I love this guys work!
I love that it was shown in Versailles more!

So WE, or should I say: (or our art) has stomped in the gilded chambers and sculpted gardens of the Château de Versailles in the form of an exhibition by one of our creative rockstars: Jeff Koons.

Koons is like the Andy Warhol of our time, but better, (well, in my opinion) I mean, -because I love silk screening-, I dig Andy; but his pieces were manipulated photos and images in pop culture that came from someone else's eye. Not the case with Koons.

He style is pop art that HE creates, so what seems 2 be simplistic to some, is to me a fun, bright version of his surroundings and our culture. Very American, I meant his work may be loud and in your face, but in a way that makes me smile, as oppose 2 cringe. The french always have had a love hate relationship with us Americans and our culture. It cracks me up that allowing Koons to exhibit in the Château de Versailles is a national admittance that they DO love our loud brash style sometimes. 

We see you France: don't hate! 

Versailles in all it's pomp has, in recent years only shown a few select works of contemporary artists and So to host one that is so fun and whimsical makes this hella-neat. I mean it's Marie Antionette & Louis's crib yo!

I understand that this exhibit was in 08' but I think the dichotomy of these images are breathtaking. When I was in Versailles, I felt like it was so amazing 2 witness what was the setting for the story of the Sun King.
Louie and Antoinette were the pinnacle examples of overkill in art, money, Class, politics and privilege that the world got to witness and became a important part of our history. You can see the beauty yet complete overkill and gluttony. Who can remember that and not their end? I feel Koons is the like loud, fun, pretty pop culture overkill of the times. No need to starve the poor here.

The exhibition of 17 Koons sculptures marked the first time that the chateau built by Louis XIV organized so ambitious a retrospective of one contemporary artist. Since then it was widely criticized. My, my, how far we've all come from the days of art in the Paris Salon.

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≈I always get the "What, u still rollerblade?" 
Well, not so much, anymore now that I live downtown 
where the streets are steep and life is cheap. 
These boys show how it's done w/ in-lines, in Frisco BAY-bee!

Rollerblading in San Francisco Episode 3 from Matthew Rice on Vimeo.

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So I really think the Coffee and Cigarettes poster is gnarly! 

I really love fore ground/ background pieces. My 2nd business card while still in school had my name done with what was my 1st try at a foreground/background piece.

Part of the piece I'm referring to is on the left.

Since it was my 1st try, you can see my version is not as clear cut as the poster, which is what generally makes the foreground/background piece so tight, smart and elegant to look at. Even so, I ended up carrying the concept threw to most of my identity and it worked. 

The execution of this piece on the Coffee and Cigarettes poster seems so natural and flawless. Unlike mine, it is clean and simple. 

The image is from Piccsy.

Another neat example I recently ran into on the web is the Snow White Macslap decal on Etsy.

Snow White has fallen from the trickery of the Wicked Witch..and the description says .. She's taken a bite of your MacBook Apple! I thought is way neat in a non-cheesy way. Check it out yourself. Snow White Macslap

Piccsy has a great collection of art and photographs, free to browse, but an invite is required to post and submit your own images. It is a site that has a large number of ‘erotic’ images, so if you are of a puritanical disposition, best walk away now.

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I got this list from freelanceswitch.com

You Know You’re a Freelancer When…

1. You’re starting to grumble about your 5-step commute from the bed to your computer.  The snooze button is soooo much closer…
2. The car stays parked in your garage for days at a time and somehow you continue to grow without sunlight.
3. You can vacation as often as you want now. Chained to your computer and phone, yeah, but hey: the ocean looks beautiful from here and yes honey, I’ll join you out there in a moment!
4. Working in the buff is actually an option! Just remember to switch your Skype chat default to “Answer with NO Video!”
5. Work begins stalking you around the house, skulking and whining like an unloved pup. Work is home is office is everywhere – ACK! I’m sure there’s a zen proverb around here somewhere…
6. You finally remove all the fart jokes and Mafia Wars from your Facebook Profile because your playground just became your chief marketing and advertising venue.
7. Laptop parties with your freelance buddies are your brilliant attempt at “having a life” and still getting things done.
8. You catch yourself bouncing ideas off of your apathetic cat and your chatterbox four-year old.
9. You start playing pranks on your unsuspecting canine because you miss the office shenanigans.
10. You finally get paid for knowing more than the person who hired you.
11. Strangling yourself with the laptop cord is a popular and approved reaction to client emails and phone calls.
12. Friends pimp you out for favors: “Oh yeah, I have a friend that can do that for you. I’m sure he’ll do it for super cheap. In fact, we’re good friends, I bet he’ll do it for free!”
13. You can justify anything to one client by simply referencing a vague “other client.” {Yes of course I’d love to have a 5am meeting for your East Coast team! Unfortunately, I’ve already booked that slot with my Australian client.}
14. Social sites your old boss banned aren’t even fun to visit now because they’re actually on your Client Acquisition To Do list.
15. You talk excitedly about the latest Wordpress plugin or Photoshop brush you just downloaded… and the barista was only asking for your coffee order. {“It’s just so lonely working from home, you see. Nice to have someone to talk to is all…”}
16. You’re actually nodding and laughing right now, filled with that warm and fuzzy feeling that “yes, I still fit in somewhere.”

 

 

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I've always had Min-pins (miniature pinchers). 

They are not as common of a bread as Chihuahua's and they look similar, so I always have gotten; "oh what cute Chihuahuas" from everyone on the street.

Chihuahuas are cute dogs so I don't mind really. Internally I have always felt I could own one. I think the main reason being that even though I love little dogs, (circumstance, apartment living) Chihuahuas have always seemed to me to be alot of all bark/no bite. I'm obviously generalizing here BUT,....well, u know what I mean. Min-Pin's on the other hand tend to be oblivious to there size. There are a lot of barking min-pins but they bark (pardon me while I giggle) to warm you there coming....lol

Whether they can even make a dent in their opponent, is not of their concern.  The picture on the right was my oldest lovingly playing with one of her pups, a couple years ago. They are also not the best lap dogs till they get older cause, untill age gets to them they are more consumed by being hyper, brave and well -unstoppable!

Chihuahuas generally are not thought of as unstoppable, I think they look cute in a purse sure, but not really unstoppable?

≈Every now and then life brings you to a story they shows you beauty in the circle of life and also how small minded opinions and; cliche's we hold can be. Mancha's's story was just that for me.

I just want 2 say that I have gotten close to a couple of pitbulls and they also can be sweet dogs. I think sometimes they get a bad rap, at times deserved, other times not. I didn't want 2 make any animal the antagonist in this post. Just recognize a little dog with a big heart! 

U tha dawg Manchas!

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Created by Oatmeal

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Happy Pride San Francisco! 

It's PINK SATURDAY  

From now till midnight come party with 100,000 of your closest friends in the Castro!

In honor of the occasion: I'm posting a movie I made from my 1st Pink Saturday 4 years ago!

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Enough is enough....Where is this guy?

I am posting this with the hopes using your tips 2 find his where abouts...

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So I know we had thought bout going 2 see Nas, for our b-days BUT...look what I found:

It's the day after my birthday & right b4 yours, at the Warfield (I think)....And you've never seen Talib.....

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http://upperplayground.com/wordpress/?p=44730

 

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N*E*R*D will be playing a FREE show somewhere in  SOMA in Frisco this Saturday, May 8th. Doors at 9pm. Stay tuned at their site or word of mouth for ticketing details, it will be first come, first served.

nerd

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Polaroid 300: Instant Photography is Back

Fans of the Polaroid brand worldwide were devastated about the death of instant film. Now those fans can rejoice again: Polaroid instant photography is back.

Featuring classic Polaroid instant film, automatic flash and four scene settings, the new Polaroid 300 Instant Camera delivers a new twist on the classic instant photo.

The camera is available with a suggested retail price of $89.99. With four lighting settings and an auto-flash, your photos will be perfect every time.Ten-packs of Polaroid 300 instant film retail for $9.99.

http://www.dexigner.com/jump/news/20609

• Takes business card size instant color photos
• Four scene settings help you capture the perfect shot in any light
• Automatic flash
• Works with Polaroid 300 Instant Film
• Note: Film not included

Accessories Included

• 4-AA batteries
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Wrist strap

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≈BANKSY≈

British artist Banksy left his mark on the walls of San Francisco after attending the premier of his own movie 'Exit Through the Giftshop' in Los Angeles.

≈Caught in the act: above≈

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So I've been following this blog "Paris Daily Photo" for about a minute now. ~A 5 yr minute

This guy has a great eye and it's short and sweet.
Like little french visual nuggets ...lol 

Anyway under one of his daily photos, he comments on profanity in different languages,

I thought his comment was interesting. His comment is below the shot.

I apologize to those of you who will feel offended by this, but yes, you read it well : the title of the show by Florence Foresti (a very famous French comedian) featured in this theater is really Mother F%^&@# Of course for us French it does not really mean anything. It's just a word we hear a lot in American movies ;-) so we think it's alright to use it (even to put it up in lights at a theater!). Think about that when you swear in French; for you it's just a word, for us it can be most inappropriate...

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The last design conference I went to in March, was sponsored by Corofoft.
It was pretty good and they gave out some interesting reading material.
I thought I'd scan some nationwide pay rates in the design field (entry level) for comparison purposes...

 












≈Interesting how differently you can get compensated for pushing the same pixels in different places....well Kinda ;^}

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≈I love this song.
It's may be environmental, but events around me recently, made me stumble into seeing the lyrics parallel ....let's say .."another meaning"?

 
Behind these walls
You can be so self-absorbed
Behind those eyes, no disguise
Disguise, no you can't disguise
Behind this fortress of an address
Stuck in the passion void
With a little style full and for a while
But you can't turn back time

Dear Miami
You're the first to go
Disappearing
Under melting snow
Each and everyone
Turn your critical eye
On the burning sun
And try not to cry

Strictly rolling V.I.P.
Strictly rolling V.I.P.

We got it all
The empire ever falls
We got all control, untold power to
Do what we wanna do
We got the moves
But there's nothing left to prove
There's only stardust memories
We can make come true

Dear Miami
You're the first to go
Disappearing
Under melting snow
Each and everyone
Turn your critical eye
On the burning sun
And try not to cry

Dear Miami
You're the first to go
Disappearing
Under melting snow
Each and everyone
Turn your critical eye
On the burning sun
And try not to cry

Merry-go-round again
A carousel
Passionate raid
An escapade

Strictly rolling V.I.P.
Strictly rolling V.I.P.
Strictly rolling V.I.P.
Strictly rolling V.I.P.

 

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