Good luck to all those in the path of Gustav... hoping it's just a rain storm and not a disaster. With much love to Peter, Gwendolyn, Vincent, Judy and all their families.

Gustav resources online


From America

Volume Attempts: June 7- October 25, 2008

"This is an exhibition of and about books organized by the graphic design firm Purtill Family Business. The selection of artworks, books and projects surveys a landscape of volumes by focusing on the relationship of books to contemporary visual arts. It proposes that the space of the book is a generous venue, both a literal space of a certain, human scale and an imaginary space that ranges widely across subjects and visual structures."

And I've got a free book give away at this show... a little book- Show us the Pictures: Rocky Flats, Works in Progress, commissioned by Temple Gallery.

A Great Day For Feminism!

If you define feminism as anti-choice. Blow me, GOP.

Sarah Palin, a fucking joke, but not funny.

August 29, 2005- 3 years since Hurricane Katrina

August 29, 2005- Hurricane Katrina devastates much of the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, killing more than 1,836 and causing over $115 billion in damage.








August 29, 2005- John McCain celebrates his birthday with George Bush






It's unbelievable that this is true.

Old Work

For about 15 years I've occasionally thought about meanings that could come from juxtaposing images of Karen Ann Quinlan and Karen Carpenter and I have never found the right way of connecting the images in a way that allows the viewer to really connect the 2 stories. I've tried a few different things, but never anything that lead me to work further on it past the idea of exploring the meanings of these stories. I might start working on that again in a few years.

captions

the book has captions, which changes the structure of how the images are presented. While I am adverse to the use of captions in my work, I felt that it made sense having captions for book because it lends to a more conversational, works-in-progress tone... which is how the book is presented.



The tone of these photos changes with a caption

------







Colorado

------








Former nuclear munitions site, nuclear waste remains in the soil.

------


Nila at kitchen table



Nila talking about her husband's death from cancer caused by his job at a nuclear munitions plant, and how the US government is trying to prevent the family from receiving benefits.

------

These 2 images are in the book, and the caption lent to their placement.




Terre Haute, IN The United States Penitentiary Terre Haute, Timothy McVeigh Execution Site





New York, NY Eric Coming from Work at World Trade Center Subway Station on 9/11/07

More About America

Here was my original introduction... we changed it to an interview but I think this is a pretty good working statement.

-----


There's no one American reality, there's hundreds and they are all true. The photos in this book are an American reality that I know, from where I live in Philadelphia and from where I’ve traveled in the last few years. I found this same America no matter where I went.

These photos are about our day to day lives here, about getting by, about our everyday moments. America is in a difficult place right now. We’re digging out from eight years of Bush. We’re at war. That’s some fucked up shit. But regardless of the onerous circumstances we find ourselves in, all of these photos are filled with love and pride. Even in our most difficult moments, there’s tremendous joy in being alive.

I saw a lot making the photos for this book… a desperate, anxious, worn and belabored America. A joyful, loving and proud America. A mean, fearful and apathetic America. Beautiful, brutal, myopic, idealistic, stunted, exuberant.

America is all of it. And as an American, I’m all of this too.

Here we are.

------

Pages from America

click to see larger
















This book is much quieter than I had thought it would be... it's a reflection of this moment and I think I would have ordered the photos differently 6 months before and I would order them differently 6 months later. The book is heavy on literal reflection (above, Adam and Eve Room paired with Father and Son in Front of Greyhound Station) and mirroring (above Eric on 9/11 and Yani Outside Wynn, Carport and Women in Camden).  

History Will Absolve Mike

Click above for Mike McFeat's blog. Not to say nothing though, I wouldn't hold my breath for the absolution. See you in the belly of the beast, my friend.

Julie Mehretu (American, born Ethiopia, 1970).
Empirical Construction, Istanbul.
2003.
Ink and synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 10' x 15' (304.8 x 457.2 cm)

------


I saw this painting at MoMA recently and I made an involuntary guttural noise when I first saw it. This is a beautiful, beautiful painting.

------

Julie Mehretu

seriously, LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW! IF YOU VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT YOU WILL DESTROY AMERICA.
YOU WILL DESTROY AMERICA.


-----


Also, this is the first time I have ever heard of the Republican Party overtly discussing plans to disrupt the Democratic Convention.

-----

I never in a million years thought that one person would vote for George Bush in 2004. I believe that voter fraud and coercion sent him into the second term, but the idea that anyone, anyone, voted for him was insane. Totally fucking insane. I honestly have to say that while I am not a Democrat, I am far to the left of the Democratic Party, we are at a juncture where there is a true difference between these candidates even though they are part of the same structure. Please, please, please don't let me down America. Oh my GOD, please don't let me down. I am begging you, don't be stupid and don't be racist. Jesus Christ, don't let us all down.





McCAIN & BUSH: IS THERE REALLY A DIFFERENCE?

------


Q: Is it true John McCain voted with George Bush 95 percent of the time?

A: Yes, it's true, according to Congressional Quarterly's assessment of McCain's voting record.

------

Philadelphia Linguistics

1 " 'Cut' the lights off/on"
meaning
"turn the lights off/on"- this phrasing is primarily used by African-Americans, but it's heard in all neighborhood ethnic groups

2. " 'Open/Close' the lights"
meaning
"turn the lights off/on"- this phrasing is primarily used by Italian-Americans, but it's heard in all neighborhood ethnic groups

these speech patterns cross all boundaries here in Philadelphia.

-----

Example-

"Cut the lights on, I don't want to look at TV in the dark"

"Yo, I'll open the lights but mute the TV, I'm puttin Merrill on the radio"

I actually think this exact exchange has been heard in 68% of the households in Philadelphia.

The Waterboard Thrill Ride

Design Philadelphia

"Running in its 4th year, DesignPhiladelphia is a series of events that encompass studio tours, lectures, exhibitions, workshops, book signings and (of course) parties that highlight just about every damned kind of design you can think of. Conceived by a number of really thoughtful local design visionaries, this year’s events will take place October 16th-22nd, 2008 and are sure to be a good time, as usual."

And check out their links list if you have some time... Design Philadelphia Links