Collections Department

The Winter Exhibitions are now live at The MoOM. It's a big update with lots of variety including The Internet Movie Cars Database, Sneezecount, 9000 TV Channel Logos and The Computer History Museum, where we found the above image, from The Take Out Beverage Lids Gallery. Plus, the second episode of our documentary series The Curators is coming soon. Consider joining our quasi-prestigious Board of Directors. There are virtually no benefits, snootiness or responsibilities, and as an added bonus, it isn't even tax free!

A CP Film Above the Sun

And God Was Alone With Him

"One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen." —Rene Daumal. Why did we do it? Because it is there. Or was anyhow. Presenting Above the Sun, a true story. Local Note: the film was part of Tom Skilling's blizzard special "Snowed Under," on WGN which also ran again on the anniversary of the storm.

From Field Notes Brand

Northerlies

This film documents our latest project from the workshop. More on our newest limited release, "The Northerly Edition" at Field Notes. 3packs of this bright white and silver release are now sold out but there are still a few available as part of a COLORS subscription.

JC at Creative Mornings

What Are You
Afraid Of?

Here's Jim's recent presentation from the inaugural edition of Chicago Creative Mornings. Thanks to Tina, Mig, Gravity Tank and everyone who showed up.

I Think I Read That Somewhere

Field Tested Books

If, like us, your New Years resolutions include reading more and better books, then here's a place to start. We've collected hundreds of books and had them Field-Tested online, including entries from George Saunders, Jonathan Eig, Jessa Crispin, Steven Heller, Lori Andrews, Michael Bierut, and many more. Or, buy the Field Tested Books Book which is available now for just nine bucks.

Search Different

Search Different

We've been working on this new project in secret, keeping the window shades drawn tight and shredding the paperwork along the way. And now we can finally announce it. Say hello to the next generation of search, a new product that promises to change the way people find things on The Internet. "Never Not Find What You’re Looking For Again." Plus, Peppermints! From CP Labs, the folks that brought you The RinseCam 9000™, so you know it's good.

Stuff About Stanley Kubrick

I Am Putting Myself
to the Fullest Possible Use, Which Is All I Think That Any Conscious Entity Can Ever Hope To Do

For the last ten years we've been collecting links and tossing them into various categories. As you probably have noticed, we're a bit of obsessed with a certain film director. Check our big, messy "Stuff About Stanley Kubrick" archive.

Oh This Old Thing?

Button Button

So you know. We've seen a little pick-up in Pinsetter orders lately so we thought we'd let you know that Pinsetter is still, um, setting pins.

This Plus This Equals That

Are You There Godsmack? It’s Me Margaret

This is the sort of thing that Twitter is especially good for, but a washroom full of chalkboard walls works too. A while ago we hosted a quick contest called Booking Bands in which we asked people to combine the name of a book with the name of a band. We received thousands of entries, posted a ton of them and then randomly selected three and sent those people the book and a CD from the band that they mashed together. The process of coming up with funny or unexpected associations in this contest became a central part of a presentation that JC gave at SXSW.

Poetry After the beep

Poetry After the Beep

On a whim, we asked people to read their favorite short poems into our answering machine for a project we called Verse By Voice. And they did, creating maybe the first-ever poetry meme. Make sure to listen to novelist Zadie Smith reading Frank O'Hara's Animals and Laura Demanski reading Gerard Manley Hopkins' Spring and Fall. Note: we didn't include what is surely not Christopher Walken reading EE Cummings, but that's worth a listen too. Jim talked about this project during his appearance on Public Radio's Hello Beautiful! and the photos are courtesy of Sam Javanrouh's Daily Dose of Imagery.

From The CP Labs

Shift Option Rinse

Can you really clean your computer keyboard in the dishwasher? With the help of the RinseCam 9000, Michele created a short film to find out.

February Guest Megan Stielstra

Story Time

Megan Stielstra (mgs) is a Chicago-based writer and expert of all things literary. She spends her days teaching at both Columbia College and the University of Chicago, as well as serving as the Literary Director of the the popular storytelling series, 2nd Story (if you've never been to one, do yourself a big favor and go). Her story collection, Everyone Remain Calm was published to rave reviews in October, and her fiction and essays have appeared in places like Other Voices, Punk Planet, and Monkeybicycle, among many others. A regular at literary events, Megan has told stories at Steppenwolf, Chicago Public Radio, the Goodman Theater, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Online, you can find Megan at her site, on Twitter at @meganstielstra, and in one of her latest projects, Times Are Tough All Over (more info here). And for the month of February, you can find her right here, graciously stepping in as our Guest Editor.

A list of all the brilliant people who have helped us by guest editing Fresh Signals can be found here.

Other recent features are listed on Page Two.

Fresh Signals

Find tons more Clockwork links in our big messy archive, Stuff About Stanley Kubrick.

"Viddy well the stuff of obsessions, O my brothers" Kubrick, cover design and electronic music in one convenient 12-inch package." Lots of links and observations inspired by A Clockwork Orange: The Complete Original Score.

One more. "...every time you see a gang walking along in slow-motion, a speeded-up party scene, a slow pan out from a closeup of a face, a torture scene set to cheerful music, the chances are it was plundered from Kubrick's original." The Droog Rides Again, by Steve Rose.

While we're on Clockwork, here's a helpful Nadsat Dictionary.

Josie & the Pussycats in A Clockwork Orange. Brilliant.

Fifty years of D&AD Awards in two minutes. Via Swiss Legacy.

Animated video for Bonobo's Eyesdown.

"It's been a great hobby thus far, dreaming up - building all sorts of different miniature equipment from kits or from scratch for this 'mining' project." Digging out a basement using only RC trucks and tractors.

Turns out that Woolly Mammoth sighting in Siberia last week was just a hoax.

The Cryoscope shows the user exactly what to expect outside by haptically exhibiting exactly how cold or warm it is to be outside. Via get addicted to...

Whoever the kid is holding a giant cut out of his own face at the recent Florida-Alabama game deserves a full scholarship immediately. More info here.

Brian Jewett makes bowls out of rolls of tickets.

Trailer for The Snowton Murders.

A new desk for BB.

Finally! The first trailer has been released for Whit Stillman's Damsels in Distress, as well as its first poster. April 6th can't come soon enough.

Vulture sent FotA Julie Klausner to cover the Golden Collar Awards, "the Oscars for dogs."

Heading to an exhibition of abstract art? Make sure you watch a scary movie first, as that will make you appreciate the art more. Better still, if you're going as a couple, hire an actor to jump out from the shadows and pretend to mug you before you head in. Your date will thank you later.

Bobby Neel Adams' "AgeMaps, where "two photographs of the same person, from different periods of time, are spliced together." The results are both creepy and terrifying.

Disney couture at Fred Flare.

Neat sculptures by Takanori Aiba.

A gyroscopic self-leveling pool table in action, on board a cruise ship in rough seas. Via Doobybrain.

Ice skating on the Amsterdam Canals.

The Rumpus' beloved anonymous advice columnist, Dear Sugar, revealed her true identity last night as author Cheryl Strayed. Here's my favorite Dear Sugar column, written to a group of young writing students.

Lovely diptych and triptych formatted photography by David Hilliard. Via Yewknee.

"Sex with sharks." A conversation between NY and Las Vegas, using photos. Via Waxy.

"The Stanford MRI Lab hosts the world's first ever love competition, in which seven contestants have five minutes to neurochemically love someone as hard as they can."

Aw shucks. Thanks for that Jon.

"She stands on the unpaved road with your newborn son on her breast. Even though she can't hear you over the sound of the helicopter, you're screaming the words. Six months and you'll send for her. You promise." Lots of Ways to Say I Love You, by Paul Ford. Via Maria Popova.

Related to the last: Neil Harris' book, The Chicagoan: A Lost Magazine of the Jazz Age, is a must-have for anyone living here.

Chicago's newest print journal runs long-form stories with a nonprofit business model. "I think the content is really an amalgamation of the best of New York magazine, the New York Review of Books and The New Yorker." Welcome to The Chicagoan!

Just in time for Valentine's Day! "The Museum of Broken Relationships grew from a traveling exhibition revolving around the concept of failed relationships and their ruins. Unlike 'destructive' self-help instructions for recovery from failed loves, the Museum offers a chance to overcome an emotional collapse through creation."

EveryBlock hilarity.

So you know, how to make realistic duct tape roses.

A unique approach to maximizing views and dividing functions. The Four Eyes House by Edward Ogosta Architecture in California's Coachella Valley. Via This Isn't Happiness.

If you happen to be in London this spring check out the quirky David Shrigley exhibit at Hayward Gallery.

Heartstrings.

Matt Morris' great documentary about the 88-year-old Bermuda resident, Johnny Barnes, who spends 6 hours every morning at a corner waving hello at drivers: Mr. Happy Man. Via Doobybrain.

Chicago Past. So great. Especially this. Via Gapers.

Preparing to cross the road.

Field Notes in Love.

Page Two contains the previous 40 Fresh Signals, recent features, a key to the icons and the categorical archives.

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