I'm always amazed at what artists, or creative people can do with what has been in front of our eyes. We can stare at it all day long staring back at us but we just don't see it.
I found this cool little page It's a year old, but cool none the less. Paul Curtis reverse graffiti cleans San Francisco's Braodway tunnel.We should have more of these guys around cleaning up the city but in a different way. Maybe even make us snap out of our bubbles and steal a moment of our time to observe something new.
Peace
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Check your bags
Yesterday I went to work like I always do. Get a lift to the subway, kiss my wife & daughter goodbye, then 40 min subway commute, where i listen to music on my phone/walkman, while reading a book, or the newspaper, and finally a 10 min walk to work. This morning though , it was different. I was going to a concert in town, and I decided not to take my back pack with me, so i don't have to lug it around all day and night. Instantly I noticed something was different, felt better, lighter, and the nice weather certainly didn't hurt. You see my back pack, is full of papers, a book or 2, some magazines, an umbrella, a bottle of water(you never know when you'll get in too a coughing fit and need that bottle) not to mention my lunch.
I came to the realization that the back pack was more than just a back pack, it was also a representation of all the baggage we carry around with us. Be it stress, grudges, jealousy, hatred, regret etc etc. Mine happens to be stress.
Things eventually dawn on me, either too late or just in time. Only recently have I been paying attention to certain things. like fatigue, stress, etc. Basically listening to what my body has to say, and accepting my limits. Stress is not something I'm really familiar with. I never really worried to much about anything, I went through school the same way, jobs, same thing. I kind of just go with things, but things are different now. Being a father, owning a house, trying to get 2 music projects off the ground, the car, work, the people and & drama at work. Heck just paying mundane bills is becoming a real bitch. Projects fall behind schedule, trying to keep sites like Myspace, Facebook, Blogger, You tube, Twitter (Man there is to many) up to date. Learning how to use all this amazing stuff, and how to do it right. Trying to book interviews, get reviews, and get people to add your song to their podcast. The internet is a great tool, and great for artists & musicians, but it takes so much of your time to figure stuff out, and learn how to do it well, get friends, get views, get plays, tweets... Meanwhile repairs on the car go undone, work around the house never gets completed, and that's just to name a few. I prefer to play with my daughter than wash the dishes, or pass the vacuum, or install spot lights that never seem to work, or clean out the garage.
The Garage, oh don't get me started on that one. It's only been 3 years we've lived in this house and already the garage is crammed with stuff. I now believe what George Carlin said, 'that's what your house is, a place to keep your stuff while you go out and buy more... stuff'' It's been a few years that I only go shopping when I need something. Instead of just go shopping,for shopping's sake. I used to get restless at home just itching to go buy something, anything. Clothes, cd's, music gear, whatever. I have shirts I never wore, that still have the price tag on them. That's when I realized I don't need all this stuff. Less truly is more.
Vacations start next week, and guess what I'll be doing. Painting the bathroom, removing all the dead wood from my front yard, cleaning out the garage (OMG I can't wait for this one, oh i said that already). I can't wait to get this virtual baggage off of me.
I came to the realization that the back pack was more than just a back pack, it was also a representation of all the baggage we carry around with us. Be it stress, grudges, jealousy, hatred, regret etc etc. Mine happens to be stress.
Things eventually dawn on me, either too late or just in time. Only recently have I been paying attention to certain things. like fatigue, stress, etc. Basically listening to what my body has to say, and accepting my limits. Stress is not something I'm really familiar with. I never really worried to much about anything, I went through school the same way, jobs, same thing. I kind of just go with things, but things are different now. Being a father, owning a house, trying to get 2 music projects off the ground, the car, work, the people and & drama at work. Heck just paying mundane bills is becoming a real bitch. Projects fall behind schedule, trying to keep sites like Myspace, Facebook, Blogger, You tube, Twitter (Man there is to many) up to date. Learning how to use all this amazing stuff, and how to do it right. Trying to book interviews, get reviews, and get people to add your song to their podcast. The internet is a great tool, and great for artists & musicians, but it takes so much of your time to figure stuff out, and learn how to do it well, get friends, get views, get plays, tweets... Meanwhile repairs on the car go undone, work around the house never gets completed, and that's just to name a few. I prefer to play with my daughter than wash the dishes, or pass the vacuum, or install spot lights that never seem to work, or clean out the garage.
The Garage, oh don't get me started on that one. It's only been 3 years we've lived in this house and already the garage is crammed with stuff. I now believe what George Carlin said, 'that's what your house is, a place to keep your stuff while you go out and buy more... stuff'' It's been a few years that I only go shopping when I need something. Instead of just go shopping,for shopping's sake. I used to get restless at home just itching to go buy something, anything. Clothes, cd's, music gear, whatever. I have shirts I never wore, that still have the price tag on them. That's when I realized I don't need all this stuff. Less truly is more.
Vacations start next week, and guess what I'll be doing. Painting the bathroom, removing all the dead wood from my front yard, cleaning out the garage (OMG I can't wait for this one, oh i said that already). I can't wait to get this virtual baggage off of me.
Monday, July 20, 2009
You Tube
Yeah YouTube, I'm 3 years late. I've been meaning to make use of this crazy site for the longest time. I just never have time. I tried making a video for Chasing The Clouds, one of the tracks on the Path to Reality album, back in November of 2008. Dedicated an entire Saturday to doing it, but as usual i hated it, and scrapped it. I tired something again in May of 2009, and once again, that ever so familiar feeling of nausea was lingering around, and i quit, totally disgusted with myself.
The weird things is I love what I've seen from other people, and most of the time it's so simple. I've also noticed we (artists) tend to like what other people do automatically, and second guess ourselves.
It seems to take me an eternity to do the the simplest things, and actually enjoy it. It never lives up to the image in my mind's eye. I've narrowed it down to focus and organization. I need time to get the creative juices flowing, and flowing in the right direction. I happen to be one of those happy go lucky types when it comes to creative projects, especially music, but video, photography and graphic design is a totally different ballgame for me.
Anyhow I've managed to through my hangups and post something to You Tube. You can check it out here. Check it out, leave me a comment, and join my channel if you like.
The weird things is I love what I've seen from other people, and most of the time it's so simple. I've also noticed we (artists) tend to like what other people do automatically, and second guess ourselves.
It seems to take me an eternity to do the the simplest things, and actually enjoy it. It never lives up to the image in my mind's eye. I've narrowed it down to focus and organization. I need time to get the creative juices flowing, and flowing in the right direction. I happen to be one of those happy go lucky types when it comes to creative projects, especially music, but video, photography and graphic design is a totally different ballgame for me.
Anyhow I've managed to through my hangups and post something to You Tube. You can check it out here. Check it out, leave me a comment, and join my channel if you like.
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