Change of Pace

I came across this Nike ad a couple weeks back and I’ve been meaning to post it since. I’m not exactly sure why this ad called out to me so much; I think its a combination of several factors. Firstly, I’ve always been partial to Spike Lee films ever since I watched “Do the right Thing” on VHS with my older brother Mikael. I think it’s the uninhibited feel his movies have, about real issues starring actors that seem like real people not 20 somethings that got lost on their way back from A&F shoot. Secondly, I like that Spike did an ad for soccer, considering his affinity for Basketball (knicks in particular, as we all know) it would have been the obvious route. Thirdly, (Much like #2) I like Nike did an ad about rec league soccer it

Unsung Heroes

I’ve decided to emerge from my Salinger like hermitage and fire up my blog again. I stepped unwillingly from my trip in NYC into my hiatus; feeling a little uninspired and plagued with a certain mal du pays.Recently though, I’ve stared teaching my self  Motion 4 (a program for designing and animating in motion graphics) and its sparked my creative ambition. I won’t bore you with tales of self discovery or strikes of divine inspiration; but I will steer you to an amazing short documentary about some of New Yorks unsung heroes keeping a piece of the cities soul alive.

UP THERE from The Ritual Project on Vimeo.

A Twisted Pleasure

New York is host to innumerable museums, but no museum screams culture and the arts like the MOMA. So when I heard that the Tim Burton exposition coincided perfectly with my stay, I was consumed with twisted pleasure. The expo was a culmination of Burton’s eerie work from adolescent still motion to illustrated poetry to conceptual sketches from his latest films. This unnerving glimpse into his genius was both exhilarating and disturbing. In the lobby I was greeted by an unsettling two story creature covered in stitches, eyeballs and stripes. I had purchased my tickets online which allowed me to bypass the line, a benefit I would definitely recommend. Thats when the delight of the horror show began, the flow of the exhibit ran chronologically starting with basic sketches and silent still motion films. We moved on to observing fundamental line drawings and morbidly hilarious illustrations that left you giggling though leaving you contemplating your own sociopathy. My favorites were the miniature models of Burton’s dejected movies spawned from the darkest recesses of his mind. Though the security guards were vigilant and stern they were none too observant, because as they enforced the no photography mandate with cell phone cameras they missed the clicking of my DSLR lens. So I have the pleasure of presenting to you, though dark, grainy and off center; a sneakily exclusive look at the NYC own MoMA Tim Burton exhibit without having to leave the seat of your chair.