Inspired by the global views of the Artemis II mission and the recent celebration of Easter, these are composite / collage pieces that combine the urban and the spiritual. The views are of the very recognizable Times Square, a bustling, busy and noisy melting pot of people from all over the world, existing mostly peacefully.Continue reading “Holy City, An Urban Tribute + New Custom Art Formats”
Category Archives: ideas
Studio Shangri-La Podcast: Expansion Of the Observer — Finite & Infinite Systems
This episode explores the relationship of technology and art with human evolution and awareness, to include both finite and infinite systems to navigate life, and continue to grow. Interested in being a guest, or have a recommendation? E-mail: Sarah.ikerd@studio-shangri-la.com.
Deathless In The Singularity: Aging, Time, and the Wider Sky
Here’s why biological immortality or extreme longevity with quality of life is possible: Because it already exists; it has emerged as an evolutionary property. This article is also based on the idea that “Singularity” has already occurred, in the sense of self-aware merging of intelligences in the quantum field, including humans and computers. In theContinue reading “Deathless In The Singularity: Aging, Time, and the Wider Sky”
Of Futuristic Med Spas & Fine Water Cellars
The future now of healthcare is the medical Spa. This is what hospitals need to become as a much needed upgrade. Let’s have a soothing retreat with the latest physically noninvasive / non-damaging modalities and regenerative therapies, instead of outdated institutional torture that treats people (and animals) like lifeless meat instead of sacred, sentient multi-scaleContinue reading “Of Futuristic Med Spas & Fine Water Cellars”
Featured Products & Services: “The Promise” Prints + Art & Design Bookings
“‘The Promise’ is a beautiful, medium-sized photographic artwork, a giclée print that captures the essence of nature’s potential. Rendered in vibrant color, this piece combines digital techniques with traditional artistic elements, resulting in a contemporary artwork with a pop art feel. The artist uses canvas, paper, glass and metal elements in the finished artwork. AtContinue reading “Featured Products & Services: “The Promise” Prints + Art & Design Bookings”
Industry, Medicine & Philosophy: Systemic Reforms That Transcend Cancer
Healing Sky Panel – Studio Shangri-La At first glance, issues such as cancer may appear to stem from countless complex factors. But in truth, many cases trace back to a few root causes and thus, actionable solutions. Reforming industry to eliminate known carcinogens is not optional, it’s essential. From the toxicity of fossil fuel exhaustContinue reading “Industry, Medicine & Philosophy: Systemic Reforms That Transcend Cancer”
Designing Permeable, Self Healing Pavement That Nourishes The Environment
Designing Permeable, Self Healing Pavement That Nourishes The Environment By Sarah Ikerd, Studio Shangri-La Multimedia, July 2025 Sarah.ikerd@studio-shangri-la.com http://www.studio-shangri-la.com; https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Ikerd Figure 1: Basic Layers & Process Abstract Drawing from both natural chemistry and bio-inspired engineering, next generation regenerative pavement reimagines infrastructure as a living ecosystem partner. Made from layered travertine, lava rock and microbial agents,Continue reading “Designing Permeable, Self Healing Pavement That Nourishes The Environment”
Design For A Modular Optosonic Waste To Water Receptacle
Design For A Modular Optosonic Waste To Water Receptacle on ResearchGate By Sarah Ikerd, Studio Shangri-La Multimedia, June 2025 Sarah.ikerd@studio-shangri-la.com http://www.studio-shangri-la.com; https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Ikerd Figure 1: Central Core Nonagon of LEDs with nanometer ranges Abstract: This modular and scalable optosonic system transforms waste into water using a novel integration of light, sound, shape, materials, and fluid dynamics.Continue reading “Design For A Modular Optosonic Waste To Water Receptacle”
Featured Mixed Media Artwork For Earth Month: The Cosmic Upcycled “Carbon 666” ⚛️
The latest mixed media “Carbon 666” is named for the 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons in a Carbon atom, or C6 on the periodic table. What in the past was superstitiously and paradoxically considered an ominous number in some traditions, actually reflects the now more well understood magic of chemistry, though there isContinue reading “Featured Mixed Media Artwork For Earth Month: The Cosmic Upcycled “Carbon 666” ⚛️”
5 Ways To Make A Positive Eco Impact At Home
Earth Month is the perfect time to embrace small yet impactful changes that contribute to both local and global sustainability. Here are five accessible actions to help build a more eco-conscious future—because even small shifts make a difference. Personally, I’ve enjoyed switching to bamboo toilet paper—it’s soft, sustainable, and a meaningful choice. Composting has alsoContinue reading “5 Ways To Make A Positive Eco Impact At Home”
The Clownfish & The Anemone: Symbiotic Business Partnerships For A Circular Economy
There is a necessary economic transformation happening towards a Circular Economy to keep us thriving on Earth. A circular economy is an economic system focused on minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency by recycling, reusing, and regenerating materials. With a systems thinking approach to economy and commerce, there can be leaps and bounds of innovationContinue reading “The Clownfish & The Anemone: Symbiotic Business Partnerships For A Circular Economy”
A 4 Quadrant Solution For Waste Management & Plastics
With a high level systems thinking or systems engineering approach, even the most complex situations can be sifted into manageable categories and then simplified into the approachable, actionable steps. The above infographic simplifies the global waste management, and plastics and microplastics quandary into quadrants of solution. A quadrant is an instrument used for surveying, soContinue reading “A 4 Quadrant Solution For Waste Management & Plastics”
Featured Mixed Media Painting: Fabricate::Recreate
The featured 6′ x 3′ x 2″ mixed media is available in the Shop. For inquiries, please e-mail: sarah.ikerd@studio-shangri-la.com WHAT: This large conceptual mixed media is from 2023, and it’s two large terraced recycled canvases with upcycled textile strips. Other materials include prominent mica, acrylic paints, and water based spray paints and glosses. HOW: MakingContinue reading “Featured Mixed Media Painting: Fabricate::Recreate”
OCTAVES Experimental Sound: 1080 Hz Healing The Mind’s Eye
The focus of this experimental sound piece is 1080 Hz, specifically a combination of 8010, 1080 (x2), 801, 108, 80, 10 & 8 hz with all the numerical parameters (such as Low Frequency Oscillators) matching combinations of the digits 1080. There are 8 channels, and interestingly, 1080 degrees is the sum of internal angles ofContinue reading “OCTAVES Experimental Sound: 1080 Hz Healing The Mind’s Eye”
Featured Sustainable Mixed Media: “Tapestry Of We”
The first note about this tapestry is that it’s still in progress. Given experience with previous mixed media, the process of the piece can also look really interesting. I find it already compelling in its natural form, as a combination of upcycled materials: ‘Yard waste’ or found wood, fabric that is/was a curtain, other recycledContinue reading “Featured Sustainable Mixed Media: “Tapestry Of We””
Everyday Environmentalism: Permaculture Begins At Home
Permaculture is a more natural form of agriculture that respects the natural intelligence of ecosystems and organisms with mindful harvesting. I recently took advantage of how easy this is to do with some mushrooms I purchased from Trader Joe’s that still had the mycelium on the base intact. Before lightly sauteeing the brown beech mushrooms,Continue reading “Everyday Environmentalism: Permaculture Begins At Home”
Design Of Experiment & Data Collection: Ionization Levels & Electron Affinity Of Water
Purpose: Seeking to ascertain the energetic differences between Hydrogen, Carbon and Oxygen and the state of liquid water — specifically, the ionization levels of the outer valence electrons. That is, what synergetic light wavelength stimulus could it take to move these elements, that also comprise the basic polymeric makeup of plastics, into a new butContinue reading “Design Of Experiment & Data Collection: Ionization Levels & Electron Affinity Of Water”
”Electric Echoes” Album Release On OCTAVES Music
This 6 movement concert work on OCTAVES Music has been released as a 45 minute album — please see the links below — and is up for nomination for an award. The published score, and libretto, is forthcoming. The impetus to complete the full concert work, and particularly an opera, was given steam by applyingContinue reading “”Electric Echoes” Album Release On OCTAVES Music”
DoE Research Notes: Sourcing Sustainable Metallurgy For Photocatalytic Waste-To-Water Receptacles
”You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” ~ Buckminster Fuller In continuing to post the Design of Experiment series, I document the process of realizing a photocatalytic trash can that can convert waste such as plastics into water and possibly other useful byproduct. TheContinue reading “DoE Research Notes: Sourcing Sustainable Metallurgy For Photocatalytic Waste-To-Water Receptacles”
Microscopy, Materials Science & Functional Design For A Circular Photocatalytic Waste Receptacle
The next projected steps in the photocatalysis project for a circular ‘trashcan of the future’ are to get a more specific and efficient by understanding from the macro to the nano levels what is occurring and optimizing for the desired results of producing useful byproducts, most importantly water. That means developing a consist formula orContinue reading “Microscopy, Materials Science & Functional Design For A Circular Photocatalytic Waste Receptacle”
Philosophy + Evolutionary Biology: A New View Of Cancer & Making Peace With Microworld
With the entrance (and re-entry) of non-invasive medicine and new techniques for their implementation, modern health is turning towards making peace with nature, once again. Noninvasive medicine works synergistically with human biology, without invading or attacking. It’s important to remember that there are different realms of life on this planet, and they are designed toContinue reading “Philosophy + Evolutionary Biology: A New View Of Cancer & Making Peace With Microworld”