Edward draws me a picture...

On Wednesday I posted about Edward Jinn, a homeless artist living on Manhattans upper east side. I met with him again last Friday. Because I was running late for a meeting we only spoke for a few minutes but before I left I gave Edward the PBJ I had promised him along with a mini snickers bar. He then drew me this picture.

Surprise!!!!

On Saturday night (with lots of help from her friends) I pulled off a really great, last minute, surprise party for my girlfriend's 30something birthday. After a great day out we arrived home to some of her best friends hiding away in the dark. I even invited COOKIE PUSS!!!

See some photos here and here. It was lots O fun.

I almost forgot - see Laura as she realizes a bunch of people are waiting inside our apartment ready to kill her. (Image)

Sleeping with your art

Today I met Edward Jin. He is a homeless artist that lives on Lexington Avenue and 55th st in Manhattan. I first saw him on Monday after my Physical Therapy appointment -- I quickly snapped a few images of his art work and said hello. Today I spent a good amount of time talking with him about his drawings and his living situation. I don't really know a lot about his situation yet but I told him I would be in the neighborhood on Friday and I would bring him a PBJ -- Maybe I'll find out more then. A few minutes into our conversation he noticed my camera and asked me if I would take a picture of him with his own PC card. This guy carries around his own PC card?

I'm not sure exactly why but I'm definitely a fan of his work. There's something about that stream-of-consciousness drawing that I like -- There's an "outsider art" quality to it -- Plus its on pizza boxes! I may also be partial to this style because of these cardboard produce boxes I have been collecting (example). I've got a good collection going. More on that later.

View a detail of Edward's above drawing here and then view a close up of my favorite piece here.

Artist of the week - Anthony Goicolea

Anthony is most famous for his multiple self-portrait series', see all of them in the photography portion of his site. The above image is taken from one of them - The 'Kidnap series'. Anthony works with many mediums and often enhances a series with a video or environmental installation, (he got his MFA from Pratt in sculpture). I'm very impressed with his range as well as his presentations. He is currently showing in a group-show titled 'Will boys be boys?' at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Any friends in Indy should check it out!

I especially like his Landscapes. See all his works here.

Doctors visit

Yesterday was exactly one week since my surgery. The doctor wanted to see me so he could remove my staples. Along with that he decided to remove the "fluid" from my knee. I think its called a shit load of blood Doc.

Tip of the day - Don't suck!

On my subway trip home from the doctors today I was cranky, frustrated and in a lot of pain. I was very aware of my surroundings the whole time and made sure to keep my leg out of the way. About 35 minutes into the trip I turned to look out the window and the guy who had been sitting across from me for the entire trip got up and rushed out the door. As he did this he slammed into my leg - I screamed, cursed and yelled bloody murder - I jump onto my good leg, hop towards him, cock back my crutch and swing it right into his forhead. He dropped and started to cry like a little girl - Then I kicked him in the face.

Except for him running into my leg, none of this actually happened - but it should have. This blog may have just saved me some jail time. You suck dude!

'More Work' - 'The Gates'

The Gates #2, Central Park, New York, NY, 2005

As I was going through some old negatives I was reminded of the photos I did of The Gates in early 2005. I have been a big fan of Christo and Jeanne-Claudes work since my high-school photography teacher introduced me to them. I especially liked , The Museum of Contemporary Art, Wrapped, Chicago, 1968-69 (image).

I was excited (back in 2004) when I heard that their Gates project was finally granted. This piece was the talk of the town -- it got so much shit I couldn't believe it. There were a large amount of people that loved it but there was an even greater number of people that panned it -- including a portion of the contemporary art world. Personally, I wasn't sure about it either, this is until I actually went. I found it to be truly breathtaking.

I am happy to say I experienced the project to its fullest. I spent 6 of the 16 days in Central Park during the installation. I arrived at 4:30am every morning with my 4x5 in hand. The Gates ended up being the most-photographed art piece in history -- I was determined to get the best shots. Up until shooting The Adventures of Dixie, I hadn't had that much fun taking pictures since high-school.

See all of my Gates images here.

STAPLES... Yeah, we've got that.

Today I was able to peal away the gauze and get to the 15 staples that are holding my knee together.

They are being removed tomorrow, I wonder if I can keep em?

If you are brave enough click here.

More 'early work'

Connie and Carla go to the drive in, 2004

I consider "early work" to be anything pre-2003. This image was made in May of 2004, but I don't shoot work like this much anymore, so I'll let it slide.

The image above was taken on my way home from shooting the first half of the Lycanthrope series. I was coming from the Catskills on Route 9G and saw this to my left. As a child growing up I lived near an old drive-in theater; I remembered most of them have their own radio station now so you don't need those clunky speakers. I parked on the side of the road, flipped through the stations and enjoyed half a movie for free. I then decided to pay half price and get closer for the second feature; it was Van Helsing (an amazingly bad werewolf movie)! I couldn't pass it up and I'm very happy I didn't. That movie was exactly what I needed after the horrible experience I had the night before.

Speaking of werewolves - I had just finished the Lycanthrope series that morning (example). I was all alone for 2 nights wearing this crazy make-up and I had a bunch of photo equipment spread out all over the place. The worst part was trying to take self-portraits with all the make-up and not having anyone to help me with the lights or the film. Not to mention, I was partially blinded by the melting make-up -- a horrible experience. Many more terrible things happpend that night - I've suppressed most of them by now. See some behind-the-scenes images from the second shoot -- I had help on that one.

Artist of the week - Rainer Maria Rilke

When you fully commit to moving to NY and try to pursue whatever it is you pursue, most of the time you have to say good-bye to your childhood friends. Fortunately, Shane, my old neighbor and one of my best-friends is working for a private equity fund in NY. Shane came by on Saturday for a few hours, we had lunch, spent some time in the park and then started to peak through my girlfriends poetry collection. At this point Rilke came up for the second time that day. Not only did I mention him to Shane but I was reminded that Amy Elkins had quoted him on her blog, only hours before.

This leads me into the Artist of the week. Rainer Maria Rilke is considered to be one of the greatest German poets of all time. I was first introduced to him almost 3 years ago when Laura handed me my very own copy of "Letters to a Young Poet". It was the first thing she gave to me, only 7 days after we had met. She insisted that this book would change my life. She was right. I take that copy with me on every photo excursion I go on. Even though I don't read through it on every trip, I feel comfort in knowing its there.

The book is a compilation of ten letters written between 1903 and 1908 that Rilke wrote in response to a poet asking Rainer to critic his work. In many of the letters Rilke starts off by saying that he cannot help the young artist but usually ends with advice that could easily change the world, or at least an artist.

On a trip I took to Maine last year I found myself reading letter 6 over and over. I spent many days alone camping and shooting and for the last two days a friend let me stay in his families cabin, there was nobody within a 5 mile radius of my location. As the sun fell the first night a lot of things went through my mind, many of which were pretty frightening. Over the next 2 days I fell deeply in love with that letter. Recently, this letter has found its way back into my life while I deal with the pain and isolation that comes with my current situation (knee surgery). Below is a selected paragraph.

...But perhaps these are the very hours during which solitude grows; for its growing is painful as the growing of boys and sad as the beginning of spring. But that must not confuse you. What is necessary, after all, is only this: solitude, vast inner solitude. To walk inside yourself and meet no one for hours-that is what you must be able to attain. To be solitary as you were when you were a child, when grownups walked around involved with matters that seemed larger and important because they looked so busy and because you didn't understand a thing about what they were doing.

Laura and I decided to keep up her tradition of naming our plants after poets/philosophers, see Rilke here.

A walk in the park...

Prospect Lake, October 13th, 2006

Yesterday was actually a very good day. After I spent 6 hours in that crazy leg machine I was able to get a lot of photo work done and I was even able to make myself a tasty sandwich. Laura got home around 5 and we took a walk to our favorite spot in Prospect Park and watched the sun set.

The vicodin helped out a bit too...

Physical Therapy, Day 1

Enjoying the blue room at Advanced Therapy

Yesterday I went for a stroll to the Upper East side of Manhattan for my first Physical Therapy appointment. I will be making the trip 3 days a week for about the next 6 weeks.

We went over some basics and she gave me some homework. Along with being in this machine that rotates my leg for 6 hours every day for 4-6 weeks, I am doing about an hours worth of exercises. Doesn't leave much time for jump-rope.

Last Supper... #2

I am a fan of alcohol and cigarettes. Unfortunately, when I mix these items with Vicodin, isolation, and pain, something called depression sets in.

I have decided that for the next few weeks, except on special occasions, I will be going on a vacation from the smoke, alcohol, and coffee.

The above image was taken on Wednesday night after I got home from surgery. Its been two days without a beer, is that healthy?

ACL Surgery, Plane Crash, and Barbra Striesand

On Wednesday I underwent a full ACL reconstruction on my left knee. The surgery went well but that was about it. After surgery I felt like shit, this is to be expected but boy does it suck. After I decided I was ready to take the trip back to Brooklyn I got into a wheelchair and spent the next 20 minutes with one of those very fine nurses, the kind that hate patients.

I'm now waiting for Laura to grab a cab outside but there was no luck. It seems that a plane crashed into a building about 5 blocks from where I was sitting. Anyone who has ever lived in Manhattan knows that its hard to find a cab at 4pm and in the rain but then imagine a plane crashing into a building around the corner from you. Are you fu@#ing serious? So here is Laura and I sitting in the waiting room for about 2 hours, calling all the car services we can find who of course remind us that a plane just crashed into a building right around the corner from us. Are you fu#@ing serious?

At this point Laura has come and gone about 8 times trying to find us a cab and suddenly it paid off. Tim! Tim! Come on! Finally, about five hours after I got out of surgery, we're on our way to Brooklyn! After sitting in a cab (thankfully still under crazy medication) for an hour and a half, we made it home. Laura made me a sandwich and then she was off to the Garden for a night of Streisand. I was just happy to be home.

I (heart) ACL surgery...

Artist of the week - David Opdyke

A few years ago I added myself to almost every mailing list in NY. This morning I received my first email from Bravin Lee Programs. This new gallery is located in Chelsea on 26th street. Their upcoming show will feature the work of David Opdyke.

All of David's work is extremely political, but their is an initial beauty found in his drawings and sculptures that allows you see the art before you suddenly see his frustration. He blends them both very well. See his drawing 'An Outing' below and then look close to find his frustrations in the detail image. Below that is 'Achievements'.

'An outing'

Detail


'Achievments'

Detail

more 'early work'

Barb, 2002, Polaroid 3" x 3 1/4"

This image was created towards the end of 2002 while I was visiting my Grandma and Grandpa in Florida. You can see more polaroids here.

early work #1

This image was taken in 2002 at my old old apartment in Greenpoint. It was the beginning of a Self-portrait series. I've made a few since but this is the only one I like.

Last Supper... #1

On next Wednesday, October 11th, I will be having surgery to replace my left ACL. With no doubt in my mind, it is going to suck. Not only will I be in much pain but I will also not be able to cook myself a meal. Like many people, I am a big fan of food. I like all types - greasy, healthy, smelly, slimy, etc. - Almost anything that is edible I will ingest.

Pictured above was my lunch on 10/02/06, two fried eggs on toasted bread with cheddar, onion, tomato and fried salami with a touch of salt and pepper. Before and after pictured here.

more to come...

Next Fest, 2006!

Jason, me, Mike, Matt

Friday was the day, the day of the future. Robots, bacteria that
will save the world, cars of the future, geeks and 4 friends.

Jason, Mike, Matt and myself, after much delay, made it to Wired's Next Fest, 2006. Overall, the show was sort of a disappointment with only a few things sparking my interest.

One of the things I found interesting may have been the cheapest thing there. The life-straw is about 2 dollars to purchase and is saving lives in third-world countries. When water is sucked through this plastic device it kills 99.9% of bacteria. The water supplies in many of these countries are contaminated by Cholera, Salmonella, and Typhoid.

In the developing world, one person in six does not have access to drinking water, and 6,000 people a day die from water-borne diseases. (BBC News - 05/04/06)