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Thursday, July 30, 2009

A Walk Around Astoria SIX






Crack is Wack!

I saw this poster in the window of a deli and thought to myself that it is strange and disturbing all at the same time. It's strange to me that the term "crak" (crack) is now completely integrated into mainstream vocabulary; to the point where it can be used as a marketing/advertising tool. This is also disturbing since I feel it somehow diminishes what the term crack really represents. Which is a highly addictive and devastating drug. Now crack is being used to describe the latest, cool energy/ power drink. As though it means something delicious...

I get that somewhere in this ad there is meant to be a joke about energy drinks. For example, people refer to blackberry phones as crackberry phones due to their owners addictive tendencies towards the phone. But you don't see billboards or ads on the subway saying "Have you crackberried today?", do you? NO! I think this poster is in very poor taste and whomever came up with this name isn't funny at all...

Saturday, July 25, 2009

I think this is AMAZING!


This piece is in the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY. It is called Feral Fount (1996) by Gregory Barsamian (American, born 1953); made from Steel, Urethane Foam, Acrylic Paint, Motor, and Strobe Light.

Feral Fount is made up of a series of 97 small sculptures. These sculptures act the same way drawings work in a flip book or frames of an animated movie. Thanks to the use of a strobe light the sculptures appear to be moving and transforming from a faucet that drips, water drops then turn into bombs, the bombs pass through hands, then into a paper airplane, and landing in an exploding dishpan.

I love it!

...and you should go see it, my little video doesn't do it justice.

M.O.M.I in Astoria, NY


A model from the movie Blade Runner (1982).
A replica of Linda Blair used in The Exorcist (1973)
I wonder if it made a difference that you would be viewing the image backwards?
Sony Trinitron Television Receiver and Betamax Videotape Recorder, 1975. This is some super high tech stuff! This console was originally $2300, Betamax tapes were at least $15 and ran for one hour. Only a few were sold until 1977 when tape times were extended and major studio releases were more widely available...Don't you want to throw your flat screen away and get one of these! (kidding)

I find this Jerry Lewis Hand Puppet (1950) bizarre and slightly disturbing.
Dental plumper worn by Marlon Brando in The Godfather (1972). Designed and made by Dick Smith.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Photograph in The Wall Street Journal

I received a text massage from my friend Rick at Weapons Specialists telling me to check out the Wall Street Journal today. When I looked up the article in the Life & Style section by Joanne Kaufman I came face to face with one of my photographs. This is the picture I took while visiting the new offices of Weapons Specialists. Unfortunately I didn't receive a photo credit but it was still a pleasure to see my photo in print. (Article: Propping up Hollywood)

I will be posting my photos from Weapons Specialists soon...stay tuned...

Meet Hossein

I'd like you to meet Hossein. He is originally from Bangladesh and now runs a local newsstand in Astoria, New York City.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Chess Players of Washington Square Park


For those who take Chess seriously...
I present a couple of the Chess players of Washington Square Park, New York City.

Meet Betty

I met Betty on Broadway in Astoria one gorgeous afternoon. I asked if I could take a picture of her tee shirt and she said "sure". Betty then told me she was the projectionist for the 2004 MTV Movie Awards. Rock on Betty!

Police Store

A sign at the Police Shop on Astoria Boulevard...

A Walk Around Astoria FOUR