The sculpture, created for the 1951 ‘Festival of Britain’, will join Museum of London collection after its discovery in a London garden
Museum of London acquires 70-year-old sculpture rediscovered in garden
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Coworking with Jason Harris
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Each Tuesday, we spotlight Marketing Brew readers in our Coworking series. If you’d like to be featured, introduce yourself here.
Jason Harris is co-founder and CEO of creative agency Mekanism. He is also the author of The Soulful Art of Persuasion and host of the podcast Soul & Science.
Favorite project you’ve worked on? Creating “It’s On Us,” whose mission is to build the movement to combat campus sexual assault by engaging all students, including young men, and activating the largest student organizing program of its kind in grassroots awareness and prevention education programs. It has been running for almost a decade, and there are now chapters in all 50 states and over 500 colleges and universities.
What’s your favorite ad campaign? Our recent OkCupid work because it positioned the dating app as the most inclusive app in the world. I love work that is inclusive and encourages everyone to be themselves.
What marketing trend are you most optimistic about? Least? Most: I think there are a lot of positive possibilities in AI. It’s a hot topic right now, but I think it will allow humans to do their jobs better. Work will always require a human touch, but AI can help with brainstorming, concepting, and analyzing data to make room for more creative brain power.
Least: Creators and reality stars building their personal brands that are built on a foundation of straw.
One thing we can’t guess from your LinkedIn profile? I was in four bands. I play bass guitar. Pop punk. None of them worked out, though, which is why I am filling out a Marketing Brew questionnaire.
What’s one marketing-related podcast, social account, or series you’d recommend? Shameless plug: the Soul & Science podcast. Every week, I interview the marketing experts behind the world’s biggest and best brands. We learn their stories, get practical advice, and fast forward our marketing minds in less than 30 minutes.
‘From shooting gallery to art gallery’: the reverend saved from heroin and sex work by sculpting
Abused by a neighbour as a girl, Reverend Joyce McDonald ran away from home and hit a downward spiral. Then one day during detox, she began modelling with clay – and hasn’t stopped
Rachel Spelling Meticulously Fills Vintage Paint Swatch Booklets with Vibrant Miniature Paintings
All images © Rachel Spelling, shared with permission
“A paint chart is ostensibly about planning colours for your home, but if you break it down, there are so many aspects to that: dreams, frustrations, happiness, sadness, loss, family, hope, despair, fashion, identity… When you look at my work, you see a lot of ideas all at once,” says Rachel Spelling. Prior to 2020, the London-based artist focused on home interiors and painting elaborate murals, including a six-month project to recreate the original Chinese wallpaper pattern of Pitzhanger Manor, the former country house of English architect Sir John Soane, which is now open to the public. Vivid flora and fauna stretch from corner to corner, carefully responding to the surface area—an approach that also happens to work well on a minuscule scale.
Fascinated by the possibilities of painting and drawing since childhood, Spelling has a knack for expressing vibrant detail at on a variety of surface sizes. During the pandemic when everything came to a stand-still, she was eager for a new project, sharing that “one long lockdown day, I was at home with a really strong desire to paint some walls but no walls left to paint. There was a Farrow and Ball paint chart on my kitchen table, and I suddenly realised that each paint chip was like a tiny, perfectly prepped wall, just waiting to be painted.” Commercial swatches designed to help homeowners and decorators choose colors transformed into a canvas ripe for interpretation.
“Stone Blue” was the name of the tile Spelling tested first, meticulously rendering a tiny fish onto the rectangle. “It looked really strange and interesting, and the paint sat really well on the surface, so I painted another one and then another,” she says. By the end of lockdown, she had rendered tiny works in all 132 squares in the chart, and she was intrigued by the relationship between the bewildering blast of hues and subject matter balanced by the orderly grid layout. “I really enjoy the clash of the mundane, everyday stuff alongside the big ideas, because that’s such a key feature of lived experience and one that I found hard to put my finger on until I found this way of working.”
Spelling works on a combination of new swatch booklets and old ones, searching for vintage charts at car boot sales, charity shops, and other places where she might find examples that remain in tact and have surfaces that are matte enough to paint on. There aren’t too many out there, since it’s the sort of item that people throw away when they’re no longer needed. Finding an older one is always a thrill, and so is the experience of working on the delicate, one-of-a-kind surface. “There is much jeopardy when I’m painting directly onto a fragile vintage chart. It’s nerve-wracking, but I think the drama of that keeps me on my toes,” she says. “There’s a fine line between damaging something old and creating something new, and I enjoy trying to figure out where that line lies!”
Spelling sells prints in her shop and makes originals available for sale a few times per year. You can see more on her website and on Instagram.
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Rachel Spelling Meticulously Fills Vintage Paint Swatch Booklets with Vibrant Miniature Paintings appeared first on Colossal.
Photographer Lines Up Great Pyramid, Moon, and Airplane in One Epic Shot
A photographer captured a “once in a lifetime” photo of the Great Pyramid of Giza with an airplane silhouetted against a full Moon above it.
Rosita Dimitrova tells PetaPixel that the amazing image showcases “the power of serendipity in photography.” She calls the photo 4,500 Years of Human History — owing to the Egyptian pyramid dating back to the 26th century B.C.
“This photograph is not only visually stunning but also a testament to the power of timing and being in the right place at the right time,” Dimitrova says.
“As a passionate photographer, I have always sought to capture unique moments that evoke wonder and amazement. This particular image encapsulates the convergence of nature, human engineering, and celestial beauty in a truly awe-inspiring way.”
Dimitrova explains that the fortuitous shot, captured on April 6, happened at the end of her session just as she was about to pack up and leave.
“I was pretty much done shooting that evening, as the Moon was already higher up over the pyramid than I wanted in my shot,” she says.
“That’s when lifted my head I saw a blinking light approaching the Moon — seconds away from that perfect shot. I was stunned at the possibility and almost froze in a tiny panic!
“Still, I did manage to press the remote button at the exact right time.”
Bulgarian shooter Dimitrova is thrilled with her composition and the juxtaposition of man-made and natural wonders, “reminding us of the timeless allure and mystery surrounding these renowned landmarks.”
“It’s so symbolic,” she adds. “The plane and the pyramid, two absolute pinnacles of humanity thousands of years apart.”
The Shot Almost Didn’t Happen
Dimitrova’s shot was almost thwarted at the Egyptian border after border patrol took issue with the Sony 200-600mm lens she shot the photo with.
“This lens is apparently very hard to get into Egypt. I got very lucky and somehow managed to convince airport security that a pregnant woman is very unlikely to be a terrorist,” she explains.
“They were suspicious because apparently there is a device that is used for a sniper rifle that looks a bit similar.”
“The funny thing was that they were still interrogating me about the lens on my way OUT of Egypt, so I ended up showing them my portfolio,” she continues.
“To this day I’m still not sure if they believed me or not — I think they thought my photos of the Moon were digital art, rather than single shots, judging by the looks on their faces.”
Dimitrova’s 200-600mm was attached to a Sony A7 III and the photo was bracketed to avoid foreground noise.
More of Dimitrova’s work can be found on her website and Instagram.
Image credits: All photos by Rosita Dimitrova.
Take 5: The Getaway House, Ceramic Slow Feeder + More
I got to retreat to the Getaway House for some R&R and it was an amazing way to unplug. I booked the Big Bear location in California and loved that it wasn’t deep into the mountains. The tiny cabin has clean, modern finishes, a huge window for your viewing pleasure, and comes equipped with everything you need: a comfy queen-sized bed, a bathroom with a toilet and shower, heating/AC, a kitchenette with a mini fridge, a two burner stove, dishes, cutlery, and cookware, an outdoor fire pit, and provisions available for purchase. They even include a s’mores kit so you can get your sweet fix for the night. As tiny as the cabin may seem, we were able to fit two adults and three (medium-large sized) dogs comfortably! I definitely plan on booking again, especially when we travel stateside since they have locations all over the nation.
I’m constantly thinking of content creation, so I thought this bottle was genius when I saw it. We all know the struggle of wanting to snap a picture when you’re out and about, but either don’t have an extra set of hands for help or you’re too shy to bother bystanders. Well, that problem is solved with Ringo! This water bottle comes with an integrated magnetic phone mount as its cap. Simply attach your MagSafe iPhone onto it whenever you need a stable stand and snap away. Now, instead of lugging around a water bottle and a tripod (which stands out and personally makes me even more self-conscious), you can capture moments discreetly… whenever, wherever! (And fret not non-iPhone users, Ringo developed a Magnetic Booster Ring so you can enjoy Ringo, too!)
I’ve yet to visit, but I love experiences like Chromasonic. Connecting science to art, it’s an immersive light and sound experience that inspires expanded states of awareness and connection. “The works blur boundaries between physical reality and our perception, creating conditions that appear to shift the experience of time and space.” Through “Chromasonic Refrequencing,” they use sensory technology to make light audible and sound visible! Exploring their Instagram page, I’ve seen those who have visited describe their experience as if they were floating in space or transcending their body. I’ll definitely be visiting soon!
Photo: Angela Hau
From Milan Design Week 2023 to NYCxDesign 2023, there’s been so much to see! This exhibit caught my attention in particular because it personally resonates so much with me, as well as it being AAPI month. Co-curated by Lora Appleton and Andrea Hill in partnership with 3.1 Phillip Lim, The Female Design Council, and AAPI Design Alliance, this exhibition highlights 20 AAPI female-identified artists and designers, and brings about ideas of reflection surrounding the experiences of the AAPI community. Everything featured is so personal, which makes the exhibit all the more enlightening.
I’ve always wanted to get into ceramics and especially love discovering new ceramicists who ignite that desire for me. They all make it look so easy, though I know there’s so much skill and patience that goes on behind the scenes. I recently stumbled upon @pawrentceramics by Emily Tran and was intrigued by her ceramic slow-feeder for pets. I’ve yet to see anyone in the ceramic realm make something like it and thought it was so unique. What a way to elevate your space while spoiling your pups – something I’m all about! Made in Los Angeles, California, Emily has been working with clay all her life and is now ready to share her art with the world. (At least, in the Southern California region for now.) For the first time ever, she’ll be selling her pieces at a pop-up market in Long Beach this June alongside other small pet businesses.
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Lyrical Sculptures of Elegant Human Movement in Nature
“I wanted to show the energy our bodies can display echoing that of plant life bursting forth, growing outward and eventually blooming.”
Graham Holdings’ Leaf Group restructures as World of Good Brands
Photo: World of Good Brands
Leaf Group, the digital roll-up company within Graham Holdings, is restructuring to become World of Good Brands, an homage to the most visited website in its portfolio, Well+Good.
Why it matters: The shake-up will separate Graham Holding’s lifestyle publishing websites — Well+Good, Livestrong, Hunker and OnlyInYourState — from its marketplace businesses, Saatchi Art and Society6.
- The heads of all three companies — World of Good Brands, Saatchi Art and Society6 — will report individually to Graham Holdings, which executives believe will help the brands grow faster.
- Graham acquired Leaf Group in 2021 for $323 million in cash.
Details: As the World of Good Brands, the four lifestyle websites will operate independently under the leadership of newly appointed chief executive Lindsey Abramo.
- Abramo, who previously worked at Vox Media and before that Group Nine Media, was named chief revenue officer of Leaf Group last year.
- She told Axios she believes the separation will make it easier to focus on business models that can serve niche audiences across the four sites, like commerce and experiences.
- In addition to its four main lifestyle sites, World of Good Brands will also continue to operate The Good Collective, which is a collection of 50+ small lifestyle sites.
State of play: Right now, World of Good Brands’ four main sites and The Good Collective mostly monetize through programmatic ads, but the restructuring will allow it to push more aggressively into direct sales.
- “We are doubling down more on direct [sales], given what’s happening in the industry and what’s happening with traffic,” Abramo said.
- “In the past, programmatic [automated ad sales] has been a really big part of the media business. And you know, like everyone, we’re seeing that decline,” she added.
- The company makes some money from affiliate commerce, or linking to sites where consumers can buy goods, for a cut of the revenue. In the future, it’s looking to set up its own storefronts for its brands — similar to what sites like BuzzFeed and MeatEater are doing.
- World of Good Brands, which is based in Santa Monica, is planning an experiential space in Los Angeles called House of Good that it will lean on to build out more experiential programs for its brands.
By the numbers: The four lifestyle sites within World of Good Brands receive about 37.5 million monthly unique visitors. The dozens of sites within The Good Collective reach an additional 33.6 million monthly visitors.
- A company spokesperson said World of Good Brands brings in eight figures of revenue annually but said they “cannot comment on profitability.”
- In its last public earnings report, Graham said that revenue for the Leaf Group’s media businesses “declined substantially in the first quarter of 2023” due to “reduced traffic and the soft digital advertising market for both direct and programmatic categories.”
- Leaf Group, it said, implemented a SIP (strategic investment plan) to reduce the number of employees in the first quarter.
The big picture: Graham owns several media entities such as Slate, Foreign Policy’s parent The FP Group, local podcast network City Cast, kids audio network Pinna, and Graham Media Group, which houses seven local media networks.
- In addition to those businesses, it also owns Kaplan, an educational services company; Clyde’s Restaurant Group, a chain of restaurants in the D.C. area; Framebridge, a digital custom framing company; Code3, a performance marketing company; and many more.
- Graham Holdings was formerly called the Washington Post Company. It was renamed in 2013 after its chair, former Washington Post publisher Don Graham, sold the paper to Jeff Bezos. The company is run by Graham’s son-in-law, Tim O’Shaughnessy, who serves as CEO and president.
Welcome to the Pastel World of BomBom Outdoor
In the wake of their successful 2019 collaboration, Portuguese contemporary visual artist Joana Vasconcelos and Roche Bobois have teamed up once more to introduce a new collection. BomBom Outdoor is a pastel lover’s dream come to life in the form of organically-shaped sofas, rugs, and cushions. The collection embodies Vasconcelos’ unique style and use of imagination, with a color palette that’s been inspired by the pastel-hued houses in Lisbon’s Old Town and sunsets.
“Everyday life is my main source of inspiration. My works are designed from everyday elements and materials,” Vasconcelos explained. “As a Portuguese woman, the savoir-faire and materials specific to my culture are essential: the azulejos that adorn our indoor and outdoor spaces, along with the crochet doilies that decorate sofas, tables, and televisions in all Portuguese homes. In my mind, this collaboration with Roche Bobois is the perfect fusion of Art, Design, and Life.”
Photo: Baptiste Le Quiniou
BomBom Outdoor is playful and daring, a perfect fit for anyone on the market for stylish, comfortable outdoor furniture. Each seating unit features adjustable, separate backrests that can be freely arranged to provide the utmost comfort while reading, unwinding, or cloud watching. BomBom Outdoor’s sofas are upholstered in durable padded outdoor Méridien fabric.
Photo: Baptiste Le Quiniou
Photo: Baptiste Le Quiniou
Photo: Francesco Merlini
Photo: Francesco Merlini
Photo: Francesco Merlini
Photo: Francesco Merlini
Photo: Francesco Merlini
Photo: Francesco Merlini
Photo: Francesco Merlini
Joana Vasconcelos Photo: Francesco Merlini
To learn more about BomBom Outdoor, visit roche-bobois.com.
The importance of Real Estate Photography w/ Atlantic Exposure
