12/25/2010

What do two artists who are living in another country do on Christmas day? Go adventuring with our cameras, that what! We made it out before it began to snow and toured the fairly deserted streets. We crossed over the Vtlava river and over towards the Egon Schiele Art Centrum near their artist residency studios. What we found in that area was really quite cool. Small bits of paper art and stencil art could be found nestled within crevices and nooks all around us. It was like we stumbled into a secret art bubble. When we have walked around in other parts of the city we’ve noticed repetitious images here and there, small schools of paper fish made from grocery store advertisements, spray painted and stuck on images of eyes and birds. In this one area, slightly off the beaten path, it seemed that everywhere we cared to spend time letting our eyes rest revealed some hidden art surprise. The rest of the time spent with the available light we had was spent documenting and recording footage of this find.
The element that I find really interesting is in the chance encounter with the unexpected. A situation that requires a certain level of curiosity and openness in order to recognize patterns and slowly begin to use them as bread crumb trails leading to the hidden treasure left by others. These treasures may simply be thought of as a temporal footprint, a sign of a social, cultural, or even an individual presence and passing. Street art in all of its subtle and overt variations manifest themselves over top the seemingly rigid and orderly façades of architectural landscapes. Each style representing an individual ethos or philosophy, interest or message, influence or medium. Layered upon one another either on purpose or by opportunity the canvas begins to resemble a soil layers filled with rich evidence of the past for some new visual archaeologist to gaze upon and react to. And in that same breathe, street art is as illusive and varied as to almost become background noise to the uninterested or unobservant. The knowledge, the language, the insights, colors, trends, fads, messages and deviations all cloaked in code as one must first encounter place, then orientation combined with interest reveals the world others wish you to notice.

12/24/2010

            Living in a time bubble is not a good thing when you forget that 1) it’s Christmas time and 2) maybe one should pay more attention to shop closing times.  We finally motivated to go outside later in the early afternoon only to find out that most of the shops, grocery stores and such had already closed for the holiday.  So at two in the afternoon, on Christmas eve Jennida and I began to walk the cobblestone paths looking for food.  Having adopted a culture of buying small amounts of food day by day and not over stocking we had no food for a proper dinner much less the special feast that most might want or expect.  We lucked out that the Vietnamese grocery store at the base of the stairs next to the hill was still open.  There we stocked up for not one day but three because Saturday is Christmas day- no one will be open for sure and Sunday is limited always.              Our pickings were not unlike Alex P Keaton trying to shop for Christmas presents in a 7-11.  Sorry for the pop culture reference however it comes to mind as we searched for, again the things that make a holiday special even though it’s not the things that make the holiday special.  We ended up purchasing a small frozen chicken, potatoes, the normal assortment of sausages and some new ones just to experiment with.  Jennida was sad because as such she is separated from her family for the holiday and it is compounded by the notion of Christmas not seeming like Christmas.  And this might be some of my fault, as I don’t attach myself to specific holiday trappings.  I have had my fair share of “alt” Christmases, some spent with family, some spent with friends, some spent with friend’s families, and some spent at a Chinese buffet. When it was all said and done though we had a very nice Christmas meal made of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, veggies and warm bread.  Oh and Ella Fitzgerald on the ipod.

12/23/2010

The Germans have David Hasselhoff and now Chuck Norris is big in the Czech Republic. No one ones why the Germans love “the Hoff,” but I think I know why the Czechs have recently embraced Chuck Norris as a national icon (or at least the T-Mobile spokesmen). He is the living reincarnation of Jára Cimrman. Who is Jára Cimrman?
I stole this from the Wiki:

“According to his biographers, Jára Cimrman made extensive contributions to mankind, in all areas. He proposed the Panama Canal to the U.S. government, including a libretto for an opera of the same name. He reformed the school system in Galicia. With Count Zeppelin he constructed the first rigid airship using Swedish steel and Czech wicker (the wicker being for the cabin). He was deported from Germany as an anarchist, and his personal documents carried a note that he was "a source of unrest." This led the Swiss company Omega to offer him a job to improve the balance wheel for their Piccolo line of ladies' watches. (N.B. the Czech and German words for a watch's balance wheel ("nepokoj", "Unruhe") mean "unrest.") While in Switzerland, he introduced (and practiced for some time) the profession of obstetrician, under the difficult Alpine conditions. He conducted investigations about the life of Arctic tribes who eat their fellows; and once, while running away from a furious tribe, he missed the North Pole by a mere seven meters.
In Paraguay he supposedly created the first puppet-show. In Vienna he established a school of criminology, music and ballet. He corresponded with G.B. Shaw for many years, but unfortunately the dogged Irishman never replied. He invented yoghurt. He generously helped many great scientists: On his own back he carried 45 tubs of pitchblende to the basement of Mr. and Mrs. Curie, he assisted Prof. Burian with his first plastic surgery, he reworked the electrical contact on Edison's first light bulb, and he found an under lease for Mr. Eiffel. He is the creator of the philosophy of Externism. Because of his enthusiasm for natural sciences, he discovered the monopole (as opposed to the then well known dipole), but this discovery fell into oblivion until it was confusedly revived by 20th century economists. He is also known for having advised Mendeleev, having seen the first draft, that the Periodic Table should be rotated to its current orientation.
Another one of his great inventions is also the Internet itself, [citation needed] although without widespread usage of computers, he had to rely on telephones. His internet basically consisted of an old circus tent where he had a telephone aparate and various pensioned high school teachers, who answered all kinds of question people had. Also the well-known WWW prefix originated here. One of the teachers' names was Weber and since he stuttered, he also introduced himself as "W-W-W.Weber."

Now compare these awesome feats of prowess to those of CHUCK NORRIS
1. Chuck Norris does not wear a condom. Because there is no such thing as protection from Chuck Norris.
2. Some people wear Superman pajamas. Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas.
3. Chuck Norris will never have a heart attack. His heart isn't nearly foolish enough to attack him.
4. Chuck Norris can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night.
5. Chuck Norris doesn't breathe, he holds air hostage.
6. When Chuck Norris crosses the street, the cars have to look both ways.
7. Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
8. They once made a Chuck Norris toilet paper, but it wouldn't take shit from anybody.
9. Chuck Norris can win a game of Connect Four in only three moves.
10. Chuck Norris has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life there.
(stolen from http://www.chucknorrisjokes.net/)

I’ve been trying to figure out why Chuck is so popular here; he doesn’t speak Czech in the commercials, and usually seems genuinely bewildered most of the time. But after learning about Jára I think I am beginning to understand both “why” Chuck? But also Czech cartoonist like Kaja Saudek and others who achieved sort of cult status as underground cartoonist in America.

12/22/2010

I spent most of the day engaged in the politics of procrastination. It funny how the act of reading the news and worrying yourself about world affairs qualifies as distraction. I also began to think about composing a sound score for Jennida as a Christmas present. I wanted it to be the equivalent of an extravagant pop song that had many parts and sections so I spent a great deal of time listening to pop songs on Youtube just to get me in the mood. After much meditation and consideration I set out to produce the sound constructed version of a pop song. Normally I do not have a big draw to “pop” but I can appreciate it. Most of it reveals itself to me in the production. The individual singer isn’t the concern usually as they are easily replaceable. Rather the singer is the outward manifestation of the producer, as is the other parts of the song. Each has its place and timing and are inflicted with much thought. I may not have produced a sound art pop song, worthy of Barry Gordy, Al Jorgenson, or Trent Rez-ner, but I am satisfied that it carries me to places that are congruent, different and nuanced to the ear and brings pleasure. Not bad for a days work. Look to listen to it soon in bite sized morsels.
Krumlov Traveller's Log by Judasprime

12/21/2010

  
     Tonight we ran out to a symposium at the Schiele Art Centrum that didn’t happen because it’s the wrong night.  We ended up just roaming the town looking for new and interesting places and found them.  We walked up toward the castle gates and walked down an alley and found ourselves in the courtyard  that seemed straight out of some slightly horror film mixed with noir.  It seemed that it might have been the old brewery for Eggenberg brewery.  It is truly special to wander into an area and have it transformed simply by its own atmosphere.  Afterwards we walked outside the outer ring around the town and took in the sights and appreciated the nature of all things.

12/20/2010

      Thoughts on the past year- I have just begun to realize that over the past year my attention to the photography I have posted on line has been along two lines almost exclusively.  With the beginning of 2010 I have been actively exploring the path commercial photography.  This has entailed my continuing work with Church Hill Photography and other Mid-Atlantic commercial photographers as a photographer’s assistant as well as helping out with and seeking further information of the ASMP.  Mostly these activities have been to benefit my further knowledge and education of photography as well as the business of photography. Outside of this I have been shooting in much the same ways that I have been in a cultural documentary/promotional sort of way.  In many respects my record of personal work has been buried.  It is not exactly fair to say all of my personal work so to speak, rather in the way it has been represented.  Over the past five years or so I have existed in the Richmond, Virginia area immersing myself in the art scene.  One way that I perused exploring my new town was through the art of photography.  It seems that photography is the one art form that seems to be in a high demand for documenting work, events, and representational headshots.  Web design is close but even still web design requires the photography to convey an accurate façade to any business, performance or art practice.  I have dealt heavily in trade and good will, which has allowed me access and the freedom to play and experiment.  My output has largely found its home on Flickr.com as a way for others to quickly view my work and perhaps to many, more importantly what happened.  Thus my perceived “possible” audience has shaped my online offering.  Certain images, certainly interesting and entertaining to me may not see the light of day based on the “average” viewer’s disposition to wonder “what the fu-?”  The esoteric and fuzzy photos where image and grain remain intimate lovers.  This is not to say however that all of my odd and secret photos are gems.  I have learned to discern for myself what in fact makes for a compelling photograph in my own mind, and have learned that evolution means looking back and saying ‘ewwe…I thought that was good?”  Such is the life of learning.

            Still the result that I now look at is the idea of being on photographic autopilot with in a community of artist, musicians and promoters, which in great.  I know that I have a lot of really great photos that I am proud of and I feel represent periods of time depicting who, what and how.  The tough part is in contextualizing to myself and synthesizing it into representative chunks of my work in this vein. 

            My life has always found a way to manifest itself through my artwork and these photos are no exception.  They are a culmination of an effort to both improve in my photography as well as engage a social and art scene offering myself in service and in friendship.  It represents my connection and attention to what transpires and what potential symbiosis might evolve out of the mutual beneficial relationships.  Perhaps not all the time have things panned out where careers have been made or fortunes been founded, however I can look into my photos and see the intention, the drive, the dreams and the continuity of life amongst a varying group of creative and aspiring individuals who converge and diverge forming one facet of the Richmond cultural animal.

12/18/2010

            It is important to note that one must always remember to indulge oneself in what totally geeks them out and serves no productive outcome.  Star Wars and comic books are that indulgence.  (And video games…duh!)  I don’t think I got too much accomplished today, I mean I probably did, but the day went really fast and I can say that I watched a bunch of trailers for the Star Wars MMO “the Old Republic.”  This of course throws you out into other realms like watching the trailer for “Sucker Punch”  and then watching promos for SP and then watching the “Green Lantern” trailer. And then there was the trailer about cowboys and aliens too… I blame it on my brother.  I talked to him today and we chatted a lot about movies.  Now I do not see many movies and have seen even fewer recently than I ever have so watching some trailers I guess was in order.  I also got a surprise in the mail as well.  A tiny two-pound bag of popcorn.  Might as well been a brick of gold.  People here don’t appreciate a tub of popcorn like the American people.  We likes out corn!!  We likes it with everything.    But I digress.  Popcorn is my snack of snacks and it’s hard to come by here in the Czech Republic.  So the Trifecta is talking to your family, receiving popcorn in the mail and watching tons and tons for fantasy geekdom on the web.  Excelsior!

PS the Green Lantern trailer is a fake, but a good fake.

12/19/2010

            Tonight we attended the fourth Advent celebration in the town square of Cesky Krumlov.  Unfortunately it seems that even though we arrived fifteen minutes after five the festivities were winding down.  I had read that the program for today centered around sending letters to baby Jesus, much like I suppose the practice of sending letters to Santa?  But alas upon our arrival I proceeded to the back of the square to see the view held looking back past the fountain and the giant decorated tree towards the stage.  Within minutes of scoping my new vantage point I heard an announcement that signaled the end of the program.             

            It was not the worst thing in the world really.  We hung close to the square for a while simply shooting around.  After a while the square began to clear out giving us a quieter scene to play with.  We then took the opportunity to walk around a little more and explore the town at night with our lenses.  It was a nice change from shooting during the day and fighting the tourist passing by.  In this sense coming to Cesky Krumlov so late in the year has been advantageous.  We would have have had more temperate weather however more tourist to deal with as well.  Besides being sick, I’ve loved having the snow and of course there is a very nice compliment paring the snow and this small castle town, something I think Schiele termed it “dead city.”  There is something quite fascinating in the idea of a town trying to retain the austere of the past by preserving it against change and progress while simultaneously courting it in the form of tourist attraction and retention.