blogs, links, events and art from the teens behind ▼

On October 23rd, I went along with the Teen Arts Council to see the Builder’s Association’s “Continuous City.”

The advertising picture was a little different from the performance. Not to say I felt cheated in any way. Because I always do. Life is a gamble, you know? Sure, you can buy a scratch n’ win, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never lose. They should be called “Scratch n’ win sometimes.”

Anyway. I was expecting more of a non-linear, less narratively structured abstract performance. You know, doin’ it up Walker style. Instead, I was served up a 2 hour long play utilizing screens and newer technology to create interactions between characters on and off stage.

Even though, visually, the performance was pretty dimensional, I thought that overall, the storyline and objective was pretty plain. A half hour through, you had a good idea of what it was about, and an hour in, you knew what the directors/artists were getting at. The extra hour was kind of unnecessary. But I guess without it the whole play might have seemed rushed.

So I’ve been on a bit of a music hunt lately and somewhere within that I found it necessary to post a blog about the treasures I discovered.

1.Nrrrd Grrrl- MC Chris

I wish my rhymes were this clever.

2.The Devils Music- Hospital Bombers

Irony is always entertaining.

3.Electric Feel- MGMT

Definitely has a cool disco-y vibe. Think along the lines of the Scissor Sisters.

4.Electric Feel (MGMT Cover)- Katy Perry

So typically I’m not a huge Katy Perry fan, but this song has a completely different sound than the Katy Perry I’ve known. Acoustic and very raw sounding. Not to mention that it sounds especially cool if you listen to the original song first.

5.Wishful Thinking- The Ditty Bops

Very bubbly folk rock. I’m a big fan of simple lyrics.

6.Astronaut: A Short History Of Nearly Nothing- Amanda Palmer

If you are not already familiar with Amanda Palmer or the Dresden Dolls then I advise you to dash over to your nearest cd supplier and purchase as many albums of these glorious folks as possible. These lyrics are incredibly clever, the piano incredibly raw and the vocals incredily sharp.

7.Paper Planes (M.I.A cover)- Panda Riot

Imagine the original Paper Planes dipped in honey and covered with daisies. Voila.

Check ‘em out

Links for listening-

Nrrrd Grrrl- MC Chris

The Devil’s Music- Hospital Bombers

Electric Feel- MGMT

Electric Feel (MGMT Cover)- Katy Perry

Wishful Thinking- The Ditty Bops

Astronaut: A Short History Of Nearly Nothing

Paper Planes (M.I.A cover)- Panda Riot

Also, sleep is good for you, don’t stay up until 1:30 wasting time and writing blogs.

Tetsumi Kudo: not as conventional as he looks.

At the risk of sounding trite, Tetsumi Kudo is one dope dude. In the Walker’s exhibition “Tetsumi Kudo: Garden of Metamorphosis” (October 18, 2008 - March 22, 2009) I saw, what in my mind is true contemporary art. In describing Kudo’s work, a lot of different words come to mind- abstract, simple, complex, revolting, alluring, inspiring, incongruous. The exhibition is undoubtedly one of the most interesting solo artist shows I’ve seen at the walker, displaying a variety of objects, sculpture, installation, drawing, and painting—covering the entire path of his career, from the late 1950s through the late 1980s.

Some of my favorite pieces within the exhibit were the birdcages, the cocoons, the room full of penises, the photos from his giant installation a penis carved into the side of a rockface, the walk in box filled with blacklights and neon flowers, and the many other components that’s made you ask yourself, “What the hell?”

There is footage of Kudo 40 or so years ago with some friends explaining that in 20 years the penises in his work will not be seen as penises, but simply as symbols. As insightful and thought provoking such an ideology is, they still look like penises.

Go see this exhibit and spend some time to take it all in. Just don’t plan a meal right afterwards.

Thursday, November 20, 2008, 7 PM

Tom is an Animation Storyboard Artist working in Los Angeles. He was born and raised here in Saint Paul where he attended Highland Park Senior High School. Moving to the East Coast, he studied illustration and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design.

In the early 90s, Tom was hired by Walt Disney Feature Animation and worked on a long list of films including “Pocahontas,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Mulan,” “Tarzan,” ‘Lilo and Stitch,” and the yet to be released “Rapunzel.”

In recent years, Tom has storyboarded for Marvel, Warner Brothers, and Universal on projects featuring popular characters such as the X-Men and produced by visionary filmmakers including Tim Burton, (Director of “Batman,” “Edward Scissorhands,” and “Sweeney Todd”) and Timor Bekmambetov, (Director of “Wanted”).

Presently, de Rosier is working on an animated film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring the talented Johnny Depp (”The Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy”). Mr. deRosier will be visiting the College of Visual Arts to discuss his career from growing up in Saint Paul to his life as a working artist in Hollywood.

Thursday, November 20
Presentation 173 Western Avenue (at Selby), Room 404, 7 p.m.
The presentation is free and open to the public.

Visit www.cva.edu for more information or call John DuFresne at 651-757-4028 with questions.

I came back from vacation and found my desk covered in cellophane.

I will get my revenge…after I find out who did it. Maybe it was this guy.

During my daily internet trolling I came upon Urban Outfitter’s blog. I didn’t really know stores had the capacity to think independently, but who is this blogging museum to judge? I’ve only been to an Urban Outfitters once, in New York, to warm my hands on a cold day. The idea that everyone in New York is rude is a myth, everyone tend to be really nice, but the reality manifests itself any time you go into a “trendy” store. Think ALife or Supreme. See, the idea in most retail outlets is to be helpful, smile, and make the customer feel comfortable. However, in this bizzaro New York world it seems like the employees of these trendy boutiques exist only to make you feel uncomfortable and inferior.

That’s why I’m glad the folks at Urban Outfitters’ Minneapolis location keep it real and didn’t grow up to be like their New York sibling. In fact, they even shouted us out. So this is me, shouting you out, for shouting us out. Me watching you watch me.

From the moment I stepped into the big gray building, I was lured into a world of croisees and leaps, hip rolls and splits, breaking and popping. There were dancers at every corner of the space - and the tapping and sliding of feet along the marble floors became the only sounds in my existence, each and every subtle movement setting off a pulse in my veins. For Choreogrpaher’s Evening, widely acclaimed routines and respected dancers will fill the hallways of the Walker Art Center and the McGuire Theater for a night of exceptional independent dance.

The show began with an installation called “Dances You Might Remember” by Galen Treuer. Dancers lined the hallways leading up to the McGuire Theater, each with their own unique style. Once everyone was seated in the theater, a video called “..Found You” by Patrick Pryor, featuring dancers/choreographers Emily Tyra and Caroline Fermin, showcased dancers that utilized paint in their choreography. This combination of mediums is representative of the beauty of a place like the Walker. I could feel that this was going to be a great performance… and it was. The show, curated by accredited dancer Sally Rousse featured 13 diverse performances. There were a couple of performances which I felt lacked substance while other performances really struck me. One of my personal favorites were the “Battlecats”. Their spin moves, popping and breaking was truly impressive and the choreography was exceptional. Their dance was entitled “Revolution” and featured music by Damien Marley. Their dance was not only fit to my taste, but also seemed to ignite the entire audience. Another one of my other favorites was, “The Evolution of Story” by Dustin Haug & Tamin Totzke, which is also merged mediums - theatrical as well as musical. The concept of multi-disciplinary was an overarching theme for this year’s Choreographer’s Evening. Choreography is more than a collection of movements; it is visual art, theatre, music, even film. I would like to congratulate curator Sally Rousse in her success and encourage you all to check out more performing arts events at the Walker.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Multiples Mall: A Bookish Fair

DEADLINE: MONDAY, DECEMBER 15

This winter the Walker Art Center turns bookish with a season of events surrounding Text/Messages: Books by Artists, an exhibition of works from the museum’s collection and library opening on December 18.

Minnesota artists are invited to submit an application for participation in the fair portion of Multiples Mall. Organizers are looking for work that exists within the elastic discipline of book arts, including artist-made books, chapbooks, fine press work, graphic design, artful zines, and multiples that claim a relationship to the form or concept of the “book.”

Each selected artist will have 4 feet of table space to display their wares and the opportunity to have work for sale by the Walker shop during the event.

SUBMISSIONS PROCESS

Participants will be chosen based on the appropriateness of their work for this event by a panel of

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11/13

“Oshima presents a gritty view of Japan’s underworld with a broad swipe at the image of Japan as the “land of the rising sun.” Two gangs-vie to control the black market, prostitution, and other dirty dealings in an Osaka market slum.” On new 35mm print, 87 minutes of my life went by watching this film, which was made in 1960. Yes, entertaining and very interesting… extremely well-done. But, if only I had gotten more then 3 hours of sleep the night because nearly an hour an a half of subtitles is a hard thing to handle on no sleep. Oshima made this film in a way that almost requires you to look away at times do to its portrayal of rape and abuse yet you get so into the story that its impossible! This is the only Oshima film I’ve seen but their are four more this week before the lengthly three weeks comes to a conclusion.
I’d recommend you check ‘em out!

Tonight: A Town of Love and Hope with Diary of a Yunbogi Boy at 7:30pm

Tomorrow: In the Realm of the Senses at 7:30pm

Saturday: The Ceremony at 2pm and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence at 7:30pm

Sunday: Diary of a Shinjuku Thief at 2pm

Rumor has it that grammy award winning rapper Jay-Z will be running for mayor of New York in 2009. Although some may roll their eyes at the 38 year old rapper who was apparently inspired by president-elect Barack Obama, I wouldn’t be so quick to pass judgement. As a New York native, Jay-Z teamed up with current Mayor Bloomberg and created a program this past summer called “Summer Streets” to keep young people active. Although this may be a bit of a stretch for the rapper, the idea doesn’t seem out of the question for me. Jay Z has articulated his intellegence over the years as a rapper, producer and founded or “Roc- A -Fella” Recording Company. 

Anyway, the whole rumor made me think of one of his tracks off of his 1996 Album “Reasonable Doubt”. It’s called, “Politics as Usual” … Will his street smarts land him a spot as the mayor of New York?  Only time will tell….

Luckily Witt didn’t throw a fit:

John Nouanesing is a young French architect making a big name for himself designing tables and chairs (among other things) inspired by pop culture, or really simple and well executed ideas. These include tables that mirror folding paper, or dripping paint. He even created a window frame and shade system designed to mirror Microsoft Windows. I personally would murder about a half dozen people if it guaranteed me a drip table.

This is sweet.  The Upper Playground guys each paint a face of a cube. 

Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests were filmed from early 1964 - November 1966. Subjects would be seated in front of a tripod mounted camera, asked to be as still as possible, and told not to blink while the camera was running. There are a number of Screen Tests that diverge from this format entirely, the sitter purposely moving, gesticulating, or using props. Subjects were lit and filmed by Warhol’s stationary 16mm Bolex camera on silent, black and white, 100-foot rolls of film. Each Screen Test is exactly the same length, lasting only as long as the roll of film. The film is shot at 16 fps and projected at 24 fps The films, projected in slow motion, last four minutes each. More than 500 Screen Tests were made. The subejcts of these screen tests were who Warhol considered some of the up and coming stars of their time. They include Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Edie Sedwick and Alan Ginsberg.

One of the most celebrated architects of his time, Eero Saarinen was also one of the most controversial.  While many critics accused Saarinen of inventing a new style for every job, his diverse and sometimes unabashed theatrical designs attracted many.  One of the more interesting buildings of the Shaping The Future show was the Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Saarinen’s second IBM commission. The building describes a 1,090 foot arc along a ridge, it’s front glazed in reflective glass and it’s entrance marked by a cantilevered concrete canopy and Seymour Lipton’s abstract sculptures.  If that preview doesn’t entice you enough to go to the show, there are also many comfy chairs that you can look at, so go see Eero Saarinen’s Shaping The Future!

The first meeting for WACTAC’s new program, STREAM, is this Tuesday at 4:30 PM at the Teen Programs office at the Walker Art Center. If you are interested please come on down, you’re the next contestant on the Price is Right… Sorry, that was just something I’ve always wanted to say, or type…

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This weekend I went to the Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future exhibit and there was a lot to take in about his work and action shots of Eero and his team of architects working on blueprints. The most interesting work for me however would have to be the Miller house, in Columbus, Indiana. It was just a 1 story residence designed for a businessman named J. Irwin Miller. In the house there were multiple zones designated for children, parents, guests, etc. The living room or,skylit living space, had a “sunken conversation pit,” which consisted of a rectangular pit lined with couches and cushions and a small coffee table in the middle. There was a small stairwell that led down from the ground level. I was very taken with this and would definitely want one in my house, just a bit smaller in size, but either way I could see it being great for functions.

You should really go see the exhibit while it lasts through Jan 4th.