Walking dancing running in NYC
We’re about to head to New York City, once more. At this time of the year, the city is a must. Of course, it is nothing like the nature and stillness i crave for, but a vibrant on-the-go city like New York has a unique energy which i always feel compelled to be part of.
I’ve got to travel a little after this long winter, be on the go for adventures, this to feel myself alive again, see-hear-feel new things, get a little sense of newness and freedom, so bear with me while i’ll be visiting Rare Device Brooklyn shop (just before it closes), PictureBox, some of the best Gluten free and vegan restaurants (Babycakes), some rare venues such as MonkeyTownHQ where we’ll see a live performance via skype while enjoying our meal, Etsy labs, Marimekko store, art galleries, museums, parties and so on. No schedule, just us and the city.
Online Events at Tate Modern
I am a big fan of the Tate Modern museum in London. I have never seen a boring exhibition there and I love the architecture of the building. Many of you might not know but the Tate Modern is organizing a lot of artist talks, symposiums and conferences as well. In 2003 I have been attending user_mode, a 3 day conference about emotion and intuition in design and art. It was a great conference with very interesting speakers: Joshua Davis (Praystation), Lev Manovich (love his book), Simon Biggs and many more.
But now the great news: The Tate Modern put their video archive of all their events online and they will continue to record all their events! That’s great news if you are interested in artists like Joep van Lieshout (who confesses in that video that he has to build a phallic sculpture every now and then), Thomas Hirschhorn, The Guerilla Girls and others. I’m busy watching videos from the archive since some days… one more argument for me to not buy a TV set! 
Link to Tate Modern Online Events (via WMMNA)
Story by Chris Car for Vu d’ici
This Next!
Etsy is the coolest for handmade stuff - ThisNext (see my wishlist) is another social network, asking low commitment (exactly how i like them), strong in ergonomics - the coolest right now to find all kinds of creative jewels, handmade or not, which you wont find in stores. Here is for example a creative card game found on ThisNext.
Really cool finds, but beware to keep your wallet away!
Creacamp du 3 mai
Merci à tout ceux et celles qui ont participés et collaboré au Creacamp d’hier, merci pour vos lumières, pour votre vivacité, brillance et surtout, le partage de vos histoires.
De belles présentations et discussions ont eu lieux: nous avons parlé d’outil de création, de la vie d’artiste à temps plein, des défis dans la promotion de son travail, et du pouvoir qui peut se retrouver derrière nos intentions une fois celles-ci clairement identifiées (en mentionnant quelques livres déclencheurs).
Et oui, j’ai bien dit ‘ceux’, car quelques gars étaient présents, et on a même suggéré l’idée d’un Creacamp pour les gars, dans le but de sortir des environnements compétitifs où les objectifs tournent souvent plus autour de la promotion que du processus de création. Une idée intéressante!
Plusieurs autres idées sont ressortis de l’événement d’hier, et je vous donnerai des nouvelles sous peu sur les prochaines dates à venir, et les changements qui seront apportés pour permettre encore plus de discussions et de recontres inspirantes, car ces 2 heures ont été pour moi unpeu trop courtes!
Pour être avisé des prochains événements, le mieux est de s’inscrire à la liste d’envois ici. On peut aussi voir la liste des livres dont on a parlé dans tout les Creacamp, plusieurs sont disponibles en français au Québec.
Voici quelques photos de l’événement, n’hésitez pas à ajouter vos commentaires et notes sur les photos. Guylaine a aussi un compte rendu sur son blogue.
Lifespan Extending Villa
When friends enter our new apartment, I have to reassure them that they are not dizzy, the floor is definitely sloping — as it happens often in century old houses of the Plateau neighborhood in Montreal. But then I read this nytimes story about the house that architects and poets Arakawa and Madeline Gins just built in East Hampton.
The house (is) officially called Bioscleave House (Lifespan Extending Villa). Its architecture makes people use their bodies in unexpected ways to maintain equilibrium, and that, she said, will stimulate their immune systems.
Like the undulating floor, Arakawa and Gins, as they are known professionally, tend to throw people off balance. In 45 years of working together as artists, poets and architects, they have developed an arcane philosophy of life and art, a theory they call reversible destiny. Essentially, they have made it their mission — in treatises, paintings, books and now built projects like this one — to outlaw aging and its consequences.
“It’s immoral that people have to die,” Ms. Gins explained.
I love these people!
First, I can’t recommend enough to view the audio-slide-show that can be found on the nytimes page linked above: there are wonderful pics of the house.
Also, I dug a little and found somewhere else a floor plan of the house. They also did a park in Japan called “Site of Reversable Destiny“…
I could link to everything: “Zone of the clearest confusion”? “Critical ressemblance house“? What? “If thrown off-balance when entering the house, call out your name or, if you prefer, someone else’s. Should an unexpected event occur, freeze in place for as long as you see fit. Then adopt a more suitable (for being more thought out) position for an additional twenty seconds or so.”
I am no more apologetic for my slanted floor: thanks to Arakawa and Gins, now people will visit us to live forever. 
Story by Bruno for Vu d’ici.
Travelling Dreamer
Some of my prints and magnets can now be bought at Boutique Mixi, 958 avenue Cartier, Québec (Québec), Canada. Tel: (418) 522-6129 (and on Etsy as usual!)
Letting go
I’ve been lately asking the universe for changes. Changes outside - more movement, excitement, aliveness - and changes inside me. I’ve been working on shining light on some of the beliefs which keep me away from the outside changes i wish to see, so i can transform these same beliefs and move on.
Since then, i can feel change is happening. Nothing that could be seen on the outside, but i feel i am slowly starting to learn to manage many things at the same time, something which have been sucking energy out of me for years.
I am getting to realize that what i want is to be Productive, and Wise at the same time. Take actions, but stay loose and confident that all will fall in place, even without me watching over every details.
I am learning that if i can trust the force - the one which i can see in action in nature, the one which is taking care of everything everyday without any human noticing - this trust will be one of my best investments in life. The Jedi knew it.
I now look at my agenda and can see that there’s much going on (hence the slow posting lately), yet i dont feel like a headless running chick as i would usually do. I see i can do so much, but i’m learning to let go.
It is my wish not to waste my energy at trying to have everything in control - and believe me, this is the major shift i am going through - taking action towards what i want, and at some point just relax and let go because i can’t have my hands on everything, i cant have control over other people’s thoughts, and i cant match the clock’s spinning.
I must rely that while i take my time to be fully into the fun parts of what i do, working or in the bathtub, the universe is taking care of the details, watching over me, preparing the road so i can move on. The good news is, it can do the same for you.
Telecrafting
It is with *great* pleasure that i welcome a new Vu d’ici contributor, Bruno. Bruno has been quietly watching and contributing to the web here, and there.
His attempts of blogging on his own have been numerous, but a little on the side, so here i provide him with a listening audience for his views on the world and the web to be heard. As you’ll find out by yourself, Bruno always has a good eye on what’s going on in the wild web. So here he is, all for you pals!
*applause!*
m-c
Ponoko is an interesting new site that offers to make objects from your design. It’s also a market where you can sell either your design or the stuff you have made there.
“Armed with nothing more than an idea, professional and hobbiest designers, crafters, hackers and artists can turn their ideas into real products - and new revenue streams - using our web commerce and digital make-on-demand services. No upfront costs. No minimum orders. No inventory. Simply click to design, make, sell and deliver your creativity to the world, at your own speed.”
Nice pitch, but of course it’s a little more complicated than that. You have to design something, order it, have it sent to you, test it, change the design and hopefully they’ll be able to make something that works. Or you have to begin the whole process again and you don’t know the cost until you have submitted something, which I didn’t do.
The step by step explanations are very clear, though. The choice of materials is limited but interesting. Personally, I am intrigued by the potential of acrylic, especially to do colored lights like this one I found this week on the ideaco website .
Over all, it’s not yet the desktop universal fabricator from science fiction stories, but it’s a nice step in this direction. If you try Ponoko, please let us know about your experience.
Story by Bruno for Vu d’ici.
Présentatrices, Creacamp du 3 mai
* Mise à jour: un ajout de présentation a été fait, France D’Aragon, Artiste peintre et Animatrice en Art création ouvrira la table ronde sur la promotion.
Aussi, ayant seulement 2 heures dédiées à cet événement, nous débuterons avec les présentations à 13h pile, donc ne soyez pas en retard!
Le prochain Creacamp aura lieu le 3 Mai prochain de 13h à 15h, au 5369 Saint-Laurent #430, dans les locaux gracieusement prêtés par Station C.
Comme à l’habitude, cupcakes maison et rafraichissement seront fournis par vous tous, donc BYOF - bring your own food - si le coeur vous en dit!
Pour participer ou juste assister: vous pouvez laisser une commentaire sur cette entrée ou sur Facebook pour nous confirmer votre présence, sinon, au plaisir de vous voir le 3 mai!
Présentations de 10 minutes suivies de période de question:
The beaded art of Natasha St. Michael : I will give a slide lecture about my bead-woven art over the past 10 years: how and why I started using beads, the inspiration behind my work, how my ideas and art work evolved and life as an artist. Présentation en anglais.
Blogue: ni vu ni connu
Des mots et des outils : Utilisant comme exemple son projet de film documentaire, Martine fera une démonstration de “Scrivener”, un logiciel très utile pour celles qui travaillent avec les mots.
Lors du premier Creacamp, Meb nous avait présenté ses collages vidéos. Elle nous parlera cette fois-ci de la progression de son travail de création au cours de la dernière année : l’accouchement de son disque, les étapes difficiles, et comment elle a surmontées ces dernières.
Présentations blitz: des créatrices nous présentent leurs projets embryonnaires
Je veux un Rendez-vous : À la croisée des chemins (aussi connue sous le nom de crise de la quarantaine), je remets ma vie professionnelle en question et plonge lentement mais sûrement dans un projet de boutique en ligne d’objets uniques, faits à la main, par des québécoises. La boutique avec pignon sur une rue Montréalaise suivra, dans cinq ans… Voir ses photos ici.
Une nouvelle familia est en ville! : Présentation et survol de la Craft Mafia de Montréal.
Il reste de la place pour les présentations blitz, contactez-nous si vous seriez intéressée à partager un projet que vous avez en tête, ou un projet en cours: livre, bijoux, idées et concepts, tout les sujets sont bons!
Table ronde: Quels sont les meilleurs moyens pour diffuser sa création? 30 minutes
Venez partager vos trucs, ou juste écouter ce que les autres ont à partager comme astuces pour promouvoir vos créations, sur le web (Etsy, les blogues, etc.), et sur la rue!
Et après?
N’oubliez pas d’apporter vos créations pour nous les montrer et peut-être trouver des acheteuses. Celles qui désirent échanger des cartes d’artistes ou enveloppes pour le projet 6×6, ça sera aussi le bon moment.
Creacamp se terminera à 15h, mais l’emplacement regorge de terrasses et cafés, alors celles qui désireront continuer à bavarder pourront le faire dans le très chic MileEnd…
Eat Pray Love
I’ve been compulsively ordering books last week, one of them being this sparkling jewel, blessed with light and wisdom. Truth is, i only buy compulsively when i feel a lack of something in my life, see excitement and adventure. Well, this book does exactly provides both.
I am amazed at the power of one’s story to shine light over someone else’s life. As many others, i’ve made friend with this book, it should save my life until i reach my next holidays. For now, i’ll enjoy each moment spent in Elizabeth Gilbert’s good company.
I am a vegetarian and I love meat
This sentence sounds a bit strange, doesn’t it? But in the near future it could be reality, at least for vegetarians who don’t eat meat in order to protest against industrialized mass-killing of animals, which is the sad reality of today’s meat production industry (40 billion animals are killed every year alone in the U.S.).
But since a while scientists around the world are researching to produce meat in the laboratory without killing animals. It’s called in-vitro meat production which uses a medium to grow meat. I guess it’s similar to growing plants. But you can imagine that the meat industry is not very thrilled by that idea and won’t support research in that field. That’s the reason why PETA (= People for the ethical treatment of animals) stepped in and are offering a 1$ million reward to the first scientists to produce and bring in-vitro meat to the market.
More info to that reward can be found on the web site of PETA.
I don’t know exactly what to think about it. On the one hand it sounds like a plausible and great idea, but on the other hand I don’t if we - as human beings - are going too far in that point: is an in-vitro grown meat alive? Does it hurt someone? I think these are ethical questions, but killing 40 billion animals… that’s definitely not ok either.
By the way I became a vegetarian because I cannot support the meat industry anymore. And I don’t even miss real meat because there are excellent tofu products available which mimic meat just perfectly.
Written by Chris Car for Vu d’ici. More banners on Peta2.com
Couverture médias et Drupal
Suite à la nouvelle concernant la mention d’honneur aux Webby pour le projet Citizenshift, quelques médias d’ici parlent de nous : Branchez-Vous et Lien Multimédia.
Pour les intéressés, les détails sur la création et le développement du projet via la plateforme Drupal sont disponibles ici.
Earth day, do something
Anahata Katkin’s Artwork
Se re-poser
Trop de gens l’ont oublié. Ralentissez, respirez, jouez!
Featured artist: Darlene Charneco
She is one of my all time favorite artists on Flickr. I love the style and detail of her work - for me her work is all about architecture and candy 3D worlds.
But since I am not an art critic (thank’s god!), just have a look by yourself and enjoy!
Visit Darlene Charneco’s web site and Darlene Charneco on Flickr.
Written by Chris Car for Vu d’ici
A Meidia project at the WebbyAwards
Some news from our official headquarters here at Meidia, some good news for our third year in business: our recent project, CitizenShift, has been honored by the Webby Awards!
“As a result of the superior quantity and quality of sites entered, the 12th Annual Webby Awards recognized sites and teams that demonstrated a standard of excellence.
Of the more than 10,000 entries submitted to the 12th Annual Webby Awards, fewer than 15% were distinguished as an Official Honoree. This honor signifies an outstanding caliber of work. Congratulations to all of our Official Honoree selections!”
This is fantastic news for us who’ve been working to our best in the last 3 years, we’re flying real high right now! Congratulations to both teams!
Following this we have to announce that we are in need to fill out our collaborator list. We are looking for experienced, easy, reliable and communicative collaborators for our different projects so please email us if you could fit the following:
- Drupal theming, CSS developer
- Responsible of promotion, help in strategy & branding (this is the fun part we know, but we’re busy somewhere else, blogging i guess).
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Loading ...Inspirations
Current loved ones:
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Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook, by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
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The Power of Your Other Hand : A Course in Channeling the Inner Wisdom of the Right Brain, by Lucia Capacchione
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New York Notebook, by Laurie Rosenwald
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The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, by Timothy Ferriss
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Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Recently loved:
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Succulent Wild Woman, by Sark
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Energy Medicine, by Donna Eden
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Monocle Magazine, by http://www.monocle.com
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The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Pocketbook Guide to Fulfilling Your Dreams, by Deepak Chopra
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Earth: Pleiadian Keys to the Living Library, by Barbara Marciniak
Soon:
- A Room of One’s Own, by Virginia Woolf
- Tout sur le compost, by Lili Michaud
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Hello!
I am m-c, an artist and communicator. I love to inspire people through my art, writing, and my passion for the creative potential of web publishing tools. I run meïdia, a creative studio, and Creacamp.
Bonjour! Je suis m-c, artiste et communicatrice. Ma mission est d'inspirer les gens, et ce, à travers mon art, mes livres, et ma passion pour les outils web. Je suis à la tête du studio de création meïdia, et de Creacamp.
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Etsy or Flickr. I love mail! -
My Books
Get your copy of my book, First Thoughts on life, blogging, and the creative process. See a preview of the book here.
Orders: The book can be ordered via Etsy, blurb, Paypal. Click here to get to know more.
Je suis co-auteure de Pourquoi bloguer. Mon chapitre, Bloguer pour réseauter, a été rédigé dans le but d'inspirer les gens intéressés par le potentiel de réseautage des outils de blogues : étudiants, artistes, travailleurs autonomes, gestionnaires d'entreprise, curieux et patenteux de tout genres. Commandez votre copie dédicacée en me fesant parvenir un courriel.
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