Whoozers...3 weeks of no posts...well I'm just the horrible procrastinator aren't I? If I'm not pressured with deadlines, then my brain will just sit back and be the lazy self that it is.
But I do have something to report after being mute all this time...
May 17-20th The Jacob Javitz Center in NYC held their annual "National Stationary Show", where many top rated stationary companies showed off their latest and greatest in the world of paper crafts. There was less traffic then last year but it was still a spectacle to see with hundreds of stands lined up and ready for your beck and call for paper products.
Right beside the Stationary Show was also the annual "Surtex" Trade Show for selling and licensing original art and design. This is pretty much right up my alley, as it is filled with textile design companies buying and selling art to manufacture on next year's products. This show really got me riled up on creating after I got home! There's nothing like seeing art in person to get you to create your own art.
And in the lower levels, held the "ICFF" International Contemporary Furniture Fair, showcasing the latest innovation in interior design. It pretty much looked like a MOMA expo. Many of the products were fine art sculptures, from tube chairs, chrome wallpaper, cardboard decorations, to Andy Warhol's Campbell soup pop art...
A separate but related Japanese Design Expo showcased Japan's cutting edge designs and technology...
I had the pleasure of grabbing brochures, postcards, and catalogs for some inspiration and motivation. I might have been a bit over zealous on that regard...
And's that's only half of what I scooped up...
Nothing like seeing and interacting with art and design to give your brain a boost!
A Visit To The Jacob Javitz Center...
25 Days in Europe – Florence the Hyping Art Scene
It's that time again...
I've not continued on with my 30 Days in Europe posts for 2 weeks, Whoazers! Well for the first day of May I'm posting double the pics for your enjoyment. I really think Inspiration steams from culture and other art and these Europe photos are at the forefront of where my inspiration come from. So I want to share these with you as well!
Florence! Or as they say in Italian “Firenze!” Like Siena the city is filled with red brick rooftops as far as the eye could see. It’s also the motherland of Renaissance art. Much of the 14th and 15th Century architecture is still very much intact. We started the day exploring the city with a free tour provided by our hostel Archi Rossi. Our tour guide is a Florence native and showed us places that I’ve never even been to during my first trip here! From Medieval Fortresses to Bottecelli Paintings, we soaked in the Florentine culture and realize why this was the hot spot for all things creative. The city is surrounded by the Tuscany scenery and split in half by the Arno River. We took our break and headed for Florence's Santa Trinita Gelateria shop. Needless to say that I went crazy for Gelato ice cream, (my excuse was you’re only in Italy for so long…)
After the tour was finished we headed off to the Pitti Palace Museum, home of the Medici family and patrons of the arts. Like all European palaces, they were ornate, grand, and highly decorative. But I find the Italians had a flare for bold colors and design, whereas the French was light and airy. We walked through markets near the Ponte Vecchio Bridge and found street artists drawing famous works of art on the ground with nothing but colored chalk in their hands. Everyone stopped in their tracks at the sight of 3 artists sitting side by side drawing like a kid in the playground.
Nearby was Florence’s Dumo or catherdral. Every town and city in Italy has one. Florence’s is the largest dome made out of brick in the world and still standing as if was build yesterday! We climb up the 400 Steps, it’s quite a feat I know but the view on the dome is worth it! The painted interior ceiling is a masterpiece as I tried to take pictures without that bullet proof glass in the way. Our day passed by so quick it was evening by the time we got out.
Florence…An awesome city with rich history is one of my top must sees!
Until the next adventure in Europe…
Click on the “30 Days in Europe” link to follow our travels around Europe.
Photos are free to take as stock images. Crediting is appreciated!
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