Sustainable Me

It is definitely no secret that I am a promoter of all things sustainable and that my obsession goes so far as to owning a worm bin to create my own compost. But despite my small efforts I feel like I am always battling the mindset of the community and the role they play in the environment. This became clear in my latest eco-adventure when I began picking up trash during my sunday morning walks. Raleigh isn't exactly the bustling metropolis that some of you live in, and well street sweepers do not exist. To make matters worse, I live in a mixed neighborhood of college kids, young family's, public housing and then million dollar homes (its all about location here.) I have past street trash every day to and from school and never thought twice about it. But here lies the problem, until people care, its going to remain. Saying this, the last three weeks I have collected 3 bags of trash and 4 bags of recyclables. Next time you head outside just take notice of what's left behind. You don't have to go as far as to pick it up, because believe me it is a nasty job, but to just become aware. Continue

shameless self promotion

As a freelance designer/artist I have come to appreciate the idea of "branding" oneself.  Here are a few things learned in my brief brainstorming process:

_I wanted my blog to have a vague name...something interesting but not something that would "pigeon hole" it.

_The name has to be completely unique (the hardest part)

_The name has to be versatile...something that can translate into a store name, a production company, a magazine etc. etc.

After a couple days of intense brainstorming, I finally came up with a name:
the hyper manikin


Not sure how focused I want it to be...or what I really want the blog to be about...but I feel like I shouldn't try to force anything...it will evolve naturally.

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this is an old manufacturing depot that faces one of syracuse's major highways, 691. this is just moments away from downtown, and along the same path the erie canal used to follow. we're talking a perfectly good platform RIGHT by the interstate, elevated 30 feet in the air. right now, there is a lame mural of trains (in order to honor the history?) and a series of white mannequins in various positions on the waiting platform. sometimes they sport hawaiian leis. naida and i always talk about how neat it would be to be able to access it. you could imagine an intervention that must create some sort of hyper-protective (yet still transparent) space. protection against cars moving at unnatural speeds, transparency for the spectacle of that very speed.

i'm not sure if i'm forming a thesis here, or if i am inviting everyone to offer ideas as to a possible project proposal. i'll be sure to get more on this when i actually return to syracuse.
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inception.

everyone go and see it. then we can discuss. Continue

sh*t just got real.

insert caption here. Continue

I wish we were all lounging together in a field somehwere.

Happy summer, everyone...
Colorado's gorgeous., and so are its flowers.
Here's what it feels like
to be an ant inside of a peony.



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can't get enough of this image at the moment. I think it has something to do with the visual power the breakwater holds as a line against the actual power of the ocean. Looks can be deceiving. 

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on goodstein.

the new temporary interim dean. Continue

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Sterile Soil

So I'm taking a Southern Lit class and I love it! I was reading A. Gordon Pym - Poe's only novel. It's very nautical, creepy, Southern Gothic... I decided I would write a poem inspired by Pym, but again out came a dead baby poem!!! I'm starting to play with the idea of the Southern Gothic and the human relationship to nature, nature as mother, giver, nurturer, but also nature as taker, monster, scary... how nature can mimic our lives, instigate our fears, how we parallel nature... the infertility of the land mimicking the infertility of humans, etc.

I know I'm rambling but these are where my latest work is coming from, and maybe how my older work can be justified academically.

Sterile Soil

Know that we did everything in our power at first

to keep the single egg entombed, my scarlet carcass,

a safe, but when the animals inside me began to feed,

I could not keep their black tongues at bay.

He tried to keep me from hating my womb,

whispering words like again, different, not your fault.

So we knelt in the blood and prayed for wet soil again,

a dark tunnel out of the hunger, seed that sticks,

but when the dead stayed dead we curled up

in the back bedroom for hours, in a deep stupor.

I begged him to lay on top of me, to bury me

beneath his body, to press his belly to my face

so I might want for air, so I might feel some comfort

in being so close to death. I wanted him to see me blue,

to know what it was like for a blue thing to come out of you,

but he refused, so we laid still listening to the squall outside,

imagining our children scattered behind the house.

Nothing but large fields lay behind us now, sterile soil,

and there is no conception, only stench

scissors, razors, shears, and brilliant blue

birds like shadows, sober and naked on the ground.

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seasonal me

My vegetables are ready to harvest and unlike any normal gardner I am too proud to eat them. Sad that I cant bring myself to put them in something thats worthy. However for those of you growing zucchini, here is an amazing dish that I encourage you to slice them up and make immediately. Continue

I bought this piece at gallery downtown last night.  They were hosting a party and as I breezed through the other exhibits I noticed this artist with his work set up in the back.  His name was Stephan Canthal and I felt drawn to his work.  Upon further investigation I discovered he went to architecture school (duh).  This series was printed on aluminum.  He has other work, which is very architecture driven.  I liked those pieces also, but this one was my favorite.  For more of his work: http://www.canthal.com/ (oh and did I mention his website features a Bowie song?)

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testing out some new methods, natural light, mirrors, etc... not moody enough @ the moment. 

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pròxima estació:

Instead of buying a bulk tri-month ticket for the ferrocarril in Barcelona, I bought a ticket every time I got on. (56 tickets here, plus the times I got on and lost my ticket ...)
I have plans for these, but for now here's a grid.
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must do.

http://www.hugocreate.com/en/contest


easy Continue

ON THE PRODUCTION OF CULTURE is a roundtable discussion on the urban economics of arts organizations within New York City. This discussion will look into specific moments of innovation that have allowed for some of New York City’s most provocative cultural organizations to thrive.

The city’s urban condition is in many ways a continuous cultural experiment -- often necessitating innovation. Its economics are driving towards highly specialized districts that are as dense, large, and lucrative as possible. This challenges the ability for smaller businesses and particularly smaller cultural organizations to exist sustainably. It threatens the notion of the city -- offered by political scientist Iris Marion Young -- as place that is “heterogeneous, plural and playful, a place where people witness and appreciate diverse cultural expressions that they do not share and do not fully understand.” For New York City to maintain this effect on our world view, it must contain cultural organizations at an extreme variety of scales and genres. This discussion questions how visionary cultural progression is taking place within these seeming constraints of the city.

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ooooo SHoP! you ole scally-wag!

So, I think these guys are bit more in touch. Responsible, contemporary design within a rising economy afflicted with desertification and drought. Pretty just threw up in the desert. Continue

working on some kind of spread from the massive amounts of photo residue left over
after temps' and va's visit. i think i could make a whole zine out of them.
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check out what's happenin' at studioCOAHSI Continue

toothpick

Scott Weaver has worked on this sculpture of San Francisco for thirty years.  See video. Continue

ring a ding

possible probable wedding location: la bastide (no, not france)

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seasonal me

I find myself these summer days dreaming about delicious recipes and sharing them with unsuspecting friends. Needless to say I have had more dinner guests the past few weeks than usual. Which of course I cannot argue with as cooking for one is a challenge. As I am sure some of you out there know all too well. Which leads me to the point that I got carried away this week and made over 6 dishes and well researched very little. Oops. Continue

user scenarios/sectional variation and their barriers.
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cataloging sections through the site.
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mapping traffic sequences of cars/buses/people after exiting the ferry terminal.
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seasonal me

Its officially summer and it has been hot and muggy. I am sure I would be more comfortable if I put my ac window unit, but those who have one can agree with the statement that I would rather be hot then poor. Saying this, cooking has been a challenge because the last thing anyone wants to do is to stand in front of the heat. But I have two recipes that are easy and embrace summer.


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one of the world's most renowned jazz pianists rocks out to the world's best fight song.
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Daily Dose of NotCot

http://www.stilsucht.de/05/2010/haufenweise-schubladen/ Continue

seasonal me

I have always supported the idea of eating local or seasonal foods. However, I have yet to actually stop myself from buying the produce I want year round at the grocer. Especially in the winter time when seasonal means winter squash and cabbage and all you want is an apple. So in an effort to change my ways, I have dedicated myself to putting my ideals into action and become a seasonal eater. Therefore I am only buying foods that grow within the southeast. By doing so I am willingly giving up pineapple and kiwi and bananas and several other amazing tropical fruits. This might be a bad idea now that I think about it... Either way it is my attempt to help promote sustainable farming and support NC agriculture. As a bonus I have also begun to grow some basic ingredients on my porch. Currently i have several herbs, 2 varieties of tomatoes, green/red peppers and cucumbers.

Due to my involvement with my thesis project all summer (which is not worth the time to keep you posted on because it is amazingly boring,) I have decided to contribute recipes from my seasonal effort. First up: mulberry muffins.

PS: I have a mulberry tree in my backyard. A nice snack if you can battle the birds for the ripe ones.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c flour

1/2 c white sugar

1 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

pinch of salt

1/2 c fat free sour cream

1/4 cup milk

2 t applesauce

1 egg

1/2t almond extract

1/2 c mulberries

I used soy milk and more mulberries and added cinnamon so don't feel restricted by ingredients

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 400 degrees F. Grease/line muffin

pan.

2. Combine all ingredients. Spoon in mulberries

3. Bake for 25-30 min

I would suggest baking them for less time if you are using a 12 muffin sheet. 22-25 min

Deliciouis Breakfast Morning!

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