Pants Up!
"Enter the building pants up"
What prompts someone to hang up this sign?
Explain the story behind the sign in 250 words or less.
(Need inspiration? Read people’s stories about the “Parakeet Found” sign I posted last week.)
Parakeet Found
How, exactly, do you find a parakeet??
Explain the story behind this flyer in 250 words or less.
Free Association
In search of inspiration, I hit up some of my favorite blogs this morning, and found my way to The Jailbreak, which featured this rainbow Polaroid pillow:
The pillow design is by Glasgow artist Christine Berrie, and it made me think of my friend Kate, who loves to play with funny plastic cameras (more…)
Let’s Get Deep
Would you be happier if you spent more time discussing the state of the world and the meaning of life — and less time talking about the weather?
It may sound counterintuitive, but people who spend more of their day having deep discussions and less time engaging in small talk seem to be happier, said Matthias Mehl, a psychologist at the University of Arizona who published a study on the subject.
This certainly resonates for me — I can’t stand small talk, and I feel restored when I’ve had a real heart to heart with someone. On the other hand, (more…)
Artist Squats in U.S.?
Image of 59 Rivoli by "Fanch the System" on Flickr
Last weekend, this item in the New York Times Travel section caught my eye:
“On the Rue de Rivoli, one building stands out amid the busy boutiques and department stores. Inside a colorful interior, the place buzzes with shoppers and tourists — and young people covered in paint.
This is 59 Rivoli, the latest of Paris’s legalized art squats.”
-“In Paris, Art Fills the Void” by Alice Pfeiffer (read the full article)
I immediately wondered: Does such a thing exist in the US of A? Based on some quick Google research (good old Google), there are a number of artist squats throughout Europe, from the UK to Berlin (check out this quick video tour of Berlin’s Tachles Arthouse), thanks to support from nonprofits and government. But here in the US? There’s this article from New York Magazine in 2006: “The Last East Village Art Squat,” which hardly paints a pretty picture of squatting life; and this one, from the Baltimore City Paper, way back in 1999 – making me wonder if squatting is as common in that city now as it apparently was a decade ago.
So, does anyone know of active artist squats in the U.S.? I’m sure they exist, and I’m sure it’s no accident that they don’t have websites announcing their presence… I’m just curious to hear what cities they’re in, and if anyone has any personal experience living/working in one. Also, are there actually any groups advocating for legal artist squats?
Enlighten me!
