Waffle Iron Jewelry Boxes

I thought some pictures might illustrate what I saw on my gallery visit. You can view more at http://www.mevansdesign.com









I love the idea of turning junk into something really nice. The objects themselves have a great design but if you have an old broken waffle iron or cigarette machine what do you do. Recycling design.

WHAT?!?! (inspires me)

When I first thought about this assignment I kept trying to think of what inspired me without thinking about what I needed inspiration for. I take my greatest amount of inspiration (next to life inspiration) from things in my own medium. This is photography and video. I am constantly looking at other people's work to inspire me whether its good or bad. I most generally find inspiration in what many may consider nonsense, some consider art, and some consider innovation. Any way, here are some videos I keep in my favorites that usually help when I'm having brain lock. Enjoy... or don't, doesn't really matter to me either way.

New media parades and pants canons

I was quietly sitting outside minding my own business when it happened, for some inexplicable reason, around the corner of West and Michigan came what appeared a pirate ship. As I saw it coming I could see other objects following, an elephant, unclothed something or anothers, what looked like a green screen of giant cats destroying the city. As the pirate came further down he street I saw a glimpse of something shiny spit forth from it's hand. I was only able to make out the words "Adobe" and "Suite" scribbled in black sharpie on a burnt DVD before it shattered against the wall behind me. Then that was when it happened, I saw people walking around with what appeared to be canons before I lost consciousness. When I awoke I found myself lying on the sidewalk with a pair of keyboard pants covering my face. Was this all a dream? No. Apparently it was the "New Media Parade", whatever "New Media" is.
Honestly my only contribution to this idea was a car with a theremin antenna, but apparently no one knew what a theremin was and no one seemed interested in learning. So... someone came up with the idea of a petting zoo and I was quick with the suggestion of a holographic petting zoo.
On my own brainstorming, I couldn't help but remember when Heron was over in the old building and they would have outdoor installations. I specifically remember an art car exhibit when there were about a half dozen or so cars in the front yard decorated by students. I always enjoyed seeing stuff like that and I think there should be more of it on campus. Perhaps a New Media art installation of a holographic petting zoo in front of the IT building.
Behold the Theremin

2 1/2 Hours of Ignorance

So I recently started a job at IN.gov doing web maintenance from 9-1 on Mondays and 9-5 Tues through Fri. I am also delivering pizzas from 10-5 Sat and Sun (for now). In addition to this I have an Advanced Sound class and a Visual Basics class (I recommend the VB.NET class for anyone needing a CS class as it is fairly "basic"). Anyway my point is that I thought I lost any way of having a continuous 2.5 hours to spend doing as I like. Then I found out I had Columbus Day off work (IN.gov) so after church on Sunday night I came home and decided to catch up on some of my favorite television programs thanks to HULU. These shows included an episode of The Office, a couple episodes of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and a couple episodes of Trailer Park Boys. Did this inspire any creativity? Not really. But it did give me much relaxation and these shows are always good for a laugh. I do think that all three shows are very well written (except for the first several seasons of The Office which were total rip offs of the British version). I also have a tendency to feed off other people's creativity (feed, not steal). Shows like this also keep me from taking things too seriously, like stress from school or work. Anyway, I was able to feed off other's creativity while doing this assignment but other than that I really appreciate the opportunity to complete an assignemnt by fat*ssing my poor neglegted couch.

What the @^%$ did I just sit through.

I believe that quantum physics is allot of b.s. but not quite total b.s. Most of it seems like allot of "What if?"s. I've stopped questioning the physical realm since I haven't dropped acid in over a decade, and I don't want to. I like reality. However I have been taken into what seemed like alternate realities or dimensions. I can remember it being night yet everything was as bright as day. Was that true reality? More like a bunch of chemicals using my brain like a chew toy. During these years of my life I had a lot of questions, like "are we just figments of a greater imagination? do things exists around us that we can't see? is there energy in everything? how can I absorb that energy?" etc.etc. I'm afraid if people get too rapped up in questioning what is really real they will never find any answers. What's wrong with having faith in something, weather it is having faith that this table is going to be here even without me in the room, or faith that everyone has the ability to do good, or a faith in God? I'm probably rambling but I think it is alright to be curious about things. It is just wise to know what the question is. I would guess that quite a few people in that movie dropped acid at some point in there life. I wish I never had but I thank God that I was able to maintain my sanity, my wits, and my faith.

A 6th sence?

Maybe a sense that something is about to happen, or that someone has entered the room... maybe.

That smell that is around you

Not only did I skip a post Saturday but I didn't make a video for the last two. I'll live. Anyway, smell... I appreciate my sense of smell... most of the time. I hate it when there is a bad smell then you start to taste it, like garbage, that smells like garbage, now I have an idea of how garbage tastes! Favorite smells, saw dust in winter, rain, new car, industrial parts cleaner, new shoes, pie, grandma's house, etc. etc. Smells I don't like, kim chee, pet stores, everyone else's B.O., poo, road kill, etc. etc.
One final note, I was listening to a story on NPR about how allot of New Media people in California wind up taking jobs in porno because of lack of work. These are camera people, editors, web programmers etc. There was one guy that said the worst part about the job was the smell. I'll just leave it at that.

All touch... but no contact

Just the other night I saw a commercial for Kleenex and it was following some lady through her daily routine with all the things she touches, touch, touch, touch, touch, touch. It's odd how you can tune out feeling then tune into any specific aspect of it and there it is, like the protrusions of f & j on my keyboard, my armrest digging into my ribs, and my foot twisted underneath me. I'm not looking forward to winter for I have trouble tuning out the reoccurring ache in my shoulder.
On the same topic of feeling, it always makes me think of shape and texture of objects. Like the kids books that have little swatches as examples. I've had this object in my kitchen for a few months and can't seem to get rid of it till I photograph it because of the shape and texture. To get a full 306 view of it I've filmed it.



How I loath compression!

What?... Thoughts on hearing!

Hearing would probably be my second favorite sense. I enjoy music allot, from metal to jazz, from rap to bluegrass. I would be very upset to part with this sense. Beyond music, there are sounds I would miss such as the gentle quiet when I'm at home, my cat's incessant meowing when I get home, the sound of my truck as it goes down the road, and the sound of my girlfriend snoring (even though that one drives me nuts). When I sit at my computer, often times the only thing I hear is the refrigerator, my hard drive, the occasional plane, or farm trucks. Even though I have my hearing I enjoy peace and quiet.
So here is a video I shot of the sunset on my way home the other night. The sound was very peaceful however the mechanics of my camera interfered. You may also need to turn up the volume.

Now... random thoughts on sight

Sight or hearing are my two favorite senses. Could I live without them? Sure. But I prefer not. I live in the middle of nowhere and I can't think of living in the city, I tried it, didn't care much for it. I would miss seeing the sun cut through the trees or corn in the evening, to see deer walking past my bedroom window, to see unmolested snow in the wilderness from my warm kitchen, to see my two cats cuddling in a sunny spot on my deck, and to see my girlfriend smile at me. I find myself fortunate that God has given me the gift to see these things and if he ever sees it fit to take them away I will always have my memories, for this I give thanks.
Here's a video I shot while driving around where I live, I pass my driveway at 36 seconds.