LOTR fans want to construct a $2.9 billion real-life Minas Tirith

Another day, another far-fetched crowdfunding campaign. A group of ambitious British architects and hardcore Lord of the Rings fans are trying to raise a couple of billion dollars on Indiegogo so they can build a real-life version of Minas Tirith, J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional capital of Gondor.

"In order to realise this amazing dream, we have estimated our required budget to be in the region of £1.85bn. The vast majority of this expense would cover building costs - £15m for land, £188m for labour and £1.4bn for material. The remainder of the money will be invested in maintenance and public services until the year 2053. We would commence work on Minas Tirith by the end of 2016, and complete the project by the end of 2023."

They plan to build the 'The Tower of Guard' in southern England, and if you contribute enough, you could have your own private residence inside the walled city. However, fourteen days into the 60-day campaign, the project has only raised a little over £64,000.

Comments

When chocolate meets art

I heard it's National Chocolate Day, so I thought I'd share this video about Orlando's newest and sweetest attraction.

Hand-Painted Bags That Tell Your Story

Most bags today look like they were produced by bored machines in a dimly lit factory. You can walk into any mall and find rows of identical leather (or “leather-like”) things, all claiming to express individuality. Ironically, though, they all look exactly the same. Then there’s Abby Verano . Her bags are not mere accessories; they’re declarations. Each one is hand-painted, touched by an actual human being with an imagination. Abby doesn’t just sell you something to put your wallet and smartphone in; she sells you a story, a vision, a little revolt against the tyranny of sameness. Her tools are simple — brushes, acrylic paint, bags made from pandan leaves, and creativity. No duplicates. No clones. Just one-of-a-kind art pieces you can carry.

Beyond the Mug

Coffee is more than a drink. It’s a lifestyle, a coping mechanism. And for some, it’s a medium. Yes, a painting medium. While most of us use it to fuel our questionable decisions, a select group of people are using it to make art. Real art. Painting with coffee isn’t new, apparently. It’s been around for centuries, which is about how long it feels when you’re waiting for a barista to spell your name right. But recently, coffee painting has staged a comeback. Artists, perhaps tired of the tyranny of acrylics and oil paints, or just broke, have rediscovered its charm. Take Nelsie Geografo , for instance. While I’m struggling to make my latte art look less like a disoriented ghost, she’s out there creating masterpieces with instant coffee. She doesn’t need fancy tubes of color or exotic pigments. Just coffee, water, and a bit of imagination. And the best part? The smell. While traditional painters suffer through the fumes of turpentine, Nelsie’s studio smells like a café that actually spe...

finding cain

Search This Blog