secretclosetdreams

"ΤΟ ΠΑΡΑΠΟΝΟ" του Ελύτη

2013-01-25T19:53:00.001+03:00

Αναρωτιέμαι μερικές φορές: είμαι εγώ που σκέφτομαι καθημερινά πως η ζωή μου
είναι μία; Όλοι οι υπόλοιποι το ξεχνούν; Ή πιστεύουν πως θα έχουν κι άλλες, πολλές
ζωές, για να κερδίσουν τον χρόνο που σπαταλούν;
Μούτρα. Ν' αντικρίζεις τη ζωή με μούτρα. Τη μέρα, την κάθε σου μέρα. Να περιμένεις
την Παρασκευή που θα φέρει το Σάββατο και την Κυριακή για να ζήσεις. Κι ύστερα
να μη φτάνει ούτε κι αυτό, να χρειάζεται να περιμένεις τις διακοπές. Και μετά ούτε κι
αυτές να είναι αρκετές. Να περιμένεις μεγάλες στιγμές. Να μην τις επιδιώκεις, να τις
περιμένεις.
Κι ύστερα να λες πως είσαι άτυχος και πως η ζωή ήταν άδικη μαζί σου.
Και να μη βλέπεις πως ακριβώς δίπλα σου συμβαίνουν αληθινές δυστυχίες που η ζωή
κλήρωσε σε άλλους ανθρώπους. Σ' εκείνους που δεν το βάζουν κάτω και αγωνίζονται.
Και να μην μαθαίνεις από το μάθημά τους. Και να μη νιώθεις καμία φορά
ευλογημένος που μπορείς να χαίρεσαι τρία πράγματα στη ζωή σου, την καλή υγεία,
δυο φίλους, μια αγάπη, μια δουλειά, μια δραστηριότητα που σε κάνει να αισθάνεσαι
ότι δημιουργείς, ότι έχει λόγο η ύπαρξή σου.
Να κλαίγεσαι που δεν έχεις πολλά. Που κι αν τα είχες, θα ήθελες περισσότερα. Να
πιστεύεις ότι τα ξέρεις όλα και να μην ακούς. Να μαζεύεις λύπες και απελπισίες, να
ξυπνάς κάθε μέρα ακόμη πιο βαρύς. Λες και ο χρόνος σου είναι απεριόριστος.
Κάθε μέρα προσπαθώ να μπω στη θέση σου. Κάθε μέρα αποτυγχάνω. Γιατί αγαπάω
εκείνους που αγαπούν τη ζωή. Και που η λύπη τους είναι η δύναμή τους. Που
κοιτάζουν με μάτια άδολα και αθώα, ακόμα κι αν πέρασε ο χρόνος αδυσώπητος από
πάνω τους. Που γνωρίζουν ότι δεν τα ξέρουν όλα, γιατί δεν μαθαίνονται όλα.
Που στύβουν το λίγο και βγάζουν το πολύ. Για τους εαυτούς τους και για όσους
αγαπούν. Και δεν κουράζονται να αναζητούν την ομορφιά στην κάθε μέρα, στα
χαμόγελα των ανθρώπων, στα χάδια των ζώων, σε μια ασπρόμαυρη φωτογραφία, σε
μια πολύχρωμη μπουγάδα.

Όσο κι αν κανείς προσέχει
όσο κι αν το κυνηγά
πάντα, πάντα θα 'ναι αργά
δεύτερη ζωή δεν έχει.
(από Το Παράπονο, του Οδ. Ελύτη)

Daniel Egnéus- It's all about Daydreaming

2013-01-14T18:43:00.001+03:00

Got to love this artist. Since I bought the book Little Red Riding Hood written by Brothers Grimm in a version of the tale, fully unbridged with a visionary interpretation by the renowned artist Daniel Egnéus that fully captures both its horror and its romance, I fell with love with his work instantly.

Daniel Egnéus is a Swedish-born illustrator that in his short professional career, has worked with some large clients such as Penguin Books, Pepsi Cola, Marie Claire, Time Magazine and BMW. More impressive than his list of client is that in March 2005 Daniel Egnéus was voted “best illustrator” by the Association of Illustrators UK.

His work needs no introduction….his images just speak for themselves

Lucid, dreamy and vibrant illustrations reflect the enticing inner world of the highly regarded artist, Daniel Egnéus.

With no formal education except for life itself, Daniel sees everyday life and art as one inseparable whole. His work is an expression of his colorful and rich life in Milano and Rome, filled with friends and a wonderful girlfriend, and not least his daydreaming, which finds its way into his work, inspiring us with its beauty and depth.”

Keep on Daydreming Daniel…….your work is beautiful ……… I know I will never stop and people like you inspire me every single day.

ΚΑΙ ΟΠΩΣ ΕΙΠΕ ΚΑΙ Ο ΜΠΑΜΠΑΣ ΜΟΥ.......... Greek Reality

2013-01-10T13:41:00.000+03:00

TO ΛΕΟΦΟΡΕΙΟ
-------------------

ΜΙΑ ΜΕΡΑ ΚΑΠΟΥ ΣΤΗΝ ΓΛΥΦΑΔΑ ΚΟΝΤΑ ΣΕ ΜΙΑ ΣΤΑΣΗ ΛΕΟΦΟΡΕΙΟΥ ΒΛΕΠΩ ΜΙΑ ΚΑΝΤΙΝΑ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΜΕ ΠΟΛΗ ΜΕΓΑΛΑ BEEFBURGERS, CHIPS, SALADS. ΟΛΟ ΤΟ AYTOKINHTO ΗΤΑΝ FAST FOOD '' GOODY’S /MCDONALDS H’ KATI TETOIO.

OTAN ΠΛΗΣΙΑΣΑ ΠΡΟΣ ΕΚΠΛΗΞΗΝ ΜΟΥ ΒΛΕΠΩ ΟΤΙ ΔΕΝ ΗΤΑΝ ΚΑΝΤΙΝΑ ΑΛΛΑ ΕΝΑ ΛΕΟΦΟΡΕΙΟ .
ΠΡΟΣΠΑΘΗΣΑ ΝΑ ΔΩ ΜΕ ΤΟ ΖΟΡΙ ΠΟΥ ΠΗΓΕΝΕ; ΑΝ ΘΥΜΑΜΕ ΜΑΛΛΟΝ ΚΑΠΟΥ ΒΑΡΗ ΒΑΡΚΗΖΑ. ΤΟΤΕ ΠΛΗΣΙΑΣΑ ΤΟΝ ΟΔΗΓΟ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥ ΛΕΩ ΜΕ ΤΕΤΟΙΕΣ ΔΙΑΦΗΜΗΣΕΙΣ ΔΕΝ ΞΕΡΟΥΜΕ ΑΝ ΘΑ ΠΑΜΕ ΚΑΠΟΥ Η ΕΑΝ ΘΑ ΦΑΜΕ ΚΑΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΜΟΥ ΛΕΕΙ¨ ΕΓΩ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΥ ΔΕΝ ΤΡΩΜΕ ΑΠΟ ΑΥΤΟ ΑΛΛΟΙ ΤΡΩΝΕ ΚΑΤΑΛΑΒΑΙΝΕΙΣ……….
ΚΑΙ ΔΙΕΡΩΤΟΜΕ ΕΑΝ ΣΤΑ ΕΣΟΔΑ ΤΩΝ ΕΙΣΗΤΗΡΙΩΝ ΑΥΤΑ ΤΑ ΚΕΡΔΟΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΙΣ ΥΠΟΒΙΒΑΣΤΙΚΕΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΟΝ ΤΟΥΡΙΣΜΟ ΚΑΙ ΑΙΔΙΑΣΤΙΚΕΣ ΠΟΛΛΕΣ ΦΟΡΕΣ ΔΙΑΦΗΜΗΣΕΙΣ
ΣΥΜΠΕΡΙΛΑΜΒΑΝΟΝΤΕ ΣΤΑ ΓΕΝΙΚΑ ΕΣΟΔΑ ΤΟΥ ΤΑΜΕΙΟΥ ΟΥΤΩΣ ΩΣΤΕ ΝΑ ΥΠΑΡΧΕΙ ΚΑΠΟΙΟ ΟΦΕΛΟΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΟΝ ΚΟΣΜΑΚΙ ΠΟΥ ΔΕΝ ΠΛΗΡΩΝΕΙ ΕΙΣΗΤΗΡΙΟ ΔΙΟΤΙ ΔΕΝ ΕΧΕΙ ENA EURO. ( ΑΣ ΜΗΝ ΑΝΑΦΕΡΘΩ ΣΤΗΝ ΔΙΑΦΙΜΙΣΗ ΤΗΝ ΤΕΛΕΥΤΕΑ ΤΟΥ ΟΑΣΑ.
ΟΙ ΚΥΡΙΟΙ ΟΜΩΣ ΠΟΥ ΠΑΙΡΝΟΥΝ ΤΑ ΛΕΦΤΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΙΣ ΔΙΑΦΗΜΙΣΕΙΣ ΘΕΛΟΥΝ ΟΧΙ ΜΟΝΟ ΝΑ ΤΙΜΟΡΟΥΝ ΤΟΝ ΕΠΙΒΑΤΗ ΑΥΞΑΝΟΝΤΑΣ ΤΑ ΕΙΣΗΤΗΡΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΑΛΛΗ ΝΑ ΤΟΝ ΤΙΜΩΡΟΥΝ ΑΝΟΙΓΟΝΤΑΣ ΤΟΥ ΤΗΝ ΟΡΕΞΗ ΧΩΡΙΣ ΝΑ ΕΧΕΙ ΛΕΦΤΑ ΟΥΤΕ ΓΙΑ ΕΙΣΗΤΗΡΙΟ ΟΥΤΕ ΚΑΙ ΝΑ ΦΑEΙ........... ΝΟΜΙΖΟ ΟΤΙ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΟΔΗΝΗΡΟ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΚΛΗΤΙΚΟ.

James Bond House Landed in Greece (Architecture Studio_314-Pavlos Chatziagelidis)

2012-10-22T13:44:00.002+03:00

· Fantasy and Imagination can only make wonderful things grow, the mind is such a powerful tool and it creates small miracles every day. The following project/house happens when all beautiful thoughts are blended together and minimalism finds the way to relate to modernism in a calm and architectural way. Architecture Studio 314 (www.314.gr) and its owner/architect/mechanic engineer Pavlos Chatziangelidis is for sure one of these people that manages to use a big capacity of his brain and dreams to create designs that many would only fantasize about or believe that exist only in dreams. Pavlos Chatziangelidis lives and works in Athens/ Greece but his projects have been shown internationally in books, magazines and internet. Beautiful minds create beautiful designs. Enjoy the project that looks like it has popped out from a James Bond movie and has landed in a piece of land in Athens/Greece. Facebook

R U HUNGRY? Big Appetites is a series of fine art photographs by artist Christopher Boffoli.

2012-08-16T14:19:00.002+03:00

Imagine being like one of these Lilliput characters out of Gulliver's Travels..............That is what Christopher's Boffolis latest project looks like. The project Big Appetites by Boffoli was inspired by the media that the artist was exposed to as a child. There were so many films and television shows that exploited both the dramatic and comedy potential of a juxtaposition of different scales: tiny people in a normal-sized world just like Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels in the 18th century and perhaps earlier. As a child you tend to live in an adult world that is out of scale with your body and proportions and everything just seems so big. Imagine the way we look at ants and small insects.
At the moment you can see his latest work at his solo show in New York City which opened on 21 June. It will be running through the summer and until 24 August. It is his largest solo show to date, with many large mounted pieces of work, including some new work that has never before been exhibited. The gallery is Winston Wächter Fine Art, 530 West 25th Street, New York: http://winstonwachter.com/exhibitions_ny.php It will be worth the visit.

Let me quote as per below, the direct artist words that describe his work spot on:

When I began shooting some of the very earliest images in this series, around 2003, food was a conscious choice as one of the components as it can be very beautiful – in terms of texture and color – especially when shot with available light and macro lenses. Combining what is essentially food and toys makes the work instantly accessible to virtually everyone. Regardless of language, culture and social status, almost everyone can identify with toys from their childhood. And whether you eat with a fork, chopsticks or your hands, everyone understands food. Sitting down to a meal makes us feel most human.

The sensual experience of eating accesses primal instincts that stretch back to the earliest days of our evolution. Whether we are reflecting on the comfort food of childhood, celebrating food’s tremendous diversity, or obsessing over calories and nutrition, cuisine is one of those rare topics that most people can speak about with authority and yet largely without controversy. So the choice of food as a backdrop of the environments of the Big Appetites series is certainly calculated.

Christopher Boffoli is a Seattle-based photographer, writer, artist and filmmaker. Largely self-taught, he took up photography as a hobby in his teens, honing his skills as a student journalist in high school and college. While still an undergraduate he started his own commercial photography company in Charleston, South Carolina. With a background in literature and English, he worked for more than a decade in the field of Philanthropy, raising money for elite schools like Dartmouth College and the London School of Economics. Christopher was able to integrate his creative skills, in writing, photography and graphic design into much of his fundraising work.

A couple of life-changing events compelled him to pursue a creative career full-time. As a resident of Lower Manhattan, Christopher was a firsthand witness to the World Trade Center attacks of September 11th. A few years later he was very seriously injured at high elevation while mountaineering on Washington’s Mt. Rainier. Since that time he has traveled the world, setting foot on six continents, writing and photographing his travels through documentary photography and video. At home in Seattle, he works as a writer and photojournalist, producing both feature stories and covering breaking news. Christopher’s work has been published – online and in print – in more than 90 countries. His fine art photographs can be found in galleries and private collections in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

Enough talk....lets now enjoy this Big Appetites experience.

Do Ho Suh- Fallen Star- That is what I call living on the edge...lol

2012-06-26T16:31:00.001+03:00

That is what I call living on the edge............
Do Ho Suh’s Fallen Star is the 18th permanent sculpture commissioned by UCSD’s Stuart Collection. It reflects Suh’s on-going exploration of themes around the idea of home, cultural displacement, the perception of our surroundings, and how one constructs a memory of a space. His own feelings of displacement when he arrived in the U.S. from Seoul, Korea in 1991 to study led him to measure spaces in order to establish relationships with his new surroundings. He had to physically and mentally readjust.
Suh’s small “home” has perhaps been picked up by some mysterious force and appears to have landed or crashed onto the seventh floor of Jacobs Hall at the Jacobs School of Engineering. The roof garden is part of his design and the whole creates a space with panoramic views for small groups to gather and readjust.
Do Ho Suh graduated from Seoul National University. He received a BFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA in sculpture from Yale University. He represented Korea at the Venice Biennale in 2001. Suh has exhibited around the world and is represented in numerous museum collections. He lives and works in New York, London and Seoul.
Funding has been made possible through private donations and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts’ program for Access to Artistic Excellence.

Ben Ashton a Visual Artist- Illustration/Graphic design

2012-06-12T15:05:00.002+03:00

Ben Ashton-Bell is an illustrator and graphic designer who works across various industries from his home studio. His main love is image creation, where his style ranges from loose colour and detailed drawn line through to precise vector created imagery.
Typography is also a big part in his work. running parallel to Ben’s career in illustration & design is his work as a practicing visual artist. he works mainly with pencil, airbrush and gouache and regularly exhibits his work in group and solo shows. (taken from his site)

Recently his new project ‘If the World Made Sense’ will soon be presented at Lamington Drive Gallery- Austrelia where Ben hows an exponential growth and development into his visual style. Used as an opportunity to create pure hand-crafted pieces, the work has been created using a combination of pencil, airbrush, gauche and watercolour to achieve the desired effect.
Through his work, Ben explores themes of humanity and nature. The concept behind ‘If the World Made Sense’ is propelled by the chaos of our world, touching on the sometimes senseless act of humans destroying what is around them. The exhibition examines a futuristic fictional world, exploring the remnants of war and the evolution of nature taking back its rightful place.

Enjoy this eye Candy images :) You can also find Ben on tumblr :)

Do you believe in Fairies??? !!!!! lighting design by Bruce Munro

2012-06-11T16:34:00.003+03:00

Do you believe in fairies. Wow I actually can say that I do after seeing this project. It almost travels me into the world of Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pans Neverland. A happy dreamer, a happy believer. Bruce Munro has managed to captivate our attention in the most of tranquil way. Using light installations along with sculptures he manages to fly as away to another magical land where dreams always come true as long as you believe in them. Enjoy this magical journey.

In 'light', his first-ever large-scale solo show, british artist Bruce Munro fills pennsylvania's longwood gardens with sculptural and immersive installations, comprising over the course of 23-acres six outdoor installations, two interior projects within the grand conservatory on the grounds, and a collection of illuminated sculptural works in the 'music room'.

Nearly all of the outdoor works seem to hide amidst nature: 'waterlilies', composed of hundreds of used CDs, float alongside natural victoria lilies in one of the garden's lakes, and 'arrow spring', named after the river in the book 'kim' by rudyard kipling, creates a meandering spring set among the salvia plants.

'Forest of light' illuminates the woods with 20,000 stems scattered along a forest path. more information and concept renders in designboom's 2011 preview of the longwood gardens 'light' exhibition.

Brought outside the UK for the first time, several of the installations are site-specific reinterpretations of previous projects. In the gardens' water meadow, nine small water towers pulse through the spectrum of colours in time to music (more information about the work in designboom's coverage of its original installation at salisbury cathedral) . 7,000 plant-like lighting sculptures comprise 'field of light', which is set along the lake banks (first installed at the holburne museum).

Pavlos Chatziangelides- 314 Architecture Studio- A Greek Architect that has won loads of International recognition

2012-06-05T14:08:00.001+03:00

Pavlos Chatziangelides founder of 314 Architecture Studio is an Architect/Civil Engineer that has won loads of International recognition with his amazing works.
http://www.archdaily.com/240085/h2-314-architecture-studio/
http://www.ek-mag.com/article/architecture/314a
As an Architect and Civil Engineer, Pavlos has designed the exterior and interior of dream houses and dream shops in Greece that James Bond would be jealous of. With his aesthetics he manages to combine the past and the future together and create architecture designs with ecological profiles that just make you think that you are living in a dream.
Showcasing Apartment project H2, please enjoy and dream.

This building is located at the suburbs of Athens in the area next to the golf court in Glyfada, and consists of three one floor apartments of 250m2 each. Each apartment has two small and one master bedroom. Inside the building there is an atrium that provides light to secondary areas of the apartments while also working as a funnel exit for warm air energy consumption in the summer months.

The bioclimatic design and the positioning of the building with awnings in the south saves energy while the connection between the building and water creates a natural cooling system. The houses are all equipped with the most environmental friendly technologies for energy saving. All the materials used for this construction where chosen with a low carbon footprint and the interior materials used are all natural rather than industrial.

The colors and materials for this building where chosen in order to create a sense/feeling of harmony, modernity and luxury while the sculptures of Gianni Aspras on the walls of the living rooms create abstract and modern warm emotions.

To sum up this project, the roof gardens with the glass stairwell, offer an unlimited view of Argosaronic Sea while the swimming pool smoothly surrounding the building and the small pond on the ground floor create a very tranquil and cooling feeling throughout the year.

Teen and Pregnant Alcohol abuse tranformed into art to raise social awareness

2012-06-01T16:31:00.002+03:00

It seems that whatever a parent does, they cannot stop their child from experimenting with alcohol.

There are many who say that abusing alcohol is just an adolescent phase and that teenagers grow out of it, to a certain extent they are right. However, a minority of teens who abuse alcohol will not just grow out of it, they will go on to develop alcohol dependency. In fact research has shown that teens who use/abuse alcohol before the age of 15 are FOUR TIMES more likely to go on to develop problems with alcohol than those who put off their first drink until after the age of 20.

Drinking while pregnant is also a problem with many mothers to be, they don't understand that one thing is clear, that if you are pregnant and take a drink -- a glass of wine, a beer or a cocktail -- your unborn child takes the same drink. Whatever you eat or drink while pregnant goes directly through your bloodstream into the placenta.
If you're having a drink, baby is too.

Some experts say that moderate drinking during pregnancy is okay, but there are others who believe taking even one drink is like playing Russian Roulette with your baby's health.

In Alcohol Abuse, it is imperative that, the parents do all they can to discourage their teenagers from abusing alcohol and the mothers to be, restrain from drinking and smoking.

Italian model and designer Anna Utopia Giordano created the tongue-in-cheek artworks to raise social awareness of alcohol abuse.

'This is an art project to raise social awareness on topics such as alcohol abuse by teens, alcohol abuse by pregnant women, the disinterest of some parents towards their children (abandoned for days between toys and video games) and how far marketers can go to gain the attention of their younger customers let alone the illegal selling of alcohol to teenagers in many shops around the world.

Enjoy this project with Grey Goose Vodka that becomes 'Hello Kitty Vodka', Jack Daniels Whiskey that is now 'Fisher Price Whiskey, London Dry Gin that becomes Nintendo Gin, , a bottle of Italian egg liquor that becomes a teat bottle, while Absolut and Grey Goose Vodkas are transformed into Barbie and Hello Kitty, Havana Club becomes Lego rum, Martini gets the Marvel Comics treatment while it's a champagne makeover for Disney Princess.

Have a look now but remember the following:

Think before you drink, think before you give, think before you drive.

If we tollerate this, will our children then be next? The Teepees of Today. Protesters against Stuttgart 21

2012-05-24T16:47:00.000+03:00

Evacuation of the Park "Schlossgarten" is done. DB starts to cut down hundreds of trees.

Marketed as a "wonderful, modern advancement" it would replace the present main train station in Stuttgart (Germany) with an underground station and redirect the traffic through long tunnels. What it has brought till now is endless conflict in the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg and its capital city Stuttgart. The German Railroad system (Deutsche Bahn or DB) with the backing of various politicians and property developers is trying to push this disastrous project through despite a long-running opposition from concerned citizens.

The building of the 'stuttgart 21' has commenced . A train station which is predicted to have the largest construction site in europe has a new residential area growing.
A project created by the urban resistance has since then been growing, with demonstrators setting up camp on location to prevent progress.

The new urban districts were captured by german photography studio frank bayh & steff rosenberger-ochs in a series entitled 'the development of new urban quarters in the heart of the city'. A small but powerful image of an urban archtectural expression.

The images showcase make-shift homes occupied by the protesters that have added to the city a colorful
and organic mixture of materials including tarps, umbrellas, sticks and blankets, all compiled into the metropolitan dwellings or todays teepee houses.
The personalized, custom made teepees showcase a different type of architectural expression springing from necessity into accidental and eclectic structures.

A glimpse of the future?.......... How much will we tollerate?......... What should we tollerate? Q & A unknown

The Pink Series of “fabulous” depictions of tyrants, dictators and popes” Portraits by Scott Scheidly

2012-05-22T12:25:00.001+03:00

Have you seen Hitler dressed in pink and purple with loads of bling??.
Well, artist Scott Scheidly of Florida, USA, had developed portraits for four notorious or influential public figures of the 20th century with an emphasis on their more feminine sides. Adolf Hitler, Kim Jong-Il, Joseph Stalin and Pope John Paul II have all been re-imagined in shades of pink and purple and outfitted with accessories such as dangling earrings, jeweled uniforms and details of leopard print scarves, heart pins, flowers and unicorns.
The Pink series is the artist's painted reinterpretation of these feared/revered patriarchs as he substitutes their hyper-masculine attire with objects, symbols and colors that are considered hyper-feminine.

However, the viewer may recall the horrible achievements of these men when gazing upon their likeliness and portrait that has marked history, Scheidly's painted series attempts to highlight the single dimensionality of a lone, patriarchic person in power that has subjected millions of people to their tyrannic rule without breaking their starkly masculine exterior and by introducing their undeniable humanity or duality in giving each of these male figures of power a pink layer of feminimity to contrast their typical tyrant, dictator and pope portrayal.

I could imagine having one of these portraits in my living room. What a clever approach.
From Hitler’s pink armband to Kim Jong Ill’s heart shaped glasses, Scheidly’s work casts some of history’s most notorious characters in a new light rife with suggestion and commentary on masculinity, power, and satire.
You can also find extra info about the “fabulous” depictions of tyrants, dictators and popes” at Spoke Art Gallery in San Francisco.

FROM SKATEBOARD TO FURNITURE.

2012-05-18T17:02:00.001+03:00

Most males and a few females have a skateboard lying around the place.....maybe they kept it from their childhood or even bought one at older age but then decided it was not their scene. Well................ Deckstool has taken your old skateboard and made it into a more useful thing like benches minidecks, seat cushions and custom designs from skateboards and other recycled materials.

Broken skateboards are an unfortunate side effect of skateboarding and are usually destined for the landfill. Deckstool recycles this waste into unique, high quality furniture and other cool products.
All designs are inspired by skateboarding and they are engineered based upon how skateboards break during use. Deckstool creates stools, benches minidecks, seat cushions and custom designs from skateboards and other recycled materials. Solidly crafted using once shattered skateboards and held together by a skateboard truck, the deckstool is strong and stable! Finely finished edges frame beautifully scuffed graphics that tell the story of the decks' previous lives.
The scrapes, scars, and graffiti on the used decks create beautiful patterns over the original skateboard artwork. All of their products are built and finished in the USA.

Have you got any old skateboards lying around?

Graffiti is Art- A project by Shaka

2012-05-16T16:13:00.001+03:00

Graffiti as a type of art, took a while to be accepted. In many cities graffiti covers many areas and some of the graffiti art is not exactly the best in ways that it destroys everything's it touches...from house walls, to subways, train stations etc. In order to Stop and control the unwanted graffiti and the illegal vandalism on some walls/areas, some cities took organized action and commissioned or held competitions in order to decorate with graffiti art areas and surfaces in a controlling themed artistic way. So thats the way that Graffiti managed to color the boring walls and sent out messages and beautiful pictures into our minds.
Some of these artists have nothing to envy from famous artists. One of these artists is Shaka

Shaka- original name Marchal Mithouard- is a french artist whose graffiti work has evolved into a 3d revolutionary art. Shaka integrates 3d creating figures and schemes which seem to come out of canvases and walls, creating a dialectical relation between artwork and space.

HOMELESS- A photo speaks a thousand words

2012-05-15T11:55:00.000+03:00

Some of us have been more fortunate than others in this world...... but in this case, a photo speaks a thousand words. It could be us in their place, it could be our mother, our father, our sister , our friend. All we need to give to these people and generally people is a smile and not look down on them. That is what the World needs now.
There are many stories of homeless people that have died rich................ sometimes I wonder why then they chose to be homeless.....could it be that the just needed warmth in their heart and they found it amongst other homeless people. Being homeless does not necessary mean that you are a beggar.

Since a picture/photo speaks a thousand words, I found this interesting photography project by
Lee Jeffries . Jeffries has captured breathtaking photographs of homeless people in black and white . These shots show the raw depth and character of his passion for photography.
Lee Jeffries live’s in Manchester, United Kingdom, where he got the chance to meet a homeless girl. He first took a picture without her consent. But then he went to her, sat with her and discussed her life story. From there his perception about the homeless completely changed and made it his subject of art and discussion. From that time onward his photography got orientated towards conviction and compassion to the world .
In this collection lee Jeffries focused only on black and white pictures of homeless people that he met in Europe and the United States. When discussed Jeffries quoted: ”Situations arose, and I made an effort to learn to get to know each of the subjects before asking their permission to do their portrait.”
to see more of his black and white incredibly details photographs you can visit his Flickr account

Contributing causes....A few Facts from Wikipedia

Major reasons and causes for homelessness as documented by many reports and studies include:

Unavailability of employment opportunities.
Poverty, caused by many factors including unemployment and underemployment.
Lack of accessible healthcare. People who have some kind of chronic and weakening disease but cannot get healthcare either because they don't have money to afford it or because the government will not give it to them are simply too weak to go and work every day.
Abuse by government or by other people with power.
War or armed conflict.
Natural disasters
Mental disorder, where mental health services are unavailable or difficult to access or as a result of deinstitutionalization. A United States Federal survey done in 2005 indicated that at least one-third of homeless men and women have serious psychiatric disorders or problems.
Disability, especially where disability services are non-existent or poor performing.
Social exclusion, including because of sexual orientation and gender identity
Substance abuse
Lack of affordable housing. By way of example, an article in the November 2007 issue of Atlantic Monthly reported on a study of the cost of obtaining the "right to build" (i.e. a building permit, red tape, bureaucracy, etc.) in different U.S. cities. The "right to build" cost does not include the cost of the land or the cost of constructing the house. The study was conducted by Harvard economists Edward Glaeser and Kristina Tobio. According to the chart accompanying the article, the cost of obtaining the "right to build" adds approximately $600,000 to the cost of each new house that is built in San Francisco.
Domestic violence.
Relationship breakdown, particularly in relation to young people and their parents.
Prison release and re-entry into society.
Disasters, including but not limited to earthquakes and hurricanes.
Forced eviction – In many countries, people lose their homes by government order to make way for newer upscale high rise buildings, roadways, and other governmental needs. The compensation may be minimal, in which case the former occupants cannot find appropriate new housing and become homeless.
Mortgage foreclosures where mortgage holders see the best solution to a loan default is to take and sell the house to pay off the debt. The popular press made an issue of this in 2008.
Foreclosures on landlords often lead to eviction of their tenants. "The Sarasota, Florida, Herald Tribune noted that, by some estimates, more than 311,000 tenants nationwide have been evicted from homes this year after lenders took over the properties."

Archipelago a Floating Cinema in Thailand!!!

2012-05-14T14:12:00.000+03:00

How refreshing and original is that....A floating cinema in Thailand. What a great summery experience that would be to be in the middle of the sea watching a film. Thailand......here is another reason to visit you.
Archipelago cinema by ole scheeren is a floating cinema which premiered at the inaugural edition of the 'film on the rocks yao noi' festival in thailand. Please read following in order to get a better idea of this project.
---
following text provided by ole scheeren

archipelago cinema, an auditorium raft designed to float on the sea, premiered at
the rocks yao noi festival, curated by apichat- pong weerasethakul and tilda swinton.
the festival, which took place from 9th- 12th march 2012, is set to become an annual
meeting place for art and film.

the final night of the first edition of film on the rocks yao noi took place on archipelago cinema,
designed by german-born and beijing-based architect ole scheeren. guests were taken
by boat through the darkness of the sea to arrive on a glowing raft in the middle of the
quiet waters of nai pi lae lagoon on kudu island. surrounded by a dramatic landscape
of towering rocks emerging from the ocean, the audience experienced an atmospheric
convergence of nature and cinematic narratives - primordial notions of light, sound and
stories suspended in the darkness between sea and sky.
---
Maybe we Greeks could implement something like that in a beautiful location on mainland Greece or on some island........ well not on the ones that are 2 windy :) But surely it would be a bonus point to an area and a good tourist attraction.

SHWOPPING- Recycle Clothing

2012-05-11T16:05:00.001+03:00

People that read my blog are now aware that I am a great fan of this REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE movement and since I saw this article about a famous UK leading Fashion Store, I wanted to promote this great cause.

Fashion department store Marks & Spencer launched its project called Shwopping, in an effort to recycle clothing and decrease waste, whereby they are encouraging their customers to 'shwop' which means swapping their unused garments in exchange for discount vouchers which they can use towards purchasing new clothes at M&S, while their old outfits are donated to charity.

The project, which they refer to as a revolution, seeks to draw attention to the amount of clothing that's is thrown away every day in the UK and make a conscious effort to reverse this wasteful habit. The cause claims that approximately 10,000 articles of clothing go to landfills every five minutes.
Marks & Spenser has taken to the streets, installing a public display of unwanted apparel on a building in East London. The towering office is mounted with about 10,000 discarded garments, which really only represents five minutes worth of trashed clothing. It's excitigly weird to visualize the statement and the intent of shocking people into a change.
The Shwopping project placed over 1,200 "Shwop Drop" boxes at M&S stores across the UK for everyday shoppers to place their unwanted clothes into. The clothes are then transfered over to Oxfam, an international organization devoted to creating solutions for social problems like poverty. From there, Oxfam is set to handle the materials by reselling, reusing, or recycling them.

What a great idea...... can we maybe do something like that in Greece. I know myself that I have got a lot of clothes that I could hang of a building ;)

LETS MAP A CHAIR.

2012-05-10T16:23:00.003+03:00

An idea that made an old chair into a piece of Map artwork. Upcycled furniture could not be more fun as Naomi Rachel Muirhead describes the inspiration behind this design project. (Quoted below)

'this project initiated when I found a lonely wooden cafe-style chair sitting near a dumpster on a street in florence. I had already been using maps in collages and jewelry, so why not spiff up this old chair...with the city of florence, of course (where I live). then I was asked to fulfill a commission for a whole set of chairs. I was able to find 6 more chairs and gave the client her choice of cities from vintage maps. she chose barcelona, lisbon, london, st. petersberg, milan, and venice. made in florence, shipped to amsterdam. the chairs were first restored and painted with acrylic base colors-- in this case metallic white and gunmetal gray. then the images and gold-leaf accents were transferred on, and a final coat of protective varnish was applied. The possibilities, like travel, are endless!' --http://www.art925.com/index.html

Another great modern and unique design.

From Driftwood to Sculpture. Sculptor Heather Jansch. A Recycled art Story

2012-05-09T11:02:00.001+03:00

I don't even remember how I came across finding the beautiful driftwood sculpture horses created by Heather Jansch but one thing I know for sure is that I fell instantly in love with her work. Not only you can see her passion for her work but you can also see the imagination that made a piece of driftwood into a horse.....a little bit like the ugly duckling story that became a swan or even better the story of Pinocchio.

Quoted by Heather Jansch, the sculptor:
"From the beginning my twin passions were drawing and horses. I was a pony mad country girl but my hero was Leonardo da Vinci and my dreams were of becoming an international artist who lived among wooded foothills with clear flowing water at my door and horses grazing all around. "

It looks like she has managed to create something out of passion ans dream that appeals to many.
Not only her sculptures manage to blend with the natural surroundings of nature but , they for once more show us that Recycled/Upcycled art is so underrated.

Thumbs up for a great Sculptor.

Aesop Shop Upcycled art Installation by Cheungvogl"ο νεος ειναι ωραιος αλλα ο παλιος αλλιως"

2012-05-08T13:20:00.005+03:00

Wowwwww.... for another Upcycled art installation at the aesop shop (Natural products for skin, hair and body) located in lane Crawford, Hong Kong and designed by chinese/german architecture firm cheungvogl. The planks that are naturally aged timber from chinese boats, left in their original state and made into two floating cabinets.
Although the functions and general shapes of the units are set, the actual form and detail is determined by the sizes and general imperfections found in the material itself. the design is a representation of time, as the history of the boat planks are visible through the warn quality of the wood. the natural decay of the installation is made more prominent by its modern, clean and controlled surroundings.

When you see interior masterpieces like that, you tend to again think...... and i will quote an old Greek saying "ο νεος ειναι ωραιος αλλα ο παλιος αλλιως'( O neos einai oreos alla o palios allios)..... that means that the New is nice but the Old is differently nice.

From TRASH 2 TREASURE LAMPSHADES by Issey Miyake and Artimide

2012-05-07T15:56:00.000+03:00

Who said recycled art can't be beautiful? I found these beautiful lampshades on the Internet and as a fan of REDUSE, REUSE, RECYCLE I could not help but share my finding.

Exhibited at milan design week 2012, 'in-ei' is a collection of sustainably designed, foldable lampshades developed by japanese fashion designer issey miyake for italian lighting producers artemide. the project is named after the japanese word translatable as 'shadow', 'shade', and 'nuance', and the pieces are all folded textile pieces that extend into the lamp shape, causing a play of light and shadow through layering. the project represents a continuation of the '132 5. issey miyake' 2D/3D folded clothing design research undertaken by miyake's reality lab.

Each of nine lamp designs utilizes special fabric derived from recycled PET bottles, processed using an innovative technology that reduces both energy consumption and CO2 emissions up to 80% when compared to the production of new materials.
The designs are created using 2D and 3D mathematical principals to define their shape and extent of light shading.

WHAT DOES THE COLOR OF YOUR CLOTHES SAY ABOUT YOU?

2012-05-04T16:19:00.004+03:00

Lets have a look at your closet..................... what do the colors of your clothes say about you?

You may be in a fashion rut and need to introduce some different colors into your wardrobe that will better reflect your day-to-day moods. Unless your mother is still dressing you or you are a slave to following the latest fashion color trends, why not become a mood dresser? Mood dressers are people who are in-tune with their emotions and dress accordingly. Do you feel pink today? Or, do you feel blue?

Anyway.....lets see know what the colors of the clothes you wear say about your mood and what colors can do to change your mood.

Green is considered to be one of the most healing among all the colors.
Because green is the color of trees and grasses it is a wonderful color choice to wear anytime you are wanting to feel more in-tune with mother nature. Green represents the Spring season and new growth. Choose this color to wear whenever you are embarking on something new or wish to turn over a new leaf.

Wearing blue helps create a place of calm and serenity.
Wearing ocean hues of blue is especially calming. Indigo or darker blues can offer more of a comfort zone feeling, almost as if you are sinking into a pool of warm water. Blues in general remind me of a favorite pair of well-worn denim jeans - now that's simply relaxing.

Wearing grays and blacks can be depressive.
Let's face it, black and gray are fashion basics. We all have the basic black suit or black dress slacks that are a must wear for a number of different social settings. Aside from the slinky spaghetti strapped number you have hanging in the back of the closet, you likely choose to wear black because you prefer to blend in and not make any statement. Wearing black will allow you to keep a low-profile in social settings if that is your intention. Don't wear black if you want to stand out amidst a crowd. Most folks don't even bother to wear black at funerals anymore, it's just too sad to wear dreary and dark colors.

Orange urges you to get out into the world and create something grand!
Orange is a very high energy color. Its creativity juices are extremely intoxicating and sweet tasting. Wearing orange is fun and can make you feel quite playful. Artists love dabbling with orange hues. Orange screams with sexual energy too, not surprising since orange is associated with the sacral chakra. Because of its highly-charged intensity some people cannot comfortably wear this color. Adorning yourself with an orange accent piece can add a hint of playfulness. Beware, if you need to complete a mundane project avoid wearing orange as it might interfere with the stick-to-it-ness required to stay on task.

Wearing pink conveys compassion and an open heart.
Most people associate pink with babies, little girls, and feminine energies. But more than feeling feminine, wearing pink conveys compassion and an open heart chakra. When people are wearing pink, whether they are male or female, they appear approachable and capable of loving others. If you want to feel heart-connected reach for that pastel pink sweater from your closet to wear. And if pastel colors don't suit you try on something in bright fuchsia. You'll feel pretty in pink.

Wearing purple shows others that you want to be noticed.
Purple is seldom worn as a neutral color. Purple is the wrong color choice to make if you are wanting to blend in among others as you go about your business. The color purple, especially shades of violet, will definitely make a statement. Wearing purple shows others that you want to be noticed. If it is your desire to feel special and unique then purple is the right color choice. If you would like to send a message out into the world that you're one of a kind and that you could care less about conformity, then wear purple.

Red can really pack a punch when needed.
Red is a very powerful color. Wear red whenever you feel a need to portray confidence or would like to boost your self esteem. However, be aware that wearing too much red can make a person come off a little too intimidating to others who may lack self confidence in themselves. Visualizing the color red can help ground your energies so anyone who has "flighty" tendencies will benefit from wearing red to serve as a reminder to ground themselves throughout the day.

Wearing white will help reduce any nagging feelings of disappointment or drudge.
White represents cleansing and new beginnings. Putting on a white blouse feels like being given an opportunity to start the day with a clean slate. Wearing a white garment, as long as it hasn't taken on any discoloration from too much laundering, can offer a fresh and bright outlook. Be sure to get rid of any dingy white clothes often, replacing them with brighter whites.

Yellow is the perfect color to wear whenever your spirits needs an uplift.
Yellow carries the same healing qualities associated with the sun. It offers warmth, optimism, and light. All shades of yellows and golds will cheer you up and help make you feel happier. Wearing yellow out into the world makes an affirmation statement. For certain, yellow is a perky color!

SOOOOO....what color are you wearing today?

FROZEN YOGURT VS ICE CREAM

2012-05-03T14:30:00.001+03:00

The new craze is Frozen yogurt.........it tastes delicious and it is far more healthier.....but do we know why?

Well there are quite a few reasons why you should choose frozen yogurt over ice cream. One of the main reasons that people opt for frozen yogurt instead of traditional ice cream is the emphasis on health that comes from the use of milk instead of cream. While frozen yogurt can taste more tart than ice cream, it is lower in fat than ice cream because of the substitution of pure milk in the place of heavy cream. This emphasis on a treat that is a little bit more healthy is why frozen yogurt is more than a craze.

Frozen Yogurt Is Healthier simply Because of the specific use of milk as opposed to the cream in ice cream, frozen yogurt is better for your body. It is seen as a low-fat alternative or even a fat-free alternative. The composition of frozen yogurt is mostly made up of milk (solids and fats), yogurt culture, flavoring, coloring, gelatin and sweetener. Whereas ice cream contains a lot of sugar and salt to add taste to the final product, frozen yogurt allows for the substitution of ingredients like honey or agave nectar in place of sugar. While frozen yogurt is still not as healthy as normal yogurt, other benefits that it includes are more minerals and nutrients than regular, traditional ice cream.

Frozen yogurt has come to be used much like ice cream, and is served in a wide variety of flavors and styles. Many companies allow customers the option of adding various toppings, or of ordering their frozen yogurt in cups or in cones as well as sugar-free varieties.

So.....lets go ICE YOGURT than ICE CREAM.

FLY AWAY WITH ME KITTY

2012-05-02T17:33:00.001+03:00

Frank sings....Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away. We take a small break and fly away with HELLO KITTY.
Taiwanese airline company EVA air has delved into a collaborative project with japanese toy manufacturer sanrio to decorate the exteriors of three of their planes with the image of cartoon cat character hello kitty. the three distinct feline motifs decorate the fleet of A330-300 airbus aircrafts flying highly-trafficked routes in asia. beginning in taipei's taoyuan international airport and ending in either sapporo or guam, individuals come take to the air in a 'magic jet'. the 'global jet' design connects hong kong and tokyo to taiwan while 'apple jet' planes fly between taipei, seoul and fukoka-- each plane shuttling their passengers in totally immersive cute kitten style.

From the moment individuals begin their interaction with EVA air in regards to these particular routes in taipei, the passenger is greeted by EVA air employees sporting hello kitty gear at a bright pink counter. travelers then begin the check-in process with electronic kiosks, light boxes, boarding passes, baggage tickets and identification all covered in the cute saniro character's likeliness. once having boarded the plane,
passengers are seated in chairs with headrests and pillows also picturing the face of the cartoon cat. as flight attendants begin in-flight service, customers have a choice of over 100 items designed specifically for the airlines including meal time, entertainment or toiletrie items to limited edition duty-free products all decorated with the beloved cartoon cat in a red bow.
Will you fly away with Kitty? A weird idea that I would assume targets Women..... could there be a market? If you ask me, I would like to have the experience one day to fly away with a Hello Kitty plane.
Anyways, it is an original idea and very girly. Loving the Kitty experience. Good Luck Eva Air.

Greece in STEVIA mode....a new natural healthy sweetener

2012-04-30T11:32:00.007+03:00

Goodmorning.....today I though i would talk about Stevia (A plant )...... a few know about it but many could benefit from it as it is the new healthy sweetener that beats all market known low calorie unhealthy sweetners up to now. (Saccharin, Aspartame, Acesulfame-K, Sucralose, Neotame)

Stevia is a South American herb used as a natural sweetener for centuries. The leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant have a refreshing taste, zero glycemic index, zero calories and zero carbs. It is 25-30 times sweeter than sugar, and far more healthy!

Stevia is a safe alternative and the next big thing.

No wonder. It's all-natural, contains zero calories, and has a zero glycemic index.
Finally, you can supplement your food and drinks without the chemicals of artificial sweeteners and calories of sugar!
And it is safe for diabetics and hypoglycemics.

Stevia comes in many forms, liquid, tablets, powder and even comes with different natural tastes.

More info can be found on http://www.stevia.com/

However and since most of the people who read this blog are Greek and since we are also trying to help Greek Produce since our country is going through a crisis period, I would like to suggest a new healthy refreshing way that could benefit our health and our economy.......and that is....................EPSA(ΕΨΑ) Refreshing drinks with Stevia....... EPSA http://www.epsa.gr/ is not only a Greek Company but also Greece has started to produce Stevia in Thessalia and Macedonia. Please also check out http://www.chgeorge.gr/archives/1864

Hope this healthy information willl benefit a lot of people.
Have a sweet day :)