kickstarter wall in the ocean

As you know, I have several pieces of art which I have been granted as rewards for being a kickstarter backer.
They had been scattered about in my house or tucked away safely, waiting for me to decide what to do with them.
Well, last year, when I was catching up on recording the projects in this blog, I decided to dedicate one wall in my Ocean Room to my "fliss" rewards.
That probably followed from my thinking of myself as Fliss of Kickstarter.
After all, if I was going to have the moniker as part of my LinkedIn identity, then I needed to give that persona some acknowledgement in my house. Right?
I thought it only appropriate.
So, my Ocean Room now contains my Kickstarter Wall, an homage to the talent and creativity of the many artists I have supported for these past three years.
For some, the artwork is a piece created directly for the kickstarter project, as the basis of the project or as a reward.
For others, the brag bit will be a simple thing.

A bumper sticker.
A bookmark.
A patch.
A postcard.
A sticker.
A logo.
Another postcard.
Another logo.
A thank-you card.
Another postcard.
A bee, just for me.
A coaster.
A thank-you note.
A thank-you photo with butterfly.
A gawsy postcard.
A cast-autographed thank-you note.
A postcard from a legend.
An invitation to a bus stop.

This is a work in progress, obviously.
To be continued is my intention.

jelli and the gnawzler: creatures on the wall!

Swimming in the ocean of the Kickstarter Wall
Jelli Oculari floats among the Okinawan fronds
while the Orange Gnawzler creeps and crawls
through the flowery undergrowth.

My thanks, once more, to the two women behind this project!

wandzel muralcle valentine gift

The best things in life don't have a price tag.
The good folks involved with the muralcle just keep giving and giving.
When the Savannah Art Wall on Habersham was being demolished last year, word was sent to its kickstarter backers.
"Want a piece of the wall? Come and get it!"
So I did.
With Matt's help, I located my special brick in the wall.
The one painted by Troy Wandzel on a hot June day in 2012.
I had not remembered the day being videotaped, but it was.
For a last Valentine from SeeSAW, the video link was given to us.
No further exchange of funds, no rushing to buy anything.
Just a true gift from the heart.
(smile)
But that wasn't all.
When I watched the video, there was an extended segment when I was the subject. Starting at video time 0:49, and ending at 0:52, I'm in each frame.
I had forgotten that I was wearing Daddy's shirt.
But I can almost remember the conversations we were having. Especially when he had to mix that neon green for my sunglasses.
What a day of sunshine and good times!
I have watched the video, at least that segment, several times now. I even slowed it down, to step through it. Thanks to the huge monitors on the Macs on campus, I was able to snap a few photos to keep here.
While I am aware that they may not be in actual sequence, I still think they are a good document of the event.
I know I will treasure them... and that day.
Thanks, y'all!

atomic size matters

I needed to do something positive today.
Earlier, I found out about the deaths of two women in my social circles. I wasn't as close to them as I might one day have been, as our friendships are still fairly new.
Nonetheless, their deaths have left a dark place in my psyche.
How better to remedy the loss than by helping with the creation of something new?
As a chemist, this kickstarter project truly speaks to me. Veronica Berns, a recent doctoral graduate in chemistry, has inked a comic book to help explain solid state chemistry to her family and friends.
Pretty nifty, right?
What is solid state chemistry?
You know, the stacking of atoms to create micro-scale versions of old-fashioned vacuum tubes and transistors to help your computers, laptops, and even phones be "smart" for you, while still being physically small and lightweight. A scant 35 years ago, I was an electronics maintenance technician for the US Navy's "modern" computers, machines which were the size of refrigerators and required their own sterile, cool, environments - and had a fraction of the operating memory of today's electronic toys.
That's less than two generations ago! Amazing!
But I digress, as I am known to do...
(smile)
My $29 is not really needed by her campaign. Her science project has struck a chord and has garnered more than double the amount she had set as her goal.
Amazing! Does my heart good to know there are more than five hundred nerds like me who want a copy of her book. I wonder how many of the backers are also teachers like me?
I'll look forward to its shipment in May - just in time for my birthday!
Nice!

hellyfish approaching shore!

"I'll wait.... I want it ALL!!!
Wishing y'all continued success!"

That's the message I left for Pat Longstreth and Rob Maclean, the makers of the award-winning, terror-of-the-ocean, short film, "Hellyfish". The kickstarter project stalled for a while, as the creators had moved and life had intruded, as it will.
Then a flurry of action ensued!
The film was accepted into several festivals and proceeded to win awards like crazy!
That led to distribution deals and subsequent delays in fulfilling rewards to their backers.
Like me.

But on the 11th of this month, the newest updates were quite hopeful!
"Awards and Festival Roundup
With the fall film festival circuit officially over and a new year beginning, this seems like a good time to reflect on the adventure of our film so far. “Hellyfish” has been an official selection at 25 film festivals spanning the globe including America, Canada, France, England, Belgium and Australia. Unfortunately we could not make it to every one of them, but the ones we did attend included sold out screenings, filmmaker Q&As, and world-class hospitality. It was everything we hoped it would be and we met amazing filmmakers along the way.
Every festival was truly a magical experience, but my favorite was the Crystal Palace Film Festival near London. The “Sci-Fi and Horror Night” was a week after Halloween and patrons were asked to arrive in costume. So, dressed as swashbuckling pirates, my cousin and I took shelter from the driving rain at St. John’s Cathedral. Festival director Neill Roy, dressed as Beetlejuice, offered us a glass of champagne. The church was awe inspiring and the acoustics were out of this world. “Hellyfish” played to an enthusiastic audience and I had a Q&A with Neill afterward. Also I was able meet up with our main animator, Pryce Duncalf, who lives near London. We have been working together for two years, but this was the first time we met in person!
And we won a few awards:

Best Comedy Short
Buffalo Dreams Film Festival 2014
Buffalo, NY

Best Short Film
Scare-a-Con 2014
Verona, NY

Best Local Film (Golden Shovel)
Buried Alive Film Festival
Atlanta, GA

The festival circuit was a big success by our standards and we’re excited to see the online presence continue to grow. The entire 12 minute film was posted on Youtube just before Halloween and the response has been encouraging and entertaining. We’ve enjoyed fun comments, emails, reviews and we especially love this video from Tony of the Dead.
HUGE thanks again to everyone who helped pull this film together and make it a success!"

Then, a little later that day, came Update 17:
"You may be wondering about your DVD with special features. Unfortunately the festivals have pushed back production by a few months. I can't give you an exact date, but they are coming and they're gonna be really awesome! In the meantime you can watch the film on Youtube..."

The video is also posted on their website. So, if you're curious about the effect of radiation from an unexploded WWII nuclear bomb, buried in the waters off Tybee Beach, on the invertebrate sea life, go ahead and take a look at the movie.
I've done so several times.
Can't wait to get it in my hot little hands!!!

new horizon artwork on my wall!

There he is, lolling on my kickstarter wall, gazing at the window!
Looks right at home, doesn't he?
Yes, this art print from Jeremy Lawson, the man behind "Horizon Anthology: Volume One", features a young man who could have stepped right out of its pages.
A young man in search of adventure!
I like that!

Over here?
This young woman is just fine
on her own,
thank you very much.
I like to think that Morgan Beem
was continuing the tale of
Snow White's daughter,
now grown and able to slay wolves for herself.
Notice that nice fur coat
against that pinked alabaster skin!
I'm still looking for the right frame,
but she'll be up on the wall one day soon.
I promise!

up to the horizon and beyond!

Finally!
Not to mean "finally this has arrived" - oh, no. Jeremy Lawson did a fabulous job of getting rewards out to his kickstarter backers. I think I received my copy of the "Horizon Anthology: Volume One" in October, or possibly early November.
No, I remember now. It was definitely before the end of October.
All I can say for sure is this: I've read the book several times and truly love many of the fifteen tales! I've even made little notes so I can talk about the stories!
I just haven't carved out the niche in my schedule to sit here, in the laptop's glow, and share those notes.
No time like the present! Classes begin on Monday and that would only cause more delay.
Why did I support this project?
Because of my affinity for "The Incredibles", as I mentioned before.
Because I want to know "the rest of the story", as Paul Harvey would have said.
Because this is the only form of "what if" I like to play.
(smile)
So, let's take a gander, shall we?
But do we do so in order of appearance, or type, or author's last name?
Hmmm... reverse alphabetical it is!
David Stoll's "Ember" presents a king mired in settling petty squabbles instead of slaying dragons as he once did. Sigh. Enter two clueless hunters, add a switcheroo, and stir mightily! Great fun!
"Options" takes a different tack. Sarah Stern poses the question: What would you do if your evil lord died and you were free to follow your dream? Would "open a bakery" be your first choice??? Well, as it turns out, you might want be well advised to consider that, as it allows you to use pastry to win over your former enemies. Very nice! Lots of bright colors, too.
"Happily Ever After" is explored directly by Nicky Soh. A little boy is playing with his toys, acting out his favorite bedtime story about the Warrior and the Evil Witch Queen. Enter mom and dad... and blur the line between myth and reality! Cool! The simple lines and bright colors enhance its feel as a child's fairy tale. Nice work!
"Sun and Moon" has to be one of the sweetest love stories in the book. Between a prince and princess? No, my dear, between a boy and his grandma. Ally Shwed has crafted a gentle tale of keeping hope alive in a devastated future world. Beautifully done!
Laura Neubert's "Cast In Stone" merges Greek mythology with the world of modern thespians for something a bit different. Very nice retelling of Medusa's origin, too! This was also one of the few tales which didn't feature princes or princesses or royalty of any kind - quite original!
For this next one, may I suggest a soundtrack? Go ahead and tune up Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water". Seriously. I'll wait.
You need that for the driving action behind Moses Nestor's futuristic tale of humans and aliens. "Fire On The Horizon" is inked with deep flame reds and cool ocean blues and speaks a story of love. I really liked it!
In an odd way, it brought to mind Rinko Endo's story, "The Same Moon". I guess that makes it a "speculative relationship", too.
(smile)
Ian McGinty's "TRIBE." left me cold, despite the snugglies worn by his futuristic clan.
(smile)
Set in a world made barren by a dying sun, I'm sure that's the reaction he intended. Check and mate, sir!
Should I stay or should I go? That's the question of all three of Jeremy Lawson's characters in "Adrift". (Here's the song from The Clash for your wanderin' toes.) Is it nobler to forsake the familiar to roam the Earth or to stay and fight for what is local? So asks the fry cook aloud, the hired hand of himself, and the returning hero by his actions. Nice bit of philosophy there!
Hahaha! "The Adventures of Wilt and Zeed: Dragon Slayers" had a nice comedic twist at the end! Bryant LaMare is obviously riffing on Bill and Ted, which is cool by me - I love those guys! This finds the two adventurers as a human and an alien, on an alien planet, fighting to save the WORLD!!! It really is quite funny and has some interesting details in the backgrounds. (I like the shadows on the walls.)
Jen Hickman provides us a prince, not living too happily. Sure, he's married the fair maiden of his dreams and defeated the evil conjuror and his minions... but, now what? The thrill is gone, as B.B. King would attest. "Mind The Gap", y'all, between what you think you want and what you actually need, or the bad guy gets the last laugh!
Adam Del Re has a nice sense of humor, too. Take one knight, deep in a castle after slaying the dragon, now on "The Way Out". Or he would be if he could remember the path - poor guy! A neon EXIT sign sure would have helped!
(I can so relate to his predicament! Without my Garmin Nuvi, I am easily lost.)
"No More Villains" was the only collaborative piece in the anthology, crafted between Angael Davis (author and drawer) and Patricia Daguisan (colors). Here, we have a man in the midst of an identity crisis, confused about which type of person he is. His kids, on the other hand, aren't confused at all and set him straight! Lovely story, rich purples and soft crimsons in the palette, and a protagonist with a great family!
A similar theme runs through "Mr. Victory in the Age of Suburbia": a man with an identity crisis, though his is softened by age. Athena Currier's former hero has a close resemblance to Prince Valiant, down to the pageboy hairdo, but now he's an older family man. Still, he ponders the questions of life as he fetches milk from the local grocer... a very nice tale about appreciating becoming older. Even the color scheme speaks of a fading sunset with its soft yellows, muted salmons, and dusky grays.
Or maybe that's just how I relate to it, now that I'm in that middle-aged stage of life.
(smile)
Jorge Corona's tale, as the last in this book, takes us one step closer to the endgame of man's existence. "A Lifelong Battle" follows an aged warrior king as he refuses to go gentle into that good night, even after many years with a quiet reign. Nicely done tale of death with dignity.
Tales of aging men are plentiful, but what about those aging princesses? Who speaks of them? Morgan Beem does, in the very first story in this anthology. Snow White, "Fairest of Them All", has wed the prince, become queen, and birthed a beautiful daughter. And so the trouble begins. As her daughter blossoms, her own flower is fading, as is her self esteem. What to do?
Well, you'll have to read that story for yourself, won't you?
I'm so glad to have been part of this grand adventure!