among friends

Robin and I have been enjoying a nice correspondence with Nao about the materials she’ll use for her piece. She’s thinking about:

Hot heart gel plastic packets!

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My brother, Sean, the photographer responsible for this gem, rode around the entire country on a motorcycle last summer and fall. Here is a link to his blog, If you would like to learn a little, or a lot, more about the purpose of his travels.

Anyways, one of Sean’s first stops on his journey was A Street, in Lowell, Massachusetts. This is the street where my father grew up, in the city most well know for the industrial work that boomed there in the 19th Century. Sean said that most of the residence were new in the area, but there was one woman, Rita, who had lived in a house across the street while my father was growing up. Rita, pictured above, was very warm towards my brother (although they had never met) and even invited him in for dinner and to watch the Red Sox game.

I originally decided to post this picture just because I think it’s pretty amusing. However, after writing out the whole story behind it, I’ve realized that we can all learn from Rita and the way she was so hospitable towards a stranger.

After watching this video, you’ll have to admit that I have the cutest mom in the world.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHXNW6Phpdc

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Bird's Eye View...

 In response to Jen Delos Reyes’ desire to see theanyspacewhatever exhibit at the Guggenheim, I schlepped to New York City in hopes of being her eyes.  Something that has always fascinated me about art, that was demonstrated well in this exhibit, is the different reactions that individuals can have to the same pieces of work.  Theanyspacewhatever exhibit really was just that:  An exhibit that could be whatever you make of it.  If you read Jane’s entry about her experience with theanyspacewhatever exhibit, you would know that she was strongly affected by the Rirkrit Tiravanija’s video installation, Chew the Fat.  The aspect of theanyspacewhatever exhibit that grasped hold of me was Douglas Gordan’s textual installation entitled Prettymucheveryword….  In this piece, Gordan engraved and adorned the walls, corners, nooks and crannies of the Guggenheim with seemingly random, but heartfelt little phrases such as, “I Still Believe in Miracles,” “Everything is going to be alright” and, “I just want to talk with you.”  Being a complete sap and closet inspirational quotation lover, I fell hard for this.  What I found so genius about this aspect of the exhibit was that no matter what a viewer was going through or thinking about, there was a way for them to relate these abstract phrases to something going on in their personal life.

Just as Jane and I both loved this exhibit for different reasons, every person who walked through the upwards spiraling show was given something unique and meaningful to take away from it.  When it comes down to it, isn’t giving the viewer an experience of their own one of the main points of art?

Here’s a little something so that you can all feel like you were there with me…

Who knew there were so many Jen Delos Reyeses?  And they’re all spread out around the globe.  I’ve friended all of them in the spirit of among friends.  I wonder how many of these other JDRs will friend me back?  There’s some nifty social commentary lurking around here somewhere, I know it!

My name’s Charles, by the way, and along with Julia I’ll be working with Jen this semester.

Jen Delos Reyes wanted to go to theanyspacewhatever, so we brought her with us. And to MOMA too.

Three Jens at the Guggenheim (Cubby, Robin, Jane).

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My name is Sam Kaplan. I’m interning for Harrell Fletcher, along with Duncan Cooper.

This video has been on my mind the past day or two, for a variety of reasons:

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/746cC5C-eqg" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

First of all, great song. But more importantly, I’m intrigued by its use of photographs, especially with regard to the title of this blog/symposium/thing: “among friends.” Read the rest of this entry »

My dad took this photograph at a Vietnam War protest in Philadelphia. The guy six rows back, with his fist raised in the air is my uncle. Every time I look at this photo on our kitchen wall, I think of how valuable coming together can be. Martin Luther King once said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." This photograph is really such a great example of people expressing themselves and working together to do so. That guy, front and center, isn't too bad to look at, either.

Hi, my name is Julia and I will be working with Jennifer Delos Reyes along with Charles.