Distractions, reflections

Distractions, reflections

David Ing, at large … Sometimes, my mind wanders

2011/03/01-09 Harajuku, Aoyama, Enoshima, Kamakura, Yokohama, Mizonokuchi

August 11, 2012
Since Tokyo is so many time zones from home, I arrive a few days and go sightseeing to beat jet lag.  On my fifth visit to Japan, I was the first of our meeting to arrive, with the group gradually gaining mass.  I checked into the usual hotel, in an high rise tower overlooking the tracks by Tamachi station.

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On a mission from DY, my first destination was Harajuku.  I went looking for crafting supplies at the Daiso (100 yen) store.

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The products aren’t made in Japan, but the variety is wider than in other branches internationally.

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A few blocks further east, the Design Festa Gallery changes its installations rapidly, with emerging artists showing their work for nominal costs.

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The variety of work includes paintings, photographs and sculpture by mostly Japanese artists.

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While most rooms are barely large enough for an overnight stay — Design Festa also offers artists accommodations from late evening to early morning, when the gallery is closed — this week featured a wall where artists could claim an 80 x 80 cm display space. Continue reading “2011/03/01-09 Harajuku, Aoyama, Enoshima, Kamakura, Yokohama, Mizonokuchi“

2010/10/01-07 Taik, Kiasma, Karjammo, Toolo Bay, Hvittrask, Haikaranpesa (Finland)

August 10, 2012
One of my longer trips to Finland was for 14 days in favourable fall weather.  I was scheduled to teach a class in the Creativity Sustainability program.  Immediately before and after that teaching, there was an opportunity to pick up some credits for my graduate studies.  While this visit was busy with work, I also made some time for sightseeing, with the guidance of friends (and friends of friends).

My usual Aalto University campus (i.e. for engineering) is at Otaniemi in Espoo, on the west side of Helsinki.  The class that I was teaching was at the school of arts and design (i.e. Taik), at Arabia Centre within Helsinki city limits on the east side.

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The redeveloped factory facilities fit the feel for a design school.  While about half of the Creative Sustainability students had undergraduate training in design, the other half were drawn from other studies from across the university.

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As usual, the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art was nearby my apartment, so I went over to catch a showing.  With warm fall temperatures, there were skaters on the plaza.

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The Kiasma is one of favourite art museums in the world.  One installation that caught my eye was the 2009 work of Jacob Dahlgren, titled The Wonderful World of Abstraction.

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On the Saturday afternoon, Heimo suggested we might meet up at Korjammo Culture Factory, a short walk north from the city centre.

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On this weekend, the major event was an arts and craft market. Continue reading “2010/10/01-07 Taik, Kiasma, Karjammo, Toolo Bay, Hvittrask, Haikaranpesa (Finland)“

2012/07 Moments, July 2012

July 31, 2012
San Francisco, CA.

Silver Terrace, southern San Francisco
Silver Terrace, southern San Francisco. Residential and commercial buildings up the inclines around Portola and Bayview, west of I-101 on the way to SFO airport. The city may be scenic for tourists, but the departure is less glamourous in Silver Terrace (San Francisco, California) 20120726 101210

Salty Peanuts, Mildred Howard
Salty Peanuts, Mildred Howard. Art installation of saxophones and scores at SFO International Terminal, above the doors at Gate A2. Outcry by musicians at Sax on the Web. (San Francisco) 20120626 125919

2013/06 Moments, June 2013

June 30, 2012
Toronto, Ontario.

Ribbon cutting at @rightfootstudio and @nozotoronto at 370 Yonge Street.
Ribbon cutting at @rightfootstudio and @nozotoronto at 370 Yonge Street. Location just south of Gerrard Street, north of Dundas Street is at the heart of Toronto. New hardwood floor, atmospheric lighting with dimmers, big screen monitors. Lots of well-wishers on a warm summer night. (Toronto) 20130601 2046
Flowers at York Cemetery, at conclusion of funeral in the extended family
Flowers at York Cemetery, at conclusion of funeral in the extended family. The departed was attended by son and daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins and friends. Beautiful spring day. (North York, Ontario) 20130604 1156

Distillery District Sketchbook Project
Distillery District Sketchbook Project. Queue for @SketchbookProj Mobile Library at the Distillery District seems long as compared to Toronto Public Library selections. Since people can check in their works, maybe that takes longer! (Trinity Square Toronto) 20130608 1431

2012/06 Moments, June 2012

June 30, 2012
Toronto, Ontario; Vancouver, BC.

Brian Cauley, Neighbourhood Messages
Brian Cauley, Neighbourhood Messages. Installation of school desk and typewriter for messages on tags to be hung from the tree. Late Tuesday afternoon saw a mother and daughter in composition, otherwise the art space was unoccupied. Brian Cauley, “Neighbourhood Messages” is part of A Piece of a City with Art of the Danforth. (East Lynn Park, Toronto) 20120605 1853
Don River Park
Don River Park. Beyond construction fences, the urban marsh, playhill and pavilion would seem to be mostly completed in the new Don River Park. Rerouting of Bayview Avenue connecting to River Street is still underway and residential housing is still skeleton, so children jumping the gates are a low probability. (Toronto) 20120609 1458
Mill Street Dining
Mill Street Dining. Table for 300, please? Temporary chairs around banquet table stretching half a city block on Mill Street. Friends presumably sit beside each other, rather than across a table. Couldn’t they have planned for more, shorter tablecloths? President’s Choice 1000 Tastes of Toronto starting the Luminato Festival has kiosks also inside the Distillery District on Trinity Street and Gristmill Lane. (Toronto) 20120609 1718
Convocation diploma
Convocation diploma. Adam Ing, Bachelor of Applied Science, Materials Engineering, University of Toronto Convocation, June 20, 2012.

Vancouver towers northwest
Vancouver towers northwest. View towards North Vancouver shore from 27th floor balcony looking northwest. Primary view from Hyatt on this trip is west, so urban view wins over nature. (Vancouver) 20120626 0827

2012/05 Moments, May 2012

May 31, 2012
Las Vegas, NV; San Jose, CA; Alameda, CA; Palo Alto, CA; Vancouver, BC; Toronto, Ontario.

Opera Las Vegas Venetian
Opera Las Vegas Venetian. Encountered opera in St. Mark’s Square of the Venetian Hotel, Carnevale di Venezia. Arrived in time to hear the singing of Arrivederci. Since I’m not a fan of opera, the last few minutes was enough. (Las Vegas, NV) 20120503 1421
Almaden chair sculptures
Almaden chair sculptures. On walk outside IBM Almaden building with @jimspohrer, art installation of chairs with high backs and singing wires. Better to walk and talk on a warm spring day, than spend the hour in the office (San Jose, CA) 20120504 0957
Oakland runway end
Oakland runway end. Marshes of Alameda at the northwest end of Oakland Airport, with Bay Bridge in the distance. Hotel room has view of jets way taking off, amidst waterfowl nesting below. Was impressed at nearby Victorian homes in Alameda, crossed a lot of bridges to reach hotel. (Alameda, CA) 20120505 0825
SJSU fountain
SJSU fountain. Walked SJSU campus in anticipation of ISSS 2012 in July. Being there surfaces insights that viewing maps online doesn’t. Fountain at the intersection of Paseo de San Carlos and S. 7th St. is a landmark in the middle of campus (San Jose, California) 20120505 1543
Palo Alto Farmers Market
Palo Alto Farmers Market. Mammoth artichokes at California Avenue Farmer’s Market, with @warstrekkid nephew Kevin on an early Sunday morning. Practically everything seems organic, much sourced from Watsonville nearby. Troubles of the world seem so far away. (Palo Alto, California) 20120506 0913
Seabus delay
Seabus delay. Minor delay for Seabus southbound, as tugboat pulls crane past ferry dock. Not exactly the traffic congestion that I experience on the commute back home. (Vancouver, BC) 20120507 1216
Seaplane commute
Seaplane commute. Some had a morning commute by seaplane from the Vancouver Coal Harbour Seaplane Base. I’ll be on the Seabus, later (Vancouver, BC) 20120517 0738
Pine Hills Cemetery
Pine Hills Cemetery. Annual visit of the Low Kong Society to the Ing monument at Pine Hills Cemetery. Usual offering of scotch and burning hell money. I wonder what beverage might be spilled for a non-drinker. (Scarborough, ON) 20120520 1342
Liquid Art Painted Van
Liquid Art Painted Van. Art by @kustaasaksi and @heliosdesignlab for #MolsonM_Art funding @Cdn_Art_Fdn installed on King St. E. parking lot. Theme extends to background mural. Story described in Strategy magazine. (Toronto) 20120523 1845
Liquid Art Mural
Liquid Art Mural. Mural signed by @kustaasaksi as part of #MolsonM_Art funding @Cdn_Art_Fdn installation on King St. E. parking lot. Painted van was added after mural was complated. Story described in Strategy magazine. (Toronto) 20120523 1846

Airport Klezmer
Airport Klezmer on Flickr. Lemon Bucket Orkestra group at baggage claim carrying tuba, guitar, clarinet, etc., starting playing klezmer exiting into arrivals hall at Pearson Airport Terminal 1. Not just one song, they played many. Audience included professional videographers (Toronto) 20120531 2115

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