The Invisible Dogs Act by Improveverywhere
December 31, 2009
Improv Everywhere causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places. Created in August of 2001 by Charlie Todd, Improv Everywhere has executed over 100 missions involving tens of thousands of undercover agents. The group is based in New York City.
I loved the idea. Can’t imagine how much fun they had!
“For our latest mission, over 2,000 people walked “invisible dogs” down the streets of Brooklyn on a Sunday afternoon. The leashes were on loan from the current owner of 51 Bergen Street, the factory space where the invisible dog toy was invented in the 1970s. Participants of all ages spread out from Red Hook to Brooklyn Heights, very seriously walking their very silly dogs.
About a month ago I got an email from Keith Schweitzer from No Longer Empty. The group transforms vacant spaces into public art exhibitions and had an exhibition coming up in an abandoned factory in Brooklyn. He told me there were over 2,000 invisible dog leashes collecting dust on a shelf and wondered if I would like to put them to use. Yes, please.
The factory space served as our meeting point. It’s an incredibly cool spot, and it was fun knowing that the leashes we would be using were created right there in the 1970s. The building was recently bought by a French artist, who is converting it into an art space. It’s tough to say exactly how many participants showed up. We had over 3,000 RSVPs, and the crowd was so large that we filled up the giant warehouse and then had an enormous line of people waiting to get in winding around the block. I think it’s safe to say more than 2,000 showed up. Thankfully, we had enough leashes for everyone.
All of the participants showed up having no idea what they would be doing. I gave a quick talk explaining the history of the building and what the mission would entail, and then we passed out the leashes. Everyone was just told to spread out and go on a walk for an hour or so, behaving as if they were walking an actual dog.”
“The best reactions came from those who played along and Yes Anded us. Lots of people really got into it and stopped to join the fun. “Oh what breed is he?” “Can I pet him?” “He’s so cute!”
“There were lots of kids on the streets, and it was fun to see their reactions. Several parents played along, and some kids were a little confused when their mom or dad claimed to see the dog as well.”
“The most fun part of the mission was running into real dogs. I think it’s the first time we’ve ever confused animals during an Improv Everywhere mission. I loved seeing their reactions.”
“Some establishments did all they could to attract the dogs and their owners into spending their money.”
“Picking up invisible poop. Of course, dog ownership is not all fun and games.”
“Chasing pigeons.”
“Going in two directions.”
“Agent Lathan was a dog walker.”
“After a couple of hours, agents started slowly returning to the meeting point to turn in their leashes. Many were sad to tell their invisible dogs goodbye. It was really fun to do a mission that was so spread out, both in time and in space. It felt like we really blanketed the whole neighborhood with our silliness.”
The Fun Theory – The World’s Deepest Bin
December 30, 2009
Can we get more people to throw their rubbish in the bin by making it fun to do so?
Simple yet creative idea!
Faces in Places
December 30, 2009
Why do we love recognising faces everywhere?
In part, it’s due to a phenomenon called “Pareidolia”
“psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus (often an image or sound) being perceived as significant. Common examples include seeing images of animals or faces in clouds, the man in the moon, and hearing hidden messages on records played in reverse.”
Researchers have discovered that a part of our brains – the Fusiform Face Area – makes sure anything that resembles a face hits us before anything else.
Visit the Flickr group Faces in Places.
DON’T JOIN US IN COPENHAGEN BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THERE
December 29, 2009
“The Institute for Infinitely Small Things, a 20+ person performance troupe based mostly in Boston, MA, USA, proposes to not release at least 38,575 kilograms of CO2 into the air by not traveling to the UN Climate Conference. The amount of energy we are saving in fuel could feed 150 people for a year or power 325 60w lightbulbs turned on continuously for a year. Not to mention that the Institute for Infinitely Small Things really likes to stay home and drink tea or beer (depending on which members you talk to). By current estimates, the majority of the world’s population is participating in this project at the moment. Please help us document this massive effort of local pleasure by contributing your photos to our Flickr stream.
What would you prefer to do in your locale?
Upload your photos to Flickr with the tag “notgoingtocopenhagen” and they’ll show up in thE slideshow.”
So, who’d like to not go to Copenhagen with me?
Check the website!
Photographer: Claire Martin
December 29, 2009
txtBOMBER: Felix Vorreiter
December 28, 2009
txtBOMBER is a writing device used by a single hand; designed by Felix Vorreiter. It ables you to leave guerrilla slogans on walls 
Semi-automatic, seven slots connected to sensors are dragged horizontally along the wall on two wheels and your slogan will be printed on the wall in no time!
Watch how;
NOM NOM NOM
December 28, 2009
“ÑOM ÑOM ÑOM
Bowl
The more we use certain objects, the more they adapt to us. A shoe gets more comfortable with time. A leather chair slowly acquires the shape of its owner. A staircase shows how frequently and in which places it is stepped onto the most. Even the wooden neck of a guitar becomes easier to play after years of use.
But other things, such as tableware or pottery, don’t change like this. Although an emotional connection might grow with familiarity, their surface does not reflect this attachment, but rather the dints and scratches of history and abuse.
What do these objects would look like if they were able to modify its shape according to their owners’ habits?
This piece was developed thinking about the imperfections associated with small batch ceramic production, where very precise shapes are not easily attainable.”
Materials: ceramic
Dimensions: 16 x 16 x 10 cm
Design: Emiliano GODOY, 2007
Wanna Have A 3Some?
December 27, 2009
LED Spray Can by Aissa Logerot
December 27, 2009
Halo is designed by Aïssa Logerot. The LED spray can comes with a number of different colored LED nozzles for changing the color of the light. Just like the rechargeable flashlights you shake to power the light, Halo uses kinetic energy to power the LED. Makes a lot sense considering that you need to shake an ordinary spray paint can before you can begin painting.
See her ofter projects such as instable, madame est servie, lampad’air, feel and office stool.
Stamps Are Back
December 26, 2009
I used to collect stamps like these when I was in first grade. Along with big, shiny pieces of fashionable stickers. I’d carry them around with me obsessively. Can’t remember when I dropped that habit. Now, thirteen years later I don’t have the patience to collect anything. However I might reconsider if I ever get my hands on these little babies
