Blog # 10

Recently, I've taken a look at a series of photographs taken by photographer, Kevin Van Aelst.  A lot of his works feature him taking pictures of quite ordinary things and defamiliarizing them in such a way that makes them look very interesting.  


Take, for example, this picture of a roll of tape made to look like the ocean with sharks swimming around in it.   

http://www.kevinvanaelst.com/photoocean.html

   
As well, he also takes a few photos that I'm not all too entirely sure what they are or what they mean., but I guess art is up to interpretation.  Anyway, I'm always quite impressed when I see pictures like these because it amazes me how people are able to look at one simple thing and see something else that is completely unrelated.  I'll admit, I don't have the most creative mind so I personally find it difficult to see these sorts of things in everyday objects.  But seeing these pictures makes me want to try more often to look for the extraordinary in the ordinary.  

Blog # 9

The Sears Tower unveiled, in the summer of last year, their 103rd floor balconies.  Now, this may seem boring but these aren't just any old balconies 103 floor above ground.  These balconies are made of one-and-a-half inch thick glass. 



Supposedly, the glass balcony can support up to five tonnes and was inspired by the forehead prints left behind on the windows of the sky deck from visitors wanting a better view of the city.  The people who have visited the site say that taking the first step out onto the balcony was the hardest step.  However, one gets used to it after venturing out a few times. 

I think that this is a neat way to test people's comfort zones.  See how courageous you are or how well you are able to deal with heights.  Or, you know, just a great way to get a small thrill in people's normally average and mundane lives.  It seems like a fun addition to an already iconic tower.  I also like that it's different and exciting.

 I think would like to visit this balcony in the future, maybe even take a step or two onto the glass floors.

Blog # 8

Exciting news for Sailor Moon fans!  Kodansha USA, the American publishers of the manga, have decided to bring back our beloved childhood heroine to America after a long six year hiatus.  Starting in September of this year the series will be re-released along with a two volume prequel.  The series has been around since 1992 and  been one of the most popular and well-known series of all time.

Currently, their seems to be a trend where things are being brought back, re-released or re-done.  It's a good way for companies to make money., to appeal to people's nostalgia.  I don't mind it if I get to see the things I've missed from my childhood.

I'll admit that I have never read the manga series but have seen the show when it aired many years ago.  I have to say that it was a significant part of my childhood.  I remember watching it religiously and making my parents buy Sailor Moon related merchandise.  And I feel that even though they are just bringing back the manga, it still feels like they are bringing back a part of my childhood.  It may be a bit optimistic of me but I'm quite hopeful that they'll bring back the show as well.

Blog # 7

If anyone looked outside their window on the evening of March 19, then they would have been able to see a “Supermoon”.  



http://www.cbc.ca/photos/galleries/219/219_2313_web_8column.jpg



A supermoon is when a full or new moon coincides with when it is closest to the Earth.  The result of this is that the moon appears much larger than it normally does.  This is something that has not occurred since 1993, eighteen years ago.  Many have speculated that supermoons are responsible for natural disasters, as the moon's gravity is responsible for the creation of tides and especially in the light of the recent tsunami in Japan, and while some will agree with this, many experts stress that this is definitely not the case.  The closeness of the moon will, however, cause a dramatically large range of high and low tides.    

If you want to know my theory on supermoons: people born in the light of a supermoon will be born with super powers.   

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.