Mark Jenkins
His street installations make me smile. Check out his work here....
Its brilliant!
Ohbijou - New Years
Ohbijou - New Years from explodingmotorcar on Vimeo.
Since being in Montreal I have been really getting into some local Canadian bands. One that I been introduced to is Ohbijou.
Ohbijou is an indie pop band based in Toronto, Canada. It originally was a project by sisters, Casey and Jennifer Mecija. Later the band expanded to include Heather Kirby (bass, banjo), James Bunton (drums, trumpet), Anissa Hart (cello), Ryan Carley (piano, synth, glockenspiel, electric piano, harpsichord), and Andrew Kinoshita (mandolin). In the context of Ohbijou, Casey remains as lead vocalist, though also plays guitar, piano and ukulele. Jennifer continues to add vocal layering, moreover, her instrumental contributions to Ohbijou include violin, harmochord, glockenspiel, organ and melodica.
Their new Album - Beacons was released this year and includes the song New Years.
This is just a really great video for a really great song. Stop motion reigns supreme in 2009 and this is probably one of the year’s best examples. Beautiful work.
Full credits (and there’s a lot of them):
Created By: Exploding Motor Car
Producer: Geoff Mclean
Production Company: Vision Film Co
Animation Director: Brett Long
Stop Motion Animator: Mike Weiss
Production Designers: Winston Hacking, Jeff Garcia, Daijaro Hama
Live Action DP: Barry Cheong
Stop-Mo DP: Drew Fortier
Editor: Marc De Pape
Post FX: Jesse Ewles
1st AC: Julia Seidman
Gaffer: Cliff Ramnauth
Makeup: Kenji Sato
Sets+Prop Builders: Martin Macpherson, Jay Graham
Grab Beacons online for only $8.88 here...
Kevin Cyr
When I finally got back to NYC my friend Shaun O'Connor took me to see his friends exhibition.
It was in the middle of Chelsea and was a black and white theme (my personal favorite).
While I was perving on the great pieces scattered around the gallery, firstly Shaun introduce me to a lovely young man called Kevin Cyr then he introduced me to his art. I fell in love.
Our friendship grew and I even house sat his house while he and his lady friend escaped to Paris.
Such nice people (and cats).
Check out more of his work here...
It was in the middle of Chelsea and was a black and white theme (my personal favorite).
While I was perving on the great pieces scattered around the gallery, firstly Shaun introduce me to a lovely young man called Kevin Cyr then he introduced me to his art. I fell in love.
Our friendship grew and I even house sat his house while he and his lady friend escaped to Paris.
Such nice people (and cats).
Check out more of his work here...
BIKE MOVIES IN THE PARK
So its friday again... the weeks go way too fast these days!
In the wonderful city of Montreal lives a man by the name of Jacques.
He is an avid bike rider and loves to watch films... One summer day he decided to combine the 2 together.
So he created the BOOM BIKE.
It is a trailer with a projector and sound system that gets pulled behind a bike. He invited a few friends and picked a film he had never seen before.. off they went to the park, found some trees, put up a white sheet and PRESTO! Outdoor cinema.
This happens every friday night throughout summer in Montreal, its free and its heaps of fun.
9.30pm meet at parc de la Boldue (rachel-berri)
Tonight - QUICKSILVER (1986) starring Kevin Bacon. Written and directed by Thomas Michael Donnelly, the film also includes Jami Gertz, Paul Rodriguez, Louie Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, and Rudy Ramos.
BFF NYC Afterparty
Umm here is some rather amusing footage of the BFF NYC afterparty at CSV.
Ina Ina (band playing) totally rocked and Jen Whalen and I got jiggy wit it.
I was totally impressed with Jen's moves all night long but I think this video really captures her creativity with it.
Thanks to PBR, the night is a blur but at least everyone was still dancing and getting into it at this point!
Film by Cyclehawk. Other BFF and bike related vids here.
Ina Ina (band playing) totally rocked and Jen Whalen and I got jiggy wit it.
I was totally impressed with Jen's moves all night long but I think this video really captures her creativity with it.
Thanks to PBR, the night is a blur but at least everyone was still dancing and getting into it at this point!
Film by Cyclehawk. Other BFF and bike related vids here.
Harpers MJ Tribute
Last year I had the opportunity to work on a shoot with Agyness Deyn. Not only is she beautiful but such a lovely person as well. Once again the Aussie accent kicks a goal! Unfortunately I never had an opportunity to work with MJ or his friend bubbles but I think this collaboration kicks all the goals.
This has got to be the best Michael Jackson tribute/inspired fashion spread I’ve seen. Photographed by Terry Richardson for Harper’s Bazaar.
Woman and Bikes
The 1890s was the peak of the American bicycle craze and consumers were buying bicycles in large numbers. In 1897 alone, more than two million bicycles were sold in the United States , about one for every 30 inhabitants.
As cycling’s popularity exploded, a new breed of woman was making her mark in the 1890s. “The New Woman” was the term used to describe the modern woman who broke with convention by working outside the home, or eschewed the traditional role of wife and mother, or became politically active in the woman’s suffrage movement or other social issues. The New Woman saw herself as the equal of men and the bicycle helped her assert herself as such.
As women learned to ride bicycles they not only gained physical mobility that broadened their horizons beyond the neighborhoods in which they lived, they discovered a new-found sense of freedom of movement, a freedom previously circumscribed by the cumbersome fashions of the Victorian era as well as by Victorian sensibilities. The restrictive clothing of the era -- corsets, long, heavy, multi-layered skirts worn over petticoats or hoop, and long sleeved shirts with high collars -- inhibited freedom of movement and seemed to symbolize the constricted lives women of the 1890s were expected to lead. Such clothing was inimical to even modest forms of exercise or exertion. Cycling required a more practical, rational form of dress, and large billowing skirts and corsets started to give way to bloomers -- baggy trousers, sometimes called a divided skirt, cinched at the knee. Although bloomers first appeared decades earlier, and a major social battle was waged over their propriety, the cycling craze practically mandated changes in women’s attire for any woman who wanted to ride.
Cycling in the 1890s was nothing less than “a general intoxication, an eruption of exuberance like a seismic tremor that shook the economic and social foundations of society and rattled the windows of its moral outlook.” 2 Nowhere was this more evident than in the role of the bicycle in the changing lives of American women. Indeed, the woman’s movement of the 1890s and the cycling craze became so inextricably intertwined that in 1896 Susan B. Anthony told the New York World’s Nellie Bly that bicycling had “done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.”Frances Willard
Because it was argued that women couldn't ride bicycles since it was not safe in a dress and corset, women begin to wear pants (bloomers) and are freed from the corset.
Amelia Bloomer
Woman's Rights Advocate
Popularizer of the Bloomer Costume
Read more here.... it's incredibly interesting
Mike Mills
Earlier this year whilst gallivanting around NY with work friends I had the opportunity of meeting one of my favorite all time artists. His name is Mike Mills. I have always found inspiration in his work and was blown away with meeting such a nice humble character.
He works as a filmmaker, graphic designer and artist. As a filmmaker, Mike has completed a number of music videos, commercials, short films, documentaries, and the feature film Thumbsucker (2005). The Architecture of Reassurance (1999), a short film he wrote and directed, was in the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Oberhausen short film festival, and The New York Museum of Modern Art's New Directors New Films. Paperboys (2001), documents the daily life of six boys in rural Minnesota. "Deformer", documents the life of the world-famous skateboarder Ed Templeton, was featured in the Edinburgh and Rotterdam International film festivals, and _Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing (2003)_ , a tour documentary of the French band Air and their audiences is available on DVD. Other works include a short film documenting the music theory of jazz composer Ornette Coleman, as well as several short films for Marc Jacobs.
Here are 2 of my favorite music film clips by Mills which both happen to be for Blonde Redhead.
One features his partner, the unbelievably talented Miranda July. I think its a perfect combination.
Check out more of his work here....
He works as a filmmaker, graphic designer and artist. As a filmmaker, Mike has completed a number of music videos, commercials, short films, documentaries, and the feature film Thumbsucker (2005). The Architecture of Reassurance (1999), a short film he wrote and directed, was in the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Oberhausen short film festival, and The New York Museum of Modern Art's New Directors New Films. Paperboys (2001), documents the daily life of six boys in rural Minnesota. "Deformer", documents the life of the world-famous skateboarder Ed Templeton, was featured in the Edinburgh and Rotterdam International film festivals, and _Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing (2003)_ , a tour documentary of the French band Air and their audiences is available on DVD. Other works include a short film documenting the music theory of jazz composer Ornette Coleman, as well as several short films for Marc Jacobs.
Here are 2 of my favorite music film clips by Mills which both happen to be for Blonde Redhead.
One features his partner, the unbelievably talented Miranda July. I think its a perfect combination.
Check out more of his work here....
Jean Paul Gaultier
Jean Paul Gaultier support for same sex marriage.
Raquel Zimmermann plays masculine for the latest Jean Paul Gaultier fall 09 campaign shot again by fashionista duo Inez & Vinoodh.
Flite 100 - Mixtape #2
Here is a new mixtape for y'all.
This features some favorites and some new finds that I have really enjoyed listening to as I slave away on this computer.
No One Said It Would Be Easy - Cloud Cult
don't save us from the flames - M83
Off Track - The Features
Melody Day - Caribou
Plasticities - Andrew Bird
Luna - Fanfarlo
american hearts - A.A. Bondy
Shut It Down, Turn It Off - Apollo Up!
Your House - Jimmy Eat World
Wildcat - Ratatat
Teen Age Riot - Sonic Youth
Let's Go Surfing - The Drums
Montreal - Kaki King
Download it here....
WaHS....
Fanfarlo - Reservoir
Fanfarlo--
"I'm a Pilot" mp3 off Reservoir (buy)
Fanfarlo is a London-based indie pop band formed in 2006 by the Swedish musician Simon Balthazar. They make extensive use of instruments such as the trumpet, violin and mandolin as well as more commonplace instruments such as guitars and drums. I would say a perfect blend of Arcade Fire, Beirut, & Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.
Throughout 2006-2008 they released three limited edition singles and one split 7" single with Sleeping States on London-based indie labels.
Their debut album, Reservoir, was recorded in October/November 2008 at Tarquin Studios, Connecticut, USA and was produced by Peter Katis (The National, Interpol). The album was released in February of 2009.
At the start of 2009 Guitarist Mark West left the band citing musical differences. Fanfarlo began touring with Snow Patrol in March of 2009, and played several shows at the South by Southwest Music Festival.
In an effort to spread the word as far as possible and make their music as accessible as possible, Fanfarlo decided to offer their latest album, Reservoir, as a $1 download on http://fanfarlo.com.
WaHS...
Shadow Play - Dan Blank
“Stop-motion film, written, animated, & directed by Dan Blank. Winner of Los Angeles Film Festival (Best Short, 2002), 2002 Student Academy Award (Bronze) & 2003 Student Emmy Award (Gold).
In August of 1945, in a closing chapter of the second World War, a blinding flash lit the sky over Hiroshima. The places that were shielded from that searing light became permanent shadows on the city’s walls and streets, while the city itself was decimated. “Shadowplay” is the story of Akio, a shadow of a young boy, who wanders the city searching for his family, while trying to make sense of the unfathomable atrocity.”
Produced by Dan Blank & Cynthia Allen
Cast: Jennifer Kato, Takeo Matsushita, Jun Kim, Ako.
Music: Ryan Shore
You can learn more about the creator and the project here.
Shaun O'Connor
Dear Aussie Friends,
My good buddy Shaun O'Connor is currently exhibiting in Australia with his solo show that will hit galleries in Sydney and Melbourne.
Do yourself a favor and get along to one of his shows. His work is beautiful, bold and simplistic.
If you see him around town be sure to go up and say hi. He is a rad dude to shoot the shit with.
www.diannetanzergallery.net.au
For more info go to his website... shaunoconnor.net
My good buddy Shaun O'Connor is currently exhibiting in Australia with his solo show that will hit galleries in Sydney and Melbourne.
Do yourself a favor and get along to one of his shows. His work is beautiful, bold and simplistic.
If you see him around town be sure to go up and say hi. He is a rad dude to shoot the shit with.
www.diannetanzergallery.net.au
For more info go to his website... shaunoconnor.net
Thanks John Huges
Filmography
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Director
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Yacht - See Mystery Lights
Listen to Yacht - Psychic City
YACHT is a band, originally begun by Jona Bechtolt (former member of The Blow) and as of last year including new member Claire L. Evans (also a writer on science / science fiction and an artist), as well as a "belief system and business", according to their Mission Statement. They also have an affinity for triangles and a variety of religions, as evidenced in their Tumblr. As much shtick as their nearly spiritual/paranormal presentation may appear at first glance, it certainly is a part of See Mystery Lights, the forthcoming Yacht release, due out July 28th on DFA Records.
The title See Mystery Lights was named after the curious Marfa light phenomenon that occurs in Marfa, Texas, where they were writing and recording tracks. While the album kicks off with two belief statements, "Ring the Bell" (with lyrics like "I grew up with fear in my heart" and "Will we go to heaven or will we go to hell? It's my understanding that neither are real") and "The Afterlife" ("Death is not the end of this song..."), oddly enough, their sentiments merge with the music and aren't overbearing.
With this being almost a concept album and with a tighter framework to cast the material in, this is easily the best project Bechtolt has been involved with; his quirky, tuneful arrangement and beat-making abilities have even more to be said for them than in his previous release I Believe in You. Your Magic is Real, and are particularly distinct from his work in the Blow, and Evans' vocals are a welcome, natural-sounding accompaniment. "I'm in Love With a Ripper" strikes the ears like a neo-Art of Noise track, with some oddball vocal effects and some Auto-Tune-ish activity going on. "It's Boring/You Can Live Anywhere You Want" is nearly 9 minutes long, with two songs unnecessarily tied together that would have worked better unhinged.
"Psychic City" is a reworking of "Voodoo City", a track by Rich Jensen from 1987 cassette release Two Million Years (you can read more on the song's background here), from an avant-garde obscurity to a summery, though still odd, prime single choice. And speaking of summer..."Summer Song"(see video below) is up next, which preceded the album last year as a sort of tribute single to LCD Soundsystem, who they had toured with previously- this prompted DFA to put out the Summer Song EP in 2008 and sign Yacht for an album release!
"We Have All We Ever Wanted" returns to the art-pop aesthetics hinted at earlier on, and could be taken as simultaneously anti-Internet and pro-Internet, with lines like "Protect your eyes / Be careful with the downloading" and "Protect yourself from digital decay" on the one hand, and anthemic chants about how everything is now available at once because of technology on the other. "Don't Fight the Darkness" breezes by with shuffling beats and the repeated refrain "Don't fight the darkness / Bring the light / And darkness (Will disappear)", also referenced on their Muxtape page. The party mix of "I'm in Love With a Ripper" dilutes some of the original's quality, but serves its purpose for clubiness. The version of "Psychic City" that closes the album is more closely approximated to Rich Jensen's original, lo-fi and with "HOOAH"s!
See Mystery Lights is as interesting as it is enjoyable, as their press release sums up perfectly: "The true beauty...is that one can choose to dive down YACHT's rabbit hole and search for answers -- or just as easily ignore their cryptic motifs and enjoy See Mystery Lights for the adventurous and innovative avant-pop album that it is."
NYC to Philadelphia on a track bike....
The NYC Bicycle Film Festival had wrapped up and so had all my energy. I thought I could of slept for a week without even a shift.... I also thought that the idea could of been possible cause it was obvious that everyone needed the rest but no luck. The final afterparty kicked on till the break of dawn more so then any of the others. At one point I found myself in an apartment on Astor Place listening to a girl sing in her kitchen with one boob hanging out while a photoshoot went on in the hallway.
hmm I guess that's New York for you.
A few days past and before I knew it I was on a bike with my fellow BFFer's riding uptown to Columbus Circle. There we met up with 42 other riders who were taking part in the 42BELOW® 42RIDE. A cross-country ride from New York City to LA. What an experience that would be!
The first leg of the ride was NYC to Philadelphia... which was perfect cause the next festival was Philly! Florida Producer, Jen Whalen, and Barcelona Producer, Simone Bericua and I grabbed our track bikes and joined in on the fun.
Unfortunately due to my ever increasingly unorganized lifestyle, all I had to do the ride with was a pair of jeans and a mens saddle. I definitely paid the price for this one.
Over 2 days we covered around 150miles with a stop over in Somerset, NJ for the night.
We finally made it to Philly after some really ridiculous directions were given out (which we often ignored and hit the highway instead). My skin was burning from severe sunburn and my crotch felt like it had been kicked by a horse but the whole experience was amazing. The ride through NJ and Pennsylvania was really nice. So good to get out on an open road and enjoy the sights and smells. (all except the ones that repeatedly exploded from Jen's arse!)
thanks everyone for a great ride.
Im going to stop it here cause the antics that went on in Philly should never be repeated.
WaHS....
Killer cone!
Absolutely delicious but totally ill afterwards.
Back in Brooklyn
Alright so I have been meaning to write these blogs for sometime now but time seems to be the hardest thing to attain these days. I have draft after draft saved but never actually get to finish them.
I have now decided that it has been long enough. Time to clean up the draft folder.
I have moved back to Brooklyn. After my surreal comatose experience of going back to Australia for a few months it was really great to be back. Welcomed with a warm Brooklyn hug as I hit the tarmac, which was quickly over shadowed as we waited an extra 30min to actually get off the tarmac. But still it was great to be back.
My lovely friends Shaun and Shilo welcomed me with open arms and generously offered me their office floor to set up camp on. Unbeknown to all of us that here I was to stay for around a month!
The day after I landed I had an interview with the Bicycle Film Festival and since that day I have been graced with 6 days off. Yes the days are strange and the hours are long but I can truly say that it is my favorite workplace since my stint as a refrigeration mechanic. Something new everyday but without the nasty surprises that people grow in their homes. The festival is based around film, art, music and of course bikes. These encompass most of my favorite things... things dreams are made off. Total win!
For my birthday the wonderful crew at NY BFF surprised me with this beautiful new track bike.
Many adventures to be had on this one. Riding around New York is totally exhilarating. Especially for a small town girl. Obstacles are endless from cars, to potholes, to ladies with prams on cell phones, to delivery guys, to cobblestones etc. Little surprises everywhere to keep you on your toes. It was so amazing to ride over the Williamsburg bridge into Manhattan for the first time and really breathe in the view. The madness almost seemed still.
After winter in NY I was left feeling rather uneasy. The brutality of the cold and "seasonal depression" was a tricky thing to deal with but coming back to the new energy in a extraordinarily lively city was a breath of fresh air. The flowers are out, there are beautiful women in sundresses everywhere and the streets are alive. I'm happy to be back.... even if it does mean paying for tap water....
WaHS....
I have now decided that it has been long enough. Time to clean up the draft folder.
I have moved back to Brooklyn. After my surreal comatose experience of going back to Australia for a few months it was really great to be back. Welcomed with a warm Brooklyn hug as I hit the tarmac, which was quickly over shadowed as we waited an extra 30min to actually get off the tarmac. But still it was great to be back.
My lovely friends Shaun and Shilo welcomed me with open arms and generously offered me their office floor to set up camp on. Unbeknown to all of us that here I was to stay for around a month!
The day after I landed I had an interview with the Bicycle Film Festival and since that day I have been graced with 6 days off. Yes the days are strange and the hours are long but I can truly say that it is my favorite workplace since my stint as a refrigeration mechanic. Something new everyday but without the nasty surprises that people grow in their homes. The festival is based around film, art, music and of course bikes. These encompass most of my favorite things... things dreams are made off. Total win!
For my birthday the wonderful crew at NY BFF surprised me with this beautiful new track bike.
Many adventures to be had on this one. Riding around New York is totally exhilarating. Especially for a small town girl. Obstacles are endless from cars, to potholes, to ladies with prams on cell phones, to delivery guys, to cobblestones etc. Little surprises everywhere to keep you on your toes. It was so amazing to ride over the Williamsburg bridge into Manhattan for the first time and really breathe in the view. The madness almost seemed still.After winter in NY I was left feeling rather uneasy. The brutality of the cold and "seasonal depression" was a tricky thing to deal with but coming back to the new energy in a extraordinarily lively city was a breath of fresh air. The flowers are out, there are beautiful women in sundresses everywhere and the streets are alive. I'm happy to be back.... even if it does mean paying for tap water....
WaHS....
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