Monday, March 31, 2008
Commandment IV
The Fourth Commandment is "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to The Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates; for in six days The Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."
I loosely interpreted this to mean no men working, but yes watching football on TV on Sundays, or Saturdays if you are Jewish. This is certainly Bob's interpretation. I used this Japanese sign as the model for the person watching TV. The angle of the seat reminded me of a La-Z-Boy recliner.
The Fourth Commandment is "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to The Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates; for in six days The Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."I loosely interpreted this to mean no men working, but yes watching football on TV on Sundays, or Saturdays if you are Jewish. This is certainly Bob's interpretation. I used this Japanese sign as the model for the person watching TV. The angle of the seat reminded me of a La-Z-Boy recliner.
Warhol's Little Red Hen
My favorite Andy Warhol illustration is a simple line drawing of a woman wearing a live, coiled snake as a turban. I couldn't find an on-line copy of this drawing. However, I did find Warhol's 1958 illustrations for The Little Red Hen. Check them out - they're great! (Via: GlyphJockey)
Saturday, March 29, 2008
More Seymour Chwast
Here is another poster by Seymour Chwast. This was the cover of the book Happy Birthday, Bach: 300 Years of Johann Sebastian Bach (Doubleday & Company, New York). The book includes 300 portraits of Bach, all done by Chwast. I'm going to order it today.
Here is another poster by Seymour Chwast. This was the cover of the book Happy Birthday, Bach: 300 Years of Johann Sebastian Bach (Doubleday & Company, New York). The book includes 300 portraits of Bach, all done by Chwast. I'm going to order it today.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Seymour Chwast
My parents owned this poster while I was growing up. They gave it to me, and I now have it hanging on the wall in our dining room area. I googled the poster today, and I discovered that it may actually be worth something. More interestingly, I found this great collection of Seymour Chwast's posters. Besides the one I own, I think my favorites are "End Bad Breath" and "Color." "Pushpin and Beyond" is pretty great too.
My parents owned this poster while I was growing up. They gave it to me, and I now have it hanging on the wall in our dining room area. I googled the poster today, and I discovered that it may actually be worth something. More interestingly, I found this great collection of Seymour Chwast's posters. Besides the one I own, I think my favorites are "End Bad Breath" and "Color." "Pushpin and Beyond" is pretty great too.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
All South Park, All the Time
All South Park episodes are now available on-line, in their entirety. Here is the link:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/
The voting episode is still my favorite, but the Mormon episode is a close second.
All South Park episodes are now available on-line, in their entirety. Here is the link:http://www.southparkstudios.com/
The voting episode is still my favorite, but the Mormon episode is a close second.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Commandment V?
Today my daughter Megan wanted to watch TV.
Bob told her no, because he was already watching Ultimate Recipe Showdown on the Food Network. This was her response. I think my work is done here.
Today my daughter Megan wanted to watch TV.Bob told her no, because he was already watching Ultimate Recipe Showdown on the Food Network. This was her response. I think my work is done here.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Stick Figures in Peril
I came across this Flickr group while researching my Ten Commandments project. I think some of these will be very useful for Commandment VI. (Via: Eat Our Brains.)
I came across this Flickr group while researching my Ten Commandments project. I think some of these will be very useful for Commandment VI. (Via: Eat Our Brains.)Friday, March 21, 2008
Commandment III
The Third Commandment is "You shall not take The Name of The Lord your God in vain." I thought it would be more unexpected to show a woman here than a man. Not that I am prone to this behavior, mind you (see comments).
Here are the first three commandments together. Happy Good Friday!
The Third Commandment is "You shall not take The Name of The Lord your God in vain." I thought it would be more unexpected to show a woman here than a man. Not that I am prone to this behavior, mind you (see comments).Here are the first three commandments together. Happy Good Friday!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Lyttle Lytton Contest
OK, enough about the frog. There is still time to enter the 2008 Lyttle Lytton Contest. This is a shorter version of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, which challenges entrants to write the worst possible introductory sentence to a novel. The Lyttle Lytton contest offers the same challenge, but the sentence must be 30 words or less (see rules). I received an honorable mention for the 2007 contest. The deadline for 2008 is April 15th at noon.
OK, enough about the frog. There is still time to enter the 2008 Lyttle Lytton Contest. This is a shorter version of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, which challenges entrants to write the worst possible introductory sentence to a novel. The Lyttle Lytton contest offers the same challenge, but the sentence must be 30 words or less (see rules). I received an honorable mention for the 2007 contest. The deadline for 2008 is April 15th at noon.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
It's a frog!
Frosty's transformation is now complete. It was weird, actually - when I left the house this morning, he still had a small tail. When I came back this afternoon, I looked in the water and didn't see him at all. He had climbed completely out of the water, and was hiding behind one of the plastic plants.
If I made a time-lapse video of Frosty's growth to date, there would be a solid hour of no growth at all followed by 3 seconds of rapid metamorphosis. I do not have enough photos to make this video, but it's kind of fun to think about.
Anyway, now I 'm off to buy some crickets. According to the instruction manual, that's what frogs eat.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Tadpole: Week 14, Day 4
Frosty's tail is almost gone now. I was actually surprised at how quickly the tail shrunk. When I looked this morning, the tail was about the same length as the legs. Now the tail appears shorter.
Frosty's tail is almost gone now. I was actually surprised at how quickly the tail shrunk. When I looked this morning, the tail was about the same length as the legs. Now the tail appears shorter.Sunday, March 16, 2008
Commandment II
Here is the Second Commandment, "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth." I think American Idol works well here on several different levels. I used a metallic gold pencil for the golden calf, which you can't see well in the photo, but it looks quite golden in person.
Here is the Second Commandment, "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth." I think American Idol works well here on several different levels. I used a metallic gold pencil for the golden calf, which you can't see well in the photo, but it looks quite golden in person.Saturday, March 15, 2008
Tadpole: Week 14
I've decided to write about our tadpole as obsessively as I wrote about Dexter. (Well, maybe not quite that obsessively.)
Frosty's front legs have finally emerged. I guess he will start absorbing his tail soon.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Alice's Tea Cup
Devon and I went to Manhattan today to meet Marilyn for lunch. We went to Alice's Tea Cup, which is, as the name suggests, an Alice in Wonderland-themed teahouse. The decor was fun, with Alice murals all over the walls, and the bathroom had partially painted roses hanging from the ceiling. Devon was given fairy wings to wear while she ate, which she enjoyed, and there were also wands available for those who wanted them. The food was quite good: Devon and I had the banana cake with Nutella frosting for dessert, and Marilyn ordered the blackberry coconut scone. The best part, though, was the tea! They had an enormous selection of teas to choose from (at least it seemed so to me). I tried Alice's Tea, which was a blend of Indian black vanilla tea with Japanese green tea and rose petals. I liked it so much that I just bought an 8 oz bag. Of tea.
Alice's Tea Cup has three locations (see website). I highly recommend visiting at least one of them.
Devon and I went to Manhattan today to meet Marilyn for lunch. We went to Alice's Tea Cup, which is, as the name suggests, an Alice in Wonderland-themed teahouse. The decor was fun, with Alice murals all over the walls, and the bathroom had partially painted roses hanging from the ceiling. Devon was given fairy wings to wear while she ate, which she enjoyed, and there were also wands available for those who wanted them. The food was quite good: Devon and I had the banana cake with Nutella frosting for dessert, and Marilyn ordered the blackberry coconut scone. The best part, though, was the tea! They had an enormous selection of teas to choose from (at least it seemed so to me). I tried Alice's Tea, which was a blend of Indian black vanilla tea with Japanese green tea and rose petals. I liked it so much that I just bought an 8 oz bag. Of tea.Alice's Tea Cup has three locations (see website). I highly recommend visiting at least one of them.
Slowest. Developing. Tadpole. Ever.
A little over a month ago I reported that my daughter's tadpole was starting to grow legs. Well, the back legs are fully developed now, but I don't see any sign of front legs. I checked the instruction manual that came with the tadpole, and here's what it says:
The next two to four weeks after your tadpole's arrival will be the most important and exciting period in its life. (Some tadpoles may take a little longer than others to develop.) Front legs will emerge. Feeding will stop. It will breathe entirely through its lungs and its head and internal organs will undergo extreme structural changes. You will notice that your tadpole's front legs are now fully developed, its tail is beginning to shrink and it is starting to come partially out of the water.
We are now in week 13 (ahem), but at least it's still alive. I guess we're on the slow end of the developmental curve.
A little over a month ago I reported that my daughter's tadpole was starting to grow legs. Well, the back legs are fully developed now, but I don't see any sign of front legs. I checked the instruction manual that came with the tadpole, and here's what it says:
The next two to four weeks after your tadpole's arrival will be the most important and exciting period in its life. (Some tadpoles may take a little longer than others to develop.) Front legs will emerge. Feeding will stop. It will breathe entirely through its lungs and its head and internal organs will undergo extreme structural changes. You will notice that your tadpole's front legs are now fully developed, its tail is beginning to shrink and it is starting to come partially out of the water.
We are now in week 13 (ahem), but at least it's still alive. I guess we're on the slow end of the developmental curve.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Unmonumental
We went to the New Museum today and saw the Unmonumental exhibits. The exhibits are large installations of found object sculptures, collage, and sound. Some of the pieces are highly political, with pictures of Bush and swastikas, etc., but others are fun and whimsical, and actually great for young kids (at least my kids, anyway). My favorite part of the exhibit was this untitled doll-shaped candle, pictured left, by Urs Fischer. The picture shows the candle before it was lit. However, it has been lit every day since November, and remains lit for all open hours of the museum. (I asked the curator, and they apparently blow the candle out at night for safety reasons. The curator also said that the candle has only been blown out once accidentally, when someone coughed on it.)
We went to the New Museum today and saw the Unmonumental exhibits. The exhibits are large installations of found object sculptures, collage, and sound. Some of the pieces are highly political, with pictures of Bush and swastikas, etc., but others are fun and whimsical, and actually great for young kids (at least my kids, anyway). My favorite part of the exhibit was this untitled doll-shaped candle, pictured left, by Urs Fischer. The picture shows the candle before it was lit. However, it has been lit every day since November, and remains lit for all open hours of the museum. (I asked the curator, and they apparently blow the candle out at night for safety reasons. The curator also said that the candle has only been blown out once accidentally, when someone coughed on it.) All that remains of the candle now are the legs and a giant pool of wax that has collected around the feet. I don't know if anyone has kept a photo record of the melting process, but it would make a great time-lapse video project.
Friday, March 07, 2008
More Arbus
I found an on-line portfolio of some of Diane Arbus's photographs. One of my favorites is the one pictured left, described as "The King and Queen of a Senior Citizens Dance, N.Y.C. 1970."
It's interesting to me that many of her subjects, while shocking at the time, are now quite mainstream. This is especially true of the portraits of the the transvestites and the heavily tattooed circus man. You really need to look at the dates to get a full appreciation of the photos.
I found an on-line portfolio of some of Diane Arbus's photographs. One of my favorites is the one pictured left, described as "The King and Queen of a Senior Citizens Dance, N.Y.C. 1970."It's interesting to me that many of her subjects, while shocking at the time, are now quite mainstream. This is especially true of the portraits of the the transvestites and the heavily tattooed circus man. You really need to look at the dates to get a full appreciation of the photos.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Commandment I
Here is my illustration for the First Commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." The forbidden gods in the circles are Zeus, Seth, and Hecate, going clockwise from the top. Hecate was a goddess with three heads and six arms. She was definitely the most fun to draw.
Here is my illustration for the First Commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." The forbidden gods in the circles are Zeus, Seth, and Hecate, going clockwise from the top. Hecate was a goddess with three heads and six arms. She was definitely the most fun to draw.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Surface as Substance
Art students Eli Halpern and Kevin Fey have a show this week at Cooper Union. Here are the details:
Where: Arthur A. Houghton Jr. Gallery
The Cooper Union Foundation Building, 2nd Floor
7 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10003
Reception: Tuesday, March 4th, 6-8 PM
Exhibition Hours: March 4th - 8th, 2008
Wednesday - Friday, 12-7 PM
Saturday, 12 -5 PM
Hope to see you there!
Art students Eli Halpern and Kevin Fey have a show this week at Cooper Union. Here are the details:Where: Arthur A. Houghton Jr. Gallery
The Cooper Union Foundation Building, 2nd Floor
7 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10003
Reception: Tuesday, March 4th, 6-8 PM
Exhibition Hours: March 4th - 8th, 2008
Wednesday - Friday, 12-7 PM
Saturday, 12 -5 PM
Hope to see you there!
Fur
We rented Fur from Netflix the other night. As the title suggests, Fur is an imaginary portrait of the late photographer Diane Arbus, wife of Allan Arbus, and probably best known (by me, anyway) for her photographic series on circus freaks. The movie takes place in 1958, a year before Diane and Allan Arbus separated in real life. In the movie, Diane falls in love with her upstairs neighbor Lionel, who suffers from hypertrichosis (werewolf syndrome). During their affair, Diane is introduced to Lionel's friends, who we recognize as some of the subjects of Arbus's circus freak portraits.
The movie is fiction, but it still gives an interesting portrayal of both Arbuses. My favorite scene is when Allan Arbus, suspecting and jealous of the affair, grows a full, unkempt beard in an attempt to win back his wife's attention. Nicole Kidman plays Diane, but she is almost unrecognizable, and by the end of the movie I had nearly forgotten it was her. I really enjoyed the movie, but if you are looking for a factual documentary about Diane Arbus's life (like Bob was), then rent something else.
We rented Fur from Netflix the other night. As the title suggests, Fur is an imaginary portrait of the late photographer Diane Arbus, wife of Allan Arbus, and probably best known (by me, anyway) for her photographic series on circus freaks. The movie takes place in 1958, a year before Diane and Allan Arbus separated in real life. In the movie, Diane falls in love with her upstairs neighbor Lionel, who suffers from hypertrichosis (werewolf syndrome). During their affair, Diane is introduced to Lionel's friends, who we recognize as some of the subjects of Arbus's circus freak portraits.
The movie is fiction, but it still gives an interesting portrayal of both Arbuses. My favorite scene is when Allan Arbus, suspecting and jealous of the affair, grows a full, unkempt beard in an attempt to win back his wife's attention. Nicole Kidman plays Diane, but she is almost unrecognizable, and by the end of the movie I had nearly forgotten it was her. I really enjoyed the movie, but if you are looking for a factual documentary about Diane Arbus's life (like Bob was), then rent something else.
