. The images below, oil paintings by Piven, Marina, and Trindick, provide a sampling of the flying exhibit.
Artist Vladimir Piven’s “Lightness,” photo from Art Boyko.
Their works feature bright hues like sunshine yellow, cobalt blue, and soft lilac. Many of their paintings convey nostalgic memories of something or somewhere warm and beautifully quaint. Popular subjects include scenic views of countrysides and ambrosial depictions of still life.
Artist Lafeta Marina’s “Tulips,“ photo from Boyko.
Artist Trindick Taras’s “Still Life,” photo from Boyko.
The aircraft’s name, Mriya, means “dream” or “inspiration” in Ukrainian. Thank goodness for Producer Centre Boyko for dreaming up this inspiring, high-flying exhibit!
No, it is not an early Christmas nor is it another sighting of an UFO. Move over galleries and museums! In San Fransisco art is being displayed in big and spectacular proportions.
Approximately 25,000 white LED lights will be meticulously strung up with surgical precision across The Bay Bridge‘s west span to commemorate its 75th birthday and will debut with a Grand Lighting in early 2013.
The Bays Lights by Leo Villareal, photo from Inhabitat
The idea was first proposed by Ben Davis, one of the board members of the nonprofit organization Illuminate the Arts. The appointed designer for the task is internationally celebrated artist Leo Villareal. The artist is known for producing vast light installations that explores the nature of simple patterns. Imagine lights patterned like rippling water and what the rippling effect looks like when viewed from various angles.
When asked why Davis decided to take up such a laborious yet fulfilling task, he responded, “I wanted to find a way, at least for a brief while, to bring the consciousness back to this bridge.”
Since it was first christened on 1936, The Bay Bridge has been overshadowed by its little brother, The Golden Gate Bridge. The Golden Gate Bridge, which opened only one year later, quickly stole the spotlight. Built during the Great Depression, the Golden Gate Bridge left many aghast because of its monstrous budget. Proclaimed one of the Wonders of the World, The Golden Gate’s prestige left little room for The Bay Bridge to claim it’s glory. For two years following 2013 this art project will bring the Bay Bridge long overdue attention.
The ever lustrous Golden Gate Bridge as viewed at night, photo from Way Faring
The then obscure Bay Bridge as viewed during the nighttime, photo from City Profile
The luminous lights will be digitally monitored by Villareal. His rendering of the masterpiece depicts a harmonious symphony of bright lights that will dance in exquisite patterns on the bridge’s suspension cords.
Although the drivers in their vehicles on the bridge will not see the complete grand musical scale of the lights installation, viewers from a distance overlooking the west side of the bridge will be able to appreciate and bask in the grandeur.
The Bay Lights Project may not make up for the years of attention stolen by The Golden Gate Bridge but the upcoming two year light installation will definitely leave an everlasting mark on many San Franciscians.
Artist Leo Villareal’s rendering of how The Bay Lights will look like when it debuts in early 2013, photo from Design Boom
-Paulina Tam
[Note: Currently, The Bay Lights Project raised $5.5 million but it still needs an additional $2.5 million to help fund it for the full two year exhibition. Click here if you are interested to find out more and how to contribute to the cause.]
A frazzled commuter bumps you as you make your way through a crowded subway station. As you approach the platform, your train leaves the station. What could make a day in the frantic New York City Subway better?
Look around. Often we are too busy hustling and bustling to fully appreciate the jewels that are encrusted in the walls of station stops and cars. Wind down and take a local train from the past to the present of New York City subway art.
Artist Nicky Enright’s Universal City displayed at the 225th Street Station on the 5 line.
In the 1980s, the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) started a grand improvement project, installing unique art pieces underground. Standing the test of time, Time Square Mural by Roy Lichtenstein dominates the Times Square station near the 7 line. Ben Snead’s ceramic-tiled mosaic called Departures and Animals depicts symmetrical images of fish and birds. See it in the Jay Street-Metro Tech station station on the F line.
Artist Roy Liechtenstein’s Time Square Mural located at the Times Square station on the 7 line.
Artist Ben Snead’s Departures and Arrivals shown at the Jay Street-Metro Tech station on the F line.
In the subway, you can spot flying people, a modern rendition of Egyptian-themed porcelain enamel, and floating hats, all distributed throughout the city’s cavernous and expansive system, and all waiting for you to discover.
In the last decade the MTA decided to further their dedication to preserving and acknowledging fine art by introducing “art cards” inside subway cars. Grand scroll-like images portray life in the New York subways. These subway art cards exude the same warmth, joy and happiness we might find in a greeting card–just bigger!
Artist Chris Gall’s Art Card for the 2008 MTA Arts for Transit and Urban Design
Subway art pieces are little comforts, reminding us on our most grueling days in a cramped subway car how to stop just for a moment and enjoy beauty everywhere.
New Yorkers are known for fashion, but two weeks out of the year you may notice that some New Yorkers seem even more stylish and fashionable than usual, that is because of the famous New York City Fashion Week. Although this fall’s fashion week is coming to an end today, it is clear to say that one designer in particular is inspired by much more than his own creativity.
Prabal Gurung spring 2013 NYFW collection
Prabal Gurung, a rising fashion designer who debuted in the 2009 Fashion Week, says that he looked toward artist Amie Dick’s and sculptor Anish Kapoor‘s works as inspirations for his 2013 collections. Dick is a burgeoning Dutch artist who makes use of magazine clippings as her art work’s foundation. She then plays with the magazine article’s texture by adding or subtracting from the canvas with cut outs from other magazines or utilizing sandpaper to eradicate particular objects or colors as she sees fit.
Artist Amie Dick’s La Durée
Renowned artist Anish Kapoor started out in the 1980s constructing colorful basic geometric architectural sculptures. Only recently in 1995 did Mr. Kapoor decide to center most of his art works with stainless steel as his medium. Not only do the stainless steel conform to abstract shapes to his liking, the steel also serve as distorting mirrors that parallel those that you can find in a carnival fun house. The mirrors in turn alter the views of Mr. Kapoor’s audience of how they see themselves in a physical and emotional level.
Artist Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate
Amie Dick’s and Anish Kapoor’s unique take on art prove to be an exciting inspirational source for Prabal Gurung. Gurung states that his 2013 collection reflects on the constantly revolutionizing style of the everyday woman. According to Hollywood Reporter, Gurung said, “With the women I create for, it’s always changing, always evolving. They don’t need to prove anything to anyone. They dress for themselves.”
Just as what Gurung said, the same goes for the ever transforming fine art styles of the 21st century. New artistic styles are always being created, renewed, and expressed in totally new interpretations. In the case of Prabal Gurung’s creations, fine art has reached a new ante with its close cousin, fashion.
