Pictures of Buildings & People

Words of Wisdom for 2009

Really, truly. When in doubt, check out despair.com

Linda Mack at the Star Tribune say they are. . .

Architects of the inevitable : if we are to believe that this is it for newspapers, it will a dirty rotten shame not to see things like this. Great article on a 'quiet' Minneapolis shop, Vincent James Associates Architects. It was also good to see a WHOLE PAGE OF PICTURES of the other 2008 Honor Awards winners. There's also a photo by Mike Sinclair, who I met over Halloween in Kansas City ( I gave him a heads up of course). This years gold medal went to David Salmela of Duluth. As the article notes one of the last architects to receive a license via apprenticeship as opposed to skool. If you are looking through actual papers, it was in the Dec 14 Sunday edition, Variety E Section.

on the radio. . .

Design and Photography certainly got some interesting air time this last Sunday (12-28). Studio 360, one of my faves had an interview with the one and only Annie Liebovitz and a great interview with Photoshop detective, Professor Hany Farid. So go download the pod-cast already. But wait, there's more ! Samuel Mockbee's legacy of the Rural Studio was showcased on Speaking Of Faith. It approached something not often spoken about openly, or treated as 'touchy - feely.' The interview with Andrew Freear, associate professor of Architecture at Auburn University and director of the Rural Studio, spoke to the 'Architecture of Dignity.' It really dug into: decent housing supports decent people supporting decent communities on more then a material basis. The Rural Studio has truly re-defined outreach for the coming millenium.

The King, no, not THAT King, but. . .

. . the King of Color - William Eggleston has a show at the Whitney! If this isn't a bonafide tax deductible sojourn for itinerant photographers, I don't know what is. For more, more, more check out the New Yorker article.

Speaking of the Depression or the Dustbowl

Here's some required reading, in terms of American History and The History of Photography - those classic pictures taken by Dorthea Lange. . . and now the woman who was the daughter in that riveting image has some things to say. whew. . . make sure to check out the slide show.

Urban Archeology

You usually have to dig to get to the past. Ditto in New York City, This story is a bit dated (October) but is interesting. Very reminiscent of Fellini's Roma, where subway excavation reveals an ancient Roman villa. Besides 9|11, there's other history under the former Twin Towers. Make sure you click on the more photos link when you get to the story.

Beautiful Reductionism

This is like the alien researcher sending the essence of an art work, back light years to the home planet. Well, in fact Allan Woo, right here on earth is responsible. Take a movie, analyze it, and voila you will get a single color gradient which represents the hue TOTALITY of the work.  w o w. . .

Two Sides of Solar

Here's an interesting pairing I came across the other day. From the Department of Unexpected Results, research work on solar panels may lead to improved image sensors in cameras. Then a town in Spain, Santa Coloma, which has a population density which precluded easy placement of solar panels, are putting them on top of the towns mausoleums! (The latent conspiracy theorist in me notes that San Francisco's graveyard city to the south is named Colma.)
 

Kansas City \\ FINALE!

I gotta say, it was a great three days, and since it was just before the election, it was intense. My out-of-house ops center was Y J's coffee|snack bar, a great little place near the Crossroads area of Kansas City. And nearby, was the famous Birdie's Panties, a neat little lingerie shop where I bought some Vote Obama panties (I do not lie) as a gift. Of course, this being Kansas City, the owner does her own art work and has drawings shown at the Dolphin Gallery.

Now, I ask you. . like the vendors of yesteryear who hung representations of their goods and products in front of their stores, you can't beat Birdies!
Nearby is also the original TWA corporate headquarters.

WOW, I want one of those for my roof top! As I parked one afternoon, to walk about the Crossroads, I saw these dogs and thought, omigosh, there's been a terrible accident! But no, just dogg-oid ingenuity : must keep cool and keep a look out on wot's happenin'

I am old school enough to say, out loud - I LOVE MUSEUMS : and man, the Liberty Memorial, WW1 museum in Kansas City is in a class by itself. Combining poetics and raw numeric data, it offers incredible insight in to one of the major turning points of modernism. I've done a lot of reading on the subject, and it really marked a point between the 'old' and the 'new'. The centuries old tradition of the aristocracy was dealt a death blow and the age of mechanized warfare began.

Bonus Fact: the British royalty were Hanovers then Saxe-Coburg-Gotha until George V changed things to 'Windsor' during WW1 for essentially P.R. purposes. (Isn't inbreeding between royalty fun!) - Then you have Stravinsky, Modern Art writ large, whew, it was tumultuous birth of a new era. If this subject comes up again, I'll be forced to make out an essential reading list! The plaza at the Liberty Memorial has a superb view of the K.C. skyline and the old train station. While I was there, I saw at least two engagement photo sessions and two wedding party shoots! I had to restrain myself, MUST NOT DO SECOND CAMERA. . .It's too bad I don't have any images but the best TRUE letterpress joint I've ever stumbled upon (REAL LEAD, REAL PAPER) is in Kansas City, the Hammer Press. I always get some cards and paper ephemera when I visit. . And the owner, of course, lives just up the block from were I stayed with my pal Scott. K.C. is just too cool. . .