thosespacesinbetween

unless you have been living under a rock it is likely that you have heard of médecins sans frontières, the international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that has been delivering emergency aid to those affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural or man-made disasters since being founded by a small group of french doctors in 1971… the new documentary living in emergency presents an honest view into the lives behind the surgical mask… the volunteers of msf, the people they treat and the extreme difficulties and often heartache faced working in devastation areas… the film really does an excellent job of highlighting the sacrifices being made everyday by the volunteers of msf and leaves you with an even greater respect for those who choose to contribute… although sometimes difficult to watch I urge you to please see this film… and please contribute… choose your battle (whatever that may be) and try to help the cause… we need to make a better world and it starts with you… with luv x

new york is such a great city on film… something in the air… its the grit of the city, the weirdos, the hipsters, hustlers, and handball players… you can definitely feel it… a recent visit to the metropolitan museum of art (the MET) introduced me to leon levinstein, an unheralded master of street photography and best known for his candid and unsentimental black-and-white figure studies made in new york city neighborhoods… the exhibition “hipsters, hustlers, and handball players: leon levinstein’s new york photographs, 1950–1980” (on show until october 17) is drawn exclusively from the MET’s collection and features some forty photographs that reflect the artist’s fearless approach to the medium of street photography… just wanted to share the beauty and married with the perfect quote “i walk, i look, i see, i stop, i photograph” – leon levinstein, 1955… I hope you enjoy… with luv x

music is truly an amazing thing… the feeling of bliss sitting in a new york city park surrounded by the hustle of this city… it transports you to another world, a world which helps you stop, take a breath and listen… “play me, i’m yours” is an artwork by british artist luke jerram who has been touring the project globally since 2008…. by placing street pianos in public parks, streets and plazas throughout the city, it seeks to question the ownership and rules of public space… described by jerram the piece “is a provocation, inviting the public to engage with, activate and take ownership of their urban environment”…. launched as part of the june 21st make music new york festival 60 pianos will be available to play across new york city from 9am-10pm each day until the 5th july… and yesterday I was lucky enough to witness an ordinary joe play some extra ordinary music… on his lunch break no less… sydney also housed jerram’s work as park of the sydney festival back in january 2009 to much success… which begs the question why should such beauty be temporary??? … just some food for thought… now go on get comfortable, light a candle and listen to your favorite song… with luv x

sorry its been a while but i’ve been kinda busy… kinda busy falling in love… falling in love with new york city… sitting in arguably the world’s greatest metropolis it seems surreal… there is so much going on in this town that it kinda makes your head spin… and 8.3 million residents can’t be wrong… its nearly summer here, the days are long and its getting hot… but with the heat comes so many free events that i am very much in heaven… but don’t worry i’ll keep you updated… with luv x

REBAR is an interdisciplinary studio based out of san francisco operating at the intersection of art, design and activism…. for me they have operated as creative beacon of light in the drive to reclaim our urban environment… remixing public space… making awesome public art… and getting people involved in urban activism in a chilled out, tongue in cheek, fun kinda way… and yes they are really cool people… i dropped by their studio the other day to chat about some of their projects and get a flavor for where it all comes from… not only did they respond openly and extremely nicely to my five billion questions but they gave me hope… hope that we can all do such great work in our own backyard… our own cities and towns… all it takes is some commitment and drive… so read their website… read their blog… get inspired… and go forth and conquer… check out some of their pavement to parks work below… with luv x

walklet: modular public park… 22nd and bartlett, san francisco… find out more here…

showplace triangle: a pavement to parks project… 8th street, between 16th and irwin streets, san francisco…  more here…

the world famous PARK(ing) day… more here…

sitting in cafe in san francisco… missing my bike like hell… i thought it might be a good time to mention that my good friends marcus and miriam are about to embark on a five month life changing bicycle adventure across europe taking them from sweden to spain and eight countries in between… their new blog the leather saddle a bicycle diary will attempt to share some of the adventure with you and me as i continue to miss my bike… make sure you check it out… great work guys… with luv x

why the leather saddle?

for comfort, because it’s the one part of a bicycle that get’s better with use, a well worn saddle is a story in itself….

just got back from the new banksy film which oddly enough… and very true to his international man of mystery form… is actually not really about him at all… rather it is an insight into the ever evolving culture of street art, self-expression and what die-hard followers of popular culture (such as myself) are willing to digest… simply put this is a great film and a must see for those lovers of all of the above… make sure you watch the preview below…

since i’d been meaning to talk about the importance of street art for a while it seems fitting to throw in my two cents… walking around chile and absorbing the various quality murals (a combination of graffiti culture and more classic artworks) i felt good… bringing some light into the otherwise highly polluted and fast-paced days… love it or hate it, art has the power to invoke so many emotions and that is why it important that the public is exposed through various more accessible means… i.e. in the streets… think about it… maybe this might help separate the good from the bad… the vandalism from the social comment… the art from the eyesores… or maybe not… it’s a tough one… demos discusses the difference between art (and thus what we think is is worth conserving) and vandalism below… with luv x