Observations on Art 10.29

Last week Banksy, the British graffiti artist, submitted an op-ed to The New York Times that the Times board rejected. This is the text of that op-ed, a text the Times has said Banksy changed. I'm not going to say I agree with what he wrote, mostly I don't, but I do think that if the Times can print an op-ed supposedly written by Vladimir Putin they can print this.

"As a visitor staying in New York for the past few weeks one thing has become very clear to me, and I say this as a friend, you've got to do something about the new World Trade Center. The building is a disaster. Well no, disasters are interesting. One World Trade Center is a non-event. Its vanilla. Its like something they would build in Canada.

The attacks of September 11^th were an attack on all of us and we will live out our lives in their shadow. But it's also how we react to adversity that defines us. And the response? 104 floors of compromise?

Remarkable for such a tall structure One World Trade Center lacks any self-confidence. How does it stand up without a spine? It looks like it never wanted to built in the first place. It reminds you of a really tall kid at a party, awkwardly shifting his shoulders trying not to stand out from the crowd. It's the first time I've ever seen a shy skyscraper.

It would be easy to view One World Trade Center as a betrayal of everyone who lost their lives on September 11^th, because it so clearly proclaims the terrorists won. Those 10 men have condemned us to live in a world more mediocre than the one they attacked, rather than be the catalyst for a dazzling new one.

Nobody comes to New York to bathe in your well-mannered common sense. We're here for the spirit and audacity. Of which One World Trade Center has none. Instead you have to look to the rooftops, to the chorus of precariously roller painted names and slogans crawling over the skyline like poison ivy. This is the city's true heritage, a city that made it's name giving space to the mercurial and the brave.

 One World Trade declares the glory days of New York are gone. You really need to put up a better building in front of it right away. Or better still, let the kids with the roller poles finish it off. Because you currently have under construction a one thousand foot tall sign that reads, New York - we lost our nerve."

Given the opportunity I would ask Banksy a question.  If the glory days of New York are gone why did you spend a month here?

Sunday Observations 8.11

This is an odd mix of things but it's Sunday and I'm cleaning up notes.

Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona is the first openly bisexual member of Congress. Sinema says she was always open about her sexuality but her first comment on it as an elected official is classic. In 2005, while she was a member of the Arizona State Legislature, a Republican colleague gave a speech in which he insulted LGBT people. "We’re simply people like everyone else who want and deserve respect," Sinema said. Later reporters asked her about her comment and she answered "Duh, I’m bisexual."

Jay Leno was talking about comedy but the Republican Party could have learned an important lesson had they listened to him a few nights ago. He said that when you play to one group, a part of the audience in his case, in the end all you do is pander to that group at the expense of the rest of the group.

I enjoy Abby Huntsman on The Cycle so much more than I did Sarah Elizabeth Cupp.

Something I want to read is Five Star Billionaire, a new novel set in Shanghai and written by Malaysian writer Tash Aw. I was reading a column about it and others in the current rash of Asian superwealth novels when I saw the following line. "Does the rapid ascent of the $30,000 handbag spell some sort of apocalyptic, karmic doom? Or a societal dynastic pattern in which Asian superwealth will end up where America is now, divided and waiting for the revolution." The review was written by Chinese author Janice Y. K. Lee who resides in Hong Kong. Nice to know that the residents of Hong Kong think Americans are awaiting the revolution, they might be right.

Another book i just added to my wish list is Taipei by Tao Lin. Technically Tao Lin is an American writer but his parents are Taiwanese so I guess you could say I'm currently looking at Asian writers. But then I haven't read any of them yet, right now I'm reading The Story Of Paris by Thomas Okey which was written in 1906.

Finally a link I've been saving so long I forgot what it was, "Architecture: Pre-emptive Moves, Predemolition." It's about the New York practice of tearing the decorative pieces off of classic buildings so there is no reason to give them historic designations and clearing the way for the developer to tear down the entire building. I saved the article because it reminded me of a cool store in Adamstown, Pennsylvania. The 'store' is a warehouse next to a huge century old barn both of which are filled with things salvaged from buildings about to be torn down. Everything from doors and windows to mantels and antique crystal door knobs, this place has it all. According to it's website Oley Valley Architectural Antiques even has 150 antique bars.

I warned you it was an odd mix of topics.

Observations on Art 8.7

You know by now that I love timelapses and this one is just stunning. I probably use the word stunning too much but I can't think of a better way to describe this film. Nightvision was created by Luke Shepard, an American student videographer studying at American University of Paris. He raised the money to do it with a kickstarter campaign last year. I'm not sure what does it for me, the song, the simple beauty, or the fact that I studied a few of the buildings. The buildings themselves range from the most modern through gothic and baroque to almost ancient. It really is stunning.

The bigger you watch it the better.


NIGHTVISION from Luke Shepard on Vimeo.

"Nightvision is a celebration of the brilliance and diversity of architecture found across Europe. Over the course of three months I journeyed with a friend through 36 cities in 21 countries with the ambition of capturing some of the greatest European structures in a new and unique way. Comprised of thousands of carefully taken photographs, strung together and stabilized in post-production, Nightvision aims to inspire appreciation for these man-made landmarks.

Nightvision would not have been possible without my Kickstarter backers, the support of the American University of Paris community, everyone who helped along the way, and of course, those who designed and built these architectural masterpieces."

Director: Luke Shepard

AD: Henry Farrow Miller
Music: "Outro" by M83
Equipment: Canon 5D Mark III, Zeiss 18mm f/3.5, Zeiss 21mm f/2.8, Zeiss 25mm f/2, Zeiss 35mm f/1.4, Canon 8-15mm Fisheye f/4, and Canon 24-105mm f/4
Software: Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Bridge

update - I just wanted to add this link to Luke Shepard's website which has a list of the buildings and cities of Nightvision. Personally I like the sweeping shot of Rome's Trevi Fountain best. Anyway, I know you were guessing, now see how many you had right.

Observations from the Shore 7.1

Iwan Baan for Arquitectura

I don't think I've ever had a dream house other than the one I'm currently sitting in but then I saw this one. "Casa Obsevatorio" was designed by Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco along with architect Tatiana Bilbao and is built on an isolated beach near Puerto Escondido in southern Mexico. The house is on the west coast so I can lounge by the rooftop pool and watch the sun set into the Pacific as I sip Coronas with fresh lime from the garden. It's my dream so I'll drink what I want but if you simply must have Bud Lite with Lime so be it. Just don't expect me to condone such a despicable habit.

One thing I would add is a large room with virgin white walls. Whenever I felt like it I could just splash paint on them.