I am in the process of resurrecting an old idea, the idea came from a conversation with friends as to how we could take our documentary and turn it into something else. We thought maybe a webseries would be a quicker faster way to start telling some of the stories that we collected. I can’t quite remember the weather or the date on that faithful day but a good friend of mine had an idea and from this idea grew a very interesting project. We would go into the homes of random New Yorkers and cook a meal (there’s a twist here but I won’t reveal…)then while preparing this meal we would talk about whatever is on their mind as a New Yorker. Maybe it’s a strange hobby they have, a particular opinion on politics, the way their neighborhood used to be or maybe just their favorite sport team. I’m hoping that the topics will be far more interesting then I can predict. I know the meals themselves will be just as interesting…

So now I’m searching for interesting New Yorkers to talk to. What do you like to eat? What do you like to talk about over dinner with friends or in this case strangers that take over your kitchen for a day?

As we being this process from time to time I plan to post updates. Hopefully in the New Year we will breath some new life into an old, but fresh idea.

If I were to create an interactive digital exhibition I would call it “Slipping Through The Cracks” and it  would be about me, technophonbia and adaptation. Don’t get me wrong. I love technology but somehow I always ended up getting by with a paper and pen instead of a keyboard and code.  As my interest in technology grows, I see what’s out there and I see there is so much possibility.  The number of people working on interesting projects combining art, video, technology and gadgetry continues to grow.

Thanks to the good folks over at EYEBEAM, I can get a look at what some of these artists are working on this weekend. Maybe I can even have them explain things to me really really slowly.

EYEBEAM OPEN STUDIOS

Date: Fri., October 23 + Sat., October 24, 2009 | 3–6PM
Location: Eyebeam, 540 W. 21s

Eyebam is pleased to host Open Studios for its 2009 Senior Fellows, Resident Artists, and Student Residents at Eyebeam’s state-of-the-art design, research, and fabrication studio; showcasing video performance, wearable technologies, code and humor, party technology, and sustainablity design. This two-day presentation at Eyebeam Art + Technology Center will allow a rare, inside look at current research. Guided tours of artists’ work will be given every hour from 3–6PM.

Great event coming up Saturday August 1st in Philadelphia that aims to focus on self-distribution, filmmaking and networking. Details below:

ABOUT
DIY DAYS - fund :: create :: distribute :: sustain 
How do we sustain ourselves as storytellers in this day of shifting distribution systems? How do we monetize our work and get the word? Presented by the WorkBook Project - DIY DAYS aims to answer these questions with a day of panels, roundtable discussions and workshops: A look at how to fund, create, and distribute and sustain.

TARGET AUDIENCE
Anyone wanting to make creative work - film, music, games, art. Self-Identified Independent storyteller, Creatives and Tech-philes.

THE EVENT
The day flows through a mix of both structured and free form activities to encourage open discussion and the opportunity to break into groups and get everyone talking to each other. Pack a lunch and network offline with fellow creatives.

Proposed Discussion Topics
- New Forms of Storytelling
- New models of Finance, Production and Distribution
- Audience Building & The Audience Becoming Collaborators
- War Stories: “What’s The Real Deal?”
- Self-Sustaining: what to know when trying to make a living from your art
- Case Studies
- Think Tanks
- Workshops

Open Discussion Topics
- What are you working on? What are you looking for?
- How do you consume your media?
- What needs to change in order for you to sustain?

SUGGESTIONS, SPEAKERS AND VOLUNTEERS
If you have a suggestion of something you’d like to hear discussed or a speaker that you think should take part, or if you’re interested in volunteering please email us at work [@] workbookproject dot com with the subject “DIY DAYS”

REGISTER HERE

How did I not know that Radiohead’s “House of Cards” music video was actually made by scanners and lasers that collect 3D data! Wow!  Am I the last girl on the video block to know about this? I guess it’s better late than never. 

Check out Radiohead “House of Cards” music video below. 

If you wanna check out some other cool data visulzation projects check out:

5 Best Data Visualization Projects of the Year

In real world event news I should be writing about the Iran Elections and Twitter’s defining role as a tool for spreading news of developing events and increasing media attention BUT that’s not my niche here. . .

This week marks the  seventh edition of the DMY Design Festival Berlin. I wanted to highlight this event because this year’s focus is on design that makes a difference. Although I’m not a designer, I love to admire the work and execution of those that are. 

DMY consists of exhibitions, lectures, panels talks, symposiums, workshops 
and performances, with more than 550 international designers present. In addition to the festival’s main exhibitions there will be over 50 satellite exhibitions throughout the city.

                         The other day I was in a Kate’s Paperie walking around the store while a friend of mine insisted on wrapping her own gift at the gift wrapping counter. I found myself immersed in their small book section and came upon Caffeine for the Creative Mind and Extreme Office Crafts.  I started to flip though the pages of Caffeine then stared the debate with myself as to whether or not this was a “necessary purchase”. When funds are low this is always the question. How come libraries don’t carry books like this? On second thought why don’t libraries carry coffee table books a all? I ended up putting the book down. 

After reading (and writing about) A Play Date With My Imagination, an article about creativity and age. I knew that I had to do something to keep my creative mind going. I don’t want it to shrivel up like a raisin by the age of 40. These books are perfect examples of ways to get those juices following. 

“Caffeine for the Creative Mind” is a collection of short, focused creative exercises that get the brain working along a path that is more in tune to creative invention. The book contains over 250 “creative stretching” exercises. The exercises are brief, fun and are meant to invoke creative, thought-provoking responses

“Extreme Office Crafts: Creative & Devious Ways to Waste Office Supplies & Company Time”  Now this book is important if you are a creative stuck as an office drone. 

If you can’t afford the luxury of buying books right now, I will also suggest you visit SNOWGLOBE, Caffeine’s daily blog on stretching that creative mind of yours.