I have had the grating noise of a chainsaw outside my window all day. I wasn’t close enough to enjoy the comforting smell of the two-stroke fumes, hence I had all the irritation of the noise, with none of the usual pleasantry of the smell of hard work, man and machine as one. It hasn’t been all bad today though, I have spent a vast majority of it on full table, a site brimming with delights.
It’s a collection of images, cuttings, scans, adverts, pictures, postcards instructions, signage. Everything and anything, and all to further the understanding of the Visual Narrative. The visual telling of stories.
The above image, from the section ‘Post Office Advertising 1939’ ranks at the top of my favourites, but there are still many more, no doubt, which I am yet to find.
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nine hundred and sixty one thousand seven hundred and nineteen.
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Muscular Development - Underwood & Underwood - Children’s Aid Society Italian House photograph collection. N.Y
There are several things I love about photographic pioneers ‘Underwood & Underwood’. Firstly, the name. Simple and effective, a joy to see. The second, their mystery. I have done some hunting around, and apart from a few archives giving a short blurb, I can’t seem to find out too much about the once Kansas based outfit.
What I do know is this. Between 1882 and 1920. Bert and Elmer Underwood created an industry leading business, creating 10 million stereo view photographs in 1900. They eventually ceased to be in the 1940’s.
The images, for the time, were staggeringly high quality, and they made sure to capture as much as they could, with countless Stereoscopic views taken in America, Canada and the UK. You can see some views of Edinburgh here.
Despite their prolific and, I’m assuming, much celebrated work in the city streets, their documentation of the Children’s Aid Society c1909, in Italian House, New York, seen above, deserves the most attention.
The crowded rooms, the somber faces of pupils, the dark and moody decor.
The Harvard University Library has the collection digitalised, so here, have a look through.
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Isn’t it about this time of year when we take it upon ourselves to joke about how, ‘Summer is here’ everytime we catch a glint of sunlight? Perhaps not, in fact certainly not when you step outside into the bitter cold.
A real summer ice cream (99) would only inflict pain on days as brutal as those we are experiencing here in February. Until the real summer sun peeks it’s rays our way I may just order myself a felt version from britishcreamtea, and continue my ‘Summer is here’ quip with full vigour, and without the freezing lips. Website here for more felt nonsense.
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There are two main reasons why, before today, I had never heard of Willy Fritsch. Firstly, he died in 1973, over a decade before I was born, and secondly, and rather more importantly, he was a leading man in German silent motion-pictures, a genre I can say with full certainty that I have never indulged in.
I now know who Willy Fritsch was, and my new found knowledge of lesser known stars from by-gone era’s does not conclude there. I have spent the morning clicking my way through hundreds of picture postcards, starting in the 30’s, all the way into the 70’s. There are portraits of twin Dutch singers, leading ladies from Germany, child stars and of course the customary icon or two.
The image above, of Willy himself, typifies the sort of collection “Truus, Bob & Jan too” has compiled. It is a beautifully striking portrait, and while there is little for me to remember from the little I know of Willy Fritsch, I get the feeling I won’t be forgetting that image anytime soon. A timeless portrait.
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Even above the memory of the song itself, the clunk of the old cd player’s lid, as I gingerly pressed it down for the umpteenth time, is clear as day to me as I look at the image above.
Cornershop’s ‘Brimful Of Asha’ was the first single I ever owned/purchased, and it is this, coupled with the hours spent listening to it on my own, that endear it to me so. Ah sentimental Saturday.
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I love my dog.
[I have had several emails/comments about this image, to clarify, yes it is a real dog. My dog.]
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Mirjan keeps a wonderful blog, laced with pictures from her equally wonderful flickr.
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Kris Wiltse has my attention today. It’s been so very long since I spent a day enjoying a new sketch filled blog / flickr. To be honest, sometimes I find it hard to pull myself away from Jean Jullien’s Diary.
Dear friend Beth Schaible has been printing like there is no tomorrow, why not check out her etsy.
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I have no need to be looking at vintage furniture I cannot afford, for an office I do not have, but there are no rules about these things, so need can just wait outside while I prepare my idyllic work environment.
I have found the desk [above], which is as good a start as any i’d say, albeit an ocean away. Cinema display and speakers are actually in hand. Now on with the chair. Charles & Ray Eames provide the all important swivel, isn’t it dreamy!
I would, no doubt, find myself working into the little hours, so one of these overhead couldn’t hurt.
Paper bundled into balls, ideas which didn’t cut it. There will be one of these placed far enough away to allow a decent throw into, yet close enough to give myself a chance.
And so the hunt continues, for the office that does not and will not exist…expect a revised version in the near future…
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JPG Mag have created a photo challenge, asking people to capture, ‘My Better Half’. Just in time for Valentine’s day, how splendid.
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Dig up the back garden, raid your granny’s cupboard, sell a pet. It’s time to gather some funds and treat yourself. First stop is the oogaboogastore. Not much to look at aesthetically online, but their collection is weird yet wonder-some and well worth a look. Wooden block anyone?
They have one off clothing pieces, zines and books, cat calenders, scarves, prints, pins…the list goes on. Just take a nosey. In other news, I have been delving into Midlake and their new release, The Courage of Others. Here, fanvid and fake blood aside, it seems all is well in the western camp Midlake.
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In February 2009 I wrote, very briefly, about the first issue of Lay flat. Exactly one year later, and what do you know, issue two is due for publication! I caught up with Shane Lavalette, Publisher and Editor extraordinaire, to find out all about �Meta�.
WWB: Lay Flat 02: Meta is soon to be released! Congratulations on making it to the difficult �second album� so to speak. How does it feel?
SL: Thanks a lot! It feels great to be moving forward with a new book. Putting together Lay Flat 02: Meta with Guest Editor Michael B�hler-Rose has been an enjoyable process and an exciting collaboration. The book brings together the works of contemporary artists whose photographs are conceptually engaged with the history, process and conventions of the medium itself. Along with a diverse selection of work by over 25 artists from across the globe, we�ve included some writing and an interview to help provide some context for the images and raise some of the questions/concerns that surround them.
Second Sun #1, 2008 by Charles Benton (featured in �Lay Flat 02: Meta�)
WWB: How did working with Michael come about? I have been looking through his own work and it�s fantastic!
SL: For each edition of Lay Flat, I plan to work with a new Guest Editor. This process supports myself and the publication moving different directions, both in terms of content as well as the way in which each book is physically put together (in fact, I hope to produce editions that aren�t books at all!).
Read More
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I am still unsure as to which of the above is to be my source of inspiration for my work attire tomorrow. Alas, it is going to be a Monday morning, so perhaps I should hang on for casual Friday before cracking out the maskingtaped fingers et al.
Henrik Vibskov interests me greatly, not only his fashion work, but his artwork. He is on show at the Pool Gallery in Berlin presently, take a look.
Copper engraved
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The above shot comes from a new work from Yosigo called Artxanda. It is a set well worth a look. I must admit, Yosigo never disappoints. Some local info on the location can be found here. Also, don’t forget the blog.
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