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A post shared by Ronald Rael (@rrael) on Jul 28, 2019 at 11:22pm PDT

This is flying around the internet at the moment… and rightly so! Candy-pink seesaws have just been installed at the US / Mexico border, inviting children from both countries to play with each other… yes, yes, YES! This is the beautiful, and incredibly powerful, work of Oakland based architects Ronald Rael and his partner Virginia San Fratello. Here are the words from Ronald’s Instagram post from two days ago:

“One of the most incredible experiences of my and @vasfsf’s career bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teetertotter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement, and togetherness at the borderwall. The wall became a literal fulcrum for U.S. – Mexico relations and children and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side. Amazing thanks to everyone who made this event possible like Omar Rios @colectivo.chopeke for collaborating with us, the guys at Taller Herrería in #CiudadJuarez for their fine craftsmanship, @anateresafernandez for encouragement and support, and everyone who showed up on both sides including the beautiful families from Colonia Anapra, and @kerrydoyle2010, @kateggreen , @ersela_kripa , @stphn_mllr , 

@wakawaffles, Chris Gauthier and many others (you know who you are). #raelsanfratello #borderwallasarchitecture “

Beautiful. In every way.

Can. Not. Breathe.  This stunning piece, titled “Artificial Forest”, is the work of Taiwanese artist Ching-Chih Wu. From what I can tell, his work began with smaller-scale metal and enamel pieces {jewelry and smaller works}, but in recent years his work has evolved into large-scale spatial sculpture … and it is absolutely magical.

I want to run around in, sit under, and climb on everything in the portfolio of New York based artist / architect Marc Fornes, aka THEVERYMAN. Organic shapes, industrial materials, and vibrant colors work together in all of Mark’s public art pieces. The two sculptures above are located in 1) Charlotte NC, and 2) Edmonton AB … oh, and he’s also shown his work in a few other places:

“Some of these prototypical architectures have acquired and displayed by institutions and galleries including the Centre Pompidou (Paris), where Y/STRUC/SURF is part of the permanent collection, the FRAC Centre (Orleans, FR), and the Storefront for Art and Architecture (New York). Marc has also exhibited at the Guggenheim, GGG Art Basel Miami, Art Paris and sold at auction at Phillips De Pury.”

Happy Monday.

These are not your older sister’s hand-me-downs, but they aren’t new. This ongoing series, titled “Second Hand”,  is the work of Ukrainian artist Zhanna Kadyrova. Here is the description from her site:

“… the concept of ‘second hand’, we are talking about buildings that have passed from one owner to another. Objects that formally resemble clothing are lined with original tiles from the walls of a building or enterprise. Tiled ornaments transferred identical to their placement on the walls.”

Beautiful! psst… the top most image (taken by Paolo Ferrarini for Cool Hunting), made with repurposed tiles from a Venetian hotel, is currently showing at the Venice Biennale in the Central Pavilion until November 2019.

I have always been a sucker for text-based work, but Miami based artist Jessy Nite is pushing me over a shadow-casting edge! Gorgeous, beautifully executed and, oh, so very clever. Happy Monday … STAY GOLD. Keep an eye on her inspiring Instagram feed for her latest creations and WIPs.

Gasp! This delicate white wonderland is ‘Eden’, a permanent installation by Malaysian architectural designer Pamela Tan. Here are a few excerpts from the description of this project:

‘Eden’ blurs the boundaries between man-made wonders and the beauty of nature. Opening up your senses to a world of delight and new sensations through a curated retail experience. ‘Eden’ is a celebration of natural elements, merging the lush greenery of the existing site-163 Retail Park with a wondrous landscape referenced from the mythical story of the ‘Garden of Eden’. Providing visitors with a refuge away from the hustle and bustle of daily life; as a space of solace and contemplation … Upon closer observation, glass spheres can be seen delicately perched on the cusp of the hanging vines; echoing water droplets balancing on the edge of leaves after rain has subsided. A cathedral-like space is achieved with the varying heights of the vines casting an intricate play of shadow upon it’s surroundings …  ‘Eden’ wishes to bring you to re-discover the joys of looking closer, to cause you to momentarily suspend your beliefs and become a child once again. To believe, if only for a moment, that you are actually in paradise.

Well, mission accomplished! ‘Eden’ can be found at 163 Retail Park, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.

Oh my word… I have so many theme songs playing in my head right now. Sitcoms and art? Two of my favorite things brought together in washy watercolor goodness! These pieces are all from the, you guessed it, “Sitcom Series” by American artist Kelly Inouye. Here are her words about this work:

“‘Sitcom Series’ was inspired by the nostalgic relationship I felt toward the television shows I watched as a kid growing up in the 70s and 80s, a bygone era that was not that long ago. The idea came about through conversations with co-workers and friends about why we remembered so many trivial details from these shows, yet frequently forgot more important things like social security numbers or impending deadlines. I started using watercolor in its loosest form to depict these characters in an effort to amplify that sense of odd sentimentality and test the boundaries of just how much information was needed to make a recognition. As time passes and these images become dated, their complexity and cultural significance evolves.”

Yes, yes they do. Sigh. Thank you for being a friend.

Los Angeles based artists/designers Nikolai and Simon Haas are twins, known as The Haas Brothers. They create everything from four-legged furry furniture to oversized golden mushrooms… but it’s their alien-like ceramic pieces that have stolen my heart.

“The Haas Brothers unapologetically embrace craft, with a keen attention to materiality that is highly emphasized in the realm of design. The ceramic vases are exquisitely crafted through a process that mimics both natural accretion and 3D printing, by brushing slip over the form, layer by layer, until the vessel appears to grow clay tentacles.” – The Bass Museum, 2019

Clay tentacles … ah yes, the heart wants what the heart wants.

Ceramics!? Well, that’s just bananas! See what I did there? Okay, anyway, this is the ceramic work of Japanese artist (who studied in Italy) Koji Kasatani. I have a feeling he played with his food when he was a kid… and I’m so glad he hasn’t stopped!

Sigh. I love absolutely everything about the portraits (some of friends, some self portraits) of Brooklyn based painter Jenny Morgan. I wrote about her years ago (2012), and have been watching her ever since… not in a creepy way, just in an ‘Oh my word – look at her insane painting skills, the vibrant color palettes and those haunting eyes that look directly into your soul’ kind of way. Happy Monday.