Concrete Ideas are just that - ideas which have been created using actual cement.
The image above is of one of the many candle holders I made using concrete and an old bunt-cake mold as the underlying form. The ornate relief was created by pressing a vintage Italian-style decoration into the center. Just before the concrete solidified, I popped the decor out and then pressed in bits and pieces of old gems and stones into the surface (which I happen to still have from my last incarnation as a jeweler). Most of these candle holders I sold at home sales as well as The Museum Shop at The Vancouver Art Gallery.
Below is another image.
Now, here's another concrete idea for you to ponder...
Did you know that concrete accounts for more than 5 percent of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions annually? (Damn. There's always a down side to everything). But wait! Thankfully the planet is full of innovative thinkers and doers, so there are several new companies developing a ‘carbon-negative’ cement which actually absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits over its life cycle. If you think about how much concrete urbanites interact with on a daily basis, this is very exciting news. Scientific American reports that British start-up company Novacem is leading the way in this new concrete technology. If you want a quick overview, you can also check out this article at the Big Ideas at Berkeley site.
Reminder: Beautiful ideas are popping up everywhere.
