Byrdhouse

Let the Right One In

The Swedish director of this haunting vampire tale replies to news of an American remake in the works by Cloverfield director Matt Reeves and sci-fi producer JJ Abrams:

Remakes should be made of movies that aren’t very good, that gives you the chance to fix whatever has gone wrong. I’m very proud of my movie and think it’s great, but the Americans might be of an other opinion. The saddest thing for me would be to see that beautiful story made into something mainstream. I don’t like to whine, but of course – if you’d spent years on painting a picture, you’d hate to hear buzz about a copy even before your vernissage! 1

Last evening we saw Let the Right One In. It was a great, and yet somehow, an underwhelming experience for me. Perhaps my expectations were too high. It had all the elements that I want in a good movie: character, story, photography, yet something was still missing.

The photography tends to be mostly blues, greens, grays and the cool whites of fluorescent lighting. The framing is highly composed and stationary, with very, very (very) short depths of field. The architectural setting is decidedly modernist, buildings which are trendy by today's standards, but in the early eighties were tinged with institutional/socialist qualities.

Despite how great it is, the photography isn't what makes this film good. (Also, it is certainly not the typographical selection for the subtitles, which makes you work harder than you should to read the dialogue.) It is the story that does it. It is the complexity in its characters.

I failed to have a close connection to the cultural dimension of the film though and this is where I think a good film can be a great film to an audience. I felt foreign to it. I experienced the same thing when seeing Ringu, the Japanese predecessor to the American version, The Ring I liked the remake better. I'm curious to see if an American version of Let the RIght One In will do the same.

Fashion Statement

I'm contributing work to Fashion Statement, an upcoming exhibition at Mary Stanley Studio in Castleberry Hill, Atlanta. Using Polaroid’s new portable technology my subject is the fashion choices of the people I see every day, my Armchair coworkers. Making a daily capture over the length of the show, October 2-24, I'll will be adding a new 2×3″ print each day. The final piece will be the culmination of the show duration. Join us during the Castleberry Hill Art Stroll on Oct 24th, 6-10pm. Mary Stanley Studio is on 211 Peters St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Google Map it. Tel. 404.892.3211.

100 Dots

Working on a lecture series poster celebrating 100 years of Architecture at Georgia Tech. See the finished poster here.

Yesterday's Future, Today

A visit to the Kennedy Space Center in photos.

Today is Your Day Off

Hello Kev, it's June 15th, 2008. It's an otherwise normal Sunday aside from being your very first Father's Day. I'll admit that as I write this (reflecting as one does on such hallmark occasions), I'm astonished most by the fact that I've even made the time to write you. Other musings and pursuits have been on the front burner. I just want you to know a few things:

You now have a baby girl with Florrie, a fine woman who has held your hand for some six years now. She's walking in Candler Park today with your daughter Annabelle, Mom and Gigi. Though she was concerned with the burden of walking to the car with a stroller and a mammoth dog in tow, she didnt even quip when you intentionally did not volunteer to assist like you normally do in these instances. It's as if she's whispering, "be self-indulged today hon," by not saying anything at all.

And so you write and work on a summer CHIRP mix and think about how Annabelle is fast approaching three months. She's smiling, speaking mumblecore and getting fat thighs, and oh gawd do you love that.

There are several mini projects in various stages of development to mention.

You've started wrangling Flickr images tagged with "friedchicken" and/or "waffles." It's simply called Fried Chicken and Waffles. Your next step is to arrange this gallery into a limited edition hardback celebrating... well, you guessed it.

There's a 35mm E6 slide light casing you're working on too, inspired by Grayson's Slide Lamp. It's your first time experimenting with laser cut acrylic. 

The Monster Quest motion-sensing wilderness camera you got is still in test-mode. One day you hope to attach it to a fence and make a photography series on people picking up after their dogs. (Like I said, it's still in test-mode.)

Oh and that oil painting of Gigi for Annabelle's room; it's on its way. She is one stately explorer of the Alaskan tundra, just like you all dreamed. Do compare the image vs the painting:

You're working at Armchair, and you love it. 

OK the call just came. The ride is here to go to for brunch. 

Talk soon, 

Kevin

MA Guide Book

Future Home of Frontier Land and Dinosaur World

Down a dirt road on the outskirts of Boulder County, Colorado.

Design is Human - May 6-11

I'm proud to announce the MA08: Design Is Human event in Atlanta May 6-11, 2008.

MA is the result of the vision and efforts of Bernard McCoy and Elayne DeLeo to unify the greater Atlanta design community through modern home tours and events throughout the city. I have been fortunate to have been involved on the branding-concept-strategy-design side of things. It’s been a team affair of armchairs, pc students and design friends.

Join us, explore some of those homes you've had your eye on during the Modern Atlanta Home Tour. Other highlight events include the wine tasting at Poliform SWITCH, the Belgium Design & Fashion Event for Darfur, and the Launch Party at Mason Murer Gallery.

Ticket prices vary. Many events are free. More information is available at the MA web site.

Towels and Cans of La Croix

“Towels and Cans of La Croix” For sale, by artist. Alternate view here. This is from the installation series self-indulgently entitled, "Things I gather in the floorboard of my car"

McCormick Tribune Campus Center

This is by Rem Koolhaas OMA at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. The school is Mies van der Rohe's old stomping grounds. See the Full Gallery here.

Briefbox / Boomcase

Larry Luk at Epidemik Coalition helped me create this briefbox. He screen printed me's illustration of an eighties blaster on an old briefcase I likes to carry rounds. Photos by John.

Concrete for Miles

Montreal

When Photography Went Digital

Mid-story, he made a gesture of a photo being taken. Natural enough, the gesture was merely to illustrate a moment in an entertaining anecdote. Of note here was the motion he made. Rather than two cradled hands snapping the shutter of an invisible camera against his face, he extended one-hand from his body and viewed his subject from a distance. Snap. Digital photography! I immediately picked up on this new sign and interjected with a comment. The storyteller was unamused and returned a look of irritation (I interrupted the pacing of the fine performance). But ah, to think that digital photography has now breached the semiosphere. You've come so far!

Put It Together

We at Lightroom recently had an idea about designing our new business cards so that they require the recipient's interaction to activate the card's information. The idea was that at first it appears blank, then, by holding to the light, the info that is printed on the interior of the card is revealed.

In order to achieve the desired effect, we duplexed 2 sheets of paper together into one. The card's information was printed in reverse on a piece of 70lb text. This was glued to a thicker cover stock paper so that the ink was sandwhiched in between the two. The combined sheets together created a paper thickness close to a 130 lb. cover; a nice heavy weight for a business card. As illustrated,

The logo on the exterior was printed only in a spot varnish. It gives a reflective sheen in direct light. The small instructional diagram was added for panache.

Take Home Gifts

A stack of jewelry boxes we designed as a take home gift for Mark Edge's website launch party.

Form.01

The image above is from the poster we worked on for Form.01, an event being held at Function in Decatur November 12th. Find more info here.

The Spirit of the Impala

Rainy Days

Fireworks in September

See it bigger!

I say fireworks year-round, people.

The Trout I Caught Was Sorta Like This One

There are a few crucial things to remember when fly fishing. The first is, you will drop all your flies while tying knots painstakingly at first. Try to be over something that is a solid color when this happens. The grassy bank is NOT a good place. Nor is moving water.

When you get your first strike, do not yank with too much gusto, as fish will end up in neighboring trees. A gentle, yet firm, response from the pole is all you need to catch a good size trout.

Beware of what is behind you; trees are the least of your worries. A grazing buffalo is not a "good catch". Your back-cast can also add piercings to your rivermates.

While waking at five is not so hard, getting home at eleven is. Particularly when you get up at five the next day. My suggestion is to go for the canned expresso. Stock up my friend, fishing is alpha male territory.

--

In 3 days I caught:
22 fish. 3 beer buzzes. 1 buffalo.

The one pictured above is a brown trout.

Goodbye Grady Homes

Grady Homes, a well-known public housing project in inner-city Atlanta will soon be flattened. These sort of low income developments are considered governmental failures by the new urbanist camp (and many others). They will cite examples they've memorized from the pages of Jane Jacobs's bible, why sustainability is not only about embracing green building techniques. And maybe they're right.

Still, I must say walking the area last week, I liked it despite its shortcomings. Plentiful green spaces, old trees, community centers; the elements of failing modernism elicited a sweet romanticism. Granted, the place was desolate.

I'm thinking its mixed-use replacement should be named after a bar drink like "The Manhattan" or at least something refreshing like "Grady Springs."

Reminder for Thursday

Hey remember last week at that pub. How I told you we had an art thing coming up. It was one of your classic blank stares you gave. A most considering pause, caped by one serious, "I really need a haircut." Well it's Thursday May 5th at the RIALTO downtown Atlanta. We'd love to see you there.

As fate would have it, we're also going to be at Sage in Decatur that afternoon unveiling the Decatur Arts Festival design.

Yella Bus

[old school bus outside Ward, Co]

Creative Types Need Apply

[poster announcement for The Lightroom Fellowship]

We at Lightroom are looking for a summer intern (we'd prefer to call you a collaborator). Take a moment and cruise on over to our site for more information and the official application.

No Cameras Allowed

Public space is a tricky thing to photograph these days. Confrontation is steadily increasing between photographers and those who say that photos represent security risks. The Photographer's Right is handy pdf flyer to have for the next time you're stopped for snapping a few pics. Hurling your camera at a MARTA employee is not covered therein.

Walmart is a Molting Serpent

Nothing's left except an empty shell from a former Walmart. Not to worry, they built a Walmart Supercenter only 3/4 of a mile down the road.

A Red Velvet Valentine

Before you begin, please be sure to walk your adorably cute puppy. Walk a helluva way, so she is sure to be tired and napping snoring when your kitchen duties call. Presenting... Red Velvet in Five:

1. Begin by talking about the color.

2. Taste it.

3. Plop it in pans.

4. Cool it.

5. Serve it.

* For brevity's sake I have skipped a few steps that may or may not be essential to reproducing this delectable dessert in your own kitchen. When in doubt, please refer to the original recipe.

An Afternoon in Decatur

We took photos of some typefaces from Decatur landmark buildings and businesses. Then we knit them like a quilt. The result we entrered into the Decatur Arts Festival poster competition. Have a look.

UPDATE: Check out the One Letter Pool on Flickr

 

JPG

JPG Magazine's first issue came out today.  I really like what Derek and Heather are doing. In their own words:

JPG Magazine is for people who love imagemaking without attitude. It's about the kind of photography you get when you love the moment more than the camera. It's for photographers who, like us, have found themselves online, sharing their work, and would like to see that work in print.

I compulsively checked to see if my copy had arrived yesterday. Today I am camped out in a lawn chair here by the mailbox.

UPDATE:  JPG magazine on Flickr.

We Need Toothpicks

[Click image for Movie Clip]

-

Brand Building

Quick, can you guess?

The Oz

[Oz Pizza, Decatur]

Frosty Clementine

This season's beverage is a simple concoction.  It is sure to warm your spirits as you get cozy by the crackling yule log fire (fig 1.).  Pour one shot (one and a half if it's a holiday) of Grand Marnier over a glass filled with crushed ice. Top with soda or sparkling water (we prefer Hildon). Stir. Garnish with a twist of orange. Now marinate beside the roaring fire, it's gonna be a Frosty Clementine* evening.

• 1 glass filled with crushed ice
• 1 shot Grand Marnier
• soda or sparkling water
• twist of orange

*The phrase "Frosty Clementine" is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Puppy Love

Last Friday we got a Newfoundland puppy. At eight weeks, she weighs just 10 pounds. In eight months she'll weigh a whopping 110 pounds. The "oopsies" get proportionally bigger as well (or so I've heard). Scotch and Soda are surprisingly tolerant to their furry new flat-mate. I see a flowering friendship on the horizon. Though our sleep patterns have had a rodeo of a week, this little ball of joy gives us smiles and giggles each and every day. Some say petting a pooch makes you feel good. I concur.

See some pictures.

Head-On Collision

[Edgewood Collision after plane collision]

In mid-October, a small plane crashed into Edgewood Collision down the road from us.

Fiery Fall

[my favorite tree in Candler Park]

Pedro

[South of the Border]

From Gas Stations to Restaurants

[Taqueria del Sol in Decatur]

I Am A Very Stylish Girl

[choker by Sasparilla, find it at Luxe]

I had the opportunity to shoot some wonderfully styled vintage designer clothing for Sasparilla, a Miami- based clothing trader. The vintage trunk show that featured the pieces was held at Luxe, a deliciously fine shopping locale in Atlanta's Miami Circle. Darling, you simply must go.

Lane Nine

The Butterfly Effect

Boy, catching one of these guys mid-flight is seriously tough.

Custom End Table

[ designed by Soorikian ]

Darwin Memoirs

Boom, I turn around and it's been two years since we stood inches from a galapagos tortoise. Our trip to the Galapagos Islands still stands as my most favorite of summer vacations. See the full photo gallery.

I remember returning each evening from the day's excursion for happy hour on the boat. Jesus mixed up a mean "blue-footed boobie", a personal concoction of his he named after the islands' famous bird.

Quick Stop

[ Grady Homes, Atlanta ]

What's in Your Viewfinder?

If it's public landmarks, you may end up being the one getting photographed. This, alongside a little Q&A time with Homeland Security. Last week, Ian Spears of Seattle was questioned after he snapped a few images for his photography class. Seriously questioned. Ian recalls, ABC reports (thx Ben). Expect this sort of strong arming to escalate as we approach November's election.

I'm thinking that all my photography outings will now be done in costume. Preferably something fun, like Peter Pan or John Maynard's Tron. At least then they'll just think I'm just crazy and harmless. What's your plan? Gonna join the ACLU?

The Dunes

[Kitty Hawk, NC]

Deluxe Printing

[CSA graphics]

There is a sleepy town in rural Alabama that boasts a population of only 255. It is home to one of the best silkscreen print shops in the country. Scott Peek of Standard Deluxe invited us down for the nickel and dime tour. What we got was some down-home cooking, southern sweet tea and a group of warm individuals that take pride in mastering the craft of print.

[click for photo gallery]

The town of Waverly has only a handful of buildings in its "business district", and Standard Deluxe occupies them all. We met the guys of SD down at South by Southwest this year, who had a booth on the convention floor showcasing their posters, tshirts and flyers, all printed by hand the old fashion way. Craft is what it's about. Down a dirt road off the main drag is a an old barn which houses the core of the operation. The crew sweats in the Alabama heat as they prep screens and oversee print runs. Modest Mouse is there too on the stereo. Most of the staff comes from Auburn's art programs, which is about twelve miles from Waverly down Hwy. 280.

A few years ago, 280, which ran through the town, was expanded from a two-lane to a four-lane. The county decided to redirect the new route outside of Waverly. The silence that came from the lack of rigs blaring through their small town was not overlooked. They gave birth to "The Old 280 Boogie." This year marked the fourth annual celebration, filled with local music, cake walks, horseshoes and mule buggy rides.

The High Corner Co-Op, only open on Saturdays, shows local artists and sells Standard deluxe t-shirts. There's even a Waverly hot sauce for sale. The spirit of the small town is also the identity of Standard Deluxe. To experience the town is to know the company and the people, who are fun, caring and have lovely accents.

See some images from our trip.

--

Breaking The Rules

[Candler Park Pool]

Dinner at Nine

[Jon's Kitchen]

Image shot for architect Lynn Cain who designed an addition to a craftsman-style bungalow in College Park. I so want a kitchen island I can store wine in.

All in 48 Hours

This weekend the 48 Hour Film Project returns to Atlanta. The challenge is simple: Make a short film in the time allotted to you. That's writing, shooting, AND editing, all in one weekend folks. You draw the genre from a hat, and are given a character, a prop and a line of dialogue, all which must find their way into the film.

UPDATE:
The screenings for Atlanta are being held at Madstone Theaters May 23-5.