The Ultra-Realistic Sculptures by Marc Sijan
Marc Sijan, a Milwaukee artist, has carefully studied and modeled the human form for more then twenty years. Since his days as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, he has become completely immersed in the human form as a subject. After earning his bachelor’s degree in art, he returned to school to earn his master’s degree and received a heavy dose of scientific courses in anatomy and biology in the process – hence the inspiration for the life like artistic forms.
The opportunities we have in this life to closely examine the intricacies of the human body are rare. Many of us are taught “ not to stare” for the fear the object of our gaze may hit us with a pocket book or yell for the closest police officer. But the latest exhibition at the Delaware Art Museum, The Ultra-Realistic Sculptures by Marc Sijan gives viewers a recrimination-free opportunity to stare with abandon, quenching your own voyeuristic tendencies. Continue reading »
Richard Branson’s $70 Million Caribbean Mansion on Necker Island
Branson first became aware that some of the islands in the British Virgin Islands were for sale in 1979. In 1978 he went to the British Virgin Islands for a holiday in order to investigate the prospective real estate. On first observing the islands, he envisioned using them to put up rock stars for his record label. Upon arrival, they were given a luxury villa and travelled around islands for sale by helicopter. Continue reading »
Poo
A dog sits in front of a giant dog sculpture called Poo donated by Dawn French at an animal rehoming centre in Shoreham. The comedienne and writer commissioned the 9ft tall sculpture, based on a character in her first novel, to appear alongside her in a TV advert. (Dogs Trust / PA)
The Sickness Interactive Installation
A woman searches for gold necklaces amongst a floor full of wool and yarn, created by Thai artist, Surasi Kusolwong. Visitors can keep the jewellery should they find it. The landscape containing the necklaces is called Sickness, on show at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. It opened on 21 August and to date, one necklace has been found out of ten hidden in the yarn. (EPA/BARBARA WALTON) Continue reading »
Seven Spires
Steve Messam’s installation Seven Spires, part of FLOW – a countywide series of new site specific artworks set in Northamptonshire’s rivers, canals and waterways – has been unveiled. FLOW is part of the Igniting Ambition Festival 2011 and UK Cultural Olympiad. (Andrew Hilton) Continue reading »
Wedding Gown Made out of More than 3000 Peacock Feathers
A peacock farm in Linyi, northern China’s Shandong Province, has created a wedding gown made out of more than 3,000 peacock feathers. According to farm owner Qiu Yun it took 3,150 feathers collected from more than 200 male peacocks to make the dress, which took two months to be put together. (Quirky China News / Rex Features)
Singing Ringing Tree
The Singing Ringing Tree is a wind powered sound sculpture resembling a tree set in the landscape of the Pennine mountain range overlooking Burnley, in Lancashire. Continue reading »
Photo of the Day: Me, Myself & Irene
Hurricane Irene (top center) churns over the Bahamas in this MODIS satellite image. Irene, now a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 miles per hour, is projected to possibly clip the Outer Banks region of North Carolina before moving up the eastern seaboard of the U.S. (NASA via Getty Images)
‘Drool in the Pool’ Day in Kansas
Savannah Pearce plays with her dog Sabali during the Pooch Plunge at the Lawrence Aquatic Center in Lawrence, Kan., Monday, Aug 22, 2011. Dogs are allowed in the pool the day after it closes for the season. (Orlin Wagner / AP) Continue reading »
The Idol-makers of Kumartoli, India
An artisan works on semi-finished clay statues of Hindu deities in Kumartoli, the idol-makers’ village of Kolkata, India, on August 22. (Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP – Getty Images) Continue reading »
Something Fishy Going on at the Polish-Ukrainian Border
An aerial view shows the land art installation by Polish artist Jaroslaw Koziara as a part of the Land Art Festival on the field between Horodyszcze (Poland) and Warez (Ukraine), on Tuesday. The giant fish was created by seeding different kinds of plants on the field between the Polish and Ukrainian border. (Wojciech Pacewicz / EPA) Continue reading »
Photo of the Day: Deepwater Dweller
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released this photo, taken in 2002 about one mile deep near a huge underwater volcano near Monterey Bay, which shows this strange marine animal, thought to be a new species that has yet to be described or named. It is a type of mollusk, called ‘nudibranch’, that sheds its shell early in life. Scientists think there are millions of species, like this one, that have yet to be named or even discovered. (NOAA)
Lemurs Beat the Heat with Frozen Fruit
A pair of ring-tailed lemurs enjoy frozen watermelon for lunch at the Bioparco Zoo in Italy on Aug. 21. Due to very high temperatures over the past few days, zoo staff have provided animals with extra portions of frozen fruit to help them cool down. (Giorgio Cosulich / Getty Images) Click image to zoom.
Telekinetic Mindflex Duel Game
Based on Mindflex, the original mental acuity game, Mindflex Duel lets two players engage in battles of intense “mind-eye” concentration. This amazing game comes with two lightweight headsets, which allow players to levitate the foam ball and move it across the game platform–all with their minds. Alternate between states of concentration and relaxation to control the sphere and master the five interactive challenges. Recommended for ages eight and up, the games offer solo, head-to-head, and co-op modes for hours of telekinetic fun. Order on Amazon.
Awesome Spaghetti-Pasta-Noodle Fork
Inventor Bob Balow demonstrates how to use his invention, “The Original Pasta Fork.” Sliding fingers down the long spiral handle makes it rotate around the center prong of the fork, thus winding the spaghetti onto the fork. The fork can be ordered at http://www.theoriginalpastafork.com
Antique Tractor Auction
Steve Mead, of Kent City, Mich., looks at tractors that belonged to the late Sherwood “Red” Casterline in Ensley, Mich. Arlene Culver beamed as she surveyed the farmyard lined with 72 antique tractors, old engines and other rusted farm equipment collected by her late father, Sherwood “Red” Casterline. On Saturday, hundreds of antique farm equipment buffs from as far away as Texas will gather for an auction to sell off the rare tractors and engines Culver’s father dragged home one by one over 50 years of collecting. (Cory Morse / AP) Continue reading »
See No Evil
The ‘See No Evil’ art project on Nelson Street in Bristol, England will see several multi-story buildings in the street covered with art over the coming days. Organizers hope that the project, which has involved top graffiti artists from all over the world, will become a major tourist attraction for the west country city. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) Continue reading »
Monkeys Play Soccer at the London Zoo
The Bolivian squirrel monkeys played with a toy soccer ball as photographers snapped away at the London Zoo in England on August 18. The zoo has a total of 22 squirrel monkeys, with 5 babies having been born in 2011. Male monkey Bounty has fathered eleven baby monkeys in the last three years since his arrival, enough to make up a football team. His latest offspring named Rolo was the eleventh and arrived last month. (Ben Stansall / AFP – Getty Images) Continue reading »
One of the Most Beautiful Places in America
(creative commons / jkdevleer04)
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in Leelanau County and Benzie County. The park covers a 35-mile (60-km) stretch of Lake Michigan’s eastern coastline, as well as North and South Manitou Islands. This northern Michigan park was established primarily because of its outstanding natural features, including forests, beaches, dune formations, and ancient glacial phenomena. The Lakeshore also contains many cultural features including the 1871 South Manitou Island Lighthouse, three former Life-Saving Service/Coast Guard Stations and an extensive rural historic farm district. Continue reading »
Google Street View Hits the Open Waters to Share Environment in the Amazon
Google team members sail a boat with a 360-degree camera system mounted on its top to record the “Street View for the Amazon” on the Negro River, around Tumbira Community, Amazonas State, on August 17. In partnership with Brazil’s Amazonas Sustainable Foundation (FAS), Google’s Street View for the Amazon project will capture 360-degree imagery of the Amazon’s Negro River and the adjacent communities to share the environment and local culture with the world. (Evaristo Sa / AFP – Getty Images) Continue reading »
Photo of the Day: Dangerous Kiss
A python regius inspects the head of a bunny on August 17, 2011 in Leipzig, eastern Germany, during a photocall to promote the “Hund & Heimtier” pet fair. Organisers of the fair running from August 20 to 21, 2011 expect among others about 5,000 dogs to be presented. (PETER ENDIG/AFP/Getty Images) Click image to zoom.
Turanor PlanetSolar: The First Solar-powered Boat
The Turanor PlanetSolar, the first solar-powered boat to travel around the world, arrives in Hong Kong. The Swiss-flagged boat, which was built in Germany and cost $26 million, is topped by 500 square meters of black solar panels. (Laurent Fievet/AFP/Getty Images)
