This evening I attended the first installment of a promising lecture series skillfully organized by my friend and cubicle neighbor. The cross-disciplinary series “aims to explore interrelations of new media, technology, and traditional forms and practices of arts and humanities.”
The featured speakers were Brooklyn-based mixed-media artists, Jennifer and Kevin McCoy. In one of their pieces that they demonstrated for the intrigued audience, the McCoys had re-shot the famous kiss between William Hurt and Kathleen Turner in Body Heat, then built a self-contained, projection-ready, suitcase-housed computer “appliance” that restructured a database of the shot frames with a custom algorithm, altering the display of the narrative by suspending, reversing, stuttering, and repeating the frames in a perpetual loop.
I have to admit that I was jealous—not as much by their work (which was captivating)—but by the collaborative aspect of their marriage. They have been creating conceptual art together for more than a decade, each adding his or her respective strengths to the mix.
Plus, admiring his wife (respectfully, bien sûr), I was totally envious of Kevin McCoy—an articulate “girl geek” with an artistic bent is incredibly sexy; now where can I find myself one of those?
I’ve heard of such girls but I’d always thought they were mythical creatures and not to be found in real life!
<tongue-in-cheek>
As the male counterpart to such creatures, I was once filled with lament because I too thought them to be only mythical. They do exist in real life; however, they are rare, and I have only ever been in close proximity to just a few. They are remarkably elusive prey and tend to bolt when cornered.
Alas, the hunt begins anew with renewed vigor.
</tongue-in-cheek>
Perhaps you are looking on the wrong coast? They flourish with abandon out here. One can hardly swing a Coach bag without hitting one!
:-)
The year I lived in Monterey was one of the happiest times of my life, I do have to admit.
New Jersey, unfortunately, has brought me more pain than joy—from failed career plans to unrequited love.
Last summer, when my contract was up for renewal, I had one dangling loose end that kept me here. (I suppose my fear of picking up and starting over in a new place was also a factor.) Now that that ship has sailed (and sank), I will have a very difficult decision to mull over this spring.
Of course, one part of me thinks that I would just be running from my problems, but another thinks that a “higher power” might be using this unhappiness to lead me in a new direction.
Wow, I sure took these comments in a different direction than the original post (mixed metaphors and all).