Salt Crystal Sculptures by Massimiliano Pelletti

Italian celebrity Massimiliano Pelletti works within a variety of materials such as marble, bronze, and stone to carve elegant busts and individual forms that evoke echoes of historical sculpture while infusing each piece with a modern twist. Among his more intriguing works are figures carved from white onyx, in which the rough crystalline edges are left mostly intact as a juxtaposition to smoothly carved faces. Embracing the imperfect components of his chosen mediums appears to be among Peletti’s hallmarks, as he frequently enriches or even highlights fractures or cracks in the stone.

Peletti lives and operates in Pietrasanta, Italy where he attended the Stagio Stagi Art School. You can follow his work on Instagram and Artsy.

h/t Visual Fodder

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Colossal Rice Sculptures Pop Up at Japan’s 10th Annual Wara Art Festival

Each year, farmers make sure that the leftover rice-straw, called “wara,” does not go to waste. The wara is recycled by utilizing it to feed livestock, enhance soil, and at the coastal area of Niigata Prefecture, it is even used to create giant, beastly sculptures to get its Wara Art Festival, held in Uwasekigata Park.

We have featured amazing straw sculptures from previous ceremonies, and also this season’s Wara Art Festival–that marks its 10th anniversary–doesn’t disappoint. The festival’s organizers are celebrating the event by making the already enormous sculptures twice as large! The sculptures are so enormous they want special wooden frames for increased stability. Designs incorporate ferocious lions, colossal gorillas, huge crocodiles, and large rhinoceroses.

The Wara Art Festival began in 2008 when Niigata’s farming community approached the neighborhood Musashino Art University to acquire some creative leadership on turning their extra straw to works of art. Ever since that time, art pupils come to design and construct new beasts each year at Uwasekigata Park.

The 10th year of Wara Art Festival welcomes huge beastly sculptures created from recycled grain.

Ware Art Festival: Website  | Facebook | Twitter
h/t Spoon & Tamago

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Stunning Images Of Daredevils That Will Take Your Breath Away

These high-line antics are guaranteed to make your pulse pound!

Inspired by adrenaline junky Ryan Robinson, these photos provide a glimpse into the world of severe highlining antics.

Now for those of you who are not familiar with the term, highlining is a game that looks like tight-rope-walking. Just most people who practice it do this on the outside, frequently between treacherous peaks.

Looks terrifying, right?

But for people like Robinson, the danger is all part of the experience. This is just the current evolution of his extreme sports interests.

Formerly, Robinson has been pushing his body to the limits with triathlons and Observed Bicycle Trials. But after discovering highlining, he had been smitten.

It’s been five decades since he picked up the sport and it has directed him to travel all around the world to walk across dangerous territories.

Have a look at his Instagram for more scenic adventures.

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