virtualDavis

Click on the image for Kris Krug‘s digital story (yesmagazine.org)

Eleven weeks into the oil disaster that is devastating the Gulf Coast, hope can be hard to find. For photographer Kris Krug, capturing the horrifying impact of our dependence on oil is “my chance to take a little bit of my power back.” To those who feel emotionally overwhelmed by the disaster, Krug advises: “Do something. Action is the antidote to that despair you’re feeling.”(yesmagazine.org)

Photographically, psychologically and philosophically engaging,  Kris Krug’s digital story about the aftermath of the BP oil spill fiasco offers a glimmer of hope. He acknowledges the weight that he’s felt in the months since BP’s well began pumping millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. But he also encourages us to act, to overcome the despair by engaging intelectuallay or artistically even if we can’t participate physically in ameliorating the disaster.

Fishing lures, seen in a window by South Kensington Station, April 3, 2010.
(I would be a very dead fish, because these little guys were so attractive.)

run in the tunnel! by gingalegendweed, made at DoInk.com

“DoInk brings two things to the table: a community of talented people, and all the tools they need to share their ideas. Once, you’ve signed up you can begin animating, drawing, and sharing. And to speed things up, you can re-use the work of thousands of other users.” (DoInk.com)

DoInk is a website where you can roll your own animation. How does this work? No clue. Is it cool? Oh-so-very! And if you’re artistically challenged, that’s okay too… They’ve got you covered.

via dailycognition.com

Although the idea underlying the twenty five photographs in this posting isn’t terribly innovative, the visual impact of the hand holding the old image is compelling. It adds a subjectivity, diminishing the clinical feel of the exercise and provoking the curiosity of the viewer. An interesting scrapbooking concept that I’ll continue to explore further.

Image via toxel.com

Brainstorming a clever, minimalist logo, and these unique, creative logos appeared out of the ether. Maybe they’ll inspire me…

3D Sidewalk Art (via huffingtonpost.com)

3D sidewalk art makes the best graffiti ever!

Maybe these fellows will come to my town and chalk up a canyon across the road in order to slow down speeders. 30mph and cars routinely double the speed limit! But strategically selected 3D sidewalk art could change that quickly…

The example above suggests all manner of similar concepts because our road skims the lake shore. Imagine three dimensional chalk art creating the illusion of a vast chasm washed out in the road. Or 3D sidewalk art (in this case it would be more appropriate to call it 3D road art perhaps?) depicting a freighter crashed into and through the road. Or a flock of sheep blocking traffic…

3D sidewalk art to the rescue!

3D Sidewalk Art & Law Enforcement

Instead of punishing the creators of 3D sidewalk art, lumping it together with graffiti and categorically assuming that it is all destructive vandalism, what if we shift our thinking in a more positive direction? What is we deam 3D sidewalk art part of law enforcement’s tools to deter high speed traffic? Instead of pitting law enforcement against the 3D sidewalk artists, law enforcement could become the most vital patrons of the public displays. The art form might get catapulted into its heyday, with municipalities all around the world celebrating the intrepid creators of sidewalk and street illusion. Traffic would slow. Accidents would diminish. Road rage would vanish. The driving and walking public would swap stress for joy, assertive myopia for panoramic vision… Just imagine!

Related articles

• 3D Art on Sidewalks (virtualdavis.com)
• 3D street painting (gpcartappreciation.wordpress.com)
• There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk (rredwildroses.wordpress.com)
• The Skrapan 3D Street Art Easily Conquers Your Fear of Heights (trendhunter.com)
• Street Artist ‘Bored’ Leaves Life-Size Monopoly Pieces on the Streets of Chicago (inhabitat.com)
• Woman Starts A Kindness Campaign By Leaving Nice Messages In Chalk On Sidewalks. (thepuffington.com)
• Nationally Acclaimed Chalk Artist Jennifer Chaparro to be Featured at Two South Florida Festivals (prweb.com)

Animator vs. Animation by *alanbecker on deviantART

[Click to play.]

This animation by Alan Becker was passed on to me by my mother who is an amazing cartoonist in her own right (despite her protestations to the contrary…)

Fête du Flâneur, An Urban(e) Party via Great City

I’m feeling envious of Seattle-based flâneurs who’ll be able to attend the Fête du Flâneur — billed as “an urban(e) party” — on February 25th at Melrose Market. The highlight, it seems to me is this: “Following the early reception will be a celebration of enlightened, if fanciful, urban living featuring music, open bar, hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, an address by Mayor Mike McGinn, crowning of the Great City-Cascade Land Conservancy Mustache Challenge champion, Flâneur-inspired art, dancing and DIY costumes.” It’s possible that the only thing cooler than a celebration of flânerie is a mustache contest. Since I’ve perfected the former, I’d better get to work on the latter! What sort of costume would you were to a flâneurs’ festival?

Nude with Yellow Background, by Paul Rossi (paulrossiarts.com)