Random thoughts on art, technology, stuff, and occasionally Real Estate: April 2010

Trees have inspired legions of artists, from Anselm Keifer to Ansel Adams. But Michael Gullberg takes his inspiration in new directions, creating a forest of images in oil paint and graphite that are framed in intricate hand-hewn wood creations. The new works will be featured in Gullberg's solo show, "The Air that I Breathe," at Future Studio Gallery in Los Angeles.

·     Opening: Saturday, May 8, 7 - 10 p.m. (Part of NELAart.com Second Saturday Gallery Night)

·     Studio hours: May 16, 23, and 30 from noon to 4 p.m. The artist will be present during these hours.

·     Address: 5558 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90042

"Trees are an endless fascination and inspiration for me," says Gullberg. "It is the human characteristics of trees that draw me in."

Indeed, Gullberg's trees are meditative in their humanity, reflecting the artist's spiritual connection to nature. These aren't cliched wood nymphs and trolls, but rather sensual torsos and limbs that invite viewers to linger almost voyeuristically to absorb the implied forms and shapes. Gullberg tips his trees on their sides and inter-twines branches and roots. The stoic foliage so many take for granted becomes gratifyingly alive through Gullberg's command of tools and mediums.

Gullberg is one of those rare Los Angeles artists who eschewed formal art school in favor of blazing his own trail. Instead, he has read books, conversed with fellow artists, shared studio time in live painting sessions, and opened himself to a variety of learning opportunities--including the chance to study woodworking with the late Sam Maloof, one of the greatest furniture makers of our time. Gullberg had a solo exhibit at the Southwest Museum in 2008, and his work has been shown at several Los Angeles galleries including The Pod Gallery and the Cactus Gallery. He has been featured in Create:Fixate shows in Los Angeles and has had work at the Lisa Coscino Gallery in Pacific Grove.

Lest anyone unneccesarily spend any precious minutes pondering what to send me for my Birthday next week (May 3), I will tell you what I want. An iPad.

Since I certainly don't expect any of my friends or acquaintances to shoulder this expense alone, I have set up a Pay Pal account for the purpose of collecting donations towards my iPad. You could think of it as a "gift registry". So, if you are so inclined, please do feel free to click the button and toss some spare change into my iPad account.

And don't worry, no matter how much or little is in my account, I do intend to pay a visit to the Pasadena Apple store next week.

This vintage hilltop cottage will be available May 1, 2010
on a short term, month-to-month basis. 

There are some special circumstances. The property owners live out
of state. The current tenants will be moving out April 30. When the
current tenants move, the property is going to be placed on
the market for sale. It will be a short sale.

We are looking for someone who will rent the home while it is on
the market, who will keep it tidy and make it available for showings
to prospective buyers on reasonable notice. The tenant will need to
understand that if and when the property sells, they will given notice
to vacate. The property may or may not sell quickly, but in any
event this will be a temporary short term tenancy.

2559 Langdale Avenue, in the hills of Eagle Rock is a
1933 vintage English Revival cottage with panoramic views.
It is 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, and is offered for
rent at $1,500.00 per month.

Original period details, hardward and fixtures are intact, including
original kitchen and bath plus fireplace and tiger oak hardwood floors.
There is updated electrical, central heat and air.

This is a lovely, quiet neighborhood, close to the emerging
art scene in Eagle Rock, with its popular coffee shops,
restaurants and galleries.

Easy commute to Pasadena, Glendale, and Downtown Los Angeles.
5 minutes to Eagle Rock Trader Joe's.

Would you like to make an appointment to see this delightful
Eagle Rock home?

Please call Bob Taylor or Cheryl Johnson at 323-257-1080 or email us at bobtaylorprop@gmail.com .

The Bob Taylor Properties Network of informative blogs and websites
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TaylorHotSheet.com Market updates and open houses
WeMarketRealEstate.com Our intensive marketing strategies
RealEstateHomeBuyersGuide.com Information for home buyers
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Bob Taylor Properties, Inc.
323-257-1080
DRE License # 01304057

Jack Smith was a beloved columnist for the Los Angeles Times; his column appeared in the Times for 37 years.  His gently wry style was often called witty, literate, and genteel.  Smith passed away in 1996.

Anyway, I have been rereading and enjoying Smith's 1982 book, "How to Win a Pullet Surprise". about the "pleasures and pitfalls" of our English language.  And thinking about it in the context of today's bloggers and citizen journalists.

Consider this example phrase from "How to Win a Pullet Surprise":

A man chasing a cat with a broom in his underwear

(As a cat lover, I find it rather gross, but never mind.)

Which image does this phrase invoke for you?

1.  A man is chasing a cat.  The man is wearing only underwear, and inexplicably, there is a broom stuck in the man's underwear.

2.  A man is chasing a cat.  The cat is wearing underwear, and inexplicably, there is a broom stuck in the cat's underwear.

Or

3.  A man wearing only underwear is chasing a cat.  The man is holding a broom as he chases the cat.

Do you immeditely conclude that the author meant to invoke image number 3?  Or do you consider image 1 and 2 as possibilities as well?

Something to think about before diving into a blogger's flame war.  :-)

My new favorite WordPress PlugIn is...

WPtouch

What does WPtouch do?  If a visitor comes to your blog/site via a desktop or laptop or netbook computer, WPTouch does ... nothing....

However, if a visitor comes to your site via an iPhone^TM, iPod touch^TM, Android^TM, or BlackBerry Storm^TM touch mobile device, WPtouch styles your blog/site specifically for viewing with a smart phone.

For example, when viewed from a desktop computer, the WordPress-based website for one of the properties we now have in escrow looks like this:

When viewed on an iPhone, that same website looks like this:

See the drop-down arrow in the upper right?  You can set the plugin to bring up the menu of pages that is in the sidebar when a user taps the drop-down arrow.

You can create your own custom icons for pages in the menu list, but here's an important tip.  At least in my short experience, the upload icon link on the settings page didn't work.

I needed to connect to the website via FTP and manually upload my custom icons to the folder named:

wp-content/plugins/wptouch/images/icon-pool

(Not the custom-icons folder named on the WPtouch settings page)

Your custom icons can be ordinary .JPG or .PNG image files, 57 pixels by 57 pixels, and after you upload them to the icon-pool folder, they will show up the the list of available icons on the settings page:

Heritage Square Museum invites you to join us on Sunday, April 11 from 11am to 4pm, for LA Heritage Day.

This year, the event will feature a heritage showcase, games and crafts for kids and lots of opportunities to discover the history of the region from the over 70 groups in attendance. Pink's Hot Dogs, will also be here and will have a special display showing their history in Hollywood going back to 1939!
 
Special activities occurring throughout the day include:
Blacksmithing from Adam's Forge
A living history interpretation of William Mulholland by the museum of the San Fernando Valley
Period dancing and audience participation by the Yesteryears Dancers
Performance of songs from the Charles Lummis Book "Spanish Songs of Old California" by the Historical Society of Southern California
A costumed presentation recalling moments in the history of the Centinela Valley by the Historical Society of Centinela Valley
The opportunity to see a 1922 Moreland Bus courtesy of the Burbank Historical Society
Regional Music courtesy of the Arab American Historical Foundation
A discussion on the Los Angeles City Preservation Ordinanance
 
For a complete list of participating groups visit http://heritagesquare.blogspot.com .

Because you're "in the know," you can download a flyer for FREE admission here: http://heritagesquare.org/calendar_of_events.htm  (it's $5 without the flyer).
 
Admission is also free for those showing their Heritage Square membership card.

Those attending the event are encouraged to take the METRO Gold Line to the Heritage Square stop, where a shuttle will be running every 5 to 10 minutes.
 
We also want to thank Councilman Ed Reyes and Supervisor Gloria Molina for their support of the event.  LA Heritage Day is put on by the Los Angeles Heritage Alliance. Learn more at http://laheritage.blogspot.com

Heritage Square is a living history museum reflecting the settlement and development of Southern California from the Civil War to the early 20th Century, Heritage Square Museum offers visitors a look into the everyday lives of Southern Californians at the close of the 19th Century.

The eight historic structures located on the museum grounds, constructed during the Victorian Era, were saved from demolition and serve as a perfect background to educate the public about Southern California's early development. From the simplicity of the Octagon House to the opulence of the Perry Mansion, the Museum provides a unique look at the lifestyles of the people who contributed so much to the development of modern Los Angeles. 

This Saturday, some of LA's best and up and coming food trucks will be rolling to the EAST SIDE to support the NELA Art, Second Saturday Gallery Night!!!

Saturday, April 10, NELAart presents: SECOND SATURDAY GALLERY NIGHT

WHEN: The Second Saturday of Every Month  7:00-10:00p.m.
WHERE: Highland Park and surrounding neighborhoods.

NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night is a free self-guided tour of the galleries, non-profits and artist run project spaces located in Northeast Los Angeles (NELA).

NELA has a tradition in the arts that dates back to the early 1900s.

The tradition continues with new spaces opening regularly. NELA is now one of L.A.'s most exciting destinations to view contemporary art.  

(Above image by Miguel Angel Murillo, showing at Avenue 50 Annex, April 10, 2010)

The following space are participating this Saturday, April 10:

(Individual gallery hours may vary)

Avenue 50 Studios, 121 North Avenue 50

Bike Oven, 3706 North Figueroa Street

Cactus, 5434 Eagle Rock Boulevard -- With The Sweets Truck!

Cafe de Leche, 5000 York Boulevard

Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, 2225 Colorado Boulevard

Drkrm, 2121 San Fernando Road

Future Studio, 5558 North Figueroa Street

hi tree, 131 North Avenue 50 (behind Avenue 50 Studio)

Jose Vera Fine Art, 2012 Colorado Boulevard -- With Vesuvio:  Italian Food Truck!

Kristi Engle Gallery, 5002 York Boulevard

Land of Odd Gallery, 4690 Eagle Rock Boulevard

La tierra de la Cuebra, 240 South Avenue 57

MorYork Gallery, 4959 York Boulevard -- With DOSA Truck!

Moppet Studio, 5101 Monte Vista Street

New Puppy, Unit 1, 2808 Elm Street

New Stone Age Mosiacs, 4532 1/2 Eagle Rock Boulevard -- With Kabob 'N Roll Truck!

Outpost for Contemporary Art, 1268 North Avenue 50

pLAyLAnd, 4140 Eagle Rock Blvd. (Performance at 7:00pm)

Route 66, 5917 North Figueroa

She Rides the Lion, 133 North Avenue 50

Toros Pottery, 4962 Eagle Rock Boulevard

2 Tracks Art Studio, 135 North Avenue 50 (Next to Avenue 50 Studio)

Verbre Studio and Gallery, 4540 Eagle Rock Boulevard 

Late Night/After Party

Verdugo Bar, 3408 Verdugo Road- With Komodo Food Truck!

Did you know you can make a simple slideshow movie in Picasa, Google's free basic photo organizing, sharing and editing software?

Here's how.

Open up Picasa.  Open the folder containing the images you want to use, and select the images for your slideshow. Thumbnails of the selected images will appear in the "tray" at the lower left corner of the screen.

Click on the movie icon.  Picasa provides two movie icons, one under the folder title, and a larger one in the toolbar.  Both icons serve the same function.

The Movie icon takes you to the Movie Maker screen.  Picasa automatically inserts a text slide at the beginning displaying folder name and date.  Select the Transition Style and Duration from the drop down boxes in the Movie tab.

Click Create Movie to get started.

The Draft screen will appear as Picasa performs the initial processing of the slideshow.

When Picasa has finished processing, it will run the slideshow.  You might be satisfied with the initial version straight out of the box.  But if you want to make revisions, when the slideshow finishes, click Edit Movie.

To add a text slide, click on the image that you want to precede the text slide .  Then click the Text Slide icon.

Select a font, and colors, and add your text.

After each change or addition, click the Create Movie button to save the changes.  You can choose to replace the existing movie with the revised movie, or you can choose to save each version as a new file.

A simple drag and drop operation changes the order the images are displayed in the slideshow. 

Remember to use the Create Movie button to save after each change.   When finished, you can upload the completed slideshow to YouTube.

Log into your YouTube account to grab the embed code for your slideshow and display it on a website or blog.

An important footnote:  By Default, Picasa saves your slideshows to

My Documents/My Pictures/Picasa/Movies