Alpentraum

Goocusi

vonienne — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 23:24:44 +0000

This is hardly worthy of an entry after all this time of void but was anyone else MYSTIFIED by the Brancusi Google search bar image thing today? I sure was! I don’t know why but I was!

I hardly knew what to do. Lucky for me that ifitshipitshere.blogspot had an answer for me: today, February 19, Brancusi would be 135 years old if he weren’t dead already! That would be so old!

They did a nice little job of naming each piece for us dabblers in Brancusi love. Here we go:

Ah, clarity.

Don’t you love Brancusi? Bird in Space is something amazing. That’s the only one I’ve seen in person, at the Peggy Guggenheim in Venice. Que awesome. I guess Sleeping Muse is at the Met, though, so I’ll go see that pretty much next week. The Met gets another dollar from me!

Speaking of old: did you know Oscar Niemeyer is still alive and kicking at 103? That is amazing.

-d.

Christmas Tree Swing

vonienne — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:04:48 +0000

I am kind of going nuts about this Christmas tree swing right now.

It’s suspended from the ceiling and you can pop in if you’re a kid and get a 3D experience of the glory of Christmas.

There’s some directions on how to make it and I may just file it away in that big fat folder of Big Plans that I carry around on my back, which includes making my own Andy Goldsworthy wavy wall and stealing the collective works of Nick Oberthaler.

Happy Christmas!

-d.

White Christmas

vonienne — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 23:40:28 +0000

Over the past three days, I’ve been watching White Christmas (1954) in little increments (sometimes drunk), between essay writing and paper pushing and classes. Oh, what a ride it’s been! The film stars Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye alongside Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen and it’s pretty good, if I dare say so myself. ”Don’t Be That Way” as sung by Bing is one of my favorite oldey-timey songs, so it is with this song in mind and the fact that he was the basis of the swooner crooner rooster of Looney Toons fame that I forgive him his violent trespasses against his children, which, apparently are not an absolute fact anyway.

So, wanna see what nearly ruins the movie for me? Here is an image captured from White Christmas:

Can’t see what I’m talkin’ ’bout? Look closer:

Vera-Ellen! In the middle! The poor girl has no waist at all! And what’s more, it seems the people in charge somehow thought that this was a good look for her! Girl needs some bûches de Noël, like, plural. Poor thing. According to WikiP, “she was known to have the smallest waist in Hollywood from the mid 1940s through the 1960s.” One wonders who took over that title in the 60s.

Remember kids: pig out on Christmas or you’ll ruin the family photos later by making everyone cringe when they have to look at your bony body! Not Christmassy.

-d.

Have a Curvy, Pervy Christmas

vonienne — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:38:06 +0000

I think what La Senza are saying with this advert is: this Christmas, ask yourself what role women played in the life of Christ.

More specifically, what was Mary Magdalene’s cup size?

Only Dan Brown truly knows.

-d.

Spotted

vonienne — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:19:25 +0000

For some reason, this reads to me as a totally legit job. I would totally do it if I were a girl.

Paid Improv at Family Home (My Family’s House)

Date: 2010-12-11, 12:55PM EST
Reply to: xxx@craigslist.org ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

Ok. So Listen, I REALLY need to laugh this Christmas. I need it. Seriously. Here’s my idea. You come with me to my house for Christmas pretending to be a character. It may be one you want to work on, or one that is invented together, we can discuss it on the way. I figure somwhere in there, at the very least, mention in some manner to my very religious and conservative family, that you love the nazis, or were a stripper-ninja or something interesting. Oh, and that God doesn’t exist. Definitely. Or something to stir up some hilarious and non-hurtful controversy. So I guess you not only have to be a girl but also some form of atheist-stripper-nazi.

I’m telling you it’s a trip. We’ll make it up as we go along. Anyway, I’d do it for you. In fact, that’s the deal, I’ll go with you to one of yours, if you want. It’ll be fun!

I’m a guy, so it may be easier to explain to my parents that this is a new girlfriend, rather then the alternative where I come out of the closet to my parents. – Man, that would be dedication. – But, for right now, I’d rather they not have heartattacks BOTH. Who would be left to entertain me? Anyway, even though you should be a girl, this is not a date! It’s an experiment. An exploration. Did I mention that I NEED to laugh this Christmas? Sure, I think I did. This is a paid gig. If what I’m offering is not enough, tell me what you would do it for. I’m flexible. Improv skills welcome.

Ok. So Understand the concept? If you’re still reading, this must be interesting to you. I plan to record most of it and cull a play out of it somehow. So this is a chance to do some co-writing as well. Anyway, I think I’ve explained enough. So, if you are just sitting around NYC during the holidays and want to join in on some experimental theatre, give me a holler. The days would be consecutive Dec 22-28th. Overnight stays at my family’s but no Hanky. And no Panky. Really.

Unless you want to. But I’d have to think about it. But probably not much. No but then I wouldn’t. But then I would be thinking about it all night, so I would probably try in the middle of the night when you would already be sleeping and freak you out. Then I would apologize and FINALLY go to sleep. Then we would(hopefully) laugh about it the next day. Or right now. Or… not.

This is a tough challenge for an actor.You really have to be this part. My parents have to believe you. My sister has to believe you and she is very observant. The stakes are high, because feelings could get hurt if it’s not believeableand true. It’s a worthy challenge for any actress. Plus, it’ll be fun! Did I already mention that?

C’mon do it. Take a risk. Do something no-one’s ever thought of to do before. It’ll be fun! Or maybe not! Either way, It’ll be fun!

Please send a current headshot or photo. Better current than headshot. Cheers!

Ok… maybe I’d do it. If I were a girl.

-d.

Oh, Right: It’s Christmastime!

vonienne — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:44:13 +0000

Venturing outside these days is rendered less attractive by the fact that temperatures are coasting below zero. Of late, I’ve been bogged down in Studyland anyway, which is a strictly indoors kinda place. But I was reminded at the HuffPo’ today that it is not only cold outside: it’s Christmastime!

For the occasion, the HuffPo’s has a good little slideshow of the major window installations in New York this season. Check it out here. Also, my friend (and boss), Jean, has an Indie design gift guide up at the HuffPo’, replete with slideshow as well! Check that out, too!

Last but not least, in case you’re wondering how them fancy winders on 5th Avenue are made up, here’s a little video from the folks over at Bergdorf-Goodman (via Jean, actually):

Happy Christmas!

-d.

Studio Ve Manifold Clock

vonienne — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:22:42 +0000

How many times have I seen something awesome on the interwebs and found out that it’s just a concept or a prototype or an installation and is not available for purchase? A nickel for every time, friends.

I have seen this little pup around the interwebs of late but how great was my pleasure at discovering only today that it can be purchased!

See the video here.

Awesome. $45 seems very reasonable indeed.

-d.

V-MODA Crossfades please

vonienne — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:03:20 +0000

How sick am I of headphones busting all the time? Very. Sick. Indeed.

Luckily, I think these would fit snuggly into a stocking for me.

At $199, these V-MODA Crossfade headphones look awesome and have a pretty reasonable price tag (hopefully with some kind of warranty). The review at yanko design says they are not as great as Bowers & Wilkins but I have never heard of Bowers & Wilkins and am afraid to google them. I’ll settle for these.

-d.

David Wojnarowicz Gets Publicity

vonienne — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:51:51 +0000

There’s a whole lot of attitudes going around in the art world concerning an exhibition in D.C. right now, so I’ll try not to get one, too. But let me break it down for you:

A video piece called “Fire In My Belly” by the artist/activist/Le Tigre shout-out/Nan Goldin friend and subject David Wojnarowicz was originally included in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” in Washington, an exhibit that surveys same-sex love and relationships as portrayed in art. On the list is everything and everyone — Walt Whitman, Thomas Eakins, Marcel Duchamp, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Georgia O’Keeffe, John Singer Sargent, George Bellows, Walker Evans, Berenice Abbott, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, David Hockney, Agnes Martin, Andy Warhol, Nan Goldin, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, and Andrew Wyeth. So, why no David Wojnarowicz?

Apparently it’s anti-Christian. I mean, what else gets you pulled these days except religion? But even from the grave Wojnarowicz hasn’t gone down without a fight and is being martyred all over town (“town” being “Artville”). According to the HuffPo’, “After House GOP Leader John Boehner forced the Smithsonian to remove an excerpt of artist David Wojnarowicz’s video “A Fire in My Belly”, other museums around the country are stepping forward to post the video. The New Museum in New York is now showing the film in its lobby, as is the CB1 Gallery in Los Angeles [ed. note: props!].

From The New Museum’s website:

“The film, A Fire in My Belly, A Work in Progress (1986-87) is a poetic meditation on man, life, death, faith, and suffering made in part as a response to the AIDS-related death of his close friend, artist Peter Hujar”

Represensative Boehner and fellow Congressman Eric Cantor attacked the piece as “an outrageous use of taxpayer money and an obvious attempt to offend Christians during the Christmas season.”

Lisa Phillips, director of the New Museum, explained that the Museum has a history of defending freedom of expression. “We cannot afford to take hard won civil liberties for granted and need to remain vigilant and protect artistic freedom.”“

On Saturday last, two activists were held at the National Portrait Gallery while staging a cool kinda protest: One of them (both male, obv.). stood by the entrance of the show with ”A Fire in My Belly” playing on an iPad hung around his neck (like a hung martyr!) and held a stack of fliers with text explaining what was going on. The second guy filmed the happenings (available online). Both were detained and later released once they signed letters pledging they would never return to Smithsonian Institution facilities ever.

SOOOO… what’s all the hubbub, bub? Well, I watched the 20 minute silent video and, yeah, it’s kinda anti-Christian? I mean, there’s a shot of a Christus crucifixio being swarmed by ants and then his head catching fire, interspersed with a loaf of bread being broken and then sewn together while a man’s mouth is being sewn shut. Then the globe catches fire. To me, that’s pretty overt criticism of Christianity.

But, in a nutshell: Does the overly evident anti-Christian nature of David Wojnarowicz’s video “Fire In My Belly” warrant it being pulled from the show? Answer: No. Voila.

That’s my summary! And I feel this is as good a place as any to post Army of Lovers’ 1991 hit “I’m Crucified”, which, incidentally, also goes out to Schwester S for her martyrdom with her chirrun right now.

-d.

Cthulhu

vonienne — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:32:41 +0000

I don’t know who created this but it’s beautifully frightening.

Courtesy of Schwester S.

-d.