The Stuff That Lights Are Made Of

Cruising through IKEA this morning, it was fun to check out the different lamp designs made from so many different materials — paper, plastic, glass, fabric, wicker, wood... I couldn't help but think of Ruth Asawa and Isamu Noguchi, two artists who explore light, form and transparency through the use of different materials. Perhaps Lilli could design lessons that would encourage the kids to explore the idea of transparency using ordinary materials, like paper and wire, and light?

The rounder lamps forms brought to mind those beautiful, ethereal creatures of the sea — the jellyfish. The jellies glow, illuminated from within, and it is easy to appreciate them as living works of art. In fact,The Monterey Bay Aquarium's "Jellies: Living Art" exhibit paired the real beauties with glass seaforms created by the studio of sculptor Dale Chilhuly

Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Its name is a hybrid word, originating from the Greek bios for "living" and the Latin lumen "light".

Sea Nettles (Chrysaora fuscescens) at the California Academy of Sciences

If you a looking for some jelly lighting closer to home, you can always take a virtual tour of Farallon Restaurant's Jelly Bar adorned with custom-made jellyfish chandeliers right from your computer!

http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/virtualtours/hirestour_jellybar/hirestour.html