Alyson Shotz is an American artist based in Brooklyn, New York.  Her art investigates issues of perception and space. I believe these photos are from a 2003 installation and commission for Socrates Sculpture Park.  And to all you haters out there – relax, no birds were harmed with this installation (that appears to be the most posted topic).

UPDATE:  In response to those wondering what a mirrored house would look like, I thought I would add this link.  The Treehotel opened in 2010, 40 miles south of the Arctic Circle in Sweden.  This is one of the seven rooms available.  And again for bird lovers; the mirrored walls have been clad with infrared film. Apparently the colour is invisible to humans, but visible to the birds.

I thought of the above definition of modern art when I saw these table legs.  The Floyd leg is available now.  The concept is simple – find something flat and attach some legs – love it.  Made in Detroit, they do ship to NZ – including delivery they will cost you USD$264

PS:  Another great Kickstarter story!

Wabi-sabi reminds us that we are all transient beings on this planet — that our bodies, as well as the material world around us, are in the process of returning to dust. Nature’s cycles of growth, decay, and erosion are embodied in frayed edges, rust, cracks, rot and imperfection.  Perhaps that why as I get older I’m finding myself appreciating wabi-sabi more :-)

A wabi-sabi approach to life isn’t about giving way to carelessness or seeing junk through rose-coloured glasses.  It’s about acknowledging, showcasing, and sustaining the beauty of what’s natural.

It’s appreciating rather than perfecting.

I’m looking for tiles for our bathroom.  I love the tiles in the kitchen backsplash above by Dutch designer Marianne Smink who translates the welcome imperfections of hand-stamped and brush-painted designs in her screen-printed tiles.  Apparently the abstract tiles above are inspired by L.S. Lowry’s paintings of the industrial architecture of the north of England. The angled blocks of greys, browns and creams create surprising surface patterns in a similar way to Lowry’s city vistas. There is randomness and order in both.   Each tile is handmade, screen-printed and unique, which I guess is why they cost £8 each (imperfection is more expensive than you would expect)