Worthy: 2

In June I had the opportunity to travel to Poland (and briefly to Berlin) for a printmaking exchange with students at the Art Academies in Poznań and Wrocław. It was not an especially productive trip in terms of making work, but it was profoundly inspiring in terms of art heroes. In addition to the hyper-talented students with whom we stayed (among them Ania Czuż, Agata Gertchen, and Marcin Szewczyk...with more coming to visit Knoxville this fall) we were fortunate enough to visit the printshop wonderland of Keystone Editions in Berlin.

Keystone Editions is the print home of Sarah Dudley und Ulrich Kühle, two Tamarind-trained printers who wandered the (printmedia) globe gleaning tips and tricks for setting up a functioning printshop. Their travels and observations have paid off, in addition to good light and exciting editions, Keystone has some damn fine feng shui. It made me wish I had a couple more years of school left so I could come intern with them and live in Berlin...

So here, I salute the worthy and well-planned efforts of Printmakers Sarah Dudley und Ulrich Kühle. Long may they and Keystone Editions live. And if you're heading to Berlin (or have deep pockets to purchase art) look them up here.

Worthy: 1

I've been admittedly slack about ye olde bloggery, but I don't think anyone is losing sleep over it. Onward and upward and outward now.

In honor of getting back in the game and things that are great (summer, swimming, reading, the public library, etc.) I bring you People Worthy of Praise, No. 1 (of many?), Molly Adams.




























I met Molly in college and soon recognized her superior style, intellect, and ability to put-an-assclown-in-his-or-her-place. She now produces radio for Vocalo.org in Chicago and maintains and maddeningly interesting tumblr feed. Seems like every time I go there all I want to to is reiterate and repost the interesting stuff she's found. I especially appreciate her for keeping me updated on contemporary feminism.

So there you are, Molly Adams, worthy of praise. Alright now.

Treading Water

What next? What next?

Oh this?


Ok.

Camera, Camera

I am traveling in Poland now. It is on the whole more similar than it is different, but I find myself seeking out and photographing the details that are "foreign" to me. Neither my traveling companion nor I speak Polish. It is frustrating and a little hollow not to interact with anyone but the young and educated, although we have been profoundly grateful to the young Polish folks who translate between us and, say, the train conductors.

There is something consumptive about being a tourists and I haven't quite figured out how to own it well. We have only a month, which will end soon, and then we return to the US with anecdotes and photos. On that subject of photos and the tourists who take them, I present Camera, Camera a film by my talented friend Malcolm Murray. This is only a trailer, you'll have to attend the LA Film Festival in mid-June to see the world premier, but even this small bit hints at the way the camera facilitates and distorts our consumption of foreign culture. If you're in LA, or know a film or travel buff there, encourage them to make a point of seeing Camera, Camera.

CAMERA, CAMERA - Trailer from malcolm murray on Vimeo.

Cześć

I'll be posting photos here for a while. Also, if you're on the skype, give me a ring at kt.ries. English feels good like a hot shower or a rich meal.

Over and out.

Leaving Home

Every time I prepare to leave a place, my nostalgia for it spurts out of control. Right now, as I prepare to head to Poland for a month, I am especially infatuated with Knoxville and the people here.

In addition to viewing my home and life through rose colored glasses, our damn sweet dog was almost squashed flat by a car today. I had a swift vision of puppy guts and blood, but she was not hit and emerged with only a broken harness to show for the event.

Lord, increase my bewilderment.

The First Land Scouts

Although there have been many who signed on with the Urban Land Scouts, this young person and his mother were the first to send in photo documentation of their scouting.

I am thrilled both to see the second phase of this project start, and to see all the spring plants blooming in the woods around them. You can see more photos at urbanlandscouts.com.