The First Family inspires the smallest work of art (fits in the eye of a needle)

[LynneSin]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Barack-Obama-Inauguration-British-Artist-Makes-Microscopic-Sculpture-That-Fits-In-Eye-Of-A-Needle/Article/200901315207147



To commemorate Barack Obama's inauguration one artist has made a sculpture of the US President and his family so small, it fits in the eye of a needle.

These microscopic figures are smaller than a full stop on a newspaper and took seven weeks to make.

Creator Willard Wigan said he wanted to design "the smallest tribute possible" to commemorate the "massive occasion" of the inauguration of America's first black president.

The minute figures are made from a tiny piece of hard nylon which Mr Wigan painted using a hair from a dead fly.

He then took one of his own eyelashes to position the figures on a specially-made gold needle and worked between heartbeats to avoid making mistakes.

Mr Wigan, who has been awarded an MBE, said: "It's something I never thought would happen in my lifetime. I thought I would do the smallest biggest tribute to mark the occasion."

[pinto]

1. Saw a TV piece on the artist. Some amazing stuff.

[annabanana]

2. Wasn't he just on 60 Minutes or something?

Sunday Morning? I know I just saw a piece on him in the last couple of week. The stuff he does is remarkable. He has to paint the figures BETWEEN HIS OWN HEARTBEATS!

[Beacool]

3. Worked between heartbeats and used a hair from a dead fly to paint the figures?

Wow, that's some impressive work there!!!!

:wow:

[goclark]

4. Someone sent me an email with various pictures of his work

so it must be somewhere on the web.

[DevonRex]

5. What if he had a bout of tachycardia or something? He'd have to work fast. :)

In all seriousness, that is just extraordinary. Wow.

[Brother Buzz]

6. Willard can't read or write and teachers made him feel small so......

at the age of five he started doing this because he wanted to prove small doesn't exist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYi458oI0-8

[AtomicKitten]

7. That pic looks like a Twilight Zone episode. n/t

[ensho]

8. political Art is great and necessary and

funds for Art should be in the bill

[Barack_America]

9. The detail is stunning.

Particularly on Michelle's dress.

Simply amazing.

[WinkyDink]

10. Extraordinary!! Awesome! And it's for sale! (The U.S. should buy it!)

[grantcart]

11. well I don't think he got Sasha's eyes very well lol