In the unassuming town of Papatowai, New Zealand, Blair Somerville has amassed one of the world’s most idiosyncratic collections and, with it, a life that’s entirely his own. A prolific tinkerer, Somerville has transformed a modest property into The Lost Gypsy Gallery, a panoply of objects, once junk, metamorphosed into whimsical, mechanically operated exhibitions. Like Somerville’s own bare-bones, solar-powered lifestyle, the collection is endearingly unusual, constructed from simple parts and built entirely from the ground up.
Director: Joey Bania
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Making
On the Norwegian coast, a tree is transformed into a boat the old-fashioned way
6 minutes
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Nature and landscape
California’s landscapes provide endless inspiration for a woodcut printmaker
10 minutes
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Design and fashion
A ceramicist puts her own bawdy spin on the folk language of pottery
14 minutes
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Home
How an artist transformed a dilapidated hunting lodge into a house made of dreams
8 minutes
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History of technology
Replicating Shakespearean-era printing brings its own dramas and comedy
19 minutes
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Making
Forging a cello from pieces of wood demands its own form of virtuosity
27 minutes
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Information and communication
An animation built from road signs is a whirlwind study of flash communication
2 minutes
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Making
Trek to a remote Himalayan village where artisans craft teapots fit for kings
11 minutes
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Engineering
A close-up look at electronic paper reveals its exquisite patterns – and limitations
9 minutes