“I think you would like Warren. He drinks Courvoisier in a Coke can, and has a laugh like you’d find in a cartoon bubble.” — Amy Hempel
This week’s edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has organic forms, fancy celluloid buttons (the plastic of the past), scary masks and Frank Gehry’s vision.
These crafty photo medallions, created from celluloid in the early twentieth century, are infinitely more eye-catching than a plain ol’ frame (and wearable, too!). Flowers and Masonic imagery seem to have been a common theme. I love a good all-seeing eye. [Via Identical Eye]
Long before special effects and green screen, there was the art of the mask. Illustrator and costume designer Władysław T. Benda was famous for his sculptural, papier-mache face masks. His characters lit up stages from London to New York and often inspired his own theatrical work. Aside from monsters and grotesque caricatures, he was also known for his ability to create delicately human face masks (in fact, at one point in time his name was synonymous with any life-like mask, whether it was of his design or not). [Chromium Dumb Belle]
Alma Allen’s organic forms are simplistic enough to invite projection. Are they prehistoric toys? Rocks rubbed smooth by a glacier? Salt and pepper shakers from the year 3000? Any idea is possible, really.
Bridging the gap between vision and reality can take years — and a vision. Architect Frank Gehry brings a distinct point of view to his work. The most abstract sketch can become something larger than life. In his words:
“You’re bringing an informed aesthetic point of view to a visual problem. You have freedom, so you have to make choices—and at the point when I make a choice, the building starts to look like a Frank Gehry building. It’s a signature.”
[Via The Atlantic]
Do you know of a forward-thinking art, style or design blog? Post it in the comments! And make sure to check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!
83 comments
Sign in to add your ownIslaNewYork says:
Amazing photos! The mask ones are my favorite, but the sketches turned buildings are pretty awesome too :) Goes to show if you put in the time and effort, your dreams can become reality!
1 year ago
rikrak says:
oh gosh - i'm obsessed with frank gehry sketches. love the ones you choose, cutie!
1 year ago
magnesina says:
These forms are really inspirational, thank you for sharing! I have to look at my favourites to find the sites with the forward-thinking designs.
1 year ago
Slowshirts says:
Oh my, i thought at first those forms were sex toys!
1 year ago
dirtygirlclean says:
Those first pics are seriously creepy! Love the beekeeper's mask though... sexy!
1 year ago
jeanjeanvintage says:
Rad, as always. The celluloid buttons are bonkers!
1 year ago
LizzyLizano says:
Cool Piece, Love Frank Gehry works. If anyone hasnt see the doc. about his work you should...I forget the title but if you search it online you will find it. Amazing and so inspiring. :)Lizzy http://fb.me/lizzylizanojewelry
1 year ago
beliz82 says:
Wonderful fotos Love the masks Thank you for sharing :)
1 year ago
elizabethwrenvintage says:
oh wow! gosh i love thursdays for this reason. there are always new and interesting things to look at and learn about!
1 year ago
sonyarasi says:
Great photos especially of the masks.
1 year ago
grayday says:
wow, very stunning and intriguing
1 year ago
kathyjohnson3 says:
Lovely photos, thanks for sharing!
1 year ago
Fernbeds says:
I really like the Masonic imagery in those frames. The colors are spectacular their time. Fernbeds www.etsy.com/shop/fernbeds
1 year ago
LittleWrenPottery says:
Alma Allen's organic forms are facinating, its interesting that we impress a sense of functionality on an object even when its intended to be decorative.
1 year ago
TheCornerStoreBK says:
what a nice piece! you've done it again. thanks
1 year ago
NangijalaJewelry says:
Wonderful and inspiring article. Thank you!
1 year ago
silversamba says:
love this piece. thx!
1 year ago
kirinqueen says:
Trivia nitpick! I'm sure Masonic imagery was part of early 20th century photo medallions, too, but all the examples you include here are for Odd Fellows, a distinct--though similar--organization from Freemasonry. ("I.O.O.F" and "F L T" in the images above are abbreviations for "Independent Order of Odd Fellows" and "Friendship, Love, Truth" respectively.) Those masks are ace!
1 year ago
theroyal says:
i have a phobia of masks, so thanks..
1 year ago
Atelier500 says:
Great "News" The Masks and sketches, related items are sensational. this is quite an intellectual assemblage of thoughts.
1 year ago
blessedvintage says:
I LOVE OLD THINGS, BUT ESPECIALLY OLD PHOTOS. HOW COOL!
1 year ago
blessedvintage says:
I LOVE OLD THINGS, BUT ESPECIALLY OLD PHOTOS. HOW COOL!
1 year ago
SailThouForth says:
Love the celluloid button photos! Those masks are too cool, too. The people wearing them look like they're just having so much FUN!
1 year ago
themefragrance says:
touche! great article!
1 year ago
HibouCards says:
amazing selection as usual :) thanks for sharing!
1 year ago
rarebeasts says:
Amazing photos.
1 year ago
JudiPaintedit says:
Different.....
1 year ago
maramba says:
The masks are beautiful and archaic. Wonderful pictures :)
1 year ago
KMalinka says:
Interesting!
1 year ago
EnRouteStudio says:
those masks are cool...reminds me of school plays.
1 year ago
SkateBetty says:
The b&w photos are amazing with the masks. I feel like they would have inspired Werner Herzog.
1 year ago
ChrissiesRibbons says:
Those masks have such a sense of drama... and boy are they creepy!!!
1 year ago
frommylifetoyours says:
love the photos .
1 year ago
goldminetrash says:
Benda <3
1 year ago
dragonfly1 says:
The photo medallions remind me of pictures of my great grandparents and grandparents! Lovely the way they were framed!
1 year ago
SugarCubeVintage says:
the decorative celluloid buttons are amazing!
1 year ago
littleshopofphotos says:
Very cool!!!! Awesome stuff!!!
1 year ago
rozzie says:
Very interesting imagery and masks... thanks for sharing! Rozzie
1 year ago
stepbackink says:
Very informative, I just sold a number of those Buttons in a show last weekend, they sold out instantly. :)
1 year ago
AKingsThings says:
The photos are great...
1 year ago
MegansMenagerie says:
Wow! Love the photos! Beautiful!!!
1 year ago
rebourne says:
quite interesting!
1 year ago
choisette says:
doesn't everyone wear some sort of mask?
1 year ago
inaflashopalinlay says:
ALMA ALLEN's Sculptures and photos are incredible. really neat shots!...
1 year ago
baconsquarefarm says:
Wow~! Outstanding finds, like the old photo's, so incredible, thanks once again.
1 year ago
TheIDconnection says:
Amazing, I love this, great story. Monica TheIDConnection
1 year ago
emwi says:
Well my absolute favorite design blog to read is www.dezeen.com. This London-based blog has the best collection of design news that I've found. They include articles from all over the world, especially Europe and Japan. Also, it is ridiculous how Frank Gehry works. I watched Sketches of Frank Gehry, and it showed him creating this crazy abstract form out of poster board and then handing it off to a subordinate to figure out how to make it work structurally. I guess that's what you get to do when you're a super famous architect. I hope to do that someday. design-milk.com is another good blog I love this post! I can't quit commenting! Thanks for it!
1 year ago
prisonbreak007 says:
i love it ,it's amazing
1 year ago
lxz2009 says:
it's quite beautiful than i think,its amazing!i love it
1 year ago
gardenmis says:
Love old photos ~ love all the sharing =)
1 year ago
RiverBazaar says:
Dazzled once again by the News... I think you left off a word in front of "toys" I always love your related items picks. Cheers!
1 year ago
giovannatorricobijou says:
damn hot!!!
1 year ago
vintagemaison says:
The photo frames are lovely, if a little sad. The masks are amazing although a little creepy. The wooden and stone shapes are beautiful - they stand up as pieces of art as well as perhaps functional. And as for the architectural sketches, they show such energy. Lovely article
1 year ago
metronomic1 says:
Yawn
1 year ago
spontaneousreality says:
Alma's organic forms....so beautiful!
1 year ago
Iammie says:
love those masks.
1 year ago
Tanith says:
I love the photos of the papier-mache masks!
1 year ago
ConceptsInClay says:
I've never seen anything like this - reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeallly interesting!
1 year ago
breadandroses2 says:
kirinqueen is spot on: the celluloid buttons depict Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F) imagery, not Masonic/ Freemasons. Both employ all-seeing eye symolism, as seen on the back of a U.S. dollar bill. Thomas Jefferson & other founding fathers were Freemasons, after all. Another fan of antique celluloid photo buttons. Chromolithography can't be beat for beautiful color and detail. You ask for suggestions for future posts? 2011 is the year of quilt and the American Folk Art Museum, NY, has several outstanding current exhibits of antique/folk art and contemporary commemorative quilts: http://www.folkartmuseum.org/masterworkquilts http://www.folkartmuseum.org/superstars http://www.folkartmuseum.org/911quilt
1 year ago
accentonvintage says:
The masks are amazing! The forms are eye catching and the celluloid buttons interesting!
1 year ago
SimpleJoysPaperie says:
The photo medallions are my favorite in this article. Thanks for always finding such interesting pieces Alison! :)
1 year ago
thestapeliacompany says:
I have been around a lot of paper ephemera in my life, working in antiques etc. and I've never seen photo medallions like that. They're beautiful! And those masks? Needless to say I'm in love. :)
1 year ago
JasmineLund says:
Love the collages!
1 year ago
amyrigs says:
Very Nice and interesting. I had never seen some of this before! I love the photo medallions!
1 year ago
HouseOfMoss says:
This is amazing! I especially love those outrageously colorful photo frames!
1 year ago
yogiodie says:
totally awesome articles! love the photos!
1 year ago
Parachute425 says:
Always something interesting. Love the photo medaliions.
1 year ago
tigersanddragons says:
I've always been drawn to masks, used to make them out of clay and raku fire them. Those paper mache theatrical masks are fantastic.
1 year ago
Bumbleweedz says:
Frank rules!
1 year ago
BanglewoodSupplies says:
Awesome Selection!
1 year ago
BanglewoodSupplies says:
Awesome Selection!
1 year ago
thebeachhousegallery says:
Love the Bull Headed paper doll! Fun inspiration, thanks. Inez Dunn
1 year ago
reshelle31 says:
love the photos!
1 year ago
collectiblesatoz says:
Great article. Thanks for sharing.
1 year ago
Jungle says:
Love those natural shapes Maybe it's just me, but they also evoke the sensual... ^_^
1 year ago
daisypatchdesigns says:
The Alma Allen collection reminds of the soap stone sculptures that I saw in my travels in the Canadian Arctic. They are absolutely gorgeous. The masks are creepy and fascinating at the same time. Great article!
1 year ago
bohemianblue says:
I agree with slowshirts.....sextoys.....and pipes.....my.....where are our minds. Love the pictures and the masks......big fan of masks
1 year ago
underthemysticmoonx says:
The theatrical masks are AMAZING!
1 year ago
VidGirlsandDolls says:
Wow ! Beautiful Art
1 year ago
BeaderBubbe says:
We've come a long way, baby.....
1 year ago
JennasRedRhino says:
I see these beautiful objects and feel so boring....
1 year ago
girliepains says:
Cool!
1 year ago
SheilasVintage says:
love the pics from long ago..
1 year ago