cam, 152 words, 2 comments, Modernism, Contemporary Architecture, Art, Phoenix, McDowell Library

Phoenix has a strong modernist and contemporary streak to it. Most of the public spaces have extra care and attention payed to little details such as making things look good/arty. Architecturally rusted metal has become popular in Phoenix.

McDowell Library from my photostream

It is pretty simple. Metal is put up and left to rust. For the terminally impatient pre-rusted metal can be bought for great cost. It comes through in a wonderful orange color though I am yet to convinced that it isn't treated to make it oxidise (rust) in a certain way. (more)

cam, 350 words, 0 comments, Biopolitics, Art, Bill Henson

Biopolitics is consumed with the notion of political power becoming sovereign over all aspects of human life. This includes what we know as the nanny-state, such as health care, but also police states. An important aspect of the subjugation of human individual and social life is the threat of government violence to protect rather than destroy.

As American constitutional jurisprudence has recognised with the First Amendment, the threat of government power or scrutiny is enough to suspend liberty, such that populations are subjugated through self-regulation. (more)

adam, 73 words, 2 comments, Artforce, Brisbane, Graffiti, Art, flickr

This isn't political, but it is about public space. Brisbane's had a cool project in recent years where the council supports artists painting traffic signal boxes. This is complemented by annotations on the web, including on flickr. (more)