Marina Abramovic—stare you to death

Marina Abramovic’s three month long staring contest is over. In the end she spent 700 hours staring into the faces of strangers in the Museum of Modern Art. Celebrities, artists, tourists, brothers, monks, humans. She sat in her chair during the operating hours of the museum every day from open to close for three months. She did not eat or use the restroom at this time.

Simultaneously, a retrospective of her past performance art pieces were performed by a group that she trains in the video above. NYT reported that one person stared back at her in the nude, which is interesting, considering her past work which was largely done in the nude. Other people cried after a few hours staring at her, and one person felt the need to throw up behind her chair. Marina remained, looking forward.

Once Marina makes her mind up, it appears she can endure pretty much everything. Someone said today “there is power in committing to something, even if it is wildly simply and stark.” I agree. Her comment “Everyone wants to do what they want, no one grows from doing what they want” is a little insight to her willingness to be uncomfortable.

It seems counter-cultural, to be uncomfortable. We are known for our comforts, it is what separates us from other people, how comfortable we are in the developed world. To then purposefully make yourself uncomfortable is to align yourself with those who do not have the luxury of choice, and perhaps, show the rest of us that comfort is not a god. Embrace what you don’t want. Embrace discomfort. The artist is effing present.

Maria Abramovic | NYT on finale
Flickr set with some participants & time spent staring

Miniseum—Spaced out in Bavaria

This is a collection of images that represents how I feel today—each image links back to its source where I found it, it would be a shame not to give credit to those who archive such things for us to trifle through (an hopefully it will provide you with a couple new resources as well).

So this is a Miniseum, get it? The following miniseums will be longer, so this is just a lil start, a lil baby step. I am so spaced out in Bavaria right now it’s not even funny. Its mostly just odd. Who knew space suits worked so well with Bavaria? You heard it here first.

xx
Aaron

Skatebeard by Mr. Bingo

Alright Mr. Bingo, you are officially the master of the pen. They were right to call you that. Or, as HuntingLodge.no calls you, “the guv’nor.”

Mr. Bingo was kind enough to share his in-process bearding of the skate deck, which is just as cool as the finished product. I feel like I’d hang all five in my home, the partial-bearded decks being so interesting in the way the hair trails off at the bottom. That is one biblical beard! And to think of someone skuffing it all up sliding down rails, benches, etc. makes me just want to spit up.

This makes me want to build something with saws and sharpies and paint. Something big. Something bearded. Thanks for the inspiration Mr. Bingo, you are the best!

Starman, 1984

Starman is a movie not too many folks talk about or even know about. It was my dad’s favorite, in fact in his younger years my dad even looked like Jeff Bridges did in this film—red flannel shirts, playful careless hair, and as always, Carharts.

Jeff Bridges was nominated for best actor after this film came out in 1984, and Karen Allen also does a great job as co-lead. I’ve loved her since that opening drinking scene from Raiders of the Lost Arc, from 1981. Starman is a great little flick, art directed well and carried with care considering the limited cast & storyline. I love how the spaceship at the end is a perfect mirror & sphere with its own orbital rings, like a mini-Jupiter.

The real show stopper, however, are the gratuitous ’77 Ford Mustang Cobra II scenes (top). It’s basically a third lead in the film, which sadly doesn’t make it in the end. It goes out in a ball of smoke, a fitting end for such a gorgeous machine. Karen Allen drives this thing around in her puffy lavender jacket and tan cowboy boots. Icon.

Catch a piece of the kitch/80’s/epic feeling with the theme song, totally played on a synthesizer with fake drums at the 3:04 climax:

Happy Memorial Day from FORTPORT

It’s easy while chowing at a BBQ or sitting at a parade to forget why we have Memorial Day. We’ve been celebrating this day officially since 1866 after the Civil War. It is observed to honor those who have died in defense & service of our nation—those who died in combat, on foreign shores, away from their families, sometimes with no grave. I honor you, brave people. We owe all we have to your bravery, stoicism, and selflessness. Thank you.

Utmost respect,
Aaron & Ben

Here’s one for all you Vietnam Vets, from one of the best films from the 80’s. Capturing so much of what it looked, sounded, and perhaps felt like to be in service in SE Asia during the conflict: