Filed under: sketchbook, Uncategorized | Tags: America, Animals, Art, Bangkok, character design, Childrens Storybook, Commentary, Exhibits, Illustration, Japan, Korea, Nature, New York City, Thailand, Vietnam
In my recent travels nothing was as poignant to me as something my daughter and I observed in NYC.
When my daughter and I were finally too worn from a day of walking around NYC we returned to take a train out of the city. We went down into the train station waiting area we remembered from our previous trip to the city. It was packed with people. I pointed out one of the few chairs remaining with no one sitting and told my daughter to take it. I’ll be right there next to the pole right across from her. Visible to her but not to me from the pole I told her to keep an eye on the TV monitor attached to the ceiling where our train’s track would soon be displayed. I sat on the floor with my back to the pole facing her, she sat in the seat and immediately opened the book she brought with her. After a few minutes seats became available as train tracks were being displayed on the monitor. I got up and took a seat becoming available in the same row as her about seven down. She was too focused in her book to take notice of me moving. By the time I looked over to her she noticed I was not at the pole anymore and began calmly looking around for me. I moved forward so that she could see me and my movement. When she did I motioned to her to continue watching the TV monitor as I still couldn’t see it from where I was sitting. She nodded in understanding. More tracks were shown, more people left and I noticed the seat next to her became available. I went over to sit next to her. When I did I became aware that the young woman who had sat after I’d moved in a seat now to my right was sitting somewhat rigid and leaning forward. I began to say to my daughter “Sure cleared out…”, before I said “quickly” the woman bolted upright and quickly, stiffly walked away. I asked my daughter if she noticed that. She did. She said the woman was nervous. We both realized what had transpired. I said, “Can you imagine what she thought…can you imagine what I felt?” My daughter had mentioned she observed whenever she saw unaccompanied women while we were in NYC they walked quickly and appeared nervous.
I’ve seen much in my life, I’ve been many places to see it too. Something I learned is not to attribute less significance to something because carries less significance to others.
This just in…
I’ll be exhibiting in the annual Korean Society of Illustration Research Exhibition at the Korean Culture Center in Hanoi, Vietnam taking place February 11th to the 16th 2011.
KSIR Exhibits include Illustrators from around the world of which I’ve the honor to be chosen consecutively since inception.
The 2010 KSIR Exhibition took place at the Nagashima Museum in Kagoshima, Japan, the 2009 KSIR Exhibition Bangkok Art and Culture Center in Bangkok, Thailand. I’d like thank Jae Chang who has been integral to the success of the exhibitions.
Hi all. I’d like to share this wonderful animated short I accidentally found on Vimeo. Alma.
Written and Directed by: Rodrigo Blaas
Produced by: Cecile Hokes
Music: Mastretta
Art Director: Alfonso Blaas
Lighting Supervisor: Jonatan Catalán
Character Technical Supervisor: Jaime Maestro
Character Design: Bolhem Bouchiba, Carlos Grangel,
Sergio Pablos, Santi Agustí
Animation: Daniel Peixe, ManueBover, Remi Hueso
Sound Design: Tom Myers and David Hughes
Post Production Coordinator: David Heras
Special Thanks: Keytoon, Next Limit, UserT38
Full credits: almashortfilm.com
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Allen Capoferri, Art Center College of Design, Cannes, Commentary, France, politics
Here’s a funny story…There was this guy I’d run into every once in a while going to and from classes at Art Center College. He was friendly, one of the few people who’d say hello in recognition there. One day I turned on the T.V. and there he was being interviewed on the local news in the entertainment segment of the program. As I tuned in towards the end of the interview I could only gather he was an Illustration major (something I didn’t know) and made a short film for a class assignment that apparently turned out well. The film had been nominated to Cannes Film Festival’s short film category. The interviewer concluded the interview by asking him what grade he’d received. I was impressed by his ease in front of the camera. I would have been nervous.
It had been quite a while since I’d seen him the halls again. The next time I saw him coming down the hall he lifted his head, his eyes widened. I said “Hi”, wait, he was looking past me. I heard a girl behind me ecstatic with excitement. It was her he was greeting. I thought, “Oh”, a little embarrassed. Since then every time I see him in the halls people were always around him.
Later I was talking to a teacher, he mentioned this guy who made a film in his class. It was him. Come to find out he’s French, as in Cannes and comes from a well off family there. I thought, “Mmmm”. I explained to my teacher as I had above. He replied apathetically ” Fame changes everything”.
Anyone who’s studied art earnestly “Old Master” studies are an accepted and required part of of study. I have to be honest here folks anyone who doesn’t is disregarding ages of learning. I also feel these things like this, and drawing from life need to be revisited. Art is not like riding a bike, regardless of what those who are not think. I’m at complete awe and have to take a bow when I approach one to learn from, in this case a far from perfect El Greco.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Ageism, Allen Capoferri, America, Commentary, Culture, Duplicity, Family, racism, Sexism, USA
I experienced something so amazing I felt I must share it. While helping my daughter shop for her prom dress we went to a popular women’s store where we live. I went to the clothing racks to chose more for her to try on while she was in the changing room. Upon exhausting my search on a rack I went to the next. At the moment I went in the next aisle a woman who was searching in the same abruptly moved to another aisle. When done in that aisle I moved to the next were she abruptly moved again. I thought, odd behavior. I wonder if she’s moving away from me? My curiosity made me test my question. Sure enough she moved! On several occasions past I had experienced similar reactions which made this experience congeal to a realization I don’t want to think of let alone speak.
More…
I know I think too much, too sensitive others would call it. Anyone who knows me can tell you that.
While having my haircut by my new hair stylist I mentioned I just turned 54. She said “Your still young!” I’m confused though. Am I middle age? If I am is that young? The previous stylist told me how I should live my life. Telling me what and what not to do. I email my daughter too much, next time I come she wants to hear I have a girlfriend but I should date her and not have sex with her. Obviously after hearing this two haircuts I’d had enough. I explained to the new stylist my hair tends to grow in thick although not on the top as it’s thinned. She said, “Don’t you hate that?” I asked, “What?” Embarrassed she quickly changed the subject. It only occurred to me later what she was really saying and how I should feel about myself. This type of intercourse is not isolated just to acquaintances. As we take measure I feel no different about myself than I had ten, even twenty years ago except I’m happier, although I see I’ve been marginalized.
While having car maintenance performed I took the suggestion to go to the mall a couple of blocks away for a little over an hour. Tired after dodging people at the very crowded mall for an hour I thought I would sit down before I walked back. I went to the first bench I saw without anyone sitting on it and arrived just as a girl arrived. As I began to sit down on a far side of the at least 14 foot bench she promptly walked away.
Filed under: Photo's, Uncategorized | Tags: Commentary, International, Peter Gabriel, Photography, politics
Taken during a road trip awhile back.
I felt I wanted to revisit this post first published May 3rd of this year.
When I asked my daughter what she thought about the recent news she said some were saying the war’s over at the school she attends. The more sober know it’s not.
Here’s the conundrum. We’re human. Humans are aggressive. If you see it just in the context of nations you’re blinding yourself. The seed of violence is in all of us. Whether it plays out in physical violence in one human and not another is inconsequential.
Games Without Frontiers