Transient Days

G parents

2011-11-06T22:57:00.000-08:00

This Here and That There

2011-06-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

I finally finished and processed a roll that had been sitting in my plastic 120 camera for a while now. I had completely forgotten what was going to be on it. I was really happy to see my images from the performance piece, This Here and That There, by Vlatka Horvat in the Los Angeles River.

I just went to the Outpost For Contemporary Art website to see when it took place, and it was back in July of 2010! I guess I had been sitting on that roll of film longer than I thought. The performance was beautiful and peaceful to watch but also very hot. No shade in the peak of summer.

"In this performance, artist Vlatka Horvat continuously rearranges 50 chairs over a period of eight hours. Each successive chair arrangement implies a set of possible relations between their imagined occupants, evoking a range of possibilities related to human interaction - dialogue, encounter, communication, and conflict. "

There are more images on her website and on Outpost's.

This Here and That There -Vlatka Horvat

http://www.outpost-art.org/archive.php

I like her work. I would suggest checking out her other projects on her website. I would also suggest following what Outpost For Contemporary Art does. (Especially if you are in the LA area.) They always have something interesting going on. For example every Second Saturday they have an artist come in for "T-shirt Revival Night" where you can bring in an old t-shirt (or buy one there) and the artist will "revive" it by silk screening one of their designs on it. Its a cheap and awesome way to get a one of a kind print.

F you too tree..

2011-04-27T23:07:00.001-07:00

I've always laughed and loved that these trees sometimes look like they are flipping us off with long E.T. fingers.

Tree Creature

2011-01-09T20:39:00.000-08:00

Walking a friend's dog on 1.1.11, I stopped and stared at the creature coming out of this tree. I took the picture with my dinky phone camera and sent it to a few people to see what they saw. What do you see? I first saw a koala and then a sloth. Most people who replied saw a koala, only two said sloth and one said a creature from the movie Tremors.
Just yesterday I put this picture as the background on my phone and have been staring at it lovingly ever since. Then uploading it to my computer just now allowed me to see it bigger in all its lo-fi glory. Finding things like this makes me happy.

.

2010-11-19T20:25:00.000-08:00

Favorite shot from this day.

Surprise!

2010-11-19T20:17:00.001-08:00

I was walking and went to pick up my favorite seed pods and there was a stowaway! I admired her for a moment and put the ship back.

In the park

2010-09-21T01:34:00.002-07:00

I went to a park today to sit under a tree and read, but never pulled the book out. As soon as I sat down, I saw this little bird that was twice the size of a hummingbird. The bird loved this perch. I also loved the perch and the little acrobatics the bird did around it. I became so curious about the behavior, that I just happily sat and watched it with no conclusion.

..

2010-09-04T21:51:00.000-07:00

sans dots

2010-08-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

I once read that if you find a lady bug, you should count how many dots they have cause that will equal how many wishes you will get. Maybe I read that wrong...

Secret Garden (press here!)

2010-04-07T21:24:00.001-07:00

Finally made it to The Huntington and I must go back. I went with a class, two hours before closing and my camera was acting funky so I was only able to take these pictures here.

The Desert Garden was spectacular. So many specimens that looked like they could be underwater creatures. Amazing colors and textures, I could have spent hours exploring in there.

And who knows what garden lies beneath when you press the slightly hidden button in the grass? I would have pressed it if it hadn't been time to leave. Like I said, I must go back.

Bark Bark

2010-03-08T02:47:00.000-08:00

I was pretty sad when this guy broke into bits on my way back down the slippery hillside. He was such a funny little creature. I think I would like to know this character.

Or maybe not?

What do you think?

Punk Leaf

2010-03-07T01:47:00.000-08:00

How does this happen? I know there is a scientific explanation for it and I would like to know the answer, but isn't this crazy? Its kinda of fun to just marvel at it.

Coon Planet

2010-03-06T01:12:00.000-08:00

Returning from hiatus

2010-03-04T01:12:00.000-08:00

Waiting for the Bus

2009-08-22T00:56:00.001-07:00

...

2009-07-18T23:39:00.000-07:00

Grey Matter

2009-07-16T19:28:00.000-07:00

I made my friend laugh the other day when I was explaining what my thoughts were when I saw this scan of MY brain. I have seen plenty of these images in books and online and just accepted them as they were. But when I sat at my computer and reviewed the images of my brain scan (done at UCSD for a memory experiment), I tripped out on it. I first focused on being able to see the brain stem go into the spinal column and the vertebrae of my neck protecting it and how easily it could be damaged. Then I looked at my brain and thought, 'There is just a bunch of junk in there. Where is the movie projector and the screen?!' Now of course I know that isn't going to be in my head, but staring at this picture brought the simplest questions out of me that I don't want answered. I am enjoying the awe. I don't want any explanation of some cortex area communicating with whatever. I usually love that kind of stuff and am happy to hear all about it. But not right now, not while staring at my own brain. Let me reel in the wonder of what is happening when I close my eyes and conjure up images in my head. Its more fun that way.

One summer night.

2009-06-30T02:24:00.000-07:00

It was sweltering hot here yesterday (as it was many places) and so I waited for the sun to go down before I headed out to the grocery store. I love warm night bike rides. Unfortunately where I live, its not very bike friendly so I have 3 lights on me and can't wait to get to some of the frontage roads to ride quietly.
I don't know if its cause I get to coast, or if it was the side of the street I was on, but on my way back from the store I was noticing how aromatic the night was. Like the heat had just sweated out every fruit and flower that day and hung it in the air out to dry.
It was glorious.
I hope for more nights like those.

Your Parade Guide

2009-06-25T01:56:00.000-07:00

Standing on the street corner waiting with a friend for the light to turn, this caught my eye and made me smirk.
Just now as I was getting ready to upload it, I decided to zoom in and see what the fine print said... "by Mel Gerrard." So out of curiosity I typed it all into google hoping that I could find something, maybe a zine.
Do you want to try it yourself, or have me tell you what I found? You can do it if you want to find out how to save souls. Only $4 for 100 of these by the way.

See Spot.

2009-06-25T01:01:00.000-07:00

See Spot again.
One day crossing the street I noticed a little stuffed dog in the middle of the crosswalk. It kinda made me smile and I didn't think much of it.
The next day I saw it again, a little more flat.
On my way home, I laughed to see it was still there in a slightly different spot in the crosswalk and had to pull my camera out. It was right in front of where cars wanted to be turning right, so they didn't like that I stopped to take a picture.

The next time I came to that crosswalk, I looked for Spot. He had traveled outside of the crosswalk towards the intersection. I wasn't about to piss off traffic for that picture. But it became a game for me. Where will Spot be next time I come? Walking or riding my bike by, I looked for Spot.
The last time I saw Spot, he was face down closer to the gutter.

I looked for Spot the next time I was at that crosswalk and couldn't find him. I figured street cleaning may have happened and was sad to not have the "See Spot" game anymore.

Transporting

2009-06-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

Since I got my bike fixed this spring, I have been amazed at how many times Auroville gets recalled during a ride. I don't think I have once had a memory of Sacramento come up, but I have spent more time on a bike in Sacramento and haven't visited India since 1995. Maybe its because a bike has been my basic mode of transportation in India when I've visited. Or maybe its some climate similarities of Southern California that allow for familiar scents to be shared. When thinking back on cycling in Sacramento, I can only think of the memories of having the song of the wicked witch of the west in my head (which is from my most recent years in Sac).
After watching this video just now, my thoughts go to.. 'maybe its the old bike that I'm riding now, or that I actually have to work to ride my bike compared to Sac where the terrain is completely flat.' But come to think of it, I haven't had any Auroville associations in the past few weeks. So maybe it just had something to do with the initial rides after not having ridden my bike since I moved here 2 years ago.
I liked the sensory translocation that was happening on my rides. I want them to continue. But as I write this out, I think I am going to have to conclude that these experiences were triggered from the combination of: not riding my bike since I moved, the climate, and the excitement of a new area to be free on my bike. And maybe the more I ride my bike here, the more it will become like Sacramento with no specific associations. Who knows. I look forward to finding out.

Direction..

2009-06-22T01:17:00.000-07:00

This ramp caught my attention. Looking at it now, the snapshot doesn't do the sweeping turn justice. I still haven't put my finger on what made me stop. The trees lining it? The fact that I'm at the foot of it? All of that and more I suppose. The color palate too.

More arrows telling me where to go.

Spring snow

2009-06-21T23:39:00.000-07:00

Litter or...

2009-06-21T23:33:00.000-07:00

Just below this lovely note was an old pile of the title of the paper. Yes I did photograph it in context but decided that you may not want that in your vision while reading the note. You have enough imagination on your own.

Classy

2009-06-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

I spotted this car on the way to get my bike fixed and couldn't pass up documenting this person's choice in advertising their alternative oil car.