this week has been red letter for podcasts.
(isn’t that all bloggity of us to push other crazy new-fangled computer media on you?)
however, if you’re feeling nervous, take comfort in knowing that both of these audio suggestions lead directly to new books…
1.) god we love patti.
check out fresh air, terri gross, and patti smith.
2.) and we think michael is damn straight.
now, go directly to on point, tom ashbrook, and michael pollan.
Filed under: -of art, -of harrisonburg, -of jgrimsrud, -of localism
we’ve had a couple brief, incomplete discussions on the blog about public art.
trash sculptures are gone, but in other pub-art news, an old friend, andre, is helping to construct a piece for a new park on the southeast side of town. the design/construction comes from richmond rockscapes:
andre says the design drew from gaudi’s sculpture gardens in the barcelona hills:
gaudi reminds me of some recent art debates: we recently trekked up to the hilltops where parc güell sits, and had a little trouble reconciling the crawling tourist mass with gaudi’s socially engaged ideas (i believe the park was intended to actually house an artisanal community?)…
gaudi’s body of work & his reputation have been at the center of barcelona’s renaissance, and we definitely were happy to visit. but the work exists now for tourists, whereas the artists/architect seemingly intend to create works that would weave their way into community life, and thereby affect and change the community (another example: the working-class school aside the sagrada familia cathedral is now a museum, rather than a place for poor families to send their kids).
anyway, i would love to see more local development bucks go toward projects like andre’s–i’ve always loved his work. perhaps next up, a way to activate some dead downtown space into a communal space: a summer bathing pool? a mini amphitheater? even an amphibious creature crawling up the banks of black’s run? maybe the friendly city needs one of these guys:
listening to this.
it falls securely within my favorite song category: “everything’s going to be alright” songs.
like REM‘s ‘nightswimming’. or ben harper‘s ‘the three of us’. or red house painter‘s “have you forgotten”. or clap your hand’s say yeah‘s “over and over again”. or tom wait‘s “come on up to the house”. or patti smith‘s “farewell reel”. or pearl jam‘s “wishlist”. or low‘s “two step”.
that is only a glimpse of my short list. slight guilty pleasures. they all manipulate me pleasingly.
i don’t think that i would actually put the middle east on my final list (a little uber-trendy to be classic in my opinion). but i was listening to their song ‘blood’ and it made me think of all of those songs i turn to for late night drives or heavy summer rainy days like today.
they all feel a bit like this:
sally mann (the photographer behind this gelatin silver print) gets the feeling.
this is what has become of the spectacular trash art sculptures on N. Liberty:
somebody is trying, but remember the tall people like figures that alternately embraced and fought?
wtf?
we want our impromptu street expression back!
buy here.
and i love shepard fairey. read more about this rogue artist here.
Fairey was arrested on February 7, 2009, on his way to the premiere of his show at the Institute of Contemporary Art[21]in Boston, Massachusetts, on two outstanding warrants related to graffiti. He was charged with damage to property for having painted two Boston area locations with graffiti, a Boston Police Department spokesman said.[22]
you might recognize his work:
i recently got to see the original. it was fly.
recently, a friend was going on an epic alaskan journey and wanted to take some sweet polaroids to document the occasion. i offered to lend her one of mine. all was well.
except.
she couldn’t find film.
nowhere.
usually, glen’s has a few dusty, expired boxes that suffice. but not now.
so, i pointed her in the direction of the holy digital polaroid. but it was a let down. just not the same.
apparently, others feel the same desire for these imperfect pieces of instant gratification.
here’s a NY Times article about these cool art geeks.
some of our best family moments have been caught and developed via my vintage polaroid land camera.
here are some nice polaroids too look at.
sigh.
i’m always up for a good poster:
the story behind the one above is that (so says lena on her blog) readymade magazine
asked a few illustrators/designers to create in the style of the depression era WPA posters
created the sweet “eat local, buy local, grow local” poster in response.
read more here.
these are striking and lovely and fantastic:
and this is what the artist has to say about these photos:
In the end we are two people lucky in love and just really excited and terrified that we are pregnant while surrounded by so much uncertainty.
really, his photos are amazing. but so is his painful, beautiful writing. read his blog.
thanks to joanna goddard from a cup of jo for the heads up.
Filed under: -of art, -of harrisonburg, -of jhumphrey, -of politik, -of sound
remember our interview with za-mont miguel anderson awhile back?
here’s the info on poetry at clementine:
Time: Location: Street: City/Town:
Phone: Email:
for the wolf gang & rock lotto 1 & 2 reviews. in short,
more fun than a bag of poop.
enjoying the sun,thinking about gardens, and preparing to walk down to the blue nile merkato right now…
Filed under: -of art, -of harrisonburg, -of localism, -of sound, -of the concert calendar, -of townie-to-townie, -of upcoming
(p.s. to this week’s calendar) ah, the dodger. not always easy to know what’s coming up there, but this is going to be good:
the artful dodger – the wolf gang (sound), rhett miles (vision) – 7pm
Filed under: -of art, -of harrisonburg, -of jhumphrey, -of reads, -of sound, -of townie-to-townie
i heard murmurings about local poetry readings, and i traced this rumor to za-mont miguel anderson.
za-mont landed in harrisonburg last june after a 12-year stint in the navy. (randomly, the third recently post-navy person i’ve met in a week). he came from richmond, looking for
wow…just a change. from what i’m used to.
he’s pretty happy with his move, and with harrisonburg as his new home. he says that
harrisonburg lacks nothing that much except more jamaican restaurants (just joking). It really dose not need any thing yet.
za-mont is a poet. he likes poetry. and he wants to hear other people’s poetry. out loud. at readings. a dead poet’s society.
i have to admit that i was skeptical of a robin william’s-style dead poet’s society, and so i was happy that za-mont laughed at me (through email) when i tentatively asked if his inspiration looked something like this:
instead, thankfully, this is how za-mont describes his idea:
the group is model after my favorite group from the 50-70s eras they were the original freestyle poets. The idea came 2 me when I was talking 2 my friend (the vice president Patrick Varney) he was telling me about poetry readings he use 2 do around town where he use 2 live .They were called the dead poets who spoke on every thing that was wrong with society. I am hoping that people will not b afraid 2 read or share there work. I am also hoping 2 give a voice 2 those who would not have a voice. Because there r some many poetry groups around that only wants 1 type of poet and that was not cool with me because I write all types and they should except all types.
(i’m hoping to get an interview with patrick varney, so stand by…)
now, this gets me excited.
makes me think of one of my favority poets, saul williams.
i was with him, in 2004, when bush won the election the second time. he ended the show early and i was scared. to see saul williams in unexpected, unstaged, unplanned tears was scary. but terrifying in an inspirational way. his face and voice that night is burned into my memory.
so, there is a delicate balance necessary for poetry readings. very delicate.
it can be done so terribly. cringeworthy poetry is unfortunately not so rare.
but my theory is if the poets are angry. if the poets are inspired. if the poets are trying to make a statement. trying to say what is wrong in another way. trying to offer motivation for change. they can’t go wrong.
so, i’m excited, za-mont. keep us posted on times and days.
this is what we know for sure:
Well right now we will only b meeting at poetry readings around town. I am trying 2 do it biweekly 2 monthly. Every 1 should come. There work and a open mind and heart 2 all types of poetry.
i asked za-mont for an original poem to post. we’ll see. i think he prefers his poetry live. and alive.
folks, here are the details:
what: alternative arts & crafts
NOT 
where: clementine
when: TOMORROW, tues. 3 march 2009
time: 6-7pm
the dl:
Like to make all sorts of crafty/artsy stuff with your hands or would like to learn how? Want to combine forces with other creative folks in the area?
We know there are talented and crafty people in Harrisonburg; we meet you every day! This is our opportunity to share what we know. New group forming now and we want your input and creativity. This will be a modern approach to crafting with a DIY and conscious/anti-consumerist focus.
We’re thinking craft workshops, frock swaps, material sharing, collaborating, etc. in a relaxed and fun environment in the lounge at clementine. Come to brainstorm and shape the direction and form of this new Craft Mafia-esque group in Harrisonburg.
Free event and no defined craft skillset necessary to participate. Oh, and come whether or not you think you’re any good. This is meant to be FUN. Anyway, we guarantee you’ll have something to bring to the group!
the state says,’ bring it on’: the craft mafia, roller derbies, underground knitting clubs, illegal restaurants; all things illicit and creative….
maybe if we could bump the bike love up a notch around here, it would become a “thing”, and we’d all be obsessed, eco, frugal, and happy (as we rode along on our way to plop the $7 down we didn’t spend on gas for some local tunes), and we’d be inspired to show this newfound bliss via these:
golly. i can almost feel the bluebirds tugging at my collar.
(note: wow. is the above really the iconic zip-a-dee-doo-dah image? i feel almost uncomfortable posting it.)
but, i have to admit that if a stranger tagged my (non-existent) bike with such a sweet, letterpressed, note, i would be inclined towards decreased depression and miserliness. wouldn’t you?
you can order some and start the trend here. they are only $5 for 6 tags. and folks, that‘s far cheaper entertainment than either buffalo wild wings or a night with the local bands.
thanks to joanna for the lead.
simply fantastic.
basically, spur of the moment, private concerts in weird and beautiful – usually euro – spots by your favorite music people.
i have long been a sufjan stevens semi-skeptic.
despite the fact that we have cool friends that do lovely work for athsmatic kitty, his record label, and despite efforts from loved ones to convert me, i’ve remained lukewarm about sufjan.
but after watching him play a rough and wind-blown version of “lakes of canada” on a french rooftop, i am feeling pretty happy about him. and i even went and downloaded “seven swans” as a result.
check out the video:
and, in the spirit of reconciliation, i’m going to post an andrew bird video too (that i like because, showing his dangerous side, he tries to break into some forbidden paris gated area to sing):
and, in the continued spirit of earnest indie men, here are the fleet foxes singing a little acapella ditty while sitting in a paris park and later, “blue ridge mountains” in an abandoned wing of the grand palais:
update: i’m not so into the sufjan stevens album. and the other people in my house are even more so not into the fact that i may have used up all of the emusic credits downloading said album. oops.
our favorite downtown statue rose up after his windstorm-fall, & struck quite a convincing rendition of our state seal:
¡sic semper tyrannis!
i was definitely inspired to kick some ass…
since i hang out with folks like those above quite often, and have even had the happy pleasure of delivering a couple when the provider didn’t quite make it…i quite like this series from french photographer thierry bouet. (there is supposed to be an umlaut in there, but i couldn’t make it work.) “hideously cute” is how this article describes them.
thanks to joanna for the head’s up.
holga love, right here.
this is where i would like to be…
photo from this italian flickr stream.
she’s showing a piece (that started out at pittsburgh’s mattress factory, now moving to the brooklyn museum) that deals w/ daily-internet-news-image content, hand-drawing, digital transmission, ¡even twitter-tweeting!
check it out here, where among other things you can sign up for daily portraits of mary temple‘s muses/the leaders of world.
(a fun fact, a lighting expert the IT guy at the mattress factory is none other than one of the state’s favorite musical performers, ¡slim cessna! that old, seminal professional:
)
