Collectibles

The “Run Ed" collection by Ed Balloon, an artist, community leader, and musician, illuminates the reality of many web3 artists. People who, in the face of adversity, continue to work on their craft as they seek to unbox themselves. The Run Ed is a one-of-a-kind collection, both in production and representation. Ethereum-based, the collection generative sound and motion picture project. 1000 animated pieces that combine stop motion, 2D and 3D animation, music, and sound.

One noun, every day, forever. The mantra of this colorful and charming collection is the epitome of generative art. An ideal that promises to persist through eternity and pave a path for digital art’s permanence. Nouns are 32x32 pixel images of people, places, and things, each with the iconic square glasses. An eclectic and diverse cornucopia of cows, strawberries, eggs, planets, crowns and more take on a life and character all their own. People dream it, do it, the world loves it. The goal is to cement Nouns as part of the culture so that everyone recognizes these varicolored, endearing characters. They begin to represent a cultural movement led by the people, instead of by a company or corporation. The characters are not at the mercy of any governing body, but by individuals who fell in love with the art and the mission of the project.

Web3 is an exciting time for creators, but it's also a confusing time. How do you make money in a decentralized network? What are the ways that I can sell my work? Does all digital art sell, or just certain mediums?‍The good news is that, in web3, the artists are in a position of power. Their work, their medium of choice, their creative expression. But selling NFTs on an open market is one of many opportunities for an artist to earn income in web3. 

The rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has created new opportunities for artists to create and sell unique, limited edition, artwork, photography, and even music. NFTs are digital assets that are one of a kind and can be sold and traded on the blockchain.We’re still in the early days of NFTs, but there are already a number of ways artists can make money with them. You can sell your work directly to buyers, collectors and galleries, sell your work to other artists, and even work for or create your own NFT project. They can also work on projects or create their own projects.

McLaren’s golden standard has been “combining performance, innovation, and craft to deliver the art of the impossible”. Building on this standard was its MSO Lab: the web3 brainchild of their Special Operations Division, created to explore the future of performance in a digital realm. McLaren will also be releasing its very first MSO LAB owner public airdrop, providing limited spots for an exclusive physical McLaren experience. No date has been communicated yet for this. However, with the success of the MSO Lab Genesis Collection, there is no denying that there is an exciting future ahead in the metaverse for the automobile company.

Conversely, concerns remain over how NFTs and the metaverse will unfold under the umbrella of Meta. Privacy and data issues are still at the forefront of many people’s minds. Furthermore, Meta may underperform against some Web3 innovations, when you consider that Meta has proposed a 47.5% cut on the sale of any creators’ NFTs in their metaverse. This is not to be confused with displaying NFT PFPs (profile pictures/proof of picture) on Facebook and Instagram. Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, has stated that it will be free to display your NFTs. It’s worth noting that twitter opted for a $3 charge to display your NFT on their platform.

What I am about to say is blasphemy by many in our NFT community. I don’t like Gary Vee. Not that I knew him, but the NFT art I first saw on sales platforms reminded me of something a 6th grader with little artist experience would draw. Ouch. Little did I know those simple drawings weren’t just art, they were doorways. Doorways to a whole new universe.

The most populous life form on earth isn’t mankind. It’s mycelium. The invisible living threads. It lives everywhere. In soil, tree roots, rocks, air, your hair, skin, and teeth, even under the ocean and in space. Its existence is composed of networks. A map of the human circulation system reveals a vast network of veins and arteries. A subway map of Tokyo or London reveals an image that looks like linked computers mining crypto. Maps of linked computers can mirror the image the receptors of our brain. We tend to only think of fungi- mushrooms, mosses but they are the flowering of this mighty organism.