Jen + Gina Talk Shop Part Two
Posted in: interview On: September 3, 2009 posted by: sara
Brooklyn Morning by Youngna Park
Picking up where we left off last week, Jen and Gina Trapani delve into Brooklyn nostalgia, circuitry and swimming as they wrap up their chat and Gina's stint as guest curator. Thanks again to Gina for taking a break from Smarterware and joining us here!
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| Gina: | I got really nostalgic about several of the NYC photos. I really miss Brooklyn so much, which is why I chose Brooklyn Morning. It photo-tugs at my heartstrings. Those little pieces of colored paper on the sidewalk got me. |
| Jen: | Aww! That is by Youngna Park, who is a very webby photographer. She did one of our very first editions and now she's the Associate Producer of all the JBP sites! Plus, she's been involved with the gallery forever. She was one of the very first Hot Shots in 2005. And, she is a photo-blogger. Remember those? A dying breed. |
iSketch104 by Jorge Colombo
| Gina: | Oh yes, I do remember those, fondly! And, of course, Jorge Colombo's iSketch104 is also a predictably geeky pick on my part. I must confess: I'm a little judgmental about people who stand around staring at their phones when out in public. It’s the whole disconnection/being absent thing. Keep in mind that I do this all the time; we judge things in others we don't like about ourselves. So, what I love is that Jorge turned that right over on its head. And now I can think, "Well, maybe that person is making art." |
| Jen: | Hah! Wow, that's totally great. And yes, they just might be. Have you seen the films of his process that are on The New Yorker's website? They are incredible. |
| Gina: | Yes, that New Yorker cover blew my doors off. The video was amazing. |
| Jen: | I was SO PROUD! They have been posting new ones every week. Actually, I was late for our little IM rendezvous because I had a long breakfast meeting with Jorge and I got to take a peek at his latest videos this morning. |
| Gina: | On his phone? So cool! |
| Jen: | Plus—best thing ever—he started making a sketch of me! |
| Gina: | OMG. |
| Jen: | I think that it's easy to assume that it's the tool that makes the drawings interesting—especially since there was so much coverage about [Brushes] the iPhone app after the cover came out—instead of how to support the artist, GRRRRR. But seeing his process, right before my eyes, really drove home how it's really just a set of tools, and he uses them deftly. |
| Gina: | Agreed, that was pure skill on his part. Yeah, my reaction was, "Wow, this person has put in years of work to get to the point where he can do that with that." |
| Jen: | Yeah, it's clear to me that someone could be a total brushes master and never coax such layered, emotional stuff out of their phone. He combines NYC nostalgia with the very cutting edge of technology. |
| Gina: | Yup. |
| Jen: | One thing he was talking about today is how influenced he is by film. His idea of NYC was shaped by film before he arrived here and has remained an enduring touchstone for him through the years. He carries around the opening sequence of Woody Allen's Manhattan on his phone! We watched it together this a.m., and wouldn't you know it, there's a shared sensibility between those scenes and his drawings. This is the part where I will smugly remind everyone reading that I have THE BEST JOB EVER. |
| Gina: | Oh wow! Interesting. Hahaha, you do! |
| Jen: | Totally. I mean your gig seems pretty sweet too, but... |
| Gina: | It is. As someone who was born and raised in NYC, I feel like his pieces are so authentic. |
| Jen: | Yeah, they are definitely that, and plus there's so much that goes into them, so much feeling, experience. I loved sitting down at my desk and discovering that you chose one of his drawings, right after I saw him, because I am totally keyed-up about his work right now. And it's nice to hear that someone gets the same sense of the drawings without having been privy to our conversation. |
| Gina: | Good timing. He deserves all the support and kudos. I want to see more of these. |
| Jen: | Well, part of what we were talking about was future plans, for 20x200, of course, but beyond that. I'm hoping that Jorge and I are going to get to collaborate on some pretty interesting projects. Plus, I think you can expect to see a bit more from him in 20x200-land come Christmas. |
| Gina: | Excellent! |
| Jen: | OK, did you pick up on the fact that you chose three aerial shots and a globe to tie it all in? Was that intentional or instinctual? |
| Gina: | It was kind-of intentional. I love aerial photography and am obsessed with flight, in general. I actually flew a small plane once! And, I love small things representing big things and vice-versa, which shows in a bunch of my picks. |
| Jen: | YES. Again, I love seeing the perspectives of others on what we've released thus far. |
Howon by Hosang Park
| Gina: | And the Howon photo, my goodness. Circuitry, neurons, urban landscape—all that stuff in one photo. |
| Jen: | He is incredibly talented, that Hosang Park. He's going to have a solo show at JBG in the fall. And how did we find such talent? Hey, Hot Shot! |
| Gina: | That photo really got into my head. I can't stop looking at it. |
| Jen: | Also, maybe it's like, DUH, to you, but there is a surprising synchronicity twixt his aerials and Mark Richards' computer innards. Again, not something I would've sussed out myself, but you honed right in on it. |
| Gina: | Yes! We all have our fixations, and those kinds of patterns are mine. |
Houndstooth Pattern in Parking Lot, at Disney World, FL by Alex MacLean
| Jen: | And actually, because you opened that door for me, thankyewverymuch, I sense a less obvious kinship between Alex's wonderful Houndstooth Pattern and Mark's other edition, the aforementioned IBM mainframe. |
| Gina: | Yes, indeed. |
| Jen: | I can see why you're tuned into those details, naturally, seeing how you spend your days. |
| Gina: | Yes, it's pretty obvious. When I was done, I looked at the collection and thought it was pretty predictable for me! |
| Jen: | Well, I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you found so much that suited you. |
| Gina: | It was difficult to narrow things down. I had a dozen, I think. It was killer to do the edit. |
Untitled (Bondi Baths, Sydney, Australia) by Carlo Van de Roer
| Jen: | And as for Carlo's swim selection... I could be confusing you with another kick-ass female, tech-world superstar, Ms. Esther Dyson—her whole Flickr stream is riddled with hotel pools from all over the world—but are you a swimmer? |
| Gina: | I love swimming, and years ago I was pretty diligent about hitting the pool more often. I did my first triathlon last year—a super mini-sprint—and got back to the pool to train, and this photo took me back there. I love how the water bends the repeating lane lines, and that angle is perfect, with the tiny swimmer. So good. |
| Jen: | Yea, for sure. Man, what is it with rad ladies I know and triathlons? Erika of Mule Design-fame just finished one last weekend up in Napa. |
| Gina: | It's one of those addictive challenges. |
| Jen: | One that's lost on me to date, alas. I did just buy some running shoes, however, inspired by the good habits of Alaina and Liz Danzico. (This is a veritable who's who of my favorite web-world women.) Hehe. |
| Gina: | Good running shoes are key! Alaina's running is really inspirational. |
| Jen: | Yes, and the thing I love about her is her pragmatic attitude. She said to me: "I run so I can eat." She loves to eat and knows ALL the best places. |
| Gina: | I need a t-shirt that says that. |
| Jen: | And Liz, she's got a very GTD attitude about running... she does a half-hour run every day with surprising consistency, and she credits her sanity to that practice. Maybe we should hit up Mike and Erika to make that tee for us! We could form the Running-to-Eat triathlon team! |
| Gina: | We totally should. |
| Jen: | And then, we can all go for a run in Austin, in a few short months. |
| Gina: | I'm in. |
| Jen: | Oh speaking of Austin and running, totally tangential, but I am dying for these shoes. Alyssa was wearing them in Austin last year, evaluating them to write the very article that I just linked to! |
| Gina: | Those are fabulous. |
| Jen: | And I was like... hmm, maybe running IS for me. I actually think they're available in San Diego. They only have them in one store, in a few test markets. |
| Gina: | Ooh, I may have to hunt these down. SD is the triathlon capital of the world. |
| Jen: | If you read the article, you'll find them deeply appealing to the geek in you. |
| Jen: | We'll have to get Alyssa a t-shirt too. We're going to give Anil's annual SXSW kickball game a run for its money with our rad shoes and cool Running-to-Eat t-shirts. You can't buy them ANYWHERE in NYC. Pout. |
| Gina: | I'll have to bring you a pair. |
Globe by Rachel Hulin
| Jen: | Hehe. Now, we have to zoom out for an overview at the end! Which brings us to Ms. Hulin's wonderful globe photo, which I adore too. |
| Gina: | Oh, yes—this was also a mix of geeky nostalgia with a little aerial fetish thrown in. I felt like I was a kid again. |
| Jen: | Yeah, totally, and yet, it's a sophisticated photo. It's an interesting perspective on the mundane, which means that some people look at it and think, "Snapshot!" But now that you've honed your curatorial process, it's not lost on you, nosiree. |
| Gina: | It makes me feel like I'm nine years-old and about to go to bed, the door about to get pulled shut; a great moment, even though this was a shot from her adult-view of her room as a child. |
| Jen: | Heh, totally. She was in her childhood bedroom and took it from bed. I loved talking to her about it, it was another recent newsletter highlight for me. My job rocks. I can't help but brag about it. And speaking of which, I've monopolized a LOT of your time already. I'm guessing your job might need some attending to itself. |
| Gina: | It does, it must be so great interacting with the artists. Oh yeah, actually, I'm gonna grab some lunch. Thank you SO much for asking me to do this. It was so fun and educational. |
| Jen: | This was AWESOME, really super fun. I'm also excited to hear that I'll have opportunities to see you in the coming months! |
| Gina: | Yes! Let's keep in touch and be sure to catch up. |
| Jen: | So talk/see you soon and have a great lunch. Thanks again. |
| Gina: | Thanks Jen, talk soon. |
| Jen: | Byeee. |
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