#jvanvelden

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the daily routine of Le Corbusier

“FILMography is an ongoing art project by Canadian photographer Christopher Moloney that matches scenes from movies with their real-life, present-day locations.”

Rosemary's Baby, 1968, Sixth Avenue, New York City

Annie Hall, 1977, 68th Street, New York City It is interesting to see how the built environment changes, and (more interestingly) stays the same, over time.

Manhattan, 1979, Sixth Avenue, New York City

Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1961, New York City

I am Legend, 2007, Dystopian New York City

-Jane Van Velden

The built environment has a substantial impact on films. The architectural environment, particularly that of private spaces, expresses the character of the film and the characters who inhabit the constructed set. Beyond the particular location and time period from which the scenes play out-- interiors play a significant role in our understanding of the film and characters.

Interiors is a journal highlighting the intertwined relationship of film & architecture. The discussion of the work in Interiors is focused on the function and role of architecture in film. Every featured space is in some capacity integral to the narrative of the film.

(An image from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari issue)

Fictional (or not so fictional) spaces are deconstructed. The fragments (scenes) are then pieced together to create complete spatial layouts.

The set of a film reminds me of the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk. The totality of the environment, the buildings, the interiors, the decorative details, the precession through space, etc. are all designed to evoke a particular experience. The architectural environment of films are used as a means for transforming perception, and it is interesting to examine the layout from a bird’s-eye view.

(floor plan from Tati's Playground)

quote::

"Don’t worry please please how many times do I have to say it/

There’s no way not to be who you are and where"(Ikkyū)

song:: Drop- Cornelius

  Ikkyū was a fifteenth century Zen Buddhist monk, who scandalized the Zen community. His unconventional methods were highly influential on Japanese art and literature. His short poems are simultaneously shocking, blunt, and beautiful. They encourage a life lived passionately, an idea worth spreading that is timeless. It is easy to get lost and overwhelmed in the bustle of the school year, and artists like Ikkyū help you to stay centered in the midst of stressful times (midterms). I often read his poetry when I’m in need of a good laugh. Below you'll find two more of my favorites.

"You me when I think really think about it/

Are the same" "Nobody understands why we do what we do/

Australian illustrator Sophie Blackall on her craigslist-inspired book::

Missed Connections: Love, Lost & Found

often the missed connections are hurried, succinct & misspelled, but here Sophie Blackall speaks about one of the most moving stories ::

The Whale at Coney Island

M4M — 69 (Brooklyn/Florida)

A young friend of mine recently acquainted me with the intricacies of Missed Connections, and I have decided to try to find you one final time. Many years ago, we were friends and teachers together in New York City. Perhaps we could have been lovers too, but we were not. We used to take trips to Coney Island, especially during the spring, when we would stroll hand in hand, until our palms got too sweaty, along the boardwalk, and take refuge in the cool darkness of the aquarium. We liked to visit the whale best. One spring, it arrived from its winter home (in Florida? I can’t remember) pregnant. Everyone at the aquarium was very excited — a baby beluga whale was going to be born in New York City! You insisted that we not miss the birth, so every day after class, and on both Saturday and Sunday, we would take the D train all the way from Harlem to Coney Island. We got there one Saturday as the aquarium opened and there was a sign posted to the glass tank. The baby beluga had been born dead. The mother, the sign read, was recovering but would be fine. We read the sign in shock and watched the single beluga whale in her tank. She was circling slowly. Neither of us could speak. Suddenly, without warning, the beluga started to throw herself against the wall of the tank. Trainers came and ushered us out. We sat on a bench outside, and suddenly I felt tears running down my face. You saw, turned my face towards yours, and kissed me. We had never kissed before, and I let my lips linger on yours for a second before I stood up and walked towards the ocean. It was too much — the whale, the death, the kiss — and I wasn’t ready. Forgive me — I don’t think I ever understood what an emptiness you would create when you left and I realized that that kiss on Coney Island was the first and the last. Are you out there, dear friend? If so, please respond. I think of you, and have thought of you often, all of these years.

the full interview with Design Matters on her illustrations & other stories

We all use the internet to mass-distribute information to friends, family, and even people we’ve never met. Recently, I had the realization that moments held dear were built upon regifted things (videos, songs, lines) and sentiments.  I felt jilted, as though something had been taken away from my personal archive. I couldn’t help but feel that the meaning of a thing isn’t found solely in it’s content, but in the selectivity of who received it.  The choice to share something with a specific person for a specific reason imbues the act with meaningfulness.

But when I think of TEDx, I realize my pettiness ^^^.

Re:frame Joe Trumpey

Joe Trumpey, is a tremendous advocate for environmental conscientiousness and sustainable practices. He is a Professor in the School of Art & Design, as well as the School of Natural Resources and the Environment. Dr. Trumpey takes common ideas of sustainability and implements them in his everyday live at an unparalleled level. He spoke at the 2012 conference:: Inform:Transform. His talk:: Transforming Sustainable Practice, can be found here::  http://tedxuofm.com/talks/ (number 16 under 2012)  I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet and talk with him this year for the ‘Re:frame’ project. Below you’ll find his reflection on this year’s theme: Untapped_.  

The more time I spend on my farm off the power grid, the more I have come to understand the values and untapped potential that human beings have to pay attention to the world around us. By better understanding the way that food and energy enters and enhances my own life, the better able I am to connect to the world around me and engage in practices that are not only more sustainable but are very enriching. These practices make me, my family, and my community stronger. It is a simple lesson really – paying attention. Our very nature as biological beings is to look at and explore the world around us– and we are especially well built to observe other living things. That is the untapped potential we all still hold at our core. I take great solace in the fact that more Americans visit zoos and aquaria every year than all sporting events combined. It is a relief to me that more of us are growing gardens, regularly visiting farmers markets, talking with farmers again and are starting to think about the lives domestic animals live in the service of providing us with meat.  Fostering greater food values in this country is an important step towards all kinds of improved sustainable practices. We are looking and starting to engage better but there is still plenty of room for positive actions – we must engage the untapped potential of paying attention to the world around us.

  As I reflected on the word “untapped” I could not help but think about the way that the oil and gas industry use the word every day – “America’s vast untapped energy reserves.” The lure of cheap energy and energy independence continues to pump dangerous amounts of carbon into our atmosphere. This is a stark contrast to where our potential as individuals lies. We need to use untapped potential of human awareness to coalesce and push back against the easy and short-term gains of fossil fuels. The price of a stable climate is coming more into focus year by year and we must act in ways that are enriching, meaningful and sustainable. These goals are deeper than participating in a perfect milk bottle recycling program. These goals are achievable, big and complex and take leadership – the kind of leadership I count on from University of Michigan students.  I look forward to this year’s TedX University of Michigan program to continue our quest of engaging our untapped potential.

Planetary Overview

  The Planetary Collective presents a short film documenting astronauts’ life-changing stories of seeing the Earth from the outside – a perspective-altering experience often described as the Overview Effect.  For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love. (Carl Sagan)