The guy you really want to watch is right at the very end. He’s superb, a star of the future.
Subtleties of the Slate
Arcade Fire
Thoroughly enjoying listening the new Arcade Fire album and spent an hour last night looking through the links of their "enhanced" version. There are youtube videos of various musicians, essays by George Orwell, articles about town planning (the suburbs) and a fair share of internet oddness. It's an insight into the kind of ideas that have influenced the music and it's a bit of fun, a mystery tour.
It's been a very strange summer, some good news, a really difficult time, joy and madness. I've dashed about like a mad thing, making sure all the plates in my life keep on spinning at the top of those sticks. I really fancy a day off for myself, without anything to think about, but I'm afraid it just won't happen. Of course, I think this is ok, and it's what I wanted, to be busy. I just didn't bank on how tired I would get. Although not everything is in my control.
So, I'm loading up the music and I'm going to get a bit of fresh air, then back to fix up the house and maybe watch a film.
A few things I'd like to happen. Like to meet someone who can help me out with the Press. Would like to finish painting the doors white. Would like to get another bike (of course…) Hope that I can have some early nights.
Dinosaur Pile Up
Dinosaur Pile-Up – Summer Hit Single by Scharna
Listen, I’ll stop going on about them when the world shapes up. This isn’t even their best track. Go seek out Dinosaur Pile Up, see if you can get a copy of Traynor, it’s a beast. I’m pretty much a sucker for any band with Dinosaur in their name, Dinosaur Jr…er…Dinosaur Jr (did I already mention?)…etc
This is also the first Soundcloud file i’ve embedded, I like the way it looks…and sounds.
Bill Murray reads poetry to the builders
Fun little film of Bill Murray reading poetry to the builders of Poet's House, a new building in Battery Park, New York. The building houses a library, and invites poets and the public to celebrate writing and the diversity of modern poetry.
À bout de souffle
I thought it would make a wonderful addition to dots and spaces, to have included this trailer from a film I very much enjoyed, and which holds a special place in my heart. I learnt so much about what moving pictures could do, and with so much style and beauty, suspense, sophistication and poetry, the sort of film that makes you want to make movies. I worry that it's such a classic that it will become a sort of Robert Doisneau poster, so familiar it looses impact. But really, it's vital, alive and bristles with ideas. A template for any film-maker of worth.
Separado!
Super Furry's Gruff Rhys is releasing an album and film with a Brazilian TV repair man called Tony Da Gatorra. Hopefully it'll stream online somewhere, I can't imagine the local Vue is going to show it. Still loving Super Furry Animals after all these years, they still surprise, excite and intrigue me.
Tokyo Bike Parking
What a brilliant and creative solution solve bike storage needs. When I think about the contrast between planners in the UK and those in Japan and wonder if such a creative solution to an urban issue would ever be employed here. I also admire the way these inventions are adopted and used.
Design is there to offer unity between the different stakeholders, and find common solutions. I think in the UK, the emphasis always falls one way or the other, and users are often left bemused by schemes imposed in an often heavy-handed way. Despite its sophistication, there's a simplicity to this bike park which is worth noting.
welcome to Zolo
I heard a good story about a woman who's husband kept asking her what ZOLO was an acronym for, he just couldn't work it out, and it was written in all the Christmas cards. He got LOL and ROL etc, but this one really stumped him. The penny didn't drop until she pointed out that actually people were wishing him a happy new year, and a great 2010.
So, on that note, zolo looks like being a good one. Some news. In February, together with a few friends, we will be looking after the running of The Badger Press, an open access print studio in Bishops Waltham, Hampshire. The press has been going since 1982 and has a wonderful reputation for fine art printmaking. We hope to continue its success and contribute ideas and new projects that will secure it for the future.
I'm also working on a film of Visual Libraries and hope to start a group at Fareham College. Check out the site and the flickr photos, this is a great project that takes art into the community and encourages dialogues between libraries and their users. More info to follow…
We had a successful evening at Aspex Gallery talking about Journey to the Mountain of Light, presenting footage from our walks and some of the images that Jon has been making. They were spectacular and so many good ideas came from the presentation. I enjoyed meeting the crit group regulars and hope to be able to head down to lend my support in the future.
Also sorting out a shoot in the next few weeks with a group called Girls who ride where we'll be filming various people on the turbo trainer against green screen.
Last note, unfortunatley A Thousand Plateaus has been cancelled due to funding problems. I think there's going to be a different event in the future, and I hope there'll be the opportunity to use some of the ideas we developed for the event. I'm especially dissapointed, as I'd arranged to work with Forward Movin' and supply live visuals and VJ support. I'm sure we'll have another chance in the future, look out for news.
So, hope you all have a good one. Keep in touch.
sushi cam
*edit – a new film to replace the previous one that was removed by the user (I don't know why, it was charming).
A clever little film where a camera is placed on the conveyor belt in a sushi restaurant. Seen at Reubenmiller.
By the way, I'm thinking up ideas for an alternative Christmas tree for Aspex gallery, any ideas, feel free to let me know.
