UnInTel

Machine A Fire Opera

Domain Mistress — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:01:11 +0000

Incredible performance at The Crucible in Oakland on Friday night. A dystopian view of life sung in Germanic opera style with lots of pyrotechnics.

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Also there is a great review from the SF Chronicle.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go at Burning Man

Domain Mistress — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:28:15 +0000

Not only is this a lovely interpretation of one of Dr. Suess’ most empowering stories, it also features our art project “The Way Inside Out” as a back drop in a couple of shots.

So if you ever feel low, then watch Oh The Places You’ll Go, the memories of the Playa, will lift you lighta’

Exposed

Domain Mistress — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:22:26 +0000

The Thanksgiving holiday festivities continue on Friday night when the local members of the Unintelligent Society attended the opening of EXPOSED…a miniature show. The gallery space is its name, “EXPOSED” and it was cheek to jowl with attendees looking at the petite B/W prints in a variety of subjects that together presented a fascinating show. Bimbi is part of the group showing and we turned out in force to celebrate her work and to be part of a Carmel art happening.

A Night of Fabulous-ness

Domain Mistress — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 03:56:15 +0000

Kira Marilyn Andy Coco

A few friends from the collective imagination made an appearance at La Mirada for the Monterey Museum of Art opening of Pop Icons: Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

Marilyn near Liz

A mingling of attendees and their famous representations as such luminaries as Lady Gaga, Madonna and Anna Nicole Smith cruised about the galleries.

Johnny, Coco, Andy, Marilyn

Jack Sparrow, aka Johnny Depp who was channelling the still breathing (remarkably) Keith Richards was on hand in his pirate best. Mr. Warhol was seen with Miss Coco Chanel on his arm. And there is Marilyn again.

Andy and Coco

Coco was elegant in a simple black dress with divine but subtle beading on the trim and silky belt. With her trademark pearls and chrysanthemum, she displayed a cool elegance that no one else can capture. Mr. Warhol showed his sartorial style in a well-cut dinner jacket.

Andy Factory

Andy revisted The Factory but it was not quite how he remembered it. First there didn’t appear to be any nudity or any chance of any nudity. Though there were a few visitors who were drawing their interpretations of a Campbell Soup can. There were Campbell tomato soup shots being served and grilled cheese sandwiches along with white wine (no other color being served in order to protect the carpets.)

Jaded Andy

Marilyn Andy

There’s Marilyn again. She seemed to be very attracted to the flashing of the cameras. Never resisting the chance to pose for the camera.

Marilyn again

Though the event at the Museum ended at 8 pm, the party of the Fabulous Ones did not. The next stop was Esteban at the Casa Munras Hotel for Champagne cocktails, martinis and tapas. With all the star power in Monterey exuding from the patio at Esteban, the talk turned to the Playa…ideas for next year, memories of the past year, laughter and friendship. For all of the UDS members that couldn’t be with us last night, we missed you and your fabulous-ness too.

Marilyn late

Movers and Shakers

Domain Mistress — Sun, 22 May 2011 23:07:14 +0000

The astute members of the Unintelligent Design Society gathered on a sunny, May Sunday out in Carmel Valley to make and shake.
The evermore unintelligent Ellaaahn had some cute plastic eggs and and the always bubbly Jeannegirl had collected kelp heads that had been drying in her car for weeks. We filled these assorted objects with a myriad of interesting items (seeds, pennies, pebbles) that will create a shivery,
gritty or sharp sound while we sit on the Playa to the beat of the drum that will send pulse waves out from the yet to be name 2011 art project formerly known as The Way Place. With delightful swatches of colorful paper, we swathed the eggs and kelp in a multitude of oranges, reds, blues, purples, greens.
It was great to see our more distant member Sherrie and to have a chance to chat with a new friend Nancy who intrepidly decided to join us on the Playa.

Alaaahn and Ellaaahn were showing off their very cool new goggles. It added to the styling atmosphere when Care and RT showed up with a spangley, sparkley little black number that suited Alan very well. It inspired him to vogue.

Once we arrived at Ellen’s, it was time to get to the serious part of the gathering. Everyone brought a dish to add to the potluck and each complemented the other that we feasted well. Ellen tried to focus on making some decisions about the name of the “AP formerly known as TWP” (art project formerly know as The Way Place.) This is way too unwieldy as a name, we really need to settle on a title. We met Kaz and Infinity who are the owners of a shade dome. We hope that they will camp with us. We like them very much (Stand up Yoga, anyone?)

Next time, we promise to be easier to herd than a school of over-excitable fish and make some decisions.

Carl Jung & Black Rock City archetypes

Domain Mistress — Mon, 09 May 2011 23:17:53 +0000

The other night, one of our more thoughtful members of the Untelligentsia invited a few members of the tribe to her presentation of Burning Man and Jungian Archetypes at the Monterey Peninsula Friends of Carl Jung. Bimbi had a killer Power Point presentation with great long quotes from philosophical thinkers and memory inducing photos of Burns past. The group was small and erudite. The Jungian members were very welcoming and enjoyed the input of RT, Care, Okay and I as we rambled on about our favorite topic…our impressions and experiences of our Burns over the past 5 years.
Bimbi had very insightful ideas on what draws people to Black Rock City every year. It is a search for wholeness and in this search we are creating new forms of old archetypes and creating new myths to find the balance of opposites in our lives.
For me, a compelling point of opposites is in the form of art. In the default world, art is usually created by one person and the art is segregated from the viewer (do not touch) and art is judged. On the Playa, many works are created by teams of people…as a “viewer” you can touch, smell, climb, lie on the piece (depending on its dimensionality) and anyone can create art and display it on the Playa.
We can’t wait for Bimbi’s next presentation.

The Bowery goes Burning Man (in a NYC sort of way)

Domain Mistress — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:37:59 +0000

If I were heading to NYC this week, I’d definitely be down on the Lower East side to check out Festival of Ideas for a New City. This looks like an out-on-the-edge array of visual, audio, sensory medium both simple and sophisticated.

Found Inspiration

Domain Mistress — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 19:56:19 +0000

I was chatting with Ellen yesterday and she mentioned that she’d gone out to the Last Chance Mercantile in Marina last weekend. I’ve been meaning to head out there to look for materials for my art project.

Since I was “all the way over” in Seaside yesterday, I felt that I should just go a little further and take a look. Lately, when I have conversations like this with friends, when they tell of ideas they have had or places they have gone that have interested me, I’ve been following my instinct and taking action. And I’m happy that I did.

I found cool materials that jumpstarted my inspiration: 20 pieces of 48″ plastic “runners” that fit my LED light strips perfectly and are flexible enough to make the 8′ tall ovoid portal. The circumference of the ovoids are representing the galaxy filaments that define the great voids of the universe. Also some plastic forms that look like bowler hats that I’m going to transform into superclusters with a framework of tiny LED lights inside the sphere to represent the galaxy.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

And all this for $7. I couldn’t wait to get home after work to play with my new toys. While messing around, I came up with a name for my art piece for the Playa this year: “s-void O void-s.” The piece is 5 ovoids made of plastic and metal that are 9′ tall connected to a center upright. Each ovoid with have flashing LEDs running along the circumference represent the galaxy filaments that surround the great voids in the universe. Each ovoid is like a portal into the void. I think that I can start translating my vision into constructive reality.

While I was wandering around the Mercantile, I saw this….My first thought was that this is the bin of lost legs.

Who is UDS? And what are we doing this year?

Domain Mistress — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:45:42 +0000

The several members of the Unintelligentsia met at the lovely home of Bimbi. After yummy munchies and a few libations, we called the meeting to order.

Who is going to the Playa 2011?

Karen and Chris – 2 going

Alan and Ellen – 2

Christine – 1

Robin and David – 1 and 1 maybe

Kira – maybe

Jeanne – 1

Todd- 1 (part time camper)

Sherri, Sammy, Alyssa – 3 plus 2 maybes

Alexa – 3

Gail – 1

Johnathon and Cindy – 2

Domini and Iran – 2 maybe

Nancy – maybe

Kevin and Suzanne – 2 maybe

CAMP
Possible 26 people total. Looks like 11 vehicles. We are not renting a truck this year. All camp structures, art pieces etc will have to be carried in camp member vehicles. Those traveling from Carmel Valley area will hopefully be able to share the load.

use the old Wonder Bread for kitchen

Create a shade top out of our existing black shade cloth. Design TBD. Shade will extend out from the Wonder Bread and then towards the street. This will be our eating and gathering place. Not meant to be a shelter from wind and dust

Use existing bathroom structure

Kevin’s Dome?

2011 Playa Art Project

ART PROJECT
We will be creating our art project by turning our “Way Place” inside out. This is easily done and the parts are in good shape. We hope to get 2 early entry passes for this piece.

Todd will build a 4’ wide drum for the middle space. The drum will have interactive lighting which is triggered by the drum. Todd will get us an estimate for expenses. UDS funds raised from last year is approximately $850. These funds are available for the art project and camp.

We will as a group create some “shakers” for the project which can be left out on the playa and used. Lighting on the outside will consist of LED rope lighting powered by a battery. Christine will check her source for the rope lights. We will locate the piece in about the same space as last year. We’ll need set up, maintenance and tear-down people.

We need a title for the art piece. So far we have brainstormed: Heartbeat, Pulse Point, Playce, Still Point, Beat Niche, Beat Nook. Please send ideas to us!!

EARLY ARRIVAL

It’s important to have early entry so we can reserve some camping space. We hope to be in the same general area as last year, maybe one street towards the outside across from Nacho Mama.

Early entry folks will need to carry the camp pieces. Allen and Ellen and Christine and Jeanne thought they could go early. Todd wasn’t sure.

Christine and Todd are considering individual art projects and that would help us get more early entry passes.

IMPORTANT Dates

We will meet on May 15th at Ellen’s to work on the art project. Time/place TBD.

Art project application May 31st

The UDS Rummage Sale is planned for July 9th at Todd’s. Please start gathering your goods!

The meeting was adjourned and we watched a 1994 Burning Man video. Great inspiration (though I’m thankful that there are no firearms now.)

138 Days until the Man Burns!

Playa Planning at La Playa

Domain Mistress — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 02:38:37 +0000

Prelim Camp Plan

Bimbi, RT, Care Don’t Care and Domain had a preliminary camp planning meeting at La Playa Hotel Happy Hour. We definitely brought the median age down by 20 years. This a Happy Hour Snack inspired camp layout. Each pretzel represents a vehicle, the lemon slice is the Wonder Bread and the cheese chunk is the Shade structure. The salt shaker is the Man.

Planning Intense