Monday, March 23, 2009

Iconic L.A. Photographer Coming To OKC

Does any photo capture the essence of mid-century modernism better than this shot, by Julius Shulman?

In an age where the prevailing suburban aesthetic is some sort of faux-Tuscan/French Country/Tudor goulash, this sleek, cantilevered home seems to float above Hollywood, utterly modern and completely American. Unfortunately, this sort modernist style fell out of favor years ago.

You might think the photographer is long since retired, or probably dead, but no, he's 97 years old, and he's very much alive. In fact, there's a new documentary of his life and work touring the country now, and cross your fingers, it's scheduled to play in Oklahoma City next month. In fact, Shulman is scheduled to appear at the screening.

He took several notable photographs of modernist landmarks in Oklahoma, so I'm sure there will be plenty of interesting dialogue during the Q & A.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

102-Year Old Marathoner

Buster Martin, who claims to be 102, trains for the London Marathon.
He credits his longevity to red meat, cigarettes, and beer. His age is in dispute, however; some claim he is closer to 95 years old.