Short Film: Neighborhoods

The process of moving has sparked many thoughts about travel and home for me in the last few weeks. I've moved out of my college apartment (home for the last three years), travelled to my childhood home (just before Christmas), to Nate's childhood home (for the wedding), to a whole new place (Kauai), back to Nate's apartment (a temporary home), and finally, hopefully, on Friday we'll be moving into our new apartment, our first home together. All of this travelling has provided all sorts of contrasts in the last few weeks. And such contrasts are precisely why I love this little double-projection film, "Neighborhoods":

Two contrary places that are connected by stylistic features. It is about the metropolis New York City (USA)
and the provincial Dessau (GER). Based on the topic "neighborhood", the films about the both cities are shown in a double projection. This short film was created in the framework of the cooperation between the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences,
Department of Design Dessau, and the NYU.
Supervised by Prof. Rochus Hartmann (Dessau)
Supported by Prof. Angela Zumpe (Dessau) and Prof. Mechthild Schmidt (NYC)
Idea/realization: Saskia Kretzschmann & Vera Danilina
Music: Johnny Ripper "In A Dream"

Lanikai

If you've been reading for a while, you might remember the pictures from the hike I took up to Lanikai Pillboxes with Nate and a couple of his friends. Since I loved the hike so much and since we had friends with us who had never seen a sunrise in Hawaii, we decided the hike was a must-do activity while we were on Oahu. 

The weather that morning was wet, misty, and overall uncooperative. Rain soaked the trail, rendering it a slippery, muddy, mess that could only be navigated with the help of ropes strung along some small trees by some helpful prior traveler. We scrambled up the hillside to be greeted with a view of mist, mist, and more mist. 

The water was still a lovely crystalline blue, and a few small islands could be glimpsed through the white mist, presenting a pretty, if not astounding, picture. We snapped a few photos, trying to make the best of it.

But just before we turned to make the treacherous slide back down the muddy mountainside, the sun began to illuminate the clouds.

The mist rolled back.

And the sun broke through.

And we were treated an array of pure, awe-inspiring light. 

After a brief break in the clouds, the mist rolled back in, and soft rain began to fall.

We ran and slid back through the mud, giddy and soaked, glad for a brief blessing at dawn.

Happy Returns and a New Year

 Morning Light over Lanikai Pillboxes, Oahu, Hawaii

I'm back! Nate and I landed in Phoenix on a red-eye flight from Honolulu at eight o'clock yesterday morning and drove down to Tucson just in time for me to make my first class of the week. Since then it's felt a bit like we've been thrown into the deep end- classes have started, work is making daily demands again, schedules need adjusting, homework has begun to pile up, the thesis is still waiting, one more reception begs for our attention, and on top of it all we're moving to a new apartment this weekend. It's still a crazy sort of time of change and new beginnings.

First of all- we're married! It's been ten days since the wedding and I'm still not sure it's hit me yet. We're still in the early, gawky stages of combining all our earthly possessions and figuring out how two schedules will fit together and how two apartments worth of stuff will somehow coalesce into one new home. At the same time, we're just beginning to peek ahead at where this year might take us- beyond the next six months (and my graduation), we have no clear idea of where exactly we're headed, but we're eagerly awaiting the next adventure. 

In the next few months I look forward to processing it all- the wedding, marriage, living life together with another person, finishing school, planning for the future- and this will be one of those spaces where I process. I'm hoping to add in some serious discussions that arise from my area of expertise- questions of politics, inequality, conflicts, and ethnic relations- from time to time. And on the lighter side, I have a new apartment to decorate, new pictures to share, new recipes to try, and new music to explore. In short, I have all sorts of new content that I am incredibly excited to share with all of you, and I hope you'll join me in this new year.

photo by Kara Haberstock, 2013, all rights reserved

Gift Guide: For Him

This is a little late, but I thought I'd post it anyways in case anyone is stumped. My house is currently full of boxes, and everything is in a state of disarray. I'm moving on Thursday, before going to Phoenix this weekend for Christmas with my parents, then leaving for Hawaii shortly thereafter. (I'm getting married in two and a half weeks!) Life is a little crazy right now, so I apologize if posting is spotty. I'll try my best to sneak in a few more posts before the holiday.

1. Ansel Automatic Watch, $195 2. Dude No. 1 Candle, $48 3. Burning Barbershop Cologne, $102  

4. Bicycle Silver Edition Poker Cards, $5 5. Sage Soap, $7 6. Ceramic Soap Dish, $20

7. Art in the Age Spirits**, $40-48 8. Hella Bitters, $20 9. Whiskey Disks, $30 

10. Bourbon Maple Syrup, $35 11. Tovolo Perfect Cube Tray, $11 12. Oatmeal Stout Homebrew Kit, $19

**These are awesome: made in small batches by an artisan collective, based on the recipes of early American settlers, with all natural ingredients, and absolutely delicious. We have Root and we love it- it  tastes like root beer (but better)!

13. Herschel Rucksack-style Backpack, $85 14. Wood Slingshot, $21 15. Green Camp Blanket with Carrier, $98 

16. Feuerhand Lantern, $42 17. Tiffin Carrier, $30  18. SOG Flash I Knife, $45

19. Blackwing Writing Pencil Set, $20 20. Stendig Wall Calendar, $35 21. Conceal Bookshelf, $13-35 

22. High Noon Clock, $24 23. Globo Mirror, $40 24. Bottle Opener and Resealer, $9

Hey, It's Christmas!

Christmas is almost here, which means that the holiday music season is in full swing. And the third volume of Hey, It's Christmas is out! Hey, It's Christmas is a collaboration between a bunch of indie artists to cover holiday classics. Some of the renditions are absolutely breath-taking, some are lots of fun, and few are lovably weird. And, best of all, you can download the album for free (though they do take donations)! Click over to their site for the download.

P.S. You can still get Volume One and Volume Two

Short Film: В лесу родилась ёлочка (The Forest Raised a Christmas Tree)

I have a delightful Soviet cartoon for you today. "В лесу родилась ёлочка" is probably my favorite Russian holiday song, and this little cartoon makes it even better. For the non-Russian speakers, I've included a translation of the song under the video. Basically, every night at midnight in the artist's studio, all of the pictures come to life, and on this night they decide to watch a movie together. It's quite a fun little holiday cartoon.

Fun Fact: Even though the song translates "ёлочка" as a "Christmas tree," it would be more accurate to call it a "New Year's tree." New Year's (Новый год) is a much more significant holiday in Russia than it is in the US, and most people decorate New Year's trees rather than Christmas trees. 

Made in 1972

English Lyrics:

The forest raised a Christmas tree, 

‘Twas silent and serene 

In winter and in summer 

It was slender and so green. 

The wind sang it a lullaby: 

Sleep Christmas tree, sleep tight! 

The snow was making clothes for it:

 It was a pretty sight! 

A trembling bunny put himself 

Beneath its arms so wide; 

The hungry wolf just passed him by - 

A lovely place to hide! 

Some sleigh bells rang throughout the woods,

 The snow was crisp and clean, 

A horsey brought a forester 

To hew that tree so green. 

And now it comes to visit us, 

With lights and garlands bright, 

While all the children dance and sing

 To greet it with delight!

(Translation by Arthur Durando and Irina Popov)

Apologies...

I am currently buried in a bunch of books regarding Islamic discourse in Chechnya and will not escape until this term paper is finished. Hopefully it will be soon... 

A Song for Sunday: Jenny O.

After spending well over eight years in a variety of performing art groups where preparation for Christmas performances begin in August, I would say I'm more familiar with Christmas music than any one person should be. (Calculating that one should listen to Christmas music approximately one month a year, I've had enough exposure to last me at least forty years.) There are still some songs that are old favorites that I don't mind listening to a few times, some that have been so imbued with memories that they probably (hopefully) can't get too overplayed. But every so often I make my favorite sort of holiday find, a new, unfamiliar song that still captures that worn, familiar warmth of the holiday season. "Get Down for the Holidays" by Jenny O. is one of those songs.

"Get Down for the Holidays" by Jenny O.

Gift Guide: Wordy

Words are wondrous, wily creatures, waiting to be crafted and spun into winding webs of meaning, whispered in quiet, clouded corners, or cried out across the din... and writing is a beautiful struggle with these elements. These are a few of my favorite selections for those that appreciate the written word, from quotes for the wall to good journals for a jotted thought and pretty notes to be sent with love:

1. Make Bacon Print, $20 2. Louisa May Alcott Print, $18 3. Reading is Cool Print, $20

4. J.R.R. Tolkien Print, $24  5. Abraham Lincoln Print, $25 6. Left My Heart Print, $32

7. Speech Bubble Notebooks, $6 8. 2013 Cities Calendar, $26 9. The Hobbit Moleskine Notebook, $22

10. 2013 Vintage Camera Calendar, $25 11. Floral Leather-bound Notebook, $25  12. 2013 Fortune Cookie Wisdom Calendar, $20  

13. Handmade Gingko Notecards, $12 14. Letterpress Notecards, $16 15. Beautiful Postcard, $3 

16. Animal Thank You Cards, $18 17. Technicolor Cards, $8 18. Wildflower Thank You Postcards, $10

19. Feliz Navidad, $5 20. Typographic Nativity Card, $4 (or 6 for $10) 21. Brilliant New Year (10), $13

22. Noel Postcard, $10  23. Holiday Critters (10), $14 24. Be Merry, $7

Happy Friday!

Sugar Cookies by Heather Baird

It's finally the weekend! I have one term paper written, but another paper still need to be finished, along with a fellowship application to submit and a Russian final to study for (eeps!). So I know what I will be doing this weekend. However, I hope that you have more fun plans for your first December weekend. Perhaps some Christmas shopping or decorating? It's finally that festive season yet again...

A lovely (free!) December calendar

An classy chalkboard advent calendar

Black and white Christmas decorations?

All sorts of lovely December giveaways

Classrooms around the world

Make a snowflake Christmas tree centerpiece!

Pretty (and tasty) asian pear tartlets

Anthology's wonderful holiday gift guide

DIY terrarium kits

Grow your own mushrooms! 

(I know I put this in the gift guide...but it's so AWESOME!)

The history of peanut butter

The holiday talk

Have a wonderful weekend!

Short Film: How to Sweep

One of three films in a trilogy on "Energies and Skills," "How to Sweep" provides a dramatic and artful take on the mundane:

Directed by Van Neistat, 2012. Watch the other two movies from the "Energies and Skills" trilogy:
Love Letter to Plywood: https://vimeo.com/44947985
Space Camp: https://vimeo.com/44954870

Produced on the occasion of Tom Sachs' Space Program: MARS
http://www.tomsachsmars.com

Inspired: Alice Pasquini

Alice Pasquini's urban art is bold, bright, and stunning. A splash of color in acrylic and spray paint on a grey wall in the midst of a bustling city catches the eye and brings life to a space that was empty before. The scale, depth, and detail of her work speaks to her talent in capturing emotion and evoking feeling in the audience of the everyday viewer, who might catch a glimpse of a portrait on a daily commute, trip to the store, or walk around the block. Pasquini writes: 

"I create art about people and their relationships, I'm interested in representing human feelings and exploring different points of view. I especially like to depict strong and independant women"

Here are a few of my favorite pieces from her work:

All images belong to Alice Pasquini

Gift Guide: Tasty

Cooking and I get along quite well (much more so than the dishes and I). I love experimenting and playing around with different flavors and foods and ways of cooking to see what I can come up with. As such, I get quite excited about kitchen stuff, and I had lots of fun putting this collection together. Here are some of my favorite kitchen and food finds around the web:

1. Hedgehog Measuring Cups, $36 2. Mini Ramekins, $3 each*  3. Deep Sea Diver Tea Infuser, $15  

4. Kebaya Mug, $12  5. Olive Wood Cheese Board, $24  6. Latte Bowls, $30
*I have a bunch of these and I LOVE them!

7. Adesso Carafe, $55 8. Bourbon Sugar Set, $40  9. Lindeman's Framboise Belgian Lambic, $5 

10. El Vergel Coffee, $13  11. Chemex Coffee Maker, $35-43 12. Foxy Tea Cozy, $16

13. Gourmet Salts, $18 14. DIY Mushroom Garden, $20 15. Williams and Sonoma Hot Chocolate, $20 

16. Roasted Garlic Olive Oil, $19 17. International Spice Blends, $15 18. Mango Key Lime Salsa, $15

19. Minimalist Nesting Bowls, $70 20. Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, $20 21. Cast Iron Tea Pot, $70 

22. Sprouted Kitchen Cookbook, $15  23. Creamer and Sugar Bowl, $34 24. Rain Cloud Linen Tea Towel, $17

A Song for Sunday: Metric

Love Metric. Love this video. Love NPR too. All of this is pretty great.

See more Field Recordings at: http://www.npr.org/series/144918893/field-recordings 
In a matter of minutes, Metric singer Emily Haines and guitarist James Shaw went from rocking in front of thousands of fans on the main stage of the Sasquatch Music Festival to hiking through a rumored thicket of rattlesnakes overlooking the Columbia River. The duo gamely made the trek for an acoustic performance of "Synthetica," the title track from Metric's new record. Stripped of an electric guitar and moody reverb, Haines and Shaw performed a version of the song pretty enough to challenge the sweeping sunset behind them. There couldn't have been a more appropriate backdrop for Haines' refrain, "Hey, I'm not synthetica." 
Credits Producers: Mito Habe-Evans and Saidah Blount; Videographers: Jim Beckmann, Mito Habe-Evans and Scott Holpainen; Sound engineers: Matt Ogaz and Kevin Wait; Special thanks to Sasquatch Music Festival and Live Nation