from the desk of sydney smith

tagline? i spit on taglines

748 notes

efedra: The Maybe, 1995 Installation at the Serpentine Gallery, London A collaboration between Cornelia Parker and Tilda Swinton

efedra:

The Maybe, 1995

Installation at the Serpentine Gallery, London

A collaboration between Cornelia Parker and Tilda Swinton

(via llnjn)

6 notes

diy-htm: DIY Houses by Night Ready for a bit of DIY love? :)A little town at night.. isn’t it sweet?! There are a few tricks to making this DIY a success, all to do with finding the perfect image. 1. What you’re looking for is a picture of a house/castle/building that’s taken front-on (perspective works, but not as well). You could take it from your favourite magazine, an old calendar, or even print some from the internet. Up to you! In fact, you could even print a photo of your house if you have one! 2. The print needs to have a bit of space either side of the house to wrap around to the back of the votive. 3. It’s best to choose a picture that is higher in the middle than at the sides, and sides that are about the same height. 4. Choose a house that has some windows visible. 5. If possible, find a picture that has nothing printed on the back. If you can’t, not to worry – it could add a nice effect (like mine did)! I was lucky enough to have found some old photo books at a market in Germany that hold some of the coolest black and white photos from the War era.. perfect for a project like this one! Here’s what you’ll need: Step 1: You want to start cutting and finish cutting at around the same height on either side of your picture. Use the scissors to cut straight in to where your house begins, cut around the top of the house, and cut straight back out to the edge at around the same height as you cut in. Make sense? Maybe this will help: Step 2: Trim away any other areas you don’t want, but don’t trim the sides yet. Step 3: Using your Xacto knife and a cutting mat, carefully cut out any windows you want the light to shine through. I found at this stage (because my paper was a bit fragile) it was easiest to press the knife in, rather than drag it. Step 4: Wrap the image into a cylinder (size is up to you) and sticky tape it together. Trim around the top if it doesn’t quite match, as well as any excess where you joined it. Step 5: Add your battery operated tea light, and wait until it gets dark! Note: Because paper (of course) is highly flammable, the use of battery operated candles over real ones is imperative. However, if you would rather use real candles, try wrapping the image around the outside of a small glass jar and use that to hold your candle (but still keep an eye on it) :)

diy-htm:

DIY Houses by Night

Ready for a bit of DIY love? :)
A little town at night.. isn’t it sweet?!

There are a few tricks to making this DIY a success, all to do with finding the perfect image.

1. What you’re looking for is a picture of a house/castle/building that’s taken front-on (perspective works, but not as well). You could take it from your favourite magazine, an old calendar, or even print some from the internet. Up to you! In fact, you could even print a photo of your house if you have one!
2. The print needs to have a bit of space either side of the house to wrap around to the back of the votive.
3. It’s best to choose a picture that is higher in the middle than at the sides, and sides that are about the same height.
4. Choose a house that has some windows visible.
5. If possible, find a picture that has nothing printed on the back. If you can’t, not to worry – it could add a nice effect (like mine did)!

I was lucky enough to have found some old photo books at a market in Germany that hold some of the coolest black and white photos from the War era.. perfect for a project like this one!

Here’s what you’ll need:

Step 1: You want to start cutting and finish cutting at around the same height on either side of your picture. Use the scissors to cut straight in to where your house begins, cut around the top of the house, and cut straight back out to the edge at around the same height as you cut in. Make sense? Maybe this will help:

Step 2: Trim away any other areas you don’t want, but don’t trim the sides yet.
Step 3: Using your Xacto knife and a cutting mat, carefully cut out any windows you want the light to shine through. I found at this stage (because my paper was a bit fragile) it was easiest to press the knife in, rather than drag it.

Step 4: Wrap the image into a cylinder (size is up to you) and sticky tape it together. Trim around the top if it doesn’t quite match, as well as any excess where you joined it.
Step 5: Add your battery operated tea light, and wait until it gets dark!

Note: Because paper (of course) is highly flammable, the use of battery operated candles over real ones is imperative. However, if you would rather use real candles, try wrapping the image around the outside of a small glass jar and use that to hold your candle (but still keep an eye on it) :)

(via high-speed-french-train)

0 notes

HONY

Dear HONY,

In a city where weather, the MTA, opportunity, and conflict are all so unpredictable, I can be certain of only one thing. If the wind isn’t too strong and it’s not pouring rain, Kishan, the bubble man, will be standing near the steps of Bethesda Terrace creating bubbles that stretch so large, they look like translucent elephants floating into the clouds. 

I first stumbled upon Kishan during class one day. We were given an assignment to take our video cameras out and explore the city by filming elements surrounding us given our half hour time frame. With a stroke of luck and rebellion, we ended up in the park, and for a solid hour filmed a bubble in every which way one can film a bubble. When we brought our footage back, our peers were fascinated with the way the sunlight reflected off the soap suds and how gently they would pop and create a mid-air waterfall. 

Later in my freshman year, the Communications Department required students within the major to declare a concentration: one of them being a focus in film. This concentration was more selective and applicants were required to produce creative work alongside their application. Stressed and in need of inspiration, I walked through the park and stumbled upon the bubble man, yet again.

He immediately remembered my name, something that most New Yorkers realize isn’t a regularity. Stunned and somewhat touched, I asked him if I could film him for my concentration project. He agreed, and for the next two weeks, Kishan and I talked bubbles. 

A very good actor, subject- I didn’t know what to call him- his awareness of the camera was fascinating. The control of his bubbles— even more breathtaking. “What do you want me to do now, Sarah?” “Uh, I’m not sure.” “How about you go inside a bubble? That might look cool.” I would nod and hit record. Before I knew it, I was enveloped by a transparent casing, and for a slight second his enthusiasm makes you wonder if your feet might slightly lift off the ground. As if, maybe he has a secret to levitation, gravity, and flight. 

I’d ask him: “You do this everyday, don’t you?” He said, “Why not? It makes people happy. It makes me happy. There’s nothing I love more than watching some big guy, well in his 40s transfixed by this giant bubble in the sky. He follows it around.” Bubbles see no age, I suppose. 

I set the final film to a classical Chopin piece, and watched, fascinated by how natural Kishan’s art complemented the music. I had a thought- maybe Kishan is beyond a bubble blower. He’s a composer, Bethesda Fountain’s own Mozart, waving his hands in the air and creating these physical notes that hit this part inside of us that we thought left us long ago: our innocence. He endures an ethereal symphony, and if you’re lucky, you can hear his music. 

-Sarah