Bill Callahan
When I first heard the Bill Callahan — aka Smog — song, Rock Bottom Riser, I didn’t know whether I loved it or hated it. Loved it because it stuck in my head for a good hour and twelve minutes afterwards (not that I was counting); hated it because … well, that’s an awful long time to have one tune spinning around your inner ear iPod. In the end, I gave myself over to it completely; to its organic beauty; its sense of imperfect pleading; it’s purity and sentimental hopelessness. It’s a major chord lament with minor chord persuasions. Listen to it under the warm sway of a glass of Australian red and it’ll sit inside your heart like every childhood dream you never had.
Listen to Smog’s Rock Bottom Riser and watch the illustrated clip to the song.
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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 (1)
HAVE YOUR SAY
I just saw this installation called The Transfinite at the Park Ave Armory in New York. It’s like being put into an ocean of precise, meticulously planned data. Incredibly high-powered projectors shoot Ikeda’s visuals onto a 54 x 81 foot floor and a 54 x 40 foot wall, as speakers blast a perfectly synchonized musical piece. Read more
Ana Serrano, a first generation Mexican-American artist, is known for her cardboard depictions of architecture. Her inspiration for these brightly-colored, hand-decorated structures come from her observations of Los Angeles’ diverse neighborhoods and travel to Mexico, Brazil and Italy. Read more
Rarely is a film politically poignant as well as wonderfully written, acted and shot. The second feature from director Kimberly Peirce of Boys Don’t Cry was inspired by her brother, who joined the army, and was only possible after months of meticulous research. Read more
There’s no place in the world like Cuba’s colourful and crumbling capital. Riddled with contradictions, it’s a foodie’s worst nightmare and a photographer’s paradise. People really do dance in the streets, drive 1950s Chevvies, and smoke big, fat cigars. However, it’s all set to change. In December last year, while Cuba celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its revolution, President Obama said he’d soften America’s trade embargo, and Raul Castro said that he’s ‘ready for talks’ with the new American government. While this could mean long-overdue relief for Cubans, it could also leave one less truly fascinating place on the globe to visit. So go. Now.
I used to have a Livejournal. I remember when blogging was so much more earnest and emo back in the mid-Aughts. Embarrassing. Good to know there are people like out_4_pizza, who use their blogs to post amazing digital art rather than every detail of their personal lives. Read more
The underground music scene in Beijing produces a lot of derivative and half-assed bands, but PK14 are great by any standards. Read more
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
Pitched as ‘Ulterior Motives in Contemporary Art’, Disorder Disorder is running until November 14 at Penrith Regional Gallery. It’ll be well worth the trip out west of Sydney: the Australian, Japanese, American and European cast reads like a warriors of street art roundup and includes Mike Giant, Ed Templeton, Anthony Lister [artwork above], Ozzie Wright, and Jonathan Zawada. Read more
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
Cookie Boy’s creative cookie designs
I don’t eat cookies, so good thing Cookie Boy’s cookies are little pieces of art too pretty and cute to eat. Read more
How ’bout this Jose Manuel Hortelano-Pi guy, huh? Quite the illustrator, yessiree Bob. From Spain, too. Spain is great! Read more
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.
Now this is fun. This 3D watch dial actually jumps to life. The dial is a modern version of the 19th century art form of lithophanes: carved porcelain sheets that, when lit, deliver astoundingly detailed images. When the pusher is activated, the dial springs to life in 3D, with an LED light and afterglow effect. Read more
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Lost At E Minor: Music, illustration, art, photography and more » Bill Callahan Woke on a Whaleheart said | 18 June, 2008
[...] Bill Callahan’s Woke on a Whaleheart is a little trip I take myself on every now and then when I’m looking to really sink myself into a piece of music. The album is packed full of sweet turns of melody, rich narrative – one of the most distinctive baritone voices around today – and a quirky, but highly original, quality that can be hard to find amongst singer/songwriters at the moment. If pressed you could pitch him somewhere in the massive spectrum between Jens Lekman and William Whitmore, both other-worldly yet very organic, as if his mind has been weathered by a few storms but still retains an edge of sharpness. It’s certainly interesting stuff, suited to those boozy evenings of introspection: a good experience, but not one you’d want every day. time savedtime saved [...]