GRANT GROUP: Jose Antonio Ojeda

Showing posts with label Jose Antonio Ojeda. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Analytics Update!

So one of my goals for this summer is to take over the world.

In a sense...

I brought up Google Analytics in an early blog post about 'hits' on a website.

The artistic goal for this summer will be to LIGHT UP the map, and have a hit from every country in the world. I will do it the old school Kevin Bacon way of person to person networking. This project is more about outreach investigation than it is about fame, or notoriety.

We are becoming a global society - so what better way to start? :) I will keep you updated

Here is what my map currently looks like, for both the US and the WORLD! I have my work cut out for me...

wish me luck :)

www.joseojeda.com

Eagle Blessing

This is a short video that I took,

Short, but I argue, very powerful

I have only begun to know the full importance of the Eagle to native peoples. But beliefs aside, the sight itself is awe inspiring.

The Emcee said to 'bless yourselves' as the handler brought the eagle to each of the four directions. NAnd I did. I said a prayer and accepted the blessing

I have changed the way that I pray. While I am still very spiritual, it has certainly changed. having to deal less and less with any religion, and more with forces and feelings of the universe

I love this video because the eagle seems to flap with the beat.

I think it would be a great video to use with the connect VJ

Daily Drawings - THE BOOK!

Hey everyone,

I am excited to say that my first volume of "Daily Drawings" is now in book form,

and ready to order! if you have the desire and funds

It actually came together really nicely - I think the format works well with the images, and I really cant wait until I have enough content for Volume 2!

Take a look at this preview:

Daily Drawings by Jose Antonio Ojeda | Make Your Own Book

Latino Fashion Show

I had meant to post this a long time ago,

But I was fortunate to help with the latino fashion show on campus this year. I think that I mentioned it at some point.

I was especially happy because I was able to bring in my Bodega awning/signage and use it as part of the stage design.

I also built those 2 large silhouette screens that were used in other scenes, and that broke up the space really nicely.

This video is of the 'Urban Scene'

On top of La bodega awning, was projected imagery of actual bodega's and NYC street life

This was fun

People always ask me how I make my small metal pieces. Almost everyone assumes that I use a machine, or a laser or something. They are usually surprised when I say that I just use my hands and a jeweler's saw. Then I describe what a jewelers saw is =P It has a U frame, and the key is the very tiny teeth on the blades, which allow for cutting through metal.

I sped up the piece and put it to music

I chose daft punk because they represent this hybrid space between human and machine that I am really interested in exploring. And maybe even becoming.

After this past weekend, especially with the mind control device, I think that we are one step closer to this hybrid reality where the lines are blurred :)

I really want to take more footage of myself working. I recently bought a new HD webcam that I will utilize. This video was actually shot with the camera on my macbook pro. I propped it up and open with many a brick =P

SHOWS

Aside from the regular craziness that is finals, I will be participating in 2 art shows this weekend, Friday and Saturday.

Here is the poster with the information for both: *click*

This is a video I compiled with the footage of my first show that I had at La Bodega, which again is my hybrid studio/exhibition space at Stony Brook University.

I really hope the second show goes well!!

SUPER SHAWLLL

So remember that badass Shawl that I said I was making?

Here is a video of it being used in action, on one of the largest powwow stages in the country. Gathering of Nations, in Albuquerque, NM.

It is the dancer in all black. Black dress,

And the shawl is a black shawl with a colorful yellow/blue/red/white horizontal band going across it.

It was called the "Super Shawl" midnight special - yes, it was midnight at the time. And dozens of women competed, in a winner take all contest. The prize was $1000 and a trip to vegas!!

I an also posting this because to date, it is my most popular youtube video - with 2,494 hits! I know that might seem like chump change for some, but for me, that's amazing! I am almost in disbelief, but it is very promising.

The sky is the limit :)

Smoke Dancing - My favorite

I finally got footage of Smoke Dancing! It has become my favorite thing to watch at Powwows now, and I am borderline obsessed.

The dance is very popular with the Iroquois people, but it's popularity has expanded throughout Indian Country. And with this guy (thumbs pointing to self).

The name comes from the quick footwork, which looks like you are kicking up smoke moving your feet so fast!

I think it'll take me a while to get anywhere near good, but it looks like fun :)

Take notice of the little girl in the middle. I have seen her at a few powwows now - and aside from being cute and adorable, she is also very talented. I remember at one powwow, there was no one to compete for smoke dancing, so she went out there alone, and killed it! People even started walking up to her and throwing money at her feet in appreciation :)

This is smoke dancing, people :)

Asia de Cuba + Graduations

This Monday I was fortunate enough to go to my brother's Graduation at NYU. Again, he received his Masters in Sports Business and will be starting his new job with the Susan G Komen Foundation. I am very proud of him and I know he will go very far - because he already has.

We took him out to eat at a restaurant called 'Asia de Cuba', a fusion place. The food was priced for midtown, but very worth it, very delicious. The folks enjoyed it too, which was also a plus.

I thought it was interesting seeing my brother walk down the street in his purple robe, and yellow and blue masters hood. It was a normal sight to me - clearly the guy was a recent graduate. But then it got me to thinking - a lot of the people must be baffled, as to why someone is walking down the street in this robe!

Is it religious? Is he a priest?

Is it a clansmen? or some other cultish group?

Is it simply a crazy person? or worse, an eccentric??

but in the end, the robe got him that nice cake :)

Congrats, brother!

En route to The Tank

I had the privilege of riding the train with Waylon down to the city.

I had not slept the night before (as suggested by Phillip, haha), but not because I was out partying, but because I was finishing up some work. I figured that I would work through the night anyways, knowing it would be impossible to wake myself up in time while on such little rest.

It was a good train ride though. I wont get into everything we discussed, but aside from the philosophical and brilliant, there were a lot of jokes and laughs to be had :)

@ The Tank - Group shot

I thought that this was a pretty good shot of all of our actors/performers

Taken at the end, right before the Q&A

They all worked really hard an deserved our praise and appreciation.

The show kept being refereed to as a "Mash Up", and this is true even in it's actors. They came from various levels of experience, different age groups, counties, different departments even

All coming together to take this new, American Decameron

@The Tank - Callibrating

The interesting question of "Is this all a gimmick?" came up, in regards to all our toys and technology.

It was speculated that it was. At least at the moment. In the end, the show was all about the stories. It was about the actors, on a stage, telling and acting out their fictions and realities to the audience. A mix between drama, music, and comedy.

But the potential is certainly there and i'm glad that we began to investigate it. Already thoughts have been stirring on how to make it even better. The technology just needs to be better integrated with the actual storytelling so that it enhances it, instead of distracting or overpowering the story. It might also be wise to have a separate dancer - who knows the story - interact soley with the kinect, leaving the actor free to best deliver their role

@The Tank - Images

The Tank was a fun experience. Crazy that we were right down the block from Daniel Radcliffe!

The space was smaller than I had thought, but only because it was mentioned to be just as large as the black box at Stony Brook - but I most likely misinterpreted that.

I was happy to take on the sound/music element of the show. I enjoyed cueing up music and fading it in an out between the scenes/stories. I miss putting on shows :)