Christian Boltanski

Elke Krystufek

Austrian artist born in 1970. I saw one of her works in Paris and I really like her stuff.

Eva Hesse

There is something in the fragility, complexity, and materiality of her work that I find to be fascinating and grounding.

Brad Neely

Brad Neely is a comic book artist from Fort Smith, Arkansas. His work includes the series "Creased Comics" and the unauthorized spoof of Harry Potter called Wizard People, Dear Readers. The latter consists of an alternate soundtrack of narration in the style of a book on tape, which viewers can play over the muted movie.

Neely is the creator of "Cox & Combes' Washington."

Aside from occasional one-off videos, he also has three series: "I Am Baby Cakes", "The Professor Brothers" and "China, Illinois".

"Mark 'Baby' Cakes, a socially inept, yet wise about life, 30-year-old playboy man-baby."

"The Professor Brothers" follows the professional and personal misadventures of Frank and Steve Smith, two brother professors at a local college.

He has also produced "America Now", a series of musical shorts for Adult Swim and he was a consultant for South Park during the second half of season eleven.

Michel Gondry

Michel Gondry is a French filmmaker born in Versailles, France. He made 7 of Björk's music videos, created "bullet time" for a vodka commercial (later used in the Matrix), and he directed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep. I would say that Gondry is a master of sonography who uses the camera and what's in front of it to create many "effects" that are just tricking our eyes via perspective and well made scenery. Below is an example from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

DJ Shadow

DJ Shadow (born Joshua Davis, June 29, 1972)^[1] is an American music producer, DJ and songwriter. He is considered a prominent figure in the development of instrumental hip hop and first gained notice with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album Endtroducing....., which was constructed entirely from samples. He has an exceptionally large record collection, with over 60,000 records.^[2]

(from wikipedia.org)

DJ shadow was probably one of the first things I listened to that made me really conscious of samples in music. I am always especially excited when something non-hip-hop that I listen to gets mixed in and I notice. It's like my little secret with the artist. Well, DJ Shadow used Björk...and of course it was awesome.

Amanda Krugliak

I just wanted to post a blog of some of my TMP 3 professor's work because I really love it and more people should see it if they haven't. She's a performance artist who taught me a lot of things about life & time.

Sadie Benning

Sadie Benning grew up in Milwaukee. Her father was a famous filmmaker and he gave her a Fisher Price Pixelvision camera. As a 15 year old girl in the 90s, she made crappy black and white videos, one of which was called "If Every Girl Had a Diary." We watched it in class and it was awesome. Sadly, I cannot find it on the internet.

So instead I wanted to post an actual music video from the band she's in, Le Tigre. Oddly enough, I've been listening to them for 5 years but I didn't make the connection. One of my friends who also listens to Le Tigre told me...anway...here's a link to one of their videos (embedding disabled):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMK3OKkmNd0

And here is the first song I ever heard by them at the age of 16:

Sound Poetry

Ursonography (COMPLETE), Jaap Blonk & Golan Levin, 2005 [Premiere] from Golan Levin on Vimeo.

Kurt Schwitters "Ursonate"

0D ("Army of Me" by Björk)

At a concert the audience anticipates what the next song will be as the clapping dies down and a wave of whispers fills the room. The anticipation for what may come next on a new album you’ve never heard, or when your iTunes is on shuffle, is no different. Imagine a moment of silence and then an electronic pulse builds in one steady stream and explodes in just two seconds, turning into a powerful rhythm that drives bass straight into your chest. The explosion is a distinct sound that will forever be linked with the mysterious voice and danceable beats that follow. In less than four minutes it will fizzle out of your ears into the next silence, leaving you with the need for more music.

Two rhythms set the stage in a steady 4/4. The drums play each count with a double kick on the bass—dumdum—and a steady tap—tah—on the drum: dumdum tah dumdum tah dumdum tah dumdum tah. Over it is a rhythmic electronic pulse of sixteenth notes sliding in and out of each other as they move up and down a small scale. A clash of the symbol ends some measures for emphasis and other electronic sounds build. These keep you awake and completely invested in the rhythm that is moving your entire body.

And then, on the fourth note of the ninth measure, a voice comes through with clarity and strength: “Stand up.” It is a command that lingers with patience as it escapes her lips, and then she continues: “You’ve got to manage. I won’t sympathize anymore.” The words don’t follow the exact structure of the music, but they sing through it for seven measures, exploding into a new beat that serves to back the chorus.

A heavy electronic drone replaces the sixteenth notes, ripping through your heart with a quick descent—RRR RRR RRR—and sharpening the tah of the fourth note as it rests silent for a moment. “Any of you complain once more,” the voice warns, “you’ll meet an army of me.” An explosive sound cracks on the fourth beat like a slam in the face at the end of each measure as the warning is repeated: “Any of you complain once more, you’ll meet an army of me.”

We are returned to the initial beat, but the flourish of a metallic ping is added to the second beat of every count of eight. “You’re alright. There’s nothing wrong. Self sufficient, please. And get to work.” And with that we are catapulted back into the tumultuous chorus, which always comes back with one barely noticeable variable in how the rhythm is played. Sometimes the instrument playing a certain beat has changed or new layers are added to the swirl of music, making it a stronger, more overpowering sound. The chorus then melts into a melodic interlude of haunting electronic drones paired with the initial sixteenth notes.

One more verse rings out, backed by just the sixteenth notes and eighth notes on the cymbal. In a voice that has maintained a compelling contrast to the strong beat of the music throughout, a harsh message is softened to a whisper without a change in volume: “You’re on your own now. We won’t save you. Your rescue squad is too exhausted.” The chorus resumes as thought it is a cry for sanity and it repeats a second time, but the sixteenth notes and the droning descent come together, creating a monstrous climax. It continues with power and then explodes one final time into fading noise leaving the audience energized for more.

___________________________________________________________________

What is it about “Army of Me” that you liked so much?
-First moment when you hear the beat come in
-Björk’s voice
-Contrast between voice and music

What is it about Björk that you like so much?
I have a CD that is just covers of "Army of Me" by other people. I absolutely hate the majority of the tracks. So, it's not exactly the music that I like. Upon listening to a myriad of her songs, I’ve realized that Björk often changes instrumentation during her live performances, but it doesn’t change the integrity of the song. For example, when touring for Volta she brought a 10-piece horn ensemble with her and used it to play songs off Vespertine, which was originally a strings album. It is the lyrics and vocals that really create the songs, but the way they are sung isn’t always consistent either. So what is it about her voice?

I feel that Björk’s voice embodies certain characteristics and feelings that are what attract me to her music:
-soft
-sensual
-clear
-strong
-big range
-breathing
-full of life
-patient
-steady
-surprising
-consistent
-improvisational
-free
-fragile
-grit
-strain
-emotional
-passionate
-confident
-honest
-storyteller
-raw


Assignment #2: Make a simple form of the essence you’re distilling.
Björk embodies individuality, femininity, confidence, and strength, which are qualities that I try to find in my life and I am able to feel through her music. Confidence in my own form as a human being is a simple way to show the essence of Björk’s voice. The curves of a woman’s body, the texture of skin, and a simplified black and white view will show all of the characteristics I find in Björk’s voice, which is what I am trying to distill.

DELTA

Delta Brainwaves: Understanding the Slowest, Most Confusing Brainwaves

"Delta brain waves are the slowest of all your brainwaves. They usually fall within the frequency range of 0 - 4 Hz. When your brain waves reach levels below 0.1 Hz, you will literally be “brain dead.”

Delta brain waves have long been linked to stages 3 and 4 of sleep. The delta brainwave range is considered “the lowest brainwave frequency. A decreased sense of awareness, increased empathy, and access to the “unconscious mind” are common. It is extremely rare to have conscious awareness of delta brainwaves. Only certain highly spiritual individuals, gurus, yogis, monks, and avid meditators usually are able to consciously access this brainwave range.

Being in delta is like being in the most deeply relaxing trance or non-physical awareness. Usually, when individuals are asleep in the delta range, their other brainwave patterns shut down and delta takes over. If you’ve ever woken up and felt irritable, unconscious, confused, or disorientated, you likely woke up during your delta stage of sleep."

Understanding the "Delta" Brainwave

We never are what we intend or invent.

So, in an unforseen--almost accidental--spontaneous bout of being myself, I was perusing the website of my foreign institution of higher learning (Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten), specifically the ArtScience department mumbo jumbo, when I found the introductory course & research group descriptions for the whole year. What luck this holds since it's first semester of this year I was hoping to read about. Upon a quick perusal, I knew exactly what I wanted to take.

And then I realized that it was last year's course descriptions I was looking at. In a typical fashion, the program has changed as I've arrived, but it still sounds amazing (and so me). So now I will post what little I do know. I have to pick two of these five groups (or maybe it's one per semester, I don't know):

• RecPlay
  This studiolab is an extension of the RecPLay group that has existed since 2001. It will deal with subjects such as audiovisual improvisation, improvised electronic music, real-time visuals and freestyle video, and the practical focus will be on developing hardware- and software instruments and ensemble playing. The labcoach of RecPlay is Robert Pravda, complemented by Kasper van der Horst.
• AdLib
  This studiolab is an extension of the existing AdLib performance group. Its focus is theatrical performance in which the body, light, sound and projections are used as instruments. Practical work includes body training, work with light and sound on stage and developing performances. The labcoach of AdLib is Michiel Pijpe.
• Spatial Interaction Lab
  This lab is a new form for the subjects that were earlier adressed in the 'Audiovisual Interfaces', 'Interactive Sonic Spaces' and other research groups. It deals with composing interactions by way of audiovisual interfaces, interactive spaces, robotics, physical computing, extra senses and interactive architecture. Its practical focus will be on hardware controllers, sensors, actuators and spatial use of sound and light. The labcoach of the Spatial Interaction Lab is Edwin van der Heide.
• Audiovisual Composition Lab
  This is a new lab dealing with multichannel audiovisual composition, montage, animation, visualization, generative composition and generative art. Its practical focus will be on HD and multichannel editing, animation and generative software. The labcoach of the Audiovisual Composition Lab will be Kasper van der Horst, complemented by Joost Rekveld.
• Tactile Research Lab
  This is a new lab,dealing with wearables, inflatables and new, active and responsive materials. Its practical focus will be on the skills that are necessary to make physical environments out of light-weight materials. The labcoach of the Tactile Research Lab is Cocky Eek.

A new country, a new city, and a year to recall while making new memories.

A year is a long time to wait before you see the smile on your friends' faces in person again.
Barcelona, España

Europe

I do not have a way to upload my pictures yet, but wait and they will come. I meant to stay in Spain for 2 weeks and I have been here four--without apostrophes and with accents, lots of accents. I have been to Barcelona (5 nights), Granada (3 nights), Sevilla (3 nights), Lagos (4 nights YES THAT IS PORTUGAL), Lisbon (2 nights), Madrid (3 nights), Zaragoza (3 nights), and now Barcelona again (1 night). What a first half to my trip! I am an idiot and my Eurail is gone (and was not worth its cost). I am going to Prague in the morning and then Berlin. Then hopefully Copenhagen...but who really knows. To all my new friends: gracias, gracias por todo. I do not want to leave Spain, mi amor.

Back in Zwolle

Things have been a little crazy. My parents live in such a small town that I had to ride an hour to Utrecht yesterday to book my tickets to Barcelona. It's a bit last minute to be doing it (oops), but I got seats on both trains. I leave from Rotterdam to go to Paris and then Paris to Barcelona on the Joan Miro train (they're all named after Spanish artists). I got a prepaid cell phone and it's YELLOW (now we're complimentary Yonit...). I have been running around Zwolle picking things up and now I'm blasting David Bowie and packing. I need to go to the Apple Store and back to Vodafone to get a few questions answered. Catching the train to Rotterdam at 12:46 from Track 1 (it will really leave at EXACTLY that time).

PARIS, DAY 4

Our last day in Paris. My shoes were dead and my feet were killing me so I dragged my parents back to Montmarte to get some shoes. Then I of course convinced them to go with me to Cafe de Deux Moulins. It wasn't exactly like Amelie, but I WAS THERE and that was exciting. Then we went and saw the Arch de Triomphe and walked down the Champs de Elysees, which is upscale shopping galore. We ate lunch at Lina's again, grabbed our suitcases, and took the train back to Zwolle.


Cafe de Deux Moulins


Inside


Inside
(for those who know Amelie: note where that man is sitting LOL)


Inside (no Tobacconist's counter!)


Arch de Triomphe

PARIS. DAY 3

We took the train out to Versailles. There were people everywhere, but it was really interesting to see traditional clothing and jewels and where Louis XIV-XVIII lived (and Marie Antoinette). The rooms were so large and ornately decorated just on the walls. I can't imagine living there at all. The gardens were absolutely fabulous as well.

Fountain Spectacle


Gardens


Chateau


Hall of Mirrors


Hall of Mirrors







After Versailles we were all very tired, but we ate dinner at a Pizza place (it was easier to find Italian food as opposed to anything else) and then we got crepes from a vendor on the street. Nutella crepes are DELICIOUS.

PARIS, DAY 2

We went to the Centre Pompidou. On the way there we met a man from Iran. He had come to Paris the day before. We had to part ways because he had to get in line to buy a ticket and we had Museum Passes. Centre Pompidou is Modern Art heaven! It had exhibitions on Caulder and Kandinsky along with works by so many artists I've come to know since going to college. There were plenty of Picassos and Matisses, but to see Orlan, Marina Abramovic, Louise Bourgeoise, Eva Hesse, Carolee Schneeman, the Guerilla Girls, Annette Messager, etc. was AMAZINGLY EXCITING.

CENTRE POMPIDOU

CAULDER

MATISSE

MATISSE

MATISSE

MATISSE

ELKE KRYSTUFEK
size does not matter, age does not matter

GUERILLA GIRLS

CRISTINA IGLESIAS

a

EVA HESSE

v
Paris Metro

Paris Metro



We also visited Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame, Sacre Cour & Montmartre.

Sainte Chapelle


Sainte Chapelle

Sainte Chapelle


Notre Dame


Notre Dame


Notre Dame


Notre Dame