Dwell on Design 2011

Went with Alice to the Dwell on Design show at the convention center yesterday. I love modern home design so it was definitely worth it (only $15). Some parts were really amazing but it's generally a trade show, as expected. I think it could be made even better with more showcases of innovative designs and furniture. I think there could be a whole floor dedicated to model designs, where interior designers come in work with the latest furniture, decorative, and appliance designs. This would be selling everyone's services at once. I guess it can be hard to decide whether to cater more towards serious industry buyers, individual designers, homeowners, or voyeurs who aren't going to buy anything (ie me). Many shops must just not find it worth it to participate.

A few pictures from my phone:

This was my favorite. Everything is made out of cardboard. I want those lights. I also generally have a soft sport for anything that makes me feel like I'm in a mushroom fairy forest.

Cute, I would pair this with more formal, streamlined furniture. I like the contrast.

This actually isn't a mini greenhouse like I thought it was, but it would be cool if a kitchen had one like this. There was also this vendor selling an herb garden system that you never have to water, cultivate, or really do anything other than pluck off the leaves. I think that might be for me.

There was an entire sustainable living section in the back. You could buy this whole little eco-friendly home. Just buy a plot and they will deliver the home. It must have been only 400 sq ft total?

Interior, but it was hard to capture.

There were artist vendors as well as some art performances. In this Heartbeat for Japan performance, this Japanese artist, silver metal suit and all, drew these hexagons to the heartbeats of volunteers/donors. Kind of reminds me how I got into a disagreement over the value of certain contemporary art the other day. That sounds lame (or hordeurvey as LFH would say) but I have really changed my mind on this in the past couple years.

A couple interesting pieces from Japanese designers (the recorder moved the gold rods to clink on the plates, but I couldn't say it was really melodic nor soothing). But I really just thought the boy was cute.

Anyway a good Sunday. Sun was shining and I beat my clouds away :) I must tend to my garden now.

Guardian Eyewitness

I like this photo iPad app Guardian Eyewitness. It is put out by the UK newspaper the Guardian, in partnership with Canon. There are many great photography apps out there, but what sets this one apart is its simplicity plus functionality. It's one daily picture, usually tied to a current event. With the educational/informative iPad apps it can be tricky where to draw the line of information overload-- it's unfortunate when an app has great content but users can't be bothered to find it (can apply that to many other things in life but I digress...). And often as beautiful as a picture can be, having context makes it much more engaging.

Here's the basic set up. It has a little blurb at the bottom about the picture, and also a blurb from Canon about what makes the photo work. These are some of my favorites that I have pulled from the app, along with their blurbs (and my unnecessary thoughts along with it):

A man works on a construction site in Hanoi, Vietnam. (I would blow this up and put it on a wall.)

Terraced rice fields of Laohuzui in Yuanyang, Yunnan province in China. The blue strips are vegetable greenhouses, the black are trees and water embankments. (I have a thing for terraced rice fields...)

Ugandan opposition politician Olara Otunnu is shielded by his supporters as police fire colored liquid at protesters from water cannons during a march through Kampala. (This is a good example of a great picture accompanying a current event... the color and image is amazing even if it's superficial to be thinking that of a picture of a political protest...)

Wild stallions fight for supremacy as spring replenishes the plains below the Cincar Mountains, west Bosnia. (I know, this picture is so cliche, but I love it! Horses and soft green fields! Although I thought they were prancing gaily to the sound of a pied piper, not "fighting for supremacy." I would fit right in here, in terms of confrontation.)

Volcano eruption. (raaaarrrrrrr!!!!!)

I looked back at the past year and realized I had hardly pursued any of the interests I had wanted to pursue. Time to accept the silver lining to my clouds and re-focus.

The eternal question

Sometimes the impact of images are more effective simply because they're BIGGER. But I like this picture because the expanse of the sky still makes it seem small. It's that familiar friend and foe-- relativity.

This random building in SF I passed by asks a question that is very appropriate for the moment. and relativity is a very appropriate issue at the moment.

Hibernation

Some people like to eat when they are sad. Or drink. Or shop.

I like to sleep. Sad hibernating bear.

At least the lights from the towers allow my mind to wander. Makeshift stars. They are isolating yet comforting... Or vice versa. A good bedtime companion.

I dreamt more than usual last night. Part of it was a nightmare, which is unusual. Some cloaked figure had come into the apartment. I couldn't see his face as it was dark and his back was against the window, but he tried to stick a very thin needle in my arm. I think I woke up when my mind went, "seriously?!!" I am going to try to learn how to control my dreams. Lucid dreaming sounds crazy. I would try to see 30.