DIG Volume 1 by James Wilson

DIG

B E TA late winter 2013

ideas & facts / writings & images / assignments & suggestions

D I G c o n s i s t s o f m a ny d i f f e re n t things bits of c u r i o s i t y, written things, drawn things, assignments... Vo l u m e s a re published online as often as possible.

foreword :

H e l l o. This is the inaugural/beta version i s s u e o f D I G. T h e re i s n o e x p l i c i t theme r unning throughout. T his i s a t e s t r u n - a l o t o f d i f f e re n t i d e a s t h r o w n a t t h e w a l l . We â&#x20AC;&#x2122; l l see what sticks. Many of the content contained within was sourced from the Internet - that most curiousityfilled of non-places. Fe e d b a c k i s w e l c o m e d , b u t n o t ex a c t ly ex p e c t e d . T h a n k yo u f o r per using. J. Wilson

lyric

T he trees lit from below looked like the face of those telling ghost stories. This one talks about the big bang T h o s e c l u s t e re d ov e r t h e re t a l k Manhattan in a good even tone We â&#x20AC;&#x2122; l l c o n t e n t o u r s e l v e s o n h a m and cheese, sit in silence and agree with the breeze. Dir ty Projector s _ Lit From Below1

â&#x20AC;&#x153; . . . t h e i d e a o f s h a r i n g o r a g re e i n g o n a m u t u a l ly bl u r re d i m a ge. A l s o j u s t t h e i d e a o f t h i s b l o o m o f i m a g i n a t i o n t h a t h a p p e n s w h e n t h i n g s a r e t r a n s l a t e d p o o r l y ,â&#x20AC;? 1

list {Types of stars.}

Protostar T Tauri Star Main Sequence Star Red Giant Star White Dwarf Star Red Dwarf Star Neutron Star Supergiant Star

here i dreamt i was an architect : [â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baptizeâ&#x20AC;? _ Credit Card Cemetery]

Drawings from a studio project to design a C re d i t Card Cemeter y f or the town of New H a r m o n y, I n d i a n a . The idea for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baptizeâ&#x20AC;? space i s f o r t h e d eb t o r t o re l i eve themselves of their burden t o wa s h t h e i r c re d i t c a rd ( s ) and to then inter it in a safe p l a c e - s o m ewh e re o u t o f t h e i r re a c h - i n a j a r h i g h u p o n a shelf or at the bottom of a very t a l l re c e p t a c l e. T h i s p ro c e s s is meant to give the debtor a f re s h s t a r t , a s e c o n d c h a n c e, a n ew l e a s e o n l i f e, d eb t - f re e. J. Wilson [All rights reserved.]

flickr set : Photographs of fireflies posted on Flickr between June 1 and August 31, 2011

draft : [Finch and I] finch and i sit listening to a world with no l i g h t . i c a n o n ly t e l l t h a t f i n c h i s s t i l l t h e re when he quickly flaps his wings several t i m e s i n a r ow, t o w a k e h i m s e l f u p . t h e s o u n d s move across the landscape, climbing and d e s c e n d i n g t o p o g r a p h y. s h a d o w s o f s i l e n c e a re c a s t by t h i s g re a t b i g m i g ra t i o n o f sound coming across the world from nor th t o s o u t h . o u r eye s a re c l o s e d - o r a t l e a s t i k n ow m i n e a re - t h ey a re t i re d o f va i n ly tr ying to see something, anything. it was so aw k wa rd a t f i r s t , n o i m a ge r y a t a l l p a i re d up with the constant music rolling across us. o u r e y e s d i d n â&#x20AC;&#x2122; t b e l i e v e i t . w e t h o u g h t w e â&#x20AC;&#x2122;d been stricken blind. we stopped fumbling eventually and sat down in a warm spot to listen. finch was not as calm as i was at first - a lot of anxious f lutter ing and pecking. it sounded like it was early mor ning when he star ted to calm down and accept the change. the tones and melodies washed

over us gently like the earliest rays of the sun as it peeked over the hor izon. ever y now and then we could hear others listening t o o. s o m e t i m e s yo u wo u l d h e a r s o m e o n e h u m m i n g a l o n g w i t h i t . t h e n yo u we re n o t s u re i f i t wa s yo u yo u r s e l f t h a t wa s h u m m i n g. all sounds became entwined, intermingled, f o r m i n g o n e g i g a n t i c , i n t r i c a t e s y m p h o n y. as another day ended and the sound began to settle and smooth out, leaving longer and l o n ge r s h a d ow s o f s i l e n c e. yo u t h o u g h t t h a t i t wa s p o s s i bl e t h a t yo u wo u l d s l e e p f o r a wh i l e - bu t t h e re wa s n o re a l ly re l i a bl e way t o t e l l t h e d i f f e re n c e b e t we e n t h i s c h a n ge d wo rl d a n d o n e t h a t ex i s t e d i n yo u r d re a m s . f i n c h f l u t t e r e d n e x t t o m e . h e ’s s t i l l t h e r e . i s p o ke f i r s t t h e n : “ d i d yo u eve r h ave a ny idea that this is how it would end?” f inch re s p o n d e d a f t e r a wh i l e w i t h a c h i r p t h a t w a s e a s i l y t r a n s l a t e d : “ n e v e r , b u t i t ’s … “

on earth : Where the Black Sea meets the Bosphorus Latitude : 42.22 / Longitude : 29.13

recipe : [root vegetable pizza] the dough: 1 / 4 o z ye a s t 3 cups flour 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon sugar 1 cup warm water the toppings: 3 cloves garlic, cr ushed 1 large celer y root 1/4 pound car rots 1/4 pound parsnips 1/4 pound yucca root 1/4 pound sweet potatoes 1 m e d i u m re d o n i o n olive oil 1 t a bl e s p o o n f re s h ro s e m a r y c o a r s e s a l t a n d f re s h ly g ro u n d pepper

p re p a re t h e d o u g h : C o m b i n e f l o u r, s a l t , s u g a r, a n d ye a s t i n a l a rge b ow l . M i x i n o i l a n d w a r m w a t e r.

roast the vegetables:

make the pizza:

P re h e a t ove n t o 4 5 0 d e g re e s , w i t h racks in upper and lower thirds. Divide vegetables and garlic evenly between two rimmed baking sheets; drizzle with oil, a n d s e a s o n w i t h s a l t a n d p e p p e r. To s s t o c o m b i n e, t h e n s p re a d i n s i n g l e l aye r s .

P re h e a t ove n t o 4 7 5 d e g re e s , w i t h racks in upper and lower thirds. Brush a large rimless baking s h e e t w i t h o i l . G e n t ly s t re t c h dough into 12-by-16-inch oval; t ra n s f e r t o p re p a re d s h e e t .

R o a s t u n t i l ve ge t a bl e s a re t e n d e r and beginning to brown, 40 to 50 minutes, tossing vegetables and rotating sheets from top to bottom halfway through.

Scatter vegetables evenly across dough. Dr izzle with oil; season with salt and pepper and r o s e m a r y. B a k e r o t a t i n g s h e e t from top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until cr ust is golden -20 to 25 minutes.

listen to this song [here] : sunset r ubown _ magic vs. midas Listen to this song with headphones while walking through a natural histor y museum. F i n d a b i g ge r, o l d e r m u s e u m t o walk around in. Find a wing of t h e m u s e u m t h a t i s re l a t ive ly d e s e r t e d . I f t h e m u s e u m yo u go to has a dimly lit wing full of old dioramas - the kind with stuffed mammals positioned a m o n g s t f a ke t re e s a n d g ra s s and that type of stuf f in front of a painted backdrop of a landscape a n d s ky - go t h e re a n d wa l k around and listen to this song on headphones. If the museum yo u go t o d o e s n o t h ave ro o m s like these, then hopefully it will have rooms with mannequins that a re d re s s e d u p i n o l d h i s t o r i c a l c l o t h e s . I f t h e m u s e u m yo u go to does not have rooms like this e i t h e r, t h e n h o p e f u l ly i t w i l l have a room full of suits of armor and shields and swords and o t h e r o l d w e a p o n s . Wa l k s l o w l y t h ro u g h t h e s p a c e wh i l e yo u

l i s t e n . M a ke eye c o n t a c t w i t h t h e dead stuffed animals and/or the m a n n e q u i n s . Tow a rd s t h e m i d d l e of the song, stop walking around and stand still. Imagine that the inanimate stuffed animals and/ o r m a n n e q u i n s a re n ow a n i m a t e. I m a g i n e t h a t t h ey a re m ov i n g tiny amounts - just enough to b e b a re ly p e rc e p t i bl e. I m a g i n e that all of the things around yo u i n t h e m u s e u m a re s u d d e n ly vibrating with life for just a few moments - only as long as the song is playing. As the song comes to an end, imagine all of the minor vibrations of the things around yo u stopping s l o w l y, w i t h a f e e l i n g o f e p i c f i n a l i t y. C o n t i nu e t o s t a n d t h e re a f t e r t h e s o n g h a s p l aye d a n d t r y t o d e t e c t a ny m ove m e n t s . S t a re s t ra i g h t f o r wa rd bu t t r y t o f o c u s o n yo u r full range of peripheral vision. Try not to blink for a time. Stop d o i n g t h i s wh e n yo u r eye s s t a r t t o b u r n o r w a t e r.

drawings of birds : by Laura Rose Dillon

album: Magnetic Fields _ Holiday T h e a l b u m g o e s b y f a s t . Yo u h i t p l a y a n d t h e n t h e m u s i c s t a r t s a n d yo u ge t d i s t ra c t e d a n d t h e n s u d d e n ly t h e l a s t n o t e s o f t h e l a s t s o n g a r e p l a y i n g . I t ’s a c a r e f r e e d a y g o n e t o o s o o n . T i m e f l y s w h e n y o u ’ r e listening to good music.

B B C R A D I O P H O N I C WO R K S H O P

super shor t and sweet, the star t of a fun tr ip, optimistic o u t l o o k o n t h e d a y, w i t h h i n t s o f t r o u b l e a h e a d m a y b e , d o n ’ t we j u s t k n ow t h a t t h i n g s c a n n o t a lway s b e s o c a re f re e ?

DESERT ISLAND

o n e o f t h e M a g n e t i c F i e l d s ’ b e s t e x a m p l e s o f v e r y s i m p l e a n d ve r y g re a t l i t t l e s o n g s

DEEP SEA DIVING SUIT

a t u r n t o m e l a n c h o l y, l o s t l o v e , w h a t S t e p h e n M e r r i t t d o e s s o w e l l , s t r a i g h t f a c e d , p l a i n f a c t s o f b e i n g s t u c k a n d being sorry about it, and sad too

S T R A N G E P OW E R S

w h o h a s n ’ t f e l t a t t i m e s e x h a u s t e d a n d f o r l o r n a b o u t t h e i m m e n s e m a g i c p o w e r s t h e o n e w e l o v e m o s t h a v e o v e r u s . i m m e r s e d i n s t r a n g e f e e l i n g s , i n l o v e a n d n o l o n g e r i n control

T O R N G R E E N V E LV E T E Y E S

m o r e s w e e t s o u n d i n g m e l a n c h o l y, d e s p a i r o v e r l o v e m a d e i n t o l i q u i d n o i s e , i t ’s a b r i g h t d a y, s o s u n n y y o u h a v e t o s q u i n t , b u t y o u r h e a r t i s s h r e d s a n d y o u ’ r e o u t o f b r e a t h f r o m b e i n g s o h e a r t b r o k e n , b u t y e t t h e w o r l d i s s t i l l immensely gorgeous

T H E F L OW E R S S H E S E N T A N D T H E F L OW E R S S H E S A I D SHE SENT a soundtrack f or the deceived, f or those who want to believe what cannot be true, what it sounds like in that space between what we want and what is, we struggle to accept this inequality our whole lives through

SWINGING LONDON

k n o c k i t u p a n o t c h , a s o n g a s l e t t e r, m o re d ay d re a m i n g, m o re longing, a wish f or the best times of our lives to just continue, a f o n d re m e m b ra n c e o f h a p p i n e s s b a c k t h e n , ge t t i n g l o s t i n i t and forgetting to come home

IN MY SECRET PLACE

c o n f i d e n t i a l wh i s p e r s , a s a f e h o l d , t e n s i o n c a re f u l ly bu i l t a n d then broken

SAD LITTLE MOON

w h i s p e r s a b o u t q u i e t t i m e s , s i l e n t p l a c e s - s i l e n t m o o n i n t h e s k y, s i l e n t s n ow f a l l i n g - a s o n g a b o u t wa n t i n g t o s h a re ex p e r i e c e s of these things with someone

THE TROUBLE I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR

a d r o n i n g s e r i e s o f a n t i c i p a t i o n , q u e s t i o n s a b o u t w h a t ’s r e a l l y go i n g o n h e re, a s o n g a b o u t t h e k i n d o f d ra m a we wa n t i n o u r lives

S U G A R WO R L D

a s u ga r h i g h wh e n yo u ’re w i t h t h a t o t h e r p e r s o n , t h e o n e yo u wa n t m o re t h a n a ny t h i n g a n d n ow yo u j u s t a lway s wa n t m o re

A L L YO U E V E R D O I S WA L K AWAY

desperation in clinging to some other person, needing that person to stay even if the fun stops f or a little while

IN MY CAR a s a f e p l a c e, a p l a c e wh e re t h i n g s h a p p e n e d a n d a p l a c e t o e s c a p e i n n ow, l o n g r i d e s a n d t r y i n g t o f o r g e t bu t i n s t e a d j u s t re m e m b e r i n g eve r y t h i n g TAKE ECSTASY WITH ME a d ay d re a m a b o u t wh a t u s e d t o b e, i n t ox i c a t i n g yo u r m i n d s o yo u c a n i g n o re t h e p re s e n t re a l i t y

the Bulgarian landscape as seen from the window of a bus to Sofia :

poem :

The chill arrived at the end of the long string of perfect clear w a r m d a y s . We w a l k e d o u t s i d e a n d s m e l l e d t h e a i r. We d r a n k h o t d r i n k s a n d w o r e m u l t i p l e l aye r s a n d s h ove d o u r hands into our pockets and re m e m b e re d Halloween two ye a r s a go. We p re t e n d e d to not like w a l k i n g t h ro u g h t h e we t a i r. T h e re f r i ge ra t o r f i l l e d w i t h l e f t ove r s o u p . We b o u g h t w h i s k e y t o w a r m our faces. We m i s s e d t h e f a m i l a r i t y o f t h i n g s b a c k h o m e bu t re a l i ze d then how hard it was going to be to leave. When it gets to the end weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make promises.

map : [ocean currents]

word :

cosmogony \koz-MOG-uh-nee\, noun: A theory or story of the origin and development of the univer se.

b o o k [ A r o u n d t h e Wo r l d i n 8 0 D a y s ] : T h e l a s t t i m e I re a d t h i s b o o k I wa s i n t h e 8 t h g ra d e. I re m e m b e r that I was going through my f i r s t J u l e s Ve r n e - r e a d i n g , d a y dreaming-about-adventures p h a s e. I re a d s eve ra l o f h i s books one after the other: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Jour ney to the Center of t h e E a r t h , F i f t e e n We e k s i n a Balloon. I had vivid memories of making a Jour ney to T he Center of the Earth diorama for a b o o k re p o r t p ro j e c t . I u s e d one of those old 12” GI Joe a c t i o n f i g u re s t h a t I h a d f o u n d i n m y g r a n d m o t h e r ’s b a s e m e n t . I d re s s e d h i m i n re d c ove r - a l l s a n d g re e n p l a s t i c b o o t s . I p i c k e d u p A r o u n d t h e Wo r l d in 80 Days again a few weeks a go, a t a ge 2 6 . I ’ve b e e n s t u c k i n a n e n d u r i n g a dve n t u re - d ay d re a m m i xe d w i t h c h i l d h o o d nostalgia phase. Reading this book again, some 1 2 ye a r s l a t e r, I re a l i z e t h a t I must have r ushed through i t b a c k t h e n . I re m e m b e r h ow my re a d i n g h a b i t s we re m u c h d i f f e re n t wh e n I wa s i n j u n i o r h i g h . I re a d m u c h f a s t e r b a c k t h e n a n d s avo re d t h e s t o r y less. I had this idea that I was go i n g t o re a d eve r y b o o k eve r

written and so I had no time to waste. These days I’m much less n a i v e u n f o r t u n a t e l y. I t a k e m y time with each book. On this second and much slower re a d i n g o f t h e b o o k I a m a bl e to let the traversed landscapes paint themselves in my mind. T h e i n t r i g u e o f P h i l e a s Fo g g a c c u m u l a t e s w i t h m o re h o n e s t c u r i o s i t y. I’m intr igued by the role that luck has in the ser ies of events. A bit of bad luck, then some good luck, then some very bad luck and then very good luck to set the travelers back on course and back on schedule. T h i s t i m e I ’ m a l s o m u c h m o re str uck by the sheer heroism and bravery shown by the characters. It should serve as g re a t i n s p i ra t i o n f o r a l l t h e re s t of us - we may face all kinds of hardships, bad luck and good luck, but at least we haven’t b e t o u r e n t i r e l i f e ’s w o r t h t h a t we could travel around the world [without an air plane] in just eighty days. If we can just muster even a fraction of the h e r o i s m a n d b r a v e r y o f M r. Fo g g a n d Pa s s e p a r t o u t , we ’ l l s u re ly make it through anything.

collage [Blue Mosque] :

face :

G e r r y n eve r re a l ly g rew u p. H e ’s i n h i s l a t e f i f t i e s n o w . H e h a s re s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , a j o b, b i l l s t o p a y. H e s p e n d s t h e va s t m a j o r i t y o f h i s f re e t i m e drawing comics. He came up with an idea f or a superhero wh e n h e w a s t we l ve - M r. Whirlwind - and has been busy c h ro n i c l i n g h i s a dve n t u re s i n c o l o re d p e n c i l eve r s i n c e. Gerry never used to have m u c h i n t e re s t i n wo m e n . T h e n a few days ago he was at the supermarket, standing by the tomatoes, looking for a perfectly ripe one when he saw Paula standing over by the c a u l i f l owe r. S h e w a s l o o k i n g a t him. She was smiling. T he events of the next several minutes happened so fast that Ger r y claims he scarcely re m e m b e r s them. Suddenly t h ey we re s i t t i n g t o ge t h e r a t t h e bu s s t o p, e a t i n g i c e c re a m c o n e s a n d s m i l i n g a t e a c h o t h e r. Ger r y hasn’t drawn a comic now f o r s e v e r a l w e e k s . A c t u a l l y, Gerry hasn’t even thought a b o u t M r. W h i rl w i n d o n c e s i n c e seeing Paula standing by the c a u l i f l owe r.

playlist: [ l a t e w i n t e r, e a r l y s p r i n g ]

* Playlists can be sent to: DIG@gmail.com. We will publish them in Volume 2.

The Long Winters _ The Commander Thinks Aloud ceo _ All Around N i c k C ave & T h e B a d S e e d s _ L i m e T re e A r b o u r C l a p Yo u r H a n d s S a y Ye a h ! _ B l u e T u r n i n g G r a y Beach House _ Apple Orchard Animal Collective _ Kids on Holiday A l ex a n d re D e s p l a t _ C a n i s L u p i s ARMS _ Whirring B a n d o f H o r s e s _ I G o To T h e B a r n B e c a u s e I L i ke T h e Baths _ Hall Beirut _ The Rip Tide T h e Wa l k m e n _ S t r a n d e d Bibio _ All T he Flowers Fe i s t _ T h e P a r k T he Books _ A Tr ue Stor y Of A Stor y Of Tr ue Love B re a t h e O w l B re a t h e _ D ro p a n d R o l l K e v i n D r e w _ B o d h i S a p p y We e k e n d Camera Obscura _ Razzle Dazzle Rose Belle & Sebastian _ Sleep the Clock Around T h e C i n e m a t i c O rc h e s t ra _ To B u i l d A H o m e Damien Rice _ Eskimo Dan Deacon _ Pink Batman Daniel Johnston _ T he Stor y Of An Ar tist D e s t r o y e r _ M y F a v o r i t e Ye a r D e Vo t c h K a _ Yo u L o v e M e T he Dir ty Projectors _ Minutes Elliott Smith _ Miss Misery F a n f a r l o _ Yo u A r e O n e O f T h e F e w O u t s i d e r s W h o R e a l l y U n d e r s t a n d s U s Frontier Ruckus _ Mount Marcy G i rl s _ H e a r t b re a ke r G u s t e r _ W h a t Yo u W i s h F o r H e r S p a c e H o l i d ay _ Te c h R o m a n c e Ye l l o w O s t r i c h _ M a r y Yo L a T e n g o _ O u r W a y T o F a l l Wye O a k _ P l e a s e C o n c re t e W i l c o _ A t L e a s t T h a t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s W h a t Yo u S a i d Nick Drake _ Fly Nico _ These Days tUnE-yArDs _ Lions Sunset Rubdown _ A Day In T he Graveyard II S u f j a n S t eve n s _ T h e M i s t re s s W i t c h F ro m M c C l u re ( O r T h e M i n d T h a t K n ow s I t s e l f ) S o d a s t r e a m _ We l c o m e T h r o w Maps & Atlases _ The Charm M i r a c l e Fo r t re s s _ P o e t a s t e r

inter view: [J.M., living in Chicago] Q : I t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a S a t u r d a y a n d t h e w e a t h e r i n C h i c a g o i s y o u r a b s o l u t e f a v o r i t e t y p e o f w e a t h e r f o r b e i n g o u t s i d e . Yo u h a v e n o p l a n s o r o b l i g a t i o n s . Yo u d e c i d e t o g o o u t a n d d o s o m e t h i n g - w h a t d o y o u d o ? W h o e l s e , i f a n y b o d y, w i l l y o u a s k t o j o i n y o u ? D e s c r i b e i n a s m a ny o r a s f ew wo rd s a s yo u w i s h , wh e re i n t h e c i t y yo u w i l l go a n d wh a t yo u w i l l d o. A : I n l i t t l e t h e a t e r s a n d b a r s a r o u n d t h e c i t y, t h e r e a r e a h o s t o f o l d - f a s h i o n e d bu rl e s q u e s h ow s . A l l a re wo r t h wa t c h i n g, bu t t h e re is one theater in par ticular that puts on a f antastic vaudevillian spectacle. T he show promotes musical acts, comedians, magicians, and, of course, the most talented dancers in the world. On a beautiful F r i d ay n i g h t i n t h e f a l l , t h e re a re f ew p l a c e s m o re e n t e r t a i n i n g t h a n t h a t l i t t l e p l a c e o n L i n c o l n Ave n u e. T h e r e i s a b o y t h a t I â&#x20AC;&#x2122;d l i k e t o b r i n g w i t h m e , b u t t h e r e i s a g o o d c h a n c e h e i s a l re a d y p l a y i n g k e y b o a r d i n t h e s h ow. . . Q : Yo u a r e h e a d i n g t o t h e t h e a t e r - h o w d o y o u g e t t h e r e ? D o y o u wa l k a l l t h e way t h e re - bu s , t ra i n , t a x i , b i c y c l e - a c o m b i n a t i o n ? W h a t d o yo u s e e o n t h e way t h e re ? W h i c h s p a c e s - p a rk s , s t o re s , s t a t u e s , s t re e t s , n e i g h b o r h o o d s - t h a t yo u p a s s by o n yo u r way t h e re t r i gge r yo u r m i n d a n d / o r d e m a n d yo u r t h o u g h t . i f o n ly f o r a f ew m o m e n t s ? D o yo u l i s t e n t o m u s i c o n yo u r j o u r n ey t o t h e t h e a t e r ? I f s o, wh a t a re yo u l i s t e n i n g t o ?

* Interview someone living in a city that you have never lived in.

A : T h e re d l i n e t rave r s e s t h e c i t y f ro m t h e f a r N o r t h t o t h e f a r South, but the tr ip from my apar tment to the theater only takes f i f t e e n m i nu t e s . O n t h e way t o t h e B r y n M aw r re d l i n e s t o p, I n o t i c e t h e wo rd s “ a n d t h e re s t o f t h e s t o r y c o n t i nu e s i n a l a n g u a ge yo u d o n o t u n d e r s t a n d .” w r i t t e n i n g r e e n s p r a y p a i n t o n t h e r o o f o f a n old storage building. T h e o t h e r r i d e r s i n t h e t ra i n c a r t a l k w i t h e a c h o t h e r, n o d i n t o a n d o u t o f s l e e p, o r l i s t e n t o h e a d p h o n e s . T wo yo u n g m e n l e a n a ga i n s t the plastic dividers by the doors. T hey both wear hoodies and g l a s s e s . T h ey a re t a l k i n g a b o u t a p h o t o g ra p h e r. M y h e a d p h o n e s a re s m a l l i Po d e a r bu d s a n d t h ey re m a i n i n my e a r s f ro m t h e m o m e n t I l e ave my a p a r t m e n t u n t i l I re a c h t h e p l a c e wh e re I ’ m g o i n g . T o n i g h t , o r c h e s t r a l m u s i c p l a y s q u i e t l y. O n t h e t r a i n , it is overshadowed by the sound of the tracks and my attention switches to the people around me. B y t h e t i m e we re a c h t h e F u l l e r t o n s t o p, t h e c a r h a s b e c o m e c row d e d a n d I h ave s t o o d u p t o e d ge p a s t t h e s t a n d i n g r i d e r s t o t h e d o o r. A g ro u p o f f ive p e o p l e b o a rd e d a t t h e l a s t s t o p, d re s s e d w i t h m a ke u p a n d h i g h h e e l e d s h o e s . T h ey l a u g h a n d t a l k w i t h e a c h o t h e r. I br ush by once the doors open. To by i s w a i t i n g f o r m e o u t s i d e t h e t h e a t e r a s I w a l k u p. H e l ive s f u r t h e r We s t t h a n I d o a n d t a k e s t h e F u l l e r t o n b u s i n s t e a d o f t h e re d l i n e.

Q : W h a t i s t h e t h e a t re l i ke ? W h a t f e a t u re s o f t h e s p a c e a n d t h e eve n t s t a n d o u t i n yo u r m e m o r y o f i t n ow ? W h a t h a p p e n e d a f t e r t h e s h o w ? Wa s i t v e r y l a t e w h e n y o u e x i t e d t h e t h e a t r e ? I n w h a t way s wa s yo u r j o u r n ey b a c k h o m e d i f f e re n t f ro m yo u r j o u r n ey t o t h e t h e a t re ? A: The theater sits in a peculiar location between public houses that cater to college-aged socialites. Around midnight, the show i s n e a rly re a dy t o s t a r t . O u t s i d e t h e t h e a t e r, d r u n k s s t u m bl e b a c k a n d f o r t h t o t e l l e r m a c h i n e s a n d b a r s . I n s i d e t h e t h e a t e r, t h e l o bby has a bar of its own. T he line to enter the small auditor ium crowds t h e e n t i re e n t ra n c e a n d o rd e r i n g a d r i n k t a ke s l o n ge r t h a n bu y i n g a ticket. Once the auditorium doors open, the audience enters the tiny t h e a t e r t o f i n d i t c a n h o u s e n o m o re t h a n 1 0 0 p e o p l e. T h e s t a ge is a tiled f loor in front of the r isers of seats. A cr ude cur tain has b e e n c o n s t r u c t e d t o h i d e t h e a re a b a c k s t a ge. O n s t a ge, a t oy d r u m s e t i s s e t u p i n f ro n t o f a m a t t re s s t o t h e l e f t . A m i c ro p h o n e s t a n d s i n t h e c e n t e r. A m a n i n wh i t e f a c e p a i n t s t a n d s a l o n e, g r i n n i n g. H e has a garish mustache painted on and he begins joking with the crowd as they take their seats. T he vaudevillian production begins as the host, our white-f aced p a n d e re r, i n t ro d u c e s a m u s i c a l a c t c o n s i s t i n g o f a m o t h e r a n d s o n . T he pair look oddly propor tioned. T he son is clearly an adult, but s i t s b e h i n d t h e t oy d r u m k i t o n t h e m a t t re s s . H e p i c k s u p a s i n g l e dr umstick and star ts to tap.

T h e m o t h e r h a s bl u e h a i r. S h e p l ay s a n a c c o rd i o n . T h e p a i r s i n g a weird polka version of a moder n tune. T he crowd is still getting s e a t e d . T h e h o u s e l i g h t s a re s t i l l u p. C o nve r s a t i o n s c o n t i nu e. Only after the music stops and the crowd quiets do the lights dim. T hen, the show begins. T h e w a l k b a c k a f t e r t h e s h ow i s a bl u r. E ve r y m i n d i s re e l i n g from the excitement of the acts, the comedians, the musicians, the dancers. [End]

a found object : [mechanical alarm clock, made in China, found in Sofia, Bulgaria]

T h e m a n h a d m a ny o l d c l o c k s . T h e re wa s o n e w i t h a s p a c e s h i p that moved around a clock f ace of outer space as timed ticked on. T h e re wa s a b r i g h t o ra n ge p l a s t i c c l o c k . T h e e l d e rly m a n , wh o wa s m i s s i n g a t l e a s t t h re e t e e t h a n d we a r i n g a black f edora, also had several militar y hats - from Russia, from G e r m a n y. S c a t t e r e d a c r o s s h i s t a b l e w e r e d i f f e r e n t t h i n g s w i t h swastikas on them. He convinced me to try on one of the furry Russian hats and told me, with a thumbs-up, how good I looked in it. H e c o u l d t e l l I wa s m o re i n t e re s t e d i n h i s c l o c k s t h o u g h a n d c a m e around the table to tell me about each one through his thick accent. “ T h a t o n e t h e r e , i s f r o m J a p a n . S i x t y y e a r s o l d .” I n o d d e d p o l i t e l y . H e s t o o d ve r y c l o s e a n d ke p t p u t t i n g h i s h a n d o n my s h o u l d e r, t o l e t m e k n ow h ow s i n c e re h e wa s . I picked this clock up and held it. It was heavy and had a small d e n t . T h e b a c k s i d e w a s p a i n t e d a l i g h t bl u e c o l o r. T h e c o l o r o f a c o l d s p r i n g m o r n i n g s k y. I h e l d i t u p t o m y e a r . H e t o o k i t f r o m m e a n d r a i s e d a f i n g e r , t o s a y , “ W a t c h c l o s e l y n o w .” H e t w i s t e d o n e o f t h e k e y s o n t h e c l o c k ’s b a c k , t h r e e t i m e s , s l o w l y a n d t h e n h e l d it out to me. I didn’t need to hold it close to my ear - it ticked of f i t s s e c o n d s l o u d a n d c l e a r.

one sentence story :

That feeling in her stomach was not a new f eeling, but even now she was still incapable of deciphering what it might possibly mean or knowing what she ought to do about it.

images of an ancient building : Pantheon

links : Book By Its Cover [beautiful books]: h t t p : / / w w w. b o o k - b y - i t s - c o v e r. c o m / bedroom music tumblr [people making music in their bedrooms]: h t t p : / / b e d ro o m m u s i c s . t u m bl r. c o m / Zerbamine [illustration]: h t t p : / / w w w. d e f r i n g e . c o m / 2 0 1 1 / z e r b a m i n e / one day at azuma house [ideas for lighting a house]: http://wwx.baunetz.de/aip/2003/home/grgbsch/ T h e B e a u t i f u l M i n d [ s l i d e s h ow, c o l o r f u l i m a g e s o f t h e m i n d ] : h t t p : / / w w w. n y t i m e s . c o m / 2 0 1 0 / 1 1 / 3 0 / s c i e n c e / 3 0 b r a i n . h t m l ? _ r = 2 & s r c = d a y p Containing Uncertainty [storing nuclear waste]: h t t p : / / s m u d ge s t u d i o. o rg / s m u d ge / w i t h / u n c e r t a i n t y / u n c e r t a i n . h t m l crowd sourced photographic monuments [photographs by the crowd]: h t t p : / / w w w. d e s i g n b o o m . c o m / w e b l o g / c a t / 1 0 / v i e w / 1 3 4 6 4 / c r ow d - s o u r c e d - p h o t o g r a p h ic-monuments-by-cor inne-vionnet.html Codeacademy [lear n how to code]: h t t p : / / w w w. c o d e c a d e m y. c o m / # ! / e x e r c i s e / 0 G O O D : E d i b l e H e a r t s o f t h e A n i m a l a n d Ve g e t a b l e K i n g d o m s [ h e a r t s y o u c a n e a t ] : h t t p : / / w w w. g o o d . i s / p o s t / p h o t o s - e d i b l e - h e a r t s - o f - t h e - a n i m a l - a n d - v e g e t a b l e - k i n g doms/ B l a c k b i rd bl a c k b i rd [ d re a m p o p e l e c t ro - p o p g l o - f i s h o e ga ze s y n t h p o p S a n F ra n c i s c o ] : http://blackbirdblackbird.bandcamp.com/ A n d r e Wa k k o [ m a g n e t s & f e r r o f l u i d t o g e n e r a t e s o u n d ? ] : h t t p : / / w w w. b o o o o o o o m . c o m / 2 0 1 0 / 1 2 / 2 3 / u n t e r w a s s e r - m a g n e t i c - i n s t a l l a t i o n - b y - a n d re wakko/ Friends of Type [illustration, typography]: http://friendsoftype.com/

landscape : [ B o n n e v i l l e S a l t F l a t s _ We n d o v e r , U t a h ] :

A S S I G N M E N T : W r i t e a s t o r y t h a t t a ke s p l a c e h e re.

a space & a story : {the clearing}

All of a sudden, and all at once, all of the sound went out of the place. T he abr upt shatter ing silence was deaf ening. Time seemed t o h a l t . T h e t re e s a n d a l l t h e t h i n g s h i d i n g i n t h e m s t o o d s t i l l . T h ey c o u l d f e e l h u n d re d s o f eye s wa t c h i n g a n d wa i t i n g. T h e s l i g h t e s t b re e ze f i n a l ly c a m e t h ro u g h t h e b ra n c h e s a n d a c ro s s t h e c l e a r i n g. T h e wo rl d s t a r t e d t o m ove a ga i n . S o u n d s re t u r n e d i n l aye r s o f noise building up until the whole place seemed to hum. T hey lay on their backs again to look at the sky through the opening in the t re e s . T h e w i n d p i c ke d u p, r u s h i n g a c ro s s t h e i r f a c e s , c re a t i n g wh i s p e r s i n t h e t re e s f a r o f f .

disorder : [agoraphobia] Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder def ined as a morbid f ear of having a panic attack or panic-like symptoms in a situation that is perceived to be dif f icult (or embar rassing) from which to escape. T h e s e s i t u a t i o n s c a n i n c l u d e, bu t a re n o t l i m i t e d t o, w i d e - o p e n s p a c e s , c r o w d s , o r u n c o n t r o l l e d s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s . A l t e r n a t i v e l y, social anxiety problems may also be an underlying cause. As a re s u l t , s u f f e re r s o f a go ra p h o b i a avo i d p u bl i c a n d / o r u n f a m i l i a r places, especially large, open spaces such as shopping malls or air por ts from which they cannot easily escape if they have a panic a t t a c k . I n s eve re c a s e s , t h e s u f f e re r m ay b e c o m e c o n f i n e d t o h i s or her home, unable to leave their safe haven.

a collection of things : [shoebox dioramas found on the inter net]

W hy d i d we s t o p m a k i n g t h e s e m i n i a t u re wo rl d s wh e n we go t “ t o o o l d ? ” S u re ly t h e re a re t h o s e wh o s t i l l m a ke t h e s e, d e s p i t e b e i n g i n t h e i r t h i r t i e s . M o re t h a n j u s t n o s t a l g i c a n d f u n t o l o o k a t , t h e s e t h i n g s a re i n t r i g u i n g w i n d ow s , l i t e r a l l y, i n t o t h e m i n d s o f t h e y o u n g s t e r s w h o c o n s t r u c t e d t h e m . Yo u r e a d a s t o r y , a p a r t i c u l a r s c e n e s t a n d s o u t i n y o u r m i n d , yo u re p ro d u c e i t i n a s i m p l e c a rd b o a rd s h o eb ox . ASSIGNMENT: Make a dioarama depicting the saddest scene f ro m t h e s a d d e s t f i l m yo u ’ve eve r s e e n .

I S py : [ Toy s o n t h e L o o s e ] I S p y : A Ye l l o w C a t W i t h A G o a t e e , A B r o w n S q u a r e - i s h M o n s t e r W i t h S h a r p W h i t e Te e t h , A S a n t a I n A B a l l o o n , 3 G re e n A r my M e n , A C a p e d a n d S t r i p e d G u y W h o I s H i d i n g, A F ly i n g B u z z L i g h t ye a r, Thor With His Hammer

Draw A Space: [ K e n n e t h T. C a r l y l e c a n n o t s t a n d n a t u r a l l i g h t but requires significant illumination for his work - he is a miniatur ist. Draw him a room with no windows and many lamps.]

a n i m a g e f r o m t h e Vo y a g e r I : [ J u p i t e r ’s G r e a t R e d S p o t ] A p h o t o g r a p h t a k e n b y N A S A ’s Vo y a g e r 1 i n 1 9 7 9 o n i t s w a y t o interstellar space. ASSIGNMENT: Make a painting of a planet.

afterword :

I g u e s s i t ’s a b o u t a n a t t e m p t t o organize all of the information and ideas that the Internet t h r o w s a t u s . I t ’s o v e r w h e l m i n g . I t c a n f e e l re a l ly h e av y a t t i m e s . I t ’s a c o n t i n u a l o n s l a u g h t o f media, images, sounds, thoughts, feelings, goals, i n t e re s t s , n e w s , f a c t s , f i c t i o n s . We t r y t o withstand the full re l e n t l e s s f orce of it and hope that some o f i t s t i c k s t o u s a n d i n s p i re s u s t o m a ke s o m e t h i n g re a l ly c o o l . We p r a y t h a t w e d o n ’ t j u s t s p e n d our lives and energy browsing through it all. L e t ’s u s e t h e I n t e r n e t , b y a l l m e a n s - b u t l e t ’s g e t c o n t r o l . Go outside, make some food and invite fr iends over to eat it w i t h yo u , d raw a p i c t u re, t a ke a p h o t o g r a p h , w r i t e a s t o r y, t a l k to people f ace to f ace, take the dog for a walk, turn the computer of f now and then.

WILSON & McAlistair’s