benhider.com/blog

My little brother had his first concert tonight with his band “The Pryde.” I was extremely proud to see George rock out on stage and be the rock star I wish I always could have been. I never focused enough to learn an instrument that well, and wish that I’d at least taken piano lessons before taking bass lessons. They’ve a myspace page here that has their EP posted. Of course I was the designated band photographer for the night which allowed me the interest of seeing how ‘modern day’ teenagers socialize. Thank God I’m not 16 anymore, that shit is as crazy as it always was!

Our good excellent friend Alexis has just launched the website for her cake business. She made our wedding cake and it was delicious, even though I didn’t eat anymore than a mouthful on the big day. You should all order a birthday or wedding cake regardless of whether you’re celebrating or not! I’m sure she’d make something creative/spectacular/tasty or even penis shaped!

To prove that she was meant to be put on this planet to be creative and making cakes, we have this picture as evidence!

There’s a rather scathing but interesting article in the Times UK about the collapse of the art world/market in England and how they needed a good kick in the rear end. Last year there was plenty of discussion about how ‘Fine Art’ was outside of the this potential crisis and that all of the collectors won’t be affected by the pending doom. Everyone who argued that seems to be fairly quiet now!

We were talking about this last night with Bradley and Justin as Bradley’s show was in the front room of Melanie Flood in what appeared to be something of a ’startup’ gallery (well worth a visit, email appointment here). The conversation basically compared the move as being similar to contemprary musicians who had to proactively promote themselves in more independant settings. I think it was Bradley who said that it was good that the control is turning a little back over to the artist and away from larger collectors or galleries. Who knows what’s going to happen in the coming year, all I can hope is that younger emerging artists get better or more representation (read – Ben Hider gets rich and famous)!

At 5:48 on this clip, Paul McCartney suggests that the Dalai Lama may eat him in an emergency. Would it need to be an emergency is really the question!

I was reminded of this image by my recent emailing with Chris, an old friend from McLeod who I’ve kept in touch with. When his friend came to visit him in 2003, I took away Chris’ obligation to trek out to Agra to see the Taj for possibly his 100th time. It was only my 3rd trip, which is insignificant compared to how stunning and inspiring that building is. It’s one of the few buildings that is actually more impressive in the flesh – once you’ve gt past the daylight robbery of charging tourists 750 rupees compared to the local fee of 20 rupees!!

Initially this appears to be the standard shot of the Taj Mahal, but what are those tourists looking at??? To get a clear shot of the building from this position, you need to stand in line for a spot at the bench that Princess Diana sat. David waited with me online and then when it was our turn, we counted to 3 and I dropped to the ground for his clear view of the building. I don’t think either of us thought that the tourists would remain in the frame, but it definitely makes a way more interesting picture, and a good idea for more tourist pictures!!! (I guess they shut the place down for royalty!)

And here is proof that Chris is the ’size of two men’ for those of you who I’ve talked to about this fine fellow.

Bradley is an old friend of Justin’s from Nebraska, who recently graduated from the MFA program at Yale. I like a lot of his work and definitely think you can tell he went to Yale. I’ve been trying to think if Pratt would have any ’style’ and I’m certain that they don’t, which then made me wonder whether that’s a good thing or not. I’m sure that the success rate from Yale is exponentially higher than from Pratt, so maybe that’s something to go by. His use of the flash and inclusion of bright lights is the opposite of how I shoot as I often avoid those sources of light to flatten the image more. Anyway, Bradley has an opening this evening around the corner from me, just off Myrtle Ave.

Bradley Peters “Home Theater” at Melanie Flood Projects
186 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, 7-10pm, RSVP to mfloodprojects@gmail.com

Tell me honestly that you wouldn’t want one of these and I won’t believe you, even if you’re not a photographer. Maybe you’d convince me if you said that you’d rather have $10,000, or even the new Nikon D3 or Canon 1DS. (Limited to only 500) Okay, so maybe you’d also rather travel around Asia for a year, buy a car, put a deposit on a house in Pennsylvania, redecorate your entire apartment, give it away to charity or buy Osho another Rolex?

I’m never up to date on music, especially now that I don’t work at the wireimage desk anymore. I don’t follow SXSW or the smaller acts at Bonnaroo, so I never hear of bands like “Bowerbirds” until I’m searching through itunes. I found them by looking through Bon Iver’s playlist on itunes. I haven’t even listened to the whole album and I already know it’s going to be stuck on my iphone for a few days. Andrew Birds new album “Noble Beast” is out too, so that may be competing a little bit!

If you don’t know about this youtube channel yet, then run… no sprint there now – La Blogotheque

I saw Andrew Hetherington shopping in Whole Foods this weekend, I pointed him out to Amanda, and of course she had no idea who I was talking about. It got me thinking about blogging, being a photographer and celebrity status from either. Both activities are inherently anonymous activities to the viewer but somehow some people manage to become well known, and some even recognisable. Mr. Hetherington posts photographs of himself with other photographers at openings and other artists events (that I never think to go to), and if you read his blog, then you’re sure to know what he looks like. Other photographers I could think  of that I could spot on the street would be – Annie Liebovitz, Cindy Sherman, Terry Richardson, William Eggleston…. The question really is – how related to your success as a photographer, artist or blogger is being recognised by your peers?

(R-L) Here he with Cara Phillips (both now part of Jen Bekman’s “Hey, Hot Shot“)

Does this mean that Donna Moran is leaving as the role of Dean opens up?? (As seen on NYFA.org) Read about their “Master Academic Plan” here. I didn’t even know that Pratt had a Union website, where Jim Costanza is quoted as being in support of the changes. I’m sure it helps to be a member of the union!

Dean – Art and Design
Pratt Institute
(Brooklyn NY)
DEAN
School of Art and Design
Pratt Institute
Brooklyn, New York

Pratt Institute invites nominations and expressions of interest for the leadership position of Dean of its School of Art and Design.

Reporting to the Provost, the Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer for the School which is comprised of fourteen departments enrolling 70% of Pratt’s undergraduate and graduate students.  As Pratt begins to implement its Master Academic Plan, the new Dean will have the opportunity to build with the faculty and chairs a shared vision for the School, one grounded in the Institute’s commitment to being a world class leader in the education of artists and designers, art and design historians, educators and managers. Serving as the advocate for the School, the Dean will have the opportunity to create the organizational infrastructure to support the implementation of the shared vision.

The Dean will possess the academic and administrative experience to garner the respect of the faculty and to lead the School in realizing its articulated vision.  S/he should understand creative practices as well as academic issues-academic theoretic curricula, governance, tenure and academic administration.  A terminal degree is preferred for appointment.

The School of Art and Design, with programs in Brooklyn and Manhattan, offers Associate, Bachelor, and Master degrees in a range of design, arts, education, and management fields. Its outstanding faculty across departments offers curricula emphasizing both professional skills development and the critical judgment and historical perspective needed to foster intellectual and creative inquiry.

Pratt Institute has been a leader in educating artists, designers, architects and librarians since its founding in 1887.  Located in Clinton Hill, an historic section of Brooklyn, Pratt’s main campus is a 25 acre oasis of grass, century-old trees, meandering paths and historic buildings.  Pratt also offers programs in our landmarked building located in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. With a faculty comprised mostly of practicing professionals, the Institute serves over 4,600 undergraduate and graduate students annually from 47 states and 70 countries.  Pratt’s vision is to be and be seen as among the best institutions of visual, critical and literary learning.  It is committed to poetic pragmatism by making critical thinking and creative practice two inseparable halves of the same whole. For further information, please visit our website at www.pratt.edu.

Please forward information in confidence electronically to:  deanand@pratt.edu

Chuck Munster
Chair, Search Committee
Dean of the School of Art and Design
Pratt Institute
c/o Office of the Provost, Main 1
200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11205

I was looking through my harddrive and found the folder full of digital images from my trip to India last summer. It’s really weird to see and hear an image that I’ve lived silently with for over 7 months now.

It’s taken me a while to catch up to this show, “Curb Your Enthusiasm“. We don’t have HBO, so I don’t always see some of the better sitcoms. If this doesn’t make you laugh, then I’m afraid I can’t help you. (Also check out Larry David being interviewed by Ricky Gervais on youtube)