29 May 2013

We the Tiny House People (Documentary)


And here's the complete documentary... "We the Tiny House People" by Kirsten Dirksen! 

Living Smaller & Simpler


Kirsten Dirksen, co-founder of the Faircompanies site, documents simple-living by way of one's home, transportation, and overall practices through her Youtube series. I've mentioned the book "Tiny Homes, Simple Shelter" by Lloyd Khan (I'll return it to you ASAP, Mike!) here before, and some of the home builders from that book have been featured in Dirksen's videos. Whether you're into the Tiny Home/Small(er) Spaces movement or not, I believe that simple(r) living is something we can all apply to our own lives and this is what Dirksen's work spotlights.  

A 16 year-old takes you through the process of building his own place:


19 May 2013

Mike Carr

"Congregation", mixed media on canvas, 2012 
"Flock", mixed media on canvas, 2013
"Monday",  acrylic, spray paint, and oil pastel on paper,  2011

"Walking and Talking", mixed media on canvas  





































"The Guardian",  mixed media on canvas,  2012
















































































































































Paintings above by the Bristol artist Mike Carr, a.k.a China Mike. Visit his website here and his blog here. Looking at his paintings sparks an energy in me that I haven't felt in a long time when viewing someone's work. It feels personal, because to me, in these five paintings above, very recent and very significant brain action of mine has been represented. I have a soothing yet confusing reaction to this, but still it feels good for a stranger to draw it out.   

18 May 2013

Cloud Atlas



"Oh, this movie. This beautiful, beautiful movie. It’s a shame that the word 'breathtaking' has been so fucked out by hack movie critics, because it actually applies to Cloud Atlas. Sure, it was three hours long, and I probably shouldn’t have seen it for the first time stoned out of my gourd, but damn — this movie rocked my fucking world.
Structurally, Cloud Atlas is a challenge. There is no way to absorb everything in one viewing. The film’s layers aren’t just stacked on top of one another — they extend outward and through time in an exploding fractal of visual, textual, and cultural motifs. It’s fun when you catch one of the echoing references, but don’t get greedy and try to catch them all. You will only frustrate yourself. Just sit back, let it flow over you, and trust that more will be revealed when you see it again.
It’s not all work, though. Emotionally, Cloud Atlas is as easy as it gets. The narrative may be complicated, but it is still very traditional. People who compare this film to Malick’s Tree of Life are off the mark. Both films are deeply philosophical, but the Wachowskis aren’t writing a poem. They’re telling a story, and they’re damn good at telling stories. You may not know what to think at any given moment, but you’ll know exactly how to feel in every scene.
Intellectually, Cloud Atlas is a fucking masterpiece. Anyone who says otherwise is either incapable or unwilling to deconstruct a film with so many moving parts, the sum of which aren’t meant to be as great as the whole. If you didn’t enjoy it, that’s fine. If you didn’t connect with it, that’s fine too. You don’t have to love it, but you sure as hell have to respect it. It reaches further and achieves more than the very best films from any of the genres it encompasses.
If you haven’t already, go see it. If you have, by all means, go see it again."
-The Coquette on Cloud Atlas

• • • • Running in place, I am so so so looking forward to watching this tonight. 

Today

Eating the largest strawberries and watching the Blackhawks in game 2 of their 2nd round of playoffs against the Red Wings. 

I want to share with you...

My love for Bob's Burgers- 












A very early preview of my installation for Seldom Seen music, art, and lit festival
























































And this excerpt from the 2007 film Om Shanti Om



04 May 2013

Hungry Water


Speaks many words...