Falling (Could It Be?)

Solar Flare

I have been trying to create abstract animations on an iPod Touch. Someone still needs to develop an app that layers 2 videos or image sequences (with a "difference" blend mode, please).

This piece was created using Fluid FX, CinemaFXV and Animoog.

iPod Animations

More iPod Art

iPod Art

I got myself an iPod Touch so as not to be left behind in this nascent age of the touch screen. I thought I was being smart getting an iPhone without the phone; but, as I only just discovered, I also missed out on the camera. iTouch photos are limited to 960x720 pixels. I wasted a lot of time looking for cool camera and photo apps, when I should have just limited myself to a decent video camera (FiLMiC Pro) and a video frame grabber (VideoPix). At least that way I get 1280x720.

The low-resolution is frustrating but the whole pocket computer thing is a childhood dream come true. Making digital art is quick and fun. I'm starting to see the difference between a well-designed user interface and a waste of money.

I like ArtStudio and PhotoForge2 for their blend options. SynthCam for fake depth of field and iMotionHD for time-lapse and stop motion.

Oxidizer Loop

I recently stumbled across Oxidizer, a fun piece of freeware (Mac only, I'm afraid) for creating animated "flame" fractals with transparent backgrounds.

Occupy Together

The Wall Street occupation is gaining support. Business as usual in corporate America is making people angry. The gap between rich and poor continues to widen. The top 1% of the population now owns 40% of this country’s wealth; the bottom 40% holds less than 1%.

Finding creative solutions to these problems will require us all to work together. Start conversations with family, friends and neighbors. Find common passions. Address human needs in our communities. Pressure elected officials to do the same.

Organize

Choose an issue that is important to you. Join together with like-minded family, friends and neighbors. Learn how to run a meeting. Set broad goals and specific objectives.

Don’t rely solely on the Internet. Reach out to poor people, people of color, high school and college students, working mothers. Find common ground. Build a diverse movement.

Practice democracy. Struggle through the process of building consensus. Commit to nonviolence. Choose your battles.

Have Fun

Practice sharing. Use theater and art to get your message out into the world. Create a drum circle. Throw a party.

Practice civil disobedience. Practice civility. Use theater to rehearse your nonviolent actions. And remember, if you happen to get arrested for a cause that you believe in...smile!