Love this from the “constellation poet” (@r.cliftpoetry).
mondo cozmo
Sunday—mood :) Mondo Cozmo's single Sold from his album, Your Motherfucker.
Check it out (and maybe lie outside somewhere and drift with the sky...).
a new beginning
Artwork: by @deih.xlf, A New Beginning
Something otherworldly and wonderful from artist @deih.xlf, titled A New Beginning. This mural was painted for a festival called ‘Encrucijada Sangüesa’ in Ciudad de Sangüesa, a small town in Navarra, in the North of Spain.
Deih said this about the mural: '“When you directly confront your stone, you always get an answer with a new way of shining. (The real knowledge is for brave people.) A new beginning is possible."
Swap “soul” or “heart” for “stone” and it also resonates beautifully, although a little less intergalactically!
music connects
Yep, it does :)
son of the sea
Artist Ricky Lee Gordon was recently commissioned to create a work for the Paxos Contemporary Art Project in Greece. Titled: THE SON OF THE SEA CREATED AN ISLAND FOR HIS LOVER SO SHE WOULD REST HIS TIRED HEART, he had this to say about its inception, disruption, and that despite not being able to finish the work, the surrounding issues in his view, gave the work its completion:
“Whilst nearing completion of the installation which would serve as a shrine to the story and aching love of Poseidon the Church arrived and asked me to stop. The property which the festival organizers were given and thought to belong to municipality in fact belonged to the church.
The installation consists of a portrait of Poseidon as a young boy overlooking the remaining columns and roof tiles of an abandoned house to represent self and the dismantling of self. Also in some way it was my intention to create a self portrait, reflection on and ritual for the letting go of longing.
The situation and experience of being confronted by the Church and the uncompleted installation is for me the final work. It took on a life of its own out of my control like everything in this constant ever changing flux of a universe. The other interesting link is that it was the Church who dismantled and put an end to any and all belief in the mythology and ritual for the Greek gods.
Aphrodite hid from Poseidon’s love at the ‘end of the world’ so he created the island of Paxos to convince her that if she were to love him she would have the power to soothe his chaotic ways and bring balance to his restless heart.
The myth is also significant as it is thought to symbolize the end of the ancient world and the dawn of the Christian era.”
(http://rickyleegordon.com, @rickyleegordon)
beautiful things
Image: Saul Bass quote featured here on 5preview's naoko silk dress
This hit home—a quote from graphic designer Saul Bass:
“I want to make beautiful things even if nobody cares.”
carolina's pony
Artwork: LET (@l.e.t._les.enfants.terribles), Carolina's Pony
Latest terrific and edgy stencil in Berlin by LET (@l.e.t._les.enfants.terribles), Carolina's Pony.
sergei x rankin
I love dance, especially contemporary, but once in a while a classical ballet dancer comes on the scene who defies categorisation, is so out there, unique and adventurous, that you just have to take notice. Ukrainian Sergei Polunin is that dancer. Here's a short film collaboration with photographer Rankin, soundtrack by Husky Loops, for Hunger magazine that showcases his incredible talent. I mean—wow! Just wow.
our world of plastics
Image: National Geographic June 2018 front cover: Planet or Plastic?
Plastic pollution is an epic problem. I don't want to focus too much on the negatives, instead I'd like to showcase a few projects that are innovatively tackling the issue by thinking outside the box, while also acknowledging it's through our collective and daily efforts to deal with the mammoth task of cleaning up our environment, so that its safer, healthier and plastic-free.
Because the fact is plastic doesn't disappear once it's made. It also degrades into smaller pieces to become microplastics which are in our water systems, and even if you can't see it it's now been proven that microplastics are in the water you bathe in, the water you drink, and in the food you eat that's sourced from the ocean and streams.
Plastic isn't a problem that's “out there”, it's very much become a problem that impacts on human health and well being.
So, here are some wonderful projects that are dealing with the problem head-on:
1. The Seabin Project
Developed by two Western Australian surfers and ocean lovers, Andrew Turtin and Peter Ceglinski, the Seabin Project began its life as a Kickstarter campaign that's become a small business operating globally. The Seabin is what's termed as a “floating debris intervention device”, and is installed at marinas, yacht clubs or in areas of calm water. It's basically a bin construction that collects and sifts pollution debris from the water. The company also focuses on education and scientific development with a simple aim: pollution free oceans for future generations. Check out this wonderful invention here: www.seabinproject.com
2. The Ocean Cleanup
This major project and organisation is the brainchild of Boyan Slat (CEO), and was developed to create technologies to extract plastic pollution from the oceans and to prevent further plastic entering the oceans. One of its major aims is to tackle the Great Pacific Garbage Patch located between Hawaii and California, which is roughly double the size of Texas. It's a floating island of debris, mostly plastics. The Ocean Cleanup technology is described as “a passive system” that aims to close the source and clean it up through a pipe and net system that isolates the garbage so it can be removed from the ocean, taken to land, and then sorted for recycling. The first clean-up system is scheduled to be deployed mid-2018, and you can check out this amazing project here: www.theoceancleanup.com
3. Endangered Waves App
Surfers and ocean lovers have long been environmentalists. Basically, their playground is the water and beaches and coastal environments, and any pollution becomes obvious when you're walking, swimming and surfing in it. I became aware of this app through big wave surfer Greg Long who promoted it through his IG account. It's a simple and brilliant solution to turn that horrible feeling of seeing pollution, yet not knowing how to fix the problem, into action. The app was developed by the Save the Waves Coalition in California (@savethewavescoalition & https://www.savethewaves.org) and it basically lets you take a picture of the problem, select the type of threat, geo-tag the location, and upload the information. It will then be sent to the organisations that can best deal with the issue. You can download the app on IOS or Android or visit the Save the Waves website.
4. Finisterre
Cold water surf company Finisterre has just put out a range of surf gear and leisure wear made from microplastics. The campaign's motto of 'Stand Together. Take Action.' is to highlight the issue of microplastic pollution through education and working with scientists and conservationists to find innovative ways to clean it up and upcycle it so that it has another life, one that's sustainable. Check out the video, Beneath The Surface about the project, or visit the website: www.finisterre.com
skee mask
I've been listening to this track on repeat since it came out a couple of weeks ago, Skee Mask's Soundboy Ext. from the album, Compro. A trippy, dreamy landscape to get lost in.
the sun will fall to the sea
ARtwork: wall mural by Ricky Lee Gordon, the sun will fall to the sea, Berlin, 2016
Artist Ricky Lee Gordon's wonderful mural in Berlin, the sun will fall to the sea, is a response to people's quest for progress, how the decisions of so few in power affect so many, and especially how this negatively impacts on the environment. We're all connected, and Gordon believes that with people becoming more aware of their connection to nature they're “creating an uprising of creativity, sensitivity and consciousness, but it’s also creating a lot of despair because people don’t know what to do”. And his message is, that's okay. Nature will have it's way, no matter what we do (http://rickyleegordon.com).
The sun will fall to the sea.
The moon and tides will rise.
These kings and their castles will wash away.
die Sonne wird im Ozean versinken .
Der Mond und das Wasser werden steigen.
Diese Könige in ihren Schlössern werden weggewaschen.
Berlin 2016. For Urban Nation Museum
121 Landsburger Allee
Photos-Nika Kramer
paths
Imagine walking through a forest, the colours dense and dark with old growth trees and lush greenery. The sky is overcast, and you can smell the mulchy iron of the earth, wet from the recent rain. And perhaps you're walking aimlessly, thinking of nothing much, or you're searching for something: a sign, inspiration, a way through a difficult situation. Or you're happy simply to be in nature, away from the city smog, just so you can breathe. Out of nowhere, you come across words written in chalk on the bark of the trees: Trust Your Path.
It stops you in your tracks. It makes you wonder.
This is the latest work of artist Sean Yoro, aka the hula (@the_hula). Revisiting the site of a previous biodegradable chalk work, now washed away, Yoro said this temporary piece was inspired by, "the struggles of finding your own path in life".
muggles
Some wise words for the beginning of the week from the marvellous J.K Rowling:
“Don't let the muggles get you down.” (@_nitch)
Yep. Totally on board with that.
dream delivery service
Poet/writer Mathias Svalina spends his days writing surreal stories—dreams (and sometimes nightmares), and then, at 2am he gets on his bicycle and delivers these handwritten tales on pink cards, in pink envelopes (he likes the colour), to the recipients' homes. He can make up to 40 deliveries depending on the town and city he finds himself in.
Originally from Denver, Svalina ditched his adjunct poetry professor gig at the University of Colorado to combine two things he loved—writing strange fiction and riding his bike (and travelling). After 4 years, Svalina's Dream Delivery Service is self sustaining, and what he doesn't deliver by hand, he does through the mail.
So, if you'd love to have a dream delivered to you (he delivers overseas as well), find out more about this fabulous project at the Dream Delivery Service website (here). Also, check out the short video to meet the guy who creates these wondrous tales.
Here's just one of them:
Day 26: February 9, 2018.
You are walking around the city at night & see a small cocktail bar that looks inviting. You step inside & the entire place is full of people you don’t want to see, disliked co-workers, exes, that weird dude who used to follow you around. They are all there. And as you walk in, they all look up & see you. You can’t leave—that would be weird. But you don’t want them to recognize you. The host says Hello! Welcome! And then, to disguise yourself, you respond in a heavy Cockney accent Oi! ‘Ello! Ahm jus popped in from ‘cross the pond! Immediately, none of the people you don’t want to see can recognize you. The host guides you to the bar, where you order & cocktail. The cocktail, when it arrives, has a living plant in it, the roots dangling over the ice. And with each sip of the cocktail the flower grows, until, with your final sip, the plant blooms into a wide, beautiful sky-blue flower. Then later you are at Home Depot looking for a new set of windows to install into a house you just bought on an island somewhere. All the windows are too much, too ornate, too delicate, too dark. And finally you realize that on this island windows are superfluous, a waste even. Then you are in your house on the island, the ocean breeze washing over you like a calming caress. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, in the world that is permanently bad, you realize.
(Source: Hyperallergic)
Dream on, Mathias, dream on.
wide awake
This came out earlier this week, Rockaforte's (Luca Olivotto) EP, Sundaze, and the hypnotic track, Wide Awake. You can check out the EP on Beatport here. The EP was released on Olivotto's brilliant Endless Music record label.
don't lose your aim
Artwork: wall mural by millo, Don’t lose your aim, Mexico
Wonderful wall by Millo (@_millo_) in Conalep, a National College of Technical Professional Education in Valle de Santiago, Guanajuato, Mexico. The piece is titled:
No pierdas el tino,
Mide la distancia
Que hay en el camino
It's a sentence from “Cantos para romper la piñata” and translates as: Don't lose your aim,
Measure the distance, That's on the way.”
The wall is part of a bigger social project in Guanajuato and Millo states: “The goal of the project is to bring art where there isn't and closer to young people in order to let them feel inspired by another point of view.”
director's reel
I stumbled upon Samantha Casolari's 2018 Director's Reel, which is basically a mash-up of highlights from her recent video work. Casolari is a photographer and video artist based in New York who works across portraiture, fashion, music, film, contemporary culture and dance. What hooked me in was the melding of mood, movement, colour and a killer song by American electronic duo, Boy Harsher, Suitor. Check it out, and you can listen to the track on SoundCloud here. You can also check out Casolari's work at her website www.samanthacasolari.com and on IG @samanthacasolari.
the world is a song
Photo: Chalkie Davies
Love musician/artist David Byrne's POV of how the world “works—
"I sense the world might be more dreamlike, metaphorical, and poetic than we currently believe...I wouldn't be surprised if poetry...in the sense of a world filled with metaphor, rhyme, and recurring patterns, shapes and designs...is how the world works. The world isn't logical, it's a song."
(source @_nitch)
apollo and daphne
Artwork: wall mural by Bosoletti & Jarus, Apollo and Daphne, Berlin, 2018 (photo by @nikakramer)
Incredible mural by Argentinean artist Francisco Bosoletti (@bosoletti) and Canadian artist Young Jarus (@youngjarus) in Berlin, 2018—the myth of Apollo and Daphne inspired by Ovid's version in Metamorphosis.
slowdive
Feels like Sunday—song by Slowdive, No Longer Making Time.
Check it out.