It has been a crazy busy month for me. What is with summer? Everyone keeps visiting and things that keep me away from my computer for days at a time keep happening. And it’s about to happen again. What to do?
Well, Grab Bags 1, 2, and 3 went over pretty well. Let’s give you another!
1. Number one is always about bags. So: my friendo, Brian, has a mother who makes lovely grocery bags, which are both lovely and somewhat earth-saving. I hear an online order form is coming soon.
2.This contribution comes from Robin (also see his guest post). He drew this little comic for a birthday card for his grandmother (it may help to know that they are a string-instruments family).
Tortoise and Hare
3. Check out this real life artist: “Man decorates basement with $10 worth of Sharpies”
4. “These are their stories” was an art show in L.A., in which all the art was based on the TV series “Law & Order”. All of the pieces are now online for our viewing pleasure. There are some real gems (including “Detectives look for a racist”, for example); everyone will find a favourite.
For twenty years, the heroes of “Law & Order” have navigated literally hundreds grotesque tragedies, moral quandries, and improbable crimes.
Each piece is an artist’s interpretation of a one-line episode summary from the DirecTV program guide (full list of titles artists could pick from).
5. My mama contributes item #4: beautiful photos of produce from a farmers’ market, with this commentary:
I particularly like the eggs and greens, the cantaloupe and root veg., and the corn, but they’re all lovely.
6. Another friend recommends this radio show, which isn’t quite “in season” yet, but what the hey:
Got five hours to kill? Unlikely. But this is an excellent and very awesome radio show. All about God and Halloween. Free mp3 download.
Lots of cool stuff about God, The Devil, witches, magic… includes lots of stuff by Vincent Price, who is totally awesome.
Over The Edge is a live-performance radio sound collage program. It’s been running for a long time, every Friday at midnight out of Berkeley California.
7. A TED talk on ownership of media: is the law “strangling creativity”? Thanks to Janis for this one and the next.
8. A website on the influence of participatory media on culture (“lots of cool stuff on this site”).
9. A longer but worthwhile video called “Home”. It was recommended by Reza:
I watched an inspiring and somewhat emotional movie “Home” from aerial photographer, artist, environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The movie is a bird’s eye view of our planet in today’s condition. It highlights the interdependency between all of world’s creatures, and its necessity for our survival. It invites change in our current ways of behaviour, and for global action.
Poetic narrative, beautiful musical score, awesome pictures; I’m sure you will be moved by this piece of work!
The movie is currently showing for free on YouTube.
10. And one last TED talk on education, recommended by Rachel:
Check out this great TED talk with Dave Eggers (author of What is the What and A Staggering Work of Heartbreaking Genius) about this amazing creative tutoring program that’s springing up all over the US and beyond….
This should keep you busy while I host another visitor and fly away and come back again and move to a new apartment. Happy August!
Real Life Artist 