Daniel Mar

I came across the work today of French paper artist, Daniel Mar. The intricate cutting , turning some of the images into 3D, reminds me somewhat of the work of Peter Callesen. I think these are simply wonderful. If you want to see more have a look here.

Papierkrieg

This is a great origami animation film. I don't understand the language but that really doesn't matter. As ever, I am just in awe of what some artists can do with paper.

Papierkrieg from Makaio Tisu on Vimeo.

Time Out

To everything there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under heaven;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn and a time to dance.

I need to take some time out so please forgive me if I do not post for a short while.

Let's hear it for the Shrill Carder Bee

The UK used to have 27 species of bumblebee but three are now extinct and six others are seriously under threat. The Shrill Carder Bee (Bombus sylvarum) is the next specimen of bumblebee likely to become extinct. It gets its name from its reputation for having a particularly high-pitched buzz. It is clinging on in a few areas but needs help and this has come along in the form of the 'Live for the Outdoors' website which has just announced the results of an online poll it has recently run for the most worthy eco-project of 2010. From a drawn up list of 6 excellent plans, the project with the most votes has won funding of 30,000 Euros from the EOG Association for Conservation.

It has just been announced that it has been won by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust Pembrokeshire Path project and I am so thrilled that it has done so. Pippa Rayner, the conservation officer explains what they will be doing :

" We will be creating a wildflower-rich habitat to support rare bumblebees along a new 10km path in the Pembrokeshire National Park. By connecting key sites, this attractive route through spectacular scenery will help prevent the national extinction of the shrill carder bee.

The project will benefit lots of other wildlife too; Wales, like the rest of the UK, has lost most of its wild flower grasslands, so creating and restoring these habitats will benefit the plants, butterflies, bees, birds and other beasties that depend upon them.

It will also create a lovely place to walk, with flowers and bumblebees along the path that takes walkers, horseriders and cyclists through areas that were previously inaccessible, thanks to the new route provided by the MOD"

The project won by a significant margin I think and whilst my vote didn't sway it one way or another, at least it counted. I shall be following this one with great interest and really hope it will be a success and halt the decline of another of these important pollinators.

If you want to find out more have a look at the website for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

(Images from Google images)

Start the week on a high note...

powerlinerflyers from wes johnson on Vimeo.

The Cheshire Cat

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland first appeared in 1865, with John Tenniel's engravings accompanying Lewis Carroll's timeless story. In 1907 the copyright for Alice expired and there was a rush of illustrated editions to challenge Tenniel's version. The most successful version was illustrated by Arthur Rackham ; in the first six months after its publication 14,322 copies of the six shilling edition were sold. Forty years later, in 1947, his Alice was on its 12th edition and has stayed in print ever since. It is a story which never fails to capture the imagination and I have a habit of buying any new version or old or foreign copy that I find. Not surprisingly then I will definitely be going to see Tim Burton's version of Alice when it opens next month. Alongside Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter will be the voices of Paul Whitehouse, Michael Sheen, Barbara Windsor and Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat.

For all those cat loving paper engineers out there visit the Alice 2010 blog and scroll down to the post for Friday Feb 5th to download the PDF to make your own Cheshire Cat (Sorry about the long winded way of doing this but if you like Alice the rest is interesting too!)

Timeless magic

I had to pop in to Tenby this afternoon and thought I'd go via Manorbier, a village with a super beach, it's own castle and a wonderful 12th century Norman church dominating it from above. My friend lives here so I am a frequent visitor. There is something about St James' Church that I find very restoring and it is often empty, so, perfect for contemplation and to me, also a rich source of creative inspiration. These photos detail part of the painting that is in the roof above the main doorway. I have enhanced them as it is pretty faded in parts . I love the shapes and colours.

I can spend ages wandering around the churchyard. I am entranced by the imagery on the railings and headstones and drawn to the organic shapes of the mosses and lichens that have been there longer than I've been in existence. Like many small village churchyards, it is a special place. I am fascinated by the headstones and love looking at the names and dates inscribed on them. In truth, it is not only churchyards that interest ; I find cemeteries and war memorials equally wondrous things to look at.

I finished with a walk down to the beach and along the strand line. This is a surfers beach in summer and it can be packed with families. Today it was chilly and cold so there was only me. Magical day.