Places

A Block Party in Brooklyn

BY Author Ana Almeyda-Cohen | Posted on | FILED UNDER Categories Brooklyn, Culminant, Holus Bolus

Block Party

The sounds, rhythms, and feelings that are heard, felt, and sensed being outside in New York City during the summer is one of a kind. Being at a block party captures all of these sensations, HOLUS BOLUS. I had never been to a block party in Brooklyn and when I did finally go, I was torn between enjoying the moment (sans technology) or shooting a quick video to capture the moment and share with my friends and family later. I chose the latter. In this video, everything is captured. Though in a hasting fashion, from the stoop of the brownstone, at a sort of CULMINANT, you can: palpitate the sound of the speakers, the rhythm of the hip-hop music playing, the urge to dance from your street, and the need say nothing–just watch, listen, and record.

Peach Blossom

BY Author Lingyun Zheng | Posted on | FILED UNDER Categories Brooklyn, Manhattan, Umbel

I was looking for peach blossom in New York.

I went to Brooklyn Botanic Garden and just found some scattered flowers on the peach trees.

In my memory, the peach  blossom in China looked like bulky pink clouds.

On Roosevelt Island, I found the cherry blossom. I told myself it looked like the peach blossom I was looking for.

Mystic Fog: South Beach, Staten Island

BY Author Rebecca Shapass | Posted on | FILED UNDER Categories Foudroyant, Pelagic, Staten Island

Mystic Fog

A mystic fog seeps into the skeletons of trees. The sound of the ocean reveals the beach is only a few paces away. I imagine sand under my toes, but stand strong on squishy mud. Yellowy-green grass-weeds come to life in the mist, unfolding before me in an endless path to eternity. An empty lot inspires growth. A flock flies overhead. I would like to see as they do, though my view is not so bad.

&
Discovery of Water

The RETE of modern day internet commerce

BY Author Lynne Sachs | Posted on | FILED UNDER Categories Manhattan, Rete

As a filmmaker, I feel the connection between my purchase of a camera at B and H Photo and Video in NYC and the people who work in the warehouse to get that package to me so quickly.  The time between their boxing the camera and my front door is so incredibly short these days.  I am painfully aware of the RETE of commerce in the world.  So this video speaks to that phenomenon.  Since the launch of this video, the workers won! They are now able to unionize.

B&H Warehouse Workers Protest on October 11th, 2015 with the support of Laundry Workers Center United, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice and Rabbi Ellen Lippmann.  Video by Lynne Sachs.

According to Democracy Now, “more than 100 warehouse workers have launched a campaign Sunday to unionize B&H Photo Video, the largest non-chain photo store in the United States. The workers are alleging widespread racial discrimination, wage theft and unsafe working conditions inside B&H’s two Brooklyn warehouses. In one case, workers say they were locked inside one of the warehouses during a recent fire in an adjacent building.”

Nosogeography: Gowanus to go

BY Author Erik Schurink | Posted on | FILED UNDER Categories Brooklyn, Nosogeography

Sound artist Viv Corringham invites local people in communities around the world to take her on “Shadow Walks” through their neighborhood. She records the conversations. Later she retraces the person’s walk on her own and “sings the walk” through vocal improvisations, and records her singing. These recordings are edited together to make the final sound piece. “Broken Land” from her CD “Walking” is the result of my taking her on a walk along the Gowanus Canal.gowanustogo