Just days before the opening of the exhibition “Kodachrome Culture: The American Tourist in Europe,” Kodak announced that it would discontinue Kodachrome film.

First Polaroid, now this?!

The slide film, known for its rich colors and clarity, has been available commercially since 1935. It now accounts for less than 1% of Kodak’s still-film sales. You’ve probably seen this famous Kodachrome portrait:

Sharbat Gula, Afghan Girl, 1984. © Steve McCurry

The problem is, Kodachrome must be processed by a method so complex that only one lab in America is still certified by Kodak to handle the film: Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas. Dwayne’s said on its site that they would continue processing Kodachrome through the end of next year. Renowned photographer and Kodachrome lover Eric Meola seems to think the transition was inevitable:

Before digital, Kodak was already shifting gears–moving away from the boundaries of KODACHROME (long lab times, fewer labs, a more environmentally friendly, as well as constrained, chemistry)

Promised Land, © Eric Meola

Kodak said that it expects the current supply of Kodachrome to last until the fall. However, if what happened with Polaroid film was any indication, it will probably linger around longer than that.

The National Geographic Museum will open a sentimental tribute to the film today in Washington, D.C. Nat Geo’s photographers began using Kodachrome in the 1930s, describing the film as ‘a photographic medium that changed the way we document the world.’

Kodachrome photo from Flickr user hz536n

Paul Simon, any final words?

Everyone needs a little everyday design, and Target has got the right idea by teaming up with design super-stars like Michael Graves and Isaac Mizrahi on everything from fashion and beauty to decor and dishes. My favorite collab has to be the rock ‘n roll infused line by Alexander McQueen, inspired by my all time favorite front woman, Leila Moss of The Duke Spirit.

McQueen's muse, Leila Moss modeling the Target line

And these days at the IMA, it’s all about design, design, design. The European Design exhibit is drawing to a close (hurry if you haven’t seen it!) but the Design Center will stay open with great pieces you can take home. Already have a lot of design in your life (or living room)? Take some photos of your everyday design objects and upload them to our Flickr group.

And here’s some great news: tonight you can hear Jeff Carter, senior designer for Target Stores, speak here at the IMA.

• Thursday, June 4
• 7:00 pm
• The Toby at the IMA
• $7 Public / $4 Members / $5 students, click here for more details

And let me just take a moment to mention Target’s website.  I’ve always been a fan of their clean layout (although the mega menus are over-stuffed), and the Design For All section provides a mini profile on each designer they’ve collaborated with. Nice. Although,  I’d really like to see video interviews with each designer or even a Design For All blog. That’s probably asking too much-  but hey, a girl can dream, right?

Speaking of blogs,  check out these Target posts from local design blogs The Design File and Level: zine.

And this one from The DieLine:  Los Angeles-based illustrator Hiroko Sanders created the illustrations for the Kleenex ‘Perfect Slice of Summer’, new limited edition tissue box series for Target Stores.

Juicy.

Me (as a blond) and Kyle at Pitchfork Fest 08

But this year, don’t forget your iPhone. Web 2.0, social media, new media… musicians, concert venues, and music festivals are all jumping on the ‘interactive’ bandwagon.

As if crowd surfing wasn’t interactive enough.

Obviously, SXSW has been the leader in merging music and technology (click here to read Daniel’s post from 2008’s festival), but more and more, other fests are forced to think out of the proverbial box.

Voice too hoarse to shout your request? No worries, Pitchfork Fest is giving ticket buyers the opportunity to name the set list of their favorite bands online. This year’s headliners The Flaming Lips said they “will do their best to accommodate the wildest and most obscure of request– covers included.”

Photo by David Donovan Evans

And from what I’ve read in the news, it all seems to be working. Despite the recession, music festivals are thriving.

Photo by David Donovan Evans

To what do they attribute this success? According to this internet marketing blog, “MySpace has long been a popular social network within the music industry. Artists often preview new albums on the site, for example. When it comes to these concerts, however, MySpace doesn’t generate nearly the engagement of Facebook, or even Twitter or email.”

One of my most favorite new media + music mash ups of all time is the All Eyes series from CurrentTV. Check out the fan-sourced video of My Morning Jacket at Lollapalooza.

This really gets my gears turning about possible ways we can apply these new media/social media stategies to the programming here at the IMA for The Toby and Summer Nights, or other events at the museum. How have you seen social media used effectivley at a concert, festival, or event?

I’ve never been a big fan of MTV.  Let’s face it, it hasn’t been “Music Television” in over a decade.

However, according to the LA Times, MTV is launching a ‘new media’ series, $5 Cover, on multiple platforms (from silver screen to small screen to, er, iPod screen) that will “meld reality TV and indie cinema.” Even though the phrase ‘reality TV’ makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit, at least they’re trying, right?

$5 Cover promises to capture the flavor of the local Memphis music scene with real musicians playing themselves, orchestrated by filmmaker Craig Brewer, writer-director of “Hustle & Flow.” Check out the trailer for $5 Cover here (Oh, did I mention there’s roller derby?)

Image from fivedollarcover.com

The LA Times goes on to say…

The show, [which launched May 1]  at midnight on MTV’s cable channel and on its website, fivedollarcover.com, is a fascinating experiment in new media storytelling, combining the unabashed narcissism of reality TV with the raw, rough edges of indie cinema. Until now, Web series have largely been drawn to comedy and thriller storytelling genres.

Image from blog.fivedollarcover.com

MTV seems to be revamping the rest of their programming too, and it’s starting to look, well, a lot like one of my all-time favorite channels, CurrentTV (and it looks like they’ve noticed.) According to The New York Times, in an effort to reach its youthful audience in these times of economic crisis (read: desperate attempt to boost ratings), MTV is taking steps to add more relevant programming:

Meet MTV for the era of Obama. After years of celebrating wealth, celebrity and the vapid excesses of youth, MTV is trying to gloss its escapist entertainment with a veneer of positive social messages.

Less socialites. More substance. We’ll see if it’s enough to make me ‘want my MTV’ again.

Web 2.0 logos from Flickr user stabilo boss

Lucky for me, social media has become an integral part of the way museums create an interactive experience for the museum visitor, especially here at the IMA.

That said, we at the IMA would like to invite all our blog readers and fellow bloggers to peel your eyes from the computer screens for one night, and put a face to the local blogs you love to read. (Don’t worry, we’ll have wi-fi so you can live-blog and tweet to your heart’s content!)

Come one, come all...

And now, just for fun, The top signs you have a Blogging Problem: {Comment below with your own (probably more) witty ‘top signs…’}

• After 5 minutes of meeting someone you ask, “So… do you blog?”
• You make plans and decision based on whether they are ‘blog-worthy’
• You get more “approve this comment” e-mail messages than spam
• You only stay at hotels with broadband or with a Starbucks within 3 blocks
• People worry about you when you do not post for a day
• You’ve started to resemble this guy:

RSS feed tattoo from Flickr user shizhao

For more absurd blogger tattoos, click here. Obsessed with Facebook? In need of a Twittervention? You’re invited too… See you on Friday!

So here I am: kinda lonely,  still nursing an ArtBabble hangover, and jamming to the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album, when Phil stops by with a huge stack of robin’s egg blue ArtBabble stickers. What’s a girl to do?

Why, take pictures of said stickers! Of course!

Play Art Loud... on my desk.

What’s next? We want pictures from YOU- snap a shot of yourself with a Play Art Loud sticker or of your sticker in a really cool place. Submit them to the Flickr Group or add them to our Facebook page. I’ll feature the good ones here on the blog.

Here’s a few examples from IMA Staff members:

From Noelle

From Danny

From Daniel

From Jenny

Don’t have a sticker? Comment below or stop by the IMA or Bloggers Anonymous (more to come on that) and we’ll get you one! Play Art Loud.

]]> http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/04/09/stickit/feed/ 7 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/03/26/inspiration-part-deux-originality-is-overrated/ http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/03/26/inspiration-part-deux-originality-is-overrated/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:10:46 +0000 Kate http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=4015

Image from iainclaridge.net

I’m not afraid to admit it: I rarely have an original idea.

And this blog post is a perfect example. As I was reading Emily’s latest musings on inspiration, it got me thinking about how my own creative process works. More often than not, the ideas I come up with are born only after I have seen/read/heard something from someone else. Most people work like this, right? Don’t get me wrong, I never want to outright steal an idea, I just like to start with a well-established ball of clay and mold/spin/tweak it until it’s my own. That’s right folks, I’m a tweaker.

I’m also the collage queen. The very first picture I ever ripped out of a magazine was of Gwen Stefani (back when she was covered in henna tattoos and wore a bindi) on the cover of Seventeen. Ever since then, when I see a person, place, or thing that strikes my fancy, I rip it out and paste together with others in a way that expresses what I am all about.

Gwen Stefani, style icon

And while there will always be a place in my heart for print, my latest obsession is something called ImgSpark, a web tool that lets you create an inspiration board of sorts (up to 1GB), for any reason you please.  I’ve started harvesting digital photos (its pretty easy, you just right-click on a desired image wherever you happen to be on the web to add it to your library.) Every image is inspiring to me in some way: be it by color, design, or general message…

Part of my collection

I can use it to get my creative juices flowing whether I’m looking for a new tattoo design or trying to decide what color to paint my bathroom. Check out my collection so far. Others might aspire to be completely original, but I’m OK with being inspired.

The campaign includes Russian Communist inspired artwork on limited-edition bags, window displays, catalogs and an in-store presentation, all hitting stores on March 12.

Saks' Spring campaign

The campaign is inspired by the bold graphic designs and propaganda tone of Constructivist art. Though a controversial move, Saks sure could use the attention. The luxury retailer has felt the recession’s sting, recently announcing a $98.8 million loss.

Smart move, Saks. After all, Fairey has developed into one of the most influential street artists of our time. Despite the cloud of controversy surrounding him, his work can now be seen in museums and galleries, graphic design, signature apparel, and now: your favorite upscale department store.

Shepard Fairey

Terron E. Schaefer, the senior vice president of marketing at Saks recently said, “What we do every day, really, is propaganda.” Read the whole article at NYTimes.com. Pretty fierce stuff, but this could definitely be seen by Fairey’s fans as a major sell-out move. What do you think?

Obsessed with well-designed packaging and everyday objects? Check out some related links I found:

• The Dieline is chock full of fresh ideas in package design. From the latest soda bottle concept, to clever music packaging- critique a design or suggest your own.
  

  Wine bottles by Let it Grow

• Looking for a chic fly swatter or watering can with as much form as it has function? Check out the new Design Center online or here at the IMA.

Dr. Skud Flyswatter- $20

• On May 14^th, you can meet film director Gary Hustwit (Helvetica) and see his latest documentary, Objectified,  about the creative process of product design. The film features designers who shape our manufactured environment and our interfaces with mass-produced objects including the people behind IKEA furniture and the iPod.

Objectified movie poster

As of this month, at the ripe old age of five, it’s ancient in Web 2.0 terms. But for being a senior citizen of the web, Facebook sure has managed to stay fresh and relevant. What started as a social experiment in Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard dorm room has grown to capture over 150 million users.

icanhascheezburger.com

Here are some ways Facebook has managed to grow and adapt so far…

-  its supernatural ability to help you reconnect with old high school buddies, network  professionally (ahem), plan killer bashes, and showcase your wit via status message

- the ever-growing collection of third-party Facebook applications, integration with Twitter, built-in Instant Messaging, blog importation capability, and more

These all allow users to express themselves in a rather addictive way.

Here at the IMA, we utilize Social Networking to reach a more diverse and (presumably) younger audience.  And, like any institution, we are always looking for ways to stay fresh and relevant.

However, TIME ’s tech writer, Lev Grossman makes a humorous argument as to why Facebook is for ‘Old Fogies.’  After all, Facebook’s fastest-growing demographic are those 30+. Could this be the kiss-of-death?

Illustration by John Cuneo for TIME

Others are predicting Facebook’s demise. Blogger Devin Johnston argues that unless Facebook changes drastically, it will fizzle out in just three years.

Sites like Facebook are doomed unless they radically alter their business and development models to reflect the needs, interests, and capabilities of internet users. There is room for Facebook to move away from providing service and toward assembling the services of others in a single location. Frankly, I think that this is the only way that Facebook will survive the coming revolution in social computing.

That’s a lot to ask of a five year old.

Do YOU think Facebook’s days are numbered? Will it continue to adapt, or be wiped out by something better-faster-stronger?