David Hockney RA: A Bigger Picture - II

The sketch notes of David Hockney's painting: The Big Hawthern 2008 (Cat.77) and The Hawthorn Blossom Woldgate No.3 2009.

David Hockney may be 74 years old, but that doesn't mean he can't learn some new tricks.

A new exhibition at the Royal Academy will feature many landscapes which Hockney drew on an iPad, then blew up and printed on paper.

It's a new direction for Hockney, and the artist admits he didn't take to the Apple device quickly. "It took me awhile to realize it's quite a serious tool you can use," he said.

The exhibition, which opens January 21st and will run through April 9, is entitled "David Hockney: A Bigger Picture" and includes images from 50 years of the artist's career. Hockney's won high praise for adopting technology, with many outlets praising his move, and The Guardian even pointing to the development as proof that he's "an artist who still genuinely matters."

That said, he's hardly the only or first artist to take up the iPad. Tech sites have long been publishing guides to creating your own touchscreen masterpieces, and many sites around the web have culled some of the world's best iPhone or iPad artists into galleries.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/18/david-hockney-ipad-art-royal-academy_n_1214382.html

David Hockney RA: A Bigger Picture - I

The red room is the first room from the entrance to the show, packed with a lot of people everyday.

The Royal Academy of Arts presents the first major exhibition of new landscape works by David Hockney RA. Featuring vivid paintings inspired by the East Yorkshire landscape, these large-scale works have been created especially for the galleries at the Royal Academy of Arts.

'David Hockney RA: A Bigger Picture' spans a 50 year period to demonstrate Hockney’s long exploration and fascination with the depiction of landscape.

The exhibition includes a display of his iPad drawings and a series of new films produced using 18 cameras, which are displayed on multiple screens and provide a spellbinding visual journey through the eyes of David Hockney.

21 January - 9 April 2012
In the Main Galleries

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/hockney/

The Restaurant At The Royal Academy Of Arts, London UK



The Restaurant at the Royal Academy of Arts offers all day dining with waiter service. Restaurateur Oliver Peyton has worked closely with head chef Mark Hollyer to design a menu that makes full use of prime British ingredients, in keeping with the context of the restaurant.

As well as starters, mains and desserts, there is a selection of small plates and terrines, offering diners the flexibility to enjoy a full two or three course meal, order tapas-style or drop by for a quick but delicious bite. Over 20 wines are available by the glass, along with a very British afternoon tea.

The restaurant has been designed by Design Research Studio under the direction of internationally renowned designer Tom Dixon, who has worked closely with the Royal Academy of Arts to design the interior.

The decor features an impressive glass installation housing sculptures from the Royal Academy's permanent collection that have not been in the public view, and selected to complement the design. A striking bar made from handmade brick and lava stone from Mount Etna occupies the full length of one wall and also serves as a counter at which guests can have a quick lunch, tea or a glass of wine.

History of the Restaurant:

The restaurant was designed by Norman Shaw in 1885 and renovated by London-based architects MUMA in 2004. The space features celebrated murals by Fred Appleyard, Harold Speed, Gilbert Spencer and Leonard Rosoman.

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/planyourvisit/new-restaurant-at-the-royal-academy-of-arts,1424,AR.html

A View From Mill Cottage, Worcestershire, UK

Early morning mist on the back drop of this view, the white cannons that guarded the entrance to the Mill Cottage.

Yohji Yamamoto Store On Conduct Street, London - III

Free flowing forms against the white wall.

Yōji Yamamoto (山本 耀司, Yamamoto Yōji, born 1943), is an award winning Japanese fashion designer based in Tokyo and Paris. He is considered to be among the master tailors whose work is thought to be of fashion genius and has been described by Julie Gilhart, fashion director for Barney's New York as probably the only designer you could name who has 60-year-olds who think he's incredible and 17-year-olds who think he's way cool. His more prestigious awards for his contributions to fashion include the Japanese Medal of Honor, the Ordre national du Mérite, the Royal Designer for Industry and the Master of Design award by Fashion Group International.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yohji_Yamamoto

Yohji Yamamoto Store On Conduct Street, London - II

White surfaces backing the flowing black garments in the store.

"Every ten minutes a wave will make its way across the space, disturbing the image almost as Yamamoto disrupted the conventions of Western design and the ripples will expand out beyond the falling dress"

http://londonist.com/2011/03/three-yohji-yamamoto-exhibitions-open-in-london-this-weekend.php

Yohji Yamamoto Store On Conduct Street, London

A simple white envelope with cubes and rods for his creations.

No fewer than three of London’s exhibition spaces are opening exhibitions dedicated to Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto this weekend, stirring up the question “Art? Or fashion?” all over again.

Whatever your take on the debate, these clothes are certainly fun. Oversized, unfinished, made from unusual fabrics like felt or neoprene, Yamamoto’s designs are full of history and humour.

And now you can enjoy his designs through a series of site-specific installations in the V&A, The Wapping Project and The Wapping Project Bankside.

In the V&A’s main exhibition space, you can see more than 60 “creations” alongside a multimedia timeline looking at the artist / designer’s creative output. Hunt around the V&A and you’ll find more of his work hidden in the Norfolk House Music Room, the British Galleries, and in each of the Paintings, Ceramics and Sculpture Galleries.

http://londonist.com/2011/03/three-yohji-yamamoto-exhibitions-open-in-london-this-weekend.php

Windows With Louvers Reflected

White painted Louvers reflected on the top of the baby grand.

Westjet Attendent And The Open Cockpits

Getting ready to take off from Phoenix to Vancouver.

Sugar Lake, Arizona

A large lake for boating in Arizona.

Picacho Peak Road, Arizona

The unique shape of the 1,500-foot Picacho Peak has been used as a landmark by travelers since prehistoric times. One of the first recordings was in the 1700’s by the Anza Expedition as it passed through the area.

http://azstateparks.com/parks/pipe/history.html

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, Arizona

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park has been in the making for thousands of years. It is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. The bridge stands 183 feet high over a 400-foot long tunnel that measures 150 feet at its widest point.

The discovery of the small and beautiful valley between Pine and Payson was documented in 1877 by David Gowan, a prospector who stumbled across the bridge as he was chased by Apaches. Gowan hid for two nights and three days in one of several caves that dot the inside of the bridge. On the third day, he left the cave to explore the tunnel and green valley surrounding it. Gowan then claimed squatter's rights.

In 1898 he persuaded his nephew, David Gowan Goodfellow, to bring his family over from Scotland and settle the land permanently. After a week of difficult travel from Flagstaff, the Goodfellows arrived at the edge of the mountain and lowered their possessions down the 500 foot slopes into the valley by ropes and burros.

http://azstateparks.com/Parks/TONA/index.html

Columbia XJL-1 At The Pima Air & Space Museum, Arizona

The Columbia XJL was a large single-engined amphibian aircraft, designed by Grumman Aircraft but built by the Columbia Aircraft Corp. It was intended to replace the Grumman J2F Duck but the type did not reach production status.

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMDYGN_Columbia_XJL_1_Pima_ASM_Tucson_AZ

The Pima Air & Space Museum is one of the largest aviation Museums in the world, and the largest non-government funded aviation Museum in the United States. The Museum maintains a collection of more than 300 aircraft and spacecraft from around the globe, including many rare and one-of-a-kind, and more than 125,000 artifacts. Here you will walk among the giants of our aviation heritage, including military, commercial, and civil aviation. Among them are a B-29 Superfortress, the SR-71 Blackbird, and a rare World War II German V-1 "buzz bomb."

Where History Takes Flight

Our collection includes President John F. Kennedy's Air Force One, and presidential aircraft used by president's Nixon and Johnson. The Museum has five large hangars totaling more than 177,000 feet of exhibit space. In addition, the 390th Bombardment Group (Heavy) Memorial Museum is located on the Museum grounds. Pima Air & Space maintains its own aircraft restoration center, and is also proud to offer exclusive tours of the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), also known as the "Boneyard," located across the street at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

http://www.pimaair.org/view.php?pg=2

Arabian Library - Scottsdale Public Library Garden 2

Arabian Library - Scottsdale Public Library Courtyard with sand box, trees and landscapes.

Arabian Library - Scottsdale Public Library Garden 1

Arabian Library - Scottsdale Public Library Garden with nice lighting and modern outdoor furniture.