Tag Archives: pop-art

Art

Beautiful Minecraft Coffee Table Book Features Stunning In Game Built Art

May 17, 2021 The Silo Leave a comment

Twelve years ago to the day, back in the year 2009 – a Video game called #Minecraft was unassumingly released. The sandbox video game became the second best selling PC-based game in history and was bought by Microsoft for $2.5B usd in 2014.

In keeping with our look back celebration, let’s check out this wonderful book for Minecraft lovers everywhere: Beautiful Minecraft ($19.95, 112 pp., 4C, hardcover).

As they pore over the pages in this remarkable collection, Minecraft lovers of all stripes will find themselves immersed in a world of astonishing creations like floating steampunk cities, massive alien worlds, detailed classical sculptures, fantastical landscapes, and architectural marvels. The sculptures and scenes throughout the book are built from thousands to millions of blocks and represent months and even years of design work on the part of their creators.

I wanted to show how a video game can become a true artistic medium…how players can become artists.

“Beautiful Minecraft is the sort of thing that fans of the game are sure to love because it brings them even closer to the game they love,” said No Starch Press founder Bill Pollock. “Since my first visit to MineCon in 2011, I’ve been inspired by the passion Minecraft fans have for something that is much more than a game. Beautiful Minecraft shows us how in game creations can be high art, and the results are nothing less than amazing.”

For the Silo, James Delaney-author, managing director of BlockWorks: a team of Minecraft artists from around the world. BlockWorks has created artwork for companies like Disney, Microsoft, Warner Brothers, and The Guardian.

Publisher: No Starch Press
Author: James Delaney
Print ISBN: 978-1-59327-765-9
Price: $19.95
Specs: 112 pp., 4C, Hardcover

You Might Also Be Interested In:

The Game Console by Evan Amos
The Arduino Inventor’s Guide by Derek Runberg and Brian Huang
The Hardware Hacker by Andrew “bunnie” Huang

Available in fine bookstores everywhere and from http://www.oreilly.com/nostarch, or by contacting marketingdirector@thesilo.ca

About No Starch Press
No Starch Press has published the finest in geek entertainment since 1994, covering topics like LEGO, hacking, science, math, and programming for all ages. Our titles have personality, our authors are passionate, and our books tackle topics that people care about.

Fashion

Fun Pop Elements In Ballasox Footwear

October 11, 2018 The Silo 2 Comments

"Punky goodness" and a bit of oxymoronic design? You bet and we love it. — “Punky goodness” and a bit of oxymoronic design.

If we’re living in an oxymoronic age (and it seems indeed that we are), then Ballasox footwear by corso como makes a lot of sense. Women’s fashion has never been off limits for innovation, experimentation and whimsy but today’s designs are also driven by comfort and economy.

That’s a lot of parameters to hit and with that in mind, let’s take a look at Ballasox- just one of many interesting lines of high fashion women’s footwear from corso como.

We decided to focus on two styles that represent interesting designs and coincidentally are the high and low price point in the Ballasox line: the Micaela with straps priced at $129 (usd) and the Prince priced at $60(usd). Fun! That’s a word we don’t often use when highlighting fashion. There are wonderful pop elements found in these shoes. Looking at the Micaela one is reminded of 1970’s Punk movement. The dog collar like strapping, the chrome studs and red and black leather colour scheme have an attitude that works. Especially if you’re pounding the streets on a busy weekend or hopping onto a motorcycle.

A still from the 1986 punk biopic film Sid and Nancy-

The Prince has a simple design and we adore the Warhol-like camo/snake patterning. Perhaps you’ve heard of Stephen Sprouse and Monica D Murgia’s recent camo design dresses? In the 1980’s Sprouse worked with Warhol and those designs were just slightly ahead of themselves. Contemporary television shows like Duck Dynasty and the mega-mall staple BassPro have changed all that. Camo isn’t just for your Dad to wear to the lodge- it’s become ubiquitous as Warhol predicted.

Check out the snakey Camo print in this closeup detail of the Prince

Back to the Prince. So this little shoe is not as unassuming as it first appears.

There is a pedigree and history of aesthetic design that is a part of its look. Yes, it’s technically a snake skin design but the type of snake chosen must have been carefully considered and settled on because this shoe would not look out of place paired with a Sprouse/D Murgia Camo dress. Now that’s a combination we’d love to see. For the Silo, Jarrod Barker.

Art

Adult Coloring Books Inspired By Yves Saint Laurent & Jean Cocteau

September 25, 2018 The Silo Leave a comment

If you enjoy French fashion, art and film and coloring books, sharpen your pencil crayons and prepare to be inspired by two French icons of unparalleled creativity: fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and playwright and filmmaker Jean Cocteau in these two funky adult coloring books.

“The chicest stress reliever ever.” —Buzzfeed
This elegant, imaginative colouring book explores the dynamic, fanciful creations of iconic fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, who headed the House of Dior at age twenty-one before launching his own design house at age twenty-five.

The book’s line drawings for colouring are based on many of fashion designer’s original sketches for dresses over the years. In these pages, one can see the breadth and versatility of his creations with designs inspired by harlequins and the Carnival of Venice, Pop Art and Mondrian, and the cultures of Asia, Africa, and beyond. Colourists have much breadth and versatility to design creations of their own, with the accompaniment of full-colour photos of the dresses for reference.

This book is produced in conjunction with the Fondation Pierre Berge-Yves Saint Laurent, dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of the House of Yves Saint Laurent.

JEAN COCTEAU COLOURING BOOK
The Jean Cocteau Coloring Book brings the fanciful, elegant world of artist, playwright, and filmmaker Jean Cocteau to life, serving as a primer on the work of this inspiring artist.

As a playwright, Cocteau is best known for The Human Voice (1930); as a filmmaker, he directed Beauty and the Beast (1946) and Orpheus (1948). A prominent member of the Paris avant-garde (1910s), he formed friendships and professional relationships with Picasso, Stravinsky, Gide, and more. His paintings and graphic art were playful, fantastical expressions exploring mythological themes and subjects, personal portraits, and domestic scenes.
Cocteau’s graphic drawings are ready to be coloured in, alongside original illustrations for reference. Also included are images from the original film poster for Beauty and the Beast, playful doodles that Cocteau included in letters to his lover Jean Marais, and drawings of Parisien women, cats, sleeping figures, circus performers, and other figures emanating from Cocteau’s imagination. For the Silo, Cynara Geissler.

Yves Saint Laurent Coloring Book
ISBN: 978-1-551526-39-3
$12.95 list USD | CDN
US distribution by Consortium
Canadian distribution by UTP
Canadian sales by Ampersand Inc.

Jean Cocteau Coloring Book
ISBN:978-1-55156-40-9
$12.95 list USD | CDN
US distribution by Consortium
Canadian distribution by UTP
Canadian sales by Ampersand Inc.

YVES SAINT LAURENT COLORING BOOK

Reviews

New ‘Duct Tape DIY Book’ is Taking Crafting and Fashion World by Storm

June 8, 2016 The Silo Leave a comment

From the author of the #1 best-sellers, Tape It & Make It, Tape It & Make More and Tape It & Wear It comes the fourth book in this revolutionary “duct tape craft series:” Duct Tape Bags: 40 Projects for Totes, Clutches, Messenger Bags, and Bowlers (Clarkson Potter, July 2016). With the upcoming release of her new book, Richela Fabian Morgan is continuing to take the crafting and fashion world by storm, turning the humble roll of duct tape into the trendiest craft item since glitter glue.

Everyone from trendy teens to famous fashionistas can begin exploring the infinite uses this easy-to-follow guide provides to making handbags so fashionable, you won’t actually believe they’re made of duct-tape. Part art-piece, part usable accessory, Fabian Morgan shows how each of these gorgeous handbags can be recreated one manageable section at a time.

“About eight years ago, my kids and I were in our local hardware store when we spotted duct tape with patterns and colors,” says Fabian Morgan. “Since then, duct tape has been an obsession of mine. My daughter and her friends were my excuse to break out my vast collection of tape and try out different ideas for craft projects. Out of all the projects, the bags were the biggest hit! I started making bags for myself. So, it was only natural that I turned my attention to writing a book on duct tape bags. I wrote other books on duct tape crafts with a total of 242 projects spread out over three books, everything from housewares to costumes. Duct tape bags were on my radar. I had to write this book!”

Duct Tape Bags provides DIYers with 40 fun projects using duct tape, including:

Clutches and wristlets
Hobo and Shoulder Bags
Satchels
Messenger and Flap Bags
Tote Bags
And tons of other one-of-a-kind bags!

One of Rachel's Duct Tape Bags. — One of Rachel’s Duct Tape Bags.

Read more about Richela Fabian Morgan by using the links at the bottom of this article and:

Reveal what inspired her to begin crafting with duct tape.
See finished samples of the many bags included in her book.
Do print or video demos and step by step how-tos not only on her bags but any of the 240+ projects found in her duct tape books.
Provide the perfect summer duct tape projects for girls, boys and teens.
Look ahead to back to school: duct tape wallets, folders, book bags, pencil cases, lunch boxes and more!
Find tips to incorporate recycled items in your duct tape projects.
And so much more!

With detailed step-by-step instructions and primers on duct tape “fabric,” different types of closures from magnet snaps to jeans buttons, and bag accessories like bows and luggage tags, Fabian Morgan catapults this trend from the streets into the stratosphere. A mix of pop art and urban style photos of each project and a cool vibe throughout will make you want to immediately roll up your sleeves and rolling out the duct tape for a bag of your own! For the Silo, Erin MacDonald-Birnbaum

About Richela Fabian Morgan: Richela Fabian Morgan began her duct tape odyssey 8 years ago with a simple bi-fold wallet, before writing the best-selling crafting books Tape It & Make It, Tape It & Make More, and Tape It & Wear It. She is an indie crafter specializing in paper, adhesives, and found materials, and has taught craft projects at elementary schools, public libraries, and charitable organizations around the U.S. Her next duct tape crafting book, Duct Tape Bags, will be published by Clarkson Potter in July 2016.

Connect with Richela on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CraftyRichela
Twitter: www.twitter.com/CraftyRichela
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/craftyrichela
Instagram: @richelafm

Duct Tape Bags will be released July 12, 2016 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com and all major booksellers. Contact marketingdirector@thesilo.ca for more details.

Art

Ceramic Food Art Inspired By Cultural Differences

August 16, 2013 The Silo 1 Comment

Jack Nicholson, playing The Joker in the 1989 Tim Burton film Batman, said “I don’t know if it’s art, but I LIKE IT!” Looking at artist Sarah Smith’s ersatz ceramic food sculptures I am convinced this work is incredibly effective art. And I like that. A lot.

Part of Smith’s inspiration comes from the cultural differences found when it comes to food preparation and presentation. From her experiences, European’s tend to favor and appreciate food that not only tastes good but looks just as good to match. In the discipline known as culinary arts, the appearance of food is intrinsically linked with the skill of the chef and also with the intended effect on the consumer. In other words, form effects function. Strong components in any art form, Sarah Smith has applied this notion to fake food, emphasizing and reminding the viewer that strong physical reactions can be manipulated through visual presentation.

Throughout time, food has been linked with human emotion and health. Consider this: Apples are associated with our health and death. The “perfect” apple and the “poison” apple. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Symbiosis of food and the human body. Cucumber slices and orange slices are a remedy for tired eyes and worry lines. Black eyes are healed with a raw steak. Aromatherapy consisting on some level as ‘concentrated scents of food’ (coconut, vanilla, bananas….attempts to create a strong physical reaction such as calming through an associated mental- visual representation. But why is that and is this what Smith is asking us with her food? How do we feel when we see a raw pork chop?

So it’s connections like this that demand we consider Smith’s artistic motivation. Her work exists on many levels. Is it hyper-realism? Surrealism? Pop-art? I believe it is all of those things and more. For the Silo, Jarrod Barker.

I wanted to show how a video game can become a true artistic medium…how players can become artists.

Canada's 'biggest little blogspace'