At this week’s ODC conference Women Who Frame the World: A Symposium on Creativity, I was deeply struck by the work of sculptor and creator Beverly Pepper. It takes a lot to stand out in a group of presenting artists that included novelist Carol Gilligan, sound artist Kui Dong, and documentarian Eleanor Coppola (even a sampling of the total group reads like a coffee table book about major creative contributors, no?).
Pepper’s talk–Monumentality, A Life in Art–at the B’Way Theater focused on her “amphisculpture.” It includes very large scale sculptures with watercolors (“Sol y Ombra,” Spain, top right), cast iron, stones (the Italian “Omphalon,” top left), and steel. She’s as humble–”when I think about bodies in conjunction with my work, it’s mostly how I can’t get hit by it during the construction”–as she is visionary.
How does she know when one of her large scale pieces is complete? “When you step away from it and the only reaction is ooooohhh.” The same went for her dialogue with local lady artists.
I knew local developer Saroj Yadav would create great things following the startup Supercool School. Welcome Kreeya, a commerce site featuring the wares of independent creators. Fourteen designers are currently selling their clothing and accessories on the site, whose members celebrate the term “I choose to wear local” in addition to lines from Nooworks and SAAKO. It’s one of those properties I’d selfishly prefer to keep to myself but can’t resist sharing with y’all.
What do you get when you combine the creative firepower of a sound designer/architect and a robotics professor? A lot of questions.
A collaboration between the Contemporary Jewish Museum, Gil Gershoni and Ken Goldberg, the new Are We There Yet? takes an audio approach to understanding the nature of inquisition. Visitors–including those shown in photographer Molly DeCoudreaux’s images from a Thursday exhibition event–are introduced to a sound installation that provides unique experiences based on their movements. Consider it intelligent cameras + acoustics + algorithms + religious and cultural questioning = custom interactions x exhibit interaction.
You have until the end of July to see it, but why wait?
The Dark Room will play host to a new set of PianoFight sketches every Monday through April 25th, and you’d best catch the original female-driven comedy show while it runs. I still talk ad nauseam about the troupe’s recent performance of Dora the Explorer taking to the Tenderloin and expect equally good things with their new work (which is to address what would happen if the popular 5-Hour Energy product were re-imagined in a 72-Hour form and the meaning of “dick bloat”).
Since ForePlays’ November 2009 debut, the PianoFight troupe has performed everywhere from SketchFetch to WomenROCK and the Actors Theatre. Like their other great work, “Spring EGGstravaganza” is produced, written and directed by Ruth Grossinger, Nicole Hammersla, Kate Jones, Jessica Mele and Emma Rose Shelton. You’ll thank them.
Area creative type Jessica Moe and artist David Molesky seem like a dream curatorial duo, and I have high hopes for their collaboration at Contraband Coffee tonight. It will close “City Light,” a show that shares the tricks that local light plays on architecture, landscapes and fog. Molesky worked in Iceland and Norway–two places known for their ecological mystery–before returning to the Bay, and it’s better for having him.
I’ve long been a fan of The [Un]Observed (or at least since the radio magazine’s inception last year) and am excited to share creator Tania Ketenjian’s first live sound event. OHIO at Treat and 19th will play host to the listening party on March 24, when details about the project’s collaboration with The Guardian will also be shared. The [Un]Observed’s collection of online conversations includes produced audio pieces from contributors around the world, and if your Thursday night is already booked, at least tune in.
After its recent East Coast adventures, Transportation Camp is bringing its policy and technology unconference to SF with a corresponding set of Ignite #Transpo talks. The latter will feature the lightning five minute presentations that I’m such a fan of at Automattic’s space at Pier 38. Thanks to @Janerri for turning me onto the work of organizer Open Plans, a journalism and open source software proponent whose efforts to “help cities work better” are ones we can all support.
Five dollars will get non-conference participants a set of transportation talks, wine, beer, and networking.
The no recording, no replays wonder of Pop-Up Magazine returns this week with a new live event series. Sidebar debuts at SFMOMA and will feature a party and drinks in conjunction with the museum’s exhibit How Wine Became Modern: Design + Wine 1976 to Now. KQED reporter Amy Standen and illustrator Wendy McNaughton will be co-presenting as part of the “smart collection of writers, documentary filmmakers, radio producers, photographers, and artists [who] will present Pop-Up Magazine’s signature mix of original stories and ideas, live on stage, in a 45-minute show about the culture, science, history, politics, and humor of wine.” Drink up.
I was excited to get to guest post for SF’s own Ecofabulous this week (not to mention to cover a line I was introduced to at the new Two Birds). A portion of the post is as follows:
Palo Alto-via-Paris designer Linda Balti’s first line for Amour Vert (“green love”) caught our eye with its well-cut collection of dresses, shorts and colorful sashes. Believing that elegance and eco-consciousness need not be exclusive, Balti looked to dye fabrics locally in the Bay Area (with vegetable dyes for peace silks and low-impact dyes for jersey apparel).
The price is right, too: the new Airelle wide pants ($109) and Bouquet belted dress ($129) are among the great sub-$150 items that the company is likely to win fans with.
