Wednesday, December 30, 2009

The Addams Family















I saw the new musical "The Addams Family," which is previewing in Chicago before heading to Broadway. The best part of the play was Jackie Hoffman ("Kissing Jessica Stein"!) who played the grandma, she should have gotten more stage time because she is hilarious. Bebe Neuwirth and Nathan Lane were in it too and are always fabulous. Also the actress who played Wednesday has an amazing voice! It was a weird show but entertaining, and I think once it gets reworked a little before opening in New York it will be better.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Chiho Aoshima

While I was reading about Takashi Murakami I found out that his studio supports 7 Japanese artists as well. Chiho Aoshima is by far my favorite out of all of them. She seems to be one of the more successful artists of the group as well, having installations all of the world. Here are some of my favorite paintings by her, enjoy!



I really must go to Japan and try to go to Murakami's studio and galleries that represent him.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Liz Does Weather

Liz Feldman stalks Al Roker, it is amazing, pure genious

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Takashi Murakami



For some reason I'm newly obsessed with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. When I interned at the MCA Chicago his work was covering the walls in the cafe, I think it was the Jelly Fish Eyes. Now I'm reading the book "Seven Days in the Art World" by Sarah Thorton and Murakami is mentioned a lot. Also he did the artwork on Kanye West's album "Gradution". His art is just so colorful, I love it. Here are some pictures of his work:















































Current Obsessions: Mindy Kaling's twitter, my coloring book exhibition for class! Also my blog, I'm definitely going to keep it after this semester is over.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Female Force


Apparently there is this comic book series called Female Force and each issue focuses on the life of an important woman. So far Oprah, Princess Diana, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, and others have been the topic. And the newest one is going to be on Ellen Degeneres! I kind of want to go out and get it, for the stories and to see the graphics. I wonder if they sell these at bookstores or if they are only available online.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Project 4

One of a Kind, show and sale, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, December 4, 2009



Clearly this is a first attempt at using iMovie, but I'm pretty pleased with the results. Also, I apologize for the shaky camera work; I need more practice. And I was wondering, how do you make the music transitions smoother?

Current Obsessions: In B Flat, other cool music video from youtube

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Video Project

While I haven't started my video project for CyberPed, I have been thinking of ideas. Here are some images that I think will inspire my final product:

Awkward interview like Zach Galifianakis


Music video perhaps...




Current Obsessions: Scrumtrulescent, funnyordie.com

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Jeanne-Claude


Today the artist Jeanne-Claude (of Christo and Jeanne-Claude) died.

I had the privilege of working with their artwork at The Phillips Collection in DC last fall for their project "Over the River" which would drape fabric over the Arkansas River in Colorado. Jeanne-Claude was always so enthusiastic about their work and called each project her child. Whenever someone from the museum spoke to her there was always a hilarious story about the things she said. She will be missed!

Also, I wonder if Christo will continue to go through with "Over the River" and their other planned project "The Mastaba" which is to be built in the United Arab Emirates. The process would not be the same without Jeanne-Claude.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Psychedelic Posters

I found these really cool posters from the 1960s and 1970s on the Brooklyn Museum website in the blog and their collection. There's currently an exhibition going on there called "Who Shot Rock & Roll" and it looks amazing! It reminds me of the MCA exhibition "Sympathy for the Devil" which was also about music and art. I just love the 1960s and everything about them, I mean my favorite year is 1968.




















Current Obsessions: Pirate Radio and soup

Monday, November 9, 2009

Quimby's

I have discovered my newest obsession in Wicker Park/Bucktown: Quimby's Bookstore. This store has so many graphic novels and authors that I love. I went there today for the first time just to check it out and found great stuff. I had been looking for this series written by Ariel Schrag for such a long time and they had it! This is the one I got today, the first in the series:

The second book in the series is being turned into a film. And I think that last one recently came out. I'm really excited to start reading this and the spend more time in Quimby's!

Current Obsessions: Ariel Schrag, Craig Thompson, Marjane Satrapi, Alison Bechdel

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Ms. Feldman

Another amazing adventure!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Doodles

I found this blog from comedian Michael Showalter. It has all of his "doodles" that I guess he just does in his free time. They are really fun and sarcastic. His blog is mostly promoting his tv series or films or comedy tours, but his drawings make the blog much more fun to look at. Here's his newest one in honor of Halloween:

Friday, October 30, 2009

Music Video

This video is amazing! It's a music video from the characters of "The Office". Clearly I watch too much tv, but I'm okay with that. I also suggest watching "Parks and Recreations" because Amy Poehler is my hero. Also I think NBC should pay me since I am always posting videos from their website. NBC call me!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

LA

I was in LA this weekend, this is pretty much the only picture I took. I was planning on going to MoCA at least, but I never got around to it, maybe next time...

Current Obsession: Venice Beach and pick-up trucks

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Sporcle


Relating to Liz's post about art trivia online.....

Who has been to sporcle.com? It's a great way to waste time! Here is one trivia game that's art-related:

Thought I would share this glorious website.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Just Because

I've had a stressful day and this made me smile. Thought I would share.

In related news, what should I be for Halloween? I was thinking about being Jane Lynch's character from Glee and just wear a track suit. Or maybe I'll be an extreme hipster and wear everything I own that is "hipster" (i.e.- flannel, high tops, skinny jeans, glasses, goofy hat, etc.) I still have some time though!

Current Obsessions: Joshua Radin and LA

Saturday, October 17, 2009

More Liz Feldman

Liz strikes again. Her faces are priceless.

Friday, October 16, 2009

P.S.

P.S. Craig Roland, the guy who does the art teacher's guide to the internet, just sent me a Ning message!!!! He said he liked my Liz Feldman twitter video that I posted on my blog and he posted it on his Ning page and the main Art Ed 2.0 page! I am so honored!

Current Obsession: Craig Roland, duhhhh

West Rogers Park


For one class I am doing field research in the neighborhood West Rogers Park. This neighborhood has a large Orthodox Jewish community, as well as Russians, Arabs, Indians, and a lot more ethnic groups.

Today I walked into a Jewish bookstore and of course I pick up probably the most controversial book in the store called, "Black, White, and Jewish" by Rebecca Walker. It looks really interesting and is about a girl whose dad is a Jew and whose mom is the African American writer Alice Walker.

I couldn't help but notice the look I got from the woman who checked me out at the store, but whatever, I'm really excited to start this book!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Visual Acoustics


I just saw this trailer for a new documentary called "Visual Acoustics" about the photographer Julius Shulman. It looks so interesting. Not sure where it is playing in Chicago, but if anyone knows please let me know!








Monday, October 12, 2009

National Equality March


DC this weekend was amazing!!!! Unfortunately no celebrity sightings, even though Cynthia Nixon, Kristen Chenowith, and Lady Gaga were all there. The National Equality March was Sunday and went along Pennsylvania Ave to Congress. It was so nice out and right before the march started a rainbow appeared in the sky! Here are some pictures I took from this weekend.





Wednesday, October 7, 2009

DC

Going to DC this weekend for the National Equality March and to visit friends!!! Should be sooo much fun... I hope I see Ellen Degeneres, or Shane.... am I right ladies?

Pictures will be posted!

Current Obsession:
Comedian Marina Franklin- amazing

Friday, October 2, 2009

Twitter for Seniors


This video is from one of my favorite comedians,
Liz Feldman, about how to teach seniors to use
twitter. Since our class is about technology I
thought this video was appropriate.

Current Obsessions:
Twitter, Liz's Blue Blaze

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Some Art



My logo- see the b and the l, and the Jewishness and the rainbowness?

Current Obsessions:

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Modern Wing Technology

When you walk into the Modern Wing of the Art Institute there are video screens immediately to your right and left, flashing information about exhibitions, staff guided tours, audio tours, podcasts, and the new education center. After you pass the entrance there is an information desk with another screen flashing the same information. At the desk there are paper guide books and framed maps, as well as information on how to get the audio guide to either the Cy Twombley or Japanese screen exhibitions or with podcasts that can also we heard on the museum's website. I felt that the podcasts are more useful to hear before you come to the museum, especially if you don't want to pay for the audio guides. Also, it was not made very clear that the audio guides had podcasts and I only found this out by watching the big screens. A woman was standing at the desk as well giving information to visitors and answering questions, many people approached her as I walked into the museum and she seemed very helpful.

After the entrance, however, less information is provided by technology. There are various signs about what each gallery houses, but no more video screens. Only on the second floor was there a touch screen that tells visitors where everything is including restrooms, restaurants, schedules, and artwork. Since there is only one touch screen people had to wait their turn to use it and it seems much easier to ask a guard or to look at a paper map, which is what I noticed most people doing. I think the museum should at least place these touch screens in more accessible areas, such as right after you hand your ticket to a guard or right in front of the staircases because right now it is very easy to walk right past them.

When I walked to the Education Center there were actually two more touch screens, which are extremely helpful, but these were hidden off to the side and only visible if you are planning on walking into the education center, or if you ask someone about them. The center is very beautiful and there are so many resources for teachers and librarians and other types of educators, and there seems to be a lot of space for programs to take place. I was welcomed into the resource area, noticed computers and books, and took an educators' guide. When I was there the education center was pretty empty until a group of older women came through who were taking part in docent training.

I then walked into the old building of the museum because I hadn't walked through it in awhile, and I noticed how there is no sign of technology. Only in the Michigan Avenue entrance was there one information screen at the ticket booth and one touch screen right by the big staircase.

When I walked downstairs the children area was a lot more inviting than the one in the Modern Wing, I felt. Activities were out in the open and interactive. There were three computers for kids to use to play interactive games relating to art. There were drawing activities and places for kids to read books and touch sculptures. The Modern Wing children's area was sealed off in a separate space, and while the things on the inside are probably very nice, it did not feel as welcoming as the older education center. I wonder if the museum plans to keep both education areas in the future, or if they will integrate the older one with the newer one.

I think the museum should make better use of the technology it already has, but I also think that many people like to walk into a museum, pick up a paper guide/map, ask guards questions, and then explore the space. Maybe they prefer this because it is all they know and more comfortable than new technology. I think it would be interesting if there were a way to have an interactive map that could be downloaded to iphones or ipods that visitors could use as they walk around, instead of paper and instead of searching for the touch screens. Or audio tours and podcasts should be downloadable to itunes and then visitors can bring their ipods to the museum and already have the tours and lectures with them. This would make the information much more accessible and available.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Emmy's

Current Obsession:

Sarah Silverman at the Emmy's

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Glee!!!

This link, http://www.hulu.com/watch/95842/glee-acafellas, is for this week's episode of Glee. If you have not already seen this show you should. It is weekly musical theater and the lead Lea Michele was in the original Broadway cast of Spring Awakening. AMAZING!

Anyway, at about 40 minutes into the episode one of the glee club members comes out and I must say this is one of the few times I have seen this done on network television in such a positive way. I am thrilled that Glee did this especially since so many young people watch this show. There are limited gay characters on television now, especially on non-cable networks, and I think it's so amazing that this coming out wasn't treated so tragically or made into such a huge horrible deal.

As a lover of musical theater, I thoroughly enjoy watching Glee each week for the musical numbers and of course comedic genius, yes genius, Jane Lynch.

Current Obsessions:
Jane Lynch, "Gang Leader for a Day" by Sudhir Venkatesh

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Division Art

This weekend there was an art festival on Division so I walked around it Saturday and Sunday. I always think that I could totally get a booth and sell my art at one of these festivals, but I think I would first have to make more art. I've been doing mostly ink abstract drawings lately, I wonder if I could make copies of each drawing so I can have more than one and sell them. How do I do that? Screen print? Or just hit up kinkos? Also, there was a lot of felt going on at this festival, one booth in particular caught my eye because it was called "Get Felt Up."

Also one night this weekend my friends and I sang showtunes for about 3 hours in my apartment...true story...

Current Obsessions:
Spring Awakening, pickles

Thursday, September 10, 2009

First

Finally started grad school this week. Did not know what to expect at all, still don't. This blog is for my Cyberpedagogy Lab class, I've never had a blog before, but I do enjoy twitter so maybe I will just expand the posts from my twitter page. I swear I will become more interesting/creative/funny in later posts. Blogs remind me of Xanga's from junior high, which was really a blog, I should see if I can find mine on the internet.

Maybe I'll just write whatever random thoughts that come to mind.

Travel goals for this semester:
Portland
DC for Equality March
LA
NYC
Boston

Current Obsessions:
Six Feet Under, Passion Pit, afterellen.com, Glee, Natalie Portman