Blog # 6

http://candychang.com/before-i-die-in-nola/

This is something similar to that of the gum wall I blogged about earlier.  It is yet another piece of art on a wall that is made by everyday people.  It is a blackboard-esque wall on the streets of New Orleans that is free for anyone passing by to write on.  You simply use one of the large pieces of chalk provided and write down the thing that you want to do before you die.  It can be anything.  Once the wall is filled with responses, it is then washed away to be started again.  But this does not happen until all the responses are documented as the responses will be included into a book.

I think it's great because not only does anyone get to participate in this, it shows everyone the things that are most important people.  Maybe it will even help somebody realize what they want to do with their life.  A lot of people say that a person won't try to achieve their goals until it goes from brain to paper, or in this case wall, and gets written down.

Blog # 5

Lego art is something I really enjoy.

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/10/view/9563/nathan-sawaya-brick-by-brick.html

A gallery of Lego brick art was held at the Agora gallery in New York just March-April of last year to showcase the works of Nathan Sawaya.  Sawaya, who used to be a lawyer, quit his job to pursue art with a medium which he has always been fascinated with as a child.

I think to do something like that, give up a possibly well-paying and stable job, to follow your passion to be an incredibly brave and risky decision.  It might not have worked out as well as it did for him.  If only everyone could pursue what they really wanted to do in life, but most people are too scared and not willing to give up the lifestyle that they currently lead to follow a dream that may or may not happen. 

Legos are something I loved to play with as a child but could never imagine doing something like what these this artist has.  I can only imagine the time and effort that went into this.  I also like this because I think something like this really brings forward the notion that just about anything can be art, even children's toy.

Blog # 4

This YouTube video is about a man who collects photographs of people he doesn't know.  It sounds strange but is actually quite interesting.  He buys these photos from people selling them at flea markets.  As well, they aren't just any old  photographs but each photographs he owns tells a story who is in the photo or what has occured in the photo.  I think it's incredible, the stories that a single photograph can tell.  They talk to him, he says. 

It's hard for me to really think about it now, because of how young I am, but when I die what will be left of me probably will just be photographs.  It makes me hope that my life tells an interesting enough story that someone would pick it up were it to end up being sold in some place like a garage sale or flea market.  We all want to be remembered for something, don't we?

Either way, it's a hobby I've never thought about but after seeing this video, something I might take up.

Blog # 3

There are as few as ten countries in the world that have legalized same-sex marriage.  Canada is one of them but so is Argentina, which is the latest country to have legalized same-sex marriage.  The legalization that happened on July 15th 2010, which also includes full adoption rights, makes Argentina the first Latin American country to do so.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2010/07/15/GR2010071506850.html



I do support gay rights and seeing news of something like this gives me hope for the future.  Society seems to be progressing, even if it is only by a little bit.  Hopefully, we'll see more countries joining the likes of Argentina.

Blog # 2

Though some may not consider the Gum Wall art, most likely due to obvious disgusting nature and that it looks like vandalism, it is still an interesting way that the citizens and tourists of downtown Seattle can leave their mark on the busy city.  The Gum Wall is what it sounds like: a wall or rather a brick alleyway covered with pieces chewed gum.  

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/25/news/la-trb-your-scene-market-theater-gum-wall-in-seattle-20110224

I think one reason why this tourist attraction is so popular is because, besides that fact that it is a bit of an oddity, people can literally leave something of theirs behind and it will stay there for decades to come, I'm sure.  I think people want to be remembered, even it is is just a piece of their used gum on a wall plastered with many other people's chewed gum.  People have even left messages written in gum on that wall.  Who knows, maybe the only evidence of somebody's life is stuck on that wall.  It's sort of like living forever, sort of.

Blog # 1



http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/arts/photos/2010/11/22/arts-tim-burton-584.jpg



He is the creator and director of countless classics that many of us hold near and dear; my personal favourite being Edward Scissorhands.  People have often wondered what goes on inside that head of his for him to create the wonders that we see on the silver screen. Now, with the opening of his exhibit in Toronto at the TIFF Bell Lighthouse running from now until April 2011, the general public may finally get to see that.  The exhibit, named after himself, showcases his artwork, almost like a 3D sketchbook and will include his "paintings, drawings, puppets, costumes and storyboards". 

I have not seen the exhibit but I still think that the concept is a great.  I think that to showcase the artwork of someone well known will appeal to a wider audience and may get them interested and inspired to learn about more artwork and different artists.  As well, I think it would be pretty (for lack of a better word)cool to see lesser known works of an artist and to see the things that inspired them.