Comments on: T:BA:07 Day Five – Monday, 10 September 2007

By: Fredrick Zal

Fredrick Zal — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 08:34:20 +0000

Thank you for the comments.
Dialogue is a very important component of any Web Log [bLog].
Especially in the context of a Time-Based Arts Festival, where performers and audience work together to create a whole.
Without an audience, could there be art?
If an incredible cast plays an amazing rendition of Beckett or Shakespeare in the Globe theatre, but without an audience, would it be art?
If a tree falls in the woods, and not one is there, does it make a sound?
These are some of the questions that I consider in this media…
So, “B”, I appreciate that you feel that these postings are too long.
That’s fine. You are not required to read it.
I am going to just about every one of the T:BA events, that’s a lot of stuff, so it requires a lot of words.
I keep my personal tidbits to a minimum, but have tossed them in to attempt to give my entries some personality.
As the saying goes, “It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to…”
Sorry that you were offended by my Anna Oxygen comments.
I have actually been giving it some thought, and will discuss that in another of my “self-indulgently too long” bLogs, if you would care to read.
Wouter;
Thank you. I do not know anything about Anna Oxygen other then what I saw at this and prior T:BA festivals.
Yes, Swan Tool is a piece by Miranda July, hence why I had a link to her website.
Mikey;
I capitalize the “L” in ‘bLog’ because it is a colloquialism, which shortened “Web Log”.
I like it that way, and I feel that it makes reference to the etymology of the term.
I appreciate you comment, but I’m going to keep doing it because I like it that way.
[Much like when kids call pasta: ‘Pisketti’. I kinda like that, but it may annoy you.]
Alex;
Yes, I am very involved in the fine and applied arts community and am regularly commissioned for works in a variety of areas.
I hope that you enjoyed seeing some of my works on-line: http://www.fhzal.com
Steve;
I was simply repeating back in text what you and your colleagues presented in words at your workshop.
I am sorry if I misunderstood you, but I did sincerely get the feeling from your talk that none of you really care about UrHo, and just might hand those reigns over any old time without too much concern.
I am glad that you are fully invested in the arts community, I imagine that PICA would have not wanted to work with you otherwise.
Keep up the good work.
Gene;
I found it ironic that I was scheduled to go to the UrHo workshop to learn about their work, but it was their work that impeded me from getting there on-time.
You do not need to find it funny if you do not like.
The T:BA bLog is targeted for the arts community, whom are not necessarily technical web folks.
So, yes, some of them actually do not know everything.
I am glad that you knew those terms and were able to express your knowledge base.
If there are other things that you do not understand, then I hope you will ask questions.
If there are things that I do not fully understand, then I appreciate the wisdom and guidance of others.
According to what they said at their talk, I believe they either were or still are housemates.
I have no idea how it began, as I missed the very beginning of the talk.
They might have that information posted on their site in the ‘about’ section.
Someone cannot be bought out unless they make the choice to sell.
It was their company, and they made their own decisions.
In a post-dot-com world, I feel it does make sense for them to cash out when they could, and then take the profits to start their next venture.
This is how an artist may afford to purchase the raw materials for their next work, by selling an earlier on to a patron.
I do believe that people should do what they love 24/7. From Steven’s post, I understand now that he has a record label that he enjoys, which is great.
I am not really sure if UrHo is a ‘hobby’ for them or not, but it is certainly the sense that I got from their presentation. I am writing what I understood to have been put forward in that dialogue.
I welcome clarifications, such as the one that Steven made, as I am certainly not always correct, and us humans sometimes do misunderstand each other.
I hope that all artists will be able to get food on the table and a roof over their heads by creating their art.
I am a full-time fine and applied artist. It is a risk world, but I enjoy that which I have manifested for myself.
Oh, and I would recommend a SEP-IRA, over a 401(k).
;P
Lastly, if I was just masturbating in public, then I would like to thank you for being so kind to bring a towel.
That was very courteous of you, and I appreciate it.
But, I would like to point out that my words did seem to spark some reaction from you and others, which is the entire point of bLogging…

By: Gene

Gene — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:20:29 +0000

> the funny thing is that I was a touch late for
> the talk, as I was writing the bLog from the day
> before, and their website was having some
> serious bandwidth problems.
Why is that funny? Unless it’s humourous to see other people’s projects suffer a misstep? Seems like a really weird way to start your coverage.
> That basically means, that it was as slow as
> molasses, and then crashing out. A technical
> term for, “Hey, guys, time to spend some more
> money and upgrade your software and connection
> speed!”.
I think most people that read blogs know the meaning of words like “bandwidth” and “problem”. Not real technical. And again, a very arrogant tone that puts the reader off.
> These three housemates thought it would be fun
> to start up a bLog site, and have some of their
> friends write articles.
Have they ever been housemates? And I thought it started as an oNline maGaZine not a “bLog”.
> Over time, it has grown and taken on its own
> life… This is something that happened with
> Tribe.net.
Really, I thought they were bought out and ruined by corporate advertising, not organic growth.
> About a year ago, they were purchased by Pepsi,
> and the site was ‘corrupted’ with advertising.
Oh. Right. What was your point then?
> They say that they do not want to go commercial,
> but they also do not want to have to pay for
> extra bandwidth out of their own pockets. After
> all, this is just a hobby for them, it is not
> their day job.
Yes, if you define anything that doesn’t pay a salary as “just a hobby”.
> I really question this. If you do not really
> care, then don’t do it. … Be an artist, or
> get out of Hell’s Kitchen!
I guess artists shouldn’t bother screwing around with expressing themselves unless it involves weekly pay stubs and a 401(k)?
> My prediction is that they will find some other
> hobby in a few years, and this will be a random
> memory for them. But, we will have to see…
How are we supposed to take a prediction seriously that is based on a single meeting for which you showed up late? And hasn’t UrHo already been going on for over “a few years”– around six or seven?
This post is a excellent representation of what one of my professors used to call intellectual masturbation. It’s only purpose is for the writer, not the reader. I’m not sure what the rest of us are supposed to get out of it other than an inward cringe at your awkward style and self-importance. Next time try thinking of your audience and what you want to convey rather than just massaging your own ego in a public forum.

By: Steve Schroeder

Steve Schroeder — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:08:40 +0000

Just to clarify from the urbanhonking prospective, we certainly don’t view urho as a HOBBY and doing it for 6 years at this point I think goes to show that we don’t think of it this way.
Even if UrHo were to reach an end point (which, i really don’t think will happen, because even if we get burnt out I think we would hand over the reigns to others to lead the community) we would still be involved in art. It’s not like we are part timing in art. Jona is a musician full time who is touring the globe about 10 months of the year right now. http://www.teamyacht.com
I run a record label, (http://www.statesrightsrecords.com), and really treat that seriously and like i am curating.
We are fully invested in arts and arts communities 4LIFE.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:15:54 +0000

wow, frederick, you do EVERYTHING!
Community
Design Competitions
Urban Design
Institutional
Commercial
Homes
Mixed-Use
New Construction
Adaptive Re-Use
Body
Performance Art
Sculptural Installations
Industrial Design
Furniture
Eye
Identity Packages
Graphic Design
Web Design
Photography
Mind
Theory
About
Philosophy
Ideas
Creative Advising
Teaching
Publications + Video
Public Engagements
Research
Dialogue
Helpful Tools
Collaborators
Inspiration
Search Site

By: Mikey

Mikey — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:16:30 +0000

You shouldn’t capitalize the L in blog. That looks weird.

By: Wouter

Wouter — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:18:26 +0000

I just would like to make the comment that the Swan Tool was not at all a piece of Anna Oxygen but by Miranda July. You might have seen Anna Oxygen at Machineworks on TBA04 though but that was a concert -she’s a musician, not really a performance artist-… Please check your information before posting it to the blog…

By: b

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:25:18 +0000

I cant even consider reading your blog, it is self-indulgently too long. Seriously. But I did read the last part about Cloud Eye Control and I am actually offended.