Filed under: City Life
…смотришь Веб-камера на реке Мойка каждый день:
Filed under: City Life
ЗАЙДИ!
В Дворе ЛофтПроекта ЭТАЖИ:
“Garage sale – традиционное американское и европейское развлечение, а также способ вдохнуть новую жизнь в старые вещи, которые для кого-то окажутся самой желанной находкой в мире. В солнечные летние дни на лужайку перед домом принято вытаскивать все, что не использовалось больше года, и распродавать соседям за символическую цену. Такой формат предполагает, в первую очередь, не желание заработать, а желание хорошо провести время или сделать летнюю генеральную уборку в квартире. Не так просто расстаться с дорогими сердцу вещами («когда-нибудь я все-таки надену этот свитер, на который истратил двухмесячную зарплату 7 лет назад»), но когда знаешь, что они окажутся в руках любящего, заботливого человека, жизнь без них не кажется уже такой немыслимой.”
19 июля: Garage Sale – Летняя распродажа горячо любимых, но морально устаревших вещей. Если вы хотите принять участие в качестве продавца (продавать или отдавать можно свою старую одежду, обувь, аксессуары), высылайте информацию о себе и контактные данные на ящик info@loftprojectetagi.ru
Все будет максимально 500 Рублей! (ну, говорят…посмотрим)
В программе развлечения:
DJs
Видео-сопровождение
Конкурс на лучший look
Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to the Opening!
I am so pleased with the results, all things considered (prep time, material limitations etc.). It works so well in the cafe space, versus a gallery, because people go there especially to “общаться,” to socialize, and my exhibit is so much about this fluid exchange of traits, ideas, influences…Discourse! (what we talked about most in the summer program FORUMAK Leto at Smolny College this summer) The ideas of fluid identity, large and small influences (I now believe that every person, past and present, influences every other person in some way), and consciousness of oneself in the context of the whole are all so timely and help me begin to bring many parts of my life into focus. This exhibit, I realize, is a result of many years of searching and could actually be the first conscious articulation of my artistic process and understanding of my existence. I look forward to thinking about this more!
This consciousness of and engagement with self was ultimately what moved me to come to Russia in the first place. Before I got on the plane to leave the States I felt a deep need to “find” myself, or at least understand what I’m doing, who I am, and find self respect and honesty. I am realizing now that I can never “find” myself, that we live in an age of fluid discourse (ok, the phrase “living in an age of…” is so stale), that because of this my “identity,” “perception & presentation of self” is always changing and to understand my existence I must also simultaneously consider the existence of every other human being. It is quite Zen. That, seen in this way, the seemingly simple desire to understand myself is the same desire as wanting to understand others. This desire can be motivation throughout one’s entire life.
I don’t mean to say that I am merely a vessle for other people’s personalities, that I don’t have particular habits, attributes and opinions, but what I have become actively aware of is the fact that we are malleable; not necessarily passive, but unquestionably influenced by everything (in this sentence the words “shaped,” “created” etc. are not appropriate because that suggest some finalized outcome). For example, even if I choose not to take on another person’s taste for milk in their coffee I am still influenced by their taste for milk in their coffee. The fact that I made a choice about the matter, conscious or subconscious, means that that person has influenced me. This can be extended to my reaction to a person I pass on the street as well as the influence of a close friend’s decision to get a tattoo. Everything, anything, and all; single, plural, general and specific; they all influence my consciousness.
Those are my current thoughts on the matter. Please share your reactions!!
To continue a bit more about my initial reactions to the exhibit: I really felt like these people were alive in the active space of the cafe, that they stepped out into life and at the same moment were sitting, present behind the glass, in their own world and time. My friends Katya and Julia kept saying “Они прямо живые!!” “They are really alive!” The owner of the cafe apparently got a bit of the heeby-jeebies because they seemed so alive, both faceless in the portraits and in the masks.
You can see more photos of the exhibit here: I . U Opening
If you are in Russia or have access to a Russian Language book store (though I don’t know if they export this magazine) look for an article about the exhibit in “Под Ключ” architecture, design and art magazine and an announcement in “Афиша.”
If you are in Petersburg stop by the Cafe!! DUH! You can buy postcards, pins, masks and drawings there too!
Filed under: City Life
Some sounds I’ve captured recently:
Man working on his Delivery Truck.
Soldiers Celebrating Victory Day
I can’t believe I didn’t share this earlier. This is my primary source:
Афиша is a fantastic magazine that keeps you up to date on the creative happenings in St Petersburg (they have magazines for other Russian cities as well). Film, Music, Restaurants/Bars, Fashion, Art, Games and Interviews. It comes out every two weeks and I’ve eagerly awaited each issue, hungry for more. Unfortunately there are few arts magazines here in Petersburg compared to other cities, but it seems that the people at Афиша do a good job of keeping a consistent and fresh format that clearly focuses the reader’s attention on the content rather than the magazine itself (Russian publications get so easily bogged down with Russian’s love for going over the top) and they cater to various tastes. Check out their website.
As I mentioned in my previous post (in Russian), there are a number of things that I have suddenly started to love while living here in Russia. Most of them are particular to Russian life (particular Russian dishes, ways of dressing) and I have suddenly developed a need for them. A new habit of mine is to obsessively read on the metro, common for most people here, and Афиша is great reading material. Not only do a learn a lot about what is going on in this city, I learn new words that I wouldn’t find in a text book, look cool reading it (oh so artsy!) and feel satisfied with my metro ride.
Keep your finger on the pulse. I think (and hope) Russia is about to embrace creative change in a big way.
Я рисую сирию “Каша,” часть сирии вещей, которые в России люблю. Осознала, что кое-какие блюды, напитки, и сладкие удовольствия определяют мой вкус здесь. Я о тех вещях вообше не думаю когда я в Америке или где-нибудь еще. А здесь не могу чувствовать себя довольна без печенья, конфеток, гречи, огурцев. Почему? Подсознательно хочу быть более русской? Легче найти особеные русские продукты в магазине и причины просто от удобства? Очень нравятся русские блюды даже когда я не в России, я счастлива когда я их нахожу, но мои чувсвта здесь сильнее, чем обычное очеравание с культурой. С ним это сильное удобство. Иногда кажется интимное удобство, хотя из за того, что я не русская, что к этим обычным русским вещям я не привикла, не с ними вырастала, могу смотреть на них и осмотревать отдельно. Поэтому я могу и любить и осмотревать, и есть русскую еду регуларно думая об них в более абстрактном, художественном, и антропологическом контексте. Хотя я пока не принимала мое антропологическое отношение с Россией вообще, мне не удобно об этом говорить, но с другой стороны не могу говорить, что я русская. Тогда, этот проект осмотревание мое отношение с маленькими, обычными частями жизни в России, чтобы лучше понимать мое отношение и мою привликательность к России вообще.
Хочу печатать эти рисунки на одежу и делать линию мода, Русских еды или обычных Русских вещей, которые думаю особеные.
Check out Lauren Abman’s blog SAMIZDAT for another American’s view of this fair city.
She here on a Fulbright scholarship, working at a local print studio and she explains her project this way:
“I’m currently chasing after an understanding of the enigmatic Russian soul as captured in hand-bound artist books from the avant-garde through contemporary Russia in a city built on a swamp.”
Someone has been posting posters like this all over town. Each poster has a different message, all in English, all the same format, and I think they are very nice. None of the statements are overly political, most are slightly melancholy or matter of fact. Their crisp, clean, naive style is refreshing in this city full of грязь (grime, dirt).
EDIT (May 29):
So I saw a poster from this series in Russian for the first time yesterday:
Filed under: City Life
Found:
SOY MILK!
SOY YOGURT!
SOY MAYO!
PEANUT BUTTER!
Where? The Grand Choral Synagogue, the second largest synagogue in Europe, has a kosher grocery store in its complex. Go there and you can find the soy products you have been craving.
The Synagogue itself is beautiful, peaceful and impressive. The intereior is painted with light, uplifting colors and you can’t help but feel relieved. Go there to find solace even if you are not Jewish. The people there are very welcoming and are eager to show you around.
If you are not on a tight schedule ask about the restaurant. It is in the basement of the main building, but you would not be able to find it on your own. I ordered the poppyseed cake (see below) and was overjoyed.
Filed under: City Life
- Concerts start early here, around 8 or 9pm. We think this is due to the fact that a) the metro stops around 12:15, and b) the bridges go up around 1:30am. This means that if you have to cross a bridge to get home, and this happens often (I live on an island, across the Neva from the center), you can only stay out until 1:30. Uh Oh!
- Don’t be afraid of dvors, little courtyards, because often there is much more through that archway than you’d expect. I’ve found an art supply store, a photo gallery, an antique book store, a fantastic cafe and art space, a great bar, and a friend’s communal apartment just by walking into dvors. You can, too! For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, most if not all buildings in town are pierced with archways every few yards. Through these archways you can see private and public courtyards. At first these courtyards seemed mysterious and shady to me when I was looking for a specific shop or cafe (there is rarely any indication on the street of what is inside the courtyard), but now I’m starting to enjoy the adventure. You never know what you’ll find!
- Parking is free. People here park horribly.
- Simple Russian ice cream cones, that are great for a quick sugar fix on a hot day, only cost 10 rubles, that is about 35 cents. Russian super greasy donuts, called Пышки, cost 8 rubles. Load up your plate with as many as you want and be on your way to heart-attack heaven! I saw a young sailor take 5.
- Survival is all about connections here. I’ve heard this from Russians and foreigners alike. If you want an apartment, a job, or pretty much anything you have to know the right people. An art student at Smolny complained that there is no agency or organized center where you can go to look for an apartment. In a land of bureaucracy organizations that could alleviate stress of everyday life are lacking in some ways.
Download some audio clip notes:
The smells of Spring:
Sounds in the City:
Boat Excursions – These boat and bus excursions can be found on any corner or canal. It seems to be one of the biggest businesses! To advertise the various trips there is always a woman with a mega phone shouting invitations at you. Here I tried to capture two competing tour guides.
