Faites-vous liberté de speek

Book:















French language and typography Pierre-Simon Fourneir
1766









Avant Garde
Paul Iribe
1907







The Union des Artistes Modernes
Studio Draeger
1930

A small sample of this amazing book. Thanks Jeannius.

Poem:
Je voudrais etre faite sur meure
pour toi, pour toi
Mais, je suis readymade par la nature,
pour quoi, pour quoi?
Comme jene ne le sais pas j'ai fait des rectifications
Pour moi—

(I would like to be made to measure
for you, for you
But I am ready made by nature,
for what, for what?
Since I don't know I have made adjustments
For me—)
-Ettie Stettheimer

Pardon my....but poignant still:
A man and women were walking up 9th Ave as I was walking down. The man was obviously unloading his misguided relationship woes. The woman, though casual in gate, was taking it all in.
"How the fuck can you care about me, when you don't fucking care about yourself...know what I am sayin'?!"

The New Me

Before Taoism:
I can't quite decide whether I like bananas or oranges better.

After Taoism:
I will eat whichever presents itself to me first, possibly both.

I feel so free.

I Am Converting To Taosim

Wait, does this mean I won't use my computer anymore?

NYC 2003

I found this while looking through some photos.

How Could It Be Wrong

Is it wrong that I adore a web site? Its not just because its visually appealing, I promise!... I mean, it certainly doesn't hurt *giggles* It is also very well organized and has got great hierarchy...so hot.















Art 21 (Art in the twenty-first century ) is the first national PBS program about contemporary American art and artists. Art21.org was created by the fine designers at Open and Flat

Never Judge A Day By Its Morning

Saturday morning: Its suppose to be 68º, overcast and rainy. *sigh* I have to pull everything out from under my bed to find my comfortable heels. There is a 45 min. subway/walk commute in the heels to a 2.5 hr. service, of which I had no idea what to expect, ahead of me.
I accidently get on the A train instead of the C sending me soaring up to 102nd. However, the downtown C came to get me to the synagogue on W. 83rd in time. I wasn't late, but on time; huge sigh of relief. And so begins my boss' daughter's bat mitzvah; my first.
Overall, the ceremony was beautiful. The Rabbi had well a placed humor and a surprisingly similar vocal rhythm as a protestant preacher (sans fits of red-faced exclamations). Oh...aaaand it turns out I was at a b’not mitzvah so there was two girls sharing the ceremony. Some of the highlights include: the girls singing together, the Torah toting, attempting to sing what I don't understand and seeing my boss as a proud mother. Also, I must say that I think every child should have an experience like this. What an encouraging affair! You've not only proven something to yourself but you get congratulated for it in front of friends and family. I am not too sure what goes on with Communion but I starting to feel a little gypped with my baptism.
Following the ceremony, we all headed to Bryant Park grill. The sun was shinning, we were outside looking over the park, drinks were flowing and the fun began. Somewhere in between eating and dancing I acquired a black eye; well, its really just blue, but nonetheless, its there.
As the day rode its way into night, I had a wonderful time with my co-workers, my boss nearly brought me to tears with her sincerity and I ended up walking the city street in my heels, in the rain; a thought that seemed so dreadful earlier that morning.
Best day of 2006 thus far.

Internet

I now have it at home! I almost hugged the technician that came by, on time, yesterday.

Snarf

Mini Carrots

Mini carrots are not naturally grown for your bit-size convenience. They are big carrots whittled down. This is a waste of carrot. Stop buying mini-carrots or the girl gets it.

THIS BLOG HAS BEEN COMMANDEERED BY THE BUNNY BRIGADE

Word To Your Moms

This is one of my favorite images of the year thus far.
Thanks to NYT's One Thing They Aren't: Maternal article relaying the loving tails of motherhood.
To the point: Mother's Day is this Sunday so don't forget because from what I have heard child birth ain't easy people.

Living Trophies

Maybe I am jinxing the longevity of the plants by getting excited but I can hardly help it.
On the left there are three different plants sprouting: Zinnia, Snapdragons and Forget-Me-Nots. The Bachelor Buttons on the right seem like they lack turgor but I have watered them.
















Sweet Basil. slow but steady.















The tomatos are looking the most healthy(thanks to Jeannius' cheers, no doubt) Behind those are another batch of Bachelor Buttons doing much better than the first.

Mean Something

James Victore will definitely help define a period in design. He will not be confused with the faceless trend makers, but remembered for his original and thoughtful approach.
I would say the same for Sagmeister.
//Edit//Not that there is anything wrong with trend or its makers...I love them both...clearly. I just think these guys are impressive and dedicated to their individual vision.
Chances are you've already seen this but if not its entertaining (and I stole the link from Newstday who gave me a shout out from telling them about this...thank you James).

How It All Works

Image from Graphis Diagrams,
a freethinking book on information design.
I know we can't see the arrow but that clog-shodded man is eating the bunny.

I Can't Let It Go

I went out the back of my apartment building, turn down the small space between the building and a wall and there it was. My permanent cucumber was unfazed by its fall.

Time Warner

sucks. I had cable for internet installed April 19th at 2:30 for my 10-2 appt. I looked, it worked. I went to work, came home and then it didn't work. LUCKY FOR ME, I was able to get an appointment two weeks later, for May 2nd from 6-9. But do you think that anyone showed up?! Thank god it will all be taken care of May 14th.
//Edit 5.4.06//
You might recall that Colbs had similar problems: go to hell, time warner cable.
I admire your spunk even more now C-... It could have been a season of hassling with brokers or dealing with taxes but haven't the fire to fight the machine right now. I will wait until May 14th....jerks.

Homeward Bound:Marine Blue

Daniel graduated! It was a beautiful day, little chilly but the sky was blue, clouds were recently fluffed and the Berry campus is gorgeous. A lot of my family was there: parents and their spouses, aunts, uncles, Granny and cousins (including new 2 yr. old and 4 yr. old darlings).
It is really quite strange to watch him grown up. I can't seem to stop seeing the small-framed little boy who would let my cousin and I play "hide Daniel. The game entailed one of us cramming Daniel into a cabinet, the top shelf of a closet, under the bed... When he was hidden the hider would alert the seeker and the fun would begin...at least for my cousin and I. I'd like to think that I was helping to build the patients and stamina needed to acquire all those shinny metals. Oh, but I know better :) Congratulations lil' bro!















The day after graduation, while D- recovered from his hangover, the rest of us headed to the aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. If you are ever in area, I highly recommend it. Atop seeing marine life in a very well-thought-out and elaborate tank extending 3 floors, I got to touch a restrictor snake, a marckrell, a sting ray and a sand shark. There was a particular sting ray in the petting tank that would come up to the edge near the people and flapped his wings(?) out of the water. With further investigation I found out that this was the "southern" sting ray- "hey y'all, common over and pet me!" There was also a butterfly room that displayed cocoons and wet, hatching butterflies. Oh yeah, aaaaaaand I got to see otters who are absolutely adorable and playful. I am pretty sure my little cousins thouroghly enjoyed themselves as well, but I was not paying attention.

Missing You

First of all, I miss sleep as I did not see her last night do to some freelance. Second of all, I will be missing my permi-cucumber. It was my fault really. In a design-induced stupor I went to shut the window and it just happened; permi-cuc fell four stories to the icky ally. I mean, it was outside on the ledge and I was inside...I just don’t know...
To the point: I am going to be missing Georgia.

I leave today to see my brother graduate from college. The whole family will be there and it will probably be the last time we all meet in the sweet peach state. My parents are moving to Florida in a matter of months and my brother will head to Virginia in the fall. I guess I didn’t ever consider most of my family not living in my hometown. I mean, I certainly left without flinching *sigh* I do have a few friends in Atlanta and Athens that I will visit...

















I will miss the cow pasture that runs right up to a McDonald’s. It’s right off of 124 about a quarter mile the YMCA where I had tennis camp, half a mile from my Montessori School and five miles from the spot where Larry Flint was shot. I already miss my college radio station Album 88, Movies Worth Seeing (an impeccable movie rental store with a knowledgeable and friendly staff, Eats (where you can get healthy portions of broccoli, a sweet potato and couscous for 3 bucks and change), the thrift stores, caribou coffee, the Earl(bar), Doc Chey’s OOH! and Criminal Record(again, extremely friendly and knowledge staff).
OK... take it away Willie

They're Alive!

I have successfully germinated seeds! Well, they have successfully germinated themselves in my apartment... I tried two different methods: 1.Dropping the seeds in potting soil at the correct depth and 2. folding the seeds up in a wet paper towel and sticking that into a plastic bag. The soil method worked the best, although the paper towel studies were transferred to soil this past weekend and seem to be doing well.













As you can see here the Bachelor Buttons are currently the most progressive while the Sweet Basil is just now starting to peek through the soil. // edit// Ha! I forgot to mention the Forget-me-nots. It was an accident, I swear.













The tomato sprouts are more sparse than the others. I forget what the seeds look like now. Wishing I would have recorded that step at this point. Note to self: record everything. Anyway, I think the tomato plant will need extra encouragement.

kaaiii-aah-ya!

I was walking west on 26th past a playground this morning. The kids, tiny ones, were all chanting something but they're so young that I couldn't decipher what it was. But it was contagious to be sure. You saw the loners being drawn in by the wild call.
The collectively sounded some sort of water-related bird. Not sure if that would be fresh, sea or brackish...

Very Important

Do not eat NutterButters! No matter how good the idea seems at the time....they aren't good. I mean, they're good right after you give blood or when you're 5. *sigh*

This is also very important but I am not sure why.

What to do...

...chuckle or vomit...hmmmmmaybe a little of both.












"This news-making book is a fun way for parents to teach young children the valuable lessons of conservatism. Written in simple text, readers can follow along with Tommy and Lou as they open a lemonade stand to earn money for a swing set. But when liberals start demanding that Tommy and Lou pay half their money in taxes, take down their picture of Jesus, and serve broccoli with every glass of lemonade, the young brothers experience the downside to living in Liberaland." -Katharine DeBrecht
From the book:
"Democrats make sure we are nice to people who are different, just like Mommy does," explains one lesson. "Democrats make sure sick people are able to see a doctor, just like Mommy does,"

Reason Online has some keen observations of our troubled youth in Suffer the Little Children: Republocrat indoctrination is the mommy state's final insult to kids.
and
Overheard In New York gives us a glimpse at how today's youth is making decisions on their political stance in what, I feel like, is a perfectly rational method:

She's Bipartisan, But It's Just a Phase

Girl: Are you a conservative or a liberal?

Guy: I know all teenagers are supposed to be liberal, but I'm pretty conservative.

Girl: Oh my god, I know exactly what you mean. I was conservative until last week when I saw V for Vendetta. How hot is Natalie Portman?

--Bronx High School of Science

I hear you girl. It was Winona Ryder for me.

So, if this is your 4 yr. old literature (and I mean either), what are you reading at 12 or 20? I say you are on so many meds at 40 the warning labels keep you busy.

My Room Mates

The one in the box is Tosca. He is the oldest and clearly the fattest but has dropped some weight since this photo shoot. The second is Zoey, who only eats dry, cat food bits that he has paw-picked out of his bowl.
Thanks to Hugerash (gross) for the photos

Where dirt ends and art begins

I can't be sure but I think it has been there for the past month, maybe months and a half. It's the pile of dirt that sits on 24th St. inbetween 8th Ave and 9th Ave which is only a couple of avenue blocks away from the galleries. Now, about two weeks ago the dirt pile disappeared and I have to say that I was a little bummed until it was restored a few days later. Is that you Robert Smithson? Are you debating mirrors or no mirrors? Really, I think its finished....just let it be.














While we are on the subject, Tara Donovan has made some lanscapes out of plastic cups those and is showing them at Pace Wildenstein. Do you think these cups are used later?

Happy Makers

Ladies & Gentlemen, this month's happy makers are *substantial throat clearing* Jemma Hostetler featured piece & Built to Spill.....& the ampersand, cause who doesn't love to use it?!

On rotting and the end

Peter Greenaway's A Zed and Two Noughts visually deals with measuring decay by way of time lapse photography. The film arguably has a plot but its definitely beautiful. I could only find one still of decaying matter. I did however find cheats for the dvd; meaning if you follow these then you will get to see stills and storyboards of the time lapse photography of the decaying: prawns, snails, apples, zebras(yikes), etc...

Banana Blues

Forgive Me

En route to work yesterday I saw a man that slowed time and sounded music in my head. He was tall, with dark eyes and an exceptionally trimmed beard. He wore all black except for a little square of white a the center of his neck...Yeah, that's right, I was checking out a priest. ...and as I gazed into his eyes and he blankly scanned my general vicinity while holding a, most likely a highly spiritual, convo on his cell, I think we both understood what he had to offer Chelsea

Aves

This morning on my way to work I noticed a new bird. It wasn't a sparrow and it was definitely no pigeon, but somewhere in between the two sizes. The feathers were dark, blueish, with the occasional iridescent streak. I think it may be Purple Martin which is a type of swallow. The Prongne subis subis doesn't seem to be a fan of a lot of foliage or organic clutter and relies on man-made environments for shelter (BK Holler!). While the little guy abstains from dining on mosquitoes (we all have preferences) he loves to eat all the other bugs. Hey Marty, hope you like roaches....


Has anyone seen this bird? Please let me know if you are better informed.

Huh? What's that you say? Oooooh! You want to know more about Spring Migration in New York? Me too!

Hi Ho Silver!

I am headed west for fun, friends and adventure! Well...my one high school friend in Oregon at least. If the snow melts then we will go mushroom hunting (no, not the psychedelic kind...gross), hiking and canoeing.
I am glad that you all have taken an interest in my resilient cucumber. So, instead of posting a photo, I am extending an open invitation (*at my new apt*) for viewing. You may also want to see the wrinklely tomato and red pepper in the Frigidaire ....colbs

Also a snippit from Robert Sapolsky's lecture on Stress and Coping: What Baboons Can Teach Us: "...we spend our time to making up idiotic social stressors and falling for it..."

For your viewing pleasure....

Lone Cucumber: Part II

Yeaaaah, about that. I was looking at it again this morning with the window cracked a little bit so I could get real close. It may not be a cucumber after all. The truth is it might be a stone *pause* that simply looks very much like a cucumber. I couldn't bring my self to further the investigation this morning because ....well because I rather like the thought of it being a cucumber that won't rot.

Helvetica's a snitch

Scott Stowell from one of the reasons I came to New York points out Good Film, Shame About Helvetica by Peter Edidin from the New York Times.
While I am on the subject, I might as well point out these ladies and some nice type here.
Aaaaand we might as well wrap things up with a little Clyfford Still.Respect.

Springtime in New York

This morning I got off the subway at Union Square. The farmers market was all set up with its delicious baked goods, plants, fresh fruits and vegitables. The sun had taken its place and the people were bustling to and fro. In and out of the dry cleaner, Starbucks and the corner delis. Looking at watches, sweeping sidewalks, talking on cell phones and crossing the street. I walked up and over to Chelsea where all the hot guys are holding each others hands and the location of my favorite fruit and veggie cart.
And for a moment I think we could all break out into dance...

Flash Palatte

glitch

Lone Cucumber

There is a cucumber siting outside my window on the ledge and its not rotten. I just moved into this apartment last night and I know that the other tenants moved out at the beginning of the month. Its not so strange that the cucumber is there but why isn't it rotten, pray tell?

Temptations

Sometimes I think that I will take a santi-nap onto the sub one morning and wipe down an entire pole. Then, at least, five of us can rest knowing that if our nose itches we can scratch it without getting some mucus-y head cold.

Estimated Time of Arrival

Fashionably late of course
Sooo, do tell! Who is designing your new ceasefire outfits guys?

Moving Mountains

I spoke to friend who lives in Oregon last night. She has taken a job with the local newspaper until its time to attend her summer lookout post. The assignments take her around the small town, meeting with different people and organizations.

Me: "I am so excited for you E-...that sounds like it would be really interesting!"
E-: "Yeah...heh...hmm."
Me: "Don't you like interviewing people, small-town affairs...writing?"
E-: "Yeah...but right now I am interviewing a guy that fears if he touches a vagina, the action will cause an earthquake..."

Apt. 3B

Oh yeah! Yes, yes, I found an apartment. If I didn’t have a foam mattress on stilts, I would jump on my bed in jubilation. Now, I know you are asking yourself, ‘Did that crunchy girl move near co-op or what?’ Well, first of all I am not crunchy, I just like organic foods at less than conventinal prices. Secondly, no. I am staying in Williamsburg. While walking through one cramped apartment after another, I had some time to consider what’s important. Call me crazy, I pick my friends over food. Also, it just worked out that way. I fell in love with place and its rent-stabilized appeal.

Oma Oma Oompaloopa!

Still looking for an apartment. I am a few days away from getting really worried. Part of me really loves this experience. I get to meet a ton of crazy broker personalities and imagine my life taking place in dozens of settings. I may have to let go of the Park Slope food co-op. *gulp, sigh* but then I may stay in B'burg/Greenpoint with my favorite lady friends.















Good News though! We got new the iMacs at work.
2GHz Intel Core Duo and 1.5 GB SDRAM
aaaand it takes pictures!

My design crush *blush* Jeffrey Lai. This guy's work is soooo hot!

All dressed up in dreams

Today, nothing can be wrong for it is absolutely brilliant outside. The smell of warm dampness can't be beat. Jeannius mentioned playing hookey this morning. If only!....

Its a good time to fall in love with someone or something. Hopefully, for me, it will be a roomy, affordable apartment near the Park Slope co-op

Also, I'm still thinking about this payot business and appreciate the comments.

TypeYo!

This is Gretel





This is Wilma

Thanks Font Shop

Confessions

I haven't done my laundry in a week and 3 days now. Last Saturday I stayed out drinking with my two favorite people, Jeannius and B- till 5 am. Sunday night I ate leftover Chinese food in bed and then smoke a cigarette. This morning, along with many others, I listened to VHS or Beta, the hippest guilty pleasure this side of UGG boots. They kinda sound like The Killers doing The Cure. Finally, I still miss the humidity of the South.

For you viewing pleasure, I bring you a Rayograph. Thank you DadA. Thank you Man Ray....lunatics :)

*I want to be fat and furry*

>> BRIGHT RENOVATED STUDIO <<

I've started looking for an apartment. This will be the first time I will live alone. Anyone who has looked for an apartment in New York before knows what I am going through. So, instead of pestering some crappy broker and checking out that 300 sq ft walk-up out on the Jefferson Stop that cost 1175 a month, I have taken to constructing my ideal floor plan.
I image the enterance would at the corner of the Sitting(orange) section where it meets the Kitchen(green). The space would appear to be L-shaped with walls defining the Closet(red) and Bathroom(yellow). The rest of the space would be open. And while I am being ideal...it would have beautiful tin cellings.