Concert Photography.

Since moving to Chicago, I've relished the opportunity to go to an endless number of concerts. There's always something going on in the city. I've been captivated by watching musicians play their instruments for as long as I can remember, and even did a few staged photo projects on them at school; my favorites were with duct tape instruments.

Here are my favorite photos from shows around the city.

RJD2.

Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble.

The New Pornographers.

Rogue Wave.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down.

Kevin Andrew Prchal.

  

Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele.

The Decemberists.

Songs:

Bag of Hammers - Thao & The Get Down Stay Down


Sixteen Military Wives - The Decemberists

Census of Marine Life

In the past month I sold both the anglerfish (on my Etsy page) and the squid. Pretty exciting!

I'm having a lot of fun making these bioluminescent fish, and really enjoy working with small, malleable lights, like the EL wire. It's given me some more ideas for underwater creatures; I'm currently working on a design for an eel.

I've also been perusing the Census of Marine Life for new discoveries. It's fascinating to learn about everything from the inhabitants of the coral reefs to the deep-sea dwelling fish that inspire these lamps. There's also so many different sub-divisions that go well beyond 'starfish,' & 'jellyfish.' Check it out!

Songs:

The Collected Works - A.C. Newman


Under the Sea - Squirrel Nut Zippers

Oh No! Doom - Out O' The Woodwork Show

This past month I exhibited a lamp at the Oh No! Doom gallery's Out O' The Woodwork show. I had my basket starfish neon lamp along with about 30 other artists' pieces. It was a really eclectic mix of work, & a lot of fun. The gallery owners are really nice, too; check the place out!

Song:

Bright Lights Bigger City - Cee Lo Green

Neon Boneyard, Las Vegas.

I've just discovered a place I need to visit. A part of the Neon Museum in Las Vegas, the Neon Boneyard is where old signs are left after they are no longer needed. The signs do not light up, but there are still plenty of vivid, stunning pieces. It's strange to see the signs magnified at a close view.

(Photo by Matt Gross via New York Times.)

After studying how signs are made, I have a much greater appreciation for the fragility of neon, the work to make a sign, and it's saddening that some of these signs are not going to be restored.

(via Vegas Chatter.)

(via Boston.)

Check out some beautiful panoramas of the Boneyard (by Zach Wise via Las Vegas Sun).

Songs & Videos:

Rag & Bone - The White Stripes

DVNO - Justice

Bones Become Rainbows - The Wailing Wall

Hourly Comic, 2011.

Yesterday I participated in the Hourly Comic drawing. Inspired by John Campbell of Pictures For Sad Children, the hourly comic consists of one comic (panel) for every hour you're awake. Here was my Tuesday.

My favorite parts are the lunch drawing, because that is a pretty accurate depiction of how much I enjoy sandwiches, & the venturing out in the snow with my roommate Sarah. She was very enamored with the snow, & I was... not.

Songs & Videos:

The Snowpocalypse - Will Yates (via Myspace)

Bookends - Simon & Garfunkel (YouTube)

Stormy Weather - Ella Fitzgerald