Bubblewrap art

When I was looking into bubble wrap humour, posted last Friday, I came across bubble wrap art. The ingenuity, diversity and often the weirdness of artistic styles, media and materials seems neverending.

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Canadian artist Bradley Hart creates art works by injecting the bubbles on bubble wrap with acrylic paint.

According to Hart:

"The idea of using bubble wrap came from a few experiences where overzealous museum security guards instructed patrons not to touch works of art and a leftover roll of bubble from wrapping my first solo show in NYC. After researching the material, I found that bubble wrap was originally invented in 1957 as a modern form of wall covering; an experiment or product that failed. My first piece in the series (not shown), 'Fulfilling My Creator's Intended Purpose', is bubble wrap stretched over a stretcher and signed, paying homage to its original use and at the same time flipping its usage as protective covering for art into art itself."

Hart says that injecting the paint is somewhat of a science and, even though he's mastered it, it still takes him on average 150 hours for each painting. He also spends two to three days putting all of the paint into syringes. One of Hart's most famous paintings is of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Hart says that he injected over 16,000 bubbles and used 89 different colours just for this one portrait. The result is a pixielated looking picture:

Some more pics and a close up detail:

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Artist Mary Yim Kliauga paints on bubblewrap to create texture in her be111111autiful paintings:

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"Benjamin Franklin" (detail). Inkjet print on bubblewrap, 2011.

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Monday Miscellany

A couple of odds, ends and personals to start the week.

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Email from Byter Doug in response to the David Thorne posts:

Hi Otto,

Absolutely brilliant. After reading your earlier post, I purchased David's book and this was one of the very best. It's a genuine pleasure to read it once again.

Regards,

Doug

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Email from Byter Brett in response to the bubble wrap posts:

Years ago, I worked in a warehouse, and occasionally we would receive things wrapped in bubble wrap with large bubbles, about two inches across; we would lay it out on the floor and run over it with a fork lift.

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Email from Graham, he of the replaced hip:

If you ever testify in court, you might wish you could have been as sharp as this policeman 

He was being cross-examined by a defence attorney during a felony trial. The lawyer was trying to undermine the police officer's credibility..... 

Q: 'Officer --- did you see my client fleeing the scene?'

A: 'No, sir. But I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender, running several blocks away.'

Q: 'Officer, who provided this description?'

A: 'The officer who responded to the scene.'

Q: 'A fellow officer provided the description of this so-called offender. Do you trust your fellow officers?'

A: 'Yes, sir. With my life.'

Q: 'With your life? Let me ask you this then officer. Do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?'

A: 'Yes sir, we do!'

Q: 'And do you have a locker in the room?'

A: 'Yes, sir, I do.'

Q: 'And do you have a lock on your locker?'

A: 'Yes, sir.'

Q: 'Now, why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?'

A: 'You see, sir, we share the building with the court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room.' 

The courtroom EXPLODED with laughter, and a prompt recess was called. The officer on the stand has been nominated for this year's 'Best Comeback' line -- and we think he'll win.

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Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography 1970

Between 1942 and 1967 a Pulitzer Prize for Photography was awarded for photojournalism, that is, for photographs telling a news story. 

In 1968 that award was replaced by awards in two new categories:

• the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography (photography in the nature of breaking news);and
• the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography (human interest and matters associated with new items).

From 1955 World Press Photo has awarded prizes for the best photographs in 10 categories, with an overall award for the image that "... is not only the photojournalistic encapsulation of the year, but represents an issue, situation or event of great journalistic importance, and does so in a way that demonstrates an outstanding level of visual perception and creativity".

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World Press Photograph of the Year
Year:	1970
Photographer:	No award given
Photograph:

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Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography
Year:	1970
Photographer:	Steve Starr
Photograph:	“Campus Guns”

In 1969 men walked on the moon and people enjoyed 3 days of peace and music, as it was billed, at Woodstock. It was not, however, 3 days of peace at Willard Straight Hall, commonly known as The Straight, the student union building on the central campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The Straight housed student quarters, accommodation for visiting parents and guests, student union offices and a theatre.

1969 was a time when the university was involved in disciplining African-American students who had taken part in a protest, leading to other African-American students demanding amnesty for the students involved and for the establishment of an African-American Studies Centre.

The following events then took place:

· On 11 April 1969 at the beginning of Parents’ Week, a burning cross was discovered on the lawn outside Wari House, a co-operative for black women students.

· The next morning members of the Afro-American Society (AAS) began an occupation of The Straight and evicted the parents staying at the hall, the purpose being to protest the perceived racism of the university.

· White Delta Upsilon fraternity brothers entered The Straight and fought with the AAS before being ejected. 

· Fearing further attacks, the black students brought guns into the building to defend themselves.

· Members of the Students for a Democratic Society, a noted left wing and violent student group, formed a cordon around The Straight.

· Police deputies from Rochester, Syracuse and across New York state massed in downtown Ithaca. It was feared that, according to one officer there, George Taber, "Had they gotten the command to do so, they would have gone and taken the Straight back and arrested people, or who knows what would have happened. It could have made Kent State and Jackson State look like the teddy bear's picnic. It would have been just absolutely terrible." 

· Fortunately, following negotiations with Cornell officials, the AAS students emerged from the Straight carrying rifles and wearing bandoleers. That image was captured by Associated Press photographer Steve Starr in his Pulitzer Prize-winning photo above.

· The photo appeared in newspapers across the country and on the cover of Newsweek magazine under the headline, "Universities Under the Gun."

According to Wikipedia:

On campus, the Straight Takeover led to the formation of the University Senate, a restructuring of the Board of Trustees, a new campus judicial system, and the foundation of the Africana Studies and Research Center. By the end of the academic year, Cornell President James Perkins resigned. 

Beyond Cornell, the Straight Takeover led to the New York State Legislature enacting the Henderson Law, which required each college to adopt "Rules of the Maintenance of Public Order." Vice President Spiro Agnew referred to the Straight Takeover in speeches as an example of the excess of college students. Thomas Sowell [who was teaching at Cornell at the time Otto] would later refer to the takeover as the result of policies intended to "increase minority student enrolment... by admitting students who would not meet the existing academic standards at Cornell." In Sowell's opinion, some of the militants accepted "turned out to be hoodlums who terrorized other black students".

Related pics from the University website at:

http://africana.library.cornell.edu/collection/wstimages

Photographer Steve Starr died in 2012, aged 65. In later years he had covered the Chicago social scene. According to friend and fashion show producer Tracey Tarentino “He just had so much energy and passion. He’d say, ‘Look! Look! Look! It’s good!’ and then explain why you looked good to him,” He made you feel like for that minute you were making the camera magic. And his excitement showed in his subjects.”

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Robert Leroy Johnson

A muso would have to be good for Eric Clapton to call him “the most important blues singer who ever lived” and for others to refer to him as “the grandfather of Rock ‘n’ Roll”. That muso was Robert Leroy Johnson, the man who sold his soul to the Devil, originated the 27 Club and in between became one of the greatest blues performers of all time, influencing music and artists for all time afterwards.

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Early life:

Johnson was born in 1911 in Mississippi. Raised by his mother as Robert Spencer, he adopted his father’s family name, Johnson, after finishing school. He already played the harmonica and jaw harp. At age 18 he married 16 year old Virginia Travis, who died shortly afterward in childbirth. Relatives regarded this as divine punishment for Johnson’s singing secular songs, known as “selling your soul to the Devil”. It didn’t bother Johnson, who had resolved to forget being a farmer and husband and instead become a full time blues musician.

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The Crossroads Pact:

Much of Johnson’s short life is a mystery but most fans of early blues will know the story that Johnson sold his soul to the Devil at the Crossroads of Highways 49 and 61. Noted blues musician Son House, a contemporary of Johnson, recalled in later years that Johnson was a competent harmonica player but an embarrassingly bad guitarist. Not long afterwards Johnson disappeared for a few weeks in Clarksdale, Mississippi and came back an excellent guitar picker and player. Although he probably sought advice and instruction from other famed players, such as Isaiah “Ike” Zinnerman, it was believed by many that Johnson had traded his soul at the Crossroads in return for musical ability. Zinnerman was rumored to have learned supernaturally to play guitar by visiting graveyards at midnight. 

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From 1932 until his death in 1938, he was an itinerant musician with a weakness for whisky and women, busking on street corners for tips and donations. In this he was usually successful

According to fellow musician Johnny Shines:

"Robert was a very friendly person, even though he was sulky at times, you know. And I hung around Robert for quite a while. One evening he disappeared. He was kind of a peculiar fellow. Robert'd be standing up playing some place, playing like nobody's business. At about that time it was a hustle with him as well as a pleasure. And money'd be coming from all directions. But Robert'd just pick up and walk off and leave you standing there playing. And you wouldn't see Robert no more maybe in two or three weeks ... So Robert and I, we began journeying off. I was just, matter of fact, tagging along."

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Acclaim: 

The acclaim for Johnson's work is based on the 29 songs that he wrote and recorded in Dallas and San Antonio from 1936 to 1937. These include "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" and "Sweet Home Chicago," which has become a blues standard. His songs have been recorded by Muddy Waters, Elmore James, the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton.

Johnson's records sold poorly during his lifetime. It was only after the reissue of his recordings in 1961 on the LP King of the Delta Blues Singers that his work reached a wider audience. Johnson is now recognized as a master of the blues, particularly of the Mississipi Delta Blues style. He is credited by many rock musicians as an important influence; as noted earlier, Eric Clapton has called Johnson "the most important blues singer that ever lived." Johnson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame as an "Early Influence" in their first induction ceremony in 1986. 

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Johnson died in 1938, aged 27. The cause of his death is unknown but it is believed that he drank from a poisoned bottle of alcohol.

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More about the Crossroads Pact:

The legendary Crossroads at Clarkesville, Mississippi

From Wikipedia:

According to legend, as a young man living on a plantation in rural Mississippi, Robert Johnson was branded with a burning desire to become a great blues musician. He was "instructed" to take his guitar to a crossroad near Dockery Plantation at midnight. There he was met by a large black man (the Devil) who took the guitar and tuned it. The "Devil" played a few songs and then returned the guitar to Johnson, giving him mastery of the instrument. This was in effect, a deal with the Devil mirroring the legend of Faust. In exchange for his soul, Robert Johnson was able to create the blues for which he became famous.

One explanation is that Johnson learned from Zinnerman not for a few weeks but for a year and that they practised in graveyards where it was quiet.

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Some comments:

Eric Clapton:

"the most powerful cry that I think you can find in the human voice. ... The range of tone he can pack into a few lines is astonishing.”

Bob Dylan:

"When Johnson started singing, he seemed like a guy who could have sprung from the head of Zeus in full armor. I immediately differentiated between him and anyone else I had ever heard. The songs weren't customary blues songs. They were so utterly fluid. At first they went by quick, too quick to even get. They jumped all over the place in range and subject matter, short punchy verses that resulted in some panoramic story-fires of mankind blasting off the surface of this spinning piece of plastic."

Keith Richards:

"I was hearing two guitars, and it took a long time to actually realise he was doing it all by himself. ...Robert Johnson was like an orchestra all by himself."

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Some YouTube clips:

Kind Hearted Woman Blues (1936)

Johnson sings, and plays lead and rhythm guitar, together

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82yNxiF-T4A

Sweet Home Chicago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCHod3_yEWQ

I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4ZW08zOkYU

Me and the Devil Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MCHI23FTP8

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Funny Friday

Stating the obvious is not always funny, although others may find it so. The humour of Bill Cosby and Jerry Seinfeld are examples, I don't find their monologues that funny although Dave Allen monologues were wonderful. For the same reason not everyone will find the following bubble wrap items funny - is stating the truth funny?

I started thinking about bubble wrap after posting the cartoon last week about the bubble wrap in the operating theatre:

It turns out that I am not alone in my thoughts, and actions, about popping bubble wrap . . .

BTW #1:

Bubble wrap was invented in 1957 by engineers Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes in Hawthorne, NJ. Fielding and Chavannes sealed two shower curtains together, creating a smattering of air bubbles, which they originally tried to sell as wallpaper. When the product turned out to be unsuccessful as wallpaper, the team marketed it as greenhouse insulation. Although Bubble Wrap was branded by Sealed Air Corporation (founded by Fielding and Chavannes) in 1960, it was not until a year later that its use in protective packaging was discovered. As a packaging material, Bubble Wrap's first client was IBM, which used the product to protect the IBM 1401 computer during shipment. Fielding and Chavannes were inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame in 1993. Sealed Air celebrated Bubble Wrap's 50th birthday in January 2010.

BTW #2:

Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day is celebrated on the last Monday of January each year. The last Monday of January was designated as Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day after a radio station in Bloomington, Indiana received a shipment of microphones wrapped in bubble wrap, which, after being unwrapped and installed, inadvertently broadcast the sound of their wrappings being popped.

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Plus a couple of non bubble wrap items for my father in law to take to his friends in the plaza at Woden . . .

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Joe says to Paddy “Close your curtains the next time you’re making love to your wife. The whole street was watching and laughing at you yesterday.” Paddy says “Well, the joke’s on them because I wasn’t even home yesterday.”

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Four Catholic men and a Catholic woman were having coffee after Mass.

The first Catholic man tells his friends, “My son is a priest, when he walks into a room, everyone calls him ‘Father’.” 

The second Catholic man chirps, “My son is a Bishop, when he walks into a room people call him ‘Your Grace’.” 

The third Catholic man says, “My son is a Cardinal. When he enters a room everyone says ‘Your Eminence’.” 

The fourth Catholic man says, “My son is the Pope. When he walks into a room people call him ‘Your Holiness’.” 

Since the lone Catholic woman was sipping her coffee in silence, the four men gave her a look and said, “Well….?” 

She proudly replies, “I have a daughter, slim, tall, 38 Double D breasts, 24″ waist, and 34″ hips. When she walks into a room, people say, “Oh My God.”

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Corn Corner:

I asked the boss "Where do you want this 100 metre roll of bubble wrap?"

"Just pop it in the corner he said..."

Its nearly 5.00pm and I’m still going !!!

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David Thorne and Missy

Remember David Thorne, who tried to pay a bill with a drawing of a spider? Here is another of his email exchanges . . . 

From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Poster

Hi

I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.

This is the only photo of her I have she answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. missing on Harper street and my phone number.

Thanks Shan.

From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

That is shocking news. Luckily I was sitting down when I read your email and not half way up a ladder or tree. How are you holding up? I am surprised you managed to attend work at all what with thinking about Missy out there cold, frightened and alone... possibly lying on the side of the road, her back legs squashed by a vehicle, calling out "Shannon, where are you?"

Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Poster

yeah ok thanks. I know you don’t like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.

From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

I never said I don't like cats. Once, having been invited to a party, I went clothes shopping beforehand and bought a pair of expensive G-Star boots. They were two sizes too small but I wanted them so badly I figured I could just wear them without socks and cut my toenails very short. As the party was only a few blocks from my place, I decided to walk. After the first block, I lost all feeling in my feet. Arriving at the party, I stumbled into a guy named Steven, spilling Malibu & coke onto his white Wham 'Choose Life' t-shirt, and he punched me. An hour or so after the incident, Steven sat down in a chair already occupied by a cat. The surprised cat clawed and snarled causing Steven to leap out of the chair, slip on a rug and strike his forehead onto the corner of a speaker; resulting in a two inch open gash. In its shock, the cat also defecated, leaving Steven with a wet brown stain down the back of his beige cargo pants. I liked that cat.

Attached poster as requested.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah thats not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?

From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Thats just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please. Thanks.

From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

Having worked with designers for a few years now, I would have assumed you understood, despite our vague suggestions otherwise, we do not welcome constructive criticism. I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window. I am willing to overlook this faux pas due to you no doubt being preoccupied with thoughts of Missy attempting to make her way home across busy intersections or being trapped in a drain as it slowly fills with water. I spent three days down a well once but that was just for fun.

I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing missy off it? I just want it to say lost.

From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.14am

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name. Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you. Thanks.

From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Awww

Dear Shannon,

I don't have a cat. I once agreed to look after a friend's cat for a week but after he dropped it off at my apartment and explained the concept of kitty litter, I kept the cat in a closed cardboard box in the shed and forgot about it. If I wanted to feed something and clean faeces, I wouldn't have put my mother in that home after her stroke. A week later, when my friend came to collect his cat, I pretended that I was not home and mailed the box to him. Apparently I failed to put enough stamps on the package and he had to collect it from the post office and pay eighteen dollars. He still goes on about that sometimes, people need to learn to let go.

I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Awww

Thats not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.

From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Re: Re: Awww

I know, but that one is cute. As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says "I haven't seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car, do you want it?" you can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.

I knew someone who had a basset hound that had its hind legs removed after an accident and it had to walk around with one of those little buggies with wheels. If it had been my dog I would have asked for all its legs to be removed and replaced with wheels and had a remote control installed. I could charge neighbourhood kids for rides and enter it in races. If I did the same with a horse I could drive it to work. I would call it Steven.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Please just use the photo I gave you.

From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.34pm

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

I didnt say there was a reward. I dont have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit. Thanks Shan.

From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.

From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Fine. That will have to do.

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