SheWalksSoftly

Robert Bradford

July 18th, 2009

I admire the patience it must have taken for Robert Bradford to assemble these sculptures out of countless figurines and toys. So many bits and pieces to lodge correctly for the contour to be just right!

Bradford’s ideas spring from psychotherapy concepts (he was a therapist for several years), culture, physical experiments of matter and space, past and present aesthetics, the interaction of people and other species, synthetic and natural worlds…

From the artist statement:

“For a long time now I have preferred to use materials that are not bland i.e. have some kind of history of weathering or use. One day about four years ago out in the studio I was looking into my childrens box of outgrown / discarded toys which happened to be stored in the same building and responded to the random collection of colours shapes and forms they made. I figured that if I could find a way of putting them together to constitute a larger form they would have great potential as larger scale sculpture.”

See more creations here.
FMRI Rug

July 17th, 2009

This is the kind of rug that I’d love to have in my home (or future office), but may not allow anyone to walk on. Rather like those decorative “guest towels” that no one in the household dares to touch.

Functional MRI pattern!

Even better, the scan depicts brain function during a state of warm altruism. I’m in love. Oh fMRI rug, you had me at “axial brain slices.”

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A Hundred Miles of Cookies Every Day

July 17th, 2009

Okay, the article is not very interesting. But the headline made my day. Adds a little romance to the fact that we’re looking at a plain old industrial factory. Isn’t “a hundred miles of cookies” just a gorgeous utopian dream? It conjures up Candyland images of winding edible paths leading to houses made of gingerbread and icing.

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For Mom

July 16th, 2009

My mother passed away a year ago today. Although I usually keep this site somewhat impersonal, I can’t help but post a tribute to the beautiful soul who brought so much love, inspiration and color to my life.

When I was a child, she made me a Dorothy outfit (ruby slippers and all) and indulged my tiny imagination by putting on The Wizard of Oz, no matter how many times I asked. She had a special love for this song (pardon the subtitles!)

I honor and carry her in my heart, always.
Stephen J. Shanabrook

July 16th, 2009

My recent death by chocolate post reminded me that I’ve been meaning to share the work of Stephen J. Shanabrook (not to make light of the tragedy, of course).

I’m not sure what it says about me that I could happily eat his series of Morgue Chocolates:

Shanabrook’s work with chocolate includes other mildly disturbing, metly delights.

You’ll find a whole array of uncomfortable material, unconventionally displayed in his collection. For example, Heroin paraphernalia mounted in display cases like moths.

He is all about contradiction…candy and razor blades…if you’d like to see more, check out his site.
80’s McFashion

July 15th, 2009

Fellow children of the 80’s, did you happen to own anything from the McDonald’s clothing line? You can tell me. It’ll be our little secret.

I have no doubt that countless Brooklyn hipsters are itching to get their hands on these shirts. You’d be hard pressed to find better ironic retro attire.

A unique twist on country club attire…

America’s obesity epidemic in the making…

And my very favorite…the sweater series. Would men really sport a V-neck with a triumphant clown emblem to achieve the “classic look?” Truth be told, I kind of want that Grimace sweater.

More here.
Coffee Kiss

July 15th, 2009

Mighty Optical Illusions recently posted one of my favorite sculptures of the year: Coffee Kiss, by Tsang Cheung.

The sculpture is not only gorgeous, but rich in symbolism as well. It depicts Yuanyang, a popular Hong Kong beverage made by mixing coffee and tea. The drink represents marriage and conjugal love.

There is so much movement in the stillness, as if we’re witnessing a surreal moment frozen in time. Absolutely captivating.

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Cirque Berzerk

July 14th, 2009

Tomorrow I head over to the West coast for a month, and one of my first stops is Cirque Berzerk.

ESCAPE deep into the sexy, twisted, theatrical underworld of Cirque Berzerk. Your hosts: A demented ‘family,’ born at Burning Man, that includes trampoline artists who bounce off the walls, heart throbbing aerialists, fiery burlesque dancers, bone-bending contortionists, sensuous acrobats, operatic sopranos, gothic stilt walkers, macabre marionettes and a few quite demented clowns.

I don’t find regular circus events the slightest bit enticing (perhaps due to the animal exploitation), but here…humans are the sole entertainment. Vaudevillian punk rock! I’m so glad the show was extended a few weeks from the original scheduled end date.

If you’re interested, there’s still a little time to check it out.
Slice of Vinyl

July 14th, 2009

Oh yes…I love this vinyl record sleeve table from Bughouse.

At nearly $500, I will not be purchasing one for my home. But I’m tempted to make one out of thrift store records at a fraction of the price.

(This one goes out to vinyl lovers Louisa and Ronnie).

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Moon

July 13th, 2009

I went to see Moon yesterday, and have to say I was quite impressed.

I’ve heard mixed reviews about this movie, but I thought it was a refreshingly unpretentious exploration of themes that are starting to have a serious impact on our culture: corporate exploitation, depersonalization of labor, manipulation of life for our own design, the manufacturing of sentient beings, isolation and the innate need for companionship, technological ethics…

This movie does not bombard the viewer with lavish, grandiose CGI (which seems to dominate the sci-fi genre these days, often at the expense of plot), and the relative simplicity creates a kind of intimacy with the audience that has now become a rare and precious treat. I was thrilled to see various anachronistic details: old fashioned alarm clocks, 50’s pin up art tacked to the wall, 60’s TV sitcoms, the occasional 80’s pop hit. The protagonist entertains himself by whittling sculptures out of wood and growing plants in empty food containers; clearly antiquated hobbies in a time of advanced scientific accomplishment. The date on which the events transpire does not matter. How much of our distinct “humanity” will stay with us as the future marches on…and what will we sacrifice for our achievements?

Then of course, there was the film score by Clint Mansell. Enough said.

What did you guys think of Moon?