Phenomenological:

From Ancient to Delicious

2009-06-28T02:07:00.000-07:00

As recommended to me by every Vietnamese person I have met, I went to the Hanoi Museum of Ethnology. And they were right! This was the most comprehensive ethnological museum I've ever encountered (and probably the only one). The most interesting thing about it was that the tribes and culture presented here are still very much alive. I was initially annoyed that they would put something that is still very much alive in a museum. However, because the Viet people far outnumber the smaller H'mong or Muong tribes, the intent is to promote understanding, so that these ethnic minorities will not die for the sake of modernization. Interesting idea (the above photo is of a traditional Banhar community hall).

Right next to my hotel is the "Ancient House" on 87 Ma May street. It's not very ancient, really... only just over 100 years old. However, the city of Hanoi has started renovating many of the old houses located in the Old Quarter (the most expensive land in Hanoi, and yet in shambles). Called a "tube house" for the 6-8 meter wide storefront and 30 meter length, this old artisan's dwelling and workshop, originally housing one family, housed five families from 1954 to 1996... one family in each room. No one lives here anymore, to allow the house to stand as a classic example of the original architecture in the area. Now, the city is restoring houses and allowing the occupants to continue to live in them. Oh, and yes. The picture above is of the original toilet. I guess you have to have really great aim...

This is looking southwest, from the southeast side of West Lake. Hanoi is growing like crazy, but without a city plan... so the growing is haphazard (and it's all thanks to the communist need to control everything through beaurocratic b.s.). Still an impressive view, though, right? If there weren't so much smog, you would also be able to see the mountains behind the city. THOSE are really beautiful!

Yes, Vietnamese food CAN be delicious. However, I've had more than my share of strange rodents and non-kosher body parts. The worst so far is boiled blood (I thought it was brown tofu at first...). And, to its credit, all the sauces that the food is cooked in taste so great, that even the mole/possum I ate yesterday wasn't that bad. All in all, everything that is available in the States is truly fantastic here! Above is a picture of Cha Ca (from the famous restaurant Cha Ca Le Vong). Fried fish, with wilted Vietnamese veggies, rice noodles, and yummy sauces and peanuts = recipe for deliciousness. :) The Portland restaurant, PokPok offers something similar... they even reference this Hanoi restaurant for its creation, it's THAT good!

Xin Chao!

2009-06-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

Ok, so after a couple of packed days of meetings with building authorities and secretaries of important people, I've decided to post some of the wonderful cultural things I've discovered!

As expected, Vietnamese cuisine is superb... albeit a little strange at times. I'm not sure if I can get used to eating some of the fish dishes here... but overall it's pretty delicious!

I've also discovered the secret to 100% success in regards to crossing the street; inch across, no matter what car or motorbike you step in front of... ;)

Ok, so aside from arranging meetings and establishing contacts, I've been doing some exploring as well! I was lucky enough to find the water puppet theater by Hoan Kiem Lake (it's actually not that hard to find). I'm not sure that I understand the advantage of having the puppets splash around in the water, but I was still "wowed" by the beautiful craftsmanship of the puppets themselves! And the traditional music was quite enchanting. I highly recommend.

I also had the opportunity to go to church on Sunday. After a 20 minute taxi ride that cost just over 100,000 dong (about $6), I arrived at the meetinghouse to find myself in the midst of about 15 college students from Utah, and 15 college students from Vietnam. The Utah students were on a study-abroad tour of asian businesses, and the Vietnamese students made up most of the ward. The branch was so friendly, though, that I just couldn't pass up the invitation to speak next Sunday... hehe... I also discovered that Vietnam is now allowing Vietnamese missionaries to openly proselyte! There are many stipulations, including a 6-month limit per area (they can serve 6 months every 6 months), and the fact that the missionaries must be native to Vietnam... but what a surprise!

Lastly, before I go to bed: if you're planning on coming at all to Hanoi in your life, I would suggest you go next year. 2010 is the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi's "birth." In preparation for the festivities, the city is conducting all sorts of wonderful restoration projects. I'm pretty sure that most of the projects will not get done in time for the celebrations, but I'm happy they're at least getting done! Much of the restoration focus is on the Old City, but some of the basic city services are getting an upgrade as well (this includes the possibility of a high-speed train!). Now, if only they would institute a garbage-collection system that didn't involve scraping it off the street...

Vietnam 101:

2009-06-19T03:01:00.000-07:00

I know. It's amazing. I made it to 'Nam alive and in one piece! I have to admit, it was pretty disheartening to still be picked up by the scam artist taxis, despite my efforts in trying to avoid them... and even more so when my wallet was $200 lighter... boo.

Rocky beginnings aside, here are some things I've learned so far in my crash-course introduction to Hanoi:

- Plan on taking 3+ showers every day. Even as a guest in someone's home, you will probably be offered the opportunity, so take it! And no, your own sweat does not count as a shower.

- Trust the taxi driving, but not the drivers... lines and direction of traffic mean nothing to anyone, and yet I have yet to see an accident!

- There's a reason they wear long sleeves and ventilation masks while motorcycling around the city (the air quality is horrific).

- Don't walk too slow or too fast across the street, or you're toast.

- The fruit is so good here, it just might convert you banana haters into liking them.

- Don't be alarmed when vendors follow you for a block with their merchandise, telling you to "buy the pretty fan!"

- Sidewalks are not for pedestrians. Need a place to park you motorbike? or start a barbeque? how about throw/collect garbage (not in bags, mind you)...

- Motorbike capacity = 3 adults or 1 adult+4 kids

Well, I'm off to dinner at my newfound friend's house!

"Fake Authentic" Branches...?

2009-05-21T16:29:00.000-07:00

It's not wood! It's a USB memory stick! Maybe the perfect product for Portlanders...

An Authentic Product of the 80's... :)

2009-05-12T19:48:00.001-07:00

Hipsters are NOT Authentic

2009-05-12T18:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm a little bitter that my front wheel was stolen in front of the school yesterday in broad daylight...!!!!!!!!

That being said, I'd like to say that the 'cult' of the hipster is one of the least authentic social groups I can currently think of ('indie' kids often fall into this category as well). In their efforts to be part of the 'counter culture,' they have created an image-driven social network where your degree of 'authenticity' is measured by how tight your pants are, how sweet your ride is (bike, not car), and how big your lensless glasses can be. They are not as independent as they may like to think... unless you can be independent collectively. But perhaps this isn't all-bad?

I've been thinking a lot about what it means for an individual to be truly 'authentic,' and I think I'm coming to the conclusion that it's not the people that are inauthentic; it's the social groups and the role of products within these social groups. No matter how 'hipster' or 'indie' someone is, each person comes from entirely different backgrounds which dictate their reactions to, and choices in the world around them. I would like to believe that because of the human ability to make conscious decisions and value judgements, it is impossible to be an inauthentic person. However, this does not mean that people are then excluded from participating in inauthentic activities, or associating with inauthentic groups.

A term that runs very close to inauthenticity for me is 'trendy.' When ideas like global warming become trendy, they become less authentic. For me, 'trend' implies a lack of knowledge about the object or idea that is being designated as such. So, when people decide to get rid of their 3-year old car and trade it in for a more environmentally-friendly hybrid car, they are not reacting to the actual need of the environment, but rather the trend based on the needs of the environment (because if they were to think about it, the impact of going through so much material has a greater impact than how much gas one may save).

Back to hipsters. In the end, the hipster and indie cultures provide a blanket of security that protect individuals within these groups from confronting the idea of being individual. Authentic people are everywhere, but are typically hidden by the facade of a chosen group-identity.

"The Hunt For Gollum"

2009-05-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

My friend recently showed me "The Hunt for Gollum," a fan-created movie response to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

While the story was really pretty lame, I was extremely impressed with the quality of the acting and graphics. Not only did they seamlessly copy the style and mood of the trilogy, but they succeeded in creating beautifully rendered computer-graphic scenes. Overall I was quite impressed!

This reminded me of a discussion we had in class at some point related to music mixing vs. video mixing. Because the movie was so well done, from what I understand the 'copyright' infringements were excused as long as the fan-movie didn't make money (which then allows other fans to see it for free online). After exploring the site a little more, it looks like the group of people who made "The Hunt for Gollum" are now trying to make a feature-length film (possibly for profit). While it is unfortunate that the movie was not allowed to make profit, I feel the 'corporate' response was pretty understanding. It makes sense to let fans create quality 'remixes'! Also, by allowing fans to carry-out such intense projects, the film industry can see what their audiences are craving. It's brilliant, really!

The Authentic Artist: Ryan McGuinness

2009-05-12T10:02:00.001-07:00

"I liken myself to a politician who hates what's going on and therefore wants to change the system, change what's going on...

... I hate art, and that's why I make art."

My Own Authentic Experience:

2009-05-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

Forest Park. To me, there is nothing more "Portland" than biking only minutes to get to any entry point in the nation's largest forested area within city limits. At a staggering 5,100 wooded acres and over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails, Forest Park provides the ultimate Portland escape for me. Not only is the park unique to Portland, but it feels quintessentially "Oregon" as well. Yay for trees!

Portland Public Service Building: An Authentic History

2009-05-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

A controversial icon of post-modern architecture, Michael Graves' design (commonly referred to as the "Portland Building") remains an example of one of the first post-modern buildings of the time, and certainly in the area. Known to architects as the reason post-modernism failed, the building's structural problems also stand as a running joke to the civil servants inside.

To me, the building is distinctly authentic to Portland simply because of the renown controversy and its historical significance. The addition of the bronze statue of Portlandia also seems unique to Portland (the building is not complete without the statue, nor the statue without the building).

An Exploration in Production and Consumption

2009-05-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's kindof trendy to be 'green' right now, but this website, though it may just be rephrasing things said in Bill McDonnough's "Cradle to Cradle," or Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," still makes a good point in a unique way. A short 20-minute video presentation narrated by Annie Leonard, this video is entirely animated diagrams. Not only does this "blank" format allow people to identify with the presentation much like people identify with cartoons, but the creative use of such diagrams allows the pace of the video to maintain its fast and informative pace.

www.thestoryofstuff.com

Additionally, if you are interested in furthering you understanding of where the products you buy are manufactured, artist Natalie Jeremijenko has started a project called "How Stuff is Made." The format is much like a wiki in that the users are typically the ones inputing the information. It's a very interesting and different approach to getting the same message out!

https://wikis.nyu.edu/xdesign/menupage.html

Sousou: The Ultimate "Authentic" Brand

2009-04-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

While visiting Japan, I came across this unique shoe and textile brand. Using traditional design for jikatabi, or work shoes, they use colorful fabrics and leathers to create edgy fashion statements. I'm not sure if the style will catch on to be widely trendy throughout the country or world, but I certainly have found them to be quite comfortable!

A Gathering of Elephants

2009-04-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Authenticity vs. History

2009-04-07T22:47:00.000-07:00

My grandfather fought in Germany during WWII, bringing back a 'souvenir' given to him by a family he befriended while over there. Because he died shortly after in the Korean War, I never knew him. Throughout my childhood I was drawn to this book for the simple fact that it was one of the few remaining artifacts from my grandfather's life.

As we explore the meaning and implications of authenticity in class, I would like to add this book to the list of meaningful, "authentic" objects. Though it now has significant historical reference, it remains authentic to me simply because it really is from the era it depicts... like a yearbook, but for the country of Germany. The best part about this book is that the pictures were glued-in separately from the printed page. As part of the propaganda of the times, it was not uncommon to have 'interactive' literature... books in which pictures could be glued-in by children, or families.

iwoniwoniwoniwoniwoniwoniwon!!!

2009-03-09T18:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally heard back from SMIBE (I entered their Story About a Place competition in January)... and it turns out I took first place with another team of students from Michigan! I guess they couldn't decide which one should really take first, so both projects won. Sadly, this means I have to share the $500 prize... but I still get bragging rights! ;)

Anyway, um, check it out and feel free to post a comment on the discussion board!

http://www.smibe.org

Need I Say More?

2009-03-09T18:08:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about knitting a giant tube, but maybe I'll have to rethink it...

I know it's not Valentine's day, but...

2009-02-19T16:07:00.000-08:00

I love these!

Not only do these paper valentines come mailed in a flat package, but they are designed and manufactured by local Portland designer and friend, Nathan Chrislip! He's recently been featured in the NY Times, TreeHugger and a number of other blogs! Way to go, Nathan!

Maybe it's a good time to be prepared for next year's Valentines day!?

Social Connectivity

2009-02-19T15:22:00.000-08:00

People want to share their experiences. During a workshop for mobile technologies hosted by Intel, there were a number of issues that came up with this design challenge. It is easy to see that, with the success of facebook, people want to be connected; community is important. Yet, so is privacy. "How people interact and how can a mobile device enhance their daily lives?"

Something that my partner, Nina, and I came up with was a mobile phone application to track the level of activity of your friends, as well as their location. Being new to Portland, and not knowing anyone when I moved up here, I also experienced the need to meet new people. But how is one to meet people when you don't have an established network? So, our application also included an activity invitation option. This would allow people who, say, want to go on a bike ride to send out an anonymous invitation from their mobile network. In this way, we would be using social networking to encourage social activity.

But is this a good thing?

At the end of the day, the group had an interesting discussion that addressed the issue of privacy and relevance to social networking. But I couldn't help but wonder: is our hunger for social networking (through internet and mobile devices) the result of a dysfunctional society? Would this type of application fill the void that has been created from the massive suburban sprawl that resulted in social isolation? I see this kind of mobile technology development as a desperate cry to the poor social structure of our cities today. But maybe that's just me, being an architect. :)

2009-02-15T23:31:00.000-08:00

The Venus Chair by Tokujin Yoshioka. The chair is "grown" in a tank as crystals form on a sponge-like substrate.

Is this perhaps a design of the future, or merely an artistic statement? Hard to tell. But I still think it probably isn't very comfortable to sit on!

Valentines and Air Supply

2009-02-15T23:15:00.000-08:00

What is true love without a little Air Supply. Or perhaps the real question is, what is LIFE without Air Supply?

I'm lying alone with my head on the phone

Thinking of you till it hurts

I know you hurt too but what else can we do

Tormented and torn apart

I wish I could carry your smile in my heart

For times when my life seems so low

It would make me believe what tomorrow could bring

When today doesn't really know, doesn't really know

Chorus:

I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you

I know you were right, believing for so long

I'm all out of love, what am I without you

I can't be too late to say I was so wrong

I want you to come back and carry me home

Away from these long, lonely nights

I'm reaching for you, are you feeling it too?

Does the feeling seem oh, so right?

And what would you say if I called on you now

And said that I can't hold on?

There's no easy way, it gets harder each day

Please love me or I'll be gone, I'll be gone

With lyrics like these, it's not hard to believe that their 1980's album "Lost in Love" contained 3 U.S. Top Five Singles. Actually, what amazes me more is that it's two men singing. I thought for sure that one of the two was a girl...

Oh, how I love the 80's.

Soda or Pop?

2009-02-08T11:22:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've had it happen to you, too. You say, "pop," and someone stares at you blankly for a minute, only to follow up with "oh, you mean soda!" Whatever. While this may seem rather insignificant, I would like to propose that soft drink terminology is one of the most disputed (linguistically) phenomena in the United States. Lucky for me, I also happened to find this chart to prove my point.

The term for soft drink is so commonly used, you might actually give away your place of origin the moment you open your mouth. In actuality, it doesn't really matter how you say it. Most people will probably understand eventually... but I do have issues with calling every carbonated beverage "coke." Not that I'm bias against the southern dialect, but really. It's like calling everything you wipe your nose with a "kleenex," or every temporary bandage a "bandaid." Oh, the power of product identification.

Which way am I going?

2009-02-06T21:18:00.000-08:00

Design that's not "murder"

2009-02-06T20:39:00.000-08:00

As I read Victor Papanek's essay on how design "has finally put murder onto a mass production basis," I was reminded of a design I saw a couple years ago in a business magazine article. Perhaps it can stand as an example of how design can make a meaningful impact on the environment?

The Q-Drum is a response to the lack of access to potable water in many rural African villages. Because the burden of carrying water lands largely on the women and children of these communities, they are faced with many debilitating back and neck injuries from carrying such large quantities of water great distances. Made of a durable linear low density polyethylene, the doughnut shaped cylinder is designed to be rolled from place to place. Holding 50 liters at a time, it is a manageable size that also meets the waters needs for the day. The simplicity of the design insures the ease of use.

I love stop animation.

2009-01-31T22:42:00.000-08:00

Dignity Village

2009-01-27T20:22:00.000-08:00

I just submitted this short video to SMIBE (Society for Moving Images of the Built Environment) for their first annual competition. The competition was centered around addressing architectural issues through telling the story of a place. My point was to show how Portland has allowed a small group of people to meet their needs by acquiring and adapting a small piece of land by the airport... also known as 'squatting.' Yay for urban adaptability!

It's not technically cheap if it's free...

2009-01-24T11:10:00.000-08:00

So, in case you haven't checked it out, you should.

www.aroundthesunblog.com

It's always full of great information regarding cheap activities in the city... proof that you don't have to spend a fortune to have a blast in Portland! The most recent post leads you to a fantastic site: a site that lists possibly everything you can get for free in this blessed city (which was my 'research' project this last summer... hehe).

http://momsbyheart.blogspot.com/2009/01/freebies-coupons-deals.html

LDS YSA Activities Director

2009-01-19T19:05:00.000-08:00

I was asked yesterday to be the "Young Single Adult" activities director (I'm Mormon, btw)... a job that is dreaded by those who are wise. "Why," you might ask? Elna Baker sums it up best in the following skit:

Maybe instead of having to plan-out these painfully awkward social events, I can get the job of making the tickets and fliers...

Your "Final Act"

2009-01-19T18:48:00.000-08:00

An interesting article in the new Spaces issue: how to have an environmentally correct funeral.

It seems obvious that a conventional burial may not be the 'greenest' option. However, cremation, though it saves space and can be done energy-efficiently, is also responsible for a large percentage of atmospheric mercury emissions (thanks to dental fillings). The most fashion-forward eco-repository on the market would be the Arka Ecopod, which is made from recycled paper and sports custom silkscreen images...

... a little something to look forward to, I guess?

I want to go back...

2009-01-18T10:36:00.000-08:00

Japan from Eric Testroete on Vimeo.

Stumptown "Berkie" 2008

2008-12-21T10:40:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you mix six inches of snow with uncleared downtown roads and a handful of nordic ski fanatics? An impromptu Birkebeiner, of course! Being the first of this seasonally-annual event, the attendance was somewhat... low. However, the determination and spirit of the handful of participants more than made up for the lack of bodies!

In joyous celebration of the winter gods, humans reclaimed the roads! Even a photographer from the Oregonian was there, so with luck, this event will takeoff and become a somewhat beloved urban tradition!

The Humans are Coming!!

2008-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

I wasn't aware that people do this... but now I want to try. Definitely check it out, and then challenge the metal beast yourself!

http://chasingthestreetcar.blogspot.com

Tillandsias and Noble Firs

2008-12-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

I finally went to Pistils Nursery located on Mississippi Ave, and what a treat that store is! Hoping for some advice on my kitchen herb collection, I discovered the amazing terrariums and selection of succulents. The nice lady at the counter also informed me that there is no hope for keeping herbs healthy indoors. Sad.

However, I walked away with a handful of Tillandsias...

...which now reside in my Christmas tree (hanging in little glass globes). I'll post some pictures when the tree looks a little more complete. :)

* Pistils Nursery is having some terrarium workshops this Sunday and upcoming Saturday (the 14th and 20th). I'm definitely going.

Live... Bike!!

2008-12-09T11:27:00.000-08:00

I love the pace of bicycles. Perfect for exploration, my personal history is intertwined with the bicycles of my life. Learning how to ride at a fairly young age, I first discovered my neighborhoods on the banana-seat. When I turned 9, my parents wanted to go camping and mountain biking with me... I never really did a lot of mountain biking, but when I outgrew that bike, I got another mountain bike simply because that's what I knew. That one lasted me all the way to my second year of college, when it was stolen from a locked garage that it was locked to. Boo to Eugene thieves.

My love of the bicycle didn't become apparent until I visited Kyoto. Somewhat overwhelmed with the humanity and busy-ness of the city, it wasn't until I extensively rode around with my Japanese friend that I was able to understand what Kyoto was about. From that point on, the rest is 'history.' I came back, enthused about road biking. My friend introduced me to fixies, as well as the culture of road and cyclocross racing.

Now I read, watch, and participate in everything I can that is bike related. Kazuma and I are currently planning our trip across the states, which will happen when we both graduate in a year and a half. I also dream of somehow building my own frame to create my ideal fixie... one thing at a time, though!

*the above drawing is of the precursor to the bicycle; the velocipede, which had no pedals

It's not the 50's anymore, apparently...

2008-12-06T10:30:00.001-08:00

I went caroling with a group of friends last night. We started off singing at people's houses that we knew, but then found ourselves knocking on the entire neighborhood's doors. I'm from Corvallis, which is a smaller town... but I didn't really think that people were nicer there, too. We were only successful in singing to half the houses; people would answer the door and then slam it shut when we started singing, or stare at us through the window!

*sigh*

Maybe caroling is truly a thing of the past. I love it, though... so I guess I'll keep on trying! There was one house of elderly that started singing with us. As long as the old folks don't die off too soon, I'm good to go. :)

Final Stop

2008-12-02T17:31:00.000-08:00

On December 12th and 13th, you can check out the final showing of the Bike Film Festival in 2008. It will be held at Cinema 21, with after-parties at Holocene. Check it out at:

http://bicyclefilmfestival.com/2008_site/portland/friday.php#a

GO!!!

PostSecret

2008-12-02T17:18:00.000-08:00

I found myself in Powells the other day and stumbled on the PostSecret book (a collection of 'confessions' sent to the author on postcards).

People are... amazing.

HD

2008-12-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

Ok, I don't mean to be so... obsessed. But I keep noticing things related to this 3d 'craze.' My friend just finished her CPA exams, and as a treat to herself, got a flat screen High Definition TV. When I was looking at TVs with her, it struck me; HD is kindof another form of 3d. The purpose of both is to create a more realistic image, but with very different approaches! I find it fascinating that society is going to such great lengths to make these images, which are mostly fabricated and not real, into 'realistic' scenes through the television screen.

And then comes the question: is this a good thing? Is it good that we are making arbitrary and unrealistic images and situations into reality? We invest an enormous amount of money and time developing and enjoying this technology, but what do we do in the actual world?

Mii and the Wii

2008-11-27T11:21:00.001-08:00

I'm home for the Thanksgiving Holiday, and upon my arrival, I was almost immediately challenged by my dad to a battle on Mario Kart.

I hope I never have to play Wii to save my life.

Uh, anyway... my new goal in life (when I have a little more free time) is to not be lapped multiple times by the stupid automated characters on that game. And someday I will rise triumphant and win against my own dad, who just turned 59 and can barely use the computer!! I mean, I thought games like this were targeted towards younger people!? Sadly, I think that in the next few hours, I will be defeated again by my 9-year-old nephew.

While we're on the topic of the Wii, I just want to say that I am impressed with the marketing strategies of this particular product. It's not only a good and aesthetically pleasing design, but the value attached to it continually grows due to the limited production of it (vs. it's high demand). So, rather than having to create a newer model for the next year, Nintendo maintains interest with this perceived rarity.

Sadly, I don't think this lesson can carry over to my architectural practice in the future. *sigh*

Anaglyph Glasses

2008-11-27T11:15:00.000-08:00

I found these cool, more permanent red and cyan glasses for anaglyph viewing. They look like aviator glasses, actually! Which got me thinking/day-dreaming... and now I am definitely going to do my studio presentation in 3d next term. And then have my reviewers wear the glasses, and have someone take a picture of my review! Ohhhh yes.

I think there should be a caution attached to the glasses, though. I mean, they looked so 'cool' that I just had to wear them around (to see if they enhanced the world to make it more 3d than it already is...). The result: a really bad headache. Don't try it.

Daytrotting

2008-11-21T11:39:00.000-08:00

One of the benefits to model-making in my architecture classes is that I have endless hours to listen to music and This American Life episodes. Needless to say, I go through my extensive music library at least once each scholastic year... so, in my quest for new music, I stumbled on a couple sites.

Pandora is pretty good as far as internet-based radios go, and eMusic often has sampler "cd's" in addition to its great deals on songs. However, one of my daily 'rituals' is to tune into Daytrotter.com while I check my email. Daytrotter is a studio located in Illinois, where bands that are on tour stop and record a few songs. These sessions are then posted on the site, and are available as free downloads. I would say that it's really hit-or-miss (only about a third of the bands are worth listening to). But what a great way for artists to get themselves out there! It's not just a radio, in this case, but a legal way of celebrating the craft.

I was talking with a friend the other day about the current trend in art galleries; how it seems that there are a lot of younger, live-in galleries popping up. This 'grass roots' way of showing art is a great opportunity to encourage young artists, and perhaps serve as a way to stick-it to the big business feel of so many galleries.

These are similar outlets for music and art, though I wonder if there is a way to economically stabilize these efforts?

How to go cross-eyed:

2008-11-19T23:26:00.000-08:00

I never thought this would be a useful talent, so I never developed it. However, after recently working with stereographic photos, I have been told you can shave off minutes of wasted time by simply crossing one's eyes (to check your work as you go along). Apparently this technique has a name: "cross eyed viewing method." Somewhat self explanatory, I know... but here's another description in case you were wondering:

"A method of free-viewing stereo pairs where the left eye image is placed on the right side of a stereo pair and the right eye image is placed on the left side. It is generally believed to be easier to learn than the parallel method and can be done with substantially larger images. However, it cannot be used on most stereo cards since they are printed in parallel format."

Too bad I'm horrible at crossing my eyes! Maybe there's a youtube instruction video on it...

'Das Rad' and Civilization

2008-11-18T13:01:00.000-08:00

I was looking for another short animated German film the other day, and found this instead.

Find "Das Rad" here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj3rT_yYCw8

I guess I especially liked this short film for its commentary on civilization. I love the manipulation of the speed of time.

Artist's Block?

2008-11-11T12:25:00.000-08:00

I just got the 27th edition of McSeeney's. I love McSweeney's.

In it was a published sketchbook of Art Spiegelman; a sketchbook that he titles "autophobia." When I saw the book, I thought that it might be about the fear of cars... but he is referring to a fear of himself. I found this introduction interesting:

"Drawing, which in childhood had been a pleasure, has turned into more and more of a painful chore for me, an unavoidable part of being a cartoonist who needs to somehow make ideas visible... I stopped drawing in bound notebooks long ago so I wouldn't be gratuitously confronted with a permanent record of my meager skills...

To shake this Fear of Drawing and the accompanying self-loathing, I started an organized sketchbook again. I did a page straight in ink almost every day, a page without purose, a page not intended to ever be seen by anyone."

In his introduction he explains that he now can doodle while talking on the phone again, and doesn't dread practicing his chosen craft anymore. While this sketchbook is a successful exercise for Spiegleman, I found it mind-boggling that someone so successful could be so self-conscious. I guess it's somewhat validating, too.

A Night of Universal Design

2008-10-31T23:51:00.000-07:00

I would say that Halloween typically doesn't bring out the best in society. However, it is a safe, justified way of expressing oneself... which allows many people's creative talents to come out. I am one of the people who are less-inspired this time of year, but I give props to those who put in excessive amounts of effort!

My Halloween costume story of the night: I was cleaning my room about an hour before I was going to go to a party. I looked up on my desk from my position on the floor, when I saw it. A role of packing tape. So, naturally, and out of my indifference for the holiday, I made myself another arm. I like Christmas better anyway, with all it's gifts and glory. So I gave myself a drafting arm, you know, so I can work faster. I wish it would actually work!

*sigh*

Cheese!

2008-10-31T23:32:00.000-07:00

I just bought a camera.

After losing my beloved canon of four years (I think it was stolen, actually), I finally caved-in and replaced it... of course, not until there was the sufficient two-month mourning period! After researching, and drooling, and then researching some more, I finally went to the store with two cameras in mind. I was waiting for the salesman to tell me which one to buy at this point. It turned out this man knew even less about cameras than I.

Nevertheless, I walked away with a camera that put a smile on my face. I was thinking to myself "Great! Now I can post pictures of my projects and bikerides on my blog!" How could I have lived without the camera! And then it hit me. How could I have lived without the camera? I had no way to document all those moments of life, so how can I prove they actually existed? How can I say that I had a good time at that concert, if there are no pictures of me grinning in front of the stage? How will people believe any of my stories without the physical evidence of a digital photo? I might as well have not lived, it seemed to me.

Ok, so maybe that was a little overdramatic. But I wonder sometimes. Cameras seem to get thinner and lighter every year, to minimize the bulk and promote usability. But with this freedom, we have established a responsibility to carry that little camera with us EVERYWHERE. Like the cell phone, it has integrated into our lives imperceptibly to the point in which our view of life could easily be distorted. What if people start to look at their lives solely through the lens of a camera?

I saw an interview of Stan Brackhage once, addressing his movies on his first child's birth, and the experimental movies of the Vietnam War. When asked how he was able to carry out such intense topics through this medium, he explained that the video camera was a sort-of filter that allowed him to translate what was going on. The moment itself was too intense for him experience alone, but with the camera he was able to remove himself and then replace himself into the scene. He felt that he was not actually 'removed' from the event, but rather given the opportunity to abstract the actual event.

Another Massage... Please?

2008-10-31T23:10:00.000-07:00

I recently came across an interesting concept in my Urban Design class... a concept brought to the world by Archigram, an "avant-garde" architectural group formed in the 1960's. Archigram was futurist, anti-heroic and pro-consumerist, working mostly in hypothetical drawings. These projects dealt with the new possibilities that technology had to offer. I'm not entirely clear as to who was influenced first by technology and its new role in our lives, but Archigram closely follows the same theories of McLuhan in "The Medium is the Massage."

My favorite project is that of the walking city.

Like the internet (or television, as McLuhan and Archigram were no doubt thinking of), one can just "plug in" the city in any random geological site! It's brilliant really, aside from the fact that civilization would perpetuate the idea of Disposable. On the bright side, it could eliminate the need for travel by plane! Think of all the fossil fuel you would save!

Actually, I suppose on a smaller scale, trailer homes are a lot like this. Maybe trailer homes are cooler than I thought.........

*some of the drawings from Archigram might look familiar; they make an appearance on the opening clips of Monty Python's Flying Circus

Recycled Design

2008-10-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

This summer I moved to Portland, leaving behind all of my non-inspiring and somewhat decrepit Eugene furnishings. After perusing craigslist for a couple days, I found it; a clawfoot tub for practically free! Since my bathtub in the apartment wasn't clawfooted, I decided to use it for seating. It was quite the adventure, and it took much longer than expected to complete, but here it is!

Turns out this isn't an entirely original idea, however.

When showing it off for the first time, my friend said something like "How 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' of you!" I thought I'd seen the movie before... it was funny though, to see how influenced I am, even if it is at a subconscious level. Curious to see if there were others out there, I 'googled' it, and here's what I found:

The best part is that the sofa above is sold for about $4000. Yikes. This site had lots of other neat 'recycled' designs. Check it out at reestore.com

2008-10-06T17:10:00.000-07:00

...the science of phenomena as distinct from that of the nature of being.

2008-10-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

My friend earlier this summer was explaining to me how the Architecture program she was in is considered more "phenomenological" than that of the University of Oregon's. Because architect's are notorious for making up words, I had to look it up... aaaand it's a real word.

The idea fascinates me... "an approach that concentrates on the study of consciousness and the objects of direct experience." I suppose that this reminds me of the issues of reality; how we distinguish our individual realities, perceptions. Which brings me to the article, "Seeing is Forgetting," by Lawrence Weschler. Here are some quotes that I feel best express this idea:

"All art is experience, yet all experience is not art."

"If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite."

We move through the world with a certain degree of expectation. We see what we want or know we will see. So, what is it that I see?