Willard Asylum Suitcases

When the Willard Asylum for the Chronic Insane closed down in 1995, the staff found hundreds of unclaimed suitcases left behind by the patients that passed away over the years, that preserved the personalities of these humans in these unintended time capsules. These suitcases are now in the possession of New York State Museum, and the museum has given permission Jon Crispin to photograph the contents of the Willard Suitcases. The end product is a haunting collection of images portraying the men and women that were once living isolated lives within the walls of an insane asylum.

Walking With Strangers

It is not very often that I like an entire album by a band so it exhilarated me when I came across the album Walking With Strangers by the Canadian band The Birthday Massacre. I am listening to it for the third time today as I type these words.

Gravity Glue

The artist Michael Grab uses gravity as his glue to create balancing rock sculptures. Click on his name to see more of his amazing work at gravityglue.com.

Poo-Pourri

My first thought was "this must be a joke" when I saw the commercial for Poo-Pourri but not only is it a legitimate product but it has received stellar reviews from its users.

The Universe Next Door

I hope to visit Abelardo Morell's The Universe Next Door exhibit today at the Getty Museum. His camera obscura style photography is both amusing and haunting.

* Perlman Vivaldi Stradivari

My head tilted slightly to the right

My hands clenched on my lap

Nostrils flared to hold tears from falling

Chest rising and falling in keeping time

My vision blurred

Every note dripping from Itzhak Perlman's Stradivarius

   melting on my skin like delicate snowflakes

My heart aflutter in Walt Disney Concert Hall

My taste buds swollen with deliciousness of

   Vivaldi's Four Seasons

This was a night

in musical delight

Singing Ringing Tree

The Singing Ringing Tree in Lancashire, England sings the eeriest songs. This wind powered steel sound structure stands in solitude in the middle of Pennine Hill range singing its haunting songs to kids that climb its hollow limbs.