Recently in Art Category

If you have been to San Francisco's shopping district, between Union Square and the Westfield Shopping Center, you've more than likely seen Edward Jackson. Jackson is the energetic power tap dancer that sets up shop to dance near the cable car turnaround at the end of Powell Street. He has been a fixture in San Francisco for the last eight years but will be leaving the city next Saturday.

Unfortunately, our city is no longer the best place for street performers like Jackson, who depend on the generosity of strangers to make a living. The situation is surely amplified by our homeless problem. Thanks to the chronic homeless, it seems people are less willing to reach into their pockets nowadays, even to support great performers like Jackson. Jackson has been forced to leave for economic reasons.

He will be missed. When my wife and I have out-of-town guests, we make sure to visit Union Square and one of the attractions is catching a Jackson performance while we pass the cable car turnaround. His energy and enthusiasm has been an asset to this city and his performances have been enjoyed by tourists and San Franciscans alike. I wasn’t surprised that he was cast for the promotional trailer of the 2004 San Francisco International Film Festival. He is talented.

Over the past few weeks Jackson's ex-girlfriend has been lobbying Mayor Gavin Newsom's office to give him a Certificate of Honor for his contributions to the city before he leaves for Australia. If you have enjoyed one of Jackson's performances over the years, you should consider an email. Letters in support of Jackson can be sent to the mayor's liaison Jason Chan at jason.chan@sfgov.org.

Also, if you are in town next Saturday, stop by and wish Jackson luck on his world tour.

I just ran across a Japanese design blog called Pingmag that is written in both Japanese and English (i.e. one that I can finally read). One particularly interesting feature is an interview photographer Bruce Osborn, which has been taking portraits of Japanese children and their parents to illustrate the generational changes. The black and white photographs featured in the article are amazing and speak volumes about the changes (or similarities) from on generation to the next. I would love to see a book of these images.

Taking public disdain for Hummers to new heights of depravity.

Check out pictures of this mouse pointer kite. Awesome. I totally want to buy this kite if only to fly it around and take pictures of it pointing at stuff in the park. Also, check out the Air-YO which is made by the same folks at WindFire Designs.

Photos of street art installations in Washington, D.C. by Mark Jenkins.