Finding A Legend With A Crowd

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Carolyn

I caught this fascinating show called “The Missing Tomb” on National Geographics TV that needs to be watched. It’s a crowdsource-assisted expedition led by Dr. Albert Yu-Min Lin which is looking to find the true burial place of the legendary Genghis Khan in an area of Mongolia known as the Ikh Khorig or the Forbidden Zone. The fascinating part of this particular expedition is the use of satellite technology to spot potential areas of interest with the help of viewers who scour over the satellite footage to pinpoint spots they deem viable for further investigation. Anyone interested can log into the Field Expedition site to join the search.

This expedition shows the possibility of collaborative work using modern technology to practice non-invasive archaeology, while still respecting the sanctity of the holy grounds that a people revere. It’s clear that work as we know it really is changing before our very eyes, and anyone with a passion can find a way to reach their dreams. It’ll be a dream for us all when everyone takes up this new style of work and helps us go into a brighter future…together.

Now, we might even find a legend with the help of a crowd… Follow this groundbreaking expedition through their blog at National Geographic.

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An Unbalanced World

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Carolyn
designboom image © alessandro ghirelli

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going through My Modern Met today, I was drawn to an exhibit at the Guggenheim called “All” for Maurizio Cattelan‘s swan song in the art world. Clever art is always so intriguing, and presentation helps develop the cleverness of the conversation that the artist wants to have with his viewers. Maurizio’s works speak with a sense of the “political” as they discuss the chaotic world that is human society in a humorous and yet emotion-provoking manner. And that he thought to showcase his life’s (to date) work as though they were hanging effigies to his thoughts at a particular moment in time is brilliantly unhinged and delicious.

When I went to read up on him, I came across a Guardian UK interview from 2004 where I read the following disturbing words: “One of his best-known older pieces, a suspended, taxidermised horse titled The Ballad of Trotsky, was auctioned in New York for $2.1m (£1.15m). Cattelan claims he won’t get a penny of that money – he sold the horse in 1996 for $5,000.” And that brings me to today’s thought on an unbalanced world. Continue reading →

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The Cure – Apart

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Carolyn

Apart by The Cure (Live in 1992) by curedtc4

How did we get this far apart?
We used to be so close together…

I thought that I’d do something a little different for a Friday, by ending our busy days with a video of The Cure playing “Apart”. The lines above are two lines in the chorus, and they seem to be quite appropriate for our times. While many people think The Cure only made depressing songs, I actually took comfort in being able to feel the full spectrum of emotions that humanity is capable of through their music. Sadness actually can be just as powerful of a motivator as happiness, and some of my most powerful words came from a place of pain. Listening to this hypnotic rhythm, it is easy to feel the music deep down into our inner most beings – that place where inspiration comes from.

Although times are troubling right now, we have it in us to make something good come of it. It’s simply up to us to make it happen by listening. Listen to the beauty of hearing a solitary voice being joined by others so that they become a powerful chorus of creation. Entwined voices resonating their deepest desires until they create a brilliant reality from the ephemeral strings of our dreams.

Strings woven together into a new fabric of inspiration that will keep us warm and protected as we walk into… our future. With open hearts and open minds.

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Our Thanks To Our Veterans on 11/11/11

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Carolyn

Updated: This tribute video was made by kelikala:

It’s hard to find appropriate words for the Veterans and their families who sacrificed so much so that we can live the lives that we do. War is never something that we should seek, and warriors are people who shouldn’t have to suffer. It’s easy (though it really isn’t) to pay tribute to our fallen, but we also need to lift up those veterans who are still alive and suffering.  We all believe in love, and today is a wonderful day to express our love to those who fight for a better way of life, both military and civilian. Because we all hope that one day, war will no longer be an alternative that we choose.

Simply put, THANK YOU for all that you do. Veterans around the world, this is your day.

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Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Carolyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is such a gorgeous picture! Of course the work is brilliant but it’s a studio shot of Christian Guemy (aka C215) at work in his studio. His new show, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, will be opening at the Shooting Gallery in San Francisco on December 10, 2011. Here’s their press release for the show. It’s a really interesting read, and shows that not all street artists are cut from the same cloth.

Continue reading →

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Our Struggles

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Carolyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And once again, a street art piece speaks to me loudly and clearly. Phlegm painted this profound commentary in Basel, Switzerland, and wow does it speak with eloquence! Each one of us will probably get something a little differently from it, but the ultimate message seems pretty clear and resonates with us all. Amazing work, Phlegm!

Street artists around the world give so many “taboo” topics a place to be heard, and they do it with such incredible passion. Which is exactly what creativity is all about. Any one who says that this isn’t relevant is not paying attention to the work.

– Arrested Motion does it again!

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One Man’s Vision To Preserve Nature

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Carolyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like many people, Ilkka Halso isn’t convinced that mankind will be able to save nature from the debilitating effects of global warming and other man-made natural disasters. At times, I myself wonder how we’re going to stop ourselves from ourselves. But Ilkka has given it a lot of thought and created the Museum of Nature as his response to how we are going to have to protect nature in these enclosures so that they can survive. It’s a beautiful but harsh statement that is coming from more and more people everyday. While there are people and companies working on small fixes, it’ll be up to us all to create the ultimate repair: Respect Nature and protect her as we would a precious gemstone.

Before this becomes a reality…

– Thanks My Modern Met

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Christophe Runs, Tweets, and Draws

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Carolyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The one phrase that you always hear is to “Do what you’re passionate about!”, and it looks like Christoph Niemann is taking this to new heights. Last time I caught his drawings, I was laughing over his unbreakable passwords. Well, this time he decided to complete the NYC Marathan while he worked on his drawings and tweeted about what he was up to. Wow, considering that I can’t pat my head and rub my stomach simultaneously, I’m truly impressed by what he accomplished.

His images are so cute and funny that it’s easy to cheer him on as many did (with bananas). And that he kept his sense of humor throughout the run is a testament to his talent, willpower, and imagination. It’s no wonder he (and his art) is so popular.

Continue reading →

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The Power of A Hashtag

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Carolyn

 

 

 

 

I saw a #hashtag in my Tweet timeline that actually forced me to divert. It might have had something to do with a residual emotion that I felt from a Guardian UK article I read a few days ago that deeply disturbed me because it just never ends: Bullying. In this case, it’s cyber bullying in the form of trolling which definitely seems to be increasing on a daily basis. Like these women, I’m pretty vocal about things that I feel passionate about (or against), though I’ve been lucky to have avoided the extremity that they’ve experienced with this problem. I guess that it comes with the territory when you speak to people who have been on the receiving end of the bad for an extended period of time – which we all have (no matter what gender). But no one should have to worry about what they say if they do it with respect.

This post isn’t going to be about a feminist (or as I say equal opportunist) taking a stand on trolling. I believe that this post from Here Is A Thing blog by Courtney Stanton does a phenomenal job on reporting (and dealing with) this frightening issue that women now have to worry about online as well. Honestly, it’s crap like this that got me into martial arts and the like. Not that I’m anything like Jet Li, but I can at least do more than scream if someone physically threatens me or anyone else near me. And there are a lot of women who can do much more than that, so it would be wise for trolls to think before they threaten anyone with physical violence or derogatory insults. Of course, violence is never the answer to anything. Yes, it gets the attention for a short period of time, but it’s ineffective simply because there is no intelligence behind it. Continue reading →

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Skin

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Carolyn

http://vimeo.com/31369777

This is the trailer for Skin by Ryan Hope, which is a tattoo as art documentary that works with the global art magazine, Garage, created by Dasha Zhukova. Some big name’s involved include Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, and many others so this should be something to behold. Watch Stamp’s Vimeo page for the latest news such as where you can see it.

– found through Arrested Motion post

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