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“Moses Lake” by Anne Mathern @ Lawrimore Project, Seattle. Through Sept. 29/2007
Aug 23rd
We just updated our link to DAILYSERVING and while I was cruising their terrific site today, I ran across this post on one of our favorites; Anne Mathern. Looks like we missed the performance, but I will be sure to check out the show tomorrow.
Opening just yesterday at Lawrimore Project in Seattle is "Anne Mathern — Moses Lake," new photographs, film and a live installation. Along with the opening, Mathern presented a live installation and performance, featuring fantasy metal band DOOMHAWK. "Moses Lake" is the first solo exhibition at Lawrimore Project for the Seattle-based artist, and the show is centered on a cluster of small farm towns in Eastern Washington that have Greek and Hebrew-derived names but were originally inhabited and eventually stolen from Native Americans. The exhibition investigates the imposition of the cultural values embodied by one set of people upon another. Mathern received her BFA in photography from the University of Washington in 2004 and received several awards during her study, including the Marsh Scholarship and the UW Undergraduate Research Award for special projects. The artist also co-founded and currently acts as the managing director of Crawl Space, an artist-run gallery in Seattle. The artist has also exhibited with the King County Gallery 4 Culture in Seattle.
via DailyServing
Understanding the USA by Richard Saul Wurman
Jul 26th
I’ll confess to never having spent much time with these graphics. They are classics in the info-graphic field by now and we’re looking a lot at them this week.
Check them out even if you’ve seen them before.
From infoaesthetics:
as one of the (somewhat older, but still spectacular) classics of information design & infographics, Richard Saul Wurman‘s "Understanding USA is a celebration & a visual demonstration of question & answers leading to understanding". it is an online collection of information-rich illustrations that visually explain important phenomena inside the USA.
especially the entries of Hani Rashid & Lisa Anne Couture are visually intriguing but at the same time highly critized for their data noise & pure formalism. there was a time these 3D data sculptures could be explored & navigated in 3D (VRML), but it seems those links are unfortunately dead?
[link: understandingusa.com]
Info-graphic Music Video by Sarah McLachlan “World on Fire”
Jul 24th
Another highlight from our wanderings in the info-graphic world this week; an info-graphic music video featuring Sarah McLachlan’s "World on Fire". Fabulous use of graphics and stock ftg. Yes, we are not alone.
from infoaesthetics: at the cost of $15 for this whole video, I guess the infographics were designed for free.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzoNInZ2ClQ
see also global rich list & miniature earth & worldmapper & govcom & gapminder.
[link: worldonfire.ca (high-rez, original video)]
DIY Windmill by William Kamkwamba, Malawi, Africa
Jul 12th
This story was so inspiring to me that I had to post it in its entirety. It’s short. Read it. You’ll be inspired too!
"With all the sobering news lately about global warming and war, it’s important to remember all the positive things that are ALSO going on in the world at any given time. Case in point: the story of intrepid Malawi youth William Kamkwamba who, despite having no formal education or training, recently engineered and built a windmill to power his house. It’s certainly the most inspiring story we’ve read this month, and we think you’ll agree…
After having to drop out of school due to lack of funds, William Kamkwamba from Malawi decided to learn as much as he could from books that had been donated to his primary school’s library. One of the books detailed how to build a windmill that generated enough electricity.
With much trial and error, some local materials, and an investment of about 16 dollars, William constructed a windmill that could generate enough energy for a few light bulbs and a radio. While a few bulbs might sound insignificant, the difference changed William’s and his family’s life entirely. Instead of using expensive paraffin candles, which produce smoke and irritate the eyes, William and his family now use the energy generated by the wind to light up their house. The engineering youth also hooked up a car battery to his generator to use as a backup in case of a non-windy day.
The 12-meter tall windmill (it was originally only 5 meters) is made out of scrap timber. The blades, originally made from PVC, now steel, power a bicycle dynamo, the type that power a bicycle headlamp, which in turn provides electricity to the battery. William uses this energy for his house, as well as to help others recharge their batteries. Just recently, he moved from a car battery to a deep discharge battery, which will help improve with the power storage of his house.
William’s story does not end here. After appearing in the local papers, and blogged by Soyapi Mumba, he was contacted by Emeka Okafor, the recent curator of the TED Global Conference in Arusha. Okafor invited William to speak at the conference as one of the 100 other prestigious presenters. It was there that William was first introduced to computers, the internet, Google, and the blog (he now has his own blog, in which he writes about his experience).
What does the future hold for this local green hero/inventor/entrepreneur? He has made recent modifications to the windmill and completed a second installation at his primary school. He also plans to modify his windmill to include the ability to pump water from his well and irrigate his garden.
Truly a remarkable and inspiring story. If you are feeling as moved as we are over William’s accomplishments, you can donate directly to help William’s education and engineering projects here >
+ William Kamkwamba’s Malawi Windmill Blog
via Inhabitat
The Wrong Store through July 19th, NYC
Jun 26th
And while you’re in the deserted City this summer, be sure to drop by The Wrong Store. I absolutely love this show/shop, particularly the way they handled the "opening". How many of us have had similar ideas? It really doesn’t matter; it’s all in the execution! Nice work guys:
THE WRONG STORE … A GUERRILLA CONCEPT
THE WRONG STORE is an art installation in the language of a retail or guerrilla shop. Conceptually, no one can enter and nothing individually can be purchased, though everything will be visible as the space is under a 100 sq feet (much like the former Wrong Gallery by Maurizio Catalan). However, as a retail shop "everything" is for sale but only as a whole (the complete installation). It will exist for two months in a high traffic ground floor gallery space in Chelsea, New York City.The installation is concerned with exploring the concepts of the gallery as a shop, a shop as a gallery, and the commerce role in the creation of desire and unavailability. The show is curated by Tobias Wong and Gregory Krum and opens May 19th, 2007 for two months.
Tobias Wong is an artist and designer who has exhibited widely and has several design objects in production. He was responsible for the shop installation in Terminal 5, the art show in the Saarinen structure at JFK International Airport. Tobias is interested in contrast; something/nothing, function/form, art as monumental/incidental. He is uncomfortable with his place in the art and design world and says of his work "I don’t want to make ‘art’ or ‘design’ necessarily…it’s just stuff…extra stuff in the world…art galleries and design showrooms are places where I have been able to do what I do…but that doesn’t make what I do either."
Gregory Krum’s work is primarily concerned with the notion of extreme affection…affection for land, a person, an object…and the joys and problems within a moral and intellectual context. He also serves as Director of Retail for the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum where he designed the shop and offers a carefully selected group of objects and multiples relating to design. Since his involvement with The Cooper Hewitt Museum, Krum has not only successfully challenged the notion of a museum gift shop and taken it to a higher level, but also increased it’s profit substantially. Prior to Cooper-Hewitt, Krum worked nearly five years as Product Manager for the New York design store, moss.
The installation is in conjunction with Kantor/Feuer Gallery in New York.
Store Director : Josee Lepage of Commissaires (Montreal)
Weekend Manager : Patrick Li
Conceptual Consultant : Cyril Duval of item idem
Stockboy : Jasper PopeArtists/Designers include: Lawrence Weiner, Joseph Beuys, Herzog and de Meuron, Bless, 032C, Christian Marclay, Martin Baas, Hella Jongerious / JongeriusLab, Richard Tuttle, Dean MacGregor, Peter Moore, Ron Gilad, Anton Ginsburg, Yves Behar, Richard Prince, Joris Laarman, Jenny Holzer, Work in Progress, Verner Panton, Robert De Saint Phalle, Gaetano Pesce, Sol Lewitt, JDS Architects, Kaws, Marcel Wanders, Aldo Rossi, Rodarte, Constantin Boym, Aqui! Magazine, Tim E. Dubitsky, Gilbert & George, et al…
Many of the objects are rare or one-of-a-kind and exclusive to the exhibition. Creative agency Work in Progress will design the store’s identity, shopping bags, business cards, invitations, stationery, etc. Martin Margliela will create the staff’s uniform.
Mackris v. O’Reilly @ the Rendezvous, Belltown. 6.28.07
Jun 11th
Mark your calendars now for this one! Sure to be an hilarious evening!
"On Thursday June 28th, Artdish will be celebrating the long-awaited CD release of Igor Keller’s oratorio Mackris v. O’Reilly in the Grotto Room of the Rendezvous (2322 2nd Avenue) in Belltown. The party will begin at 6:00 and should go on until midnight. Come meet Igor along with your other favorite Artdish personalities and get a copy of the CD, the cool poster, and each of the hilarious T-shirts.
from the website:
Mackris v. O’Reilly The Oratorio
Mackris v. O’Reilly is an oratorio for 28-piece chamber orchestra, 26-voice chorus and three soloists (soprano, tenor and baritone) set to the original court complaint filed against pundit, Bill O’Reilly, on October 13, 2004 and O’Reilly’s on-air settlement announcement given on October 29, 2004. The style of the piece is a traditional neo-baroque that makes the most of the oratorio format. Its 31 parts include seven chorales, two madrigals, three choruses (parts of the chorus matched up with components from the orchestra), four stand-alone recitatives, two instrumental entrances and numerous arias. All of these parts add up to a two-hour running time.
High Desert Test Sites (HDTS): 5/12-13 2007
May 1st
So now that it is nearly time to make the trek out to the desert for the annual HDTS events, we thought we’d tempt you with a little taste of what to expect. Don’t think about it, just go! It’s important…
This from WGSN:
"A truly beautiful and mesmerising piece – a playful and humorous artwork that also makes the viewer question his surroundings," wrote WGSN’s LA correspondent Sally Lohan after stumbling upon Sarah Vanderlip’s Glimmer Egg during a visit to The High Desert Test Sites in Joshua Tree."
And from the HDTS release:
"Our more streamlined and intimate event this year means less time in the car and more time sitting in the sunshine, conversing at the saloon, or cooling of in a hotel pool. It will be like the early days at HDTS when the adventure was the event. Make hotel or camping reservations early as most accommodations are already filling up!
Participants include:
a waving flag by David Shrigley
a disappearance and reappearance by Rodney McMillian
a living thing by Liz Larner
a fierce dog by Julia Scher
a Polish Western by Piotr Uklanski
a stage presence by John Bock
a bikini performance by Ann Magnuson
a small business by Lisa Anne Auerbach
a roadside sign by Jack Pierson
some Wagon Station Customizations at A-Z West
a swap meet organized by Amy and Wendy Yao (check out the swapmeet blog!)
winding down with the afternoon rock star event at the Art Queen.
In addition to the driving tour there will be four meeting points/times throughout the weekend: Maps will be available on May 12th and 13th from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the HDTS HQ, directly south of Coyote Corner on Park Drive in downtown Joshua Tree.
reason enough? No? Check here then: http://www.highdeserttestsites.com/index.html
Hank’s Hi-fi Webcast to Go Under; Save Net Radio
Apr 27th
You heard correctly, Hank’s Hi-fi may go under if current legislation is passed. YOU CAN HELP!
Act Now!
"The future of Internet radio is in immediate danger. Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on May 15 (retroactive to Jan 1, 2006!). If the increased rates remain unchanged, the majority of webcasters will go bankrupt and silent on this date. Internet radio needs your help! The Internet Radio Equality Act has just been introduced by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL ) to save the Internet radio industry. Please call your congressperson to ask them to co-sponsor this bill by clicking below.
Ségolène Royal Piggybacks Barbara Kruger
Apr 24th
From the look of things, French presidential hopeful Ségolène Royal would like to remind her potential female (and male for that matter) voters that she has the feminist chops to lead her country out of it’s male dominated quagmire. How? By these Kruger-esque posters which are plastered all over Paris.
Kruger wouldn’t mind the rip-off. Don’t believe me? Listen here; Design Matters Online Interveiw
via Art World Salon
Join the NY Media Elite – FREE!
Apr 22nd
This is just so much dorky goodness that I have to post the full entry. From Kottke.com:
I might be shooting myself in the foot by posting this, but the table of contents for the newest issue of the New Yorker is usually available on Sunday on newyorker.com, the day before the issue hits the newsstands and arrives in subscriber mailboxes. All you need to do is hack the URL of the TOC from the previous Monday. Here’s the URL for the April 23 TOC:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/toc/2007/04/23/toc_20070416
“2007/04/23″ is the date of the issue and “toc_20070416″ refers to the date of the posting. This then is the URL for the April 30 issue:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/toc/2007/04/30/toc_20070423
At right is the cover for tomorrow’s issue, which includes Adam Gopnik’s piece on the Virginia Tech shooting, a new piece by Atul Gawande, and Anthony Lane’s review of Hot Fuzz. Monday’s New Yorker on Sunday is usually only available to the select few of the Manhattan media elite who are sped their new issues hot off the presses. Now everyone can have a similar experience on the web.
Enjoy.
via kottke.org
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