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Notes to Self

A friend recently reminded me that he comes to my blog and that I no longer explain my work here.
There is a reason for that. The reason is that I got tired of explaining my work.

However, I put the work in the public forum that is the internet, for a reason. And, I do have people that come here to check out what I am doing and, like my friend, they may feel a little confused, so I'll make an effort to start talking about art here again.

Right now I am considering how to develop the walkabout project. Thus far, the project consists of a mostly private practice and passive sort of distribution. I wanted to have a documentary project grow organically out of a simple action which I perform everyday, an action which is not unique or special in any way.

This is what I have learned about it so far:

It is sub-conscious and meditative.
It has to do with timing both natural rhythms and imposed patterns.
It is time travel.
It is figure ground relationships.
This is not so surprising because all are themes I have explored in other projects.

The project includes 2 types of moving images:

1) Nodes, hubs, scenes, events - In which, objects and people move through the frame horizontally and on occasion vertically. I/camera stand still for a minimum of 60 seconds to allow passage of bodies through the frame. I am observing the scene as these bodies are making exits and entrances. I am in stasis, rest state.

2)Passages, paths, scene changes  - In which figure/camera moves over ground. I am in constant motion for 60 seconds or more to. My feet move the ground beneath me, physically pushing it behind me and  into the past  and simultaneously moving my own body into the future, into the next frame, node, scene.

Possible ideas for further development:

Incorporate video clips from other contributors or existing media sources, but not sure yet how.
It must maintain the level of fluidity and lack of overt messaging - or must it?
Consider what is catalyst for change from stasis (of a node video) to movement (of a pathway video).
What might connect the two?

What should pop up in my feeds this morning but an interview (link) with prolific writer Will Self , talking about his own walkabout experiences.

That's all I got for now.

Quiet Bowery Walk

Click to Play

On this particular stretch of the Bowery there still remain some of the trademark bums. They now share sidewalk space with European tourists who have seated themselves at an outdoor cafe for brunch.

They do not pay me any notice as I walk past. It Sunday morning and rather quiet.

Walk Fast, Live Long!

New York Magazine published a lengthy article on the extended life expectancy of New Yorkers.
Turns out its not just the smoking ban... its the walking, the fast, furious, New York City walk.

See here:

“Walking speed absolutely reflects health status,” Simonsick says. So when you irritatedly blow past a trio of ambling visitors from Ohio or Iowa on the subway platform, you’re not just being an obnoxious New Yorker. You’re demonstrating that you’re going to outlive them—and enjoy better health while they slowly degrade."(link)

And 'a recent ranking of cities found that New York has the fastest pedestrians in the country'

I feel very proud.

No Pants

Click to Play

Process + perception - pants = conceptual art

Broadway at Times Square

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Move it

I am now blogging regularly for one of my favorite sites DVblog.org. What this means is, I get share the cool videos that I find online and add to Doron's excellent collection of internet video art.

Here is a video of the busy lobby in the building where I am working. Tourists walk a certain way. People on their way to work walk another way. I am standing still as long as I can. I want to see if I can see their various rythms, stalls and stops, as music.

click on picture to see Monday video.

Model Redevelopment

I take a walk down Main Street in Homestead, PA. and Daniel tells me about the buildings he is re-constructing and how they had to fight a million dollar lawsuit to fend off CVS.  It's all about setting a precedent. Also, some models, glide down the runway, allowing me to use them as a metaphor. I am not quite sure yet what it means, but it just seemed fitting. Maybe you can tell me.

click picture to see
what I am talking about.

More to see

Always more to see. Just have to keep your eyes open.

Walking West

click on the image below to watch
Another one day visit provides another walking tour video. Extra points to whomever can name the town and more if you can name any of the specific locales.

This week I had the pleasure of meeting Nicola Vanzijl a Swiss artist who created Microrama, where anyone can add videos from their phones to build a collective story.

Boston Walking Tour

CLICK IMAGE TO WATCH
In a dream, I watch Kayte make stereoscopic pictures. So today, two images one video. To Boston and back in 15 hours, only left me a little time to wander the city.

Shadow Walking

Click Picture to See
Again, night walk. Brooklyn.