Colossal | A blog about art and visual ingenuity.

Geometric Sculptures by Zachary Abel

Geometric Sculptures by Zachary Abel sculpture office objects home geometric

Using binder clips, playing cards, paperclips and many other household objects, mathematician Zachary Abel pieces together intricate geometric structures. One of his most recent pieces, the Impenetraball (top) is made from 132 binder clips and Abel suspects its sturdy enough to support his own weight (though he has yet to confirm). Dizzying mathemetical how-tos and patterns available via his website. (via make)

By Christopher on December 20, 2011 • geometric home objects office sculpture

To Give a Present

To Give a Present video art holidays claymation Christmas animation

Animator Kirsten Lepore (previously) was asked by children’s TV show Yo Gabba Gabba to create a stop motion short on the theme of gift giving. This could have easily been done quickly and predictably, but in Lepore’s capable hands it became something wholly more amazing. Adorbs. (via vimeo)

By Christopher on December 20, 2011 • animation Christmas claymation holidays video art

New Pixelated Animals by Shawn Smith

(click images for detail)

Shawn Smith (previously) has a number of new pixelated animal sculptures on display at Craighead Green Gallery in Dallas, Texas. Smith works primarily with balsa and bass wood that he meticulously cuts, dyes, and assembles to create these beautiful animals. Smith via the gallery:

For the past few years, I have been creating a series of “Re-things.” These whimsical sculptures represent pixelated animals and objects of nature. I am specifically interested in subjects that I have never seen in real life. I find images of my subjects online and then create three-dimensional sculptural representations of these two-dimensional images. I build my “Re-things” pixel by pixel to understand how each pixel plays a crucial role in the identity of an object. Through the process of pixelation, color is distilled, some bits of information are lost, and the form is abstracted. Making the intangible tangible, I view my building process as an experiment in alchemy, using man-made composite and recycled materials to represent natural forms.

Smith’s work is on display through December 29th. All images courtesy Craighead Green Gallery.

By Christopher on December 20, 2011 • animals multiples sculpture wood

Booooooom Announces Remake Project Finalists

Quick disclaimer: these are not all finalists, just some of my favorites.

Booooooom Announces Remake Project Finalists contests compilation art history
“American Gothic” remake by Jesse John Hunniford

Booooooom Announces Remake Project Finalists contests compilation art history
“The Girl With The Pearl Earring” remake by Sybille de Chavagnac

Booooooom Announces Remake Project Finalists contests compilation art history
“Self Portrait 1889″ remake by Seth Johnson

Booooooom Announces Remake Project Finalists contests compilation art history
“Boy with a basket of fruit” remake by Guido Ricci

Booooooom Announces Remake Project Finalists contests compilation art history
“Vase with 12 Sunflowers” remake by Qi Wei Fong

For the past few weeks our good friends over at Booooooom have been running a killer art contest called the Remake Project. The contest invited people to create modern interpretations of iconic artworks including paintings, photography, and sculpture. Submissions ended last week and I was honored to be one of seven guest judges helping to winnow the field of hundreds down to just 10 finalists. It was a nearly impossible task to pick just ten, as almost every single submission was impeccably executed and thoughtful. Now it’s your turn to vote. Pick your favorite and you’ll be entered to win a prize pack from Booooooom. If you haven’t seen all the entries I strongly urge you check them out, this is seriously one of the best pages on the internet right now.

By Christopher on December 20, 2011 • art history compilation contests

Figurative Sculptures by Manuel Martí Moreno

Figurative Sculptures by Manuel Martí Moreno sculpture metal faces

Sculptor Manuel Martí Moreno lives and works in Valencia, Spain and forms these wonderful figurative pieces out of iron nuts. Via email Moreno says that he is most interested in showing the passage of time, the transience of life, and our collective awareness of our own mortality, seemingly evidenced by the spectre of decay at the edges of his works. You can see more images including installation shots on his blog, and also here. If you liked this, also check out the sculptures of Park Chan-Girl. Thanks Manuel for sharing your work with Colossal!