Levi van Veluw Recreates His Childhood Room in 30,000 Wooden Blocks, Balls & Slats.

Levi van Veluw's incredible, 3-room installation uses more than 30,000 wooden blocks, balls, and slats. These installations are inspired by different aspects of van Veluw's boyhood bedroom, where he spent many solitary hours between the ages of 8 and 14: the Origin of the Beginning.



This series of installations, photographs and videos in which van Veluw draws from his own childhood memories to thematically and narratively develop his own brand of self-portraiture.



The artist has created 3 “rooms” covered with more than 30,000 wooden blocks, balls and slats respectively. Each “room” is executed as a life-size installation (4m x 2.5m x 2.5m) together with photographs and videos (without any digital manipulation).



Portrayed in one piece (above) is a desk, a table lamp, a bookcase. The edge of the table is burned by Levi van Veluw as he had an obsession for fire. All of these objects including every inch of the floor, walls and ceiling is covered in the same material: 14,000 16 cm2 dark brown wooden blocks. The blocks are made by the artist and glued on the wall one by one. The works suggest a narrative world behind the abstract portraits.

Origin of The Beginning 1.2:




Origin of The Beginning 2.4:





Origin of The Beginning 3.4:




On the one hand these works present themselves as a continuation of van Veluw’s formal approach to self-portraiture, with their preoccupation for materiality, pattern and texture. Yet they are simultaneously very personal pieces. The repetitive structures seemingly express a ‘horror vacui’ and recall van Veluw the youth and his obsessive attempts to gain control on his life by gaining control of his surroundings. Dimly light and dark in colour the overriding tone of these pieces are claustrophobic and sombre, exuding a sense of loneliness. The meticulous craftsmanship and high quality material with which every last nook and cranny is covered, result in a series of works that are also highly aesthetic.
all images and information courtesy of the artist

Levi van Veluw website
Levi van Veluw on Behance

Modern Wood Christmas Tree By Architect Makes A Smart and Stylish Alternative - PossibiliTree.

Richard Babcock, the father of Pat Babcock Sorensen, was an architect who built furniture in his spare time.

Tired of finding, hauling, displaying, watering and disposing of the bulky, needle-dropping, space-guzzling evergreen every Christmas, he came up with a simple and non-messy alternative to real Christmas trees.

He designed two wooden trees - a life-size version that stands at 6 feet and suspends from the ceiling with a thin wire and a 3 foot tabletop version which uses a base stand for support. Both were designed to be easy to set up, take down and store compactly, making the trees are a smart and stylish alternative.


above: Dick Babcock with his suspended 6ft Cherry tree in 1994

Prompted by recognition (In 2002, the suspended tree placed as a finalist in the national Hammacher Schlemmer Search for Invention® contest), and the Babcock family's long-standing affection for the trees, Pat speculated that others would value them as well. So, they patented the design and formed a business and the PossibiliTree was born.


above: Pat Babcock Sorenson, right, and and her business partner Nadja Reubenova, left. (image by Tom Wallace for the Star Tribune)

They produce a limited number of 6ft suspended trees and 3ft table top models in Walnut wood, Cherry wood or Birch wood (the tabletop version in Walnut is already sold out for 2011). The trees are manufactured in the US and use reclaimed or “deadfall” wood whenever possible.

Some examples of the trees from previous customers:






above two images by Tom Wallace for the Star Tribune

Their appearance harkens back to mid-century modern design and they look as great bare as they do adorned so you can keep them up all year round.

6 foot suspended tree


A favorite of architects and designers, this tree is visually stunning and ethereal. An award-winning design, the 6ft suspended possibiliTree, with 10 rows of branches, shows off ornaments beautifully. Floating 18 inches above the floor, there is plenty of room underneath to place gifts. Comes pre-strung and rolled in a bundle. Simply unroll it, hang it, fan out the branches, and decorate. (Ceiling hook not included.)


Note: as of 12/04/11, there are 93 6ft suspended possibiliTrees available

Height: 72" plus length of wire
Weight: 13 lbs
Diameter at Widest: 53"
Compostion: Wood, .07 GA/125 lb Test Wire
Comes With: Storage Box, Instructions
Note: Requires 9' or higher ceiling

3 Foot tabletop tree


Clean-lined, unfussy, practical. The 3ft Tabletop—only 28 inches at its widest—is made for smaller living spaces, but would look great as a second Christmas tree in the foyer or family room of a larger home. You can decorate this tree during the holidays and enjoy it for its artful simplicity, unadorned, throughout the year.


Note: The Walnut tabletop tree is sold out, but the Cherry wood and Birch versions are still available

Height: 35"
Weight: 3.2 lbs.
Diameter at Widest: 28"
Compostion: Wood, Metal Rod
Comes With: Cotton Bundle Cloth, Storage Tube, Instructions

Buy your PossibiliTrees here

This Girl Rocks. A Fetish Ride-On Toy For Adults by Peter Jakubik.

Peter Jakubik's adult rocking toy, the Pony Girl, is part of his collection of modern fetish designs. Having come a ways since his first version (seen in this post which featured the designers' high-heeled handbags), the adult rocking toy is now crafted from intentionally weathered plywood and waxed to a smooth finish. The silhouetted woman on her hands and knees is meant to be ridden.







In Peter's description of the object, in slightly broken English, he states "Pony Girl Rocker is a toy for adults shaped as a woman attached onto the rockers similar to those of a rocking chair. The rocker ironically carries a memory of boys’ games on knights, riders, conquerors or warriors and pushes it into the field of adult fantasies. It could be a great wedding gift for a newly married couples who can make a use of it as a relaxation simulator to prevent the partnership malfunction. In the context of BDSM practices it can be used as a trainer for pony play sessions. In need of humiliation, unless your wife or girlfriend do not like a pony play, just use this toy. Pony Girl Rocker as a forgotten and again found toy as an object for adults. Old wooden surface is supposed to remind of forgotten old child's toy found in the attic and upgraded to a fetish design object."

What some may find humiliating, other may find as a turn on. And that's the beauty of art.

Be sure to check out Peter's wonderful High-heeled handbags here.


See more of designer Peter Jakubik's work.

Peter Jakubik
Laca Novomeskeho 18 Street
Presov
ZIP 08001
Slovakia

Modern Custom Handcrafted Wood Dog Feeders and Food Storage By Eastvold.

Eastvold Furniture is a small company based in Minnesota that uses ethically harvested lumber in the construction of their furniture. In addition to their beautifully designed and constructed credenzas, tables, coffee tables, dressers, end tables, consoles and beds, they have three modern dog feeders that incorporate storage for the food.

The Buster Pet Feeder:


Named after designer Matt Eastvold's first Yellow Lab, who was a tough but gentle farm dog, the Buster pet feeder stores the food in the center column so it is right where you need it for your dog's mealtime. Two stainless steel bowls are great for water and food. The tops of the bowl holders are gray laminate for extra durability and sloppiness.


dimensions: 18.0 H x 10.0 W x 10.0 D. Side bowl holders 10"x10" 2 qt. bowls. Bowl height 8 1/2" from floor
woods available: maple, walnut or white oak
price: $260

The Jesse Pet Feeder:


Named after Ben's Border Collie, a warm-hearted old dog, the Jesse pet feeder stores the food in the center column, so it is right where you need it for your dog or cat's mealtime. Two stainless steel bowls are great for water and food. The top of the bowl holder is gray laminate for extra durability and sloppiness. The Jesse is excellent for small dogs or cats.


dimensions: 18.0 H x 10.0 W x 10.0 D. Side bowl holders 10"x13", 1 qt. bowls.
woods available: maple, walnut or white oak
price: $260

The Willie Pet Feeder:



Named after Ben's younger, very energetic Boarder Collie, the sleek and modern Willie dog station has a built in storage drawer for food. There are 2 quart stainless bowls with ring seals so water doesn't get into the food drawer.




dimensions: 11.5 H x 24.5 W x 12.0 D
woods available: maple, walnut or white oak
price: $340.

You won't find these beautifully made wood dog feeders on their site because they are designed exclusively for Design Public.

Eastvold Furniture
12980 Dennison Blvd.,
Dennison, MN 55018. (651) 210-2294
info@eastvoldfurniture.com

Drunter and Drüber's Bent Wood, Leather and Felt lined Bags for Vonetti.

Trier-based four-piece Drunter and Drüber designed these fabulous bent wood and leather bags with felt lining for Vonetti.



Refreshing design incorporates unusual materials for the bags which are available in three different sized styles; the Maya, the Ina and the Lola.




For purchasing information contact Vonetti:
E-Mail: info@vonetti.com



Drunter & Drüber // Trier
c/o Galerie Feuergefühl // Spielesplatz 13 // D - 54293 Trier
Tel: 0651 / 9664888