Hmmm....

Overlooked again?

Why am I not surprised?

This is starting to look like the story of my life.

Hungry Like the Wolf

Thanks to the geniuses behind the video game Rock Band (and the new expansion Rock Band 2), I once again find myself getting stuck on songs that I have no business remembering. One in particular is that all time favorite of yours and mine; Duran Duran's Hungry Like the Wolf.

So, since my mind is now plagued with this 80's music nightmare, I figured I'd leave you with some images loosely associated with the subject matter: FOOD.

I find that the shape, color and texture of food makes for interesting possibilities for unique compositions. A large part of my undergrad work involved food (and its ability to decompose). It was a very smelly endeavor but luckily I had some very awesome professors that supported the stink-fest.

Here is Irving Penn's take on FOOD

the Enchanting Work of Peter Gasser

I've always enjoyed the works of creative minds (and eyes) of image makers such as Edward Curtis, who dedicate(d) their lives to capturing the world's diverse cultures, customs and people. With that in mind I would like to share some works by Peter Gasser; a photographer that I hope to learn more about.

Focus Please

When blurry photos happen to beautiful people.

I am observing a recent trend of bad photographers trying to pass off blurry pictures as "SOFT FOCUS" photos.

There is a distinct difference between the two.

Here is an example of a blurry photo that some photographer is trying to pass of as a work of a professional.

Please beware.

It Goes

Met with my AWESOME advisor today (you know who you are). I am super pumped about this new idea for a final thesis. Hopefully I'll be sticking to my guns, although I see very little reason for why I would change my mind.

I rather not divulge much before I really take a deeper plunge into this project, but I will say that it is going to deal with archives, curation, use of digital media, rethinking of the term "tactile" and the new role of a user/viewer interface in a gallery setting... among other things. (I think that was a terrible sentence structure.)

Right now there are a lot of pragmatic issues with the project that need to be smoothed and figured out. I never thought I would be in the position to say this, BUT, it seems that technology is turning out to be very limiting in this case. I am definitely out of my league and treading on unfamiliar ground.

First there is a question of whether or not I can find the right type of technology to meet with my projecting and display needs. If I had an endless supply of money (which I do not) I would opt for the best of the best, however, at this time I need to concentrate on how to use the funds I have available to create something that is close to my vision.

Problem number two is either finding a way to program or finding a person who is experienced in the art of programing. My idea may seem simple (ish) but putting it all into a fully functional program is somewhat a problem for me.

The one part that is truly a joy in this project, is getting to appreciate the archive that I am working with. I have to constantly remind myself to keep on track as I am catching myself being mesmerized by some of these images. The issue, at this point, is not deciding on which images to include as a good representation of the archive, but which images must I exclude, as slowly I fall in love with all of them.

As the weeks roll on, I promise to be a lot less cryptic as to what my project idea is. Also, I invite anyone and everyone to comment and/or suggest any reading and/or visual references that may be relevant.

And so it goes.


(Oh man!... can my sentence and paragraph structure be any worse? My high school English teacher is crying right now and I bet she has no idea why... this is why!!!)


Image by Jill Greenberg from her "End Time" exhibition. There is definitely something about the colors in her work that I find very appealing.

How to Spell MANNEQUIN

Random Fact About Me:

I used to dress mannequins for a living. I don't mean those terrible styrofoam analogous representations of human beings that you find in a Macy's or Sears window. I am talking about stunning, almost human like mannequins, with beautifully rich glass eyes and flawless synthetic skin. The kind you see in a Bloomingdale window during the holiday season. (I assure you that the costumes I had for my mannequins do not even compare to the extravagance of Bloomy's.)

I have no idea what it is about mannequins and dolls that draws me to them. Maybe its the thousands of years of human history associated with them. Perhaps is the childhood fantasy of wanting your doll to come to life, that later turns into an adult nightmare. I was/am so intrigued by them that I started making my own miniature versions with polymer. Go figure.

Anyway, here are some random images, that I googled, of mannequins and things associated with jointed dolls. Perhaps you too will get some form of inspiration from them.

Enjoy

Trapped in a Fairy Tale

To make good on my previous post (this blog needs some colorful variety) I have picked the first set of images that at one point or another (and possibly even now) have captured my attention.

The following images by various artists have brought to life the fairy tale world that I have imagined. The first time I laid eyes on these images I was captivated and spell bound by their wonderful use of composition and color.


Image by Dave Lachapelle


Image by Tim Walker


Image by Annie Leibowitz

Images that Inspire

Many artists can place themselves and their creative development based on who they admire(d) and who they aspire(d) to be like at some point in their careers. They can trace back their progress through who and what they were looking at, at a particular moment in their creative development.

As for me, I have always been more inspired by images rather than image makers. An Edward Weston pepper here, an Edward Curtis there, and a William Claxton (RIP) somewhere in between. If I enjoyed a few images by a particular image maker I would go on to delve deeper into what else the creator had to offer. Many times, however, the images that inspired me were from no name photographer or even photo enthusiasts. Magazines, drawings, sketches and even literature, have all been instrumental in my development as an image creator and an image appreciator.

So, what I am attempting to say in 250 words or less (a poor attempt, I know) is that I will attempt to feature various images in the contents of this blog. Perhaps, if you are reading this, the images will inspire you, as they have/are me. Or, (and I shudder at this thought altogether), the images that I post, will help you to understand me better.

Whenever possible, I will attempt to provide the name and a link to the artist whose images I use.

Happy Observing.

A Little Town with a lot of ART...

Ever end up in Binghamton?

While living in Upstate NY (thats the real upstate and not the catskills as some of you NY City dwellers seem to think), I would travel via Grey Hound Bus Lines. Like clockwork the buses would always stop over in Binghamton NY for a layover. I was never impressed by the great pot hole parking lot near an old brick building, that the city of Binghamton calls its bus station. I was even less impressed when the bus would take the "long way" around the "city" to get back to the road to civilization. It was then that I swore to myself that I would never end up in that little hole in the wall town. Little did I know that, not 2 months after graduating from SUNY Oswego, I would spend 6 months living in this little town. It was probably the best 6 months of my life.

Binghamton is nothing exceptional to look at. From what I recall, their great claim to fame was a bunch of old carousels and IBM. However, the people there were just wonderful. If you made the effort to be nice, the town would welcome you with its arms wide open. I always remark that if the town had a better economy, I would not at all mind living there. Binghamton is close enough to the city (NY City that is) and is far away enough to be considered the middle of nowhere. And, most important of all, if you are a SciFi fan, it is also the home to Rod Sterling (Mr. Twilight Zone himself) and his weird little museum.

I think I digress.

I was in Binghamton this past weekend, attending the art opening of my friend Mike Leonard (check out his stuff here www.michaelleonardphoto.com ) at the Brunelli Fine Arts Gallery (check them out here www.anthonybrunelli.com) and I was astonished at the crowd that showed up. At one point I felt very claustrophobic.

As I walked outside, down State St. I was flabbergasted at the number of people that made it out to the first friday events. It was incredible.

So, in a long and winded way I suppose what I am trying to say is a few things;

1. You never know where you are going to end up so never say never.
2. Binghamton is a great little town with a lot of art and even more very pleasant people.
3. I talk too much and should learn to keep things to a 250 word max. story.

So, if you are ever in the neighborhood, check out Binghamton's Art scene and stop by the fine folks at the Brunelli Art Gallery.


Now, stop wasting your time reading this and go do something useful with your life. :D

Insides on the Outside

Getting back to photographing my garbage. I guess you love what you love.

Was just reading an article about history's great creative people. The gist of the article was that creative people notice things that the average person takes for granted, researching them to the point of obsession.

Anyway, here is my mental and artistic disease...

Art Meets the Environment

Just got done teaching a week long photo workshop to nature camp kids.

It is very hard to work with people that are not motivated by new experiences and do not facilitate a friendly environment. But with all that rubbish aside the week was wonderfully enjoyable.

Working with kids is great. (Remember, working with kids is not having kids. Working with kids means that at the end of the day their is a return policy).

Children's ability to grasp on to complicated concepts is astonishing, especially when they are out performing their much older instructors and counselors.

Kids can experiment without inhibition. They do not have a sense of propriety as to how something is supposed to look or function. They are in the perfect state of mind in which they can be influenced either to see things in everyday light or to see things in a way that no one else usually sees.

At first it was hard(ish) to convince them to photograph objects and subjects from different and unconventional angles. However, within an hour they were able to take photos of flowers by sitting under them, or to take pictures of trees while climbing them.

Their projects came out splendidly (and yes, lots of mess was involved). We created wonderful book style photo journals and also put together 3D picture dioramas.

Here are some of the results:

TV: Everyone's Trusted Brain Wash

After thinking about it for a long time I have come to a conclusion. Without a shadow of a doubt, media literacy educators MUST watch TV (even if it is sparingly) in order to connect to the kids they are teaching. Anyone under the impression that they can teach media literacy without having watched Flavor of Love, Tila Tequila or Skunk Fu, is in for a rude awakening.

Its nothing to be proud of but general audiences are watching absolute garbage on TV. I know I do. Its not because some of these shows are mentally stimulating; quite the opposite. However, if you are a kid with two working parents, coming home from school, (or an adult avoiding work on a thesis project), more likely than not you will be flipping on that TV to watch your share of bad, mind numbing, reality bending TV. And as we all know TV influences your everyday thinking activities more than you know, especially because you are not aware of it.

As media literacy educators, we have to be familiar with what's on the good old tube. How else can we talk about it and teach about it in a more informed manner? If, as a media educator we are unaware of shows like Mind of Mencia or the Hills, then we cannot connect with the kids we are "educating". We become unaware of their influences and thought processes because we are disconnected from their everyday lives and relationships with their good friend TV.

Just as a parent should know what type of kids their child is involved with in order to attempt to prevent bad behavior (ie: substance use, etc), so too as media educators, must we be aware of what our kids are watching, who they are listening to and what is influencing them.

So, spare a few unused brain cells and watch some brain damaging TV. You never know when you are going to need some of the useless and mind numbing information that TV has to offer.

4 hours a day, keep brain cells away!

Kitchen Clarity

As the morning progressed (much to my chagrin), this jewel presented itself, at 11am, amidst frantic re-photographing of artwork.

Calm and tranquil, it will never present itself in such a manner, ever again. To demystify its existence, this picture will forever expose its vulnerable self.


(Give me a break, its been a long night. Just look at the picture!)

In the Works

Noticing small, everyday things opens my eyes to the rest of the world.

Lately, I found that I focus on objects that I blindly interact with every day without the slightest appreciation for their existence and construction. Subtle angels, curves and details, paired with natural light emanating from/through other everyday objects transforms subtle things into items of beauty.

Here's my example:

Getting to Know Boris

Recently, horror movies came up in a conversation I was having with someone (or perhaps I was only talking to myself). Anyway, I recalled making an earlier post about my favorite blood sucker, Bella Lugosi, who actually not only played the infamous Count Dracula (read it with the accent, its that much more fun). Bella also played the Frankenstein Monster in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, which leads me to a wonderful segue to my next, long forgotten star...

...Boris Karloff





He played the famous Frankenstein Monster and the Mummy (before the Brandon Fraser and Hollywood Special Digital Effects). Also, the great Karloff appeared in a Christmas/Seuss classic; How the Grinch Stole X-Mas. Karloff was the voice of the narrator. Thats pretty impressive for a man who grew up with a stutter and a lisp.

Karloff once got advice from the equally famous and now forgotten Lon Chaney (no relation to Dick) aka Man of a Thousand Faces, who told Boris, to find out what no one else was doing and becoming the best at doing it. I guess that advice paid off.

And that concludes todays edition of MEET YOUR FORGOTTEN SCREEN STAR OF YESTER YEAR!



ALSO: if you have a few seconds for internet browsing, check out the intro to the official Bela Lugosi website... its befitting of the Dark Evil One.

http://www.belalugosi.com/


Enjoy!

Something to Look at

From my recent trip to NYC.

Reminds me of my earlier work with color photograms.

Enjoy!

How 'Bout a DUH Moment?

If I want people to think that what I say/write is intelligent, I should first learn how to spell.

In retaliation to that statement and in contrast to the top self-deprecating suggestion, I have to mention my favorite cerebral linguist/philosopher/genius Noam Chomsky who stated/states that the purpose of language is communication and as long as the meaning is clear, the path to that meaning is irrelevant.

On a related note, I sure wish I knew Noam and his theories back in grade school. It would have made my argument that spelling is irrelevant, that much better and who knows, perhaps I would have gotten better grades in spelling.

Save the Eyes, Starve the Brain

I have a problem with myself; I don't read as much as I used to or as I should. In addition I don't read education/career related books.

I used to read a lot. Mainly it was classic literature. Early on I discovered worlds, theories and philosophies that were foreign to most of my peers. It was a lonely time but an exciting time.

My eyes started hurting due to reading via candle light/flash light (some books were read in secret). My ability to read a book in one sitting slowly diminished. Soon, it took me weeks to read a novel.

I don't think I am currently reading as much as I should and more importantly I am not reading materials that relate to my current field of study. This too must be remedied.

Perhaps this summer I will attempt to get through 30 or so novels of interest. The trick will be to pick through literary works that help with final thesis project ideas.

Someone recently said to me that their #1 rule is not to hope. In that spirit I will not hope to read these book but I will strive to read the 30 that I put before me.

On another note, improving my writing skills comes next!

TV Will Rot Your Brain

Watched the documentary Why We Fight last night with Josh. Many thoughts that have previously passed through my head were pretty much realized in this movie.

The themes of the movie were nothing new to anyone who has been following media or politics or any other related subject.. basically anyone that hasn't had their head in the sand for the past 65 or so years. However, the part that really got to me was when US propaganda footage was shown in the movie and Josh said something to the effect of "wow, those were so obvious".

Yeah, they seem very obvious to us and at the time of their showing, these films were very obvious to the adults watching them. Those movies, however, were never meant for adults. I believe they were geared toward small children to watch before they caught the Mickey Mouse Double Feature.

To me the angles of the propaganda films scream "CHILDREN'S POINT OF VIEW!" They were all low angle movies that not only heroized the "brave men" but also gave children the feeling of "hey, we are on your level looking up at tall adults with you".

In his book, Feeling Like a Kid (which by the way is bound like a children's story book), Jerry Griswold comments on themes, feelings and phrases that connect with children. Why then can't a film/movie use these same themes to connect with children, especially if all it takes is moving the camera a few inches/feet this way or that way.

Propaganda was aimed at children because they were/are the next generation of citizen and most importantly soldier. The movies gave them an idealized character, like Superman, to look up to. And although children could never be the man of steal (no matter how much they tried) they could definitely become a brave, proud soldier.

What does modern TV say? We are not so much told to idolize or heroize TV/Movie characters. There are boys and girls that idolize terrible role models from TV but thats really not media's main objective. Modern television is made to pacify us. Things like reality TV is made to shock us to the point of not caring about truly shocking things. It is currently more important to know who got voted off American Idol or who got bad mouthed on the Hills than to know what our foreign policy is. I mean, we are just talking about our safety.

There was a great line in the movie last night. I cannot quote is verbatim (or maybe I can) but the gist of it was this:

We are a nation that suffers from Amnesia, forgetting what happened last week every time a Monday rolls around.

Holy Scripture, Fairy Tales and the Boogy Man

I have linked my love of dissecting novels/literature with my 12 years of Hebrew school and bible study.

Now all I have to do is instill to my audience the concept of what role Rashi, Rambam and Ramban play in the reading and understanding of holy scripture and how that relates to my version of classic children's literature.

My plan of attack (a year from now) is to focus very little (if at all) on my past work and instead speak of my past experiences and my knowledge and relationship to thinks like religion and Kabbalah (no Demi More required or needed, thank you!)

On the other hand I have to really watch out for drawing out my presentation into a multi-hour event. Too much info can be damning, too little info can confuse people even more.

At least I still have a year (or at the very least 10ish months, to smooth things out and make everything come together.

Fairy Tales Beware!