Mirrormask 6:52 PM

Directed/designed by Dave McKean and developed by the Jim Henson Company [the Muppets, TMNT]. I will not go into much detail about the movie other than that it's a fantasy movie where the creative mind of a young girl takes her to the world of her drawings and dreams. Just watch it, it is extremely inspirational [at least for me]. It has further encouraged me keep sketching. Attached are some screen captures of the film.

CNN article 12:01 PM

I read this article the other day on CNN. It talks about how McCain is not appealing to the younger generation and how he should be concerned about it. It includes the results of a "study found that the current generation of young voters, those who came of age during the President Bush years, are giving the Democrats a wide edge. Fifty-eight percent of voters under 30 identified or leaned toward the Democratic Party, compared with 33 percent who said they identified or leaned toward the Republican Party."

... i wonder why? I am very happy to see that young voters are taking a stand and having their voices heard, now only if I could vote!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/24/young.gop/index.html?iref=newssearch

Cuban food + Guggenheim = yay! 10:29 AM

I have wanted to go to the Guggenheim for some time now. When it wasn't that I didn't have enough time, it was that I didn't have enough money to pay for the $12 student admission [thanks pratt!]. I've grown acostumed to pay as you wish or better yet free admission. I've paid my dues with my tuition to Pratt and have no problem using my ID. Enough about this... anyhow, I found out that Fridays between 5:30-8pm, is pay what you wish. PERFECT!!

We made our way from this hole in the wall Cuban restaurant in Chelsea. This place is literally a hole in the wall. Poor Ian, he was the only one in there that wasn't Cuban. Everyone kept speaking to him in Spanish and all he could do is just look at me. We made our way to the garden and had it all to ourselves. The service was pretty good, the waitress quickly realized that I am Cuban and did her best to please us with suggestions on what is good there and what is not. We ordered a Margarita and she quickly said, nope- when you are here, you need to order the frozen mojito. Well we did and we're very glad she suggested so. Ian ordered Croquetas de Jamon [ham croquets] and I had the Tamale Cubano con Puerco [corn meal tamale with pork] for appetizers. I surprised myself with what I ordered. While I was still in Cuba, I HATED tamales. My grandma was known for them yet I never liked them. I went with my gut instinct and ordered. Once again, i'm glad I made that choice. When it came time for our main course, we opted for Cuban Sandwiches. Ian had the traditional one, with chorizo slices as a plus [spicy sausage]. I ordered the steak cuban sandwich. I will admit, the bread was a little dry and the meat a little tough but hey that is how it is in Cuba. No one cares about cooking perfect meat-- we just care about the flavors. We quickly devoured the sandwiches and found ourselves ordering cafe con leche [coffee and milk] and flan. According to the waitress, it is the best in NYC-- i like my mothers better. After we finished, we were brought our check and the woman said " Here's your check but that doesn't mean you have to leave, stay as long as you want and give yourself some time to digest all that food that you both just ate". She wasn't kidding, Ian quickly went into a food coma and I had a food baby! The best part of it all-- our check came to a little over $30.

Now for the Guggenheim, we got there to find a line almost around the corner of the front entrance and it wasn't even 5:15. By the time, they opened the door the line had wrapped around the whole entire block [ridiculous!]. We went in and paid what we wanted and got a free audio tour. Walking into the museum was heavenly for me. Last fall semester, I had to design a book based on Frank Lloyd Wright's design aesthetic. I submerged myself in all the research on him but faulted at visiting the Guggenheim. Louise Bourgeois's work is on display. I had read an article on the NY Times about it and have wanted to see it for some time now. As we made ourselves around the rotunda that display all of her work in chronological order, I found myself talking about all of the pieces. This is quite an astonishment for Ian. I'm usually one for viewing the work and moving on as opposed to Ian who loves to talk about it [and drives me insane quite often, anyone that knows Ian knows that he loves to talk- cute]. We made our way through her drawings, installations and sculptures. One of her pieces made me feel really uncomfortable, it is one of her CELL pieces. Ironically enough, it became Ian's favorite pieces. He said that it reminded him of a "sterile, quirky, left behind psychiatric ward". It gave him the feel of a Tool video and Silent Hill. For me it brought me dark memories -- disturbing! Not until now does Ian know how it made me feel and what it meant for me [we're talking about it as I work on this post]

One of the side galleries, to my delight has on display as part of the permanent collection my favorite artist-- KANDINSKY!! It is also one of Ian's favorite artist. This is one of the first thing we found in common when we met 4 years ago. We made our way down the rotunda and Ian had to make a pee stop. When he came out, he found himself another surprise, I was sketching!! Anyone that knows me and knows me well know that I HATE drawing and sketching. I have never liked doing it and have gotten into plenty of discussions about it with Ian and friends. Sooo many times has he tried to encourage me to pick up a pencil and draw. Throughout the whole time, I made comments about how her work made me want to sketch. Ian brushed it off and didn't think much of it. Well it's true, I just wanted to plop down on the floor and sketch.


Feather mattress on the floor with lots of pillows, the fan blowing in our faces, mango flavored hookah, Mirrormask playing on my computer and sketchbook and pen in hand concluded our day full of surprises and inspiration. Next post, Mirrormask and perhaps some of my sketches!

a new view of the MET 11:07 PM

Prior to this past weekend, I've been to the MET around 10 times [not counting the college group at the met events] After I made my way through the Jeff Koons and Superhero exhibit Ian asked "What do you want to see now?".... my response "a room that I've never been in". Well it turns out that I had not been in A LOT of the exhibits at the MET.

In the Japanese section, I found tranquility and inspiration for the typography of a project I will soon be starting. We also found the table we want as a conference table when Ian and I open our design house -- the artist is George Nakashima. We also came across the vaults in which a vast collection was displayed and categorized behind glass cases

I think it's safe to say that the MET will be a museum that I will visit more often. Now that I don't have to worry about those dreadful Art History papers, it will be far more enjoyable.

soaking it all in! 8:32 PM

I love NYC and I especially love NYC in the summer. The warm summer breeze, the free movies and concerts in the parks, museums and the occasional trips to the much crowded coney island.

I have never been one for going to museums that are filled with tourist wearing their "clean, white sneakers" and "matching, colored shirts" who as my sister Jacquie stated, just take a picture of the art work instead of just enjoying the work for all its worth. I try not to be a hypocrit and admit that I take pictures of certain pieces because I use them as a resource of inspiration and of course this is after I've stared at the piece and have soaked it all in.

It's time for me to get on with this post and explain why there's a need for it at all. Ian and I have found ourselves at a different museum/exhibit for the past couple of weekends.

Last weekend was the Jeff Koons and the Superhero exhibit at the MET. I LOVED the Koons exhibit. The bold shapes, bright, vibrant colors with all the shine/brightness in the world nearly blinded me. Like a raccoon and shiny objects, I just wanted to keep staring at it [thank god for my sunglasses, otherwise i might have cause some serious damage to my eyes]

The Superhero exhibit was an interesting one for which I have some qualms with. As Ian stated while we walked through the rooms, we wished we were capable of seeing the "behind the scene" of how such costumes are put on. Aside from the Mystique of X-Men display which was slowly rotating on a pedestal at all times, the viewers only see the front side of the pieces-- that was annoying!

Enough chit-chatting, enjoy the images.

Won't say it yet!! 12:30 PM

I won't say or admit to it yet. I will hold onto any and every strand of hope and pray for your safe return home.

I WANT IT!! 3:24 PM

Not a day goes by that I don't collect an image, or a magazine clipping and add it to my stack of color palette options. I found this program and it will be my next purchase..

"Search Flickr, capture images via your webcam or drag-n-drop images from your computer. Click a buttomn and the colors are saved to Illustrator, Photoshop or as an XML file for processing"
I WANT IT SOO BAD!

Summer Olympics Disaster Guide 11:41 AM

I stumbled across this article during my daily web surfing routine. I've been following what has been going on with the Olympics closely. There has been a lot of discussions about threats and boycotts yet not a lot of talk about about environment related concerns for the athletes. This article [more like a graphic article] of the different issues gives a good idea of what is going on over there and what could happen. Below is one that struck me. The link to the article will be at the bottom of the post.


Scenario: The U.S. Olympic team, among other delegations, has raised concerns about the safety of the food in the Olympic Village. In response to a New York Times report that the U.S. team was bringing its own beef, chicken, and pork to Beijing, a Chinese official said that outside food would not be allowed in athletes' lodgings. China might come to regret that decision if a sprinter is seen heaving on the starting line.
Chance it could happen: 50 percent
Scary quote: "We had it tested and it was so full of steroids that we never could have given it to athletes. They all would have tested positive," said an American caterer, explaining the potential problem with serving the U.S. team Chinese chicken breasts.

http://www.slate.com/id/2194608/pagenum/2