San Francisco Vignette no.3

It was 1:45pm. The purpose of my trip to San Francisco was ultimately business. I was attending a digital design conference hoping to acquire knowledge and inspiration from some of the greatest minds in the industry. Currently stationed at the podium was a content strategist from Facebook. As he spoke, I surveyed the audience. It consisted of a motley crew of marketers, designers and programmers each remaining amongst their own tribe and realm of self-importance. Half the room had their face buried in their phone. This is how we connect in the modern age; we speak to the world via an interface rather than to those at the same table. 

Later in the evening, I went for a walk. One of the highlights of my trip was strolling through China Town at dusk and I used my limited time in the city to revisit its magic nightly. The colours, the scents, the noise … all weaved together to transport me to another world. My phone, in this setting, was used to capture a part of that. 

Recommended: L'instant Parisien

I've made no secret of my desire to one day move to the City of Light. But in terms of fitting in to Parisien society, this middle-class chick from Winnipeg could use some refinement. I'm happy to have discovered the l'instant Parisien blog to teach me lessons in cultural mystique and provide brief remembrance of the place I've surrendered my heart to. 

Plus, the site has amazing GIFs. 

Check it out at linstantparisien.com/en. 

San Francisco Vignette no.2

It was 12:36pm. We were seated at a booth near a window overlooking the ice rink at Union Square. My lunch date talked about shopping and clothing and men but I wasn't really listening. To get to this restaurant on the 7th floor of Macy's, we had to pass the seasonal display, the sight of which sucker-punched me into a state not conductive to sociability. The first Christmas without my father is approaching and I am dreading it. I miss him terribly. 

I focused on the rather lengthy menu but could feel the weight of someone's stare. Looking up, I met the gaze of a man seated at a table to my left. He resembled an elderly Spike Lee and was dressed quite dapper for what appeared to be a solitary dining excursion. He smiled warmly at me and didn't blink. I averted my gaze out of habit, as I am wont to do when someone challenges my aplomb.  

"I'll have the soup of the day and a salad."

In between listening to the one woman dialogue at my table and watching a flock of pigeons terrorize the patrons seated on the patio, I continued sneaking a glance at the man at the next table. He didn't look away. Now nor did I. I smiled back at him. He nodded.  

I observed as a waiter brought his order. A large bowl containing a hot fudge sundae. My soup and salad arrived shortly thereafter. We ate in synchronicity. 

San Francisco Vignette no.1

It was 11:15pm. I stood at the corner of Ellis and Cyril Magnin, slice of pizza in hand poised to satisfy a late-night craving. There was a lot of activity on the streets, something foreign to the sleepy northern village I call home. Sirens blared in the distance. A mentally ill man to my right shouted obscenities at no one in particular in between reciting random bible verses. Cars honked incessantly at a cab in front of me. The light was green, but it remained stationary. A shirtless man was trying to open the trunk. I assumed he was loading gear. 

"What the fuck?! HEY!!!" the cab driver exclaimed upon looking into his rearview mirror. The shirtless man continued to be transfixed with opening the trunk. 

A scuffle ensued as the taxi driver physically pried the shirtless man away from his vehicle and placed him next to me near the curb. I started to contemplate which self-defence technique would best work against this clearly high-as-fuck individual should shit go down. I didn't want to lose my pizza, but it was probably inevitable. I noted the shirtless man also wasn't wearing shoes. His gaze was as vacant as a zombie. 

Without incident, he made his way back to the trunk of the cab. The driver again exited his vehicle and braced for round two. The mentally ill man to my right proclaimed that God is great. 

I continued munching on my pizza. The walk signal lit up. My hotel was two blocks away.

The symphony of the streets played on. 

Mou Hitotsu no Kenkyujo

My second current obsession from Japan is the work of artist Mou Hitotsu no Kenkyujo. I've been developing a lot of digital animations lately and his beautifully detailed flip books, complete with enhanced print features such as die cuts that reveal secret chambers, are providing a mega dose of inspiration. The books are becoming coveted collector items. I recently purchased "God of Bug Eater (Vol.8)" and the pages are already curling from overuse. 

For more information on Mou Hitotsu no Kenkyujo's amazing work, click here. 

Terada Mokei

Last week I visited Japan Town while in San Francisco and discovered several things that I will probably be obsessing over for the next few months. The first is the 1/100th scale architectural model series by artist Terada Mokei. These very tiny, intricately detailed paper models are sold in sheets that recreate various vignettes of life, from the hustle and bustle of the New York subway system to a competitive swimming event. I really want to assemble one; I feel it would be a great test of patience while learning to hone one's craft. 

For more information on Terada Mokei, click here. 

Terada Mokei New York subway scene

Terada Mokei New York subway scene

Terada Moeki competitive swimming event scene

Terada Moeki competitive swimming event scene

Terada Mokei wedding scene

Terada Mokei wedding scene

Terada Mokei rice planting scene

Terada Mokei rice planting scene

Terada Mokei fishing scene

Terada Mokei fishing scene

Terada Mokei symphony scene (my favourite)

Terada Mokei symphony scene (my favourite)

To truly appreciate the effort involved in constructing these (and get an accurate sense of scale), watch the video below: