World's end atmosphere

Thanks!

Scribbles

First sketches for the design part of my Scribble Art essay. Click on the image to enlarge.

Hello from studio 49

Misleading

First Photo class assignment: 'Narrative, Images and Reality: Make a series of photographs where the idea of the place or the subject is intentionally misleading.'

I've been thinking about a way of incorporating my panicky, 'homeless' first weeks in New York into my creative work. I wanted to create poetic images that reflect the transient state of being in a flat, but not really being there, because it's not your home...

Hurray!

I've found a place to live! The french baker turned out to be a french banker (typo on my new landlady's behalf). He claims to be good at cooking anyways, though. All is good.

Everything's coming together...

...slowly, but surely. And it's about time, too.

These first weeks have been nothing but trouble. First my bank card broke (actually it was just fraud prevention without fraud). Then my phone broke. Not good in a city where most flats don't have buzzers so you have to call people to say you're there. Then I moved into an apartment which turned out to be in a not so cool area, or at least I didn't feel comfortable. Then I got sick (see blog post about air-condi-shit-ioning). Then I decided I really needed to move. Sooner rather than later. Then I began my hunt. And that was over a week ago.

Now I am in a completely empty apartment in midtown. With 24 hour doormen it couldn't be safer (actually it's almost a bit scary, if you're not used to it, if that makes sense). And I owe a friend a huge thank you. There is nothing in here. No chair, no desk, no nothing. And I love it. I went to this 24 hours hardware store on 29th street the other night. Rocking up there at about 11pm, the store was completely empty. (Why 24 hours, you might wonder. Me too.) One of the employees was so bored he decided to give me personal shopping assistance. And so we spent about 45 minutes wandering through the store, deliberating about what a person needs in an empty flat for 2 weeks. We decided: 1 cup, 1 pan, 1 plate, 1 knife, 1 spoon, 1 fork, 1 glass, 1 bowl.

And so I sit with my one-of-each collection checking craigslist again, waiting to find my dream place. The one place. The heaven of all apartments in all of New York. Actually, I am just looking for a simple, small room in a place that doesn't require to have to call up your bank to ask for a loan to pay the rent, doesn't have more mice than humans, does have a window, and through that window there comes natural light. Doesn't seem too much to ask, but hey, this is New York and people are weird!

I'm searching. And searching. And searching. But if everything works out, I will have that dream place confirmed in the next few days. No mice, 1 window, natural light and sharing with a french baker. The flat, not the room, that is.

Deitch studios performance

Tonight I attended my first artsy New York performance. Having spent most days (and nights) apartment hunting, I had so far totally missed out on all the great art weirdness of this city (I made up for it by seeing just about all non-art weirdness).
I cant say I really understood what this night's performance was about. Something about people living on a boat being outsiders of society. All a bit dramatic, not really so much my cup of tea. BUT the stage design was from a different planet. Never seen anything like it. Literally the whole room was covered with the most astonishing amount of decoration–screen prints, drawings, sculptures and, well, stuff. So good!

Small Boat Big City

I wonder if the best view of Manhattan is actually from Queens?

Air-condi-shit-ioning

I hate air-conditioning. It is wrong and should be made illegal. I believe this country has been infiltrated by some drugs company specialising in cold-relief medication. Cause they'd make a lot of money. On me anyway. What is wrong with a bit of heat? It is only natural. Relax everyone. Think of the environment. Switch it off and get it over with. Oh well, I guess that's a bit harsh. It really is hot in New York, but this mix of oven outside and refrigerator inside really doesn't help either. And so I sit in bed, with a cold, only being cheered up by the podcasts of equally grumpy Stephen Fry. And the wonderful world of iTunes which allows me to download/rent a movie for a mere £3.50 if I am a UK customer or $4 if I am an American one. And in case you are a UK customer in America be prepared to pay UK prices anyway. Basta.

Sky Type