Street Art

Aakash Nihalani’s neon New York.

~ Katy Kelleher ~ Leave a comment

RainboroughPortland has some great street art, but I would really like to see Aakash come to town and decorate some of our old, gray, grandiose buildings with his colorful shapes. Instead of using spray paint or wheatpaste (the two most common materials to use in graffiti art) he relies on neon-hued tape to create his bold geometric patterns. The piece above is named Rainborough, which is a delightful play on words if I ever heard one.

But, like many things, you’ll only see Aakash’s work in NYC. As he explains on his website, he wants viewers to experience New York in a new way, through new eyes brightened by vivid pinks, yellows, and reds. These glowing tones highlight the solid shapes of New York architecture, emphasizing both the past and the city’s brilliant future.

For more of his work, check out aakashnihalani.com. Or you could go to his Flickr stream. And if you’re feeling inspired, you can always order some washi tape and create a little Nihalani-style mural on your own wall (and that’s what I’m going to do, as soon as I have a hot minute to myself).

Let’s replace the street lamps with chandeliers.

~ Katy Kelleher ~ 2 Comments

freeparkingIf someone were to ask me right now what do you want to be when you grow up? I would say: “an artist.” I love art. Love it in forms—from oil paintings to earth works—and all places—on the outside of the building and the inside of a gallery. But you know what? I have no talent. None! So instead, I write about the awesome things other people do.

And damn, this is awesome. Austrian artist Werner Reiterer has been creating these beautiful street chandeliers since 2006. By installing these symbols of opulent, interior life onto decrepit outdoor spaces, he creates a fascinating juxtaposition. These outdoor pieces are playful, yet a little tense, especially in how they draw immediate attention to divisions between public and private, haves and havenots. Now, more than ever, it’s fascinating to see how these old symbols of wealth translate, especially when taken out of context.

Cool, right? Plus, I love that it’s accessible to every passerby. Art for the masses! Occupy museums! Or just, you know, enjoy this cool picture.

Color Me Happy.

~ Katy Kelleher ~ 3 Comments

street_art_yarn_crochet_1I adore street art, and I own about a thousand knitted items—though I can’t seem to get into knitting… too much commitment! And I don’t have enough patience—so it makes perfect sense that I freaking love this. Guerrilla art, girly and totally awesome. Found here.

Rainy days.

~ Katy Kelleher ~ Leave a comment

Since I’ve moved to Maine, I’ve had some gorgeous fall days—and some not-so-great weather. This weekend has been cold, rainy and kind of a drag. It doesn’t help that I’m sick (I seem to be getting the same cold over and over and over), which has me fantasizing about running away to somewhere warmer, somewhere brighter.

I came across these images of a lovely art installation in Portugal today on Pinterest. I think I’ve seen them before, but until today, I was never that inclined to post them. Everything has been so gray and dreary, and these suspended umbrellas look like something out of a dream.

{Originally captured by Patricia Almeida}