YES! and NO! - General design crits - 28 March

1. YES!

I like these light fixtures by Heath Nash because of their artisitc use of recycled materials. I like the visual simplicity of the forms and the units making up the forms. I enjoy that they are colourful but not overwhelming, and that they are useful, practical objects made specifically to be ecologically friendly.

http://www.furfin.com/lighting/2010/1/1/recycled-plastic-bottle-pendant-lighting-by-heath-nash.html



2. NO!

I don't like the Bright Woods collection from Gruppo Avanzini because i find it unattractive. It is constructed with bright resin bands between layers of wood and has a light on the inside of each piece. When the light is activated the furniture glows. I find the whole idea questionable. Why would i want glowing furniture? I wouldn't, specifically not in these amazingly garish colours. Why would I use wood, such a precious resource to make such large and lumpish impractical furniture? Additionally, I would like furniture for relaxing on to have a back support.



http://topofdesigns.com/modern-wood-furniture-that-shine-in-the-dark/


http://www.whitespace.bz/ws/web/forms/pulse/PulseMainArticle.aspx?id=492

YES! and NO! - Jewellery design crits - 28 March

1. YES!

I like this two-part 18ct gold bracelet by Loughborough University lecturer David Poston because of it's innovative use of the metal. It is made from 0.3mm gold sheet, and was produced using a novel laser-welding technique.

I also enjoy the smooth look of the piece and the illusion that it's shape and bulk give of weightiness.

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/publicity/news-releases/2003/03_19%20_gold_award.html


2. NO!

"My work focuses on ecological issues that draw on the visual and conceptual language of the natural world.
The notion of ‘preciousness’ or rather what we perceive as precious, is central. I question the values of contemporary society and our inclination towards self-interest, material worth and ostentation. We become preoccupied with the quest for possession, and in so doing we overlook the simple pleasures of life."

- Carol Gwizdak

I have to admit that I do find Carol's rings beautiful and I can identify with her philosophy. What I dislike about her work is that it is impractical to wear. The pod bracelet immediately below looks like it would be a nightmare in terms of getting tangled with people and clothes and things, and her rings are extremely delicate, being made from silver and actual seed heads (not stabilised or preserved in any way). Also, in spite of her maxim of anti-materialism, she does expect people to buy her pieces and possess them. She seems unaware of the irony of what she is saying she wants to achieve and the fact of having to make a living with her designs.

http://dailyartmuse.com/2009/08/26/carol-gwizdak-precious-pods/

YAY and NAY - General design crits - 11 March

1. YAY!

I really like this hand-bag because of it's sense of whimsy and fun. I am a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to the womanly arts, and i bought my first actual handbag (i.e. not a backpack) when i was 23. I just can't align myself to the idea of a proper grown-up lady bag, so i would definitley go for this kind of joyful design over a more consevative design (although i wouldn't say no to a herme). I also love the tartan fabric because it makes me think of a lovely home-made, hand-crafted stuffed toy.

http://www.e-potpourri.com/index.php/2007/09/08/designer-dog-bags-and-puppy-purses-by-fuzzy-nation/

2. NAY!

I don't really like this Louis Vutton bag because these bags are very commonly found. I like designs that are a little more individual or quirky. I think that a Vutton bag is a sign of conformism and a desire to run with a pack. I find the bag's design conservative and a little stuffy.

http://www.sybarites.org/2006/08/louis-vuitton-lockit-horizontal-bag/

YAY and NAY - Jewellery Design Crit - 11 March

1. YAY!

I like this felted piece because i imagine that it is soft and comfortable on the skin. It seems to me to be a piece designed by a person aware of the sensitivity of the human body and mind. It speaks of our craving for comfort, warmth and security.

I also like the jazzy bright colours, and the fact that it is made out natural fibre appeals to me, as i prefer to wear non-synthetic materials if i can. This fact makes the piece impractical, however, if you're looking for a piece to wear all the time. Felt, being made from animal hair, should not be wet on a regular basis, in the bath say, or the shower, as that kind of treatment would damage the fibre in the long run. This material may also become dirty and grubby.



http://red2white.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/things-handmade-long-ago/

2. NAY!

I don't like this plastic piece because it looks to me as though it would be uncomfortable. Plastic is light and very versatile, and a magical medium in terms of the range of colours it can be imparted with, but in spite of this i don't really like it because i don't enjoy the feel of plastic on my skin. This neck piece seems additionally to be cumbersome in terms of it's bulkiness, although the sheer size of the piece does flatter the feminine elegance of the model's throat and neck.

http://www.kara-expo.com/concours-votes_en.html

Artist Statement

At the moment i love buildings. I like their structural nature and sculptural forms. I find their mechanical and yet sometimes reminiscently organic lines intriguing. I see a parallel between buidings which sit on the skin of the earth and jewellery which sits next to our skin. The earth supports architectural structures the way our bodies support our adornments. I want to make jewellery that sits well on the body, that takes account of the form of the body on which the jewellery stands. I like the forms that architectural design produces, from ancient to contemporary. I am drawn to a building's 3-Dimensionality, it's ability to hold things within it, people and objects, and our lives. I like the idea of making tiny worlds for exploring, little buildings and city scapes. Imagine all the tiny people and their stories, their everyday lives.



Here are a few pictures of structures i find inspiring:

Akshardham Temple - South Delhi

http://www.google.co.za/imgres?imgurl=http://www.crystalinks.com/india_architecture.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.crystalinks.com/indiarchitecture.html&usg=__NAq8FnzdLXv2Ma8VxZTOMA3J4bw=&h=450&w=699&sz=46&hl=en&start=6&sig2=GyrPPSu-AwpHoF_J7sLVHA&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=eQOYXZkuQr47zM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=139&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darchitecture%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=08tsTeqjIdD44AbEzdSIBA

Paris headquarters of packaging manufacturer Marchesini France by Parisian architects LAN Architecture

http://www.google.co.za/imgres?imgurl=http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2009/01/squmarchesini-headquarters-by-lan-architecture-lan_mar_bd_3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dezeen.com/2009/01/25/marchesini-headquarters-by-lan-architecture/&usg=__bvizVO0rg3aPGw44akHl-ikzlb4=&h=450&w=450&sz=39&hl=en&start=21&sig2=DnBG9NXObIZn5RfvDkRhuA&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=mhETLPQsnCzgPM:&tbnh=127&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darchitecture%26start%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=oM1sTc64McT44AalsbiCBA

Swoosh Pavilion at Association of Architecture in London

http://www.google.co.za/imgres?imgurl=http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2008/07/squswoosh-pavilion-at-the-architectural-association-lfa2008_aapav_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dezeen.com/category/events/london-architecture-festival-08/&usg=__A7qtuE0FVmVMlFLAGscqmGcWQoQ=&h=450&w=450&sz=38&hl=en&start=31&sig2=yO7aTc8DhzdCym0zgc-JDg&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=UWQL0koa36bOCM:&tbnh=127&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darchitecture%26start%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=oM1sTc64McT44AalsbiCBA