Entries categorized as ‘Art & Culture’
Changes to my personal living space, nature’s rainbow on the lawn of the Getty, and the urban fight against graffiti on city structures are simply stories about the passage of time as documented through my photographs. Because we all have access to digital media and the medium to display it, we can create endless stories to share with the world. I have recently come across some cool projects with a similar theme.
Urban Destruction and Renewal:
Invincible Cities is an interactive website created by sociologist and photographer Camilo José Vergara. It presents “A Visual Encyclopedia of the American Ghetto.” Through this interface, we can see the same storefront as photographed in 1977, and in 2008. I would love to have something like this for some of the places I called home in my life – like the Lizard Lounge building in Chicago @ 1824 W. Augusta Blvd. Or maybe our first house at 96 Oak Drive, in New Jersey.
Humans Aging:
The photographer Nicolas Nixon, photographed his wife and her sisters each year starting in 1975. The name of the series is The Brown Sisters. The consistency of the project is inspiring – never missing a year, the women always arranged in the same order… seeing how they’ve aged year to year, is very humbling.
Nature Never Stopping
San Franciscians are fortunate to give a home to Andy Goldsworthy’s Spire in the Presidio.
“In 2006, artist Andy Goldsworthy visited the Presidio and was inspired by the history and character of the forest. He saw an opportunity to create a sculpture with the felled mature trees. Constructed in October 2008, The Spire tells the story of the forest, celebrates its history and natural rhythms, and welcomes the next generation of trees. It is a poetic reference to the forest’s past; as new young trees grow up to meet the sculpture, it will eventually disappear into the forest.”
Goldsworthy works almost exclusively in and with nature. From building long stone walls, to creating an icicle sculpture, to floating a delicate chain of flowers down the river, his works are ephemeral and temporal, not made last, never made to stay the same. This is true ’sustainable’ art. There’s a very good documentary film about the artist called Rivers and Tides where you can see his art in action.
Categories: Art & Culture · San Francisco
Tagged: "nicholas nixon", art, Design, environmental, goldsworthy, San Francisco, timeline, urban
The Getty Center in Los Angeles is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Here are two shots of the same scene looking out over the gardens at different times of the year.
April 2009
July 2006
Categories: Art & Culture · Ephemera · Photography
Tagged: garden, Getty, landscape, lawn, Los Angeles, museum, shadows, trees
I like to drive. I find it profoundly enjoyable to turn up the stereo, press my foot on the gas and maneuver around cars and other obstacles. When there’s no traffic and no cops, the lush landscape and curves on the 280 are thrillingly gorgeous! The combination of control, speed, and danger is such a rush - I’ve always wondered the experience of driving on a race track, unfettered by speed limits and Sunday drivers. Well – I finally got my chance!
A few weekend’s ago, Dwayne’s co-worker, Mike Vincenty invited us out to the Infineon Raceway. He teaches “high performance driving” – not racing – to people who sign up for a weekend of instruction and track driving with BMW CCA Club Racing. Pupils drive their own cars – we saw lots of beemers: Mini’s, M3’s, even a 70’s 2002! The most impressive machine had to be the Lotus, the most unexpected a Hyundai.
Mike took us around the track in his silver 2001 VW GTI – pretty much the same car that I drive every day. After a time or two around the track, he looked over at me and said: “I can’t believe you’re not screaming!” In all honesty I wasn’t scared – I can take 60-70 mph around a hairpin curve! Plus, I didn’t want to mess up his concentration or my experience by talking too much. This is seriously dangerous business.
Everyone has their reasons for being out there: people who want to drive their sports cars faster than 65mph, others training to be come race car drivers. Mike seemed less into the cars and the speed, and more into the teaching and practice of staying in control in a dynamic, high speed situation. Learning to think ahead, scan ahead, being prepared and consistent, and following the rules. All great lessons for a gal who is in the consulting business.
Would I ever go for it – take the classes? I don’t know. I will, however consider a first step – signing up for the prerequisite Car Control Clinic at Candlestick park. Vroom vroom.
Categories: Art & Culture · Events
Tagged: bmw, driving, instruction, racing, school
Bodies and instruments make rhythm and notes makes Music in Twelve Parts. Philip Glass and his ensemble of committed, talented, devoted artists created order out of chaos in a system that I will never understand. For four hours, accompanied by no video, no pictures, no screensavers our eyes closed we accomplished the act of meditating on the pure unfiltered experience of listening with our hearts. Surprisingly enjoyable as notes come and go and little did you know or remember that sound from just five minutes ago. One journey that’s not for everybody – but so surprisingly accessible – for even a music neophyte such as myself. If you ever get a chance to see this performance – please take the opportunity. You might be heading for the door after 45 minutes, or you might just might finally understand what it feels like to be enveloped in the sound of artistic genius. Listen for yourself. (itunes link)
photo via flickr by Jamie Hillman
Categories: Art & Culture · Events · Music · San Francisco
Tagged: classical, concert, davies, glass, Music, musichall, phillip, San Francisco, sanfrancisco
