It’s true, fate does work in mysterious ways. How else can I explain my metamorphosis over the past few months from serious musician to … well … a sweetly-oiled backing track to a potential world whistling champion. For last Sunday night, as the moon hung low over the bustling streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, my whistling protegee made his debut at a local open mic night. Yes. And what a rousing debut it was – his first public performance in preparation for the World Whistling Championships which are being held in America early next year. I tell you, the room was full of earnest musicians – beret wearing singer/songwriter types, with their heartfelt lyrics and Nick Drake sensibilities – who really didn’t know what hit them when the whistler got up there and weaved a melodic thread through the chords to Norwegian Wood and Plush. You could hear a pin drop as the last soaring note echoed and tremored through the room. And then, applause … loud and enduring. He has passed his first test. Now for the next challenge. Though I believe Letterman is fully booked for the next eight years. [paintings by Alex Gross]
Also by ZOLTON
Maths explains the origin of superhero characters
I love the colours and simple reasoning in this clever series by Scottish illustrator Matt Cowen, which uses basic maths equations to explain how certain pop culture icons came to be. Read more
Star Wars Uncut: a fully crowdsourced version of Episode IV
The project of creative technologist, Casey Pugh, this full length version of the George Lucas masterpiece was created from multiple 15 second segments recreated from the original movie and submitted by thousands of Star Wars fans, which were then spliced together by editor Aaron Valdez to form the final product. Genius, as both a commentary on contemporary pop culture trends (there are references to LEGO, stop motion, memes and the like) and on the power of tapping your audience for quality material.
Filmmaker creates LEGO stop motion to propose to girlfriend
Now, this is one for the ages: back in 2010, Atlanta film-maker Walter Thompson created a jaw-dropping LEGO stop motion to propose to Nealey Dozier, his girlfriend of four years. The video took 22 hours of shooting and some 2,600 pictures to splice together, a small sacrifice to pay for years of happiness together. Right? Right! Oh, and she said yes. Bonus.
YOU'RE SAYING (2)
Tamsin Roberts said | 7 December, 2006
Been reading the news letters for a while now, refreshing and interesting.
Wondering if you have mainland Chinese contacts? Red T China Limited is a contemporary culture company based in Beijing – we have a gallery and art agency for young Chinese contemporary artists and we have a music company which is bringing in emerging western music into the Chinese market. Obviously lots of cross over between the mediums and lots of fun events to publicise it all. I think some of our stuff could be fab on Lost at E Minor. Let me know if you’re interested and I can send you some more info and images.
Tamsin
HAVE YOUR SAY
Mads Berg is a graphic designer from Denmark. His illustration art is simply beautiful. He has a fantastic eye for colors and shapes. I love his modern interpretation of art deco motives, in particular. Read more
Melbourne-based artist Thomas Pavitte uses basic techniques to create complex artworks. For his take on Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, he carefully arranged and numbered 6,239 dots and then spent the next nine hours connecting them. The result is not only the (unofficial) world record for the most complex dot-to-dot drawing, but also happens to be a seriously cool piece of art. Read more
The issue of abortion has hardly ever been represented so honestly by a movie. Knocked Up and Juno gave the pro-choice movement a boost, and of those two, only Juno came close to confronting the issue. In the Princess of Nebraska, the main character suffers through indecision, naivety and turmoil that seem much closer to reality. Read more
The Nine Streets, or ‘De Negen Straatjes’, is so named for the nine small, cosy streets between Raadhuisstraat and Leidsestraat, just minutes from the heart of Amsterdam. Read more
From the cutting rooms of Dior through to the backstages of the Babyshambles, and even These New Puritans, it seems former Dior designer Hedi Slimane has seen it all. But his newly published photography concept book — Rock Diary — leaves me asking many questions about the symbiosis of fashion and music, especially the glorification of renowned drug addict Pete Doherty. Read more
Hotly tipped by a handful of soothsayers to take 2009 by storm, Trembling Bells are an altogether different and refreshing musical experience to much of what seems to excite people at the moment. On first listen, it’s fairly easy to ignore — one could casually shrug it off as some limp take on Scottish baroque folk. Yet, there is something more to it. Rarely do you hear that high-pitched, warbling voice in mainstream music. Likewise the marching band cacophony going on in the background is both daring and highly intriguing.
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I’ve posted about New Orleans artist Ryn Wilson before, but I also wanted to plug her awesome clothing line, Altar. Nothing’s up at her Etsy shop right now, but keep checking back. Read more
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Baltimore Mural by Josh Van Horne
My friend Josh Van Horne, a local Baltimore artist, did this amazing mural in our neighborhood that depicts the history of this warehouse-laden area.
Michelle Blade’s psychedelic artwork
Michelle Blade’s washed out paintings are deceptively simple, her washy acrylics creating psychedelic textures and conjuring ghostly figures from the past. Read more
A little infectious lollipop rock anyone? Feel free to embarrass yourself singing along at the stoplight. If the other drivers give you that look, roll down the windows and spread the love.
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Communication prosthesis by Sascha Nordmeyer
This ‘communication prosthesis’ by designer Sascha Nordmeyer is hilarious and awesome. I want to wear one to a job interview.
Here are a couple awesome pieces by Matt Leines that were recently on display in the Doubting Thomases exhibit at Nudashank gallery in Baltimore. Gives me ideas for Halloween. Read more
Too sweet for words, these beautiful hoop earrings by Sydney-based designer Carmel Taylor are a real touch of origami for your ears. Read more
If you have a Twitter feed that focuses on cool pop cultural things and you’d like to swap Tweets with Lost At E Minor and other like-minded Twitterers, drop us a note (with Tweet Swap in the title). We have a system in place and we’d like to have you in on it! [illustration by Brad Fitzpatrick]
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Andy said | 6 December, 2006
Sensational Zolton… thanks for sharing such a surreal experience. So nicely written too. All the best to your whistling protegee for the World Championships.