From The Archives: Paris in 2009

I made these drawings over 3 years ago, on a family trip to Paris. My blog didn't exist back then, so I never posted the art. Stumbling on these drawings makes me nostalgic for the favorite city. Maybe it's time to revisit...p.s. 3 years can be a very long time.

Notre Dame

Sacré-Cœur

Notre Dame

Rehearsing Obama's Inauguration 2013

It was a milky Sunday morning of January 13th, the last day of the winter drawing session with Dalvero Academy in Washington DC. The fog was so heavy that it erased tops of buildings and trees. We arrived at the Botanical Gardens on the National Mall, but something was happening over to the left, by the Capitol. Loud orchestral music and baritone reverberating announcements cut through the fog with bright and optimistic grandeur. Morning runners and dog walkers, together with tourists, huddled by the fence surrounding the Capitol courtyard, photographing and filming on their phones. To our great surprise, what we stumbled upon was a rehearsal of the presidential inauguration!

White chairs in perfect symmetry on an otherwise empty lawn, two of the 5 flags up under the Capitol dome, police officers scattered here and there, tiny figures moving along balconies of the building, a few reporters with big cameras, and soldiers in long lines. The baritone announcer introduced Beyonce as the singer of the National Anthem, and solders straightened up in salute.

This was an amazing opportunity to draw a historical event...I don't think I could ever get this close to the Capitol on an actual inauguration day. It's coming up this Monday, January 21st, after the 44th President of the United States Barack Obama is sworn in on Sunday.

Bartholdi Park in Washington DC

Also known as the Secret Garden, Bartholdi Park in DC is a picturesque and serene oasis of colors, textures and shapes. It's hidden behind the Botanical Gardens on the National Mall, with the Capitol peaking in the distance. While on a drawing trip with Dalvero, we happened upon a rehearsal of the presidential inauguration at the Capitol on that same day...but that's in my next post.

Max Richter at (Le) Poisson Rouge

Some iPad-drawn memories from a phenomenal, moving Max Richter sold-out show at (Le) Poisson Rouge tonight. The composer presented and played on stage "Recomposed": Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" with the ensemble LPR, conducted by Tito Muñoz and Daniel Hope on the first violin. That was so beautiful...

Conductor Tito Muñoz and First Violin Daniel Hope

Composer Max Richter

Composer Max Richter during the second part of the concert, with string instruments, keyboards and laptop.

TEDx "Rise Of The Machines" with Ray Kurzweil & Juan Enriquez

Today, we're backing up our data. Soon, we'll be backing up our brains.  
"Everything is a gateway to the cloud" ~Ray Kurzweil

Today, I had an incredible opportunity to attend TEDx SiliconAlley at Terminal 5 in New York City, themed "Rise Of The Machines." Curated by Chris Grayson, the day was filled with amazing speakers.

"Fireside chat" between Ray Kurzweil and Juan Enriquez

 
Personally, I came to hear and draw Ray Kurzweil. This man, who has 19 honorary doctorate degrees aside from the long list of inventions, entrepreneurships, books and other notabilities, has been fascinating me for years. His insight into the exponential growth of technological innovation enables him to accurately predict the future, time and time again. According to Ray, development of intelligence is the next logical step in evolution, which, in turn, breeds artificial intelligence and posthumanism.





Ray Kurzweil's talk today was followed by a "fireside" chat with Juan Enriquez, who, to quote Wikipedia, "is recognized as one of the world's leading authorities on the economic and political impacts of life sciences." Juan also gave a talk earlier, a remarkable talk. He reminded us that historically, tattoos are permanent identifiers and storytellers. Today, by the virtue of sharing our personal data electronically, we have digital identifiers and stories. So Juan asked: what if Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc., are our electronic tattoos? "Does Google make you immortal?" And "What if Andy was wrong? What if it's longer than 15 minutes?" (referring to fame, of course, and the notorious Andy Warhol prediction: "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.")

"What if we are darn close to immortality?" ~Juan Enriquez

"Human intelligence is based on recognizing patterns" ~Ray Kurzweil

Brooklyn Nets -vs- Los Angeles Clippers at Barclays Center

Tonight, I went to see [for the first time, ever] a basketball game at the new Barclays Stadium in Brooklyn. Just like with the Tour De France two years ago, I could not imagine enjoying the event as much as I did. Fully convinced now that games should be experienced live in person. And drawn, of course! Final score: Brooklyn Nets 86 : 76 Los Angeles Clippers. Go Brooklyn!

"Tickets? Tickets? Anybody's sellin' extra tickets?"

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is upon us. This agricultural holiday of giving thanks to "Mother Earth" for the offerings goes way back, and might as well be the oldest and most universal of human celebrations.

It's the time of being thankful for the gift of life force that unites, for the fellowship of men.

The Lakota, indigenous people of the Great Plains (the name Lakota means "feeling affection, friendly, united, allied"), held a philosophical view of life as being inside a sacred circle with four directions: Respect, Generosity, Fortitude and Wisdom. Beautiful way to see life.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Hurricane Sandy Aftermath

Hurricane Sandy affected millions of people. I was among the lucky ones: my home and family are all right. My beautiful Brooklyn neighborhood Ditmas Park has a lot of downed trees. While I was drawing, a couple, who are most likely neighbors, came by and put yellow "caution" tape around this big tree that fell and smashed a white Toyota on the corner of Dorchester Road. A small act of kindness that can save someone's life: another tree in that spot has lose massive branches in it's crown, ready to fall with the next gust of wind. My internet started working today, so everything is finally back to normal. I wish everyone in New York and other affected areas a quick recovery.