Pattern Pulp

Friday Quick Links!




1. Enchanted as always by vintage Vogue covers via Miss Moss
2. Delightful punched out polkadots in this Japanese police station via Plenty of Colour
3. Swooning over Britta Knüppel’s textiles via All the Mountains
4. Fascinated by this unusual peeling lamp via swissmiss
5. Striking photo series from Michele Laurita via Trendland
6. Loving Kristin Reger’s wallpaper patterns via Pattern Bank
7. Captivated by Aritz Bermudez’s silhouettes via The Artful Desperado
8. Wallpaper that mimics Brooklyn ceiling tin tiles via Poppytalk
9. Rainbows on demand via Colossal
10. Digging the murals Os Gemeos are installing in Boston via The Fox is Black
11. In love with TRACCIAMENTI’s series of dress illustrations via The Jealous Curator
12. Adoring these dreamy outdoor beds via Honestly WTF

Contributed by Emily Gup

August 3, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Twitter Influencer: Eda Akaltun




Eda is a London-based illustrator and printmaker from Istanbul whose work is a fantastic, eye-catching mix of traditional print-making and collage. She developed a love for both mediums while studying illustration at Central Saint Martins, and began collecting paper ephemera, 50s fashion catalogues and old family photos to populate her increasingly detailed compositions. After obtaining an MA in Communication Design in 2010, she joined Heart Agency who represented her for both the UK and the US.

She has since worked for a wide and impressive range of clients including The Telegraph, Harvard Business Review, Faber and Faber and Bafta among others – as well as taking part in a variety of exhibitions internationally. Eda is also a founding contributor to Nobrow and is one third of Butter Collective. We think her colorful, quirky and witty work is delightful and love her twitter feed for staying abreast of all of her projects. There her personality shines alongside her work as she documents her artistic processes, travels and daily life.

 

August 3, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Pattern Play in Bushwick




I’ve been living in Bushwick for almost 6 years now and one of my favorite things about the neighborhood is its constant artistic evolution. In the spring and summer, its not uncommon for me to take a detour from my daily path to explore the ever changing nooks and crannies of the neighborhood. Thursday afternoon I did just that, and found myself meandering down Grattan Street as I took a phone call.

I slowed when I spotted what appeared to be some sort of laser-cut polkadot design, piquing my curiosity. As I got closer and rounded around to the front, I quickly and giddily realized that the design was much more intricate than just some random series of dots. Naturally, I couldn’t reach fast enough to turn on my iPhone’s camera, snap a photo and Instagram the patterned prize.

Thus far, my internet sleuthing hasn’t led me to figure out what exactly this building holds, though sometimes it can be fun to leave things as a little mystery. And so, this building offering up “free things” exists not unlike a candy-covered gingerbread house for pattern lovers.

Coverage by Emily Gup

 

August 3, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Half Piped Ideas with Leslie Friedman




Jewishness, identity politics and skateboarding are the underlying concepts behind Leslie Friedman’s exciting new creative venture. Best described in her crowd-funding video, Friedman, a Philadelphia-based artist, describes her connection to Judaism, global stereotypes and ‘what’s cool’. Bringing art to the masses for functional use is always a complicated endeavor, though her plan is impressive.

In her own words:

In order to accomplish this project and participate in ArtPrize, I will make a dozen different tile patterns that will cover the curved portion of the ramp.  The patterns will address some of the stereotypes, conspiracies, and myths associated with Jews in America.  At the peaks of the ramp, the images will be the most positive stereotypes, while the valley will showcase the most evil, unflattering, dangerous stereotypes.   The significance of the word stereotype cannot be overlooked—it originated as a printmaking term, and for this reason, I believe the repetitious aspect of this sculpture will reinforce the overall concept of how myths spread.  

 

August 1, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: High Touch




Today’s visual culture is shaped by a vast wealth of influences from a diverse range of styles, cultures, and eras. Handcrafts including crochet, papercraft, and the design of costumes and masks are being melded with the techniques of more traditional art forms such as installation, sculpture, collage, photography, and illustration.

This new visual language is currently being formed out of the skillful and unusual combination of creative styles, as well as the use of an expanded range of materials and techniques. One of the most striking aspects of today’s visual culture is its intricate, handcrafted quality.

The term “high touch” is used in design theory to describe an accessible, human visuality. High Touch the book is a compilation of current work that is broadening and enriching this definition in a contemporary way.

Presenting a rich selection of innovative, often handmade design created with the full spectrum of materials and stylistic devices in existence today, the book explores all of the many ways artists are expanding this palette of visual possibilities. We’re excited to see so many of the fantastic design and art projects we’ve documented here on Pattern Pulp in the pages of this eye-catching book.

 

July 31, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Snap Shots from Myanmar




This post is a bit eclectic and way overdue. My husband and I visited Singapore and Myanmar back in June and I have yet to really post any photos. Here are a few to start…

We travelled from Yangon to Bagan to Inle Lake. Along the way met with more crafts men and women than ever expected. The population is resoundingly kind and resourceful and every day lead to new creative findings. The woman above extracts fibers to be used for weaving.

The male puppet came home with me. I have a soft spot for handmade crafts and as a result had a full suitcase at customs. The woman, like mostly everyone else, was wearing Thanaka root- which is a sunscreen made from local tree bark.

One of the most remarkable man-made developments in and around Inle Lake are the floating vegetable gardens. They’re expansive and are anchored by bamboo. They’re moved around the lake throughout the season. Here’s a man picking tomatos.

Interestingly, textile design isn’t extremely popular in the area. Most women prefer to weave. The lead designer at this shop has assigned a design to the threads and sectioned them off to be dyed.

Once the threads have been dyed they’re wrapped around a spool. It’s important to keep them organized for loom threading (which is done by hand).

One of many looms, run by the women of the village.

Here I am atop one of the taller Pagodas in Bagan. The stairs felt like a 90 degree angle…was worth it though. The view was spectacular.

Inle Lake…

At first glance, this woman seems impressively tough. Then you look at what she’s selling: Tofu. Made me smile. It’s easy to be a vegetarian – it syncs with Buddhism.

I took so many photos of the children. They were sweet and upbeat and had the widest most beautiful smiles. If you’re thinking of visiting, feel free to get in touch, or check out this more in-depth report from Justin (my hubs).

 

July 30, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
On Instagram.