I haven’t had positive experiences with Kickstarter technology offerings, I’m hesitant to throw money at gimmicks. But I remember lusting after the original Sisyphus Table years ago when it was Kickstarted. These varying sizes of tables create hypnotizing slow-moving patterns from magnets, metal balls, sand, funky lights and geometric algorithms. Fans post their creations online. I still won’t buy one because I’m not rich (I’m a social worker), but if a wealthy reader would like to get one for me I won’t complain too much. You can buy it a Sisyphus Industries.
Category: Trippy
In Nature: Psychedelic trees
The Rainbow Eucalyptus is native to Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It lives in rainforests and is “one of only four Eucalyptus species out of more than 700 that do not occur in Australia.”, according to this Earthly Mission article. The article continues, “Once shed, the inner bark that is revealed is bright green, but eventually matures to blue, purple, orange, and eventually maroon. The rainbow eucalyptus does not shed its bark all at once, but in sections throughout the year, allowing for the amazing rainbow effect.” Check out this Google images link to more photos.
Impossibilities: Down is up
Painter Lindsay Pickett bends perspective, channeling the surrealists and M.C. Escher, folding urban skylines and bending roads to where we don’t know up from down, designing a pleasant, mind-expanding chaos.
From this Hi-Fructose article: “To create a warped landscape or some other kind of impossible reality the chosen idea or theme must create one impossible landscape and for that, the lighting has to work together and not look too much like a collage,” the artist says. “This is often the longest part of my studio practice as finding ideas can take time. The two or more landscape images must blend together in a subtle way. A lot of my ideas also come from some films of the science fiction genre. Especially when seeing films that have a lot of cinematic scenes in them. Whereas such images are mostly created on computer, for me I like the challenge of creating something impossible by hand. I find it much more challenging and stimulating. This is also where I feel my work stands out.”
Watch: Sedation in action
The YouTube description bills this animation as “The Trippiest Video Ever”. The song is synthy-bass heavy and the video takes you places.
Costumes: A Love Story
Via BoingBoing, Verasphere is a vibrant and adorable 20 minute documentary about costuming, romance and community.
“We had a terrible burrito, but it was great.”
“It’s always Ms. It’s Mrs. Vera. She’s had a history.”
“The only thing that’s required is the interest to do it… it’s not normal to want to look that strange… but it’s really fun.”
“Our collaboration saved his life.”
[It] follows two San Francisco artists, David Faulk and Michael Johnstone, who fall in love at the height of the AIDS epidemic. While most of their community is overcome with grief and rage, David and Michael discover an unlikely joy through the creation of Mrs. Vera, an outrageous costumed character made from found materials. What began as an intimate art project and a way to pass the time while they faced an inevitable death, soon took on a life of its own. Now 25 years later, a large and diverse community has evolved around Mrs. Vera, all centered around one day of costumed celebration in the San Francisco Pride Parade.
String Theory: 100 miles of yarn
Psychedelic yarn art. Krakow based artists Przemek Podolski and Marta Basandowskaby spin the yarn into mind-bending installations, highlighted by blacklights. Podolski said: “I was fascinated by the cosmos and its space. When I first saw string art I thought it was suitable for visualising the matter of the cosmos.”
See/Hear: The Daily Psychedelic Video blog
Since 2010, a team of self-described “psychedelic video aficionados” have posted a video a day on their aptly-named blog, The Daily Psychedelic Video. They write: “These videos can take you on very deep journeys, but only if you allow them the proper time and attention. Watching these videos when you’re randomly browsing the web in the middle of your working day is very different to watching them in your free time, relaxed, on a big screen, with a good set of speakers/earphones, and spliff in your hand.” They blog also offers an intellectual treatise on psychedelic aesthetics.
Here are a few of from their list of “Best Videos”: