Colum McCann On The Radical Act Of Storytelling

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Prizewinning novelist Colum McCann on THE PAUL HOLDENGRABER SHOW

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.

Is "Texts From Hillary" Art?

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Surely by now you’ve seen Texts From Hillary. Most times amusing and at times hilariously satirical, the tumblr became a meme and was retired within a week. I’ll let the creators explain why: 

It’s been an overwhelming—and hilarious—week for us here at Texts from Hillary (TFH). What started as a joke at the bar between two friends turned into a national conversation about Secretary Clinton and went as far as talks about 2016.

After a week that included 32 posts, 83,000 shares on Facebook, 8,400 Twitter followers, over 45K Tumblr followers, news stories around the world, Renee Montagne from Morning Edition saying “ROFL,” a Maureen Dowd column, and a tweet from ?uest Love, we think it’s time to stop while we are ahead.

As far as memes go – it has gone as far as it can go. Is it really possible to top a submission from the Secretary herself? No. But then when you get to text with her in real life – it’s just over. At least for us. But we have no doubt it will live on with all of you on the Internet.

The site will stay up but we won’t be posting anything new here. You can follow us on Twitter (@ASmith83, @Sllambe) and Tumblr (Stacy at ImWithKanye and Adam’s work account,Public Campaign Action Fund).

Thanks for all the LOLz. We truly appreciate all the support.

It turns out that memes really do come true.

-Stacy and Adam

Taking all those facts in consideration one question remains. Is Texts From Hillary art?

Presenting arguments for and against is the latest episode of PBS Idea Channel. 

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.

Tattoos: Pop Portraits, Japanese Traditional, American Eclectic

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It seems that no matter how far we advance into the digital age, our bodies remain a place where we want to express ourselves. In this episode, we talk to three tattoo artists of differing styles.

Continuing the great episodes from PBS Off Book here is their exploration of the world of tattoos. 

It seems that no matter how far we advance into the digital age, our bodies remain a place where we want to express ourselves. In this episode, they talk to three tattoo artists of differing styles. Vinny Romanelli embraces pop culture, tattooing detailed portraits of entertainment idols, Kiku works with the traditional Japanese form, and Stephanie Tamez embodies an eclectic mix of influences, with the occasional use of nice typography. 
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Previously:

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.

On Conducting, Motion Capture And The Maestro's Mojo

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One of my closest friends is a conductor. I’ve had the opportunity to watch him prepare for concerts, studying the score and making artistic sense of the musical notations on the page, often through much repetition. Watching a conductor lead an orchestra probably looks ethereal if one doesn’t consider all the preparation that goes into doing such a thing. 

Recently The New York Times set out to study how conductors do what they do.  

So in an attempt to understand what is going on, we interviewed seven conductors as they passed through New York in recent seasons with an eye to breaking them down into body parts — like that poster in the butcher shop with dotted lines to show the different cuts of meat — left hand, right hand, face, eyes, lungs and, most elusive, brain.

The conductor’s fundamental goal is to bring a written score to life, through study, personality and musical formation. But he or she makes music’s meaning clear through body motion.

In addition they had Alan Gilbert, music director of the New York Philharmonic, demonstrate and discuss the role of a conductor while having all his motions captured for analysis. You can view the resulting “Connecting Music and Gesture” here.  

Below is a behind the scenes showing how the motion capture took place. 

In the end it must be remembered that the art of conducting is more than just semaphore. It is a two-step between body and soul, between physical gesture and musical personality. The greatest technician can produce flabby performances. The most inscrutable stick waver can produce transcendence.

(via The Maestro’s Mojo by Daniel J. Wakin, NYTimes.com)

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.

An Invocation for Beginnings. Turning the dial from 0 to 1. Ze Frank Is Back!

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I believe that is the first time I’ve used an ! on a title. I’m not a fan of the over use of !. But this ! is well earned, cause damn it Ze Frank is back. I must have known, in the back of my mind, that he was coming back today, cause over the weekend I could not stop thinking about his old shows, my favorites like long lost friends. I am surprised at how much I missed his verbosity. 

So, do as the man says, and start something. 

posters of the text and FILDI shirts : http://store.zefrank.com/ http://ashow.zefrank.com

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.