Theo Jansen "Since 1990 I have been occupied creating new forms of life. Not pollen or seeds but plastic yellow tubes are used as the basic material of this new nature. I made skeletons that are able to walk on the wind, so they don't have to eat. Over time, these skeletons have become increasingly better at surviving the elements such as storm and water and eventually I want to put these animals out in herds on the beaches, so they will live their own lives." Self-propelling beach animals like Animaris Percipiere have a stomach . This consists of recycled plastic bottles containing air that can be pumped up to a high pressure by the wind. This is done using a variety of bicycle pump, needless to say of plastic tubing. Several of these little pumps are driven by wings up at the front of the animal that flap in the breeze. It takes a few hours, but then the bottles are full. They contain a supply of potential wind. Take off the cap and the wind will emerge from the bottle at high speed. The trick is to get that untamed wind under control and use it to move the animal. For this, muscles are required. Beach animals have pushing muscles which get longer when told to do so. These consist of a tube containing another that is able to move in and out. There is a rubber ring on the end of the inner tube so that this acts as a piston. When the air runs from the bottles through a small pipe in the tube it pushes the piston outwards and the muscle lengthens. The beach animal's muscle can best be likened to a bone that gets longer. Muscles can open taps to activate other muscles that open other taps, and so on. This creates control centres that can be compared to brains. ~ This excerpt is only a very small part of some amazing info on this work. Please take a look at the site and watch these creations in action. http://www.strandbeest.com/ Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.

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		Mosaic Guitar This standard size guitar is completely covered with glass and shells. Having an interesting base helps the creative process. As with most of my projects, I use elements from my own environmental surroundings and shells worked perfectly to enhance the guitar shape and work within the confines of the unit. Walking the beach looking for these beauties is a great part of the fun. You can see more of my work at: http://www.pinterest.com/0s32wjy77lmcxna/ and www.dmdart.com original photo and mosaic artwork by dmdart

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		Fish + Shells + Beads = Pendant The best part, to me, of the beading process is searching through what nature gives us to find the perfect element(s) to incorporate and then working them together into a harmonious piece. Since my natural surrounding is Sanibel Island, FL, I am drawn to shells and the colors of the Gulf of Mexico. So here are an olive shell, 2 augers, a piece of cockle shell, a nugget of turquoise for good luck and a matte lapis fish head from Tibet. original photo and beaded pendant by dmdart See it at www.etsy.com/listing/210545166/bead-embroidery-beadwork-jewelry?

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		Improvisational Bead Embroidery I often start a project with no outline. I choose items that inspire me: shells, stones, turquoise, specific colors, bead types. I place one item and go from there. This piece now lives on the front of an old (some would say vintage) Coach purse. The purse was unused for over 20 years. I think perhaps it was waiting for the perfect embellishment, because now it's back in frequent use and provides constant delight. It is a piece that speaks to me of my home on Sanibel Island. It includes many elements that are found here in nature, along the beaches and flying through our skies. There's a touch of travel thrown in: trade beads from Africa, turquoise from New Mexico and a little lapis bird to make us think of soaring. Beading is not something you do quickly. A project of this size takes time, so it allows for much reflection, meditation and certainly it provides a challenge. original beadwork and photo by dmdart

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		Invasive Species Localities are taking the existence of invasive species in their landscape much more seriously and taking steps to rid their environment of these non-native plants. Most of us have seen Kudzu swallow everything in it's path. And the Melaleuca is the arch-enemy of the Florida Everglades, causing as much as $168 million in environmental losses every year and taking over 14 to 15 acres a day, according to one report. Invasive species, as a topic, influenced me when I was considering a creation for an entry in to "Mosaic Arts International Exhibition: International Juried Show" a couple years back. The result is shown in the photo you see here. The substrate is concrete. The glass is mounted on it's edge, producing a very sharp surface. Light glitters from the various angles. The driftwood was collected locally. The idea is that the invasive species (the glass part) has killed the tree. I was honored to have this work accepted into the exhibition, along with about 54 others from around the world, out of the thousands submitted for entrance. ~original mosaic & photographs by dmdart: See some mosaic work.

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		Cut "Eric Standley draws his themes from Islamic and Gothic architecture and art, formed in the 12th century. The technique he follows for the "building" of his works does not differ from that of the ancient craftsman other than he uses lasers in the place of the chisel and hammer. Eric's work consists of successive layers of intricately cut paper sheets utilizing a laser, thus creating a multifaceted, rich, colorful ensemble. The result is so complex and detailed that the works should be examined from multiple perspectives to be fully appreciated. The bold determination to shift from the permanence and massiveness of stone and the material allure of glass to the instability and familiarity of paper is rewarded by the induced pleasure stimulated while gazing at the work. It is not the quality of the raw material that makes art, but the art that gives quality to the raw material." ~excerpt from artist's web site: read more about Mr. Standley's work at his web site: www.eric-standley.com Why is technology included in an Art|Centric blog? Because great technology is the direct result of great design. And design is art.

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		Crack In Time Mosaics: a creation from the bits and pieces you find in your life, with additions of pieces you search out to make it whole. My mosaics tend to reflect the elements in my life: shells, stones, glass, road tar (!), broken pottery: the things I run across everyday. The Crack In Time was inspired by a Dr. Who segment. (I adore Dr. Who.) There was this crack in a young girl's wall and it was quite mysterious and concerning and lots of wondering went on by the girl and Dr. Who. My Crack In Time attempts to evoke the layers of our physical existence. The crack isn't a doomsday thing. In fact, when you look inside, you see little spots of gold that sparkle and give us all hope. Perhaps you get a different feel from it, but that's what was in my mind when I put it all together. original mosaic by dmdart

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		Bead Embroidery Bead embroidery brings together technical sewing ability with great design concepts. Intermingling diverse elements so they work together is a challenge: are the colors complementary, do the textures flow, what does the piece "say"? A great design makes the piece compelling. Neat and well crafted stitching provides the background for the high quality glass beads, stones, shells, etc. The beaded part of this purse includes elements that speak to me of the place I live and the places I visit. The turquoise brings me back to New Mexico, a place of my heart, where I take the time to search out new experiences and new (to me) art, music and mountains. The shells are my own backyard: they have been a part of my life since I was a small child visiting Sanibel Island in the early 1950's. They speak to me of family history, of days in the sun on the beach, of times in small beach cottages with no A/C and no spraying for mosquitos: they outline my life here. The glass beads themselves bring vibrant color that engages your vision. So, you might say the beading on this purse is an outline of my life. original beadwork by dmdart

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