You are worth more than many sparrows

We witnessed the making of this giant mural - a human tiered cake of the system (otherwise referred to as the tower of babel) and saw parts of what it took to make long time-lapse videos. In this case it took a week and around 3-4 different cameras all operated by Giacomo, not to mention all the tools/machinery required to paint this on the side of a building. Ozmo, the artist, says everything here like a giant mirror of Italy. Looking back and looking at this, I think both of them made a masterpiece. Find this at Macro in Via Nizza, Rome.

The dust may have settled. There is still so much to be done at least for me and the work that waits every morning for its turn, waits still with others. I like to think that I am not alone in this quest for completion. Everyday is still a chance and every now is someplace else than where we were before.

Affordable Art Fair

Welcome to the Affordable Art Fair in Rome. I didn't expect to be so enthralled by this affair but as I was approaching the entrance with this gigantic bamboo installation, I knew I was about to be - well, wowed.

A short video I took of the event here:

Alphaville

Welcome to Alphaville by Jean-Luc Godard (1965), dystopian science fiction and film noir (Fra suggests George Orwell's 1984. I say Sin City with a brooding Dick Tracy poet.). 

Da Maria Trattoria Ponterosso

I never imagined a fish restaurant to look like a witches' tea room. Everything from the wall hangings to the chandeliers was either symbolic mystic or frou frou, a combination realized completely here in Maria's Trattoria. Her food exists on a different plane entirely (NOT frou frou), simple yet divine rustic cooking. Fresh fish and some local fare like a polenta fritata with clam meat and salad greens with freshly made olive oil. How did her trattoria land in the lists of must-visit trattoria's in Italy (surely its not the interior design)? Its in the fine selection of the best and freshest ingredients. No need to embellish something when its already so good no? 

The Blind Assassin

I had to double check the spelling for assassin, I wasn't convinced there were 2 double "SS"s. But anyway, the book The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood is my latest and last read. I'm pretty proud of this feat after the growing stack of books with all sorts of paper, bookmark stickings - at least one can finally be released from the folding and inserting and be among the stuff I can pass on to whoever else.

The Glass Eye Maker

A nice break from work is looking into other people's work. How nutty to imagine doing one single thing, master it and work it for 30 years. Its so atopic at this age that anyone left doing this kind of monk-like vocation stand like true gems against the mass of changelings. I'm not saying they should be worshipped, just admired even from afar. At least, allow their life testament to disturb you enough to consider other possibilities. Note to self.

Now lets get back to The Blind Assassin.

Sleater-Kinney via dream state

The Woods. Sleater-Kinney's last and final encore.

Manifested Manifestos

So I did have a brief ramble about this amazing article (The Generation M Manifesto. do click the link to read more) I discovered through my boss, Anna. For some time now we, the teachers at My Masterpiece, have been developing and redefining what it is exactly that we want to create for the school and the future/world we wish to take part of and contribute to. Some evidence of our exploration and collaboration can be seen through The Splots Project and also in the curriculum the teachers have developed, the expansive approach to teaching through art. Its pretty amazing. =)

Constraint is a State of Mind

Since I've been developing and researching for The Splots Project, I've been hanging/working mostly at Fully-Booked at the Fort, the biggest Mecca of books in Manila. Summoned my rogue stealth skills to capture some footage and take some notes from books, which the store guy referred to as, "not allowed". But how can I not? These are times of constraint and I am left to maximize whats available, which isn't much - but even that can change. ;-)

Manila Design Week 09

its Manila Design Week and i was looking forward to seeing what Manila/Philippine design has evolved into. and why should i bother? because design is inescapable. and quite frankly, it rocks.

so given the setup: the culturally diverse halo-halo(mix) archipelago called the Philippines, you'd think that with the plethora of culture/language, the range of ethnicity, the complexity of third-world island living - you'd really think theres more than enough material to work with and perhaps even just a smidgen of that would reflect in today's top of the top Manila/Philippine Design. but no, instead i find something i can easily google or StumbleUpon or buy straight out from a foreign mag stand.

Oh so peaceful here

Ole!

interesting speech: Elizabeth Gilbert: A new way to think about creativity

Ahh... must it be an uphill battle when its all the joy that is and could be for any creative artist, musician, gardener, scientist, teacher, person TO BE FULLY SELF EXPRESSED? FREE? LIVING and LOVING? the answer is no and also, you knew that despite your cynicsm.