
Though we have developed a culture that places us at the center of the universe, the forces of nature will continue to exist with our without mankind. This is a notion that Japanese sculptor Ocoze explores in his mixed-media works where trees and plant life appear to overtake man-made objects and architecture. The small-scale, refined works use combinations of plaster, steel and resin with found objects. At times Ocoze’s miniature structures appear to be thwarted by the burgeoning plant life, while in some pieces buildings are sculpted in what looks like a symbiotic relationship with the trees. One of Ocoze’s recent works, in which a castle rests atop a moss-covered skull, brings home the message that life is impermanent and nature will ultimately prevail.










Simply stated, “carving bones” may sound like a morbid activity. Yet, there’s both an elegance and hypnotic nature to the work of
Lucy McRae's new "Compression Carpet offers a full embrace for those who feel like they need a hug, a meditation on how technology can aid intimacy or support. The "body architect" recently showed the device at Festival of the Impossible in San Francisco. For some, the device may recall the hug machine created by Temple Grandin for stress relief and therapy. With her device, McCrae says, you "relinquish control to the hands of a stranger as your 'servicer' decides the firmness of your hug."
They've been described as looking like strange alien organisms and beautiful, gelatinous blobs - whatever you want to call her works,
Of all the creatures on the planet, perhaps no other has inspired us quite like birds; they are strong, light, beautiful, and have the freedom to go anywhere they want to go. Birds have long inspired artist Tom Hill's mixed media sculptures made of carved wood, forged copper, and steel. The birds that he builds are characterizations of real species like owls and and black birds, capturing their natural personalities in a playful, even cartoonish way. He gives them big, rounded and expressive eyes, delicate feathers spun out of hardy wires, and long, spindly legs. "I tend to think of all my pieces as character studies. Spend a few seconds observing a bird; the turn of the head, the flash of an eye, puffed up feathers; each gesture conveys a wealth of visual material for the artist as we see the bird consider and interact intelligently with the world around it," he says.