update – American Second Wave Feminism

Burning Bra 2008 by Andrew Oleksiuk and Ti Mosienko

“Burning Bra 2008″ – artists: Ti Mosienko and Andrew Oleksiuk
September 27 – October 5, Burning Life Festival
for more information on Burning Life, visit http://burninglife.secondlife.com/

“Burning Bra 2008″ is a 3D model and assemblage that recalls the turbulent social fervor associated with second wave feminism in the United States in the 1960′s and 1970′s. It also pokes fun at the “lingerie culture” of Second Life. Bra burning as a metaphorical performative action by “women’s libbers” is a largely a myth. However, as such it typifies the confusion of social concerns of previous decades echoed by the cultural plurality of Second Life.

American second wave feminism is defined generally as the period of feminist activity between 1960-1979. It had social, political and cultural ramifications. During a difficult time in American history, American second wave feminism was discussed, broadcast, politicized, criticized, defined and driven underground. It was also known as the women’s movement, women’s liberation and other names. It had political and social goals but was often confused in the media with a lot of other turbulent cultural goings on at the time, and occasionally grossly misunderstood and misinterpreted by the media and society.

For more information on American second wave feminism, and its purposes, complications and results, see: http://collectingseminar.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/images-of-american-2nd-wave-feminism-purposes-complications-and-results-andrew-oleksiuk/

To visit “Burning Bra in Burning Life 2008″ in the 3D virtual world Second Life visit:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Burning%20Life%20%28Quad%29/102/145/24/
(Second Life account required).

The Book of Lists

The Book of Lists refers to any one of a series of books compiled by best selling author Irving Wallace, his son David Wallechinsky, and daughter Amy Wallace.^[1][2][3][4] Each book contains hundreds of lists (many accompanied by textual explanations) on unusual or esoteric topics, for example:

• Famous people who died during sex
• The world’s greatest libel suits
• People suspected of being the real Jack the Ripper
• Worst places to hitchhike
• People misquoted by Ronald Reagan
• Breeds of dogs which bite people the most, and the least

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Book_of_Lists

-atrowbri

Dark Matter re: Sunday Painting

“Despite its invisibility and unknown constitution however, most of the universe, perhaps as much as ninety six percent of it consists of dark matter. This is a phenomenon sometimes called the “missing mass problem”.13 Like its astronomical cousin, creative dark matter also makes up the bulk of the artistic activity produced in our post-industrial society. However, this type of Dark matter is invisible primarily to those who lay claim to the management and interpretation of culture- the critics, art historians, collectors, dealers, curators and arts administrators. It includes informal practices such as home-crafts, makeshift memorials, Internet art galleries, amateur photography and pornography, Sunday-painters, self-published newsletters and fan-zines. Yet, just as the physical universe is dependent on its dark matter and energy, so too is the art world dependent on its shadow creativity. It needs this shadow activity in much the same way certain developing countries secretly depend on their dark or informal economies.14″

http://neme.org/main/330/dark-matter

- Adam Trowbridge

The Museum of Lost Interactions

A friend sent me a link to this exhibition. There were nine exhibits as part of the show, which I think happened a couple of years ago. It now lives here on their website. Before we all had iphones there were gadgets like the ones on this site.

I was reminded of this site, while reading the end of the interview with Tjebbe van Tijen in Deep Storage. He made a comment about how we needed to keep all the outdated machinery around to translate the Rosetta Stones of the future.

-Rebecca

Swap-O-Rama Collection: Maria Gaspar

This collection was organized by various ideas in mind. 1. Representations of Indigenous Women, 2. Representations of Latin American Women, 3. Skin tone (relating to both Latin American and Indigenous Peoples), and 4. The “Other”. There exists some popular images like Disney’s Pocahontas, Mexico’s mass-produced “Mexican Doll” collectible of a supposed Indigenous handicraft, the classic Virgen Maria image and finally, Iris Chacon (considered to be one of Latin America’s most popular ” Vedette”. You can find great footage of her and her “charismatic” Puerto-Rican-ness on youtube, as well as her very voluptious body, which was mostly what she was known for…oh’ and her dance moves. Consider it a Pre-J-Lo preoccupation).

Image Collection #2: Maria Gaspar: Women and Myth

I decided to use this assignment as a continuation of my interest in the representation of Woman, with a focus on the idea of Women and Myth. I found these 16 images in various subject headings, including Circus, Primitive Societies, Women, Costume, Fortune Telling, Witches and finally, Women- Occupations. These images represent a fascination with women by representing them as fantastic beings. They are viewed through a voyeuristic lens and encourage the representational signifiers of “the other”, stereotype and fear.

Dried Chiles and Patches by Jose Velazco

These are items I collected both at Swap o Rama (chiles) and at a garage sale in my neighborhood (patches).

Pequin Group

Pequin

Pasilla Group

Pasilla

Chipotle Group

Chipotle

Cascabel Group

Cascabel

Ancho

Ancho Group

Misfits

Grateful Dead?

Lady

Che

Rainbow

Cat

Rolling Stones

Image Collection – Assignment No. 2

Assignment Number One

YOUTUBE and the digital dashboard

Here is an interesting collection of people video taping the digital dashboards of their cars. I guess folks really like to do this, and I found it pretty interesting.

www.motivemag.com

ALSO on boingboing.net

enjoy.

olivia

Wolf’s Flea Market Collection: Patterns that rotate around a central point: Moore

 

 

This collection stems from my obsession with symmetry, sacred geometry, quilt patterns, hex signs, etc. The only self-imposed rule governing the collecting was no dinner plates or ashtrays as it seemed like cheating and would produce redundant or boring results.

reanimation library

hey here is an interesting collection in brooklyn. they collect discarded library books from book sales, thrift stores, and many other places.

-Rebecca

bird collection – rebecca grady

I went to swaporama with a couple of loose plans. They didn’t really work out. But I found this giant (well not giant…..maybe big) penguin and decided to build a collection around it. I decided to find a bunch of birds to go with it. It was more difficult than i expected. I got a little uncomfortable when I reached the live bird cages outside. What better way to complete the collection than to place a real bird with all these ceramic/metal/plastic replicas? And a little creepy. But I really don’t want a bird. I tried to buy some of the fake birds that were in the cages, but he wouldn’t sell them.

the collection is in process of being dispersed. the penguin is now a doorstop in my studio. my mom is getting the rooster. ( i hope that it will maybe distract the dogs and wolves from her chickens), and my friend marian has the bejeweled pin. if you think that any of the other birds need to go somewhere special, let me know.

Care Bears Countdown- olivia ciummo

Sorry it took so long, my camera was down. For those who don’t know these cute animals they are the Care Bears and I also have one Care Bear Cousin. As Nick Wylie put it, they are “god like” creatures that listen to the hopes and dreams of young people.  They often fly down form the clouds to save the day or help someone in need (mostly kids). Each one has its own marking placed on the center of the belly. These symbols represent the special power or characteristic of the Care Animal.

I have a picture of all them lined up and then some close-ups for detail.

When The Revolution Comes

First I want to say that going to swap-o-rama for me was like giving a bottle of Jack Daniels to a recovering alcoholic.  I spent a good 6 hours on Sunday running around like a kid in a candy store.  I told my wife that from now on all parties and social gather will be held at swap-o-rama.  She’s not happy with my newfound hang out.  So, to Randel and Scott I say thank you, but my wife has couple of choice words for the both of you.

For my assignment I gave in to nostalgia and collected an assortment of my favorite childhood toy “GI JOE”.  There was a mother and child selling a massive amount of GI JOE action figures.  I found myself at the booth a couple of times trying to give myself a reason why I should not buy all of my assignment from one booth.  But, I just couldn’t help myself.  As I rummaged through the bin of smelly JOEs, I began to reminisce on specific characters that I collected as a child.  I decided within the barrel to purchase the hand full of African-American/Caribbean characters.  There weren’t many.  I remembered my parents going out of their way to find action figures and toys that reflected my race.  My father was very conscience of what toys, music, and media where brought into the house and the social implications attached.

I remember wanting to join GI JOE, get my cool Snake Eyes outfit, and kick some COBRA(bad guys) ass.  GI JOE were “Real American Heroes tm”. They sacrificed their lives for their country every weekday at 3pm. (Even though Duke was the only one that ever got severely injured).  It wasn’t until the late nineties that I realized that the show and its merchandising were all propaganda to make youth want to enlist.
Whereas they used to remind me of my childhood now they make me think of working in the Chicago Public Schools and the types of disadvantaged youth that are targeted to enlist.
I also began think about the 80’s and some of the negative images of black males that where pushed by the media.  For me, my interaction with these black characters as a child was very one-dimensional. I had no knowledge of their history…I knew them as soldiers. I was curious as to how they were envisioned by their creators.  So I decided to go online and look up some the stories behind the characters I collected and play around with how I presented their characters on the blog.

So, to summarize, this collection represents a couple of things.  One was my need to access positive images of myself in the things that I interacted with as a child.  Also that most of the characters in GI JOE seemed one dimensional at a glance, but each had a back-story created by the creators that was rarely highlighted.   Those back stories juxtaposed to the one-dimensional imagery of black males in the 80’s makes me conflicted.  Even though I realize that the characters where created as propaganda to help enlist masses of youth, for the most parts these characters where represent an array of positive role models…………..(with guns).  I am quite conflicted.

Now You know, and knowing is half the battle.
YO JOE!!

-faheem

PICTURE COLLECTION: Appalachia: Moore

In this collection you will find photos of idyllic spots, great places to travel, beautiful vistas, and evidence of ‘progress’ in the region snapped during various eras. 

 

KISS-o-rama

In the bottom of a cardboard box I stumbled across someone’s discarded collection of KISS concert tapes, twenty-two in all.  The tapes date back to concerts from the early seventies to international tours, to the famous unmasking, the reunion and the inevitable farewell tour…

The Need to Ascend

This is my collection from the picture collection at Harold Washington Library.  I wanted to assemble a group of similar postures/gestures associated with climbing (photographed from the back) and summitting (arms raised in conquest).  The idea that this urge to climb and/or conquer can be traced back to prehistoric time is casually explored.  There is also a little interesting timeline of flag-planting, from a pioneer at the North pole to an illustration of a group of nations, to a single politician.  And the last observer begs the question, what next will we explore?

Sentimental Value – Clothing posts from eBay

http://www.sentimental-value.com/

This additional ebay-related site comes from Randall, who is having trouble posting to the blog because of a poor internet connection on the boat. “The site “collects” stories about clothing – could be developed more, but pretty good idea.”

Another example of how what is written about an object in the description that accompanies it can greatly expand or transform its meaning.

(Posted by Marc Fischer)

Sasquatch is selling items on eBay!

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZme_sasquatch

This kind of needs to be seen to be believed. A variety of objects ranging from a stick to a glass of water from a creek to a broken toy, have been recast as having belonged to or been used by Sasquatch and are now being auctioned by Sasquatch him(?)self on eBay. Pretty crafty how the thing figured out how to use the internet!

Some, but not all, of the auctions (such as “Egg that Sasquatch can’t eat”) include an embedded Youtube video showing Sasquatch in a beef jerky ad which relates to the auction item. It’s a little unclear whether this is eBay being used for viral marketing, or if someone has co-opted the ad to reinforce their auction.

(Posted by Marc Fischer)

Mendi + Keith Obadike – “Blackness for Sale” on eBay

In discussing eBay in class yesterday, I briefly mentioned this project by Mendi + Keith Obadike – an eBay auction that the site withdrew as inappropriate.

Here is a link to the original auction description. Note that it will open a bunch of other pop up windows about the artists.

http://obadike.tripod.com/ebay.html

(Posted by Marc Fischer)

Busted – Mary Robnett

… collecting busts from the likes of Lincoln to Barbie … at Wolf’s Flea Market, Allstate Arena.

The Real American Hero circa 1982 – Jeremiah Spofford

My Swap-o-rama collection took the form of 15 G.I. Joe action figures and one winged action figure made by Hasbro, the same company that produced the various G.I. Joe lines.  They were culled from three toy sellers who had large selections of action figures and I picked out Joes that were outfitted for space, air or underwater travel.  The glaring exception is the shirtless Joe with the green hat.  They are all from the “Real American Hero” line, released by Hasbro in 1982.  I combed swap-o-rama looking for the original 12 inch version but it seems the 3 3/4 inch version is much more readily available.  For those of you not familiar with G.I. Joe, The Real American Hero please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YjfGex5JHY for the intro to season 1 of the cartoon.

car collection

i liked this collection at swaporama. unfortunately i had no intention of spending the money to suddenly be the proud owner of a bunch of car parts that i can’t use on my bike. so i bought some birds instead. i’ll post pictures soon.

-rebecca

icy things to do – rebecca grady

images collected from harold washington library’s image collection:

i’m looking for some exciting things to do on the ice or snow this winter. i don’t really like skiing. but i’m keen on trying some iceberg archery.

S&H Green Stamps Books [Adam Farcus]

The S&H green stamps where made famous in Andy Warhol’s S & H Green Stamps as seen here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330273369097.

I found it really difficult to find anything that I wanted to buy that would enrich my work or my established collections.  To avoid just adding to a pile of things in my studio and spending money on things that I do not really want I have posted my S&H Green Stamp books on ebay for sale; to make my money back and further perpetuate the marking up of collectibles and add to the slew of other S&H related postings.

My 1st ebay post

Green(ish) and Spikey – Ryan Murray

A collection from Swap-O-Rama

Another view of a collection from Swap-O-Rama

Trying to collect at Swap-O-Rama – attempting to distill some theme out of this vastness – was perhaps even more challenging than doing so at the Picture Collection at Harold Washington.  I wandered the aisles, tried to connect items from various sellers by some concept or narrative or purpose, and imagined that I’d be able to find some particular “maybe” item again later if I wanted it (only, of course, to end up totally lost).  Unable to juggle the breadth of available items and meanings, I think I reverted to (or maybe evolved to?) a purely visual strategy.  My “shopping” experience became, it seemed, one purely of sight and surface.  One particular color/texture combination seemed salient or emergent or perhaps just personally appealing, and I decided to grab up examples of the objects I found that shared the surface of the day: green(ish) and spikey (or maybe bumpy).  Perhaps I owe a credit of influence to Mr. Farcus…

Mail Art Supplies – Andrew Oleksiuk

When I go shopping I keep an eye peeled for mail art supplies – things that I use to repurpose into postcards or for collage for use in my mail art activity. Mail art can be seen as a irreverent commentary on certain other (clears throat) network technologies. Basically mail art supplies tend to be flat or made of thicker paper, stickers, tape or unusual marking devices and paints. Swap-O-Rama offered all but three of the items you see here; I decided to supplement my adventure with a trip to American Science and Surplus. If you’ve never been, ASS is a Chicagoland institution. They have catalog ordering and a website, but their Jefferson Park (Chicago) retail store is a frenzied wonderland of the weird, offering everything from gag gift items like bacon shaped Band-Aids to actual military surplus (like Howitzer shells). Shopping there should be on every artist’s resume. Mail art is a fascinating art form somewhat related to ‘zine publishing of the ’80s. You do have to put a real stamps on objects to legally send them via US post. It helps to know US postal laws for mailing strange objects (in these post-anthrax times). A related art form, artistamps, is also a fascinating parody or subversive commentary on government art.

These are some sort of Mexican game cards. I see them as collage materials. Each could be made into two postcards. (8 sheets plus card deck, $2.00)

Raychael Stine, Collection 3, Swap-O-Rama. Sexualized children, Infatilized sexuality.

I found these little boys underwear with the fake brand name of “Cupid Boy.”  These little miniaturized versions of sexy mens underwear for small boys really creaped me out.  It is ambiguous to me whether this depiction is intentional or not.  It got me thinking about the sexualization of children, and also the infantilization of adult sexuality.  Dora the Explorer is for children from age 3 to about 8. To bring a gender balance to my collection, I found tiny padded Bra’s with Dora the Explorer decals,  and  bras and panties with other Charachters that adults arent usually atracted to.  Would a grown woman wear a Dora bra?  And if not, Why give such padded and sexy bras to a very young girl, if that is what these are for? These bra’s match many sets of girls “day of the week” panties.  Wierd.

Collection 3: Guns Guns Guns

I was interested in the toy stalls at Swap-o-Rama and the similarity of the items offered at each: car/trucks, figures, guns. I purchased a couple my first trip a week ago and a few more today. I supplemented the collection with similar cheap plastic guns by visiting other thrift/dollar stores later. This summer I had the opportunity to shoot a wide variety of pistols and rifles at a firing range in Georgia. These toy guns are very small but some are surprizing in their technical detail. Others are see-through and fantastical

- Adam Trowbridge