We See What We Want To See

Pieter Brueghel's beautiful representation of winter in the Netherlands. The Netharlands, a very flat country, is depicted here with giant Alp-like mountains.

The Hunters In The Snow.

It's a complex world we live in sometimes, isn't it? We are blinded by our own beliefs and opinions, that we forget about those we hurt, and those we neglect. We see what we want to see, however when do we once try to attempt a journey into someone else's perspective? It's difficult, and even the strongest fail in the attempt. Who can blame them? This is where every conflict collides. Every war that has been fought and will be fought lies along the lines of fighting for one's beliefs. I ran across a book the other day that said this, "Violence may be innate in human nature but so is it's opposite: love. The next stage of humanity, the leap which we are poised to take, will be guided by the force of that love." Is this true, and if so, could this be just as dangerous? Yes, love is innately part of every human being, but many are blinded by love. Love is simple, love is kind but what about when love takes over every logical and rational thought that eventually everything we once believed in is mystified by an unrealistic notion of what is true? What is the truth really when mostly everything we are surrounded by is considered subjective. Everyone has opinions and will lead their lives based on those opinions. Basically, we're left in the same place, a fight for conviction, a fight of faith. But who is really right?

Watermark - Our Broken Garden

Here is a beautiful short film by Ben Briand called Apricot. The cinematography is just breathtaking and the music sets a perfect tone for such delicate yet strong characters. Here are a few still images from the short film.

R.Dearlove

get out of bedhead!

I wish I had dreams like this.

I've recently been obsessed with stop-motion animation. There's just something to it that makes me smile. Especially this video.. isn't it inspiring? Speaking of inspiration, I'm starting my artbook today. I'm determined to completely fill this new sketchbook with full, finished works, sparked from things I find inspiring. I'll be sure to post its progress!

Also, I think I've found the seed that sprouted all my problems ... it's my BED. It's way too comfortable. I need to start sleep on rocks. Because it's so soft, it's so hard to get out of. At least I don't have a temperpedic--then my life would be over, for sure.

To celebrate a happy Thursday, here's an Image Reel:








Get out of bed and live your dreams.

Inspiration is best applied when you're awake.

That's why we never close our eyes.

-- Ai

Everybody's starry eyed

Lately it's been hard to breathe.

I find myself absorbed in thought, a dream-like angst, where everything seems surreal. Sometimes it's so overwhelming, that my heart begins its irregular drumming beat and I just forget to breathe. This is what it's like when everything seems right and wrong at the very same time. We dream day in and day out for our lives to find a sense of stability, for our worries to take flight. Here is the truth; stability may just not exist and we might as well stop searching for it now before it's too late. So breathe... just breathe, and relax. Despite all the wrongs this world has created and encountered, despite uncontrolled existential angst, despite the simple wrong doings that break the heart, there is still so much to live for. Take a trip to Central Park during the day, lay in the grass with your friends, take in your surroundings, and you'll see...

My state of mind is an accurate depiction of this song.
Lately Troisieme - Memoryhouse

Read Pitchfork's review for this Ontario-based band here

Starry Eyed - Ellie Goulding

~And just if you want to escape

Hopefully reality will settle itself and give me a break. Enjoy a lovely day,
R. Dearlove

some people just don't belong in a small town

I think everyone should see this play at least once in their lives.

My friend Joe took me to see Our Town, a play at the Barrow Street Theatre [ 27th Barrow St., off Seventh Ave. ]. After perhaps an hour and a half of watching, I'd honestly begun to think that I was sitting through a play about nothing. A boring town, a boring life, with no climax--how could this possibly be a Pulitzer Prize winner?! The answer was thrown in my face in Act Three and let me tell you, it gave me chills. I won't spoil anything for you (if in case, on a ridiculously long shot, you actually decide to hike downtown to see it) but I will say that I didn't hesitate to join the standing ovation. Moral of the story? Don't live life like you've got a million years ahead of you. The clock's ticking, so make the most of your everyday.

Pre-play gelatos at L'ARTE del GELATO [ 75 Seventh Ave. S, Barrow Street ]. I got Coco and Nutella in a sugar cone. Love love love!!!

Joe being a self-proclaimed restaurant connoisseur ( 'That place has a pig lantern, it must be legitimate!' ) immediately spotted this Japanese restaurant, Hakata TonTon [ 61 Grove Street between Bleecker St. and Seventh Ave. ]. It may not be very impressive on the outside, but it's what's inside that matters. With a wonderfully chic interior, EXCELLENT service, EXCELLENT food, even an EXCELLENT bathroom (exfoliating lotion and mouthwash provided?!), you wouldn't think this place could get any better. Wrong. Their prices are excellent, too! Five stars in my book (and apparently New York Times agrees!). With a $20 tip, I certainly let them know that I'd be back for more!!

Cheers to PERFECT DAYS like this.

-- Ai

la la LATEX

Has anyone told Lady Gaga about this woman?!

The other night my friend was lucky enough to encounter designer Jacqueline Marie, a self-proclaimed designer specializing in Latex Couture. Clad in her just-short-of-transparent latex cocktail dress, she revealed that she'd previously attended Duke University. However, in not-so-reckless abandon, she dropped her studies and moved to our favorite insomniac city to pursue something closer to her own heart. According to the biography on her website, she'd gone out shopping with a girlfriend when she came across a latex dress. Although the dress didn't suit her body as well as she would have liked, she was exposed to the feel of latex against her skin. And so, she was never the same, launching a line of latex. Now, as you can see, her rubber-cement-seamed ("Why not?" she revealed, "It's rubber, after all.") dresses make quite the statement. Can you believe she never spent a day of her life in design school??

Loving the latex,

Ai

buzzing

All I want to do is ride a bike.

Come this fall, I'm bringing mine to the city
and that's that.

Lately I've been a mess. You know when you get into those slumps and nothing ever feels like it's going right for you - or is it just the state of mind that you're in that makes it seem as if everything around you is falling apart or working against you? You want to take action but have no motivation to do it - or you do have the motivation to do it, but you just don't now where to start or how to pick up your feet? It feels like that, and even when I tell myself that it's a new day, there's that gremlin in the back of my mind leeching off of my good feelings.

she's always buzzing just like
neon, neon
neon, neon
who knows how long, how long, how long
she can go before she burns away?

I leave you with Gabe Bondoc and his cover of Neon by John Mayer.
Simply exquisite.

-- Ai

city walks

Lately I've been making beds out of lawns, pillows of my arms, canopies of the night sky. How could I not, when everything has been so impeccably beautiful? It's these surroundings that make me wish life could always be so simple as lying on a grass mattress, enjoying the touch of a breeze's warm fingertips through my hair. Sharing a bit of what I've seen on my recent walks..

Something new I found at Idlewild Books. ( W 19th St, Between 5th and 6th Ave. ) Their shelves are arranged by country, something I haven't really seen yet. It's wonderful.

I saw sand artist Joe Mangrum at Union Square one sunny day. He'd been working on this since 11:30am. I took this picture around 3:15pm. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter and take a look at his portfolio, it's absolutely incredible.



During my walking along the Pier, I came across bicycle painted white in memorial to a man named Carl Nacht. It's been four years, I hope he's found rest.



Who knew concrete and metal could be so beautiful ?

- Ai