Besides the first bunch of photos (which are from Maine and Grain surfboards), these beautiful shots are from SIGHT|SOUND, a new film by Mikey Detemple and High Seas Film due out this summer. This is the same collective that put out Picaresque in 2009. Both films look amazing, can't wait to track them down. In the meantime, dig the trailer...
Call me Miles. Well my fellow island-lovers, have ye seen the great blue whale? As I was skiing home today, I saw the strangest sight. At first I heard a woosh of air... then a spout jutting 50 feet into the air... then I caught a quick glimpse of a large tail... and then the entirety of a beautiful blue ice whale surfaced, peacefully cruising amidst the great white winter sea, staring at me all the while with its goofy smile. In the words of a famous novel already alluded to, "There she blows!--there she blows! A hump like a snow-hill!" Well, lump like a blue-hill in snow, that is. Alas, I didn't have time to film video of this rare phenomenon, but if you flip through the 20 or so photos below at a civil clip, you'll have some idea of what we beheld on Miles Island today. Wonderful mystical events such as these: true blessings to help us through the long island winter.
UPDATE: now with some music to accompany the flip book:
This is how we hike around Miles Island to the various villages and natural amusements... at least on Sundays! Flowers, climbing rope, heels, blazers, old-school external frame pack, check! (I do think hiking is always glamorous in its own way, even without all of the various, ahem, accoutrements!) I'm sure after this photoshoot, these kids ripped off their outer dress clothes and did somersaults down the hill--or even better kept them on to show off their grass stains!
(oops, Music Wednesday again!) Oh Deerhoof. Where to begin. Their names are Satomi Matsuzaki, Ed Rodriguez, John Dieterich, and Greg Saunier. Their music is delightfully gymnastic, spastic like a Siberian tiger at play. Some of you will like their music, others will probably think it sounds more like a lawnmower hitting a rock repeatedly. Obviously I need to work on my metaphors here. In any case, give them a try. Their new album 'Deerhoof vs. Evil' dropped on January 25th, and is currently streaming in its entirety for a week at http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/2. For those in Madison, Feb. 16 is the magic date to catch them live at High Noon Saloon. More songs on their myspace.
Buenos dias... hoy es lunes, hace mucho frio, y no puedo ver el sol. Además, tengo que salir a mi trabajo. Entonces quiero compartir las fotos de nuestra milonga que pasa en una restaurante de nuestra isla. Mira. Bueno... ahora hace mucho calor.
Pienso que ellos tienen mas elegancia que los profesionales...
The first blog I really started visiting regularly was Scott Schumann's The Sartorialist, which I suppose partly inspired those 'orange pants days' when I was a student Gordon. I think part of why I've enjoyed his site and photographs so much is his attention to detail and his respect for individual styles that are sometimes unconventional. The site also allows the viewer to travel the world (ok, mostly NYC, Paris, and Milan), and there's something about seeing street pictures that captures the imagination and kindles wanderlust. Enjoy this short film (or embellished ad for Intel, depending on your take) by Tyler Manson. See more of Tyler's work below and on his website--I love his surf films, by the way.
This short film features my friend Ethan, aka EthanSpinMaster. He has perfected the rare performance art form of diabolo, which consists of a string connected to two sticks, and a large spool. The name originates from the Greek, dia bolo, which translates approximately to 'across throw'. Watch as Ethan diabolos his way through South Africa during last year's world cup... some highlights include leading a worldcup stadium march for Team Netherlands' fanbase, dramatic cliffs, and a bit of wildlife. Great job Ethan and associated cinematographers! Enjoy...
Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, everyone! Growing up, my family would gather on this day around the dinner table and read his famous speech while eating chocolate creme pie. If you haven't read the full version of it, I highly recommend it. Below is a snippet, as well as a clip of the entire version...
"I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day."
Here on the island, we like to find fun ways to get to work. With the lake frozen and paddleboarding no longer feasible, it's necessary to come up with alternatives. Last week it was skating, this week it's skiing! There were even some iceboaters out there sailing along at 50+mph--but who wants to get to work so fast anyways? Here's how the scene looked this morning...
Sometimes I think it's just as much fun (if not more) to look at people in galleries, and even think of them as part of the artwork somehow... these are from Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris. Observations of the common gallery goer...
