Last one.
Can't believe the month is already over.
Word: Anger
Modifier: CW
No idea how to visualize it. I'll be getting back to you on that.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Day 29- PJ
Day 29 word: "Condolence"
No modifiers
No music
No conditions
No choice but to go here
From my ever-growing collection
No modifiers
No music
No conditions
No choice but to go here
From my ever-growing collection
Day 28- PJ
Card draw: "Poaching"
Another verb? nice.
Here I go....
An image poached from the internet...
Another verb? nice.
Here I go....
An image poached from the internet...
Day 26- PJ
Song- Cover Song.
Draw 1 additional card then flip a coin between them.
Word: "Bumper" (heads)
Additional Card: "East" (tails)
The flip comes up heads.
So I'm doing a photo of/inspired by the word 'Bumper'....
I'll have to go with this one...
You're going to have to wait for the song- it's in progress but not finished yet.
Draw 1 additional card then flip a coin between them.
Word: "Bumper" (heads)
Additional Card: "East" (tails)
The flip comes up heads.
So I'm doing a photo of/inspired by the word 'Bumper'....
I'll have to go with this one...
You're going to have to wait for the song- it's in progress but not finished yet.
Day 24- PJ
Today I recieved a card that directed me to do the following:
A Song
A Picture
With the theme prompt 'Misfit'
I worked up a good little tune, but can't find the file. So I'm going to have to remix it and get it posted later.
But here's the picture.
A Song
A Picture
With the theme prompt 'Misfit'
I worked up a good little tune, but can't find the file. So I'm going to have to remix it and get it posted later.
But here's the picture.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Catching Up - Day 22 - Scott
Today I created a track that can only be described as a demo idea for a full song. It consists simply of two bass tracks. It's pretty mellow and would probably be best turned into a song with some drony guitar and possibly no drums.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Catching Up - Day 21 - Scott
I'm back! Today was the last day of classes for me, so I decided to poke my head up for a breather before finals crash over me.
The new song is pretty song-like and sounds like a demo track for something that could be interesting. It consists of two bass tracks (one of which sounds a lot like a keyboard), a keyboard track, and a stock drum track from GarageBand.
The new song is pretty song-like and sounds like a demo track for something that could be interesting. It consists of two bass tracks (one of which sounds a lot like a keyboard), a keyboard track, and a stock drum track from GarageBand.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Update - Scott
Well, it's the 30th, and I've only finished the first twenty pieces. With the enormous crush of homework right now at the end of the semester, I doubt I will be able to do anything more for a few days or even a week or two. I'll finish the remaining ten pieces as soon as I can. Until then, happy art!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Catching up - Day 20 - Scott
I'm trying to go even more minimal in my process, so the Day 20 tune consists of only two bass tracks.
20101120:
20101120:
Catching up - Days 18/19 - Scott
Two pieces this morning.
For the first one, I started with some prefab textures in GarageBand, mixed them around, gave them some effects, and added a couple ambient keyboard lines. Voila! My shortest track yet at 0:45.
The second piece consists of three guitar tracks.
I tried to upload both of the tracks today, but something went wrong, so you only get one of them.
20101119:
For the first one, I started with some prefab textures in GarageBand, mixed them around, gave them some effects, and added a couple ambient keyboard lines. Voila! My shortest track yet at 0:45.
The second piece consists of three guitar tracks.
I tried to upload both of the tracks today, but something went wrong, so you only get one of them.
20101119:
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Catching up - Day 17 - Scott
Another one down. This one has two guitar tracks (one with rhythm chords and one with long sustained ones) and a bass track. That's it. It's just kind of a mellow fuzz piece.
Catching up - Day 16 - Scott
This track was another experiment with voice and hand-generated percussion, which were both arhythmic. Basically, they are both just noise. I laid down some keyboard tracks to give it some sort of tonality, but it's still pretty non-musical. Not worth uploading probably.
Methodology
I haven't given up any information on my visual tools for this project.
Until now.
Camera Devices:
Apple iPod Touch 4G using one of 3 photo programs: Hipstamatic, Camera (stock program), Picture Effect.
Palm Pre using the stock photo program.
Nikon D70 (vintage 2004) through a stock Nikon 28-80mm lens and/or a cheap Sigma 80-200mm lens.
Software Manipulation:
Adobe Photoshop CS2
Running on a Hewlett Packard/Compaq 8510p Mobile Workstation.
Images generally transferred via email, occasionally via USB linkup.
Videos created in Sony Vegas 5.
Most images adjusted for contrast and color temperature, seasoned to taste.
Until now.
Camera Devices:
Apple iPod Touch 4G using one of 3 photo programs: Hipstamatic, Camera (stock program), Picture Effect.
Palm Pre using the stock photo program.
Nikon D70 (vintage 2004) through a stock Nikon 28-80mm lens and/or a cheap Sigma 80-200mm lens.
Software Manipulation:
Adobe Photoshop CS2
Running on a Hewlett Packard/Compaq 8510p Mobile Workstation.
Images generally transferred via email, occasionally via USB linkup.
Videos created in Sony Vegas 5.
Most images adjusted for contrast and color temperature, seasoned to taste.
Day 23-PJ
Draw A Card.
Post A Pic.
Another Verb.
I'm Sure It Wasn't A Verb When I Made The Cards.
Yet There It Is.
"Clocking."
Is That Even A Word At All?
So I Take My Inspiration From This And Reduce The Hint To "Clocks."
And In Full Half-Effort Fashion,
Walk Down The Hall.
Snapping Photos Left And Right.
Pictures Of Many Clocks Here In Casa De Roadie.
Total Time Invested Today:
Two Minutes For The Picturetaking.
Eight Minutes For The Photoshopping.
Three Minutes (So Far) To Pen The Narrative.
Ten Minutes To Forget To Post Said Narrative Due To Excessive 'Net Surfing.
Total:
Twenty Three Minutes. Happy November Twenty Third.
Post A Pic.
Another Verb.
I'm Sure It Wasn't A Verb When I Made The Cards.
Yet There It Is.
"Clocking."
Is That Even A Word At All?
So I Take My Inspiration From This And Reduce The Hint To "Clocks."
And In Full Half-Effort Fashion,
Walk Down The Hall.
Snapping Photos Left And Right.
Pictures Of Many Clocks Here In Casa De Roadie.
Total Time Invested Today:
Two Minutes For The Picturetaking.
Eight Minutes For The Photoshopping.
Three Minutes (So Far) To Pen The Narrative.
Ten Minutes To Forget To Post Said Narrative Due To Excessive 'Net Surfing.
Total:
Twenty Three Minutes. Happy November Twenty Third.
POST 8 - EMILY
I am an avid people watcher. This is different from the voyeuristic person watcher, because I like to watch people in groups and not hiding in bushes when they're not looking. Just wanted to clear that up.
There is something about hands that make me take notice of the person they're attached to. Some people talk with their hands or fidget when they want to say something. I tend to shove my hands in my pockets in group settings out of nervousness. Everyone's hands are different just like our fingerprints, and not just how they look but how you use them.
Make a salad
Make a friend
Make a living
Most of the actions I associate with hands are creative and tender. Hands can be distorted into fists for violent acts or covered with gloves to protect from pain or cold, but the naked hand is something delicate and complex like creation itself.
Inspired by: Holding hands
There is something about hands that make me take notice of the person they're attached to. Some people talk with their hands or fidget when they want to say something. I tend to shove my hands in my pockets in group settings out of nervousness. Everyone's hands are different just like our fingerprints, and not just how they look but how you use them.
Make a salad
Make a friend
Make a living
Most of the actions I associate with hands are creative and tender. Hands can be distorted into fists for violent acts or covered with gloves to protect from pain or cold, but the naked hand is something delicate and complex like creation itself.
Inspired by: Holding hands
POST 7 - EMILY
PREDICTION
I get no pleasure in being right. The only things I can predict accurately are bad things.
Inspired by: Holding my phone in my hand waiting for my mom to call me. She did.
I get no pleasure in being right. The only things I can predict accurately are bad things.
Inspired by: Holding my phone in my hand waiting for my mom to call me. She did.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Catching up - Day 15 - Scott
Half way for me. I had little time tonight, but I thought I should at least get one cranked out. The process for this one was simply dropping in some interesting prefab keyboard loops, tweaking and duplicating them, and adding effects. It's a very ambient piece. I really like it, but I won't upload it due to time constraints.
More tomorrow.
More tomorrow.
Day 22- PJ
Day 22 has arrived, now firmly past 2/3 of the way through.
In keeping with the woody theme this week, the word today is 'Maple'
So I went into my front yard and took a snap or two of the world's ugliest tree, a crap maple that shades part of my front yard.
The only redeeming thing about this pile of sticks is that it spawns 'helicopters' for good fall fun.
In keeping with the woody theme this week, the word today is 'Maple'
So I went into my front yard and took a snap or two of the world's ugliest tree, a crap maple that shades part of my front yard.
The only redeeming thing about this pile of sticks is that it spawns 'helicopters' for good fall fun.
Day 21- PJ
Today's word is 'Birch'
A good one for me, since there is a fair amount of 1/2" Baltic Birch in my warehouse waiting to be turned into travel cases.
So I went into the shop, turned on the light, snagged these frames and left as quickly as I could.
A good one for me, since there is a fair amount of 1/2" Baltic Birch in my warehouse waiting to be turned into travel cases.
So I went into the shop, turned on the light, snagged these frames and left as quickly as I could.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Catching up - Day 14 - Scott
This was a fun one. I decided to take inspiration from Pete's Day 16 piece...
In a most Death by Deathray fashion, I took the word "xenophobe" and simply typed it using GarageBand's keyboard (as in a typing keyboard) input. It was completely serendipitous that the "x" key shifts the keyboard up an octave, so every time the word was typed, the whole thing went up. I skipped the "x" key on my first pass, so I could play as low as possible and get higher each time after that. Once the keyboard reached its highest register, I played one more sequence and stopped playing. The "n" and "b" keys do nothing in GarageBand, so there are nice little pauses. One other detail: before I recorded anything, I semi-randomly selected nine keyboard sounds (one for each letter in "xenophobe"), picked one of my favorite sounds ("Falling Star"), and recorded it with that sound active. Once the recording was finished (in one take), I simply copied the sequence track into all of the other tracks and let the computer play them all simultaneously.
20101114:
In a most Death by Deathray fashion, I took the word "xenophobe" and simply typed it using GarageBand's keyboard (as in a typing keyboard) input. It was completely serendipitous that the "x" key shifts the keyboard up an octave, so every time the word was typed, the whole thing went up. I skipped the "x" key on my first pass, so I could play as low as possible and get higher each time after that. Once the keyboard reached its highest register, I played one more sequence and stopped playing. The "n" and "b" keys do nothing in GarageBand, so there are nice little pauses. One other detail: before I recorded anything, I semi-randomly selected nine keyboard sounds (one for each letter in "xenophobe"), picked one of my favorite sounds ("Falling Star"), and recorded it with that sound active. Once the recording was finished (in one take), I simply copied the sequence track into all of the other tracks and let the computer play them all simultaneously.
20101114:
Catching Up - Day 13 - Scott
For this non-song, I recited a poem from H.P. Lovecraft's short story "The Doom That Came to Sarnath" and did the only thing that makes sense: made it creepier and completely incomprehensible. (It is artifact #13 after all.) It's similar in sound and feel to other things I've done for this project. There is nothing but my voice (two tracks), a single keyboard track, and some effects. This is the original poem:
Slumber, watcher, till the spheres,
Six and twenty thousand years
Have revolv'd, and I return
To the spot where I now burn.
Other stars anon shall rise
To the axis of the skies;
Stars that soothe and stars that bless
With a sweet forgetfulness:
Only when my round is o'er
Shall the past disturb thy door.
20101113:
Slumber, watcher, till the spheres,
Six and twenty thousand years
Have revolv'd, and I return
To the spot where I now burn.
Other stars anon shall rise
To the axis of the skies;
Stars that soothe and stars that bless
With a sweet forgetfulness:
Only when my round is o'er
Shall the past disturb thy door.
20101113:
D20- PJ
"Cymbal"
I had many opportunities to capture this image today. Been looking forward to it (I remembered it from the card creation process on Halloween night) and have been hoping it came attached to a song card. But alas, I only got one image- I like it perhaps as much as any in this project to date.
Still might incorporate this into a song project, as it does naturally lend itself to this...
I had many opportunities to capture this image today. Been looking forward to it (I remembered it from the card creation process on Halloween night) and have been hoping it came attached to a song card. But alas, I only got one image- I like it perhaps as much as any in this project to date.
Still might incorporate this into a song project, as it does naturally lend itself to this...
Day 19- PJ
If a microfiche is a bunch of images on microfilm, then isn't a fiche just bigger images on film?
/copout over
/copout over
Day 17- PJ
OK-
Today gets back to the seriousness of aging and my irrational fear of slowing down, fading away, shriveling up.
Here it is:
"Toupee"
Full disclosure: this isn't a toupee yet. But I can foresee the time that something might have to be done.
This is proof that there needs to be some kind of a color rinse in my future- holy crap that's a lot of salt in that there pepper.
Maybe a comb also.
Today gets back to the seriousness of aging and my irrational fear of slowing down, fading away, shriveling up.
Here it is:
"Toupee"
Full disclosure: this isn't a toupee yet. But I can foresee the time that something might have to be done.
This is proof that there needs to be some kind of a color rinse in my future- holy crap that's a lot of salt in that there pepper.
Maybe a comb also.
Day 16- PJ
Originally the word was "Athlete"
But the card allowed for a Rock, Paper, Scissors decision to choose an alternate.
The the alternate won the hefty competition. So I poached an image from the Deseret News and gave it a bit of Photoshop tweakin'.
"Xenophobe"
But the card allowed for a Rock, Paper, Scissors decision to choose an alternate.
The the alternate won the hefty competition. So I poached an image from the Deseret News and gave it a bit of Photoshop tweakin'.
"Xenophobe"
Day 15- PJ
I've been reluctant to post this because I was a bit confused on how to approach it-
My first instinct wasn't very nice, My second instinct was lame, and my 3rd wasn't even interesting.
So I put it on the back burner, and through the week, the cards piled up and made a lovely row.
The word for today, 11/15, is 'Alarmist'
So here's what I have: from a movie premiere we did work on a few years ago, I present a chicken's butt.
My first instinct wasn't very nice, My second instinct was lame, and my 3rd wasn't even interesting.
So I put it on the back burner, and through the week, the cards piled up and made a lovely row.
The word for today, 11/15, is 'Alarmist'
So here's what I have:
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Catching Up - Day 12 - Scott
I churned out another track tonight. This time, I recorded "percussion" first (using my fingers as drumsticks on a practice drum pad) through the computer's lo-fi microphone with an echoing delay. I duplicated the track and had the same thing played through a pitch bend effect. After that, I recorded an improv line on my bass (complete with errors) directly through the microphone without an amp; I used a preset bass guitar effect in GarageBand to create the sound. Once I was done with that, I threw in some keyboard tracks to give it richness in the bass end (the microphone made everything high and tinny). I like this track until about halfway through when it gets sloppy...
Catching Up - Day 11 - Scott
My Day 11 track is pretty song-like. I imagine you can hear a bunch of New Order influence in it. It consists of drums, bass, and keyboard.
20101111:
20101111:
Catching Up - Day 10 - Scott
I finally have a little time to work on this again on breaks between homework assignments. My plan is to do 2-3 songs per day until I'm caught up. I will probably only upload a few of them.
I just finished recording a track for Day 10. This one is based on some drums: reversed, slowed down, doubled, and heavily effected. I added a bass line on top of it with heavy delay and other effects, and then I recorded a high guitar line. I think it's interesting, but not great.
I just finished recording a track for Day 10. This one is based on some drums: reversed, slowed down, doubled, and heavily effected. I added a bass line on top of it with heavy delay and other effects, and then I recorded a high guitar line. I think it's interesting, but not great.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Day 14- PJ
*Edited to add better quality photographs
11/14. A song day. "Mountaineer"
That's an easy one for me, as I have spent a good amount of time the last few years wandering the peaks and valleys of the mountains of Utah, Nevada and California.
I picked up 2 pictures of value- one of Squaw Peak in Provo- one of my favorite hikes. This picture was influenced and inspired by the song "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" which was playing in my ears at the time of the picture snapping.
The second is a pic of my personal gear- water device, trekker poles, boots, GPS, day pack. Packed up next to the door and ready for a trip.
With the song, I chose to go with a droning/trancy feel- when I hike I find myself hitting a strange place of zenness. The word trance isn't quite accurate, but there isn't another that I can think of that accurately portrays my state of mind when hitting a summit.
I chose to ignore the card's instruction that this was to be Black and White.
11/14. A song day. "Mountaineer"
That's an easy one for me, as I have spent a good amount of time the last few years wandering the peaks and valleys of the mountains of Utah, Nevada and California.
I picked up 2 pictures of value- one of Squaw Peak in Provo- one of my favorite hikes. This picture was influenced and inspired by the song "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" which was playing in my ears at the time of the picture snapping.
The second is a pic of my personal gear- water device, trekker poles, boots, GPS, day pack. Packed up next to the door and ready for a trip.
With the song, I chose to go with a droning/trancy feel- when I hike I find myself hitting a strange place of zenness. The word trance isn't quite accurate, but there isn't another that I can think of that accurately portrays my state of mind when hitting a summit.
I chose to ignore the card's instruction that this was to be Black and White.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Day 13- PJ
Day 13 has finally arrived--- lucky 13.
Perhaps I can draw a sweeeeet card to make things rule.
And the word is..... "Shuttering" ?.?.?.? That's not a noun. Oh crap. Time for some grammatical research.
Yeah, definitely not a noun. I'll have to tweak it. I choose 'Shuttered'
Well anyway, I'm pretty busy today, so I'll have to put it off until tomorrow.
Photo excursion (45 minutes driving around town pointing the camera out the window of the usually moving car.)
The images I liked:
Perhaps I can draw a sweeeeet card to make things rule.
And the word is..... "Shuttering" ?.?.?.? That's not a noun. Oh crap. Time for some grammatical research.
Yeah, definitely not a noun. I'll have to tweak it. I choose 'Shuttered'
Well anyway, I'm pretty busy today, so I'll have to put it off until tomorrow.
Photo excursion (45 minutes driving around town pointing the camera out the window of the usually moving car.)
The images I liked:
Day 12- PJ
Day 12- 'Parenthood'
Taken 11/14/2010 on the corner of 2950 North and 650 East in Provo.
Colors enhanced in Photoshop.
Taken 11/14/2010 on the corner of 2950 North and 650 East in Provo.
Colors enhanced in Photoshop.
Day 11- PJ
So I was busy on the 11th, celebrating Vets day among other things... helping a charitable group raise $850,000 to help rape victims...
I was in the greater Bay Area (San Carlos if you know the area) and very dismayed to see my word: 'Coyote'
You see, I've never seen any kind of desert vermin in this area. I'm sure there are a few, but it's not common. Also, decorative styling in the area doesn't include the critters (unlike say-- Tucson, AZ, which surely has a coyote sculpted, molded, carved or taxidermified in every yard)
So here it is Sunday the 14th- I've been a superslacker.
I snagged a photo of the pile of cards I was looking to catch up upon...
There you have it, overlaid with a pillaged sketch of said vermin I found on Google.
Consider this your sneak-preview of my next 3 posts
I was in the greater Bay Area (San Carlos if you know the area) and very dismayed to see my word: 'Coyote'
You see, I've never seen any kind of desert vermin in this area. I'm sure there are a few, but it's not common. Also, decorative styling in the area doesn't include the critters (unlike say-- Tucson, AZ, which surely has a coyote sculpted, molded, carved or taxidermified in every yard)
So here it is Sunday the 14th- I've been a superslacker.
I snagged a photo of the pile of cards I was looking to catch up upon...
There you have it, overlaid with a pillaged sketch of said vermin I found on Google.
Consider this your sneak-preview of my next 3 posts
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Catching Up
Not right now...
I've been traveling for work the last few days, therefore slacking.
More stuff to be gathered.
PS- it turns out that some of my card-words aren't actually nouns. I mean, can a word that ends in -ing be a noun? Whatever, I'm going to use the cards as an inspiration...
I've been traveling for work the last few days, therefore slacking.
More stuff to be gathered.
PS- it turns out that some of my card-words aren't actually nouns. I mean, can a word that ends in -ing be a noun? Whatever, I'm going to use the cards as an inspiration...
Thursday, November 11, 2010
POST 6 - EMILY
So I'm a little behind on my posts, but don't worry I'll catch up eventually.
I want to write about the death of my dog, but for two days now I am drawing a blank. So I decided I should just write about that blank, because that is what missing someone feels like. Everything is completely normal, except that blank spot where Rollo was. I don't bump my feet into him anymore when I get out of bed. He doesn't run to the door when I come home. I miss the dumb look he always had on his stupid doggie face when I would talk to him. Funnier yet was when I would baby-talk Axel and Rollo would run over all excited like I was talking to him. It didn't make any difference to him if I was or not, he was just that happy that I was happy. The last thing I did before he died was scratch his tummy.
It's funny the things I remember, like how heavy the box was when we went to bury him. He was such a little thing; it was weird he felt so heavy. I remember how warm he was when I carried him back to the house after the accident, wrapped in a plastic jacket my neighbor had in his trunk. I remember taking the time to flip his ear down before I wrapped him up. I remember other things, but they aren't what I want to talk about.
I cleaned my house and kept running into things that were his. I try not to be sentimental, but I almost cried over a bag of rawhide chews. Scout put his bed outside on the porch and asked me if she could fill it with some red begonias that are still out there. I said sure, but today I threw the whole thing away when she was at school. I just couldn't look at it anymore. I prefer the empty spot that now takes it's place.
Inspired by Rollo Tomassi
I want to write about the death of my dog, but for two days now I am drawing a blank. So I decided I should just write about that blank, because that is what missing someone feels like. Everything is completely normal, except that blank spot where Rollo was. I don't bump my feet into him anymore when I get out of bed. He doesn't run to the door when I come home. I miss the dumb look he always had on his stupid doggie face when I would talk to him. Funnier yet was when I would baby-talk Axel and Rollo would run over all excited like I was talking to him. It didn't make any difference to him if I was or not, he was just that happy that I was happy. The last thing I did before he died was scratch his tummy.
It's funny the things I remember, like how heavy the box was when we went to bury him. He was such a little thing; it was weird he felt so heavy. I remember how warm he was when I carried him back to the house after the accident, wrapped in a plastic jacket my neighbor had in his trunk. I remember taking the time to flip his ear down before I wrapped him up. I remember other things, but they aren't what I want to talk about.
I cleaned my house and kept running into things that were his. I try not to be sentimental, but I almost cried over a bag of rawhide chews. Scout put his bed outside on the porch and asked me if she could fill it with some red begonias that are still out there. I said sure, but today I threw the whole thing away when she was at school. I just couldn't look at it anymore. I prefer the empty spot that now takes it's place.
Inspired by Rollo Tomassi
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Day 10- PJ
33% through the month o' art.
I'm totally going to copout today and show you a work picture.
The funny thing is this: I'm here working a benefit fundraiser type event for a large foundation based in the San Francisco area, and my word today is 'Philanthropy'
Can't discuss the attendee list until after it happens, but I'm pretty excited about this one.
And it's crazily pink.
I'm totally going to copout today and show you a work picture.
The funny thing is this: I'm here working a benefit fundraiser type event for a large foundation based in the San Francisco area, and my word today is 'Philanthropy'
Can't discuss the attendee list until after it happens, but I'm pretty excited about this one.
And it's crazily pink.
Audio Uploads - Scott
I signed up for an online site to upload audio directly without video. This is obviously much faster and allows me to share the audio without much extra effort. I might add the first couple days' tracks in the future, too, but for now, here are days 8 & 9 (basically parts 1 & 2 of the same "song"):
20101108:
20101109:
20101108:
20101109:
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Day 9 - Scott
I had even less time today than yesterday, so there will not be an audio upload again. This time, I took yesterday's track, reversed it, duplicated it twice, and did the following:
Track 1: Did a slooooow fade-in with some distortion added.
Track 2: The track straight up without any added effects.
Track 3: Chopped it up into hundreds of bits, randomized the bits into a new sequence, and added a stereo effect.
Voila! It basically sounds like "part two" of yesterday's track.
Track 1: Did a slooooow fade-in with some distortion added.
Track 2: The track straight up without any added effects.
Track 3: Chopped it up into hundreds of bits, randomized the bits into a new sequence, and added a stereo effect.
Voila! It basically sounds like "part two" of yesterday's track.
Day 9- PJ
More of the same.
I drew a card. The card told me a word. No modifications this time, just a word.
I drew upon social media for some opinions and advice- like most social media communication, it proved to be of little value...
11/9/2010
Quadrant
I drew a card. The card told me a word. No modifications this time, just a word.
I drew upon social media for some opinions and advice- like most social media communication, it proved to be of little value...
11/9/2010
Quadrant
Monday, November 8, 2010
Day 8 - Scott
I had very little time today, so I just improvised a quick keyboard part on a warm pad that comes with GarageBand. I duplicated the track and copied it later into the same track, pasted it (staggered) into two other keyboard sounds I liked, and called it good. I don't have time to upload it tonight, so it may not be heard until the art show. I like it though; it's very soothing. Pete's flashlight photography seems to capture the mood of it.
Day 8- PJ
The word today was "Flashlight"
I contacted a helper for help, but didn't figure out what his hint was about.... until now. Perhaps there will be a day 8 pt.2.
Pics:
I contacted a helper for help, but didn't figure out what his hint was about.... until now. Perhaps there will be a day 8 pt.2.
Pics:
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Day 7 - Scott
Apparently I'm destined to make spooky-ish tracks. This short track was created using my cell phone, my body (hands and voice), and my Telecaster.
Day 7- PJ
Word: Logger
I received this card as I put my suitcase in the back of my borrowed truck while breaking camp in St. George.
I looked in the back of the truck and saw the following items, exactly as depicted in the photo:
A logger cut the tree. And then consumed a lager to quench his thirst.
I received this card as I put my suitcase in the back of my borrowed truck while breaking camp in St. George.
I looked in the back of the truck and saw the following items, exactly as depicted in the photo:
A logger cut the tree. And then consumed a lager to quench his thirst.
POST 5 - EMILY
This is my crappy poem about the creative process.
Poor light
Flee or fight
Insight
Write write write
Piece of shite
Goodnight
Tomorrow might
Poor light
Flee or fight
Insight
Write write write
Piece of shite
Goodnight
Tomorrow might
my love is ever always
i'm a little late getting on here, so for now - something i wrote some time ago. fashioned after the manner of my all time favourite poet e.e. cummings....
my love is ever always quite so
wonderfulicious
new a thing
she returns life-sustaining breath to my soul and
(ambiguous tho i may seem)
r
a
i
n
s
her love floodingly
engulfing me
while all that i am
m
e
l
t
s
away
beams of purest light effulgent
forever to remain
my love is ever always quite so
wonderfulicious
new a thing
she returns life-sustaining breath to my soul and
(ambiguous tho i may seem)
r
a
i
n
s
her love floodingly
engulfing me
while all that i am
m
e
l
t
s
away
beams of purest light effulgent
forever to remain
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Day 6 - Scott
Today's recording was mediocre at best. I recorded a couple different drum tracks and mixed them together with various effects. Then I added a bass line with some "FATFUZ" distortion, but I completely lost my thread at that point. After screwing around with the guitar for a long time, nothing was working right; I put that away and thought I'd try something vocally, but that was even worse, so I just called it good.
This one will never see the light of day...
So instead of uploading some audio, here are a couple snapshots of some of the gear I'm using:
This one will never see the light of day...
So instead of uploading some audio, here are a couple snapshots of some of the gear I'm using:
Day 6- PJ
Greetings from a roadtrip. One more day of travelin' then all will be returned back to the normal place.
The word today is 'Eclectic'
Ok, I can do that.
Funky art.
Found architecture.
A play on the word 'electric'.
Finally giving up, driving down the freeway at 85 mph, I saw this sign and had to turn around to snag the image.
And then I had to mess it up.
The word today is 'Eclectic'
Ok, I can do that.
Funky art.
Found architecture.
A play on the word 'electric'.
Finally giving up, driving down the freeway at 85 mph, I saw this sign and had to turn around to snag the image.
And then I had to mess it up.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Day 5 - Scott
This morning's project was made up of five vocal tracks (no other instruments). Four of the tracks are different versions of the same recording: one of them is simply effected enough that the words are indiscernible; the other three were reversed before peppering them with effects.
My inspiration for this "song" (this is the least song-like of anything I've done so far) was Emily's "POST 4." The incoherent words are a deconstruction of the word "brittle."
Here it is:
My inspiration for this "song" (this is the least song-like of anything I've done so far) was Emily's "POST 4." The incoherent words are a deconstruction of the word "brittle."
Here it is:
In Good Company
I came across an interview with the "band" Dali's Car from 1985, and I found this statement from Mick Karn to be applicable to our Art Ward process:
"All the musicians around these days, their heroes are old people like the Beatles. But when you think of the Beatles they were limited to four tracks and that's why they produced what they did. Now there are so many options you can take you tend to be in the studio too long trying all the ideas out. If you limit yourself, I think that's the best way to accomplish something."
The parameters will set you free.
"All the musicians around these days, their heroes are old people like the Beatles. But when you think of the Beatles they were limited to four tracks and that's why they produced what they did. Now there are so many options you can take you tend to be in the studio too long trying all the ideas out. If you limit yourself, I think that's the best way to accomplish something."
The parameters will set you free.
Day 5- Affidavit
OK. Another one. The word is "Affidavit" with the additional modifier of "Religion, Mysticism, Spirituality"
I'm not sure I can articulate my connection between these things, but here's some stuff to look at. (a total copout, I know)
I wasn't too pleased to see that the card also wanted me to do a song, after the songfest yesterday.
But like a dutiful servant, I complied and cranked one out.
I held myself to a time limit this time: 60 minutes with another 30 for presentation.
Definitely a "warts and all" performance.
The images in the video are cool, but I didn't take them.
My pictures are presented above. The card specified B&W, Color and 'Other'- whatever that means.
And now, the video for Day 5:
Yes, it's Michael Stipe's eyes.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Day 4: Alex
I'm finding that once I settle on an idea that I'm excited about, I have little trouble keeping the ball rolling. Also, I've yet to finish any of my attempts inside of an hour--and I've decided I'm ok with that. I look forward to setting aside a little time out of my schedule to really open up creatively and so far it's been really gratifying. If nothing else, at the end of the month, I'll have 30 half-baked ideas ready for expansion and development.
POST 4 - EMILY
Today I planted tulip bulbs in my yard. Yellow leaves were all over the ground, so I picked one up and decided to use it as my inspiration today. After yesterday's lengthy story that I spent most of today revising, I think I'll do something different. I want to write down the first word that sprang into my head as I held that dying leaf.
BRITTLE.
I have always felt a link between humans and nature. Fall is my favorite time of year because the trees change color. The dry air is so refreshing. A last gasp before the cold of winter. When I was at USU, my teachers always said the only predictable thing about nature was its unpredictability. I think that's why I like it so much.
BRITTLE.
I have always felt a link between humans and nature. Fall is my favorite time of year because the trees change color. The dry air is so refreshing. A last gasp before the cold of winter. When I was at USU, my teachers always said the only predictable thing about nature was its unpredictability. I think that's why I like it so much.
POST 3 - EMILY
The hamburger pillow. Perfection in slumbertechnics. 5 beautiful layers of simulated deliciousness. I was going to win this contest for sure.
The fluffiest layer was first; the tan fabric bun on top was stuffed with quilter's batting and topped with a dozen of so sesame seeds (executed artfully with a black broad tip Sharpie). I was most proud of the second layer, the tomato. Red fabric sewn into a perfect circle and separated into five sections filled with juicy Sharpie seeds. Then the lettuce which was trickiest to sew, since it was not a circle like everything else. Each bump was accompanied by a set of veins stretching out to the leaf edge. Finally, the big fatty. The patty was my personal favorite part of the burger, all soft, brown and succulent. The last layer was the second half of the bun, which was much like the top half in shape and size. I used less stuffing so that it laid flatter, much like an actual bun bottom. My creation was flawless.
I picked out my coolest outfit:
Over-sized white T shirt with turquoise belt clip. Check.
Acid-washed pink denim skirt with three layers of ruffles. Check.
Three scrunchies in my hair (all different colors). Check.
Gigantic silver earrings. Check.
Lucky turquoise bracelet from Arizona. Check.
Two layers of socks (Pink then turquoise) Check.
Turquoise Converse sneakers. Check.
I was ready. I looked in the mirror one last time before leaving for school, feeling like a million bucks and carrying the hamburger pillow.
Honorable Mention? What does that even mean?? They mention me like I'm some afterthought or something??? Sure they say "honorable" like that's supposed to make me feel better, but it may as well be an "honorable" slap in the face for all the difference it makes. Did they not see the detail work on the tomato? I'm pretty sure that alone should have earned me the blue ribbon. Instead I was forced to wear this colorless abomination. This white ribbon of shame was a burden; my public disgrace that must be born with a quiet dignity if I called myself an artist at all.
But how could this have happened? There were only four people in the whole school that even entered the same category, 3-D Design. The girl who beat me to Third Place made one of those sucky baskets that the fourth graders always weave out of yarn and an empty plastic strawberry container. Her choice of yarn even sucked. The kid who got Second Place was a first grader who obviously specialized in crappy dragon sculptures. First Place was awarded to a girl in my class who cross-stitched a giant yellow happy face. It shouldn't even be considered 3-D, unless I guess if you counted the frame (which she probably found in a garbage can on the way to school).
I reviewed the day's events in my mind as I walked, looking for clues as to where I'd gone wrong. That morning I had brought in the hamburger pillow to class amid gasps and admiring glances from my fellow students. Mrs. Klaustrom had pulled me aside to ask if I had done all the work myself. Did my mom help me at all? Wait a minute. That was it! The entire contest was a sham; I fumed all the way home.
I confronted my mother as soon as I could and asked her what sort of enemies she had acquired while teaching art at the school. She looked up surprised, as I related the whole story, indignantly holding up the white ribbon as evidence. I moved away from her when she tried to touch my shoulder to calm me down.
"These things happen," she sympathized. I shrugged and sniffed, looking fixedly at the linoleum kitchen floor. "It's a beautiful ribbon," she coaxed. "Honorable Mention is great! That's like fourth place right?" Her smile looked hopeful.
"Out of four people?" I got pink in the face. "That's like getting a medal at the Special Olympics when you're not even retarded!" I sank into the nearest chair, defeated.
"Catie, don't say retarded," my mom chided softly.
"But everyone thinks I cheated!" My voice grew louder, "All of them! The whole school!" My mother came close and put her arm around me. I stiffened.
"Well I know you did the work, and so do you. That's all that really matters anyway." I looked dubious, but didn't contradict her. "Tell you what, go tell your brothers we're going out for pizza tonight to celebrate. It's not every day you win First Place." My mom grinned widely and took the crumpled white ribbon from my hand, shoving it behind the sofa.
Written November 3, 2010. Inspired by a red ribbon I was using as a bookmark.
The fluffiest layer was first; the tan fabric bun on top was stuffed with quilter's batting and topped with a dozen of so sesame seeds (executed artfully with a black broad tip Sharpie). I was most proud of the second layer, the tomato. Red fabric sewn into a perfect circle and separated into five sections filled with juicy Sharpie seeds. Then the lettuce which was trickiest to sew, since it was not a circle like everything else. Each bump was accompanied by a set of veins stretching out to the leaf edge. Finally, the big fatty. The patty was my personal favorite part of the burger, all soft, brown and succulent. The last layer was the second half of the bun, which was much like the top half in shape and size. I used less stuffing so that it laid flatter, much like an actual bun bottom. My creation was flawless.
I picked out my coolest outfit:
Over-sized white T shirt with turquoise belt clip. Check.
Acid-washed pink denim skirt with three layers of ruffles. Check.
Three scrunchies in my hair (all different colors). Check.
Gigantic silver earrings. Check.
Lucky turquoise bracelet from Arizona. Check.
Two layers of socks (Pink then turquoise) Check.
Turquoise Converse sneakers. Check.
I was ready. I looked in the mirror one last time before leaving for school, feeling like a million bucks and carrying the hamburger pillow.
Honorable Mention? What does that even mean?? They mention me like I'm some afterthought or something??? Sure they say "honorable" like that's supposed to make me feel better, but it may as well be an "honorable" slap in the face for all the difference it makes. Did they not see the detail work on the tomato? I'm pretty sure that alone should have earned me the blue ribbon. Instead I was forced to wear this colorless abomination. This white ribbon of shame was a burden; my public disgrace that must be born with a quiet dignity if I called myself an artist at all.
But how could this have happened? There were only four people in the whole school that even entered the same category, 3-D Design. The girl who beat me to Third Place made one of those sucky baskets that the fourth graders always weave out of yarn and an empty plastic strawberry container. Her choice of yarn even sucked. The kid who got Second Place was a first grader who obviously specialized in crappy dragon sculptures. First Place was awarded to a girl in my class who cross-stitched a giant yellow happy face. It shouldn't even be considered 3-D, unless I guess if you counted the frame (which she probably found in a garbage can on the way to school).
I reviewed the day's events in my mind as I walked, looking for clues as to where I'd gone wrong. That morning I had brought in the hamburger pillow to class amid gasps and admiring glances from my fellow students. Mrs. Klaustrom had pulled me aside to ask if I had done all the work myself. Did my mom help me at all? Wait a minute. That was it! The entire contest was a sham; I fumed all the way home.
I confronted my mother as soon as I could and asked her what sort of enemies she had acquired while teaching art at the school. She looked up surprised, as I related the whole story, indignantly holding up the white ribbon as evidence. I moved away from her when she tried to touch my shoulder to calm me down.
"These things happen," she sympathized. I shrugged and sniffed, looking fixedly at the linoleum kitchen floor. "It's a beautiful ribbon," she coaxed. "Honorable Mention is great! That's like fourth place right?" Her smile looked hopeful.
"Out of four people?" I got pink in the face. "That's like getting a medal at the Special Olympics when you're not even retarded!" I sank into the nearest chair, defeated.
"Catie, don't say retarded," my mom chided softly.
"But everyone thinks I cheated!" My voice grew louder, "All of them! The whole school!" My mother came close and put her arm around me. I stiffened.
"Well I know you did the work, and so do you. That's all that really matters anyway." I looked dubious, but didn't contradict her. "Tell you what, go tell your brothers we're going out for pizza tonight to celebrate. It's not every day you win First Place." My mom grinned widely and took the crumpled white ribbon from my hand, shoving it behind the sofa.
Written November 3, 2010. Inspired by a red ribbon I was using as a bookmark.
Day 4- Boarding
Boarding. The word today was 'Boarding' ummmmm OK.
The card assignment was to create a song as well as some images.
I couldn't stop myself- there's 2 songs.
Musical influences (indirect as they may be:)
Power to the People- John Lennon (this is where I picked up the tempos for both songs)
Straight to Hell- The Clash
Nothing in My Way- Keane
I am noticing that the mix is a bit off on these. I'll go back to fix them sometime. Or not.
Video #1:
Video #2:
The card assignment was to create a song as well as some images.
I couldn't stop myself- there's 2 songs.
Musical influences (indirect as they may be:)
Power to the People- John Lennon (this is where I picked up the tempos for both songs)
Straight to Hell- The Clash
Nothing in My Way- Keane
I am noticing that the mix is a bit off on these. I'll go back to fix them sometime. Or not.
Video #1:
Video #2:
Day 4 - Scott
I actually recorded this one yesterday, but my Thursdays are really busy, so I decided to get ahead. Besides, I figured out how to reverse tracks (had to do it through Audacity and import it), so I wanted to use my new skillz.
For this one, I started by grabbing the original "jingle" clip from yesterday's song and reversing it in Audacity. I then slowed down the playback speed by a bunch and lowered the pitch to a menacing drone. After that, I imported the modified track into GarageBand and put it into three separate tracks that all play the same thing simultaneously. I created different effects, panning, and volume tweaks for each of the tracks to give it some texture and additional ominousness(ness?). Once I was happy with the results, I grabbed my bass and plugged into my pedal with the old Death by Deathray preset "EXP158" cranked to maximum delay loopage. I recorded two tracks this way; the first has some atmospheric clicks and other noises, and the second is an all-out sonic blast that starts at zero volume and slowly crescendos (with peaks and valleys) until it overwhelms the other tracks in a final burst of energy.
And finally, I took Pete's advice and created a video for the song and uploaded it to YouTube, which took much longer to do than it did to actually record the song, even when compressing it into the lowest res version. (Look for the special cameo appearance by Lester):
P.S. I've decided that some of my next pieces will be inspired by the output of all y'all artistes.
For this one, I started by grabbing the original "jingle" clip from yesterday's song and reversing it in Audacity. I then slowed down the playback speed by a bunch and lowered the pitch to a menacing drone. After that, I imported the modified track into GarageBand and put it into three separate tracks that all play the same thing simultaneously. I created different effects, panning, and volume tweaks for each of the tracks to give it some texture and additional ominousness(ness?). Once I was happy with the results, I grabbed my bass and plugged into my pedal with the old Death by Deathray preset "EXP158" cranked to maximum delay loopage. I recorded two tracks this way; the first has some atmospheric clicks and other noises, and the second is an all-out sonic blast that starts at zero volume and slowly crescendos (with peaks and valleys) until it overwhelms the other tracks in a final burst of energy.
And finally, I took Pete's advice and created a video for the song and uploaded it to YouTube, which took much longer to do than it did to actually record the song, even when compressing it into the lowest res version. (Look for the special cameo appearance by Lester):
P.S. I've decided that some of my next pieces will be inspired by the output of all y'all artistes.
Day 4 challenge
Today I drew a card that requires the creation of a song to go with my image.
Luckily I spent a few hours yesterday cleaning up and prepping the recording system. Haven't used actual tape for a long time. 15 years probably.
It's strange to be recording on a system that doesn't require a 'Save' command every few minutes.
That's not even a small percentage of the changes in technique required when I don't have unlimited numbers of tracks and real-time effects available.
Feeling like the olden days... and wanting to get out the old boxes of tapes.
Luckily I spent a few hours yesterday cleaning up and prepping the recording system. Haven't used actual tape for a long time. 15 years probably.
It's strange to be recording on a system that doesn't require a 'Save' command every few minutes.
That's not even a small percentage of the changes in technique required when I don't have unlimited numbers of tracks and real-time effects available.
Feeling like the olden days... and wanting to get out the old boxes of tapes.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Days 1 and 2 - Celeborn
Okay. So I have not had time to post, due to school and such. But here it is:
Day 1:
Mr. George B. Macindaw
George Benjamin Macindaw was born in 1776, on the 4th of July in the city of New York, New York.. He lived his childhood on a small farm in the vicinity of present day Washington DC. They farmed only for survival, not for money and trade. George grew up on a healthy yet meager diet of bread, beef, and cheese. He learned to work hard and save money to buy needs, not wants. Having grown up in a farming home, he didn’t have time for learning. George joined school at age 22, when he moved out to start his own life. He then graduated from Harvard University with a degree in finance and accounting. He started a bank called Macindaw Banking and Loans. He married the mayor’s daughter, Virginia May, in 1791, on Midsummer night. They had 3 children together, George Junior, Harry, and Anne. He made quite a bit of money banking, and began the Macindaw family fortune. The family grew up in a nice house with expensive suits and furniture, as well as top of the line meals. George had an addiction to pipe-smoking, as this was considered proper for a high class banker to do. He then died in his early 60’s, in 1826.
Day 2:
Mr. James T. Thomas
James Tyler Thomas was born on the 19th of December, 1801. He was born and raised in the early settlement of Jersey City, New Jersey. He grew up on stories of the American Revolution and the great heroes: George Washington, Paul Revere, and other legends. He lived as a town boy, and went to school at an early age, graduating 8th grade at the age of 12. He went to high school immediately after, earned his diploma, and went to Harvard, graduating with a degree in political science and another in physical science. He met his future wife while attending college. She was graduating with a law degree. They had one child, Charles. James lived a long and healthy life until March 1874.
I'm not going to post the whole character background every day, but this is it so far. I immediately felt the positive effects of this exercise, and knew then that by the end of the month, my circle of knowledge will have expanded greatly. This will make it easier to write stories, and creating good characters has always been a challenge for me.
We need to do this at least twice a year, in November and sometime in the summer. This is awesome, and I can't think of a better group of people to do it with.
POST 2 - EMILY
I am completely surrounded by myself.
Wherever I go there is no one but me.
I am the ocean soft, white, frothy loftiness. Loveliness.
Sometimes I am a sleek plate of shiny dark glass. Solid and Unchanging.
Other times I roar and rage, an urgent destroyer.
I run fingers across my cool surface, letting water swirl around each digit.
How long will the calm last?
Beauty can be ugly when accompanied by fear.
I feel a pull to save you but I am too far away
You cannot reach across the sea.
I long for you and me.
Written November 2, 2010
Inspired by a letter I found to Ike that I wrote June 24th, 1997. I was almost 20 and was studying abroad in London for two months.
Wherever I go there is no one but me.
I am the ocean soft, white, frothy loftiness. Loveliness.
Sometimes I am a sleek plate of shiny dark glass. Solid and Unchanging.
Other times I roar and rage, an urgent destroyer.
I run fingers across my cool surface, letting water swirl around each digit.
How long will the calm last?
Beauty can be ugly when accompanied by fear.
I feel a pull to save you but I am too far away
You cannot reach across the sea.
I long for you and me.
Written November 2, 2010
Inspired by a letter I found to Ike that I wrote June 24th, 1997. I was almost 20 and was studying abroad in London for two months.
Day 3 - Scott
I just finished song #3. This time, I recorded only three tracks. One of them is a blistery but slow and methodical bass guitar lead; another is a throbbing keyboard sound with modulation; and the final track was a more chaotic process:
- I grabbed a pre-recorded jingle track (several seconds long) from GarageBand's library and pasted it into the track.
- I chopped the jingle (they call it a jingle, but it was a symphonic snippet) into tiny pieces and placed them in random order with spaces between them and duplicated them to last as long as I wanted.
- I forced the track through several effects until it was unrecognizable.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with it. I was hoping to put in some reverse tracks, but I couldn't figure out how to make GarageBand do that. (Anyone know how?)
I'm also still searching for a good solution to posting audio on this blog, but I can't find anything worth my time. Anyone know of something (easy) that would work?
POST 1 - EMILY
The nightmare.
I open my eyes to find myself in a dark room. I realize it is my room but it feels strange like the walls are perhaps cardboard propped up in front of watchful eyes. I sit up in my strange bed, unfamiliar with the faux similarities of the room compared to the cozy sanctuary I fell asleep in. I look around more carefully. I am still unsure of whether I am dreaming or perhaps I just have sleep in my eyes that muddles reality. My mind can’t focus and details elude me, shifting their forms before I turn to see them. The shadows in each corner of the room are not black but describing the color is difficult. Menace has no color, but rather a feeling. It is brooding and fluid, dangerous and fascinating. I see the darkness thicken, slowly at first just in the corners then rapidly engulfing more and more light until I am pooled by living ink. I force my limbs to move and shift my weight towards the edge. My feet land unevenly on the floor as I imagine something sinister under the bed waiting to grab and drag me under. I stand still as a statue, frozen by the chills crawling up my legs. I know I have to move and get out of this room. There remains a single source of gloating light, coming from under the closed door. The light retreats; the room feels cold and wet like the bottom of a pool. The shadows chuckle; I dive for the door.
I open my eyes to find myself in a dark room. I realize it is my room but it feels strange like the walls are perhaps cardboard propped up in front of watchful eyes. I sit up in my strange bed, unfamiliar with the faux similarities of the room compared to the cozy sanctuary I fell asleep in. I look around more carefully. I am still unsure of whether I am dreaming or perhaps I just have sleep in my eyes that muddles reality. My mind can’t focus and details elude me, shifting their forms before I turn to see them. The shadows in each corner of the room are not black but describing the color is difficult. Menace has no color, but rather a feeling. It is brooding and fluid, dangerous and fascinating. I see the darkness thicken, slowly at first just in the corners then rapidly engulfing more and more light until I am pooled by living ink. I force my limbs to move and shift my weight towards the edge. My feet land unevenly on the floor as I imagine something sinister under the bed waiting to grab and drag me under. I stand still as a statue, frozen by the chills crawling up my legs. I know I have to move and get out of this room. There remains a single source of gloating light, coming from under the closed door. The light retreats; the room feels cold and wet like the bottom of a pool. The shadows chuckle; I dive for the door.
Out of breath I gasp in the hallway, not remembering how I opened the door or if there even was one. I am still in my house just two doors away from my parents’ bedroom. My family hangs complacently in pictures on the walls. They have no eyes but smile just the same. I am standing heavily now unsure of my next move, temporarily safe but wary. I feel a presence just out of sight and imagine the worst. I want to run or shout for help but my legs are rubber and my tongue missing. There is no one to hear me. I turn the corner and see the nightmare waiting for me.
It has no shape or name but quivers in anticipation. Its body is only made of emptiness and eyes that devour. I open my mouth in surprise and the thing scrambles up the front of me, blurring my vision with terror. The fright enters my lips, slipping down my throat with the evil elegance of a snake. Sudden anger coils inside me, searing my insides with the pure venom of hate and malice. Every painful memory I ever suppressed comes fresh up my spine pouring sadness and despair into my mind. I fall to the floor and convulse uncontrollably. My muscles writhe and try to ring out the pain by twisting violently again and again. My head pounds into the wall bringing bright spots to my vision. I gasp and wretch emptiness. My heart sputters and I stop all movement, no longer wanting to win, just wishing for an end to all the pain. The nightmare finally reaches the outlands of my consciousness. My soul struggles pathetically before giving in to the surety of death.
I open my eyes to find myself in a dark room.
Written November 1, 2010.
Inspired by a Laffy Taffy wrapper: "When is it bad luck to meet a black cat? When you're a mouse."
DAYS 2 & 3 - BARRETT
I'm realizing now that I may not be able to post each day, since I'm sometimes away from Happy Valley for more than a day at a time, and currently am without my own computer. Grrrrrr. In that spirit, I'm writing for two days in a row here, anticipating that I won't be back til Thursday. 'Nuff said on that topic.
I find Pete's system of card-dictated image and sound generation fascinating, and would like to know more about how it works. Pete, if you don't mind, I'd love more detail on that Alternately, I can call or come by soon to see for myself, if you don't mind.
At any rate, your previous word of "Knighthood" sparks my imagination, though I'm not sure with what. The main character of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Philosopher's Stone" is a blind young woman. One of my heroes/fixations over the years has been and remains Joan of Arc. Andersen typically seems to have elevated women to saint-like status, placing them on pedestals of innocence and purity seemingly unattainable to males, as shown through his main character here, known as the Angel of Devotion, I believe. As you may have guessed, I'm connecting her now with Joan, known by the French as Joan d'Arc.
This reminds me of "The Passion of Joan of Arc," directed by one of my all-time favorite filmmakers, Carl Theodore Dreyer, which features the near-mythical Antonin Artaud in a supporting role as the only noncorrupt member of the priesthood who otherwise uniformly despise and condemn the French folk hero. The native spelling of her name I find to be especially stirring... "d'Arc." It reminds me, perhaps all too predictably, of "Dark," which I find inherently appealing.
DARK:
a) The heroine is blind after all, which shows itself later as a strength against the attempted deceptions of the Evil One who would thwart her mission of rescuing her fallen brothers (deluded through the heightened sense each possesses, their individual strengths having become the Achilles heel through which the Devil brings them down). Her blindness I have likened in previous discussions (years ago) with Ike and Josh to be a metaphorical equivalent, for me, of "going into the darkness" and relying upon the Unknown as Source for creation and discovery.
b) I think also of The Dark Knight, as vigilante hero, outside the system and unforeseen by the oppressive elements of Gotham's criminal underground. She, as the Angel of Devotion, may seem an unlikely equivalent to The Bat-Man indeed, but in such a world where her princely brothers had all gone out one by one as the seeming best and only hopes of their father's court, she does have a way of coming from out of left field, unexpected and, unlooked for (quite so, having no functioning physical eyes, indeed). A superhero in essence, cloaked already in the secret identity of the flesh's protecting frailty.
c) I'm reminded of that very short song by Low, I think at the end of "The Curtain Hits the Cast"(?), titled "Dark"(?):
There are many things to be afraid of,
like boats and death(?) and flying high.
There are many things to be afraid of,
but don't be afraid... of the dark.
That's the entirety of the lyrics (the song's maybe under a minute or less), but it comes to mind, perhaps because of the simplicity and childlike, comforting faith of the piece, in association with the purity of this Angel of Devotion. Perhaps I would use that actual song in the piece, or a reflection of it.
This makes me think of tying her with a less obvious kind of luminosity than the brazen, overpowering Sun or perhaps even the romantic and elusive Moon... perhaps she could be tied to the "Invisible Sun" that The Police dwell upon in thier "Ghost In the Machine" album (my favorite by far). In fact, their track (from that same source), "Secret Journey," puts forth that:
Upon a secret journey, I met a holy man.
His blindness was his wisdom,
and later the refrain,
You will see light in the darkness,
You will make some sense of this,
You will see joy in this sadness,
You will find this love you miss,
and when you make your secret journey,
you will be a holy man.
Here's a theme I should respect and note: I find great consolation and inspiration in Darkness, Blindness, the Unseen shining forth, perhaps undetected for its dark rays burning against a sable sky. The Angel of Devotion as Joan d'Arc/Dark/Knight of the Dark, associated perhaps with a single firefly's invisible light...
In the vein (mentioned in my previous post) of drawing upon or evoking folklore from all over the world, perhaps this use of "d'Arc/Dark" could also be employed even obviously (through use of a French accent when speaking her lines, if she has any at all), thus evoking not only Denmark (Christensen's native home), but France as well. The piece could serve not only as a kind of kids' science fair on the nature of the various senses, but also as a way of highlighting diversity through depicting the various characters (even the sibling princes and their sister) as suggestive of different ethnic or cultural backgrounds. This could also supply me as performer with a way of exploring, further developing, and showcasing a range of dialect skills! A tricky part of this would be to avoid the danger of showing any cultures as somehow inferior, and the French as superior to them all. Don't want to confuse the show with unintended messages. Hmmmm. May just cross that bridge when I come to it, rather than worrying about it too early (and thus cut out possible creative discoveries that would otherwise be edited out before they could even occur).
Noted: Joan Dark.(?)
I find Pete's system of card-dictated image and sound generation fascinating, and would like to know more about how it works. Pete, if you don't mind, I'd love more detail on that Alternately, I can call or come by soon to see for myself, if you don't mind.
At any rate, your previous word of "Knighthood" sparks my imagination, though I'm not sure with what. The main character of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Philosopher's Stone" is a blind young woman. One of my heroes/fixations over the years has been and remains Joan of Arc. Andersen typically seems to have elevated women to saint-like status, placing them on pedestals of innocence and purity seemingly unattainable to males, as shown through his main character here, known as the Angel of Devotion, I believe. As you may have guessed, I'm connecting her now with Joan, known by the French as Joan d'Arc.
This reminds me of "The Passion of Joan of Arc," directed by one of my all-time favorite filmmakers, Carl Theodore Dreyer, which features the near-mythical Antonin Artaud in a supporting role as the only noncorrupt member of the priesthood who otherwise uniformly despise and condemn the French folk hero. The native spelling of her name I find to be especially stirring... "d'Arc." It reminds me, perhaps all too predictably, of "Dark," which I find inherently appealing.
DARK:
a) The heroine is blind after all, which shows itself later as a strength against the attempted deceptions of the Evil One who would thwart her mission of rescuing her fallen brothers (deluded through the heightened sense each possesses, their individual strengths having become the Achilles heel through which the Devil brings them down). Her blindness I have likened in previous discussions (years ago) with Ike and Josh to be a metaphorical equivalent, for me, of "going into the darkness" and relying upon the Unknown as Source for creation and discovery.
b) I think also of The Dark Knight, as vigilante hero, outside the system and unforeseen by the oppressive elements of Gotham's criminal underground. She, as the Angel of Devotion, may seem an unlikely equivalent to The Bat-Man indeed, but in such a world where her princely brothers had all gone out one by one as the seeming best and only hopes of their father's court, she does have a way of coming from out of left field, unexpected and, unlooked for (quite so, having no functioning physical eyes, indeed). A superhero in essence, cloaked already in the secret identity of the flesh's protecting frailty.
c) I'm reminded of that very short song by Low, I think at the end of "The Curtain Hits the Cast"(?), titled "Dark"(?):
There are many things to be afraid of,
like boats and death(?) and flying high.
There are many things to be afraid of,
but don't be afraid... of the dark.
That's the entirety of the lyrics (the song's maybe under a minute or less), but it comes to mind, perhaps because of the simplicity and childlike, comforting faith of the piece, in association with the purity of this Angel of Devotion. Perhaps I would use that actual song in the piece, or a reflection of it.
This makes me think of tying her with a less obvious kind of luminosity than the brazen, overpowering Sun or perhaps even the romantic and elusive Moon... perhaps she could be tied to the "Invisible Sun" that The Police dwell upon in thier "Ghost In the Machine" album (my favorite by far). In fact, their track (from that same source), "Secret Journey," puts forth that:
Upon a secret journey, I met a holy man.
His blindness was his wisdom,
and later the refrain,
You will see light in the darkness,
You will make some sense of this,
You will see joy in this sadness,
You will find this love you miss,
and when you make your secret journey,
you will be a holy man.
Here's a theme I should respect and note: I find great consolation and inspiration in Darkness, Blindness, the Unseen shining forth, perhaps undetected for its dark rays burning against a sable sky. The Angel of Devotion as Joan d'Arc/Dark/Knight of the Dark, associated perhaps with a single firefly's invisible light...
In the vein (mentioned in my previous post) of drawing upon or evoking folklore from all over the world, perhaps this use of "d'Arc/Dark" could also be employed even obviously (through use of a French accent when speaking her lines, if she has any at all), thus evoking not only Denmark (Christensen's native home), but France as well. The piece could serve not only as a kind of kids' science fair on the nature of the various senses, but also as a way of highlighting diversity through depicting the various characters (even the sibling princes and their sister) as suggestive of different ethnic or cultural backgrounds. This could also supply me as performer with a way of exploring, further developing, and showcasing a range of dialect skills! A tricky part of this would be to avoid the danger of showing any cultures as somehow inferior, and the French as superior to them all. Don't want to confuse the show with unintended messages. Hmmmm. May just cross that bridge when I come to it, rather than worrying about it too early (and thus cut out possible creative discoveries that would otherwise be edited out before they could even occur).
Noted: Joan Dark.(?)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Day 2 - Scott
Once again, the time limit was too restricting, but I created something a bit different than yesterday's track. This time, it's got only one bass guitar track, a drum track (extremely basic), and three Telecaster tracks. The length is 2:46. The overall sound maintains a certain blistering noisiness like yesterday's, but it's more "songy."
After listening to both tracks I've made so far, I like yesterday's better...
Okay. I was going to post today's track, but the stupid free site I used for that purpose is seriously screwed up, so I'll have to find a new site for it and try again on a different track in the future. Blah.
After listening to both tracks I've made so far, I like yesterday's better...
Okay. I was going to post today's track, but the stupid free site I used for that purpose is seriously screwed up, so I'll have to find a new site for it and try again on a different track in the future. Blah.
Day 2- PJ
So I have been trying to post this post from my mobile devices for about 4 hours. No dice.
I had to leave my computer at work today- a long story involving file copying and running out of hard drive space.
So I've snuck on to my honey's computer for a moment before bed to get Day 2 posted.
The card today was a simple one:
Bulldog.
I had a few ideas. This one makes me giggle.
I went over to the place- behind enemy lines- to snag this photo.
The last time I was on the PHS grounds? A long time ago. Many many years. I don't remember when, but I can remember who I was with....
I had to leave my computer at work today- a long story involving file copying and running out of hard drive space.
So I've snuck on to my honey's computer for a moment before bed to get Day 2 posted.
The card today was a simple one:
Bulldog.
I had a few ideas. This one makes me giggle.
I went over to the place- behind enemy lines- to snag this photo.
The last time I was on the PHS grounds? A long time ago. Many many years. I don't remember when, but I can remember who I was with....
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