ICM - Leeds Design Agency

I popped along to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park at the weekend and must say it’s well worth a visit.

Set in 500 acres of parkland it’s a great place to grab some fresh air and exercise while being inspired by some amazing art.

We meandered around the parkland (dodging the sheep) and happened upon sculptures by Yorkshire’s very own Henry Moore

and Italy’s Mimmo Paladino

not forgetting to leave time for quiet contemplation in James Turrell’s Deer Shelter Skyspace.

Turrell’s work uses light and space to create art installations which extend and enhance perception. The Deer Shelter Skyspace is an external piece which consists of a large square chamber with an aperture cut into the roof (an old deer shelter). Through this aperture the visitor is offered a heightened vision of the sky, which is oddly calming (though less so if you take a hungry infant).

Early birds can experience Turrell’s work at it’s best by crawling out of bed as the first dawn light illuminates the chamber (followed by breakfast and fresh coffee in the YSP restaurant).

YSP also hosts lots of events from dry stone walling and various sculpture courses with the artists (including a Fairy Making Workshop!) to family events like the recent ‘Tracks and Traces’ where children take turns to lay and follow magical trails through different habitats in the YSP landscape.

For the cost conscious entry to the park is free, all they ask is £4 for the carpark.

All in all a great day, …

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If you’ve got 12 minutes to spare, I can highly recommend watching this mini-documentary on the artists who still hand paint advertising billboards in New York.

It’s wonderfully filmed, and these guys are unbelievable talented. Enjoy.

UP THERE from The Ritual Project on Vimeo.

Drainspotting

In Britain, they’re traditionally just left in there orignal state. But in Japan, hundreds of manhole covers serve as works of art, despite their benign function.

In a new book called Drainspotting (Mark Batty Publishing, 2010) – Photographer, urban artist and film maker Remo Camerota documents some of his favorite examples of this interesting art form.

“Designs range from images that evoke a regions cultural identity, from flora and fauna to landmarks and local festivals to fanciful images dreamed up by school children. In Kyoto, a turtle adorns the city’s manhole covers, signifying wisdom and longevity,” he writes.

Hopefully people in Britain will follow suit as it’s a hole load of fun.