Even Blogger has turned Norwegian! Thankfully guessed "Logg på" meant "Log in"

Went to Prague last week with 7 others from UiO. We were there from Wednesday until Sunday. We did a lot, saw even more.... I should just let the photographs speak for themselves.

One day with a little rain; the mist over Praha!

Atop the castle hill, not looking down but back at myself.

Turistas!

The world-famous, 600-year-old astronomical clock in Old Town Square.

Interesting facade

Bottom part of the astronomical clock (added in the 1800s). Contains the traditional signs of the zodiac surrounded by a ring of circles representing the months of the year (depict harvest activities) enclosed by an outer circle with 365 names. A marker at the top indicates the day.
At a picnic on the banks of the Vltava river we celebrated the name day of our new French friend, Christopher. He randomly joined our group on the way to our impromptu picnic, and we were all glad he did as he sang us cute french songs.

The clock counts as one of the oldest still-functioning machines. These sculptures, added around 1490, perform an interesting little play every hour. The skeleton (death) rings his bell and nods his head while Vanity, Greed and the pagan Turk shake their heads "no!"

A viewing bubble above the city.

Prague castle in the distance.

13th Century Old New Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. Clock in Hebrew, read backwards, on building behind.

Franz Kafka riding the shoulders of a headless giant through the streets of his home-town, as described in his short story "A Dream."

The House of the Black Madonna - Cubist building, architectural novelty.

Oslo!

Norway is fantastic! I have been so busy since my arrival on Monday evening it's been impossible to sit down and blog a bit. However, to make good on my promise to my hundreds of glowing fans (hahaha), I'll give a brief run-down of what's been going on... IN OUTLINE FORMAT!

I. Flight
A. Next day arrival, delay, taxi
II. Too many bags
A. My parents = porters?
i. They were great :)
III. Housing
A. Shortages
B. Electricity issues
i. Note to self: Do not plug US 60Hz surge protector into 50Hz outlet. EXPLOSIVE noises and fumes will occur!
C. Dynne: [Norwegian] –noun, a usually down-filled quilt, often with a removable cover; comforter.
D. Roommate
i. Very nice and clean Bosnian/Croatian guy; IT major
IV. Administrative
A. 5 billion log-ins for different accounts at school, new bank, etc etc... EVERYTHING here is computer/internet-based. Nobody writes personal checks anymore!
B. Police station odyssey
i. Had to arrive at 7am for an 8:30 opening at the police station to have residence permit stamped into my passport. But it was kind of worth it... I mean, it's a really cool stamp! haha It's got my picture and holograms - verrrry official!
C. "Take a numbers" everywhere... I mean, EVERYWHERE... you know? Numbers like you get at the deli counter? But you take them to talk to people at the phone store, the Trafikanten (Central Oslo metro station spot to get monthly student passes for the "T-Bane" - Norwegian metro)
V. Fun
A. Vigelands Park experience (sublime: temperature, breeze, weather, park, art, hot air balloons floating about...)



B. Transportation
i. T-Bane
> Stops running around 12:30, though the clubs stay open until 2. So one night after a party organized by the school, I had to hitch a ride with another international student with a couple of wonderfully kind Norwegian boys who were waiting to pick up their girlfriends later in the night. What luck!!!!
ii. (MY NEW) Bicycle named "Begerka!!!!" ("Boogie" for short)
> Graciously donated for FREE by my administrative advisor at school. It's a Diamant - Norwegian brand 15 speed with a back rack :)
iii. Ferry - Super cool way to get from Oslo city out to the peninsula Bygdøy, where several museums are located.
C. IKEA adventures
i. Huge, just like in the US... and comparable prices!
D. Buddy groups
i. Orientation groups assigned by the school. Though three of us who met on the first day have been trading off and attending each others' buddy group activities, depending on which events most tickle our fancy!


Now off to unpacking and meeting up with some other Fulbrighters and my new Australian friends for some drinks at a football (soccer) pub.

Another work of ...art?

Need to start making some mail art. Will create and send, even if from Norway!

New do-do's

Ecological Issues Series
2009

Colony Collapse Disorder

Acrylic and newspaper on canvas

Factory Farming
Acrylic on canvas

Invasive Species
Acrylic and ink on canvas

Ecological Footprint
Acrylic on canvas

New Hampshire H-towns

new projects

A day ago I found myself lamenting what seemed to be a creative lull in my life lately. Increased productivity, decreased creativity. To be fair, it is almost impossible for me to evaluate any given period of time in my life for its value (creative, productive, or otherwise) until much later. However, since my feeling of the current moment is all I really have to go on for determining truth in the matter, I decided to try to take advantage of this increased impulse for productivity that I am feeling and make some stuff.
One project is a secret. It's out there on the web, but I can't tell you where it is or how to find it. Yes, a mystery. Go ahead and try to solve that one if you have the time.
So I have been investing more time on this venture... along with trying to relearn the drums, working, preparing for Norway, using up some old photo paper, attending drawing sessions and saving the world. Blah blah blah. The truth is this piece is pretty sub-par in my opinion, and I did not spend any time on it at all. It is intended to be the unimpressive prototype for a visual poetry project. As words come to me I will google them and use a screenshot of the first page's results. Then I will combine them digitally and present to you, oh my viewers, a finished work of ART. or dada. You decide. But don't tell me, I want to be surprised. Just write a letter and let me know what you think. But I can't tell you my address, because that is a mystery.

lines and planes in [cyber]space