Witness My Revival

Whilst looking for some of the cutest umbrellas around we found this piece of art and thought -'You can get a selection of umbrellas from anywhere, but where else can you read about a cloud being rethought and revived into an art installation???'

CLOUD is a large-scale interactive sculpture by Caitlind r.c. Brown for Nuit Blanche Calgary.

CLOUD is created from 5,000 re-appropriated domestic light bulbs and is constructed from steel, metal, 
pull strings, burnt out incandescent bulbs,
 and illuminated compact fluorescent bulbs - CLOUD invites the viewer to wander through a rain of pull strings switching on and off lights. By manipulating the sculpture audiences activate CLOUD’s inner sphere animating light bulbs and creating the illusion of lightning on the cloud’s surface.

CLOUD was exhibited in Calgary this year as part of Nuit Blanche Calgary, which is an annual late night contemporary arts festival. We love the idea of taking something that is so normal - a cloud - and making us, as the audience re-engage with it. Reviving a rain-cloud? Lovely. 

Caitlind Brown is an artist, filmmaker and collaborator living in Calgary. She has an interest in re-invigorated spaces, collaboration in all forms, and art in unexpected places. Check out more of her work here.

All images via: IncandescentCloud 

Oh my. We found the crochet work of Su Ami on a day where we are definitely in need of a dose of cuteness. And cuteness and Su Ami are definitely two things that are very closely associated. 

Su Ami is a family of 5 Vietnamese crocheter's and their work is something to behold - the 'Micro Honey Bee' is their smallest piece which is made using sewing thread of only 0.2mm. Wowsers. 

They have a huge amount of work available on their Etsy shop covering a wide and varied menagerie of crochet deliciousness. Perfect for that pet lover in your life that is low on space. Lovely. 

All images via Su Ami's Etsy store

"If you are only moved by colour relationships, you are missing the point. I am interested in expressing the big emotions - tragedy, ecstasy, doom." - Mark Rothko (1903-1970).

Mark Rothko, No. 12 

Here at Witness my revival we have always endeavoured to fill your life with beautiful things that make you think and make you smile. There is also nothing we like more than a reviving of an old idea in a new way. Sometimes, though, we need to take you back in time to show you something to improve your day - and today we are lifting your day with a little bit of Mark Rothko.

Born in Russia, he grew up in America and became a prominent figure among the New York School of painters. Mark Rothko moved through many artistic styles until reaching his signature 1950s motif of soft, rectangular forms floating on a stained field of colour. Rothko was heavily influenced by mythology and philosophy, and he was insistent (despite challenges) that his work was filled with content and brimming with ideas - in his own words, if you believed otherwise you were missing the point.

Mark Rothko, No. 3/No. 13, 1949, 

Mark Rothko, Orange Red Yellow (1956)

Mark Rothko, No. 12, 1951,

Images via Rob Dreyer, AFC, ArtObserved, Google

Wednesday. Hump Day. And the third day of orange week here at Witness my revival. It is fun looking for things that catch our eye that also use orange in some way, shape or form. Finding Le Dot, by Anthony Zinonos was a stroke of genius, we think. 

Le Dot is a humourous zine created by Zinonos and is a quirky collection of photograph clippings and orange dots. The orange dots are positioned as such that the image subjects' appear to be interacting with the dot in a way that is humourous.

It made us laugh. We think it will make you laugh too. 

Images via Book By Its Cover and The Jealous Curator 

Coming from a family tree that could easily have over-shadowed her, Stella McCartney has built an incredibly successful fashion house and is the fashion industry's self-appointed eco-conscience. From pioneering the production of non-leather accessories and staunchly not using fur in her collections she has had a huge part to play in moving eco-fashion from the sandals and socks territory to something that is beautifully wearable.

McCartney has always endeavoured to have her designs be as sustainable as possible, but is also not willing to let eco-guidelines decrease the beauty of her pieces - making as many parts of her designs as environmentally-aware as they can be is the goal. To that end, Stella McCartney will be the first luxury brand to team with the Natural Resources Defense Council in its Clean by Design program to look at ways to reduce the (hugely polluting) production of textiles.

For Spring Summer 2012, Stella McCartney launched an 'eco-friendly' collection of sunglasses with the collection being made from over 50% natural and renewable resources. 

Reviving the fashion industry's production methods? Hats off to you Stella.

Images via Stella McCartney