Top 10 Albums from I.U. • Happy New Year!

in

Hey check it out, it's finally done! So this 2010 top ten list is a long time coming but it's nothing to do with me being slow on the draw or anything…haha..ahah…ha…sigh… Anyway, I announced working on this weeks ago but…um…yeah…it is here, done and happy to share... which is the important bit.

About the list….this is mine. It's not a list to include one type of music over another or a list about the longevity of any particular album or even a list composed of what's hot on the radio/pub speakers/hipster-livngroom-across-the-street-dance-floor.

It's the music that fell across the desk of I.U.. Like the late summer sun on the cracks of a sidewalk (poetic right? how could you not like this list already). It's the music I turned to the most of 2010. It's the music I have listened to intensity and wanted to listen to intensely at any given moment in 2010. Mellow moments. Emotional moments. Or every morning for the last 3 months. It's probably here.

So if you're reading the list and say, "well, I don't see Robyn, Body Talk on here…" It's because it's a list of 10 and couldn't fit it. And if consequently say, "where's Kanye West?" and then even more consequently say "Well, he must not be into music…" I say your probably better off with a different list…there's a million of them out there. This isn't your usual list. I mean three of the albums are ambient. So there you go. And on that note, thanks for reading in 2010! Thanks for taking notice of the odds and ends that make it here. And as always, if you want to throw something up here - art, music, or otherwise - just let me know and I'll happily write about it. But without any further hype, the list:     I.U.'s Top Ten Albums of 2010

10. Dwain Martin - Just Now

This first one is worth a look in 2011. A folk album to the heart and has a lot of heart to give. Straight from the Northern bit of Michigan (not the Upper Peninsula, that's a bit too North) it recently hit the airwaves. So if your into the local folk vibe you'll dig this.     9. The Forcast - The Forcast

It's true, I'm a huge Dashboard Confessional fan. Yeah. I said it. Most grown men would never admit to anything of such nature but the truth is, I'm not a grown man and we all go though tough emotional times… sometimes melodramatic emo rock is just what you need. Since there wasn't a Dashboard release this year (although I did rock out quite a bit to last years release in the recent months) The Forcast was a pretty solid emo rock album for me.     8. The Scissor Sisters - Night Work

It's a solid dance album. I totally dig it. The Robert Mapplethorpe album cover is a nice touch too. If you're not into dance music then it's best you don't youtube "Fire with Fire."

Never mind...I just did for you...

    7. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals IV/V

For those of you who know me you might be shocked that I didn't put Ryan Adams at #1 simply because. I mean, last year I put Ryan Adams at #1 because iTunes had a wrong release date and so I bent my list just to accommodate that. This time though I've cooled off just a bit…not so quick to put it at #1 because Ryan Adam can do no wrong, which he can't. And don't get me wrong I totally dig the album and I love the sound but it honestly hasn't been my go to album. This list is all about the albums I've run to the most. It's not a list of favs. If it was a list of favoriets, Ryan Adams"Love is Hell" would be at #1 or 2 or anything in the top ten, always. So with that said, I don't say… wake up to Ryan Adams. Nor do I tend to put it on when I am editing. Which isn't to say I don't dig it, it's just I've been a bit more selective about when I take my Ryan Adams. I'm sure it's going to resurface with enthusiasm come summer. Anyway, I do dig it. You should listen too.     6. Guster - Easy Wonderful

I'm a huge Guster fan. Massive. But I've been on such a huge ambient music vibe lately that I haven't managed to get into much other than "The Sight Below" and "BVDub" which isn't to say I haven't been loving' easy wonderful, it simply hasn't been my go to album in the latter stages of the year. Espcially considering how much I listened to "Lost and Gone Forever." But I suppose when summer rolls around I'm sure "Easy Wonderful" will blare from the car stereo.     5. Hammock - Chasing After Ghosts & Shadows

All you need to do is watch this and you'll understand why it's on the list and if you watched "Fire with Fire" you better spend the time to watch this, it's simply beautiful...

Hammock - Breathturn from David Altobelli on Vimeo.

    4. Alaska - The Mesozoic Era

While drum and bass is usually a miss, this album is nice. I am fan of lots of variations of techno and trance but drum and bass usually never leaves a lasting impact. This album on the other hand sits just right. I enjoy the subtle blending of spoken word and piano mixed in on several of the tracks. Good stuff.     3. Blaudzun - Seadrift Soundmachine

This album is fantastic. Simply a great mix of folk and rock. The sound originates from the mind of Johannes Sigmond and as far as I know, he's only big in Europe. Or at least the Netherlands where he's from. Everyone I mention his name to usually returns the standard, "Who?" Which is sad because his music is worth a listen for sure.

These are nice:         2. Bvdub - The Art of Dying Alone

I love the cyclical cycles of this music. A true ambient joy to listen to. But if your not a fan of drone-meets-ambient then you should stay away. Anyone not into that type of mix is probably set to go mad. I on the other hand, I'm weird and totally dig that sort of sound.     1. The Sight Below - It All Falls Apart

I can't get enough of this album. There are two tracks that I really dislike on the album unlike Blaudzun or The Ryan Adams album where everything pretty much sits right . "Burn me out from the Inside" and "New Dawn Fades" really are the least moving compositions on the album (the remain unchecked in iTunes). But I love love love "Through The Gaps In The Land" and "Stagger." Both those tracks are awesome. Anyway, more hardcore ambient music here, so if your looking for something a bit more upbeat then you'd be better off with well... something else. But I dig it and this is my list so everything is as it should.

Fin.       There it is everybody! Anybody want to share anything throw it my way too, I hope to bring back Music Fridays in 2011 so here's to that!

Have a Happy New Year's Eve and Have a wonderful start to the New Year!

Be safe out there!

Cheers~

Happy Holidays

in

These times, all-be-it busy at the desk of IU, can mean many things to many people…and as very brief moments go, I would like to take the briefest of moments to say there are so many things to be thankful for, so many people to hug and wonderful things to be shared. We sadly never get as much time as we would like to do all this…and really it's more to list even if there was enough time…but with that, I'm send out a hug and my best to those close and far around this special times... and while it not be a snowy as one could hope for this time of year it is at least white...

Happy Holidays!

Always more to come...

Cheers.

Artist: Andy Nguyen

in

My good friend and fellow photographer Andy Nguyen recently directed this video for Bergdorf Goodman and their holiday windows. If you haven't seen them, Bergdorf showcases amazing holiday themed windows every year. There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into those windows and I think Andy was able to capture a lot of that hard work with his production. It's a fun little segment and definitely worth a look if you have two seconds.

More to come...

Cheers.

Artist: Greg Jones

in

To start, I realize that my number of posts leaves quite a bit to be desired but things have been busy at the desk of i.u. but I'll try to better get out what's on my mind and filling my plate. As of now though another friend of mine has some work going up and if I'm not writing about my own happenings my second favorite thing to write about is others getting work out there.

Greg Jones is a fellow SPE colleague who has been on quite an adventure.

From the press release:

Greg Jones is proud to present his latest body of work in an exhibition of photographs taken during a month-long journey throughout Paris, Bosnia and Croatia.

This show serves as a follow-up to last year's "Rochester-Constructed Moments" exhibition, and the photographs are a part of a larger body of work that questions the divide between fact and fiction, the mythological and the mundane.

For those who can't make the opening there will be a closing reception on First Friday, December 3rd, which will be conducted in conjunction with the Hungerford's biannual open studio event, "Hungerford Unwrapped".

The When:

- Opening Reception-Friday, November 26th, 6pm - Closing Reception-Friday, December 3rd, 5pm -(and by appointment)

The Where:

-The Hungerford 1115 East Main Street, Suite 311 Rochester, NY 14609 (3rd floor, enter through door #2)

The Who:

Greg Jones is a digital-based artist and photographer whose approach to subject matter is shaped by his love of Robert Doisneau, Joel Sternfeld, and Edward Hopper - artists whose work captures the ordinary life of their immediate surroundings and beyond. Through his mastery of composition and color, and by compositing together frames of scenes photographed over long stretches of time, Jones works to craft narratives that disrupt the line between fact and fiction. His work has come to represent the new wave of contemporary street photography- a wave in which the extraordinary is illuminated within the mundane.

Greg was born in Syracuse, New York in 1986 and currently lives and works in Rochester, New York. He received his BFA from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2010. Greg keeps himself involved in Rochester's art community by organizing and promoting exhibitions as well as doing volunteer work at the George Eastman House. He is currently interning with the artist Sterz as an art teacher at Cobblestone School in Rochester. Greg will be exhibiting his Rochester portfolio at Artisan Works early next year.

___

All Neat stuff there. If your around, which sadly I am not, pop over and check it out. If you have a chance give his site a click for more work/info at http://www.gejones.net/

Anyway, look for some more random things to come.

Be safe out there.

Artist: Lisette DeBoisblanc + work in ATL

in

I have my computer back! That's the big news to start. And while I'm super behind at getting things out I thought I should note this real quick... a good friend of mine, Lisette DeBoisblanc, has a show up in the Atlanta Airport. I hear the work is in a great location and visiable with other work(s). So if your passing though make sure you keep an eye out. About the show: "The Airport Show: Big, bold, brash and beautiful! Come see the best of APG in an exhibition of large-scale work lighting up the Atrium Gallery at the Atlanta Airport. Jurored by Amy Miller, Executive Director of Atlanta Celebrates Photography."

Neat. And here is an excerpt about Lisette's work:

"When facing tragedy or complications, it is not uncommon for a person to seek help from a therapist to peel back the layers of the mind to overcome psychological barriers. Like a therapist, I am interested in how life experiences shape our being. This is not only physical appearances, but also our inner essence. Like a scientist, I turn to x-rays, which allow me to uncover secrets beneath the surface. By x-raying dolls I use the visual language of science to symbolize the human persona and bring it to two-dimensional form.

As a New Orleans native, five years ago I felt the tragedy of hurricane Katrina as my family was profoundly affected by the storm. We suffered not only by losing physical possessions, but we endured psychological damage as well. After finding my grandmother’s ruined doll collection, leftovers from her personal belongings, I began to x-ray them for documentation and curiosity. I am shocked with my findings; nails and pins pierced their bodies below the surface. Suddenly, the doll has an aura that is almost human, with internal workings that chronicle a life lived, an internal spirit, sometimes with strength, and others with a broken heart. I discovered that these x-rays reached beyond documentation and physical deterioration; for each, a story emerged, some sense out of my loss."

I have had the pleasure of looking at some of the work in person and looking at it over the web really doesn't do it justice. So if you are passing though ATL do make sure you keep an eye open. But in the case that your not, here's the web version:

Really amazing stuff. Anyway, fingers crossed there will be more stuff to come soon. Busy times on the other end of this screen...

Stay tuned...

Update of sorts...

in

So as things go, I had hoped to just post a quick roundup of people I met up with at Midwest SPE but that sadly is going to have to wait until I get my computer back. If you didn't notice the tweets, yes sadly, my computer fell victim to the Nvidia recall in the way where my computer stops working. So...more to come at some point. But not at this point. Anyway, keep on keepin' on and there will be a note in the future.

Cheers.

Midwest SPE 2010 Day 1

in

Just a quick post today. I arrived a bit late in the day but I was able to catch the lecture by Lucy Lippard. Really inspiring to listen to as she tied together work of a lot of great photographers like Robert Adams, Joe Deal, Amy Stien... just to name a few of many. Hopefully her talk will end up somewhere on the SPE website. It would definitely would be worth a read if it did.

More to come tomorrow. If you're around make sure you drop me a line and maybe we can connect.

Cheers Light

Openings!

in

So I've been a terrible blogger as of lately but there are a couple of things I wanted to post real quick. A good friend of mine Christin Boggs is having a show at the RRCDC: Rochester Regional Community Design Center. The opening reception is 6 - 9 Friday, October 01, 2010

From brief excerpt from the release:

"Slow & Steady, a thesis exhibition by Rochester Institute of Technology’s Masters of Fine Arts candidate Christin Boggs, examines the contemporary movement away from mass-produced foods in a return to traditional modes of food production and preparation. Photographs depict scenes from community gardens, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms, and farmers markets within the greater Rochester region."

Slow and Steady

If you're in the area, try and get out and see the work.

I unfortunately won't be able to make it because I am pretty far from RIT but a show I will be attending is one at the Fire Barn Gallery in Grand Haven, MI.

Victoria Veenstra is having a show from September 22 - October 9th 2010. With the opening reception tomorrow night (Sept. 22) from 6:30 - 8pm, everybody come out and see the work!

Here's the address:

The Fire Barn Grand Haven, MI 18 N 5th St Grand Haven, MI 49417

I don't have any pics for this one but I hope to see you there!

Cheers.

"Danny & Annie" from StoryCorps via Jenn

in

I have been going not stop as of lately but I'm glad I took 5min out to watch this beautiful animation that Jenn brought to my attention. It's part of the StoryCorps movement (something I did years back in NYC, there's a permeant booth there and it's free to share a story(ies), if you're in the NYC area get on it, such an amazing project). "Danny & Annie" is one of the most beautiful things I have watched as of lately and I strongly recommend it. You'll probably want to grab a kleenex because it's pretty moving but if you have 5min... do listen.

Words fail me after watching it.

Media Published: via Nick Hannes via Daylight Magazine

in

I'm Back! And again I've been working with Daylight Magazine to create a media segment for Nick Hannes titled "Red Journey" and features a selection of his images. The project itself is massive undertaking. It spans a tremendous amount of physical space and covers a multitude of cultural issues. I feel it's a extremely strong project and presents an important story. It was an again an honor to work with Daylight Magazine and Nick Hannes.

Here's a little excerpt from the site:

Belgian photographer Nick Hannes spent a year travelling through the fifteen former Soviet republics in search of traces of the past and signs of social transition. Red Journey uncovers the various ways in which former Soviet countries are trying to redefine their national identity after the disintegration of the communist imperium. Hannes shows a region of contrasts by photographing extreme wealth amid heart-rending poverty, unrestrained urban renewal that makes deprived neighbourhoods all the more visible, new dictator’s gilt cult images in a decor of faded glory.

Multimedia

I think it turned out great and I was happy to hear that it has been received well.

Again, like the last segment, I’m credited in the segment as “Multimedia Producer” and by movie credit standards I’m not acting as a producer. Yes, I am “producing it” and “actually making it” (sequencing it, adjusting everything that is associated with editing) but by movie, television standards I’m the producer but rather the editor. It’s an odd choice of words here but I am not the director (also in reference to it’s traditional definition, and also not used in it's most traditional form the credits, again, odd I know…). At the end of the day, I’m not in charge about how to word the credits. But I did edit this and I just wanted to note that. Also, I wanted to note that Dave Runyan was the audio engineer on the interview. I was given really rough interview audio and the fist thing I thought was, “this is unusable and needs to be worked over…” and without question thought of Dave. He’s top notch when it comes to audio so I went to him.

Also, I should say that I've been a terrible blogger as of lately but things have been insanely busy for me. Hopefully new posts and fun things will follow.

Cheers.

Media Published: via Wil Steacy, via Daylight Magazine

in

Many of you know I have a long history of editing and composing segments for various purposes but I hold a deep respect for Daylight Magazine and it's great pleasure to create media for them. For the last week or so I have been working with Daylight magazine, and indirectly with Will Steacy, to put together a media segment. Will is having a show at the Michael Mazzeo Gallery in New York City and the segment I recently edited is now live on the Daylight Magazine Multimedia podcast page. It's also going to be shown at the opening reception for the Michael Mazzeo Gallery. I find Will's work to be both powerful and meaningful. His photographs have an intensity that resonates though their story. His images also bring to light a national discussion about how our urban environments are evolving.

From the Daylight page:

In "Down These Mean Streets" Will Steacy wanders through battered urban areas with a wrench in his back pocket. Barney Kulok and Paul Graham come to mind when looking through these images of abandoned buildings, burned-out cars, neon signs and local residents. The city glows, strangely beautiful but vaguely threatening, as a picture of urbanity and its attendant vices - it is not a forgiving portrait. This podcast produced in conjunction with the Michael Mazzeo Gallery for Steacy's show on view June 10 - July 23rd 2010. Read an exclusive, in-depth piece about "Down These Mean Streets" at Conscientious Extended.

And you can also see the segment by clicking on the image below:

Will Steacy

That's it for now. We'll see what makes it up later this week. Make sure you hit some of those links or watch the segment and if you're in NYC you should go to the show because I imagine that the images are pretty amazing in person. If given the opportunity, I'd check it out. Hopefully I'll get that chance.

Also, on a side note, I'm credited in the segment as "Multimedia Producer" and by movie credit standards I'm not acting as a producer. Yes, I am "producing it" and "actually making it" (sequencing it, adjusting everything that is associated with editing) but by movie, television standards I'm the producer but rather the editor. It's an odd choice of words here but I am not the director (also in reference to it's traditional definition, and also not used in the credits, again, odd I know...) thus, I'm not in charge about how to word the credits. But I did edit this and I just wanted to note that. Also, I wanted to note that Dave Runyan was the audio engineer on the interview. I was given really rough interview audio and the fist thing I thought was, "this is unusable and needs to be worked over..." and without question thought of Dave. He's top notch when it comes to audio so I went to him.

Cheers.

More to come.

Back in action?

in

So I haven't posted anything in weeks...maybe it's because I needed an unannounced impromptu vacation from blogging or maybe because I've been a bit more busy that I had expected. In either case, I've been inspired and I'm back in action. What inspired me? Ah, good question. I'm glad you asked. Check this stuff out and stay tuned for some odds and ends to come this coming week....

Cheers.

100+ miles? Yes.

and this...

@BrainFarmCinema, you should hire me.

Show Pictures: "DUO" by Nate Abramowski and Laith Karmo

in

It feels like it's taken forever to get these images up on the ole' blog but I'm glad they are now up for the world to see. I also have to send out a huge thanks to Laith and CAVE for making the show possible. It was a great turnout and everyone I met was totally into the work. These are some of the shots I grabbed of my work, Laith's and CAVE in general while walking around. If you were there and had any thoughts on the show send em' my way, I'd be interested to see what you thought. Anyway, if you happened to make it out, thanks for coming and again, thanks Laith and CAVE for a great show. It's up until the 15th so if your in the area stop by and check it out. And the images...

Russell Industrial Complex Detroit CAVE Russell Industrial Complex Detroit Russell Industrial Complex Detroit CAVE CAVE CAVE CAVE CAVE CAVE CAVE CAVE

More to come...

Show: DUO by Nate Abramowski and Laith Karmo

in

So I've been busy all week with the upcoming show "Duo." If you're in the detroit area make sure you check it out! Info below...Duo

The Details:

DUO Nate Abramowski and Laith Karmo

Cave is pleased to present DUO, a two person exhibition with Nate Abramowski and Laith Karmo, on Friday April 30th 2010. The opening reception will be from 7-11pm and the show will be up through May 15th.

In bringing these two artists together, DUO traverses time, the history of man, and the displacement of preconceptions and stereotypes. As both explore moments of reflection- exposing the imaginative and revealing vulnerability- confronting and navigating these relationships presents itself in fresh form.

Nate Abramowski received his Bachelors of Science in Film production and Bachelor of Science in photography from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan and a Masters of Fine Art in photography from Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. Nate is currently working in Chicago as a photographer and editor.

Laith Karmo received a Bachelors of Fine Art from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan, and a Masters of Fine Art from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He has taught at Wayne State University in Detroit and is currently teaching at Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills Michigan.

Music Friday: Letting Up Despite Great Faults: "Our Younger Noise"

in

Another quick one seening this is a pretty "action packed" Friday but there's at least a minute for a little musical distraction. This Friday it's Letting Up Despite Great Faults "Our Younger Noise". Now, you'd think after all my "tweets" about the National I'd post something by them, but(!) they don't have video yet (for their new release, High Violet).... so I thought I'd just hang back one more week to see if somthing srufaces. Besides, there is this lovely video by Christopher j Ewing (part of wested potential productions). I totally dig it. It's playfulness really matches the video. I was turned on to Letting Up Despite Great Faults awhile ago by some blog I can't remember but I'm glad that I've been loosly following them because this song + video is a gem.

Letting Up Despite Great Faults: "Our Younger Noise" from Christopher j Ewing on Vimeo.

Anyway, that's about all the time I have here. So where ever you may be this weekend may it be a fun one.

Be safe out there...

cheers.

Published! (with many others) (via the Texas Woman's University)

in

So last year at the 46th Annual Society for Photographic Education National Conference in Dallas, Texas - the Texas Woman's University was putting together a book that called Booth 55. The book tackles the question, “How has your photographic education impacted the way you see the world in relation to the arts?” It apparently, "...book began with a vision to bring photography students together, each with a unique voice, to capture and express diverse viewpoints from universities throughout the United States..."

Which is a pretty cool idea in itself. The "Published" title of this post originates from the fact that I popped into Booth 55 to jot down my quote and have my head shot taken. Now that same quote (which I can't remember what I said) appears with the head shot in the Blurb, Booth 55 book website.

And, the book is arranged alphabetically - yours truly has an "Ab" last name so I lead the book with my quote and serious stare. Neat. If you remember stopping by Booth 55 you might want to check out the book on Blurb.

Booth 55

Anyway, more to come.

Cheers.

Music Friday: Blaudzun, Quiet German Girls

in

Lets just start off with a little Happy Friday to everyone. I know I've already posted on Blaudzun before but it seemed like whenever i headed for iTunes this week, I've gone straight for Blaudzun. And with a quick google search I found a video that missed last time around. Hence this second post on Blaudzun. Plus, this happens to be my blog and last time I checked I didn't have a rule that stated I can only post music once. That's good. Anyway, check it out if your a fan. I totally am.

Sadly this is a quick one today seeing I have some things to do but whatever you're up to this weekend...be safe out there.

Cheers.