nick gaydos > thynk

Descendants of a Warrior King: The Nomads of Kham

A few photos from my sister, Kottie Gaydos', Gallery Opening, for her show "Descendants of a Warrior King: The Nomads of Kham". The show was held at Eugenia's 3rd St. Hair / Gallery in Rochester, Michigan.

More info at Kottie Gaydos - http://kottie.gaydos.org"

IOBR - Social Media for Toddlers

I was listening to the CBC Spark Podcast and came across an interview with Finish designer Hannu Ripatti of Passi Ripatti. He and his partner have created a prototype social media device for toddlers that allows them to communicate with each other using a pair of modified shape sorters. 

Each toddler can let the other know when they are eating, brushing their teeth or going to bed. Interestingly, Hannu says in the interview that they choose these activities because they were areas of friction in the household. By encouraging the toddler's awareness of when the other was going to bed and providing conversation around the topic, they were able to ease some of the tension that surrounded these daily activities.

 

Note to self: Stay off roads when Apple and AT&T allow the iPhone 4's FaceTime video phone calls to be used over 3G. 

I'm not sure which would be worse... texting while driving or using FaceTime while driving? 

Maybe this would be a good use of that new gyroscope and accelerometer.

Medeski Martin and Wood's innovative events

I'd file this short post under innovative ways for a musical group to connect with their fans. 

Medeski Martin and Wood, a jazz / jam trio, are selling tickets to a webcasted concert and master class. The event will be recorded on a small soundstage in Woodstock, NY and offer fans a chance to participate over the web for $25 for both evenings.

Additionally, a limited number of people can purchase VIP tickets to attend in person and meet the band for $100 for one night, $160 for both.

Musicians should take note: If you have an audience, there are many different ways to connect with them.

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games Design

I'm a big fan of the Olympic games and am truly excited about some of the design that is surfacing as part of this international event.

There two events that surface more new design, architecture and concepts than anywhere else: the World's Expos / Fairs and the Olympics.

One example that really excited me was James Lee and Leo Obstbaum's designs for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Podiums and Ceremonies Tray. The podium design harkens a topographical map and the ceremonies tray is specially covered with a surface that prevents the Olympic Medal's from  slipping off.

For more on the design of the Olympic Medals, check out Kristi Cameron's article "An Olympic Feat" in January 2010's Metropolis magazine. Personally, I was a big fan of Omer Arbel's original locket concept for the medals, but the end result is still beautiful. 

What have I listened to over the past few years? An Infographic.

Here is a chart from data out of last.fm of my listening trends over the past few years. This only takes into account the artists I listened to the most (the top 20 or so out of 4000+), but in aggregate, I find it pretty fascinating.

 

goodgood's WinterHue in Boston Globe

Congrats to my brother for the write up in the Boston Globe yesterday:

"Hypnotic, too, is “WinterHue,’’ a project by the artist duo of Ben Gaydos and Karen Stein, known as goodgood, and Colin Owens of Owens Design. The understated banner of softly glowing lights made up of 36 LED light modules in a stack of windows at the corner of 368 Congress St. segues through a rainbow of colors. It would be easy to miss if you weren’t looking for it, but there’s an appeal to its meditative rhythm and tones."

via Illuminating the winter nights, Boston Globe

Label and Leaf

I happened upon Christoph Niemann's leaf cuts published in the New York Times Blogs back in November but hadn't posted about them until today.

Tongue-in-cheek and very inventive.

He's also recently written a children's book, The Pet Dragon.

Big Bright Lights in Rochester Michigan

Just a quick video we shot when we were down for the lighting of the town.

A Sleep Inducing Light, How to Build a Ring Light and an Awesome Tauntaun Costume

• LightSleeper, a sleep inducing light
  "LightSleeper is a device that projects a soothing light on the ceiling. The light moves in a circular motion above the bed. You follow the light with your eyes for a few minutes, and you begin to drift off. Following the light has the effect of relaxing the mind, a necessary prerequisite to entering a deep, refreshing sleep."
  
• Photography: How to Build a Ring Light for $10-$20
  "The assembly is built around a filter that attaches to his camera lens. Two rings of LEDs are then glued to a case made from the plastic of a CD-R container. To diffuse the light, he sanded both sides of the clear plastic housing to make it opaque.translucent."
  
• Scott Holden's Tauntaun Costume