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June 09 2011
RADAR NYC 6.9.11
My Potholes
What do you do when there’s a pothole in your street? Try avoiding it? Call the city to fill it in? Effective ideas, though they aren’t especially imaginative. With the help of Claudia Ficca and Davide Luciano, a couple of Montreal-based artists, these folks in several US and Canadian cities turned their potholes into works of art—at least temporarily. But the photos on My Potholes capture a number of whimsical moments created from minor nuisances. Watch as they turn common road hazards into swimming pools, donut fryers, gardens, rabbit holes, and more.
Check it out HERE
Noveller – Alone Star
NOVELLER “ALONE STAR” from Matt Kleiner on Vimeo.
Noveller, a.k.a. Sarah Lipstate (RADAR ep 28 – Before I Die) has just released this gorgeous black and white video on her website for her song “Alone Star” off her new album Glacial Glow. Directed by Matt Kleiner, this video chronicles several days in the Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne. It’s some powerful stuff when paired with the musical storytelling of this Brooklyn-based guitar goddess. Contrasting the busy city with vast desert, it creates a truly surreal scene.
Check out Sarah’s website HERE
Ben McCool Interview
Writer Ben McCool (RADAR ep 41 – Memoir) has a new comic series coming out this September, but in the meantime you can check out a preview of it as well as an interview with USA Today. Titled “Pigs,” the comic takes a gritty look at the Cold War, which if you can believe it, ended two decades ago this year. So now it’s far back enough in our collective subconscious that we can take another look at the whole terrifying era of mutually assured destruction, secret agents and the Cuban Missile Crisis and see that things weren’t quite as black-and-white as we all thought at the time.
Read the article HERE.
Magic and Bubbles
Poetry Brothel, House of Illusions NYC
Our friends at the Poetry Brothel (RADAR ep 20) are bringing it back this weekend, with a magical twist. The “whores” will be teaming up with a master magician for some old school, Houdini-esque illusions.
Sunday, June 12th, 8pm-1am
The Back Room
102 Norfolk Street
New York, NY
$5-$15
EVENT INFO
Newmindspace Bubble Battle NYC 2011
The folks at Newmindspace (RADAR ep 10) want to make New York a more bubbly, effervescent place for its residents. Join hundreds of other bubble battlers with your own bubble-making supplies, and let the air fill with soapy, prismatic orbs (and yes I was trying to avoid saying “bubble” again).
Location TBA
Saturday, June 18th 2010 @ 6:00pm
Rain or shine. Free and all ages!
New York, NY
EVENT INFO
Second Avenue Sagas
New Yorkers, be honest, how often do you find yourself silently (or not so silently) cursing the MTA for all the service changes and fare increases? Second Avenue Sagas hopes to answer some of the questions as to why all these annoyances happen. What started as a blog chronicling the progress of the long-delayed Second Avenue Subway, is now a blog covering all forms of New York City transit, offering opinions, insight, progress reports, and ideas to make transit better, as well as listing all the weekend service changes every Friday. It’s a great place for New Yorkers to get informed and involved with the city’s decisions on transportation.
April 22 2011
RADAR NYC 4.14.11 – feat. Molly Crabapple
At this year’s DIY Days, I had the pleasure of getting to see Molly Crabapple (RADAR ep 8) speak about how she created Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School and turned it into a global affair with branches of amazing models and artists all over the world. And while she was speaking, I asked myself “why haven’t we gotten her to curate a blog yet? She’d have some amazing stuff.” And she did.
Serge Gainsbourg – Poinconneur des Lilas
In this classic clip, legendary French musician Serge Gainsbourg disguises himself as a ticket puncher (“poinconneur”) in the Paris Metro and sings a song about the monotony of the job. It sounds boring, but the song is quite catchy and builds up a rather frantic pace, and the unexpectedly morbid lyrics (at least, for those of us who speak French!) keep it interesting. Definitely something to think about as you ride the subway to work!
Dave van Ronk – “Luang Prabang”
When I first heard this song, my first impression was that of a very dark folk song, or an Irish rebellion chant. It’s actually, of course, American and much more recent—a Vietnam protest song, though the tune is based off of an old English folk song about coal miners. Here, Dave Van Ronk challenges the idea that going to war and sacrificing yourself makes you a “hero”—what good does that actually accomplish? Is it really worth it?
You can find the song on Van Ronk’s album Going Back to Brooklyn, HERE.
Kiki de Montparnasse: The Graphic Biography
You probably recognize the above image, based off the famous photograph by artist Man Ray, though odds are you don’t know much about the model of said photo. Alice Prin, a.k.a. Kiki de Montparnasse, was truly a liberated woman of the 20s: born into poverty but quickly rose up as a muse for many artists, as well as an artist in her own right. Now you can read her story in graphic novel form—because words alone wouldn’t do such an artistic figure justice.
You can find the book on SelfMadeHero
PEN World Voices Festival
Beginning April 25 and continuing for a week, the PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature returns for its seventh year. The festival will feature speakers, panels and films, and will discuss the role of literature and writing, and where it all fits into today’s ultra-connected world of social media, WikiLeaks and revolutions in the Middle East. Be sure to see Molly Crabapple’s live painting installation in the plaza of The Standard hotel—she’ll be working on it every day of the festival.
April 25-May 1
The Standard Hotel
848 Washington Street
New York, New York 10014
EVENT INFO
Coilhouse, Biorequiem, and Gala Darling
Coilhouse is part blog, part published magazine, and devoted to the expression of love for alternative culture. Expect to see everything ranging from short films, fashion, photography and art—anything that’s forward thinking yet still has a vintage style.
Zoetica Ebb is one of the co-founders of Coilhouse, and has her own site too, where she posts blogs, art and photos of her own, all done in a very distinctive and beautiful style. You can also buy some of her work as well.
“Hello! I’m Gala” is what greets visitors to the blog of Gala Darling, a bright and sunny corner of the web that celebrates femininity and promotes “radical self-love.” I found it impossible not to feel awesome after reading a few entries—and I’m a guy, not even the target audience.
March 10 2011
RADAR NYC 3.10.11
Image by Natasha Allegri
Diana Eng’s new line
Diana Eng’s profile (RADAR ep 31 – Fairytale Fashion) just keeps rising and rising in the fashion world. And now she’s released her first line to the public—a collection of Smart Scarves, and they each showcase what she does best: combine hip fashion with science geekery. Using inspiration from things like Fibonacci numbers and the biometric Miura Ori structure, she’s once again created beauty from brains. Who says geeks can’t be fashionable?
Diana Eng’s website
The Gregory Brothers and Charlie Sheen – “Winning”
In the lightning fast world of Internet memes, no one can seize on a cultural phenomenon quite like our friends at Auto-Tune the News (RADAR ep 27). And in terms of satirizing potential, Charlie Sheen’s spectacular crash and burn is a gold mine. So it was only inevitable that the Gregory Brothers would take on the task. The above video does not disappoint. Even if you’ve been following the news and are suffering from Sheen overload, this could be the Sheen video to end all Sheen videos.
Missed Connections Interview
Personal anecdote time: I posted a Missed Connection once. I was at a Sleigh Bells concert and met a girl with awesome hair, kind of like the singer La Roux (I have weird taste, don’t ask). And while I never heard back on the ad, I did end up randomly running into her on a dating site. But there is something about missed connections—each one’s a tiny love story with mystery, humor, and artistic potential. In this interview, Sophie Blackall (RADAR ep 16 – Missed Connections) talks for a bit with NPR about some of her experiences with her Craigslist-based artwork.
Read the interview HERE
Missed Connections Blog
Mother Mother at Knitting Factory
Many people, including a lot of our contributors, will be spending the next week in the Lone Star State for Austin’s South by Southwest Festival. But for those of us who can’t make it out, our own music supervisor JC Scruggs helped put together a show at Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory. Mother Mother is an amazing Canadian indie rock band with some awesomely catchy and crazy songs that should get you dancing wildly this Friday night. And make sure to get there early for opening acts Elijah Bonfire (ex-Stars of Track and Field) and Bajzel, a one-man Polish act who Newsweek calls the Polish Beck, “only better.”
Friday March 11 · Doors @ 8:00/Show @ 8:30 pm
Knitting Factory
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
$10.00 – $12.00
EVENT INFO
@natazilla
A few years ago, Natasha Allegri drew a journal comic on Livejournal that I followed pretty religiously. She discontinued it after a while, and kind of disappeared for a few years, only to return pretty recently as an artist on the show Adventure Time, of all places. Now she has a Tumblr, where her original artwork and comics have returned to the Internet once again, and it’s all come full circle. Expect to see some gorgeous portraits, cute cartoony drawings, and more hilarious journal comics.
natazilla on Tumblr
@natazilla on Twitter
February 24 2011
RADAR NYC 2.24.11
Image by Dean Haspiel
Dean Haspiel – The Angel
Dean Haspiel’s “THE ANGEL” from Daniel J. Kramer on Vimeo.
Yeah, I don’t know about you guys, but my recently single self spent Valentine’s Day at an event called “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now,” a night of speed dating to the soundtrack of the Smiths. But as upbeat and happy-go-lucky as that sounds, for some people Valentine’s Day can be kind of tragic. But luckily, for those people (and anyone else who appreciates amazing artwork and a good story), Dean Haspiel (RADAR ep 1 – Next Door Neighbor) created “The Angel,” an impressive motion comic with a soundtrack by Moby. Rather than a voiceover, the story is told by typography slowly revealed over time, which creates quite a powerful experience and a wholly satisfying story.
LA Times Article on Haspiel’s motion comic HERE
Floating Action – Desert Etiquette LP
Floating Action (RADAR ep 38 – Weathervane) is the recording name of Seth Kauffman, a singer-songwriter based in Black Mountain, North Carolina. This week he released his third album, Desert Etiquette, and it’s mesmerizing. It’s really hard to believe it’s the work of just one guy. This album sounds like a mix of classic rock, folk, a bit of reggae, and a few other genres thrown in for good measure, all blended together expertly through production that manages to sound both crisp and warm. It’s available on the website of label Park the Van, as well as on iTunes.
Floating Action on MySpace
Mike Birbiglia – Sleepwalk With Me
Sleep disorders are Serious Business and nothing to laugh about—except when sleepwalking causes a guy to leap through and shatter a La Quinta Inn window and run across the parking lot, relatively unscathed. This is one of the many stories in the new book by comedian Mike Birbiglia, a frequent contributor at NYC’s The Moth and NPR’s This American Life, who manages to turn his many odd misfortunes into hilarious stories. So one could say that either the stuff that happens to him is funnier than most people’s problems, or he’s just a really good storyteller. I say both.
The book is available HERE
Choose Your Own Weekend Adventure
Once again, there’s a lot going on in the worlds of our contributors. Fortunately for you, you’re totally invited to join them in their adventures.
URDB World Record Appreciation Society #21: Blackjack!
Do you like watching people do odd things on stage, not for money, but for glory? The Universal Records Database (RADAR ep 4) is on a mission to capture that glory, under the mantra that everyone is the world’s best at something. This Thursday, 10 people will make their attempts to set their own records, and you can be there to witness them make history.
Thursday, February 24 · 7:30pm – 10:30pm
Littlefield
622 Degraw Street (between 3rd and 4th Ave)
Brooklyn, NY
Advance tickets $5
EVENT INFO
Story Pirates Main Stage Show
It’s amazing just how creative kids can be. They don’t hold anything back. On Saturday, you can see their creative minds in action at the Story Pirates (RADAR ep 30) Main Stage show, where the Pirates will act out stories written by elementary students. I mean, where else could you see a stage show about Tickle Monsters?
Saturday, February 26 · 2:00 pm
The Drama Book Shop
250 West 40th St. (between 7th and 8th Ave)
New York, NY 10018
$15
EVENT INFO
Dr. Sketchy’s Tribute to Transmetropolitan
Any time is a good time for people to get together and draw sexy pictures; that’s why Dr. Sketchy’s (RADAR ep 8) has become so successful. But this time it’s in support of a new art book inspired by Transmetropolitan, of which Dr. Sketchy’s founder Molly Crabapple is a contributor.
Sunday, February 27 · 4:00pm – 7:00pm
The Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery
New York, NY
$12 advance, $15 at door
EVENT INFO
NastyCute
If there are two things that the Internet is all about, it’s gross-out humor and pictures of adorable animals. Surely these things couldn’t be any more different, right? I mean, there’s no way you could possibly combine—oh wait, Eliza Skinner just did. We covered Glennis McMurray, the other half of I Eat Pandas (RADAR ep 2) a couple weeks ago, and now it’s Eliza’s turn. She’s made a blog of translating the thoughts of all those cute animals for us, and their thoughts are…surprisingly vulgar. It’s a surprisingly genius concept I’m surprised no one’s thought of before. And best of all, it’s updated every day, for your recommended daily dose of cuteness + vulgarity.
NastyCute website
Eliza Skinner’s other blog
December 29 2010
Memoir – RADAR S4 Ep 41 [vid]
When an entire town’s memory is erased, it is dismissed by the rest of the world as an elaborate hoax. But one ambitious journalist is determined to expose the truth. Memoir is a graphic novel written by Ben McCool and illustrated by Nikki Cook who describe their collaboration as a “cross between Twin Peaks and the Twilight Zone.” It is a dark and sinister tale with gritty visuals that is sure to haunt readers long after they’ve put down the book.
Relevant sites:
Credits:
CREATED by Lance Weiler & Alex Johnson
DIRECTOR Josh Cramer
EDITOR Jawad Metni
DP Tim Naylor
SEGMENT PRODUCER Janine Saunders
POST PRODUCTION House of Trim
FEATURED MUSIC by:
City Rain “How We See”
Evenings “Still Young”
December 03 2010
PULSE – Heeb Magazine
Happy Hanukkah! And what better week to celebrate Jewish New Yorkers by showcasing Heeb Magazine? Started in Brooklyn (where else?) in 2001, it continues a long line of cheeky, self-deprecating Jewish comedy for a young, urban Generation Y audience.
And seriously, I mean it when I say self-deprecating. For example, for people who want to get involved in the publication, there’s a section titled “Join the Conspiracy.” The magazine covers arts, music, politics and culture, though the subjects don’t necessarily have to be Jewish themselves. You can find an article about Kanye West’s new album right next to one about an expensive, “swanky” menorah.
It’s not all silliness though. One informative article, titled “Jews Aren’t Actually Racists: Who Knew?” discusses the little-known interactions between Jewish Americans and Native Americans in the Old West. They also include sections called “Chosen Books,” “Chosen Music” and “Chosen Video,” where they feature a profile on various musicians, books or videos.
There’s also the “Heeb 100,” which features short articles on “Jews (and half-Jews) who are making a difference” in fields such as art, music, comedy, activism and entrepreneurship. Another semi-regular installment is “Gratuitous Jewess.” It’s exactly what it sounds like: photos and a profile of a rather beautiful young Jewish woman, though more than just a pretty face. The current honoree, Leyla Leidecker, is a boxer, filmmaker and model.
And it’s really not just a magazine. Heeb also organizes plenty of events: On December 21, RADAR contributors Molly Crabapple and Dean Haspiel will be among the performers at Heeb Storytelling: The Live Comics Edition at Joe’s Pub, where the creators will project live, graphic novel style comics on a big screen. And on Christmas Eve, Heebonism, at Fontana’s, promises to bring “Jews and gentiles together in celebration of that nice Jewish boy’s 2010th birthday.” EVENT INFO
That last event probably sums up Heeb Magazine the best: you don’t have to be Jewish to get a kick out of it, but it helps to be in on “the conspiracy.”
December 01 2010
Space Cadet – RADAR S4 Ep 39 [vid]
Most people know Kid Koala as a world famous DJ and turntablist. But the soundscapes he composes are only one element of his expansive creative universe. His newest project, Space Cadet, is a sketch-board graphic novel about an astronaut girl, her guardian robot, and their adventures through space. Partly inspired by the recent birth of his daughter, Space Cadet is accompanied by a hypnotic soundtrack, recorded late at night so he wouldn’t
Relevant sites:
Credits:
CREATED by Lance Weiler & Alex Johnson
DIRECTOR Josh Cramer
EDITOR Jawad Metni
DP Kieran Crilly
SEGMENT PRODUCER Janine Saunders
POST PRODUCTION House of Trim
FEATURED MUSIC by:
The Slew “You Turn Me Cold”
Space Cadet work-in-progress tracks by Kid Koala
November 16 2010
PULSE – Brooklyn Superhero Supply
Past the quaint, stroller-lined streets of Park Slope, Brooklyn, there lies hidden a secretive establishment dedicated to serving those who serve this city in the name of truth, justice, and looking really awesome. I am talking, of course, of superheroes.
And did I say “secretive establishment”? I meant, a shop right on 5th Avenue with a big flashy sign. And a slick website. Hey, even superhumans could use a little advertising.
I may be a bit late on this, but I only just saw Kick-Ass a couple days ago. And when the title character wonders why no one has ever decided to be a superhero before, he must not have known about this place. (Or maybe he didn’t want to have to navigate all the way to Park Slope? I don’t blame him).
But no matter what, it’s an interesting concept that I’m surprised no one has tried before: a store providing those aspiring to be superheroes with all sorts of various gear, costumes and manuals to help them live out their comic book-inspired dreams. And while this writer doesn’t advocate readers putting themselves into dangerous situations in an effort to clean up this city, there certainly appears to be something for everyone here, including a rather tongue-in-cheek “secret identity program” for those heroes who have trouble fitting in amongst the masses. This includes costumes ranging from “cranky head chef” to “suave airline pilot,” secret identity T-shirts, and for a price, a “mild manner.” Every successful undercover superhero is going to be looking for one of these. You certainly don’t want to be the only hot-tempered reporter at the Daily Planet, do you?
For those not so interested in assimilating, there’s also a number of essential gadgets for your utility belt such as a Sonic Blaster, a Thunder Inducer, an Air Cannon, and various bottled tonics such as Mind Control, Truth Serum, and bottled Justice. They also have a selection of capes for heroes and sidekicks, leotards, masks, and glasses, both in the rear-view and X-ray varieties.
And while it may appear to all be fantasy-based, the people behind this store actually do their share of good deeds—all proceeds go directly to support 826NYC, a nonprofit organization that helps students develop their creative and expository writing skills.
October 23 2010
RADAR NYC 10.22.10
Dancing Hands Pa Pamericano
This is an odd, fun and strangely hypnotic video that features a couple using only their hands to do an elaborate dance to a Latin-inspired electropop song. Could it just be the next amazing and elaborate dance video to go viral and make its rounds on all the big trendy Internet sites? Maybe. Is it still really cool and catchy as hell? Definitely.
Dfalt – Free Mixtape
Roger O’Donnel just might be one of the most accomplished musician we’ve featured in a RADAR episode (Ep26 – Hidden Oras). After all, how many musicians out there can say they used to be in The Cure? But aside from performing with high profile acts also including the Psychedelic Furs among others, he’s also made time for an impressive solo career. His latest work, quite a departure from the goth rock of The Cure, is Piano Formations, which pairs ambient piano pieces with videos of clouds that he filmed. The set will include an audio CD, a DVD of the cloud videos with the audio and a book of the piano exercise scores, and will be released November 15, but O’Donnel’s website has some of the tracks and videos available for streaming now.
Facebook Page with Video: HERE
Website with Audio Streams: HERE
Glesbo – Glennis McMurray’s
Looking for advice? Glennis McMurray (Ep2 – I Eat Pandas) just might have some for you. She’s been writing a hilarious blog called Glesbo for years, and recently (very recently, as in October 19), she decided incorporate an advice column called Ask G. Readers can send in questions and Glennis will publish her response, full of profanities, tangents, and surprisingly good advice. And while you’re there, the rest of the blog is also a good read, if you like witty observations mixed with toilet humor and made-up words to describe obnoxious creeps (such as Jagwad, Jagdong and Jagloaf among others).
Story Pirates – HalloWhoa!
Story Pirates (Ep30 – Story Pirates) are known for providing kids with performances full of family friendly fun. This… is not one of those performances. HalloWOAH! is an after-dark, adults-only event, where the Story Pirates take you through a bizarre, unpredictable haunted house experience. And of course, there’s a bar. And while this event isn’t for the kids, proceeds from the event will go towards Story Pirates after school programs and Manhattan Youth programming.
ADULTS ONLY SHOWS
Friday, October 22nd & 29th: 10 PM and 11 PM
Saturday, October 16th & 23rd: 9 PM to 11 PM
Saturday, October 30th: 9pm and 10pm
Sunday, October 31st: 9 PM to 11 PM.
The Downtown Community Center
120 Warren Street
New York, NY 10007
Event Info
Molly Crabapple
Molly Crabapple is the mastermind behind Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School (Ep8 – Dr. Sketchy’s), as well as an accomplished artist in her own right. Her kinky, Gilded Age-inspired illustrations are quite unmistakable, and her latest project is a little something called the Art Monkey Alphabet—and it’s exactly what it sounds like. Each day for 26 days, she’ll release another monkey letter illustration, and when it’s all done, she will release the monkeys as a font, as well as silkscreen posters of all the letters.
October 15 2010
RADAR NYC 10.15.10
Beardfolio
Like mustaches? Ok, weird question. At least for someone like me, who, before seeing this project, probably would have answered with indifference or confusion. However, after being exposed to Beardfolio, a photo project by Matt Rainwaters, my opinion has definitely changed. His unique portfolio of men with outrageous facial hair is really like nothing else, and one that words really can’t do justice. Upon first glance, I was sure that the images had been skewed or Photoshopped, but after further investigation, I learned that the facial hair of the subjects is indeed real, albeit presumably styled for the occasion of being photographed. Check it out for yourself. I can almost guarantee that you’ve never seen anything like this before.
Dfalt – Free Mixtape
Dfalt, the instrumental side project of Cassettes Won’t Listen (featured on RADAR Ep25, Subway Etiquette) just released a new single called Summer Drinks. The song is part of a brand new, completely free, 30-minute mix tape, which is available HERE. Summer Drinks is a unique blend of upbeat electronic dancy goodness that seamlessly transitions into a heavier, darker, more intense sound, with slight remnants of the Mission Impossible theme. And that’s just the song. The video that goes with it is insane. In a good way. A great way. I can’t even describe it. Just watch it; you won’t be sorry.
Cuba: My Revolution – Dean Haspiel
Looking for new reading material? We highly recommend Cuba: My Revolution, a graphic novel illustrated by Dean Haspiel (RADAR Ep1, Next Door Neighbor). We love his illustrations, and the book itself looks really cool, too. Here’s a short summary, from Free Publishers Weekly: “This dramatic account of the experiences of a young woman named Sonya during the Cuban revolution is based on the experiences of Lockpez. The narrative traces Sonya as she transforms from an idealist revolutionary studying to be a surgeon to a dissident artist who realizes she must flee her beloved but troubled country. Along the way, she witnesses carnage, is imprisoned and tortured, and is separated from her family. In the midst of the chaos, she also finds love. Haspiel, who has known Lockpez for over 20 years, provides striking illustrations that chart Sonya’s shifting emotions and alliances; particularly strong are the surrealist depictions of her dreams and her ordeal in prison. Painter José Villarubia adds tones and shades of red that further intensify the story. At times Lockpez relies too heavily on clunky exposition explaining the history of Cuba and Castro, although some readers may find the context helpful. It is impossible to deny the power of Lockpez’s dramatic coming-of-age story, which make the human cost of the revolution all too clear.”
Look At or Buy Cuba: My Revolution HERE
Start Trekkin – Improv
Like improv? Like Star Trek? Never thought you’d see the day when both of those questions would be asked consecutively, and are thus bursting with excitement? Well, we have the perfect event for you! Star Trekkin (RADAR Ep36, Start Trekkin) is a long-form improv group that explores the human condition while embodying characters and plot lines from, you guessed it, Star Trek. They have a show coming up this Saturday, October 16th, at The Tank and two more shows after that in 2010. Check out their website for more info, performance dates, and updates.
Sat, October 16, 7:30p – 8:30
The Tank (45th Street Theater) – 354 w. 45th Street
Event Info
@almostontheL
When you think “the L train,” what comes to mind? Quick zip into (and out of) Manhattan? Hipster paradise? Flannel wonderland? Or, perhaps, the most romantic subway line ever? Well, if not, then maybe you should reconsider. According to a “study” conducted by the geniuses at Craigslist, the L train was determined to be the best subway line for romantic sparks to fly. At least, that is, if your definition of “most romantic subway line,” means “the best odds of a fellow passenger falling for you across a crowded car or platform, and then posting a ‘Missed Connections’ ad on Craigslist in search of you.” Sounds about right. At least some people seem to think so, enough to create “Almost on the L,” a Twitter version of Missed Connections, devoted exclusively to the ever-dreamy L-train. And it’s created quite a following. Who knows? Maybe that cute guy that you make awkward look-away eye contact with every morning at the Morgan Ave stop (which, by the way, is scientifically proven to be the most romantic subway stop in New York) feels the same way about you as you do about him. All we ask is that you be specific. I don’t think that tweets like “I thought you were adorable with your red and white plaid shirt,” which someone posted on October 11th, will do you much good. It might be the most romantic place on Earth, but it’s still the L train.
Almost on the L Twitter
Email your L Train missed connections: almostontheL@gmail.com
October 01 2010
RADAR NYC 10.01.10
Collapsus
This is the official trailer for Collapsus, a media phenomenon that will expand the limits of how different forms of communication work together to create a complete experience. The project is headed by Tommy Pallotta, producer of Waking Life and Scanner Darkly. Collapsus is set in the near future and details the effects of the imminent energy crisis on ten individuals who become the central figures in an energy conspiracy. Collapsus is the transmedia project related to the movie Energy Risk which focuses on the rough transition from fossil fuels to alternate resources and how it would affect worldwide energy infrastructures. Collapsus is being developed by SubmarineChannel, in collaboration with the Dutch public broadcaster VPRO. The combination of animation, narrative, documentary, and interactivity will plunge the audience into a highly developed world that is falling apart at the seams. The audience becomes a player within the story by making decisions that affect the global arena. The story is propelled through the interactions of different media forms, but that is what makes it all the more engaging, as there are layers and layers of intrigue and drama. For those who need some assistance with getting started with this correlative experience, Tommy Pallotta, the director of Collapsus, has made a video walkthrough for the project.
Collapsus – http://www.collapsus.com/
Walkthrough – Link
Javelin– Intervales Theme (found VHS)
Javelin was featured in RADAR episode 27, Auto-Tune The News. Their use samples and original sounds to create music that fuses Bollywood singsong together with 80s arcade game sounds creates melodic fusions equivalent to a sunny day on the moon, a mix of the haunting and upbeat. Their focus on rhythm harkens back to the days of the B-Boys of old creating music that is as easy to listen to as it is to dance along with. In this video they feature footage from a VHS tape they found on the streets of their native Providence, RI. The little boy eating ice cream looks like a character ripped out of the Cosby show, fitting for the song Intervales Themes, which Javelin chose to accompany it. The slick beats and melodic tunes create a solid feel for the era when this VHS footage was probably taken. Javelin has managed to fake a genuine relic, which is no easy feat to master.
Link to Video- HERE
Stuff Hipsters Hate
Brenna Ehrlich and Andrea Bartz have been running the blog Stuff Hipsters Hate for a year now, and recently they have published a book that can serve as handy guide to turn the tide against the plaid shirts and silk scarves of the hipster zombie mob. In the book and blog, Ehrlich and Bartz highlight topics, links, and questions that the targeted subculture, even with a few PBRs in them, can’t handle. For those who live in big cities like New York and San Francisco, hipsters are all too familiar. Urban pavements are crawling with scrawny, mustachioed men on fixed gear bikes and young, beautiful women in granny clothes and glasses. What is this strange Halloween-like phenomenon? For those that haven’t been exposed to the hipster culture; congratulations, you have dodged a gaggle of unoriginal originality obsessed self-professed freaks of pop culture, but every day city dwellers struggle to figure out a way to repel the ubiquitous plague of hipsters. Look no more my fellow urbanites! Stuff Hipsters Hate is here to save you from partying with people that think they are too good to listen to anything produced after 1992.
Blog: http://stuffhipstershate.tumblr.com/
Buy the Book:HERE
Open Video Conference
The web video is an accessible form of communication, but lately the fear of a tiered internet experience and of loosing the ability to explore an open web have made the comprehensive and free web video an endangered species. The Open Video Conference being held in New York City is dedicated to broadening the impact of the web video as a medium for communication and expression. OVC is being held by the Open Video Alliance, a group created by individuals and coalitions who seek to create an open web video experience through building inclusive tools, practices, and policies. The conference takes place over three days, and has tons of seminars and talks dedicated to the web video as a media form and essential transmedia tool. Sunday will be Hack Day, where conference attendees, HTML5 developers, and transmedia storytelling experts, will get to work on a series of activities that range from mapping out a transmedia strategy for content to building a custom HTML5 player for sites.
Our own Lance Weiler will be presenting along with Tommy Pallotta (Director of Collapsus, Producer of Waking Life and Scanner Darkly) at 4PM on October 1, 2010. Their talk about “Storytelling Without Bounds” will focus on joining of many media forms to create a complete experience. Be sure to check in early, and go to as many events as you can in order to gain a greater understanding of the web video and how it is evolving into something greater.
http://www.openvideoconference.org/
http://openvideoalliance.org/
Seminars
October 1st & 2nd
Fashion Institute of Technology
7th Ave at 27th St
Hack Day
October 3rd
NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program
721 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
Events – Link
The Advice of Strangers
Marc Horowitz doesn’t feel like any of the negative connotations associated with the word stranger should affect his new web series. Horowitz has been featured as part of RADAR episode 18, Google Maps Road Trip, a virtual, internet assisted road trip, where he shared his life and time with Peter Baldes, a man unknown to him at the beginning of their project. His unique brand of art and entertainment, which is closely related to culture jamming, is heavily influenced by social interactions and the reactions of other people. Children’s television has made stranger danger a staple of our vocabulary, and the word stranger has become synonymous with shadowy figures and hazardous situations. Now, Marc Horowitz is going to take the input from strangers and weirdos from the internet make life decisions based on their opinions. Follow him through his internet fueled journey, which is sure to be a life-changing experience for him and for the people that become active participants in his experiment.
Link – The Advice of Strangers
Link – Channel
August 31 2010
PULSE – Every Person in New York
Jason Polan is truly, the new wave of Renaissance Man. Michigan born, Jason moved to New York City and quickly made himself an institution. It began, with a New Yorker Cartoon that ran March 6th of 2006. By the next year, Jason had begun a multitude of projects. First, there was the Taco Bell Drawing club. This is where at first – Jason and a few friends would simply meet up and do some drawing at a Taco Bell restaurant. Now, this has spread all across the country. They even have tote bags. At the same time he started The Hand Project, a series in which he photocopied his hand in different positions which he then sold for 20 dollars a piece. However for a considerably larger sum Jason will come to your house, shake your hand, write up a certificate of authenticity for the encounter, and take a photo of the two of you with the certificate.
Now Jason has taken it upon himself to draw every single person in New York. A daunting task to most so Jason made it easier for all of us. Using a regular email account anyone can send a message directly to Jason listing what street corner they’ll be on, what you’ll be wearing, and a 2 minute window for him to arrive. In case he can’t make it there in time he doesn’t want you to wait. He has recently past 8300 portraits and threw himself a party . It was called the “One Tenth of One Percent Event” (as there are 8,363,710 New Yorkers awaiting him). The drawings are black ink on paper, and simple.
To the trained eye they resemble the work of long time New Yorker Magazine Cartoonist Roz Chast. Jason has also had a published New Yorker cartoon, bringing him to one of the highest planes of notoriety a New York artist can achieve.
Currently, Jason has 6 web sites operating covering all of his work. He also maintains a personal site. Not only is his work versatile, but also it is accessible. One day Jason walked through the Museum of Modern Art in January of 2005, and drew each and every piece in the building. This book is now sold through his website. The deluxe edition you ask? For $100 dollars, Jason will meet you at the museum, give you a personal tour, and buy you a hot dog or a pretzel afterwards. This is the new approach to art. Instead of cloaking himself in anonymity, Jason is readily available. Email him. He’ll write back.
His work can be found at JasonPolan.com
email: Art@jasonPolan.com
August 26 2010
RADAR NYC 8.26.10
WBP Discovery & Distribution Winner – One Hundred Mornings
One Hundred Mornings, written and directed by Conor Horgan, is the winner of the WorkBook Project Discovery and Distribution Award. The WBP Discovery and Distribution Award gives a filmmaker an amazing prize consisting of a week long theatrical run in LA with social media, street team and PR support. On top of that, the filmmaker gets to keep the box office and we help to pull together the independent community in an effort to drive awareness around the film. One Hundred Mornings places the audience in a grim future where creature comforts such as electricity, hot water, and supermarkets have ceased to exist. In a wake of a world crisis, two couples head up in a lakeside cabin while the events of the outside world blow over. In a time where the word “recession” is blazoned across thousands of headlines, and the term “Third World America” seems more like a grim reality rather than the subject of a fictional work, One Hundred Mornings resounds with its take on a future where there is very few resources to be had or shared by the human race. Relying heavily on storytelling and character development rather than special effects or ornate love stories, One Hundred Mornings is one behemoth of a film. It’s dystopians roots show with the interpersonal relations in the story and the way they erode as the film goes on. Though eerie, One Hundred Mornings has a definite base on the very real possibility that this might be where the world is in a few decades or years. Be sure to check this film out if you’re in LA. The theatrical release will kick off Sept 16th at the Downtown Independent Theater. Event info here.
Noveller
Noveller is the solo project of Sarah Lipstate. Her music is soothing, but it is charged with a dramatic quality that rises from the electric distortions and peeps. The tracks are understated, but the intricate layering of audio creates drama within her musical pieces. It is amazing to hear electric guitar distortions being turned into organic sounds and musical aspects of nature. Currently, Noveller and unFact are touring (TOUR INFO) the United States of America and Canada, and will be coming to Brooklyn in September. Her latest album, Desert Fires, is available on CD via Lipstate’s own Saffron Recordings. On top of Sarah being an incredible musician and a RADAR favorite, she is also an incredible avant-garde filmmaker, with two short films that have screened at SXSW.
Listen to Noveller’s music: http://www.myspace.com/noveller
Watch Noveller’s films: http://sarahlipstate.com/wordpress/index.php/films/
Fashion Geek – Diana Eng
Fashion Geek written by Diana Eng shines a light on the point where style and technology converge. If Diana Eng is a recognizable name, that is because her collection was featured in our RADAR episode Fairytale Fashion (RADAR – Ep 31). Others might remember her for her Project Runway fame a few years ago where she gained recognition for being a “nerdy” fashion designer. She did not win her season, but the show put her on the map as a fashion designer that chooses to infuse whimsical fashion with cutting edge technology. Her book is a direct reflection of her combined love of LED lights and bright fabrics, but instead of simply showcasing her fashion aesthetic she uses the book to show how to add technological flares to common scarfs, hoodies, and other girlie articles of clothing. The guides are simple because of the step by step directions accompanied by full color photos to see how the project is supposed to turn out. Diana Eng places emphasis on the need for girls to learn math, science, and electronics, and she does a great job infusing the art of designing with the practicalities of technology.
Take a look inside the book or buy it here
NYCResistor Craft Night
The good people at Dr. Sketchy’s are throwing one of those new fangled flash mobs! Guess what! You’re invited! For those of you out of the loop Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is a premier underground art movement fueled by alternative stage performers and alcohol. Dr. Sketchy’s was started by Molly Crabapple in 2005, and has been a force to reckon with ever since, spreading from humble beginnings in Brooklyn to a true international sensation. As for the upcoming event, to get to go to the flash mob event you have to RSVP on Facebook (link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144927295538627&ref=mf), and wait for Molly herself (twitter: http://twitter.com/mollycrabapple ) to tweet the address the day of! Off the cuff and spontaneous, but totally in vein of the types of events hosted by Dr. Sketchy’s. This event specifically will feature Kiki Valentine in infamous mermaid suit. This is sure to be one heck of a time down by the water. Be sure to RSVP!
August 28th: 6pm – 8pm
TBA
Event Info
@alliebrosh
At first glance Hyperbole and a Half looks like the brainchild of a elementary school kid with a penchant for Microsoft Paint. But after reading the latest post, always accompanied by one of Allie Brosh’s hilariously disfigured drawings, the blog’s tone becomes more than apparent. Allie Brosh is a devastatingly honest and silly blogger with ability to put into words and drawings the most awkward experiences and take the severity out of them. In her FAQs she admits that she draws cruddy drawings because they are funny, and she is totally right. Her distorted figures have the voice of the common man, who has to suffer with insecurities dancing and a severe fear of horror movies. It’s hard not to smirk when scrolling down this genuinely sincere blog.
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/
RADAR NYC 8.26.10
WBP Discovery & Distribution Winner – One Hundred Mornings
One Hundred Mornings, written and directed by Conor Horgan, is the winner of the WorkBook Project Discovery and Distribution Award. The WBP Discovery and Distribution Award gives a filmmaker an amazing prize consisting of a week long theatrical run in LA with social media, street team and PR support. On top of that, the filmmaker gets to keep the box office and we help to pull together the independent community in an effort to drive awareness around the film. One Hundred Mornings places the audience in a grim future where creature comforts such as electricity, hot water, and supermarkets have ceased to exist. In a wake of a world crisis, two couples head up in a lakeside cabin while the events of the outside world blow over. In a time where the word “recession” is blazoned across thousands of headlines, and the term “Third World America” seems more like a grim reality rather than the subject of a fictional work, One Hundred Mornings resounds with its take on a future where there is very few resources to be had or shared by the human race. Relying heavily on storytelling and character development rather than special effects or ornate love stories, One Hundred Mornings is one behemoth of a film. It’s dystopians roots show with the interpersonal relations in the story and the way they erode as the film goes on. Though eerie, One Hundred Mornings has a definite base on the very real possibility that this might be where the world is in a few decades or years. Be sure to check this film out if you’re in LA. The theatrical release will kick off Sept 16th at the Downtown Independent Theater. Event info here.
Noveller
Noveller is the solo project of Sarah Lipstate. Her music is soothing, but it is charged with a dramatic quality that rises from the electric distortions and peeps. The tracks are understated, but the intricate layering of audio creates drama within her musical pieces. It is amazing to hear electric guitar distortions being turned into organic sounds and musical aspects of nature. Currently, Noveller and unFact are touring (TOUR INFO) the United States of America and Canada, and will be coming to Brooklyn in September. Her latest album, Desert Fires, is available on CD via Lipstate’s own Saffron Recordings. On top of Sarah being an incredible musician and a RADAR favorite, she is also an incredible avant-garde filmmaker, with two short films that have screened at SXSW.
Listen to Noveller’s music: http://www.myspace.com/noveller
Watch Noveller’s films: http://sarahlipstate.com/wordpress/index.php/films/
Fashion Geek – Diana Eng
Fashion Geek written by Diana Eng shines a light on the point where style and technology converge. If Diana Eng is a recognizable name, that is because her collection was featured in our RADAR episode Fairytale Fashion (RADAR – Ep 31). Others might remember her for her Project Runway fame a few years ago where she gained recognition for being a “nerdy” fashion designer. She did not win her season, but the show put her on the map as a fashion designer that chooses to infuse whimsical fashion with cutting edge technology. Her book is a direct reflection of her combined love of LED lights and bright fabrics, but instead of simply showcasing her fashion aesthetic she uses the book to show how to add technological flares to common scarfs, hoodies, and other girlie articles of clothing. The guides are simple because of the step by step directions accompanied by full color photos to see how the project is supposed to turn out. Diana Eng places emphasis on the need for girls to learn math, science, and electronics, and she does a great job infusing the art of designing with the practicalities of technology.
Take a look inside the book or buy it here
NYCResistor Craft Night
The good people at Dr. Sketchy’s are throwing one of those new fangled flash mobs! Guess what! You’re invited! For those of you out of the loop Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is a premier underground art movement fueled by alternative stage performers and alcohol. Dr. Sketchy’s was started by Molly Crabapple in 2005, and has been a force to reckon with ever since, spreading from humble beginnings in Brooklyn to a true international sensation. As for the upcoming event, to get to go to the flash mob event you have to RSVP on Facebook (link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144927295538627&ref=mf), and wait for Molly herself (twitter: http://twitter.com/mollycrabapple ) to tweet the address the day of! Off the cuff and spontaneous, but totally in vein of the types of events hosted by Dr. Sketchy’s. This event specifically will feature Kiki Valentine in infamous mermaid suit. This is sure to be one heck of a time down by the water. Be sure to RSVP!
August 28th: 6pm – 8pm
TBA
Event Info
@alliebrosh
At first glance Hyperbole and a Half looks like the brainchild of a elementary school kid with a penchant for Microsoft Paint. But after reading the latest post, always accompanied by one of Allie Brosh’s hilariously disfigured drawings, the blog’s tone becomes more than apparent. Allie Brosh is a devastatingly honest and silly blogger with ability to put into words and drawings the most awkward experiences and take the severity out of them. In her FAQs she admits that she draws cruddy drawings because they are funny, and she is totally right. Her distorted figures have the voice of the common man, who has to suffer with insecurities dancing and a severe fear of horror movies. It’s hard not to smirk when scrolling down this genuinely sincere blog.
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/
July 23 2010
RADAR NYC 7.23.10
Auto-Tune The News – Ep10 Turtles
There’s a good chance that if you’ve ever used the internet to procrastinate/look at YouTube/link your friends to ridiculous videos, you’ve seen “Auto-Tune the News.” The concept is simple: take the day’s freshest, most serious news, T-Pain the voices, and add some funky background music. The result: hilarious. The brains behind the zany wigs, blue screens, and manic beats are The Gregory Brothers and Sarah Gregory. Check out the latest RADAR episode for some behind-the-scenes action of ATTN making Ep10 – Turtles, or just shoot over to their YouTube page. Just don’t forget to subscribe. Turtles:
Watch more videos from Auto-Tune The News
www.youtube.com/user/schmoyoho
Tall Firs
We like Tall Firs and their indie rock jamming, even using one of their tracks in season 3 of RADAR. The trio sounds like a compilation of 90s-era Dinosaur Jr., live Neil Young, and aggressive Galaxies 500, but don’t take our word for it – Head to their Myspace to hear what’s up. We recommend “Axemen” or “Hairdo.”
Listen / Purchase – Tall Firs music
Red Light Properties – Chapter 18
If you’re anything like us, you’ve been following Dan Goldman’s work since we featured his Red Light Properties series (RADAR Ep22 – Red Light Properties). The unique webcomic experience is still going strong, with a new chapter prepped for launch on July 27th. The online graphic novel follows a group of ghostbusting realty agents in Miami who turnover previously-haunted houses well-below market value. The self-proclaimed tropical-horror‘s most unique aspect has got to be its delivery; instead of one massive JPG or PDF shoved onto your screen, the comic unfolds panel-by-panel, one word-bubble at a time, all at the pace of your mouse clicks. Catch up with the eighteen previous chapters now.
Chapter 18 – view here.
NY International Independent Film & Video Festival
In case you didn’t know, the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival is one of the largest indie festivals in the world. Greats such as Abel Ferrara, Andy Garcia, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Walken, Daryl Hannah, Guy Pearce, George Clooney, and Willem Dafoe have all done work in the festival and the NYIIFVF also accepts submissions from all over the world. If that sort of gravity doesn’t already attract you to the event, our own Daniela Croci has a film entered in the festival, Everything Is as It Seems. Scope the fest’s website for info on film schedules, locations, and tickets. Watch Daniela’s short:
Saturday July 24th – 2 pm
VILLAGE EAST CINEMAS
181 2nd Avenue at 12th Street, New York
Event Info
@Urbanfarming
We’ve showcased sustainability pieces here at RADAR a couple times before, most notably, the Waterpod project (RADAR 017 – Waterpod). Well, some of the guys and girls behind that awesome art satellite have a website and a Twitter dedicated to appropriate technology and green living. Yes, both are definitely worth bookmarking/ following for updates on all things efficient, useful, and green.
RADAR NYC 7.23.10
Auto-Tune The News – Ep10 Turtles
There’s a good chance that if you’ve ever used the internet to procrastinate/look at YouTube/link your friends to ridiculous videos, you’ve seen “Auto-Tune the News.” The concept is simple: take the day’s freshest, most serious news, T-Pain the voices, and add some funky background music. The result: hilarious. The brains behind the zany wigs, blue screens, and manic beats are The Gregory Brothers and Sarah Gregory. Check out the latest RADAR episode for some behind-the-scenes action of ATTN making Ep10 – Turtles, or just shoot over to their YouTube page. Just don’t forget to subscribe. Turtles:
Watch more videos from Auto-Tune The News
www.youtube.com/user/schmoyoho
Tall Firs
We like Tall Firs and their indie rock jamming, even using one of their tracks in season 3 of RADAR. The trio sounds like a compilation of 90s-era Dinosaur Jr., live Neil Young, and aggressive Galaxies 500, but don’t take our word for it – Head to their Myspace to hear what’s up. We recommend “Axemen” or “Hairdo.”
Listen / Purchase – Tall Firs music
Red Light Properties – Chapter 18
If you’re anything like us, you’ve been following Dan Goldman’s work since we featured his Red Light Properties series (RADAR Ep22 – Red Light Properties). The unique webcomic experience is still going strong, with a new chapter prepped for launch on July 27th. The online graphic novel follows a group of ghostbusting realty agents in Miami who turnover previously-haunted houses well-below market value. The self-proclaimed tropical-horror‘s most unique aspect has got to be its delivery; instead of one massive JPG or PDF shoved onto your screen, the comic unfolds panel-by-panel, one word-bubble at a time, all at the pace of your mouse clicks. Catch up with the eighteen previous chapters now.
Chapter 18 – view here.
NY International Independent Film & Video Festival
In case you didn’t know, the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival is one of the largest indie festivals in the world. Greats such as Abel Ferrara, Andy Garcia, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Walken, Daryl Hannah, Guy Pearce, George Clooney, and Willem Dafoe have all done work in the festival and the NYIIFVF also accepts submissions from all over the world. If that sort of gravity doesn’t already attract you to the event, our own Daniela Croci has a film entered in the festival, Everything Is as It Seems. Scope the fest’s website for info on film schedules, locations, and tickets. Watch Daniela’s short:
Saturday July 24th – 2 pm
VILLAGE EAST CINEMAS
181 2nd Avenue at 12th Street, New York
Event Info
@Urbanfarming
We’ve showcased sustainability pieces here at RADAR a couple times before, most notably, the Waterpod project (RADAR 017 – Waterpod). Well, some of the guys and girls behind that awesome art satellite have a website and a Twitter dedicated to appropriate technology and green living. Yes, both are definitely worth bookmarking/ following for updates on all things efficient, useful, and green.
July 15 2010
RADAR NYC 7.15.10
RADAR Ep26 – Hidden Oras
“Hidden Oras began as a live drawing project within various music clubs in Japan before moving to NYC. Shantell Martin an artist and VeeJay armed with her projector, and trusty digital drawing tablet, turns members of the audience into living art. When an audience member steps up against the projector wall Shantell creates a unique and original drawing that engulfs them. Fusing technology and art at every turn, Hidden Oras is just the first step of many towards the next wave of Live Art.
www.shantellmartin.com
Shantell Martin at PSFK conference
Shantell Martin (RADAR 026 – Hidden Oras) spoke at this year’s PSFK conference, discussing not only her process, but the tools she uses to keep herself in touch with her “creative seed”. Throughout the day, we as New Yorkers keep ourselves busy with emails and appointments, worrying about the guy you don’t trust next to you on the train, keeping us from nurturing our inner artist. By “checking in” with ourselves, stepping out of our head and focusing on our hearts and souls, to let them speak for themselves once in a while.
There Will Be Fireworks
Check out the new video for Ash Wednesday by There Will be Fireworks, a yet to be released song, in a video shot by They Shoot Video, Don’t They. “They” are a Viennese video blog, who feature “artists that can be vaguely described by the blurred out term indie”. There Will Be Fireworks are featured in the upcoming episode of RADAR season 3.
Listen / Purchase – There Will Be Fireworks music
The Pekar Project
On a solemn note, this week we remember Harvey Pekar, best known for his American Splendor comic series, who passed away early on Monday, July 12th. Pekar’s first ongoing online web series, The Pekar Project, is hosted by Smithmag.com, a comic’s collective who has touched the RADAR family in many ways. Harvey Pekars’s graphic novel, The Quitter was also illustrated by Next-Door Neighbor’s editor, Dean Haspiel. RADAR sends out a big hug to the many folks who were touched by Pekar and to Smithmag.com’s Comics Editor, Jeff Newelt, who co-founded The Pekar Project and has worked with RADAR to make so much possible – we are so sorry for the loss of Jeff’s dear friend. Please check out The Pekar Project, as it’s a great service to Pekar and everything he stood for.
Art Show – “PAINTINGS”
Jay Shells (RADAR 025 – Subway Etiquette) made a big splash with his Subway Etiquette project, getting him national attention, as well as the respect and appreciation of annoyed commuters citywide. This Friday, at the 21 Ludlow Gallery, you can see some of Jay’s other work on display alongside Gray Edgerton, Timothy Mearini, Charles Martin, Eddie Ochoa, Fedele Spadafore and Nicole Wilson, at the Paintings exhibit, from 7-10 PM, at 21 Ludlow St on the Lower East Side.
Friday July 16th – 7p to 10p
21Ludlow
21 Ludlow St. New York
Event Info
@URDB
Follow this twitter from URDB (RADAR 04 - URDB) for the most up to date world records from the bizarre to hilarious to just plan old f***ing genius.
RADAR NYC 7.15.10
RADAR Ep26 – Hidden Oras
“Hidden Oras began as a live drawing project within various music clubs in Japan before moving to NYC. Shantell Martin an artist and VeeJay armed with her projector, and trusty digital drawing tablet, turns members of the audience into living art. When an audience member steps up against the projector wall Shantell creates a unique and original drawing that engulfs them. Fusing technology and art at every turn, Hidden Oras is just the first step of many towards the next wave of Live Art.
www.shantellmartin.com
Shantell Martin at PSFK conference
Shantell Martin (RADAR 026 – Hidden Oras) spoke at this year’s PSFK conference, discussing not only her process, but the tools she uses to keep herself in touch with her “creative seed”. Throughout the day, we as New Yorkers keep ourselves busy with emails and appointments, worrying about the guy you don’t trust next to you on the train, keeping us from nurturing our inner artist. By “checking in” with ourselves, stepping out of our head and focusing on our hearts and souls, to let them speak for themselves once in a while.
There Will Be Fireworks
Check out the new video for Ash Wednesday by There Will be Fireworks, a yet to be released song, in a video shot by They Shoot Video, Don’t They. “They” are a Viennese video blog, who feature “artists that can be vaguely described by the blurred out term indie”. There Will Be Fireworks are featured in the upcoming episode of RADAR season 3.
Listen / Purchase – There Will Be Fireworks music
The Pekar Project
On a solemn note, this week we remember Harvey Pekar, best known for his American Splendor comic series, who passed away early on Monday, July 12th. Pekar’s first ongoing online web series, The Pekar Project, is hosted by Smithmag.com, a comic’s collective who has touched the RADAR family in many ways. Harvey Pekars’s graphic novel, The Quitter was also illustrated by Next-Door Neighbor’s editor, Dean Haspiel. RADAR sends out a big hug to the many folks who were touched by Pekar and to Smithmag.com’s Comics Editor, Jeff Newelt, who co-founded The Pekar Project and has worked with RADAR to make so much possible – we are so sorry for the loss of Jeff’s dear friend. Please check out The Pekar Project, as it’s a great service to Pekar and everything he stood for.
Art Show – “PAINTINGS”
Jay Shells (RADAR 025 – Subway Etiquette) made a big splash with his Subway Etiquette project, getting him national attention, as well as the respect and appreciation of annoyed commuters citywide. This Friday, at the 21 Ludlow Gallery, you can see some of Jay’s other work on display alongside Gray Edgerton, Timothy Mearini, Charles Martin, Eddie Ochoa, Fedele Spadafore and Nicole Wilson, at the Paintings exhibit, from 7-10 PM, at 21 Ludlow St on the Lower East Side.
Friday July 16th – 7p to 10p
21Ludlow
21 Ludlow St. New York
Event Info
@URDB
Follow this twitter from URDB (RADAR 04 - URDB) for the most up to date world records from the bizarre to hilarious to just plan old f***ing genius.
June 25 2010
RADAR NYC 6.25.10
Slush Pile Funnies – Joe InFurnari’s
Take one really talented comic writer/illustrator, a handful of his worst ideas, and website to showcase all of it and you have Joe Infurnari’s Slush Pile Funnies. Infurnari, who’s related to Smith Mag’s excellent Next Door Neighbor webcomic (RADAR 001 – Next Door Neighbor), has been making comics for a while now, and with great creativity comes true travesty. Best to let him explain: “Every artist has ideas that we reject. We call them ‘bad ideas’ for any number of reasons and choose to focus our efforts on the ‘good ideas’. What if we did the opposite? What if we forced ourselves to entertain these denizens of our cerebral Salon des Refusés?” Slush Pile Funnies is the result of all that “hard” work. It’s one funny, ridiculous, and thought-provoking creative experiment.
Tin Pan Band
You may have caught the work of the Tin Pan Band soundtracking our Poetry Brothel episode (RADAR 020 – Poetry Brothel), and if you dug their retro vibes then, you’re going to want to check out their new tunes now. Self-described as, “Ray Charles and Tom Waits hanging out on Bourbon Street,” the Brooklyn band sounds like a speak-easy come to life and since they’re constantly playing shows, there’s always an opportunity to catch them playing live.
LP available to listen and purchase via CD Baby
How I Met Your Motherboard – Jason Bitner
Jason Bitner loves the past. He’s the mind behind Cassette From My Ex (RADAR 003 – Cassettes From My Ex), the co-creator of Found Magazine, and editor of Dirty Found and the Found Polaroid Book. His latest historic excavation? How I Met Your Motherboard, a documentation of early computer memories – We’re talking photos and stories of ancient PCs, Macs, Commodores, and Ataris. It’s like a time machine taking you back to Doogie Howser’s bedroom for a diary session.
3 Great events – ALL FREE
Ham radios, the original pranking, hacking, trucker device, has been around since the early 1900s and it still has a cult following. To celebrate the amateur radio icon, NYC Resistor is hosting this year’s ARRL Field Day from June 26-27th. For those far removed from the dial, the field day is a national event during which “radio operators promote ham radio by setting up stations and transmitting in parking lots, open fields, etc.” The bash promises to be a two-day party full of demos, dancing, and debauchery, plus one of the sponsors are RADAR-friends MakerBot (RADAR 019 – Makerbot). Go back to a time before cell phones and Twitter, check the website for more info.
Saturday June 26, 8pm-1am
NYC Resistor
87 3rd Ave., 4th FL., Brooklyn, NY
Free
AND
Eclectic Method: Free show at Puma City in South Street Seaport – Event Info
New Mind Space: Bubble Battle NYC in Time Square – Event Info
@elizaskinner
We last checked in with Eliza Skinner, she was showing off her improvisational musical skills as part of the I Eat Pandas (RADAR 002 – I Eat Pandas) tandem. Unsurprisingly, it turns out that Eliza is pretty funny off the stage too. Follow her on twitter or check out her new blog chronicling her new adventures in wedding planning. She’s like Jennifer Lopez, but actually funny.
June 11 2010
RADAR NYC 6.11.10
Tourist Lane – Improv Everywhere
The folks over at the the public scene-causing supergroup Improv Everywhere have just released a new video called “The Tourist Lane”. We don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say we think there are a lot of New Yorkers out there who are wishing this wasn’t just a prank. While exploring more of their hilarious videos, be on the lookout for RADAR contributor Katie Sokoler (RADAR 011 – Color Me Katie) , who is an Improv Everywhere agent.
You and I – Washed Out
No-fi music maker Washed Out (aka Ernest Greene) has just released a new single “You and I” featuring vocals from Caroline Polachek of Chairlift. Head on over to Greene’s merch page to purchase other 7″ featuring Washed Out and another RADAR-featured band, Small Black, and be on the look out for Washed Out touring this summer.
MP3 (via Pitchfork): Washed Out: “You and I [ft. Caroline Polachek]“
Letting The Style Flow Freely – Luca Laurenti
Check out this interview with Luca Laurenti, the illustrator and graphic designer who won the “Digital Design Tournament in 2-D” category at Cut & Paste (RADAR 006 – Cut & Paste) 2009 in Milan, Italy.
Find new work and events on Luca Laurenti’s blog
The Art Monkey’s Ball – Dr. Sketchy’s
Come on out this Saturday, June 12th, for an evening of life-drawing meets cabaret meets insanity at Dr. Sketchy’s Presents The Art Monkeys Ball. Art installations by Molly Crabapple (RADAR 008 – Dr. Sketchy’s) will be on display, and glitter covered gals will be present. Costume attire gets you in at a discounted price, so gather your most glamorous garb and make a trip to the Red Lotus Room at 6 PM this Saturday.
Saturday, June 12th – 6p
The Red Lotus Room
893 Bergen Street, Brooklyn
Tickets: $15 at the door in costume
Event Info
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@ScottBlake
Artist Scott Blake has a thing for barcodes. He started making art with the sales stickers right before Y2K when he was inspired by the impending digital shut-down, and he hasn’t stopped since. Visit his website to have a look at some of his portraits, including Barcode Jesus and Book Cover Oprah, email him your street address to receive a free barcode art postcard, and experience the interactive Barcode Yourself page.
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