South African Art - recycled materials

South African artist, Simon Max Bannister has created a series of striking artworks from plastic waste, drawing attention to plastic in the oceans . The moody beasts below are two of my favorites. Explore here for more.




Simon's work will be exhibited at the Two Oceans Aquarium Cape Town from October 2010 to January 2011. Also on the Plastic Max Artworks site are examples of Simon's lightworks, evocative of swirling kelp and underwater depths. Paradoxically, made of a substance foreign to the nature of the sea.

Design: Nick Sherman

(above) Vintage-style flyer design by Nick Sherman (copyright). (Click image to enlarge)

Definitely have a closer look at Nick Sherman's design gallery here. He includes fascinating images of his inspiration, studies, draft designs and style references.

Typeface - great characters, both wooden and human.

This downbeat 'trailer' (6 minutes) explores a vintage art: letterpress printing with movable wooden type. I want to see this movie. I like it already. I want to touch those big letters and see the bright ink come up on the page. Technology is useful but old school rules.



The title sequence/trailer below is also definitely worth a squizz.




Below, inspiring typographic design associated with the film, Typeface.
All proceeds from the sale of the limited edition prints featured below will go towards completion and distribution funds for Typeface.

(above) Typeface Print by David Ichiyama.

(above) Typeface Print by Dennis Ichiyama.
More by Dennis Ichiyama here.

(above) Print by Nick Sherman.
More Nick Sherman.

(above) Print by Stacey Stern.

All the above prints and others are available here.

Radio Gaga

(above) DeWALD American Art Deco Radio, circa 1938. More here.

I couldn't resist sharing this amazing looking radio from Ric and Iza Emmett at Modernism Gallery.

1930's Wallpaper Design

(Above) A French Art Deco colour woodcut of a wallpaper design from the 1930’s by Raoul Dufy (1877-1953), depicting 'sailors with their ladies amid exotic foliage'. Click image for a closer look and here for more.
(Above) 1930's French Art Deco colour woodcut of a wallpaper design by Jules Leleu (1883-1961). Click image to enlarge or here for more 1930's deco at Modernism Gallery.

1930's Poster Design

(Above) 1936-38 "Keep Your Teeth Clean"

The WPA (Works Progress Administration) published this poster between 1936 and 1938 as part of a public health program to promote oral hygiene.

See more and available here.

(Above) 1936-38 "See America"

Designed by Jerome Roth in 1937 for the United States Travel Bureau, promoting travel to Montana. See more here.

Lovers' Luau - Les Paul and Mary Ford (1959)

Despite a patch of damage, there's plenty I love about this record cover: its amber hue, lurid splashes of colour, great textiles & anthropological feel.

For the full luau, visit Esther at Stax o' Wax. I'm listening, swaying & smiling right now.