Decom

I'm excited about an art project, a great big one, so what better time to remember Dovetail Tract? It's the Burning Man NYC Decompression party 2008, "The Flying Labratory". Every inch of airplane hanger ceiling, every smooth step of 100,000 sq ft tarmac, every moment of the trip to the very edge of Brooklyn. The whole shebang.

This blog is about artwork I'm close to; the things I'm watching and by watching am close to. This party is a curatorial extravaganza. More soon.

www.nycdecompression.org

Voyeur - Art Opening on Govs Island Aug. 10

Voyeur: A Photo Documentation of the FIGMENT Participatory Arts Event - Opening on Governors Island Sunday, August 10, 2-5 p.m.

What: Earlier this summer over 10,000 people came to Governors Island over the course of three days to engage with art projects from over 200 artists. This highly eclectic 100% volunteer effort was a major success for non-commercial art in New York City. While the ruckus has subsided the artistic fervor remains. Voyeur is a photographic exhibition covering the merriment of FIGMENT 2008 located in Building 14 of New York’s most exciting parkland island. For more information on FIGMENT see www.figmentnyc.org.

When: Voyeur opens Sunday, August 10, 2008. Join us for an opening celebration from 2-5 p.m. The exhibit runs until October 12, 2008. Voyeur will be open for viewing Fridays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Where: Building 14 on Governors Island. Free ferries to the island leave every hour from the Battery Maritime Building in lower Manhattan (right next door to the Staten Island Ferry). For details see http://www.govisland.com/Visit_the_Island/directions.asp

Who: Voyeur is curated by a team of FIGMENT volunteers who just couldn’t get enough and features images from over 30 photographers.

Cost: Free

What else: While you’re on Governors Island, don’t miss the City of Dreams Mini-golf course. FIGMENT's free mini-golf course features holes from nine different artists and will be open Fridays through Sundays for the duration of the summer. Donations are accepted to help fund FIGMENT 2009.

Images available upon request.

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FIGMENT is a project of Action Arts League, and produced by a coalition of volunteers in partnership with The Pure Project. FIGMENT 2008 is made possible in part with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

Figment* 2008

Figment, if you haven't heard, was a three-day participatory arts festival that just ended on Governor's Island, NYC. It was a 100% volunteer by a whole lot of people who like art and wackieness.

Yesterday I greeted people in Manhattan all day. At one point there was a line back to the Staten Island Ferry, which proves that NYC likes art and wackiness too. Actually there was a mixture of people, a number of whom didn't realize that the boat they were lined up for offered up a colorful festival on the other side. Some of whom used to live on the island... some who wanted to see Eliasson's waterfalls... some who thought they were going to the Statue of Liberty. There were also plenty of people with costumes and glittery things. Only one guy asked me for a hug.

I heard that 5000 people came over. Having done all that work blasting press releases it was nice seeing an impact. At the end of the day I took the last ferry over. Drenching rain followed quickly.

Today I planned to go over early to experience all the awesomeness I've been touting for the past few weeks first hand. Lingering over brunch, I managed to hop a boat at the still respectable 1:30 pm. And quickly the rain began. Then ebbed, then rained more. The island is still very charming when wet, with showers spent on porches watching the weather system sweep the river. But I'm sad to have missed participating in more of the art there.

This photo is a field of Mylar flags that we (Ian, Chris, Andrea & I) watched blow furiously in the windy rain from the back porch of the Admiral's house. I don't know who made them. I like the way each reflective one is stitched to its pole in orange thread. Click here for more pics.

Taste of the Trade

Here’s the other one I just finished that you’ve been hearing me talk about for a while, Metropolis magazine’s Taste of the Town: Chicago dining guide. This will hit the Merchandise Mart in Chicago for NeoCon next week. (That’s a furniture trade show, nothing right-wing people!) It’s peppy, colorful, and full of places to eat and drink. Not to mention all the exciting quotes from restaurant designers.

Please don’t ask me if Metropolis sent me to Chicago to eat in all these restaurants for research because they did not. All of this research was online or via telephone, which I assure you is excruciating before lunchtime.

Please also don’t ask if I am going to NeoCon to partake in these restaurants after the fact because, again, I am not. The only time I find myself in Chicago is to visit my little sister who for all her wonderful charms does not like to eat in restaurants!

Which leaves me to implore you, dear Midwestern readers, to report back to me how good it all is. There’s a new bar section, and new trends sections, and so many new restaurants!

A Little Guidance

You’ve been hearing me talk about this all winter and here it is, Metropolis magazine’s Design Guide NYC 2008: ICFF Connected. It’s exciting to see this thing I made go out into the world, a zine-sized piece of design candy full of phone numbers and addresses and pretty pictures. I’m partial to the Brooklyn section personally. Pick up yours at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, May 17-20, 2008.

More info here.

High Flying Design

By Daniela Morell

Joseph Cory looks up for inspiration. From that vertical mentality came i-Rise, with collaborator Eyal Malka, which was a runner up in the 2007 Next Generation® Design Competition.

With a new 1:20 scale model of the i-Rise on hand Cory is showing the world his vision of architecture for the future, which takes to heart issues of land use, energy efficiency, and neighbor relations. The prototype will be on view along with other pieces from Cory’s firm Geotectura at ZeZeZe Architecture Gallery in Tel Aviv from January 24 to February 21, 2008. ...



More at http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=3111

Good Morning Mesoamerican Sunshine

Click here to watch the beautiful Flash animated short by Ethan Fleischer, The Defeat of Seven Macaw. It is an adaptation of a tidbit of the Mayan book Popul Vuh – “A fun, action-packed creation mythology,” according to Ethan and “The single most important piece of Mesoamerican literature,” according to Wikipedia – in which the protagonist Hunahpu bests the villain god Seven Macaw.

Mayan design elements from pottery and sculpture were appropriated to create the style of the piece. The short’s sound drives home the experience of being in a place before earth-as-we-know-it.

Fun fact: Ethan cast his 8 year old son Alek as the voice of Seven Macaw.

For more odd and pretty things from Ethan’s portfolio see ethanfleischer.com.