Alt Groove links 10.15.13

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• Hare Affairs is an art series of bunnies in different social, political, and cultural issues. Definitely check out his work! He's one of my inspirations for my own artwork.
• In case you haven't heard already, Banksy sold some stuff on the streets of NYC for $60 a piece. I wish I was able to buy one T_T
• What drink changes with the environment? Whiskey does!

ALT Groove Links 10.8 - 10.10

• Featured Janelle Monáe's latest album, Electric Lady! 
• Bertolli takes advantage of Barilla's anti-gay comments by making a pro gay ad. 
• Lady Gaga reveals the cover of her new album Artpop which is a sculpture of her done by the amazing Jeff Koons! This was actually referenced in the lyrics of her single "Applause." Sneaky.
• Yale has a poopetrator on the loose. Someone is putting poop in the dryers and this is hilarious.
• Go Purple for GLAAD's Spirit Day! Support the LGBTQ community. 
• Indiana dog crashes a half marathon and gets a medal! And then he gets a microchip so the owner can find him when he runs off...
• Here's a nifty infographic of everyone the US government owes and how much we owe them.
• OMG this lego installation of freaking HELMS DEEP is SICK. Here's the flickr set.

~*You can catch Alt Groove live every Tuesday and Thursday this semester around 8am to 9am EST on WSIN Radio. All announcements for the show and playlists are on my facebook page. *~

Alt Groove links 10.3.13

T O P I C S:

• Ahhhhh the government shut down. The point I want to drive home the most is we voted these people into congress. They have on average, a 90% reelection rate, yet a 9% approval rate right now. We can't complain about congress if we keep giving them their jobs back every election cycle. I will go as far to say maybe you shouldn't complain if you didn't vote. Maybe people will pay attention to who they're voting for now? One can only dream.
• One local effect of the shut down I wanted to highlight is the Head Start program, A federally funded early learning daycare program, had to close it's doors. Approximately 1,200 children In Bridgeport alone under the age of 5 and their working parents are scrambling around to find child care. On top of that, Many of the workers had to be laid off as a result of this.
• Ikea is in the news again for being awesome. They are now making solar panels. Currently they are only being sold in the UK, but I'm sure they'll make their way to the States.
• A dog named Sundance ate 5 $100 bills and left the 1 $1 bill while he waited in the car for his owners. The owner actually collected the remnants and sent it to the US Treasury and the government actually reimbursed him. Lolz.
• The affordable care act has got tons of people in a tizzy. CT has this fancy new site to guide individuals about selecting coverage, and even have this interactive myth busting game that I encourage everyone to play, even if you're not from CT. You can speak with an insurance broker for free; they will hold your hand and answer all your questions. I think this is a great thing for America, even if people don't fully get it yet. 

All of the playlists will now be in an album on my facebook page. woo!

"Yes Dear" in progress

This is the first sculpture for my first series of works. I feel like it's taking me  f o r e v e r  to finish, but I keep reminding myself it's because I'm still figuring out the process; not to mention it's a more difficult pose than the other pieces I have in mind. The idea behind this piece is basically a stab at male chauvinism. I don't know how else to articulate my ideas about it yet, but make of it what you will. I'm super stoked about it :)

 I started by building solid. It was the easiest way I could think and plan out the form but gravity was clearly plotting against me. One of my friends builds this way after gaining some tips from the NCECA video Beth Cavener Stichter made about her process.

At this point it's hollowed out and taking shape.

Here's where I'm at now! The body is mostly done. I've added legs and have been compressing and smoothing the outside with various ribs. I have to finish up the head and attach it, make a tale, sew an apron and decide on how to paint it after it's fired. I'm really hoping my professor is right when he said the process will go much quicker after this first one. I plan on having 8 to 12 of these little guys by next year. Yikes!

Alt Groove 9.24 - 9.26 Links

Alright, so I've come to terms with the fact that I really wish I was better at posting all the links here after every show. It will happen eventually, I promise! but for now, check out my facebook page to see every playlist I've ever played on the show. I've been debating whether or not to just post the links on my facebook page for all of the stories I talk about but that seems it might turn into borderline spamming and I'm not about that life. 

Also Links is a funny word.

T O P I C S :

• It's banned books week! Apparently my favorite childhood book series Captain Underpants is on the top of the list of "most challenged" books. Boo you whores.
• Chico MacMurtrie has been welding musical robots for decades. He's bringing them all together for orchestral performances throughout the month of October.
• Ikea introduced DIY flat pack homes last year. This year, they joined forces with United Nations' refugee agency and are modifying them to be refugee shelters for those in need in Syria.
• Losing is good for you! Stop unnecessarily over praising little kids, they can handle rejection every once and a while. It'll mess with their minds in the long run.
• Guess how many snakes were found in this guy's home. Just guess.
• George H.W. Bush is witness at a same sex marriage of friends. How sweet! Filed under republicans being awesome.
• City Wide Open Studios is just around the corner! This is an art event that has something happening every weekend in October. Be sure to check it out as all of it is free!