photo essays, stitched panorama, and other (often analog) photo-centric projects
Time traveling to sometime between the wars in a basement bar somewhere in France (or maybe more recently in Kyoto in a former newspaper office).
Or maybe this was the time, time traveling to another time not traveled to (yet).
Either way, creating artifacts for evidence of appearance, secret or otherwise – after all, who’s to say?
Tidying up the artifacts, as such, here is a subset of paintings at Tsuchida Cottage and/or Giggling Piglet Studio and Consulate or, in one case, a painting which is still in Vancouver. Joins other paintings by Noriko Miyake, Michal Korman, Vincent Gornall and others.
“Stake my future on a hell of a past
Looks like tomorrow is coming on fast
Ain’t complaining ’bout what I got
Seen better times, but who has not?Silvio
R. Hunter, B. Dylan
Silver and gold
Won’t buy back the beat of a heart grown cold
Silvio
I gotta go
Find out something only… {snip’d}”
Your Olson pals at Ginkaku-ji, Kyoto (wiki / map / inside kyoto) on a trip in April 2022.
Blurb: Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺, lit. “Temple of the Silver Pavilion”), officially named Jishō-ji (慈照寺, lit. “Temple of Shining Mercy”), is a Zen temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto, Japan. It is one of the constructions that represents the Higashiyama Culture of the Muromachi period.
Note: I might start making this year’s festive holiday cards just because there is a great photo (taken by a stranger on an iPhone 5) *except i look a little bit chubby, Ichiro just woke up, Ryoko is perfect.
Oh no, oh yes! More vinyl arrived!
A new stash of Japanese pressings of (mostly) early Bob Dylan, plus the obligatory “live at the Budokan” also Ornette Coleman, a Woody Guthrie tribute, Syd Barrett “wouldn’t you miss me?” CD & something called “Zion train presents Natural wonders of the world”.
Quick/lousy photos of exceptional albums, all in wonderful condition, beautifully packaged and all around $15 each, or less from Deadstock records who also included a very nice note and a link to his interview on Discogs.
Dylan stash includes an “live at the Budokan” because it seems it was a certain rite of passage for artists of a generation. I’m curious to look up how many recorded there (BTO, Cheap Trick are also in the collection) but I’m gonna leave that rabbit hole to someone else.
Dropping needle on the vintage Bob, hearing songs I’ve heard hundreds of times – but in completely different renditions/artist/jams/live (especially by The Byrds, The Band and Grateful Dead) – can imagine the excitement as his expressionalist poetics & choogling all-out-highway riffs burst through the speakers in an otherwise Perry Como world. In context, the words & music feels quite different than all the various compilations, box sets, “best ofs…”.
Note: have a load more new (used) vinyl recently but generally don’t bother to snap and report but eventually (maybe) will catch-up on that topic, in the meanwhile…
Items, (not) forgotten: Grey glen-plaid pyjamas with black piping plus fierce tiger-inspired smoking jacket/robe.
Left in Little Bay, Westmoreland, Jamaica.
Note (at the time, June 17, 2014): “As always, choosing which smoking jacket to take is always the hardest part of packing. I think I’ve decided on one though and which set of pajamas to take too. So you can cross that off your list.”
Jackpot! I’m not gonna bother with any kind of explanation about this photo any further (except this was between a Grateful Dead show and a wedding – in between there were hot springs, at least 1 911 call, dodgy taxis, a few conundrums, and hi-jinks galore). i mean keep it classy fellas, this *is* Vegas after all.
Note: not available as an NFT or signed glossy prints at this time :) Fanny packs mandatory.
Do you ever send postcards to yourself? It’s a really good idea.
You can remember bits and pieces of your travel along the way and when you return, you have memories ready made for archiving in a scrapbook, shoebox or other collage.
Anyhow, i do. In this instance from Kyoto Gion Post Office, sending several cards – including to myself – as well as buying a few commemorative postcards and special stamps.
Also in this case, ensuring the franking cancellation from this historic location was a curiosity.
I bought Kevin Kelly’s massive Asia photo book series through a crowd-funding-dealio >> [intro at his website] arrived recently and it’s massive, colossal, dense, fascinating, (literally) heavy series – 3 volumes packed in a slip case, plus I got a signed artist proof )carefully flattening now).
Such an interesting layout as (for example) there is a whole page spread of nothing but doors, and another nothing but spires, and another of nothing but women’s faces and so on. Such attention to detail with maps in flyleaf and all sorts of maximalist nuance.
(I took photos of “unboxing“ but heaven help me if I remember where they all are… Drowning in data, but it’s all so wonderful)
[Update: Found the snapshots, here we go!]
You can still get one for yourself, not *cheap* but very worth it as this is an Asia which is very different (coming from a guy – me – who has rambled alot of these places):
Continue reading Item: Kevin Kelly’s (massive) Vanishing Asia photo book + bonus adviceToday my 50-year passion project goes on sale on Amazon. The 1,000-page Vanishing Asia is a bargain at $270 with free shipping. Ask anyone who has seen it. You’ll enjoy the long trip.
https://amzn.to/3sVRMgz (no affiliate code)
In “honour of“ Sex Pistols bio flick directed by Danny Boyle coming out on Disney+ (without the “blessing” of Johnny Rotten), may I present:
Me [R] in 1984 at a Surrey, BC, Canada church air band contest performing Sex Pistols’ Anarchy & God Save the Q with:
{C/Would’ve actually been a really good band ha ha}
We had a strobe light, some real drums & mic, cut guitars with a jigsaw out of real estate sign plywood >> spray painted and then smashed, kicked in the bass drum (made from a laundry basket obv), wore Vans & cut up jackets + tiger prints – did take the time to edit out a couple of the curse words #goodboy.
We did not win/
PS became a Clash fan
PPS Used this photo in an issue of VOM fanzine as a concert review calling the band the “Ultimate Trendies”
Brother Dan notes: I thought the guitars you smashed were styrofoam. Like you had a 2nd set you swapped to at the end. I was there but didn’t make the photo…
Reply: You might be correct brother… If that’s the case, I wish I still had those plywood guitars, they were pretty sweet
