Photo of the Week, 

Fishlips!

I went exploring around some abandoned places in the city and came across this.   So there's this street artists, posting up drawings almost everywhere.  I've seen his/her (I think his) work all over town, even across the street from where I live.   For once, I had my camera out while I was passing by.  

I love it.  I just love it.  I want to know who this person is, I want to see his/her process, influences, ideas.  It's some of the most oddly interesting art I've seen, and I love that it's just out there in public.  I love that it's temporary, these posters degrade and fall off or get washed away.  If you live in Chicago, try and find some.  They're hiding in some of the most familar places. 

Oh, no, I'm not going to tell you where they are... that would spoil the fun of it.  

Photo of the week:

Eastover.

I, like many others, have family in two faiths.  While I was raised Jewish, my father's family is mainly Catholic.  My father converted before I was born and I was sent to Hebrew school, Jewish camp, Jewish youth group etc etc.  So, needless to say, I came out of that with a strong Jewish identity but I never learned about the Catholic side.   Well, I did later, but not as a child.  

And now, my wife's family is Methodist.  So, once again, with the prospect of children, I have to think about this scenario.  Neither of us are religious, but we have backgrounds in two different faiths.  We have history in two different faiths, two very different traditions.  We both feel it's important for our child to learn about faith and history, but which side?  Which faith?  Do we try and marry both?  Do we teach both separately?  Do we teach one and not the other? 

It's times like these that I start to ponder on these questions.   Two very important holidays in both faiths, Easter and Passover, are happening at the same time.  I have always loved Passover.  It's been my favorite holiday for a long time.  I love the tradition, the history.  It connects me with my past and my future.  It's something I know generations upon generations have participated in and will participate in.  The holiday itself is about the struggle for freedom.  It's about the importance of history.  It's a spring holiday, one for renewal and growth, much like Easter, the last supper being a Passover feast... the two go hand in hand.  

Photo of the week:

A tiny fragment of forgotten heritage.  This is a window from an abandoned synagogue.  It's fallen into disrepair over the years.  To think, 90+ years ago, a glass cutter, stone masons, plasterers, painters all carted these windows and bricks in by horse drawn carriage, painted and detailed everything by hand.  

I feel like, as a society, we've lost most of that connection to the buildings, the public spaces, the places we live, the decorations and details.  We've lost our artisans, our skilled tradesmen.  I don't know if the precision of our machines has washed us of our potential for talent and skill.  Either way, there's no doubt that the mastery of our ancestors is awesome in the true sense of the word.  

Photos of the week.  

Two pictures I took at WIRED's NextFest in Chicago.

This first image is of the Cell Phone disco.  The LEDs are wired to a sensor that detects electro magnetic fields caused by cellular activity.  When your phone goes off, the lights pop up in seemingly random patterns across the grid.  You can hold your phone up to it and centralize the lights, drawing out your own patterns.  It serves no real purpose what so ever, but it's a ton of fun. 

This next one is BrainBall.  I love this game.  The ball moves by magnetic force, the electro magnets on either side are linked to the headband which senses how much brain activity the player has.  Basically, who ever can calm themselves the most, which ever player can reduce his/her brainwave activity, wins.  So, just breathe, clear your mind.  Oh look, the ball's on the other side of the court.  I didn't get to try it, but it looks fun.  Can't you see having one of those at your next party? 

Photo of the week.

Many many apologies for being away for so long. I've been working on a very time consuming project and haven't had time to surface until now.

I'm going to try and do this once a week again, maybe more often.

I'm working on new images for the website and a new design as well. I hope I can get that done soon.

This is from an event called Synphoria. Emily Klik is dancing with scarves and images are projected on her during the dance. It was a magnificent performance.

I hope everyone who could voted Tuesday. Be well.

Photo of the week.

Chicago city lights reflected off the lake. Taken around St. Patrick's day, hence the green top to the Sears Tower.

That orange haze is always there.

Unedited, what do you think?