" I kind of feel comfortable now...
so I even be fantasize
about walking out on a green light
just dying to get hit by a car just
so I could lose my memory,
get transported to some third world country
just to get treated and somehow meet up again with you
so I could fall in love with you in a different language
and see if it still feels the same type love."
-Shihan
August 2, 2007
Dear San Diego,
Okay, I admit it. I had huge ambitions of discovering a whole new you but anyone who said that relationships are easy hasn’t been in a realistic one. The second day of my promise to get to know you and already, I’m tired. I’m not going to lie. I didn’t foresee life getting in the way. The fact that there is 168 hours in a week, 40 of which are at work, 10 of them being on the road traveling to work, who knows how many I actually spend on sleeping, daydreaming, socializing, eating, showering, getting ready…etc. Point being,:
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
That phrase always cracks me up because I imagine an old., crotchety man saying that at the most inappropriate time. HA! Well, other than the fact I love that word…crotchety.
With that said, I have to say that despite existing in a zombie-like state, surprisingly, I had a great time tonight…there was something I’ve always wanted to do but it seems to slip my mind every time. Seeing as my experience going toe-to-toe with spontaneity the day before didn't result in the whirlwind experience I wanted, the second day of my adventure made me determined to make this day an interesting one. And indeed it was.
The first Thursday of the month, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego hosts a night of artistic expression in their downtown gallery called TNT. Thursday Night Thing for the month of August featured the art work of L.A. based artist Robert Therrien, as well as various activities that filled the night. http://www.mcasd.org/events/TNT/index.asp
One thing that was definitely different was the crowd. It was the kind of crowd that makes you think, “YOU live in San Diego??” The change in facial scenery was definitely nice, but only a few things bothered me:
1. Dudes with better hair/bangs than me (damn kids and their awesome hair I have yet to obtain)
2. Dudes in skinny jeans (because they make me smile…but not the way you’d think. The term Mamel Toe comes to mind a.k.a man+camel toe and it just makes me look like I’m loving the look)
"Art is like a shipwreck .. it's everyman for himself." - Marcel Ducham
The evening started at 7pm with a lecture on Robert Therrien's work by UCSD Art History professor Norman Bryson in the Berglund Room. While the thought of being lectured for close to an hour about art projected on a screen in a room that had a futuristic, space pod feel to it may not sound like a great start of the evening, it was surprisingly interesting. Bryson spoke on the comparison of the graphic form of art versus of the real 3D world, among other sources of inspiration, such as animation. While I do not intend on writing an essay on the subject matter of the lecture, the exhibit itself was something that was definitely something worth seeing.
It was an exhibit of giant furniture! I'm a lover of giant cups, giant pencils (the kind that are as long as your leg), and other giant object. The comedic factor alone is enough explanation why anyone would like giant anything. Table and Chairs was essentially a set of four chairs and a table, but with a Rugrats feel. The legs of the chairs came shy of six feet. The details of the table as you walk under was amazing. There definitely a certain feeling invoked as you stand within the exhibit when you're standing next to a table meant for giants and Yao Ming. Disney should take a hint and commission Therrien to do something for their Alice in Wonderland portion of the park. In fact, one of those teacups of the ride would be a nice addition to sit on the table. Since no photography was allowed ( and surprising tight security enforced this) I have no pictures to show of the exhibit, which is a definite shame, but there are a few pictures available online which just do not do justice the plain coolness of this exhibit.
Across the way, there was an exhibit that featured the art of Ernesto Neto, a notable artist in the Brazilian contemporary art scene. Walking into this art space, you're greeted by hanging stocking nets from the ceiling. Seriously, imagine the stocking of a giant spider suspended and stretched out from the ceiling with each of the legs hanging at various heights from the floor and each filled with a basket ball sized amount of spices. If you could imagine this, you could've been my date for the night without even leaving the comfort of your own home! The scent of the spices were not overwhelming, in fact the choices of what seemed to be ginger, cinnamon and a few others I couldn't identify, worked in sync and made the exhibit quite the experience.
I have to admit, I had a huge urge to punch these things, seeing that they resembled punching bag and to create an escape cloud worthy of any ninja to yell, “NINJA VANISH,” and disappear, but I also had a much greater fear of being the person covered in cumin, ginger, and a guilty conscience.
There was a room dedicated to musical chairs, just down the hall from the lecture room, which Hollywood and I checked out. Nothing like a blending of the eccentric crowd (the older crowd who were obviously patrons of the museum, the 20ish trendy scene-ster crowd, the sprinkle of emo kids, beach folks, downtown suits, the Harajuku-inspired Asian fashionistas, grungy art folks...) playing musical chairs to the musical styling of the Teeny-Tiny Pit Orchestra. The lecture room was turned into a mini-cartoon theater, featuring Max Fleischer cartoons. So being the cartoon freaks that we are, Hollywood and I managed to sit a bit in this room.
In the main entrance, there was a table that was inspired by Therrien's Fake Beards sculptures. The art-making activity for the night was "Flying Mustachio-on-a-Stick" where folks were encouraged to make fake mustaches ( or puppets, mask, birds depending on how you view your project) from felt and a dowel. I, of course, fashioned a mustache which was an homage to Ned Flanders. And amazingly enough, all this was going on while there was a dj spinning in the main room, and a band playing in the back patio area. Quite the busy night indeed.
The second day was definitely the pace I want to keep the rest of the month..
Sincerely,
J.Beans