Fascinating 22 minute video of the Transformation of a Japanese Larch Bonsai Tree by its keeper, Bonsai Releaf.
F Major (below) was the first I'd heard of Hania Rani, but I've loved everything I've heard her play. I missed her in Toronto a few years ago and was angry for weeks.
Probably my favorite video of hers is this set from Studio S2 in Warsaw:
And while I have your attention fixed on a woman killing it on piano, allow me to share this video of Kadri-Ann Sumera playing Piano Piece 1981, composed by her father, Lepo Sumera.
I first heard this track in 2000 in the film Der Krieger und die Kaiserin. Frustrated that the track was not identified in the credits, I sent a letter to director Tom Tykwer, who wrote back with its identity. I had an mp3 of it for a while, which then went astray — and the title and composer with it. Fifteen years later I was thrilled to find the above video after playing one of my favorite piano pieces, The Homeless Wanderer, composed and performed by Tsegue Maryam Guebrou, who died last year at the age of 99.
Stephen Wiltshire is an architectural illustrator best-known for his panoramic illustrations of city skylines which he does from memory.
I first became aware of him a few years ago when I saw Callum Cooper's short about his NY panorama (which is now on permanent display in The Empire State Building). Here's the short:
More info on Stephen's website, including info on his panoramas of Singapore, Dubai, Rome, and London.
Best drone shot I've ever seen — flown by JayBirdFilms. NYT coverage readable through this gift link.
Back in 1968, IBM's CEO fired Lynn Conway for being trans. She was a computer science pioneer at the company. Today, they apologized for it. Hard to believe this shit is still going on today.
Conway ended up five years later at Xerox PARC and, later still, DARPA.
As impressive a life as she's had in computers, equally as impressive is her trans activism. Give her Wikipedia a read.
TLDR? Her inventions power the device you're reading this on.
Column: IBM apologizes for firing a transgender pioneer, 52 years late
Lynn Conway’s brilliant contributions to computer science didn’t stop IBM from firing her during her gender transition. Now it has apologized.
Michael Hiltzik
Lynn Conway - Wikipedia
Contributors to Wikimedia projects
Alexandra Bell is a multidisciplinary artist who investigates the complexities of narrative, information consumption, and perception. Utilizing various media, she deconstructs language and imagery to explore the tension between marginal experiences and dominant histories. Through investigative research, she considers the ways media frameworks construct memory and inform discursive practices around race, politics, and culture.
In her series, Counternarratives, Bell edits New York Times articles, altering headlines, changing images, and redacting text to reveal oppressive patterns in news reportage and society at large.
I've never known how to describe Smashed Peacock. Is it a play? A juggling act? Cabaret? A musical? Dance? A comment on gender or race? It's all of the above with a bit of opera.
Selfies is a short animation by Claudius Gentinetta. Might be a bit bleak for some and might not be safe for work if cartoon imagery offends your higher-ups.
Chair Times — A History of Seating, From 1800 to Today is a 90 minute movie (below) and a series of 16 short films and that range from a couple minutes each to about an hour. Presented by Vitra.
Libro.fm is a neat alternative to Audible. Points in its favor: DRM-free; kick-backs to independent bookstores (I chose Toronto's awesome Flying Books); credits never expire; not owned by Bezos.
Like with Audible, the first month is free. Switching from Audible? First three credits are free by using the code SWITCH. Yes, they have far fewer books than Audible, but the selection is pretty good overall and the sale books have some great titles.
