Turi Travels

Fall Foliage turns to Abandoned Mental Hospital

2011-11-23T17:23:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago David and I took a drive upstate to get out of the city for a bit. Partway along the Palisades Parkway the all-morning lack of coffee hit him. So, we took the next exit for surely there'd be a place for coffee. But we found ourselves driving along quiet small lanes, drives, and roads snaking between houses, occasional developments, fields, over streams and among trees. And not even a strip mall promising coffee.

As we finally turned back toward the Parkway, we came through woods into the middle of lovely, obviously abandoned stone buildings with neatly shorn and expansive lawns between them. We stopped, curious, and invited by a handicap ramp leading to a boarded door with shattered glass panels beside it. Slipping in was easy.

And into a whole different world.

The Former Letchworth Village Institute for the Feeble Minded and Epileptic

It really was a village - built in 1907 as a model for long-term housing for the feeble-minded and war widows. The buildings are sturdy, and dry even though abandoned since 1995. Wide lawns separated buildings, and a stream separated the male and female sides. Only part remains abandoned. The girl's campus is now a school, and some of the grounds have been turned to a golf course - but wander through the untouched ones...

We read patient records left in the attic. We explored dorms with beds still standing. We climbed in windows, and out broken doors, and up stairs. Reviewed blue prints, and read letters prepared for departing staff when the state closed the facility.

Everywhere we walked our feet crunched on peeled paint and other detritus of time, but the place smelled fresh and felt surprisingly dry. It was well made.

Head there - I recommend it. Exit 14 off of the Palisades Parkway. And read more about its history here http://www.opacity.us/site16_letchworth_village.htm

David took this photo of me in the old administration building.

David, just after we entered via the broken window.

A question

2011-11-04T19:36:00.004-04:00

I was asked about a year ago for an anti-Valentine's Romantic Regrets. (Gene always asks good questions.) Looking back in Facebook at the thread, my reply still feels true:

"I regret 5 years spent with someone I realized never trusted me.

(Wow. 5 years came down to 12 words that sum up all that excitement of falling in love, the self-doubt of being with a controlling person, the heart ache of feeling both wanted and rejected, and the ultimate liberation of realizing I do NOT need that.)
"

Amon Tobin - isam

2011-10-28T11:15:00.004-04:00

One of the best things about the folks I work with is that they have a wide range of passionate interests. About 4 months ago, Juan, a co-worker, sent around a link to the upcoming Amon Tobin live show. I got a ticket and we met up with some of his friends for the show. Below is a composite Juan created:

Juan's photos capture a lot of the best moments in the show - it was a beautifully curated set of projections, and symphonicly composed with movements and themes that references each other throughout. Part of a week of great music.

Can you believe that it was a single projector that did all this? A projector, some very smart programmers, and a cubist set inside of which Tobin played the sets.

Here's a link about the making of it.

A poem to NYC by Elizabeth Bishop

2011-09-30T01:21:00.001-04:00

Found in a friend's farewell email to his NYC friends:

LETTER TO N.Y.

In your next letter I wish you'd say
where you are going and what you are doing;
how are the plays and after the plays
what other pleasures you're pursuing:

taking cabs in the middle of the night,
driving as if to save your soul
where the road goes round and round the park
and the meter glares like a moral owl,

and the trees look so queer and green
standing alone in big black caves
and suddenly you're in a different place
where everything seems to happen in waves,

and most of the jokes you just can't catch,
like dirty words rubbed off a slate,
and the songs are loud but somehow dim
and it gets so terribly late,

and coming out of the brownstone house
to the gray sidewalk, the watered street,
one side of the buildings rises with the sun
like a glistening field of wheat.

—Wheat, not oats, dear. I'm afraid
if it's wheat it's none of your sowing,
nevertheless I'd like to know
what you are doing and where you are going.

Elizabeth Bishop

9/11 Memorial

2011-09-15T23:09:00.000-04:00

Just a few days after it opened, a friend from work got preview tickets for the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero. I haven't followed the site plans closely despite biking past the area with its high fences for the past several years. I was surprised at how affecting the memorial is.

Water constantly rushing down is both peaceful and urgent, but the hole is threatening - you can't see it's bottom and the walls cut sharply down for both - it feels like a threat and loss, a tunnel into the underworld.I found myself choked up at the grouping of names by one of the airlines, where someone had gone through and put a small set of airline wings into the names of each of the flight attendants or pilots, and for the three unborn children they had carried.

Guaranteed to embarrass

2011-06-04T18:11:00.003-04:00

If cats can be embarrassed... this would do it. Even the model seems shocked to be there.

(Not exactly travel but found due to the relative boredom of hanging out while someone else is in the hospital.)

Possum!

2011-04-15T19:20:00.003-04:00

We have a possum in our community garden!

Kind of adorable!

Possum-enhance (and thus revealed to be a pointillist creature)

The Neon Graveyard

2011-02-18T23:24:00.000-05:00

One of the best things about being in Vegas for CES had nothing to do with the conference - it was a visit to the Neon Graveyard.

The Graveyard is a museum dedicated to preserving the history of Las Vegas' neon age. Back in the 50's and 60's when Vegas neon was hot, most signs were made by a single company with lease contracts so when the hotels eventually upgraded or went out of business - the signs came back. And piled up.

They are gorgeous relics of a different but not far past time, each covered in pretty toxic peeling paint and remnants of light bulbs, neon and wires.

They have so much character and speak to great aspirations for tomorrow, and by their size and effort to make suggest a sense of permanence we rarely build today. - and I'm aware that they themselves are less permanent than other things humans have made -

When you next visit Las Vegas, look up the Neon Graveyard, schedule a visit, and make the time to come. It's great.

Almost everything is neon - but that which isn't also came from a similar part of the history of Las Vegas.

CGI or reality?

2011-02-10T14:30:00.002-05:00

The Third & The Seventh from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

Wow. "The Third & The Seventh". This is the first time I've really felt like I can't tell CGI from real film. It's lovely - a full CGI piece, modeled, animated, and scored by Alex Roman, and is perhaps one of the best execution of the technology I've ever seen. There's no narrative - only the interplay of light, form and sound.

Fire Island

2009-08-09T23:47:00.003-04:00

The photos say it - only in part.

Heading back home

2009-07-18T22:08:00.005-04:00

I've been traveling a lot recently. Since June 6th I've been in Mexico, Chicago, Madison, Peoria, San Diego, San Francisco - with a couple of weekends and work days in NYC between.

One of the best stops on the trip was seeing my sister and family in Madison.

It wasn't the easiest part of the trip - they moved to a new home and I was helping with painting, packing, moving, and watching the kids. Ana, as you can see above, was also into helping out.

Her new closet includes a window - a perfect spot to play. I painted a mural for her inspired by one of the books her parents read to her.

Mexico City for work

2009-04-02T11:46:00.003-04:00

Last Friday a new client asked for someone to head down to Mexico City to participate in research. So I am here. It's great - beautiful and spring-like. I've managed a bit of time to see things while here - the Anthropology Museum and the Virgin of Guadalupe complex.

WFH

2009-03-20T17:38:00.002-04:00

Post-surgery, I'm working from home - and it's great to be bound to your computer by the sleeping cat on your shoulder.

Turi travels... to the surgeon!

2009-03-12T23:21:00.004-04:00

I've torn my ACL - a ligament that connects the back of the thighbone to the front of the shin and basically keeps the knee stable when you're doing side-to-side activities.

How? Probably on my last ski trip when I took on something I wasn't ready for, or perhaps at the basketball tournament when I turned oddly and kind of collapsed - or at sometime further back like the bad ankle break a few years ago.

Plane crash in the Hudson

2009-01-16T12:41:00.002-05:00

From my window at work I saw the plane floating down river attended by a circle of ferries and harbor police boats. It was ringed with flashing lights in the semi-dark of mid-winter later afternoon. By the time it came into view all we could see was a portion of the wing angled out of the water and a bit of the tail.

This image was found online.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-05T22:47:00.004-05:00

I'm actually way far away in rural NH caring for my dad post-surgery - in essence chauffeur, cook, companion, and watchdog. It amazes me - deeply - how much time it takes to plan, cook, provide, and clean up from 3 meals a day and run the normal errands of a life when its not just oneself one is taking care of - and when you have to drive at least 30 minutes to do anything.

I do like it up here - the quiet, watching the lake freeze, unfreeze, glaze, powder, and crack as the weather changes, the cats getting into each other, cooking for dad, being away from the office, walking in the snow - but I think if I lived here I'd have to build myself a workshop or make a part of the house mine - and have a purpose to each day.

I guess 3 weeks of vacation/care-taking edges you beyond relaxing nothing-to-do-but-what's-right-in-front-of-you towards a questioning of what strings those moments together.

It has been fun as well to see Nugget experience his first snow, his first real time outdoors, and negotiating his first non-littermate feline relationship with my Dad's quite senior cat, Paquita.

Photo credit: Juan Botella, my brother-in-law, took a series of great close-ups of Nugget over the holiday. This is one of my favorites.

From a week with Dad

2008-11-02T20:54:00.003-05:00

I've been working remotely for a few days with Dad. Nugget came up with me - and he's getting used to being outside and to another cat.

As always, great dinners.

Nugget exploring

The beauty of Fall

Wong Kar-Wai weekend

2008-10-05T16:10:00.002-04:00

Gene came up from Boston this weekend for a midnight screening of The Ashes of Time and a great, intimate conversation with the director Wong Kar-Wai.

Louisville and the Ali Center

2008-09-15T13:17:00.003-04:00

Silly photo from one of our work trips to Louisville - Fab, myself, Emile and Jason at the Muhammad Ali center.

frog BBQ and galdiator battle

2008-08-29T13:08:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure who took the images - but they are a great representative sample of the evening - Amy's rooftop in Williamsburg, great barbeque, tasty drinks, and a n air-puffed gladiator battle station.

Nothing was stable, and all became less so as the night went on.

Watching the sport.

Delicious, though when I arrive much was already finished.

Happy frogs - though Mark has left for other endeavours since.

Poor Nugget.

2008-08-11T18:28:00.004-04:00

Poor, brave little guy. We went all the way uptown to the roving ASPCA van. We got there super early and waited inline with a boisterous assortment of people. But he waited patiently, even on the bus, and was sweet when I picked him up. I hope that he wasn't too young - they assured me he wasn't of course but he was not even close to being a tom yet. Ah well. He seems fine now.

Alaska - the touristy stuff

2008-07-01T04:07:00.002-04:00

Independence Mine - an old gold mine that was abandoned due to the WWII draft.

The Musk Ox farm - they produce a lovely wool-like fiber Quiviut that is spun by natives into expensive but lovely lace patterns.

And - of course - a glacier tour run by a family friend out of Whittier - which was indeed a secret military base at one point due to it's almost 100% cloud cover 365 days per year.

Alaska - the family homestead

2008-07-01T03:38:00.006-04:00

During the Great Depression, the government resettled farmers from dust bowl farms to Alaska to establish a farming community that would (ideally) come to serve the needs of military forces defending the states from Japan and any other offensive powers. My grandfather moved to Palmer about 15 years later and purchased a farm from one of the original homesteaders.

He's no longer living, but the street that runs by the old house bears his name. (He was also known as 'the Flying Dentist of Alaska'.

The farm was set on the flat plain of the Matanuska Valley overlooked by the Butte and Pioneer Peak.

The current owners have le the place decay - and the old barn that was raised in the 30's has mostly collapsed. But it used to house cows, chickens, tractors, even the airplane, and the many other ventures my grandfather embarked upon.

For both Galen and I one of our strongest memories of this place is from perhaps 1978... I was perhaps 6 and she 5 and visiting Alaska in the winter. I recall vividly sliding down the enormous slide in my snowsuit just after a fresh night of snow -- the powder piling up between my legs and flying around me as I slid down. And Galen remembers that I got there first and got to go down the slide first. It's still the best kept thing on the place.

We also visited the family plot in town.

Alaska - the first few days

2008-07-01T03:24:00.003-04:00

We arrived in Alaska

Dad.

Galen, Ana, and

Juan

to see parts of the state Dad had never visited when he lived here himself.

and to return to the family homestead.

I shall destroy!

2008-07-01T03:17:00.004-04:00

Camel Ride

2008-05-28T17:41:00.002-04:00

Bonnie came to visit this weekend with her daughter. They met the kitty, then we went for Bahn Mi and played in the park across the street.

Kitten Attack

2008-05-20T18:16:00.003-04:00

He's out to destroy the toys. (A photo from this morning as I was leaving)

New adventure - little nameless

2008-05-19T18:52:00.004-04:00

I found a kitten the other day - he was crying in the alley. He's still nameless but has won a place in the house by his constant desire to purr and snuggle.

In the midst of cleaning

His eyes have a bit of an infection so he's squinty most of the time.

Hosting the Roger Black talk

2008-04-24T14:47:00.001-04:00

I've been organizing and hosting a speaker series with the AIGA and frog. We focus on designers from any field talking about how they both draw on classic influences and maintain contemporary currency.

These images were taken by someone on Roger Black, last night's speaker, team and uploaded to flickr. They're lovely - and it's the first time I've seen any photos of the series.

Roger and I in the question and answer period

Roger Black

My AIGA partner, Kent Hunter

The audience during the talk

New in the neighborhood -Hell, Yes!

2008-01-27T11:25:00.002-05:00

The New Museum that just opened up around the corner.

I agree.

2007-11-19T12:12:00.001-05:00

(from my work calendar system.)

ZKM - digital arts museum

2007-11-04T08:33:00.001-05:00

Nina, Philip and I drove to Karlsruhe to visit the digital arts museum. Seeing the history of digital and interactive art was both inspiring and grounding. I found myself back in many considerations from school.

Outside in a glass and water cage was a riot of light.

As you enter, if it catches your face, a drum will strike and sound your entry.

Audiobar - Mogens Jacobsen 2006

Nina

Sculptural piece that makes subtle sounds as your shadow passes it.

A robotic monk, spending six months writing the books of the bible in a precise, calligraphic hand.

Nina and Philip at the foot of the final twist in subtly disturbing, Alice-in-Wonderland staircase.

In the entryway as we left, I played with the spotlight a friend developed - it selects someone and follows them for a time, seemingly pleased and interested, then in a fit a pique disappearing to watch someone else - a flighty gaze.

Us.

Small towns in Germany

2007-11-04T07:04:00.001-05:00

I'm here at our Herrenberg studio for a few days of work. I'm enjoying the studio and on the weekends exploring a bit of the area. It's a lovely area - idyllic really - fields tidily laid out between forested hills with medieval towns rising on their slopes, topped with castles and churches - all in the red-roofed, heavy-beamed architecture of the region - Swabian, Black Forest...

My guest house

The church just above the guest house and on the way up to the remains of the castle. It's bells wake me in the morning.

My door.

The nearby town of Tübingen - home to an ancient university.

Like the Cam in Cambridge UK, a lazy river flows through town and students and others pole their way along it, relaxing, chatting, and picnicking.

The streets that wend between buildings are often narrow,

But each of the towns seem to open to a market square with cafes, public houses of great age, and fountains.

Detail of a church window - very painful medieval sentiments.

Ivy.

More from Burning Man

2007-11-04T06:40:00.001-05:00

Madrid

2007-10-31T13:05:00.001-04:00

I stayed in the heart of the city.
On the last day, my colleague and I walked a bit of the city. From the roof of the Beaux Arts museum we saw the angels and guardians of the city.

The stairs back down to street level

Our hotel was in a warren of narrow streets - reminiscent of a mix of nations.

The Plaza Mayor is where the city gathers - and tourists.

Au revoir Paris - Hola Madrid

2007-10-23T07:52:00.000-04:00

Paris was interesting. Now on to Madrid.

Paris on a quick wander though the city

2007-10-22T07:16:00.001-04:00

When we arrived in Paris for the research, the French transit workers decided on a strike and the World Cup of Rugby final was being played in town. The city was packed with partiers and with traffic. Research went well and I got to spend a day wandering the city - occasionally pulling out my camera.

The drive into the city on Saturday after a stop in Versailles.

At the hotel, they'd misplaced my reservation and had to give me the suite - so I slept with a view of the Eiffel tower out one window and Notre Dame out the other, over rooftops.
Each church has it's own feel. This one is all about mementos left to thank the Virgin Mary for answering one's prayers. The church is filled with gold and copper hearts, marble plaques, swords, metals and other things. The mementos climb the walls and cover every surface.

St Eustache feels to me like a set from the Lord of the Rings. Plus the organist was practicing his music that afternoon -so I sat for a long time, listening and watching the sun throw specks of color through the stained glass.

Outside, I must admit that Paris also feels a bit surreal - or unreal - like a set or like aliens landed and set up camp.

And finally the Louvre

To finish the day and the best thing I did in Paris... a luxurious hammam bath at the Paris Mosque - wonderful! Highly recommended.

Then the Metro back to the hotel.

A stroll through the gardens of Versailles

2007-10-22T06:27:00.001-04:00

As my hotel was way out here - I decided to stop at Versailles on the way in to Paris. The lines to enter the museum were enormous and the prospect of parking slim, so I drove around the park to another, pedestrian, entrance, and joined the flow of French people into the grounds.

Fall at the Lake with family

2007-10-20T07:33:00.001-04:00

My aunt and uncle came to visit Dad - up from Houston on their way further north to see Acadia National Park. I came up for a quick weekend visit.

Margaret and Floyd

The wonderful wall built near our home (I edited out the silly little concrete toad they've placed under it's jump to the ground.)

Fall colors.

"I see you!" Paquita's entertainment - the chipmunks.

A Sunday at the Cloisters

2007-10-04T06:54:00.001-04:00

I live at the very bottom of the island of Manhattan. Overall I walk most places I go in a normal week - sometimes take the train uptown or to Brooklyn or other parts of the city. But this particular Sunday I decided to go see the Cloisters - a branch of the museum dedicated to Medieval Art. Rather than take the train, I caught a series of busses all the way uptown to the museum. I recommend the trip if you're ever in town - you see so much more than on the train - the stores and buildings that set the context for those getting on and off the bus.

The would be a wonderful site to host an event - this covered courtyard or the summer gardens, even the halls.

More from Burning Man

2007-10-04T06:40:00.002-04:00

More from the temple: This one, looking up, early in the morning.

Memories and messages left behind.

And being created.

Center Camp! Coffee, ice, performances, shade, sleep, noise, activity, gathering, departure, discovery....

An odd character - there, performing, half drunk and seemingly most often that way, with a story of fame achieved and lost to drink and self-despair. And he felt to me like he was not ready to leave that space, interested in his story only, speaking and not listening.

The bone tree

Early morning people dancing at the moving dragon.

The little temple made all of recyclable trash.

The giant swing set at dawn.

The Man - his tent removed, and body rebuilt for the burn to come that night.

Images of Burning Man

2007-10-04T06:25:00.001-04:00

The treehouse made by people who'd never seen nature.

A caravan, early morning, the cyclists sleeping inside.

Books that take you away on flights of fantasy.

Guardian of Eden - Kate's piece which Spaceman helped with.

Burning Man 2007: ladder in the sky

2007-09-07T13:52:00.002-04:00

One afternoon we came across a guy who had found a fire engine on EBay and decided it was exactly what Burning Man needed. So... we climbed it, all the way way way up.

Toward the top you begin to feel it twist and shift a bit in the wind. It gets scary and your hands grip the rungs tighter and you begin to test your footing just a bit more carefully. For this year, this was the thing that most reminded me how much you take responsibility for your own safety here.

Brett on his way up.

Brett at the top. Look at our tiny little shadows.

The view was great from the top. Off to the left spun the lazy dust devils that presaged the wilder storms of later in the week.

Ahead, past Center Camp, stood the place of the pre-Burned Man, and beyond it the temple, and a great sound installation that didn't survive the first high wind storm.

Burning Man 2007: the people

2007-09-05T14:20:00.002-04:00

This year I camped with a wonderful crew of folks - some know and some new to me.

Our camp

Brett the Magnificent

Emily the Brave

Ranger Rich

Megs the Beautiful

Adam the Excellent

Bernard (picture is yet to be posted)

It was camp of good spirits, lots of tasty grillings, and a week of exploration and adventure.

Mike's Birthday Party

2007-06-19T09:58:00.000-04:00

Last night we went to Counter, East Village - a vegan restaurant... which I never thought I'd like... but it's amazing! The food was wonderful and the deserts were amazing.

The reason for the party was Mike's birthday... celebrating both him and getting in a bit extra Mike before he leaves for other coasts and continents.

Matt Ipcar took all the photos.

Signs in the South

2007-06-06T22:53:00.004-04:00

Down at Fort Bragg for research. Saw some fun signs.

2007-05-27T02:34:00.000-04:00

Signage - product of China, salted jellyfish

This weekend was great!

2007-05-14T12:21:00.000-04:00

Weds-Thurs Boston - conference and then (well not so fun) dental surgery - plus two good friends, dinner, walk on beach, my old residence hall - memory lane and all that.

Friday a bit of dental surgery recovery plus some going out with the office for music then a late evening performance art thing with a friend (it was awful performance art).

Then Saturday a bit of early day contemplation followed by a conference at Cooper Union with a friend followed by dinner and drinks and long talk about life, love, and all that - plus his fascination and consternation with his newly-found head-over-heels girl.

Then a pool party in mid-town for a birthday.

Then a housewarming party in the LES (where someone was showing off the real-deal iPhone - and where I bumped into people from parsons and many places -- enforcing the small size of the design world)

Then Sunday Russ and Daughter's brunch with a friend, and the afternoon with another.

All topped off by re-reading a great, if a bit juvenile, sci-fi book.

2007-05-08T21:09:00.001-04:00

Signage series continues

Another frog Friday: Black Tie

2007-04-29T15:31:00.000-04:00

David invited us to the Sailor's Ball. (Photos from Kyle's friend, Erin.)

Stage 1
It all started innocently enough.

Stage 2
Then it progressed.

Stage 3
And went on from here...

It was fun - fun to be dressed up; fun to watch the husband hunting; fun to dance; fun to be with friends, and to stay up past our bedtimes.

frog Fridays: on the pier

2007-04-21T15:41:00.000-04:00

This was the first warm Friday afternoon of the year so we took our afterwork coffeetime out to the pier. (Photos by Matt Ipcar.)
Mike - really Mike - the grin, the awareness of both sides of the image, the nails...

The Album Cover

Happy Me.

Switching trains in Manhattan

2007-03-31T20:39:00.002-04:00

I enjoy the tile-work found in the subways of Manhattan. It's often lovely -- and with the patina of soot, rat poison, and the passage of thousands of humans.

2007-03-31T13:59:00.000-04:00

Turi Seeks Advice From Her Friends

2007-03-31T11:07:00.000-04:00

Hi folks,

I am starting to create my new apartment - and thinking about furniture, built-ins, kitchens and things... come! Take a look in person - or online at http://turi-lives.blogspot.com.

I'll be very interested in your comments on that blog. I have many questions. Please come visit.

Skiing with Chris, Jung, and Fura ++ at Killington

2007-03-24T13:38:00.001-04:00

2007-03-21T23:57:00.001-04:00

Call a head...

2007-03-21T14:26:00.000-04:00

The trash heap of old technology.

2007-03-17T22:12:00.001-04:00

MOMA

2007-03-16T22:17:00.000-04:00

I love manhattan.

For the snow and the steam - the surprises and patterns of it.

2007-02-24T15:14:00.001-05:00

The Great Pillow Fight in Union Square.

2007-02-21T07:38:00.000-05:00

Airport signage.

2007-02-06T09:27:00.000-05:00

Ana

Roadside snapshot waiting for a Sundance bus

2007-01-22T22:17:00.000-05:00

We are in Sundance - despite lost media, travel issues, snow and weather. I'm exploring the town, watching our film and people, and looking forward to the ski slopes.

New Year's Eve ATM markup?

2007-01-01T01:01:00.000-05:00

Amounts listed in a New Years Eve ATM near Times Square.

Going to Sundance!

2006-12-26T01:32:00.000-05:00

Hi folks,

The film I worked on last year (props, Iceland unit) got into Sundance! I'm heading out there and hope to keep notes here. Check back!

The film will be screened at Sundance as part of the Shorts Program V.
Friday, Jan 19 at 11:59 PM in the Holiday Village Cinema III

Saturday, Jan 20 at 6:45 PM in the Broadway Centre Cinemas V, SLC

Monday, Jan 22 at 5:30 PM in the Prospector Square Theatre

Thursday, Jan 25 at 6:30 PM in the Holiday Village Cinema IV

Saturday, Jan 27 at 9:15 AM in the Eccles Theatre

Amazing Origami

2006-12-25T10:34:00.000-05:00

Browsing the web for origami formulas for a new wallet I found this amazing page of gorgeous, expressive little creatures. (http://design.origami.free.fr/Diagrams/cp.htm)

Merry Christmas!

Ana Elizabeth Botella McKinley - I am an Aunt!

2006-11-24T23:27:00.000-05:00

Hi folks,

This is Ana, my new -- and only -- niece! I've just met her this weekend and she's wonderful!

Ana at 9 days old.

2006-10-10T23:05:00.000-04:00

Boston in the fall.

2006-09-30T23:43:00.000-04:00

I love New York because... of the brass band on the corner this afternoon.

The Signage Series #2: No Capoeira?

2006-09-16T21:42:00.000-04:00

Spotted in Boston.

Burning Man 2006: a drive through the playa

2006-09-15T11:12:00.000-04:00

Odd little balls on sticks out on the playa.
Another odd piece found on drive-by - a 1950's style office desk out in the middle of the desert.
A strong proclamation for saving the foreskin...
The dancing British girl who hung from the edges of the art car for the whole day.
The gothic cathedral skeleton. At night parties happened here - as in many places.

Art car called on all sorts of cultural reference - but this one definitedly fit the desert setting - the Jawa Cruiser.
The Cheshire car.

The Belgian. I don't know it's full name but the piece has since been written up in many magazines.
The first daylit hours of my time here were spent amidst a dust storm. I recall walking through the playa and seeing this odd formation of dust rising out of the background haze. I was not sure if it was moving or static as it seemed to change shape as I walked. Only when I came closer did I realize it was man-made and rising from the playa.

Views of the playa.

One of a number of war memorial pieces.

Another Star Wars inspired art car.

A crane converted into a flower.
Gregory.
A kite.
Ip.
Loading onto our art car. Most of the art cars are hop-on nad hop-off. Ours was a three-story scaffolded affair with a blender and plenty of frozen drinks.

Me in my self-made uniform.
The temple.

Ever-present and ever-important... portos.

Red and the man who never spoke and hardly moved.
The Serpent Mother during the day. At night she flamed from almost every edge and moved her head.
The silent guy again.

Watching us watching her.

The Dramatic Guy. One of the crew of our art car. He was pumped - leapt over fences to dance in the middle of the no-go zone, zipped around the scaffold - you can see it in his walk.

A half-pipe on the edge of Black Rock City.

The captain of our art car.
The shadow of our art car for the day - very much a Mad Max affair.

Not all of the playa artworks worked.

The Spider!

One of the passengers late in the day - entertaining us with hula.

As evening began to fall the dust began to rise from the playa.

Counterweight.
A bit of the fireworks before the burn of the man.

Burning Man 2006

2006-09-14T08:01:00.000-04:00

Thanks to a wonderful gift by a friend, I participated in Burning Man this year. It was glorious! I pulled my camera out the last day, realizing that words wouldn't suffice - but the camera is buried in some box somewhere so I'll rely on other's images until I can find it.

The Art Cars!

Burning Man spreads across a dry, desolate playa - filled for the week with art, people, and strange, wild, but consensual energy. The art cars invited you to hop on for a ride.

The flower and the flytrap were gorgeous and lit at night. Beneath the skins both were cranes - and a delightful presence.

Star Wars lives - not only the Jawa land cruiser but also Luke Skywalker's vehicle of old.
Artworks!
So, most things there are artworks - from the people's clothing to how they act and share with each other, and from the simplest camp to the wildest art pieces. These are the stationary ones out on the playa.

This family of inquisitive figures walked along the main road to the man.

Interactive and inviting participation as many pieces did, this three-legged spider invited you in and on to climb up it - and reminded me of childhood playgrounds our father used to take us to.

Imagine this serpent mother awake and alert at night - her back and head aflame, guarding her egg. During the day she is interesting, but at night she was gorgeous and hosted scores of us within her flaming sides.

Not all the art was so bold - these sails spoke to the winds moving across the playa, the absence of water, and to the more peaceful and contemplative side of the event.

This metal sculpture is one of my favorites. Also along the main road, this fish of metal and wood was delicately balanced and would move to the light press of your hand, swimming and rotating. That responsiveness delights me - even more so than the freedom to clamber all over the artworks - perhaps because it feels more like a life responding to me than having the power to conquer something.

The imagination runs wild here - if you've always wanted to make it - you can and share it with people - like this foot powered ferris wheel and massive playground climbing dome. And here if you make it, people will come and explore it.

The Man!

By day a simple, unassuming structure of wood.

By night, a bright beacon on the playa. And at the end of the event, a symbol burnt in the largest fire I've ever been close to - to celebrate the passage of time and the renewal it brings.
Dust!

While getting my dress spray painted I looked behind me on the second day to see - lo - and behold - a real dust devil swirling across the playa. The stories I had heard and the presence of many many Mad Max style goggles made sense as the dust came to envelop the city. (It was fun!)

Not sure if it's the middle of Africa or Nevada?

Our camp

More later and my recommendation you go next year!

The Signage Series #1: The final exit!

2006-09-13T00:06:00.000-04:00

Philosophy in the stairwell at work in NYC.

Late night snapshots of the new place.

2006-09-12T00:35:00.000-04:00

just moved in to my new place!

Yes, really moving in.

Back to my childhood

2006-09-04T11:48:00.000-04:00

Mystic seaport.

My friend Josh threw a wedding celebration in Mystic Seaport. I arrived early and explored the town on foot. The Mystic Seaport preserves old ships and is a museum to the shipping culture of the Eastern seaboard. Walking through the museum I realized that I do come from this visual history - the Northeast Whaling and seafaring of New Bedford, Boston, and Mystic.

Installations at the SAUMA exhibit.

2006-08-24T23:20:00.000-04:00

Scent installation exploring the creator's non-visual or verbal experiences of Budapest, Helsinki and Paris.

Velcro jackets for men, women and children to (humorously) address the isolation and lack of physical contact so many of us experience. Alternating strips of hook and eye pieces allow the wearers to rush into each other and stick together. I very much like that the installation allowed the viewers to actually try the jackets on and use them. Sadly, I was the only person at the exhibit.

The moderns and sustainable kitchen! A wall of greenery provides fresh air and a reminder of the natural world. An awning is fluttered by the fan/exhaust hood creating a soft, natural rustling. The low stove doubles as prep and eating space, close to the ground like any camp fire. A lovely installation and encouragement to explore rustic Scandinavia further.

The beach - Fourth of July, 2006.

2006-07-05T14:35:00.000-04:00

Fura, Steph, Isold, and I caught the Long Island Railroad out to one of the more distant beaches of New York. We arrived late in the day and found ourselves walking against the traffic of families, groups of girls, groups of boys, and couples - all marshalling bogs, blankets, and coolers. At the beach, we slipped past the fee booth and down onto the sand. As I was gathering my courage to get into the water, the reason for the exodus became clear -- the guards called everyone in from the water as dark clouds with the fuzz of rain beneath gathered on the horizon and began swiftly making their way down the beach.

We delayed our departure - hoping it might pass - but soon we were rushing to gather our things as the wind picked up and rain started pelting us. Tana called, and was our savior, we rushed and met her in the parking lot and all jumbled into the car she had rented for the day. There followed a period of mapped and unmapped exploration, pausing for food, and ending up back in the city to watch the Fourth of July fireworks on a bridge into Manhattan.

Jess' wedding in Philadelphia

2006-06-30T14:43:00.000-04:00

My wonderful fantastic friend Jess found a great partner, Colin, and this summer they made that partnership formal and got married. It was a lovely, personal ceremony followed by a fun party of dancing and socializing and wandering the grounds of the art center.

All that is good in the traveler's breakfast

2006-06-29T11:47:00.000-04:00

Spotted on the road and in line for a coffee.

San Francisco post-film premier

2006-06-23T00:10:00.000-04:00

After the opening we indulged in a series of parties - lasting most of the day - and roaming from bar to bar.

Where we all became quite happy and enjoyed the moments of the day.

Fura's photos from our trip to San Francisco

2006-06-22T08:22:00.000-04:00

Isold's movie opened last weekend at the Frameline 30 Film Festival in San Francisco. I went out for the premier and enjoyed my first visit to the city.

Check out my Small Art blog for some more of Fura's photos of street art.

Golden Gate Bridge Park - friends, babies, and inspirations.

2006-06-18T19:05:00.000-04:00

I chose to spend a few days in San Francisco around the film premier in order to work - but really to see David - a friend and co-worker recently transfered to the SF office. On a long walk with Jodi and Huxley, their beautiful baby, we stopped at the plant conservatory in Golden Gate Park.

Huxley - David's baby - our trip to the Golden Gate park in San Francisco.

Inside the conservatory I found myself drawn into the patterns and possibilities of the plants. See the Small Art Blog for more.

2006-05-27T19:24:00.000-04:00

I'm unclear if it's been abandoned and left empty - or if it is a statement in and of itself. That its in a quiet wing of an aiport suggests it's been abandoned though.

2006-05-27T18:57:00.000-04:00

RFID object at DT show 2006

2006-05-23T17:31:00.000-04:00

cilantro mashed potatoes

Alphabet via cell phone

2006-05-21T13:06:00.000-04:00

The other day I was talking with someone at work about games that make you see things differently - specifically the city. He'd had an idea to collect alphabets mentally (or by camera?) - walking around Chinatown today I tried it on my phone. I only got part of the way through before groceries and errands weighed my hands down -- but I still noticed the letters.

Scandinavia House Outing

2006-05-21T03:41:00.000-04:00

Fairly often the scandinavian girls and I gather for our things to do and see in New York meetings. This was probably two weeks ago - we'd eaten brunch at the Scandinavia House, then walked the city, and seen a Norwegian film, then retired to a rooftop bar for a drink.

Apartment - Empty

2006-05-21T00:41:00.000-04:00

So, the apartment thing is still moving forward. I was able to go in and see it after the previous tenant moved out. Here is how it looks. (See prior post for how she used the space.)

Living Room

The 'view' from the living room window.

Kitchen

Hallway

Bathroom

The 'view' from the bathroom.

Bedroom

The bedroom window and view upwards.

The apartment with old tenant's stuff

2006-05-21T00:25:00.000-04:00

So, the apartment thing is moving forward. Here are images of the apartment with the old tenant's possessions. It gives an idea of how she used the space.

Living Room

Kitchen

Hallway

Bathroom

Bedroom

2006-05-18T20:28:00.000-04:00

Harry Potter themed restaurant decorations - candles suspended on black iron appear to float over the diners' heads.

Brian and Masha's birthday

2006-05-17T08:02:00.000-04:00

The ITP Spring Show 2006 - via cell phone

2006-05-11T09:53:00.000-04:00

Controller also reminiscent of Kaho's work.

Child's wearable reminiscent of Kaho's work.

A felted wool cape with LEDs.

Dinner on Ludlow

2006-05-10T22:08:00.000-04:00

I'm behind on my images. This must have been three weeks or so ago. Lee came down from Boston for a weekend visit. We had a great time - walking the city (of course past Forsyth Street), shopping for delicacies, cooking, music, friends, and such.

Lee just as we finished preparing dinner.

Departing frog on Spring Street

2006-03-24T11:01:00.000-05:00

These are some of the last photos taken in the old office. I really should find some from the break-down party - those really gave a sense for the creativity of the group.

Great

2006-03-16T15:13:00.000-05:00

Great visual idea - imagine the moment when you see it.

http://basik.ru/default.asp?id=1799&pic=short

I travel towards.... home ownership?!

2006-03-12T18:13:00.000-05:00

So - here's the thought - I might buy an apartment in NYC. Here are some quick snapshots of it.

The Bedroom - One window with fire escape. A small closet beside the window. Queen size bed.

The Hallway - view from living room back to bedroom and bath.

From the bathroom door towards the living room (with other people looking at the place.

The Bathroom - One window, frosted, in the tub. The detail on the caulking of the tub and toilet isn't great. But its a fair size.

The Kitchen - One window, but uninspring appliances and cabinets. The tenant built a breakfast bar to expand the counter space. That won't be there in my unit.

The Living Room - Three windows, one with fire escape. The room was crowded with people, a baby crib, two sofas and a massive entertainment system. (Sorry for the bad image)

Chelsea Art Galleries

2006-03-05T19:11:00.000-05:00

I've posted images of this weekend's walk through Chelsea on my art blog at http://smallart.blogspot.com/

Skiing on Gore Mountain

2006-02-22T06:48:00.000-05:00

(Fura! Thanks for the photos!)

Last weekend Design and Technology went skiing and took those alumni interested in going. It was a great trip! And I had not been downhill skiing since I was in my teens - so it was an adventure.

Gore Mountain:

Down outside the lodge, getting ready for a run:

The snowboarding crew... except Prithvi and Jung:

Hanging out in the lodge:

Relaxing in the hotel after skiing:

Karaoke

2006-02-20T21:01:00.000-05:00

The Frog singing night.... check it out... http://rednoise.org/~claudia/personal/frogaoke_01/ from Claudia.

And some video clips http://spahr.org/share/frogaoke/ from James. And some images from Ben at http://www.flickr.com/photos/therealbenbrown/.

Dancing over the weekend

2006-01-30T08:24:00.000-05:00

This weekend, late on Saturday, I headed out to a party in Astoria in a giant collective house called Wonderland. Mike and Gene, from work, both live there - its a very New York version of Fenway House... very New York.