Small Creations: Quick Disguise

One of my favorite things about the city is how easily one can be anonymous.  Put on your hat and sunglasses, deliver yourself to an unfamiliar neighborhood and you may wander around unmolested, undetected, practically invisible. I find it soothing to be surrounded by an indifferent crowd of people...like holding someone's hand while they're sleeping.  Something about my own inner silence, surrounded by the noise of the street is like a lullaby for my soul.

But for those situations which require a more robust disguise, I offer this small creation.  Inspired by the classic children's toy, this simple design allows one to interchange glasses, noses, mustaches and any other accoutrements one might need to remain undetected.  

Whether you choose to cloak yourself in anonymity and sunglasses or a felt mustache, I do recommend breaking up the monotony of being oneself every once in a while.  But don't stay shrouded in mystery for too long...after all, there's no invisible disguise that lasts all day....

The Ceiling Forest

I cannot really tell you why I decided to create a forest on my bedroom ceiling, but all of the sudden the idea took hold and I just wanted to see it.  I think it began with looking up in the morning when my eyes were cloudy from sleeping...maybe lamenting the limited wall real estate in my tiny apartment....perhaps wishing there were something more interesting to gaze at while falling asleep or waking up.  Call it obsession, call it inspiration, it seized me.  So I began experimenting with different kinds of trees and finally landed on making my own out of red and gold rice paper.  Individually they are beautiful....

And en masse they are mesmerizing....

Slowly I am taking over the entire ceiling....

One unexpected surprise is the way that the forest changes with the light.  The shadows cast themselves all over the ceiling.  Sometimes the lantern in the middle looks like the radiant center of the solar system.  When the lights are off and the candles are lit, the shadows stretch across the ceiling like sunset.

As it slowly spreads across the ceiling, I imagine little glens and stands will form, tiny house fairies and apartment elves will find homes....maybe the miniature forest will creep down the wall and spill out of the bedroom...inspiring ceilings all over the apartment to rebel against thier boring lot....defying popcorn paint and old lighting fixtures....installing beauty on every surface, no matter how neglected....