Drum Set

Drum Set is both tactile and artful; thus, it belongs on this blog. Orange you glad I shared it?

TUMBLing

My other blog--no not that one (since I have been terrible about updating it) and this one will be drinking from the same 'creative well'. This other blog is a new experiment in web presence/identity creation online. I would call it a mistress but it's more so the baby blog to the blogger version. I don't expect too much link cross-referencing, just this one mention today. Really its a tumblelog or 'tumblog.' It lends itself to shorter posts, links, photos, etc. I have been making an effort to make my posts pithy-er since Jan. 3, but it does not feel like the right place to just drop in a link, quote, or video; that place is Tumblr.com.

From the MCA to the Whitney; Jenny to Bucky

Jenny Holzer: Project Protect has moved to the Whitney. The next thing at the MCA that I am going to evangelize about is Buckminster Fuller: Starting with the Universe. I am, afterall, an architecture groupie. (Here is the feature site for the exhibit.)

On Fuller:

As the myth goes, he went to Lake Michigan to end his life. Instead he was struck by his purpose: “You do not belong to you, you belong to the universe.” Thus, he began his 56-year experiment of “guinea pig B” (“B” for “Bucky”) to see what “an average, healthy human being” resolved to solve problems “on behalf of all humanity” could accomplish.

The MCA's feature site also provides us with quotations from good ole' Bucky. Here are a couple of examples:

"A designer is an emerging synthesis of artist, inventor, mechanic, objective economist, and evolutionary strategist."

"Dare to be naïve."

and...

"Probably the most powerful of all trends today is man’s increasing communication."

Twitter, meet Blog

Haptic Arts is now on Twitter and exploring a new social media with the following in mind:

Natasha Mitchell: Now this really challenges our core sense that we are a singular self, a single identity contained within a singular skin.

Robert Bosnak: Yes it does completely. Actually it is becoming more or less recognised within many sides and fields and schools of psychoanalysis that we are a very dissociable collection of states. This used to be seen as abnormal psychology but we begin to see more and more that that is more or less the norm. If it becomes extreme then you get people with what used to be called multiple-personality. So then the states are completely disassociated, they have no contact with each other. In the normal way the states are relatively independent and autonomous and there is contact between them, but it is not that I am a single self that over/during my life fractures. No, I am as far as I can see it, a multiplicity of states that is in a constant state of interaction.

Spring is (almost) here!

In honor of the warm weather in Chicago today, Haptic Arts got a makeover. I hope the muse comes to you similarly.

Evening Tweed. Tangible.

Evening Tweed is a graphic design collective. Their designs are really fresh (see image above) and thought provoking (see image below).


The image above is of Ferrofluid, a magnetic liquid.

After adding Evening Tweed to my bookmarks bar, I came upon Tangible in their blog. The description of this book is particularly well-crafted, so I am sharing it here.

The borders between graphic design, illustration, art, interior design, architecture and craftsmanship are becoming increasingly blurred. More than ever before, graphic design is being used as the underlying medium together with multiple practices to manifest creative visions. Following in the footsteps of Hidden Track (2005) and Tactile (2007), Tangible presents further developments from the work of young designers and artists who are experimenting with this multidisciplinary approach and creating outstanding original “tangible” designs.

These designers from different disciplines are choosing to no longer work exclusively in two dimensions, instead dealing intensively with space, materials and physical products. Each chapter in the book features different trends and styles demonstrating various approaches and solutions to this new area of graphic design. Graphics morph into spatial sculptures, the intangible is made visual through handmade craftsmanship, physical experiences, visual environments and staged spatial installations such as art installations, interiors and architecture as well as urban interventions.

The striking visual work in Tangible indicates the rise of graphic-inspired interior designs as artists, graphic designers, typographers and illustrators transform their ideas into shops, restaurants, hotels and fair stand designs (Source).

Blogger's Block

The worst strain of blogger's block must be the kind that you don't even know you have. Denial about this common ailment spikes as the seasons change again in Chicago, so you'll need to keep vitamins and cold medicines at-the-ready. I have recently been told by the doctor that I am not contagious, so you can feel free to read on. Keep the hand sanitizer close, though. "Problogger" actually suggests 20 types of posts, but I have my own prescription: look around you. The web and the "outside world" are saturated with information and inspiration. Or maybe you could browse through this blog.

A moment in time for Chicago

Here is an icon of Daniel Burnham which I created on "Obamicon.me"

Photo of a painting I happened upon in the Bucktown area (above).

Chicago is present on the world stage. This city goes by many names, including: the Windy City, the Second City, and the City of Broad Shoulders. From the political circus surrounding 'Blago' to the recently inaugurated President Obama to the planning roots planted by Daniel Burnham, we are present in the eyes and minds of the world.

With President Obama now in Washington, we have new reasons to think about our place as a leader on the world stage. Chicago has a past filled with ambitious thinkers and planners. Cheif among these is Daniel H. Burnham, who was Director of Works for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and he (along with assistant Edward H. Bennett) created the 1909 Plan of Chicago.

I am not alone in seeing an arts renaissance in conjunction with Obama's rise. Here are some links: Artists for Obama, The Obama Art Report (a blog), and Art of Obama.

Capturing the essence of Burnham's visionary spirit is this quote: "Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood." Capturing the strikingly similar essence of the hope for change which Obama embodies may be the slogan "Yes, we can!" (there is also a music video on YouTube, with celebrities galore, of course).

Design Probes

Philips Design Probes intend to anticipate "politics, economic, culture, environments and technology futures." The program's intention is to engender some debate about the new infromation age's possibilities. Specifically, they have "the aim of understanding ‘lifestyle’ post 2020."

Youtube video of SKIN electronic tattoos.
Some images:

Youtube video of the SKIN dresses.
Some images:

CAR

This post is a nod to the Chicago Artists Resource. I find the most interesting artist sites, great organizations, opportunities, etc. In sum: ideas galore, check it out!

Flash Mobbing

I co-ordinated a flash mob (note: 2 links there) as a photo essay project. To spread the word, I created a facebook event:


. . . and took photos in 35mm B&W film:


Flash Mobs are art made tangible, immediate, and impactful. Chicago had a dose of this recently, when Improv Everywhere co-ordinated "No Pants 2K9"/ "The No Pants! Subway Ride" in cities across the US. In Chicago, the event looked like this: Metromix video/ Chicago Tribune article.

I like this article by Pete McMartin in The Vancouver Sun, which calls flash mobs "a kind of guerilla street theatre." McMartin is critical of the flash mob phenomenon, and I think he has a point: "dancing to one's MP3 player, in public, is an inside joke and smells faintly of an art installation. Hey, look at us! We're crazy! Or we're making a statement! Or maybe not!"

Even the critical can enjoy them, though. These performances are brought to the public sphere-by the public sphere. Ultimate democratization? I think yes...arguably. You have to be somewhat savvy of them to participate or encounter them, but flash mobs have become more mainstream, and it is easy to find out about them and to participate.

The MP3 Experiment, Frozen in Grand Central Station, and Mobile Desktop are among my favorite "missions." This Unexpected Performance is also worth a gander.

Eponymous (roughly: self-titled)

Using picnik again, I have been creating some new ways of self-promoting. I treat picnik as a sketchpad of sorts. The images came from a site I stumbled upon (it's in Portuguese).

All in the Family

Click on the photo above and vote! The photo is of my cousin Samme and was taken by her sister Becca. The contest could help Becca with scholarships for college.

Anatomy in the Gallery

The International Museum of Surgical Science (IMSS) will soon be having their annual series called Anatomy in the Gallery (note: that link is for the show being taken down today and tomorrow, so read on!). There are a remarkable amount of photos on the MySpace page.

The opening for Dominic Paul Moore and Laurel Roth is from 5-8pm Friday January 30, 2009. The show will remain in the gallery through April 17th 2009.

These photos also have links to the artist's sites. I recommend you browse both. I am enamored with the concepts and aesthetic of Moore; the materials and details of Roth.

Dominic Paul Moore, "You're Gonna Love It Here"

Laurel Roth, "Norethindrone" (Which is a female hormone since I already googled it)

Fan Art

I am picniking again. Here are some of my more recent ventures in digital design. I have decided to call them "fan art" because these are of bands that I like. Each photo is linked to the group.

I have also decided to try and make these posts more pithy (when possible) and have pictures when applicable. I think that will make this please my readership as well as more reasonable for me to update regularly.Shown above is my edited image of 1/2 of the band, Gregory and the Hawk. I apologize for not crediting the original owner. I will do so if and when I find it's place of orogin.

This is Luiza Sá of CSS, a brazilian band. The photo is my own and was taken when they played at The Metro in Chicago (12/08). "CSS Suxx" is one of the things they have the crowd chant.