A New Piece

A new digital piece I did a few weeks back.  Just now getting to posting it. 

                      the boxer, 2011

The Invention of Solitary Confinement

Another great post from Prison Photography about the Invention of Solitary Confinement.  He starts with this puncturing quote from Charles Dickens who was obsessed with prisons; 

"I hold this slow and daily tampering with the mysteries of the brain to be immeasurably worse than any torture of the body”
- Charles Dickens, American Notes, (Harper & Brothers, 1842) p. 39

I don't know about you, but I need people in my life.  Despite my love of alone time, time to get creative and crazy in my own head, I know that I wouldn't be the man I am without those that surround me.  

Find below a short video about the first penitentiary (because the prisoners were meant to become penitent) to focus solely on solitary confinement.  And whats interesting is it originally was meant to be a more gentle rehab. Penn Commonwealth strived to create a system different from the harsh and cruel realities of the European prison system. Pennsylvania presumed all men/women were good at heart, and by separating the individual from the sins of society they could be rehabilitated.  Unfortunately they were quite wrong, and worse still it took YEARS for them to admit or even recognize their misgivings

Also check out the blog for more info

Songs You Know by People You Don't, The Cover Archive

Came upon this site, this morning The Cover Song Archive...A new project/blog from Jeff Hamada, the man behind Booooooom.com, an amazing art blog outta Canada.  Hamada is a great artist in his own right but I do believe his ability to find and show great art has made him a must read for the young arts community.  Cool idea to gather song covers by "unknown" artists...Maybe lead to someone being discovered...or we can alll just oooh and ahh and cute kids covering songs we love.  Attached a video below of one of my new favorites off the site.  Happy Monday!

Checks the link after the video

(I like that shes all French and then breaks into this sweet falsetto:))

-------> The Cover Song Archive <-------

Alf is Back...sorta, Don't You Want Me remake

As a little extra something to go along with the new movie Take Me Home Tonight, they have released a remake of Don't You Want Me originally by The Human League.  It actually was released about a week before I was born, so it really feels like my childhood reborn.  The video features classic 80's movie scenes with a modern twist...not bad, like the remake of the song by Atomic Tom, nice update.

Happy Thursday Morning

Something Good Coming outta Canada:)

Checks it, video/movie looks pretty epic.  Music and beautiful nature imagery...ummm yes!

To celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Parks Canada; 13 Filmakers, 39 Musicians were brought together to visit 13 National Parks within Canada and create awesomeness.  Don't know most of the musicians involved besides Andrew Whiteman of Broken Social Scene, but i am sure its gonna be grand and good.

Check out a trailer below, and a link to to see the breakdown of Episodes and which artists worked on each.

--->List of Episodes and Filmmaker/Musician Breakdown<---

Autism, and Our Ignorance

About a week behind on this one, but worth the repost;

I have had many friends work with children of ranging advantages and disadvantages over the years.  Its always great to see people step out of their comfort zone to help others.  On that note, my friend Pete Brook (who runs an amazing blog on Prison Photography...and yes I will be plugging him every couple of weeks or more if he keeps posting awesome stuff...and he DOES!) posted this video and a quote that really touched me.  I love being able to disrupt my perception, forced to consider a new reality, and this video and the others Amanda Baggs posts with a brief explanation gave me a great little insight into a life experience most know very little about.  Watch the video, check out her Wiki page and get learn-ed

"I find it very interesting by the way that failure to learn your language is seen as a deficit but failure to learn my language is seen as so natural." -AM Baggs


via P Brook and IHeartPhotography, Thanks Pete, loved this one

The Aurora, and my Dreams

This is how I dream, with a soundtrack, in nature, to visuals that seem beyond real.  

via Momentum

When I was in Alaska in 2007, I was astounded by the natural wonder, and hope one day I can make it back north to witness the Aurora someday.

And here is a photo I took from my trip to this wonderland for your viewing pleasure.

Me, Alaska, 2007

My New Favorite Band! CHAPEL CLUB

Ok so I was introduced yesterday to band called Chapel Club, and since, I have not been able to put their music down.  Upon reading up on them on Wikipedia, seems these English lads have been hard at work since 2007 on this 1st full length album, Palace (which was finally released Jan 2011).  Although in 2009 they released their first single, Surfacing which right now is my favorite favorite off the album.  Also if you go to their site, they have links for the norm, facebook/myspace, but also one for HypeMachine which I LOVE...so checks out some of their tunes off HypeMachine, including a few nice remixes.  FIND THEM, buy their music, and check out the video below

Thanks KCRW and Lu!

Graffiti Clean Up Reminiscent of Modern Art

A gallery of graffiti clean up that seems to be just as artistic, most likely on accident, but still quite successful...A little Rothko-esque....(Look him up...he made moody abstract modern art...that really doesn't look mind blowing until you see one of his pieces in person...then its like WOOOWAWEEWOW WOW)...there is a feeling/emotion that a computer screen can and probably will never be able to convey...its like an in person conversation vs an instant message...all the subtleties are lost in translation.  So basically I am saying GO TO ART GALLERIES/SHOWS, there is nothing like being able to stand inches from a piece of art, to see the texture/strokes, ...ok my 2 cents for ya:)

enjoy a few pics below, and more via the link

via A Time to Get

Early Morning Beats

Was lead to this music video from another blog, not sure exactly what She is saying as my Portuguese is less than basic at best, but I was digging on the beats.  Good morning.  Enjoy DJ Sr Alfalate

via DesignYouTrust