Voodoo Work Magic

Posted on by

I love my little voodoo office man. He’s been my cubicle mate for a few years now. He’s one of the things I was a little sad to pack up, along with my collection of Chinese Buddha figures. This was my last full week in the office. Next Wednesday is my last day and then I’m off. Rushed as everything has been, I’ve still had the time to get nostalgic over New York. For example, I took a cab through a McDonald’s drive thru last night. How amazing is that? And this morning I can see a water tower with an orange roof against the blue sky. I love being in the city.

That said, I’ve been itching to travel for the past year. I traveled a lot before settling in New York, and I didn’t realize when I took my first job that I really would have only two weeks vacation. With holidays and and family, two weeks goes quickly. Not to mention, one job leads to another… Next thing you know, years of your life have passed. Quitting may be the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. Being in an unknown place awakens me to my surroundings. It’s easier to notice the different patterns of life. New York isn’t going anywhere, but this is a great chance for me to explore and write. It sounds incredibly indulgent, but I’m proud of myself–even if my novel is utter crap.

And of course, I won’t miss these stacks of papers!

Facade: Richard Wood at the Lever House

Posted on by

I noticed Richard Wood’s new work being put up at the Lever House the other night. The artist is covering parts of the exterior with patterned fiberglass panels. The British artist designed William Morris-inspired natural patterns and mock Tudor styles in saturated colors to liven up the facade of the once-sleek, Modernist structure.

Prior to this installation, the Lever House had commissioned Barbara Kruger to cover the walls with her typically graphic slogans. Here we have another design-oriented, saturated, flat approach to taking over the building by covering it in the respective artist’s trademark style. It is as if different artists each have their chance to tag the building. Except of course, this is hardly illicit behavior. It is instead commissioned, no doubt for a pretty sum, authorized, and displayed like the status mark it is.

Installation by day- mostly complete

While Kruger’s installation got some flack on this blog, at least it said something. A trite, literal something–but it attempted a statement. Wood’s installation has no such purpose. It is a design–patterns I would buy an H+M skirt or IKEA tiles in quite happily. I think it is attractive. I cannot think of something more devoid of content.
h
The interest is supposed to lie in playing historical styles against one another. The title of this project, Port Sunlight, is a reference to the history of the building just as his designs refer to the history of architecture. I don’t know–do you think that there is anything more to be said about it? If so, you can check out this press release with more details on it.
k

Dimonds Among Spades

Posted on by

The internet has everything in spades, not least of them t shirts and magazines. But these two enterprises came to my attention lately, and I quite like them.

Put your favorite book on your chest, with these literary inspired t-shirts. My friend Brian just started this operation, so kudos to him. The design at left is from Kafka’s Metamorphosis, thus the cockroach on his back saying “Oh Bother.” I love it, but I’m tore between this and the Alice and Wonderland t shirt.
(Hint hint, nudge nudge, Christmas is coming.)
This webzine is like culture megalomania at its best. Want poetry, fine art, and general thoughts on creativity and genius? It’s here. Not to mention, the site helps artists sell their work through an auction process (which, granted, I don’t fully understand.) The people writing for it are the Web 2.0 version of citizen journalists with an interest in the arts, and, full disclosure, I hope to submit something really spiffy to them in future.

So that makes for two great endeavors, completely despite my status as an interested party. Hopefully I’ll be able to give both my more thorough attention when I have a permanent residence again. I moved my stuff into storage yesterday morning, and took my few-too-many bags over to a friend’s house for the night. You know you’ve overpacked when you can’t carry everything by yourself. I need to edit my luggage down. But luckily I have some really nice friends who I’ll be staying with for the week while I tie up a few loose ends, i.e. my job and finding a place to live on St. Maarten.
8 days until I leave!