News, Politics, Religion, Entertainment, Gossip and Opinion for Thinking Folks
From the category archives:
The Hand-Sculpted iRetrofone Base from artist Scott Freeland, for when you’re expecting Rosalind Russell to call.
This is a fully-functional, stationary iPhone dock with working handset and complete compatibility with USB cable.
What a wonderful world.
What a Wonderful World Louis Armstrong from noktasat on Vimeo.
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in 1930, art, techno, ya gotta love it
This magnificent building was located at 16th and Curtis Streets in Denver, built in 1881 for a then unheard of $850,000 ($19 million in today’s dollars) by one Horace A.W. Tabor, who made a fortune in silver mines. Look at this interior!
Cherry wood was imported from Japan and mahogany from Honduras, with 1,500 mohair seats facing a 72-ft. stage that was 50-ft. deep, with a giant painted curtain… seen here in glorious black and white.
The inscription on the curtain prophetically states:
“So fleet the works of man, back to the earth again.
Ancient and holy things fade like a dream.”
Here’s another view of the building…
The Tabor was remodeled in 1921 for movies, and operated for nine years as the Colorado Theater, before once again becoming The Tabor. The great acts of Vaudeville played the stage. It was sold in ’49 for a million dollars. By the ’50s, it was facing the threat of demolition as the population departed for the suburbs.
It was torn down in 1964. Its giant curtain, too large to be displayed anywhere, was stored for years and disintegrated, and was later hauled to a dump. Today, the site is this:
…the Denver branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
Things fade like a dream.
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in Real Gone Places, architecture, art, cinema, stuff I like, white buildings
Your Chexy attended the L.A. Photo Show held earlier this month, where this photo absolutely floored me — from the wonderful mind of photographer Liz Steketee (pronounced “Steketee”).
Liz uses images from her own family’s history, digitally manipulated with other images, to rewrite her own history as it suits her. The idea fascinates me. The above photo is one of her relatives (an aunt, if I recall correctly), with her son’s face superimposed on the image. It is so stunning and arresting, I had to stop to talk with her. Here is the description of her “Reconstructed Memories” series in her words, from her website:
“Reconstructed Memories is a unique print series that uses my personal family photographs to rewrite history from my vantage point. By choosing unrelated images and digitally manipulating them into unlikely combinations, I build new memories. I forge new relationships, address old confrontations, imagine difference experiences, and face old demons. I disrupt linear narratives and recompose events, establishing my family history as a construct. Once these new snapshots have been finalized digitally, they are printed, aged and weathered according to their appropriate time period. This rebuilding of memory has allowed me to establish my own version of reality, as I prefer it. Reconstructed Memories takes the form of a unique print series as well as a series of reconstructed “false” family photo albums that adhere to my revisionist history.”
The above image is another breathtaking shot from the Reconstructed Memories series. The idea of manipulating one’s own visual history is so compelling! What would you do with yours?!
See the rest of this captivating series by Liz Steketee here. Be sure to check out her “American Snapshots” as well.
By kind permission of Liz Steketee
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in art, everyday objects, fabulosity, photography, stuff I like, ya gotta love it
My idea for the Obama reelection campaign poster.
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in art, legends, obamas, politics, world affairs
This and other curious “Sensual Objects” from the mind of Chris Timms.
via Sensual Objects
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in art, oddities, stuff I like, the internets
Pablo Picasso’s 1955 painting, “Frau Mit Turban,” now being endured in someone’s collection somewhere.
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in art, legends, turban tuesday
This quirky pic caught my eye on Tumblr today.
It’s the Buddha Naga sculpture, which depicts the Buddha meditating just before attaining enlightenment, as seen in a small town in Thailand near the border of Laos. How big is it, you ask? I’ll bet you ask that of all the boys.
It’s this big.
Does that help?
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in art, religion, stuff I like
Kitty of Cambridge will become a volunteer with the Scout Association to fill her idle rich hours, teaching boys ages 6-10 how to do useful things like erect tents and light fires. Hopefully, she’ll be required to wear some type of goofy hat like this one she wore on Christmas.
Unlike other royals, following in the footsteps of her late mother-in-law, Kitty will take part as an active volunteer, rather than as a ceremonial ribbon-cutter. We’ll also be seeing more of the latest royal as she works on Action on Addiction, and a children’s hospice, plus several art projects.
In a related, personal note, I was a Cub Scout for exactly an hour. They wanted me to glue macaroni on paper plates in Mrs. Brenner’s basement and spray paint them gold. I told my mother I had better things to do. I was 8.
Getty
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in art, royals
Connecticut abstract painter Helen Frankthaler has died at the age of 83.
She leaves a body of work.
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in art, memorials, oh yes he did, what did I say?
Chexydecimal Studio City Bureau Chief Andy (also former London Bureau Chief) spotted the catastrophic lamp (I think it’s a lamp) at the Pasadena City College Flea Market this morning. It might have been owned by Andy’s favorite drag queen, Isolde Thandirt. But I doubt it.
If you’re going for the Retrocious look, this mess is for you.
The shade is a lullaby of something someone once thought was a good idea. Imagine it lit. Just don’t eat first.
The base, which I suppose could be said has a sub-Saharan feel to it, includes plenty of nooks and crannies for dust to gather, or for adding smaller decorative items.
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in art, can you believe it?, everyday objects, hideousness, horror, london bureau chief andy, oddities, oh the horror, pearl clutch, unfortunate
"If the phone doesn't ring, it's me.”
--Jimmy Buffett
