Open Studios in Boston

One of the things I dearly miss in San Francisco is Open Studios that happens twice a year (which started off in Bayview but has expanded to so many neighborhoods). I finally checked out the Fort Point Open Studios here in Boston this past weekend.

Two highlights from touring various artist's spaces and art, were Lara Loutrel and Luther Price.

I love Loutrel's work and am a proud owner of a Russian eye chart-like screenprint. Loutrel's work is really arresting - abstract black and white prints. Her more recent pieces are more sculptural and 3-D which extends her very structural lines in her pieces. I really love this evolution she's embarking on with her work.

Luther Price is an experimental film maker whose studio was this enormous warehouse that featured his installation, The Sound of Singing through Dust. There were hand-made slide projections that was a combination of old personal photographs, found film stills that had various music pieces accompany them. His process is so interestingly different in that he really deconstructs the concept of mainstream film and physically collages these found-objects and reshoots them on Super 8mm. After turning them into slides, he manipulates and destroys the slides with mold, dust and overexposure. To me, they seem rough, sometimes perverse, but somehow delicate and poetic at the same time.

Infinite Pictures and Sound at the ICA

There were two exhibits that I found thrilling on my first visit to the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art). The first was Some Pictures of the Infinite by with Josiah McEhleny. In a large room, there were gigantic galaxy-like chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. The highly stylized planets, stars and galaxies were mesmerizing to walk around in and see various reflections in the shiny mirrored materials.

The Center Is Everywhere by Josiah McEhleny

Another aspect of McEhleny's exhibit was the sculptural and performance piece called the Infinite Repetition of Revolt, performed by Maggie McBrien. While McBrien stands planted in front of a blackboard like structure with silver drawings of boxes, she poses the question of how revolt should be pursued – lead by a small group of trailblazers or built on consensus? She turns around and erases all remnants of the silver boxes and leaves a black reflection of us, the audience's faces.

Infinite Repetition of Revolt Performance  by Maggie McBrien

A few months ago, there was a lot of outcry from the Boston public regarding a mural painted at Dewey Square because people interpreted it as the main figure as a terrorist by the Brazilian artist duo, Os Gemeos. To me, I see a vivid painting of a boy with a shirt wrapped around his head in a playful manner. What do you think?

By Os Gemeos

This mural complimented the full exhibit of paintings, sculptures, and interactive sound organ that was on display at the ICA. The Os Gemeos style has an underground graffiti-tone that is also playful, whimsical, and bright – like they are throwing a Carnival party with their artwork. Os Musicos was a sonic sculpture that had a piano or organ placed in front of a wall of yellow painted speakers. Apparently, each key creates an analog sound that pumps through the speakers. I missed the performance and couldn't convince the Gallery Docents to let me bang on the keys to see what sounds came out.

Os Musicos

Babyvision - the Summer Edition

This is a bit of an overdue post, but I finally got the chance to see the babies during the summer. Highlights: Evie is a cupcake and cuddle monster who recently just turned one. Ivan and I discovered the magic of wiffle ball and helmets - looks like he'll be a promising baseball star. Aden was stoked with the auto-tune microphone and has been practicing his renditions of Coldplay's "Para-para-para paradise and "We Are Young" by Fun.

I miss babyvision with the Tsangs.
x ♥ x ♥

NYE Resolution update:
Crossed off 1 and 5. Am working on 4...stay tuned!

Scrabble-tabulous!

This is the perfect gift for a Scrabble lover and a typophile, like myself.  This gorgeously crafted game comes in your favorite font or an assorted font pack. If I were to get one, I'd have a difficult time choosing between Mrs Eaves, Chalet, Neutraface, though the assorted pack would be a great way to change fonts depending on the day/weather/outfit.

"The purpose of this project was to revive an old, but loved game. The idea was to excite people about typography by giving them the ability to choose what font their scrabble set would come in. " - Andrew Clifford Capener

The waiting list for the A-1 Scrabble designer edition by Andrew Clifford Capener is now open. Sign up here. 
 

Singapore Slingin'

I'm clocking lots of miles this year, so far. My company sent me to Singapore for a week and was excited by the prospect of landing in a new country. My preconceived notions about Singapore were spot on...so clean you could literally eat off the streets, no pollution, and everyone seems to be playing a part in an Asian version of Pleasantville - people are so friendly and hospitable! What was so incredible about this country was that it seemed like a melting pot of many asian cultures.

Here were my highlights from my brief stay:

On my way to eat my face off with some hot pot (steamboat) in Chinatown.

The only graffiti I stumbled upon: Alley next to the Peranakan Museum, Armenian Street

Night view from the rooftop of Marina Bay Sands

I'm really rocking one of my NYE resolutions, if only I could cross the other ones off my list...

Wind Beneath My Map

 

Last year, I had the pleasure to see Fernanda Viégas and Martin Wattenberg (when they were still Flowing Media) speak at a UX/UI lecture and was so inspired by their social visualization mantra and approach. They are a dynamic duo that creates artistic ways to rethink data. Check out their latest project is an interactive wind map that shows wind speeds throughout the country.

'Scapes

What a way to kick off the spring season. I've accomplished one of my new year's resolutions, which is to travel to a new country. Earlier this year, I did go to Mexico for a company off-site hands all. But we worked the whole time while we were in Playa Del Carmen. Then I escaped to Isla Mujeres for 2 days to be off-site from the off-site. So, it doesn't count.

For two weeks, I embarked on an Asian adventure through Krabi and Bangkok, Thailand and Shanghai, China. Some highlights were the gorgeous limestone islands of Hong, off the coast of Krabi, Wat Tum Sua (Tiger Cave) with the 1237 steps up to the top, hanging out in the French Concession like a local and eating my way through Shanghai with the most delicious spicy Sichuan food and the dumplings!!!

I still can't believe how much fun I had. Check out my new album of travel 'Scapes.

One down, four more to go.