Monthly Archive for October, 2007

My Hypocrisy Unravels

Something in the neighborhood of twenty years ago, I was in my high school Independent Study in Art class, and my teacher started talking about this con man called Christo, who would wrap things in fabric and call them art.

Years later, I’m reading about a horrible accident that happened today in 1991:

33-year-old insurance agent Lori Keevil-Matthews visits an outdoor art project installed by Christo. 1,760 yellow umbrellas were scattered along the ridge line of the Tejon Pass, near Interstate 5 in Southern California. Then a freak 40 mph gust suddenly picks up a 485-pound umbrella, slamming the spectator against a boulder. She dies on the scene.

I decide to go check out what this Christo is all about, and presto, I find his website, replete with a gallery of some of his work. I start to look at this stuff, and suddenly it hits me – I like it. It’s not a painting, or a sculpture, or anything like that. It’s more than that. It’s of a scale that most people wouldn’t attempt, and is executed with a certain sense of style that really takes one’s breath away. I can almost imagine going to see one of these projects, perhaps on a day that’s not windy, and taking in the sheer breadth and scope of what Christo and Jeanne-Claude are able to accomplish.

So, after years of thinking that this man was the con artist of the art world, I must now change my opinion and declare that I believe him to be a man who has crafted some very beautiful landscapes, which is something he should be darn proud of.

Phantom of the Paradise

So, does this bring back memories for anyone?

The End of the World As We Know It

I’m not sure what to say, except that this website heralds the apocalypse. Start stocking your pantries now. Get ready for the roving bands of mutants. Society is going to fall.

My Super Power

You may not believe this, but I think Paranormal Urination would be an awesome super power. Imagine that you’re called to stop a bank robbery in progress. The villain, resplendent in striking color-coordinated spandex, would sneer at you and say, "Do you think you can stop me, pipsqueak?" Suddenly, he’d start peeing himself. That would distract him long enough for you to knock him over, take his super-weapon, and save the day.

If this Rosemary Hunter person turns out to be genuine, she should become a crime fighter.

I Will Survive

This is totally awesome. I must learn more about these guys.

This site seems like a good place to start.

Climbing the K2 Theme

I’ve been wanting to change the look of this site for a while, so rather than get off my butt and code a theme from scratch, I installed and configured Release Candidate 2 of K2, a new theme for WordPress. It’s a very versatile theme, and let me do a lot of customization (adding the picture I took when Daniele went on our first photo safari through Los Alamos and the Jemez as a header, for instance). I’m likin’ the way it came out.

There may be some links that don’t work like they used to, so if you find one, let me know.




bubble

OK