Tuesday, December 17, 2013

NATURE SUSPENDED

Maple mobile by Paco Orti. Website here.

 These simple maple curtains appeal to me.

Maple curtain by Paco Orti. Click to go to website

Ken Unsworth's stone circle series
River stones suspended on wires
They feel sacred and mysterious 


Stone Circle by Ken Unsworth.

Detail of Stone Circle by Ken Unsworth. See video here

Stephen H Kawai creates mobiles from natural elements.

 "Many have the impression that creating them is an exact science involving precise weighing and calculation. Nothing could be further from the truth. They sometimes turn out more or less as planned or, in other instances, unforeseen realities necessitate constant reassessment. They can be products of pure improvisation or they may be carefully designed." - Stephen Kawai

 Natural mobile by Stephen H Kawai. See website here

"The objects, or what I term "elements", which make up a mobile are chosen with great care since they are not produced by the artist. Each is a sculpture in itself, having been created by the universe, and much of the joy in creating mobiles is a certain degree of control in arranging such elements in three dimensions. " - Stephen Hawai

 Mobile by Stephen Kawai. Website here.

 We've a man nest by Gareth Wynne Fitzpatrick. See more images here.

 Gareth Wynne Fitzpatrick suspended himself from the gallery ceiling and proceeded to weave an enormous nest, entitled "We've a man nest".

 Man sized nest by Porky Hefer. See website here

Fellow South African, Porky Hefer, is making quite a name for himself designing magnificent nests big enough to house humans. They are woven from natural materials in much the same way as a weaver bird weaves his nest.
 Ruth Asawa. (Photo by Rachael Ashe on Flickr). See many beautiful images on Flickriver here.

Installation with suspended tree roots by Guiseppe Licari. See more here

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68 comments:

  1. Sue Marrazzo Fine ArtDecember 17, 2013 at 7:21 AM

    Thanks for sharing all these! I loved viewing it!

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  2. Annie CoeDecember 17, 2013 at 7:29 AM

    Robyn, Beautiful, beautiful! Thank you for all your thoughtful posts. xoxo

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  3. The Weaver of GrassDecember 17, 2013 at 7:30 AM

    I love these Robyn, there is such food for thought here. I am going to go over to my son's site and recommend that he visits you - he is a musician and loves modern and improvised music - somehow these seem on the same wavelength. A Happy Christmas to you.

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 25, 2013 at 11:16 PM

      Thanks Weaver. I always enjoy doing posts about using natural elements in art.

      Delete
  4. ValeriannaDecember 17, 2013 at 7:34 AM

    Oh... my soul really SINGS with this work, all of it!! I love how the wire that suspended riverstones adds such a wonderful pattern. All wonderful!

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  5. Lisa at GreenbowDecember 17, 2013 at 7:59 AM

    I want one of those human nests. Wonderous. So is the rock circle installation. Love em....

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 25, 2013 at 11:19 PM

      It would be most enjoyable to spend a few hours sitting high up in a tree ... in a man sized nest.

      Delete
  6. Priya SebastianDecember 17, 2013 at 8:06 AM

    This post and the previous one both took my breath away. The collection of works is so unusual and beautiful. I just want to see some of these in real in my lifetime.

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 25, 2013 at 11:20 PM

      I agree Priya. It would be so exciting to see some of these pieces face to face.

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  7. Kathryn DycheDecember 17, 2013 at 8:58 AM

    Wow, inspiring. Love the stones.

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  8. DebbieDecember 17, 2013 at 9:01 AM

    Beautiful work thank you for sharing, my prove you're not a robot word was pshipit, an interesting new expression I think.

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 25, 2013 at 11:29 PM

      Smiling at your word verification. It's given me food for thought.

      Delete
  9. Mo CrowDecember 17, 2013 at 10:59 AM

    oh the stone circle by KU is favourite! I had to do this (and got told off by the gallery guard for my curiosity) ... y'know those corporate desk toys with the steel balls on strings, the way if you lift a ball and drop it on one side the vibration moves through the row and lifts the steel ball at the other end? It doesn't work with suspended stone...

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    1. india flintDecember 17, 2013 at 11:54 PM

      thank you. i have wondered, but kept a grip on my hands..

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    2. CarolDecember 18, 2013 at 3:04 PM

      Isn't it just wonderful! Thanks, Mo, for doing the touching. Like India I wanted to but have already been told off once for a similar offence, so didn't do it.

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    3. ArtPropelledDecember 25, 2013 at 11:31 PM

      Lol .... Mo, I get that sensation too. I'm surprised you weren't marched out of the gallery.

      Delete
  10. sociedaddediletantes.blogspot.com.esDecember 17, 2013 at 11:04 AM

    Beautiful and very interesting.. Thank you

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  11. SweetpeaDecember 17, 2013 at 11:41 AM

    Marvellous & inspiring over here, Robyn,
    as always under your watchful intuitive eye.
    Off to follow links now ....

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 25, 2013 at 11:43 PM

      I got lost in Flickriver, enjoying the beautiful images of Ruth Asawa's work. That's what I enjoy about Flickr. ,,,,spectacular photos of well known art from a new perspective.

      Delete
  12. ELFIDecember 17, 2013 at 12:48 PM

    toujours cette belle surprise.. les arbres! merci!

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  13. PennyDecember 17, 2013 at 1:06 PM

    What woundrous things we humans think of to make, love those huge nests.

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 25, 2013 at 11:45 PM

      Artists are wondrous! They continue to surprise me on a daily basis.

      Delete
  14. Velma BolyardDecember 17, 2013 at 1:15 PM

    hanging around here today has been a treat!

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  15. AnonymousDecember 17, 2013 at 2:41 PM

    what a fabulous post Robyn!
    maple wings, stones and nests
    this is my world, smiling...

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 25, 2013 at 11:48 PM

      Yes, you fit into this world of nature and art with panache, Eb.

      Delete
  16. Fiona DempsterDecember 17, 2013 at 3:01 PM

    Delicious!

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  17. Leslie Avon MillerDecember 17, 2013 at 9:12 PM

    I love things suspended...the presentation suggests a breeze, freedom of movement, something special. And the maple seeds touch my heart.

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 25, 2013 at 11:49 PM

      Aah those maple seeds... such a simple idea.... they warm my heart.

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  18. Kim SchoenbergerDecember 17, 2013 at 9:50 PM

    Beautiful Robyn. I always sense an unseen essence or presence contained within artworks in suspension. I am currently working on a new concept (new body of work) that utilises the method of suspension - an uncanny coincidence (or universal alignment)... :-)

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 25, 2013 at 11:50 PM

      Oooohhh.... interesting! Now don't keep me in suspense ;-)

      Delete
  19. stregataDecember 17, 2013 at 10:38 PM

    Totally in love with this collection - wonderfully curated! Thank you for sharing.

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  20. Judy ShreveDecember 18, 2013 at 6:28 AM

    Amazing creativity! Robyn - you always find the most unusual and inspiring artwork. I am intrigued by each piece. Thank you!

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 25, 2013 at 11:53 PM

      Living on the edge of a forest, as you do, must make you more aware of the wonders of nature.

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  21. Jo MurrayDecember 18, 2013 at 9:18 AM

    Thanks for the art tour Robyn. Wonderful creations! Have a very Happy Christmas.

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  22. SethDecember 18, 2013 at 9:47 AM

    These are all so fascinating and must be truly breathtaking in person.

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  23. mansuetudeDecember 18, 2013 at 1:13 PM

    Wonderful collection!
    Garreth gives a new meaning to "hanging around the art gallery" :)

    So many times, seeing land bulldozed of trees and great big roots, I have just wished to carry them home--so much existing beauty shape line waiting there already.

    Blessings to you and yours.

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 25, 2013 at 11:58 PM

      Thanks M and blessings to you and yours too.
      There have been many times when I've wished I've had access to a fork lift. Oh the rocks that would love to live in my garden!

      Delete
  24. CarolDecember 18, 2013 at 3:06 PM

    Just a beautiful and inspiring collection! Thanks, Robyn...

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  25. Caterina GiglioDecember 19, 2013 at 4:39 AM

    another amazing post ... just delicious really... I might be crazy, but I rather like the shadow the nests create better than the nests themselves!! happiest of holidays to you dear Robyn...

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM

      In Ruth Asawa's installations the shadows are spectacular. They form part of the artwork. Hope you're having a good Christmas, Cat.

      Delete
  26. LauraDecember 19, 2013 at 11:49 AM

    wonderful series!

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  27. UnknownDecember 20, 2013 at 12:23 PM

    Hi Robyn,
    This is the time of year when those of us in the Northern Hemisphere feel like "nesting," so this post was quite fitting! (and elegant, as always)
    best wishes, Karine

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 26, 2013 at 12:04 AM

      Hi Karine, we are in the middle of Summer and nesting high up in a mountain forest could be the coolest spot........ and better yet, far away from the shopping frenzy.

      Delete
  28. ZenDotStudioDecember 20, 2013 at 12:59 PM

    they are all stunning but the one with the open seed pods and berries tugs at my heart! as always a wonderful gathering and curation.

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 26, 2013 at 12:05 AM

      The seed and "berry" mobile is striking isn't it?!

      Delete
  29. Gaby Bee December 21, 2013 at 11:38 PM

    Dear Robyn, thank you for a wonderful year of sharing your creativity, and for all the inspiration.

    Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous New Year! :-)

    Sending big hugs your way!
    Gaby

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  30. Lisa Graham December 22, 2013 at 6:42 AM

    What a great post...the Maple Mobile has my heart. Stunning!

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 26, 2013 at 12:08 AM

      Thanks Lisa. Sometimes certain images make quite an impact on me and the simple maple mobile is one of them.

      Delete
  31. Blue Sky DreamingDecember 22, 2013 at 1:11 PM

    Your post title says it all "Nature Suspended" ... opens to all these outrageous and beautiful pieces!

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 26, 2013 at 12:12 AM

      I've been captivated by Unsworth's rock circles for a while now and it was time to include them in a post..... and from there the post just took off.

      Delete
  32. WimDecember 23, 2013 at 6:14 AM

    'The hanging stones' makes me think of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
    I like it! Very agrarian artwork.

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    1. ArtPropelledDecember 26, 2013 at 12:12 AM

      I thought you would enjoy the stone circles, Wim.

      Delete
  33. Charlton StitcherDecember 26, 2013 at 7:35 AM

    Don't know why I haven't found your blog in ages - this is fascinating. I love Ken Unsworth's river stones - beautiful ... Now I've refound you, I will be back.

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  34. ArtPropelledDecember 27, 2013 at 7:17 PM

    Glad you refound me :-)

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  35. layersFebruary 7, 2014 at 8:37 PM

    You always find the most creative, most natural and most wonderful artists and somehow find the connections between them and their works

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  36. LouisetteMarch 1, 2014 at 5:12 PM

    Amazing créations , nice color, love much :-)

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