Running and Passing.

I’ve discovered that I’m a big fan of time-based and location sensitive creative works.  The idea of ouside restraints and the potential for psychological (and physical) isolation elevates the senses to extreme levels. The following is an excerpt from an article about musician Phil Elverum and this residency / production at the Portland White Stag building.

“Elverum, the Anacortes, Washington-based songwriter who records a kind of haunted folk music as Mount Eerie, is in Portland for the second day of his week-long residency at White Stag to write and record a piece of music about the building…”

“Even when I’m on tour, I’m always trying to recreate this feeling [of my home],” he says. In fact, in 2004, Elverum shed his previous moniker, the Microphones, for Mount Eerie (adding an extra “e” to both his last name, formerly Elvrum, and the mountain’s in the process). “I realized I was writing so much about a specific place that I finally said, ‘Fuck it—I’ll just embody it.’”

Read the full article @ Portland Mercury – Grave Architecture : Mount Eerie Writes the Myth of White Stag

Lens Culture just posted a revamped version of their photographer interviews that date back to 2004. From the site… “Since 2004, Lens Culture has recorded audio interviews and conversations with some of the most interesting and thought-provoking photographers around the world. It’s great to hear these articulate artists speaking directly about their own work — and sharing their ideas about photography in general.”

As part of the Spring 2009 Photolucida in Portland, Oregon, I had opportunity to hear Abelardo Morell talk about his work, life, and influences. I recommend listening to Morell interview, as well as the Joan Fontcuberta interview.

Studies I have recently appreciated…..

The Graffiti Taxonomy of Paris studies over 2,400 photographs of graffiti tags that were captured in April, 2009.  All photographs were then archived, tagged, and sorted by letter.  iQ Font is a typeface based on tracking the movements of a professionally driven car on a closed course.

Graffiti Taxonomy: Paris
A study depicting the stylistic diversity found in Parisian graffiti tags.
http://evan-roth.com/graffiti-taxonomy-paris-info.php

iQ Font : When driving becomes writing
http://www.pleaseletmedesign.com/projects/iq-font/

This past Thursday, I attended a University of Oregon lecture and real-time copyright creation happening. Dubbed a “psychedelic learning environment”, the talk was formally titled Free Culture: Creating Copyright and Copyright Creation. The discussion, led by U of O professor Matthew Stadler, featured members of the electropop group Team Yacht and attorney and U of O alum Peter Shaver.

The discussion focused on copyright law as it pertains to creative work. Topics included fair use, the Shepard Fairy vs. Associated Press case, the bands Negative Land, Girl Talk, Team Yacht, and Dangermouse, and the literary work of Matthew Stadler. Just prior to the conclusion, the audience was invited to participate in the real time authoring a new copyright law. Mr. Stadler then announced his intention to bind the resulting copyright law creation and send it to the Library of Congress for inclusion in their archives.

Some of the features that people requested in a new copyright law include 1) Copyright on creative work is valid for 14 years. 2) Covers are acts of homage and should be legal. 3) The burden on proof should be on the plaintiff in copyright infringement cases.

The event was very informative and the audience was also quite knowledgeable and willing to participate. Twin projectors streamed a live twitter feed, that utilized the hashtag freeculture, and a real-time editable text document that featured the the newly created copyright law. I was impressed by the entire panel, but specifically found Mr. Shaver to be particularly well spoken.  He was very willing to open his mind to copyright theory while discussing the specific cases and legal precedents.

From the left : Attorney Peter Shaver, Team Yacht members (Mike Merrill, John Bechtolt, and Claire Evans) and Author Matthew Stadler

Is it an intuitive expression of liquid intelligence?
Recommended reading on photo theory : Paul Graham – Photography is Easy, Photography is Difficult (2009)

Limbo, our local Southeast Portland grocer, primarily deals in organic produce with a hint of bargain basement madness. My housemate and I recently purchased 76 lbs of organic bananas for $10. To ensure the bananas do not go to waste and the deal keeps us fit, we are dehydrating practically all of them into neat leathery fruit strips. Simply an excellent treat.

Following the harvesting of a successful crop, Erika joyously braids garlic in preparation for the curing process.

Recently, my brother Steve came to visit and I could not resist the urge to introduce him to the infamous Voodoo Donut.  Here he is enjoying a Maple Blazer Blunt.