[ By Marc in Animals & Habitats, Art & Design. ]
Art out of recycled materials is both great for the environment, and an interesting artistic challenge. Animal themed art is inherently interesting because of its unique reflection of the mundane world we see every day. Strong artistic ability and skill allows some creators to come up with larger than life versions of their real world counterparts, or stunning reproductions and interpretations of the smallest critters that grace our planet.
(Images via quazen, greenopia, ecofriend)
These horse sculptures are jarring at first, until one realizes they are fashioned carefully out of curved pieces of wood. The difficulty of using this material, and the accurate reproduction make these stunning examples of natural art.
(Images via redbubble, keetsa, webdesignerdepot, foundshit, greenopolis)
Flying creatures made out of discarded scrap metal are visually stunning, but unfortunately unable to fly like the creatures they represent (in the case of the flying pig, this is probably a good thing). It’s amazing how such an eclectic mix of materials can form such a recognizable shape.
(Images via thinkoutsidetheboxtoday, tomsguide)
Elephants are not easy to make. Their huge size are an immediate and often overwhelming obstacle to creating a life size replica, but this doesn’t deter everyone. Using recycled materials, some artists push the boundaries and create wonderfully evocative sculptures.
(Images via designswan, kirtland, designswan, recyclechicken, respawned, thesculpturewebsite)
Fish lend themselves to being created out of recycle materials; their flashing scales look metallic enough already, that recreating them is a natural fit for metal workers. The skill with which these artists put together accurate and entertaining representations is no less impressive because of the fit of the subject matter.
(Images via whatthecool, glimpsepa, greenopolis, instructables)
There’s no limit to what one can create with some scrap metal and a good welder. Insects, critters, and huge mythological beasts can all be found in sculpture gardens and inside homes across the world. These creations are both fun and environmentally friendly, making a great statement for anyone who owns one.
(Images via jorymon, whatthecool, ebsqart, beverlykayegallery, seesomethingstrange)
Large four legged beasts are not easy to create in any medium, and the natural restrictions of using found materials makes this subject matter even more difficult. Some artists use these boundaries as motivation to get even more creative; coming up with animal versions that seem almost bionic, while others strive for the most accurate representation possible.
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42 Phenomenal Works of Fire Art and Design
In ancient and modern cosmologies alike, fire is often regarded as both a creative and destructive force. Aside of the aesthetics of fire art there is something compelling about taming this…
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Guerilla Green Graffiti: Mossy Urban Art Brings Nature Home
[ By Marc in Art & Design, Home & Garden, Tricks & Hacks. ]
The closest most graffiti taggers get to being green is using spray paint cans that don’t contain CFC’s, but some guerilla green graffiti artists are taking their art to a new level. Few people would complain about having their building tagged with beautiful greenery, to the point that people will gladly pay to have their buildings tagged.
(Images via pingmag, alternativeconsumer, inhabitat, thegrowspot)
Patrick Blanc is an expert at de-urbanizing city dwellings and commercial buildings. In places where every tree is isolated in brick, it’s amazingly refreshing to walk upon a building with an organic green side. The mixture of high tech windows with cool greenery is a stunning juxtaposition.
(Images via mashupculture)
Morten Flyverbom likes green transportation; literally. His creations include a moss fuzzy volkswagen bug and tree carved bicycle. While his work is not the most functional, it’s definitely visually stunning.
(Images via inspiringcities, kuyichi, brokencitylab)
Anna Garforth can make a plain brick wall stunning with a mossy quote that looks mundane at first, until a closer look reveals the substance behind its form.
(Images via made-in-london, elizabethabernathy, bumbumbum)
Green artists are all about reminding viewers that nature is out there, and could easily be incorporated into the urban life. When sidewalks seem like the natural state of the world, it’s time to take a trip into the country, and don’t forget to bring back a little green graffiti to share the joy.
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Sects in the City: Organic Wildlife Cities Pop up in London
[ By Delana in Animals & Habitats, Art & Design, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
It seems that a large block of new housing has opened up in the in-demand London boroughs of Chelsea and Islington, though even experienced city dwellers would have a hard time packing their belongings into these housing developments. They are tiny apartment complexes built for birds and bugs: spontaneous cities meant to promote and increase biodiversity in the urban environment.
The tiny houses were installed by London Fieldworks, an artist collective that focuses on projects that emphasize the intersection of art, science and technology. As part of UP Projects’ Secret Garden initiative, the “Spontaneous City in the Tree of Heaven” installation seeks to add some biodiversity to the areas in which the new “housing developments” are placed. The houses, which resemble cells multiplying to take over the surfaces of trees, are meant to act as shelter and nesting spots for London wildlife while emphasizing the importance of urban green spaces.
The architecture of the more than 250 bird and bug boxes echoes the Georgian townhouses, red brick towers, and 1960s social housing developments that surround them: they feature the same modular, blocky shapes and close quarters. But these wildlife developments have been designed to be temporary and to grow with their support structure, unlike many human housing developments in London.
An interesting aspect of the project is the trees on which London Fieldworks chose to build the wildlife cities. The “tree of heaven” is actually Ailanthus altissima, an ornamental tree native to China that tends to choke out surrounding vegetation. To mount a biodiversity-creating project on a biodiversity-destroying substrate may seem strange, but the artists behind London Fieldworks believe that it adds another layer to the discussion.
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When we think of abandoned cities, most of us picture the old west ghost towns of the United States: desolate, dusty places where once life bustled and filled the streets with motion. But there’…
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Art from Decay: 11 Masters of Trash, Rust & Rot
[ By Steph in Art & Design, Food & Health, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
The inescapable cycle of life, death and decay will have its way with us all, and virtually everything else on earth… and while most people find this reality of nature less than pleasant, others seek to magnify and exploit it. Because while decay can certainly be disgusting – as some artists have portrayed with rotting animals – it can also be beautiful, like allowing the sea to etch a pattern into metal.
Dieter Roth
(images via: MOMA)
No collection of decay-themed art would be complete without the inclusion of Dieter Roth, whose entire oeuvre challenged the notion that art is immortal. Bananas, sausage and dung are just a few of the items Roth used to create pieces that blossomed with maggots and mold, falling victim to the relentless cycle of life and death even under the harsh lights of exclusive art galleries. Certainly the bust of chocolate that he made of himself, covered in birdseed and threw into a courtyard as a feast for birds looks very different than it did when he created it.
Dan Dempster
(image via: wikimedia commons)
The sea is a great and mysterious artist, carving rocks and scouring patterns into sunken man-made objects with its relentless tides and currents. Bermuda artist Dan Dempster submerged pieces of steel into the ocean and let it etch patterns into the surface with a rusty, dreamy and utterly aquatic result.
Nathan Slate Joseph
(images via: sundaram tagore gallery)
Many artists whose work is displayed outdoors dread the process of weathering; they lacquer and protect their work as much as possible to defend it against fading, rust, and other hazards of wind and rain. But Nathan Slate Joseph intentionally leaves squares of steel outdoors to “empower nature by allowing it to have a hand in the making of his art.” He even applies acids to facilitate the breakdown of the pigments he applies to each square, letting them age and change naturally before soldering them together into one cohesive piece.
Damien Hirst
(images via: my modern met)
Renowned British artist Damien Hirst is known for making death a central theme in nearly all of his works, the most notable – and controversial – of which being a series made from animal corpses. One work featuring a rotting cow and bull was banned from gallery exhibition by New York public health officials for fear of “vomiting among the visitors”. Another, “A Thousand Years”, consisted of a rotting cow’s head in a glass case, covered in maggots and flies. But not all of Hirst’s dead animals are left to the ravages of nature – some are preserved in formaldehyde, like his iconic (and somehow simultaneously iconoclastic) shark.
Tony Reason
(images via: tonyreason.com)
Rust is a powerful pigment, with its vivid hues of red and orange that it lends to all sorts of metals, whether desired or not. British artist Tony Reason must see a great beauty in rust, because he has made it the center of much of his work: giant metal panels with rust designs and even rust mixed with wax and painted on canvas.
Kathy Kelley
(image via: artslant)
Few artists enjoy being told that their work looks like a bunch of trash – but Kathy Kelley knows that that’s exactly what her sculptures are. Kelley, who holds an MFA in graphic design, turned to “revaluing objects of refuse” with her large-scale found-object sculptures, saying “I am drawn to the symbolic and formal elements of decay, the way in which an object has been altered by its mere existence. The worn, broken, torn nature of the aged object seems to make it more real, more honest. So I collect decayed urban refuse. I hold onto it for awhile. Cogitate. Eventually the formal and symbolic elements of the materials and my current research meld. Then I make.”
Matthew Barney & Elizabeth Peyton
(images via: c-monster)
Take one dead shark a la Damien Hirst, throw in some drawings that have been embellished by the sea over a period of a few months a la Dan Dempster, and you’ve got the strange collaborative project “The Blood of Two” by artists Matthew Barney and Elizabeth Peyton. Some of Peyton’s nautical-themed drawings were placed in a glass casket which was submerged in the ocean for months; the casket was ceremoniously lifted from the sea and taken on a funeral-like procession to a slaughterhouse where the drawings were removed and replaced with a dead shark. The shark was later served to onlookers. Barney is also known for his performance art videos featuring sculptures made from uncooked tapioca, which were left to decay as they would.
Rosamond Purcell
(images via: zymmogyphic)
Did you ever imagine that a dead fish could be so beautiful? Rosamond Purcell collects such natural and man-made curiosities for her assemblage art, which pays tribute to decay in all forms, from the remains of dead creatures to worm-eaten books and rusted metal. Purcell sources most of her materials at a junkyard in Maine and turns them into art installations, sculptures, collages and other collections as documented in her book Bookworm: The Art of Rosamond Purcell.
Joseph Beuys
(images via: 2thewalls)
Artist Joseph Beuys worked with all sorts of unconventional materials, but they were never randomly chosen. Beuys used edible items like butter, sausage and chocolate in some works, knowing that they would transform and decay over time, changing the way that people reacted to each piece. Fat in particular played a large role, used to signify “chaos and the potential for spiritual transcendence”. The images above show how the work ‘Fat Chair’, which featured a triangular slab of butter on a wooden chair, evolved as it decayed.
Zhang Xiaotao
(images via: saatchi gallery)
Perhaps hang Xiaotao’s art isn’t made directly from putrefying objects, but nearly as unusual is the desire to produce art that holds up decay as a subject worth portraying again and again. Xiaotao depicts moldy strawberries, rotting birthday cake, heaps of trash in the subway and ants feasting on forgotten food as lovingly as if they were stunning landscapes and beautiful models. “I am creating something that is disappointing and yet has great hopes – a cycle of positive and negative energy that is in a constant state of renewal,” he told China Daily.
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Circular Logic: World’s Largest Artwork is Too Cool
[ By Delana in Art & Design, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
These odd circles may look like messages from aliens or the humorous graffiti of penguins, but it’s actually the ephemeral snow and ice art of earth artist Jim Denevan, best known for his temporary beach masterpieces. The snow circles are somewhat of a departure from Denevan’s usual medium, but he’s no stranger to large-scale natural art. This nine-square-mile snow drawing currently holds the record as the world’s largest snow drawing; the record before that belonged to a sand drawing created in the Nevada desert by Denevan.
Jim Denevan’s art is all about impermanence. His large-scale artworks are meant to exist only for very short periods of time, after which they will be washed away by waves, wind and weather. This massive art was created on Siberia’s frozen Lake Baikal, the world’s largest lake.
Because of the constant threat of losing the entire piece to a sharp gust of wind, a team of helpers assisted in the creation of the gigantic masterpiece. Eight people in all got out onto the ice and used brooms to sweep the snow into simple, elegant circles. The work was chronicled on The Anthropologist, a site that features new artwork for Anthropologie.
The crew slept in a yurt on the ice, warming themselves by a fire in the lake bed that re-froze each morning in the brutal temperatures. The expedition was filmed by a documentary filmmaker and captured by a photographer; both of these documentation methods are necessary when creating art in a medium as temporary as ice.
The tundra warmed up, Lake Baikal thawed, and Jim Denevan’s lovely circles melted away forever. But the artist isn’t losing any sleep over his lost masterpiece; his goal is to create beautiful and inspiring pieces of art that only exist for a moment in time. His ephemeral art reminds us all to savor every day, to find beauty in even the most fleeting moment.
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5 of the Largest Gorges & Canyons in the World
The following collection has a mix of the longest, deepest, and widest (in area) canyons and gorges from around the world.
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James Ng: Asian Steampunk Art
[ By Marc in Art & Design, Technology & Gadgets. ]
James Ng is a Hong Kong-born artist who has utilized inspiration from his worldwide travels to incorporate asian traditional beauty with Western themes in his work, with a steampunk sensibility that inextricably links man and machine. James’ art is unique in style and content, revealing a world in which every person is an individual, and every machine is a one of a kind beauty designed for form and long-lasting function. All of his artwork is done on the computer, though it would be hard to guess. Here are some of James Ng’s best works:
(Images via enworld, emptykingdom)
James Ng’s work often features captivating and interesting characters. The steampunk tradition is readily apparent in all the contraptions and accessories that inevitably accompany his well illustrated creations. One can easily see the relationship between these characters and their contraptions; in contrast to today’s throw away mentality, these characters have a personal connection to the technology they use.
(Images via steampunklinks, jamesngart)
Towering monuments reflective of asian architectural styles are found throughout James’ work, and they bring the beauty of architecture to a new audience (and medium), renewing a sense of wonder in these age-old designs. The flying castle reveals an entire city flying above the clouds, while the fortress is incredibly grounded.
(Images via jamesngart, enworld, emptykingdom)
Steampunk fans love steam powered contraptions and machines, the more convoluted the better, and James Ng doesn’t disappoint. With harvesters, carriages, and entertaining contraptions appearing throughout his work, James populates an entire world with a cohesive syle and aesthetic. The lack of mass production in steampunk worlds is something the real world should strive for – building to suit a need rather than utilizing resources and energy for entirely disposable results.
(Images via conceptart, imaginefx)
James Ng’s world isn’t without its corruption, so enforcers of justice are required. Melding the spirit of invention with the poignant power of a righteous warrior, James promises that no crime will go unpunished.
If any of these prints really pique your interest, support James by purchasing one in his store.
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A Look Inside: Spectacular X-Ray Nature Photography
[ By Delana in Art & Design, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
The natural world is full of surprises and hidden beauty. It’s so easy to simply walk right by countless amazing things every day without noticing just how many wonders are all around us. That’s part of the inspiration behind Hugh Turvey‘s X-ray art. He looks inside the things most of us ignore, taking an inside view of the natural world and inspiring a truly delightful sense of wonder.
Hugh Turvey is fascinated by the idea of X-ray specs: those novelty glasses often advertised in the back of comic books. The idea that one can put on an accessory and suddenly see a deeper truth appeals to Turvey and inspires his art. He likens X-ray art to the movie “The Matrix;” specifically, when Neo is suddenly able to perceive his real environment.
Although Turvey isn’t the first artist to use X-rays as art, he is one of the most well-known and respected. His art depicts familiar items in wholly unfamiliar ways. Turvey’s X-ray photos reveal hidden characteristics of ordinary things; sometimes amazing qualities can be found in the most unassuming objects.
Originally trained as a designer and art director, Turvey didn’t discover his passion for photography until he was grown. He retrained in his new craft with master photographer Gered Mankowitz and began experimenting with the X-ray art that would later become his hallmark.
These colored X-ray pictures help us get a closer look at the complex beauty of the natural world. Flowers which look so uncomplicated on the surface reveal their hidden inner structures; plants that may look plain and boring with the naked eye take on an exotic and truly wonderful quality when seen in this new way.
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Extreme Eco-Fashion: 10 Recycled Critter Collections
[ By Elizah in Animals & Habitats, Art & Design, Uncategorized. ]
Human beings have relied on the innate warmth and coziness of animal skins for ages, and back in the day with sub-zero temperatures swirling about and the threat of snarling, chronically hungry prehistoric animals at every turn, it made sense to make the most of what remained following a heart-throbbing hunt. Despite the eventual creation of a highly profitable industry built around raising creatures for the sole purpose of harvesting their lush coats, the practice is in our current day and age increasingly considered not only inhumane but also entirely unacceptable now that we’ve developed perfectly viable vegan alternatives. Those who are eco-sympathetic may feel that it is wrong to kill an animal and profit from the sale of its skin, but what about recycling perfectly usable critter body parts when random creatures have met their untimely demise underneath cars, as the result of ill-placed power lines or following a mishap with an immaculately clean office building window? As you will see below, there are more than a few fashion designers and their creative (or morbidly?!?) inspired compadres who pursue the darker side of animal recycling in an effort to craft left-of-center fashion statements that purportedly celebrate the lives of those whose candles have burned out well before their time.
Iris Schieferstein
(Images via: Trampin Feet, Shocking Fuzz, Iris Schieferstein, Design Crisis)
It’s one thing to strut your stuff while wearing the skin of a sacrificed alligator or cow, but once you dare to literally hoof it while sporting recognizable body parts or dead-on, fully intact critters…wellllll, let’s just say that that’s where many fashionistas would easily draw the line. German artist Iris Schieferstein has certainly gone where no other creative minded animal recycler has gone before by fashioning what-the-huh? footwear out of hedgehog bodies, once soaring white doves and now dead-as-a-doornail horsie feet. Certainly striking, these inarguably practical fashion staples nonetheless provoke one to declare a piercingly audible, “Neighhhhh!!!!”
Reid Peppard’s RP/ENCORE
(Images via: Examiner, Smile & Save The Planet, Reid Peppard)
Unlike many of her taxidermy contemporaries who fail to clearly identify precisely how they source the subject of their works, Reid Peppard has long been very transparent about using city casualties that have been found rather than hunted. While it’s not surprising that many find her distinctive brand of fashion rather repulsive, the self-confessed vegetarian sees nothing wrong with transforming what would have normally gone to waste into beautiful personal adornments that might potentially have the power to change the general perception of city-dwelling vermin and garden variety rodents. Interestingly, Peppard has commented that many of her naysayers will “wear leather without thinking…eat meat, drive cars that pollute the atmosphere (and) then turn around and say that my taking waste and preserving it is somehow wrong.” Good point. Now who’s this close to buying her pristine white rat carcass coin purse? Hello? Any takers? Rat purse anyone?
April Hale
(Images via: Craftzine)
For those who experience a serious case of the heebee-jeebies when it comes to the mere mention of the words rat purse, April Hale’s line of roadkill jewelry (with no heads attached) may be just what the doctor ordered. Why must we continue farming conventional forms of fur, anyway? Imagine going cold turkey on the fur industry altogether and instead repurposing the hides of anything that perishes due to natural or city-livin’ causes? There’s certainly a seemingly endless supply… Hale — who also happens to eschew meat — was inspired to pursue this unconventional fashion niche following an unfortunate incident in which a squirrel pulled a deer-in-headlights moment by freeze-framing underneath the tire of her car. She now pays her bills by transforming all manner of flattened critters (house pets excluded) into quirky adornments that celebrate the simple beauty of what we take for granted.
James Faulkner
(Images via: Ecouterre, Refinery 29)
Brits tend to dabble in the quirky side of life (or death as the case may be), but in their defense, they are also far more likely to exercise sustainable behaviors due to a deep-seated eco-awareness that permeates their culture. Scotland-born James Faulkner initially applied his green inclinations on a grand scale by transforming a dearly departed magpie located on the side of the road into a show-stopping headpiece for a friend’s wedding. With ooohs, aaahs and many follow-up orders under his belt, Faulkner soon found himself smack dab in the middle of a dandy little business that allowed him to exercise his artistic inclinations while also honoring his belief in treading lightly on the earth. Stating that he hopes to “maintain the beauty of these creatures” with his hand-crafted millinery, he is opposed to “farming for fashion, which is why (he) sources all of (his) materials as much as possible.”
Lady Lavona
(Images via: Lady Lavona)
Fancy a gnarly-looking bird claw, set of critter choppers or a brawny black beak dangling from your neck? Then Lady Lavona is your gal, conjuring up all sorts of beastly anthropomorphic fashion adornments that pay homage to the macabre Victorian-era penchant for recycling bits and pieces of animals bagged in hunting excursions. While she sources some of her inventory straight from 16th – 19th century stockpiles — including vintage animal hoof necklaces and full spreads of miniature fangs — a great deal of what she sells is self-designed, such as her wildly popular crows feet amulets accented with an artful tangle of earth-toned semi-precious jewels. One thing that Lady Lavona wants prospective buyers to know about her collection is that her animal trinkets are legitimately recycled, unlike those of her competitors that “are bred in captivity for the sole purpose of being sold to human consumers…labs, pet stores, etc.” and yet billed as never being killed for the sole purpose of becoming one of their end products.
Wim Delvoye
(Images via: Wired, Dan Connolly, Wim Delvoye, Neatorama, Saatchi Gallery)
Judging from current industry statistics, the pork biz is doing oinkingly well — by golly, it’s the top animal-based protein source consumed in America! While the other white meat is deeply entrenched in our food chain, we rarely stop to think about how piggy parts are typically recycled. Aside from the bazillion rawhide ears that man’s best canine friends typically snack on in the span of one year or the potted pig meat wonder that we guiltily fry up in a pan (most commonly known as Spam) — porcine skin is also used in the fashion world…but how about pre-tattooed pig skin accessories? Wackadoodle Belgium artist Wim Delvoye has made this seemingly inhumane concept a very real reality on his Beijing-operated ‘art farm’ (the location specifically chosen due to the lack of animal rights concerns). It is there that he and his staff of master tattoo artists brand live (but fortunately sedated) pigs slowly but surely with all sorts of varied images and then allow them to grow to slaughter weight, tan their skins and then either sell the resulting canvases as art, use them as the foundation for custom fashion accessories or taxidermy entire creatures to sell to well-heeled consumers who think nothing of staring eye-to-eye at their specially ordered critter casualties.
Maximilian’s Pet Shop
(Images via: We Make Money Not Art)
Katie Higgs and Ella Kigour — the masterminds behind Maximilian’s Pet Shop — know just how ga-ga we are for our pets, so in a nod to the celebrity trend of dragging petite creatures along with us on mundane shopping excursions, the design team has conceived of a way for mere mortal no-names to do the same while employing a dash of conversation-starting-style. Sure, they have a few designs — such as their burrow friendly rodent accessible sweaters/scarves and bird cage purses — that enable still alive and kicking creatures to see the world with their pet guardians in tow. What is particularly creepy, however, is their Taxidermy Kitty Carrier which, while technically not a fashion accessory per se, still deserves to a place in the annals of extreme eco-fashion since those who are desperately smitten with their departed kittens might feel inclined to show the whole world just how sweet their whiskered face once was (and still is thanks to the modern wonder of well-executed taxidermy). Anyone squirming yet?
Loved To Death
(Images via: Kaboodle, Etsy, Buzzworthy MTV, Chopstix)
Oh goodness gracious…squirrel paw and bird head jewels?!?! Oh sure, why not! The folks at Loved To Death — who by the way have been very publicly accused of misleading their buyers by claiming that no animals were intentionally killed to create their pieces — made headlines with their instantly heart-sinking Polly-no-longer-want-a-cracker pendant, and with good reason. The instantly recognizable parrot, often found in the homes of many-an-animal-lover, never did anyone wrong aside from randomly chomping down on pokey, chronically inquisitive fingers for no particular reason. Not that such an unwelcome action deserves being beheaded and mounted on a silver-plated shield. Sigh. Parrots of the world…be forewarned.
Julia DeVille’s Disce Mori Collection
(Images via: Cool Hunting, Klimt02, Coilhouse)
‘Learn to Die’ doesn’t sound like a very nice name for a company, and yet Julia DeVille’s appropriately Latin-named taxidermy-based company isn’t billing itself as anything other than being a haven (or fashionista pedestal, if you will) for the preserved bodies and random parts of creatures that have passed over to the other side. The natural born Kiwi who now calls Australia her home intentionally utilizes “symbols of mortality” that have perished au naturel in an effort to inspire wearers to “contemplate their own mortal existence and, in turn, appreciate the significance of life.” The result is a collection of crumpled, bejeweled and tah-dahhh fashion statements that are oddly compelling yet flat-out freaky-deaky…great for the fashion-forward goth enthusiast or been-there-done-that rock star who really wants to get tongues flapping.
Custom Creature Taxidermy
(Images via: Solis, My Heart Monster)
Embracing a ‘waste not, want not’ mentality, wildlife rescue/rehabilitator/conservationist Sarina Brewer — who feels that animals are just as beautiful in death as they were while alive — proudly recycles every single animal body or component that passes through her hands. Typically reincarnating the bodies of creatures with varying circumstances (think roadkill, animals that are deemed as pests, pet trade casualties and discarded cattle), the Science Museum of Minnesota volunteer is an odd breed in that she is not only a self-confessed science nerd but also an artist who creates oil-based paintings, sculptural works and wearable fashion accoutrements. If her $45 grouse foot necklace doesn’t grab you, then her $55 coiled rat tail necklace, preserved raccoon heart or mummified kitten paw earrings surely will. The good news for sustainably-minded consumers is that you can take your eco-purchase one step further by repurposing many Custom Creature Taxidermy jewelry pieces as makeshift back scratchers — hmmm, on second thought, perhaps that extracurricular application might kick your itch into overdrive!
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Flat Pack Products: 30 Efficient and Eco-Friendly Packaging Designs
[ By Elizah in Art & Design, Home & Garden, Technology & Gadgets, Uncategorized. ]
(Images via: Treehugger, Abitare, Vestal Design, Dornob, Gajitz, Home Dosh, Shiny Shiny TV, Ponoko, EcoFriend, Project Koreck, Modern DNA)
There are countless instances in which “flat” is a very bad thing. No one wants to pour themselves a nice tall glass of non-fizzy soda or discover that one of their car tires is hopelessly deflated. Even worse? The realization that a formerly voluminous hairstyle is dead on arrival or certain bodies parts (ahem…chest and derriere) are about as shapely as a piece of Home Depot lumber. The decidedly cheerful “yin” to flat’s mopey “yang” comes in the form of streamlined packaging designs which, for all intents and purposes, help to save shipping costs and consequently ease up on the environment. This is one particular case in which flat is where it’s at.
Whiz Through The Streets Without Missing a Beat
(Images via: Like Cool, Treehugger, Abitare)
Scoring second place in the L’ARGUS European Design Competition, French designer Nicholas Belly conveys the concept of simplistic, eco-friendly mobility with his wooden flat pack bicycle and scooter, both of which can be popped out of their respective templates and assembled in minutes flat. While it would be easy-breezy to navigate extremely narrow alleyways or congested city thoroughfares without going into cardiac arrest, one has to question the longevity of products like these and their ability to effectively support the weight of a typical person while also holding up to the rigors of life on the streets. Still, the notoriety he has earned is well deserved because let’s face it, we really don’t need Hummer-sized two wheelers clogging competing with conventional traffic. A complementary flat pack accessory for Belly’s on-the-go, lightweight bike and scooter comes in the form of Juilen Bergignat and Patrice Mouille’s 100% recyclable polypropylene Tatoo bicycle helmet, which is flexible enough to fold up into a compact package when not in use. While some critics argue that it isn’t exactly designed to withstand the type of traffic accidents that are common while gliding along on two wheels, it seems as though it would certainly offer welcome protection in a pinch. Naysayers of the world, how about coming up with a better design, hmmm?
Chug (or Simply Lug) With The Greatest of Ease
(Images via: Neatorama, Sustainable Is Good, Treehugger, Best In Packaging, Recygal, Vestal Design, Gajitz, Gear Patrol)
From Tetra Pak paperboard beverage boxes and rectangular Sam’s Club milk gallons to Heineken beer bottle bricks, angular French Rabbit wine packs, square soda bottles and Cubis containers, these far-out liquid ensconcing designs share three major eco-appealing features beyond their obvious sleek good looks. Conventional beverage bottle designs take up more space during transit and ultimately on the shelf, whereas rectangular designs reduce shipping costs, increase storage efficiency and ultimately curb greenhouse gas emissions since a larger amount of product can be transported at one time. Furthermore, the vast majority of redesigned beverage containers typically utilize planet friendly materials, as is the case with designer Andrew Seunghyun Kim’s collapsible, 100% sugar cane byproduct-comprised rectangular soda bottle (complete with 25% slimmer plastic cap) and the Cyprian-designed short, stubby and entirely stackable HDPE Cubis container with convenient flip top opening. Knock one back for Momma Nature (oh, go ahead…make it a six-pack) and be sure to pop your empties in the closest recycling bin when you’re done. 
Tote Stuff on the Go With Much-o Air Flow
(Images via: Interior Design, Modern DNA, Dezeen, Ektopia)
Bags already have a pretty sleek physique right out of the gates, so why bother improving on something that’s pretty great “as is”? Well, because that’s what designers do in the middle of the night instead of counting sheep! While you may not save very much storage room with these designs (compared to conventional versions), from an aesthetic standpoint, they are certainly easy on the eyes and dare say, even a little edgy.. sort of like the Sid Vicious of the reusable bag set. Artecnica gets extra brownie points for their novel, airy, stretchy and stupefyingly circular concept which is carved from 100% recycled advertising billboards using zero thread, adhesive or other extraneous materials while Demelza Hill’s reversible doppelganger version is constructed with felt-backed rubber and boasts the extra added addition of a handy top-fastening snap to ensure that all your organic goodies won’t spilleth over. Being a bag lady (or man) doesn’t seem so bad after all if you elect to carry a few of these babies around.
Give Pizazz To Your Pad With Flat Lifestyle Accessories
(Images via: Home Dosh, EcoFriend, At Home With Kim Vallee, Dornob, Haute Nature, Project Koreck, Boing Boing, Drink Stuff, Like Cool)
Featuring distinctive design elements, ease of assembly and a quirky profile that could easily give conventional versions a dysmorphic body complex, there are so many examples of flat pack housewares that it’s mind boggling. Maria Pitallano’s plastic Petal Bowl emulates the construction of a flower, while Japanese-made, fully expandable and lively patterned Plastica vases accommodate the unexpected floral arrangement in full-throttle style. Buro North’s eco-friendly, stylistic Christmas trees are made from waste wood via a low-energy production process and Jesse Korek’s laser cut, flat pack birds appear majestic in mid flight…just watch your head because those claws are notorious for drawing blood. Among the most appealing selections are Zaishu’s sustainably produced flat pack seats/tables which are gorgeously adorned with water based inks and iBride’s Diva Ostrich Console Table which rivals that of their polar bear bookshelf…but only by a smidge. So many options and so little time — seek and ye shall find!
Take On a Quirky Flat Pack Extracurricular Hobby
(Images via: Suck UK, Geekologie, Gadget World)
The above flat cardboard sound system with fully functional speakers, offered by British purveyor Suck UK, has a convenient, centrally located iPod docking station which accommodates various other types of MP3 devices and comes with a nice-n-easy, fully illustrated assembly booklet that easily puts IKEA’s headache-inducing versions to shame. Priced at under $40 US dollars, the company is so sure that you’ll be banging your head in record time that they even throw in four AA batteries, which should be music to any flat-pack-enthusiast’s ears. Also the manufacturers of an amusing trio of flat pack, transportation-inspired kitty playhouses as well as a Classic PSP Mini Arcade, anyone craving kitschy-cool fun should definitely pull out their wallet and get the party started.
Vogue-to the Nth Degree With Flat Fashion Accessories
(Images via: Of Paper and Things, Design and Design, Hello You, Ponoko)
No more belly-aching about how you can’t possibly fit another fantastic fashion accessory in your already packed-to-the-gills closet. With Studio Lo on the scene, they’ve streamlined shoes and bags to such an extreme degree that you could become a veritable Imelda Marcos or Paris Hilton (hey, if the shoe fits…wear it) without missing a beat. The French-based sustainable design firm utilizes a water jet powered cutting tool to create their highly original screen printed felt pieces, making the wearer the envy of the flat pack scene. Where are old blue eyes and Sammy D. when you need ‘em?
Let There Be Portable Flat Pack Light
(Images via: Ponoko, Dornob)
Now that flat pack lights are taking the design world by storm, there is absolutely no reason why klunky, entirely breakable bulbs should ever put a cramp in your style again. Joonhuyn Kim’s flat light still bears the hallmarks of its more bulbous brethren with a sleek glass exterior and distinctive tungsten filament interior — the only difference is that the whole thing is a scant inch in diameter and won’t ever become a casualty of a lopsided table given its lack of rollability. The button cell operated Eureka boasts a virtually indestructible LED that is implanted into one solid sheet of aluminum (offering long-term durability), whereas Hyun Jin Yoon & Eun Hak Lee’s credit card sized cardboard sibling packs an illuminating punch that won’t soon be forgotten. Makes you crave the days of dark alleys (with a side of pepper spray) just to put them to the test.
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Art of Upcycling: 20 DIY Wood Pallet Reuse Project Ideas
[ By Elizah in Art & Design, Home & Garden, Tricks & Hacks. ]
Not quite a fan of the unsustainable design clones that fight for elbow room in today’s furniture and big box stores? Anyone with a crafty bone in their body knows full well that entirely original household staples and all around practical lifestyle accessories with major wow factor can be cobbled together with minimal budgetary impact, all thanks to humble yet highly customizable wooden shipping pallets. Even if you’ve never before dabbled in the fine art of DIY, a little elbow grease and repurposing inspiration is really all you need to get your eco-design train in motion. Allllll aboard!
No-Sweat Shoe Rack Ensures Fanciful Footwork!
(Image via: junk+ion)
Here is a phenomenal way to launch into DIY territory without chewing up a whole day attempting to make sense of hammers, nails or any of the other traditional accoutrements fitting of a craft enthusiast. Simply knock on the door of any major tile retailer and offer to take one or several wooden pallets off their hands (which will surely make them smile from ear to ear since they normally have to pay a fee for proper disposal). Upon returning home with your freebie treasure, merely prop it up against a wall and tah-dah — behold an instant shoe holder which should easily accommodate 8+ pairs of footwear depending on its size and construction. Those who are itching to customize it should definitely bear in mind that the wooden surface is instantly ripe for paint, decoupage or whatever additional decorative concepts can be conjured up.
Put Glitzy Dishware Out On Pallet-Parade
(Images via: re-nest)
This “why didn’t I think of that?“ organizational project makes good use of the simplistic features of a garden variety pallet without requiring that the DIYer exercise any real fuss or muss. Merely swinging a hammer will take a pallet from yawn to yowza, imparting an edgy, urban feel to a kitchen or dining room that will have even well-heeled admirers scurrying off to the home improvement store in search of a jumbo pack of nails. If you think dishware looks good in a vertical pallet arrangement, the same concept could easily apply to cookbooks, tchotchkes or spices (with the addition of a few strategically placed planks of recycled pallet wood).
Sled Your Winter Cares Away On a Modified No Frills Pallet
(Images via: Instructables & stiffey)
How about another minimal effort project for the DIY newbies out there? Requiring slightly more elbow grease than the previous two ideas above, this wooden pallet sled makes child’s play out of snowy hills and dales with the addition of curved rails on the underside of the craft. If you don’t already have a sledgehammer, claw hammer, chisel and saw in your arsenal, rather than purchasing them (which will definitely hurt when you saddle up at the cash register), borrow them from friends or neighbors who fancy working with their hands and sweeten the deal by letting them in on your cheap snow-worthy secret!
Green Your Pedaling With a Carbon-Free Bike Trailer!
(Images via: Instructables & cmachia)
Tooling around town via bicycle to square away groceries as well as other shopping pit stops can end up being a whole lot easier and greener with this clever and relatively simple wooden pallet scavenging project. In three simple steps, one pallet can be disassembled using either a circular saw, a hammer or pry bar, a recycled wheel assembly as well as a hitch assembly can be created using a total of $7 of hardware and the whole kit-n-kaboodle can be attached to a separate fully intact pallet. The final result is a dandy looking DIY trailer, enabling any biking greenie to once and for all be able to carry more than a few carefully selected purchases home. Finally, welt-free arms are within reach!
Sit Pretty On a Mini Adirondack-Style Pallet Chair!
(Images via: Inhabitat, flickr, Nina Tolstrup of StudioMama)
Are you one of those people who longingly eyeballs the latest patio furniture offerings but never quite gets around to plunking down the necessary ka-ching? Aside from enjoying the view outside by sitting on a curb — which is free, but not so comfy – taking a load off shouldn’t require shelling out a small fortune. Fortunately, shooting the breeze with a friend, enjoying the fruits of your organic gardening labors or indulging in a thirst-quenching libation can now be done with a relatively minimal 4 hour DIY investment by following this straightforward pallet chair tutorial courtesy of Mikey Sklar.
Cool Your Heels On an Outdoor Sectional Pallet Couch
(Images via: Craftzine & Wendy Tremayne)
Repurposing guru Wendy Tremayne offers up a seriously hardcore DIY project that, while requiring a great deal of time, patience and creativity, will take the heat off your wallet since the majority of the materials are reclaimed. Involving a framework of industrial pallets supporting reupholstered foam cushions rescued from someone’s curb, the result of her efforts is a seating arrangement that is both utilitarian and aesthetically pleasing.
Accent Your Rooms With Whimsical Pallet Furniture
(Images via: Pallet Art & Mark Dabelstein)
Co-creator of Recycle Santa Fe…a Festival of Recycling, Vermont-based repurposing artisan Mark Dabelstein constructs uniquely designed pallet wood furniture and household decor pieces accented with organic paints. From flags and picture frames to clocks and cabinets, the artist has proudly been diverting landfill waste since 1998! You could easily pay homage to his resourceful style by following suit or tinkering with the arrangement of your pallet planks to devise entirely original designs.
Harness Your Unruly Belongings With an Earthy Yet Stylish Shelving System
(Images via: Design Sponge & Claire Terry)
One of the greatest inventions known to mankind, a simple multi-tiered organizational rack can beat books and random knick-knacks into submission, but the price tag can often be hard to digest. Claire Terry from New Zealand’s Madame Fancy Pants has conjured up a spectacular DIY recipe for a pallet shelf is both tasty and oh-so-doable with its perfect melding of style, structure and simplicity. Do you know anyone who doesn’t need an extra handy-dandy shelving system for the wonderful price of practically free?!? Didn’t think so!
Scare the Living Bejeezus Out Of Trick-or-Treaters!
(Images via: Virtual Placebo)
Why spend full retail price on seasonal Halloween props that aren’t designed to last beyond the next full moon when you can whip weathered pallets into shape by making this creepy semi-buried coffin instead? You’ll definitely get the desired reaction from neighborhood kiddies who happen to saunter on by this piston-activated crypt that springs to life (or death, as the case may be) with its perpetually restless skeletal resident. Perhaps it could also double as an organic root cellar for the remainder of the year?!?
Deck The Halls With Palletized X-Mas Decor Ideas!
(Images via: Apartment Therapy)
Visual merchandiser Dann Boyles teamed up with Nashville’s Nouveau Classics to brainstorm these crafty yuletide treats using slabs of reclaimed and artfully arranged pallet wood. Aware of the challenges that consumers face in a continually depressed economy, they devised this festive yet frugal decor duo consisting of a rustic wreath and a 13 foot Christmas tree using nothing more than a brad nailer, proving that cheap can still be chic when you add an ample dose of creativity to the formula. Who knew that hunks of wood could be so easy on the eyes?
Bring Music To Your Ears With a Finger-Pickin’ Good Pallet Guitar!
(Images via: Sarah Archer & LA Guitar Sales)
While difficult to imagine, several enterprising individuals have taken on the seemingly full-blown challenge of transforming typical softwood spruce and pine pallets into musical instruments that can genuinely hold a tune. John S. Sargent’s smooth, knotted pine wood version — riddled with nail holes and an S-shaped pallet nail insignia emblazoned on its peg head apparently possesses a mellow sound as does Bob Taylor’s limited run of weathered pallet oak and pine guitars. The latter craftsman initially embraced the project to prove to naysayers that truly fine musical instruments can be created with any conceivable material and today, with just a handful of them floating around, collectors snap them up at several thousand dollars a pop.
Green Thumbs Rejoice: 4 Outdoor Decor Projects Ripe For The Picking!
(Images via: Instructables, Makezine, Woodworker’s Woodshop, Homegrown Evolution)
From a quick-n-easy flower/veggie planter using two pallets to a latched, four-walled pallet compost bin, there are several surprisingly slick outdoor helpers that can assist the green warrior within all of us. Fancy crafting a potting station that won’t cost you an arm and a leg? Homegrown Evolution’s graduated design is practical while also being stylish, and with plenty of built-in tiers, you can stash gardening implements with the greatest of ease. Interested in encouraging the fine feathered friends flittering about to make a feast of excessively hungry insects that continue to plow through tender shoots and buds? Truly chemical-free gardening can be achieved by setting up various bird-worthy accommodations using recycled pallet wood, and the best part is that they can then feast to their heart’s content and keep returning to the scene of the crime day after day!
Bring Out Your Inner Child With a Painted Pallet Playhouse
(Images via: Instructables & jkratman)
Whether you have a family of your own or neighborhood children tend to habitually flock to your property in search of entertainment, this repurposed pallet playhouse will definitely hit the spot. It’s safe to say that this comprehensive project is best suited to the intermediate to expert DIY enthusiast, but as newbies acquire experience, it’s definitely something worthwhile to aspire to. With its use of impressive craftsman-like details such as framed windows, a built-in porch and customized roofing, children lucky enough to call this their home away from home might not ever leave!
…Or Construct a Very Adult-Friendly Reclaimed Pallet Abode
(Images via: I-Beam Design, Michael Jantzen, Inhabitat)
Architectural firm I-Beam creates emergency or transitional structures for war/climate refugees as well as other individuals who through unforeseen circumstances are faced without the prospect of shelter. What makes their 16 x 16 $3000 concept particularly brilliant is that — in addition to being erected in just one week — it can be adapted to become more permanent when concrete, plaster, stone or other substantial materials are incorporated. Michael Jantzen, on the other hand, is the brainchild behind the Tiny Free House, which is a 100% pallet-constructed abode fitted with modern amenities, proving that we can all achieve the American Dream with a little resourcefulness and DIY action. Interested in making one of your very own mini Thoreau-like pallet dwellings? The designer sells plans on his website! Last but certainly not least, the multi-award winning Paletten Haus is reportedly simple to erect, energy efficient and could conceivably become a viable, low-income housing structure for individuals with compromised financial backgrounds. In fact, its designers Andreas Claus Schnetzer and Gregor Pils are currently in the process of modifying the structure as an 80 square foot home for a Johannesburg, South African social building project at a cost of just $11 per square foot.
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