I was told there was a toten pole which has only just been created in Vernon park in Stockport, so i went to investigate as we are looking at creating our own totenpole inspired design for the 7x7 brief (we wanted to include the mexican myan/aztec culture in it).
It wasnt quite what i expected (not quite a totenpole more of a random carving) but however i discovered it is in fact a war memorial dedicated to the soldiers who have given there lives fighting the conflict in afghanistan.

The carving wasn't well thought out in my opinion.. but there were some parts that looked good, I liked the allsation dog at the bottom of the tree but the one at the top sticking its head out of a window looked a bit tacky and the horses head carved at the very top looked quite humerous.. im not sure if its totaly completed yet, but im sure it must be very had chizelling and sculpturing using a chainsaw so well done to the person who did it.
Im just jelous because i would love to have a go at something like this myself for the public to see and its a nice way to remember and celebrate the lives of the soldiers who have fought in the current war!

Mexican masks

These masks are from the book 'mask arts of mexico' by Ruth D Lechuga and Chloe Sayer
found in the college library this is such an amazing collection of masks. Im going to have to buy this book there are some really inventive mexican masks from historic times to traditional dance masks. as well as looking quite creepy looking at these has really helped with our current project. Looking at these masks has been a great inspiration for me and liz's illustration 7x7 brief 'A question for quetzalcoatl, which is a short story we have been allocated to illustrate.

Kate Newington makes collage portraits of people and celebrities out of cut up and torn pieces of newspapers magazines and scraps of wrapping paper. she also uses fabric, lettraset, and paper images she then manipulates in Photoshop.

Craig Kanarick has put together these collages made up of sweets they look rather tasty and are a very good obsevation of different colours textures sizes and shapes.

Jason Mecier makes portrait collages out of bits and bobs that have relevance to the person he is making an image of. I like looking at all the individual bits that make up the images to see what he included and whether its what i would imagine these celebritys to be made up of if you could make them out of random objects i wonder what id be made of? probabually lipstick, climbing things, sunshine and chocolate and rusty old bits and bobs and peacock feathers.

A knife sharpener with two faces

by jane