Thanks to our own Bob Davidson (Creative Producer/friend/hummus-lover), we at Rule29 have been recently captivated by the extraordinary concept of wonder. So much, in fact, that our own Justin Ahrens used it as the foundation for his latest HOW presentation in Boston. Bob’s interest and knowledge of wonder runs deep, eventually leading him to create an online community with wonder as its focus. rednow began as a response to the constant media abundance we all face on a daily basis. Opposed to just another review site for the latest in film, music, art and design, those involved in rednow wanted a place to feel, to think… to wonder.

This past week, we launched the latest iteration of the online creative collective. Along with an updated logo, the refreshed rednow site features a new look, structure, and opportunity for discovery with advanced filtering capabilities. The heart of the site is the matrix – a visual representation of all rednow posts. Here, users can search, filter and explore  that which has caused the rednow staff to pause and wonder – all the sounds, images and stories that have made an impact.

Users now have the opportunity to sign in using their existing social media accounts, allowing for a greater level of sharing and involvement. The new “Experienced” feature creates a sense of customization; just click the button on any post to indicate whether you’ve seen or heard the subject. When logged in, filtering by these films/songs/etc. is as simple as clicking a toggle button on or off.

With so much to wonder about, we were thrilled to be a part of rednow’s makeover. To experience the art of wonder yourself, check out the site here.

We have been meaning to follow up on our post from last year with JR’s follow up talk from this years TED. Sit back and be inspired by the way art can bring the world together.

The school year of 2011-12 is underway for most students, but in many schools there are a few things missing. One that stands out is the Arts. Now understand, I am writing this from the perspective of a non-creative who works in an incredibly creative environment, so I see the “fruits” of arts education on a continual basis.

But I am also a mother of four school-aged children who, thankfully, inherited the creative gene from Justin (whose life was changed by a teacher). And as this school year started I began to receive emails from the school district that explained cuts in programs to make sure their budgets were met. This is not news to anyone, nor is it restricted to just schools. But this article said it better than I ever could. Our kids need arts education and arts exposure. It can do nothing but enhance their education. The opening paragraph says it perfectly:

Arts education, on the other hand, does solve problems. Years of research show that it’s closely linked to almost everything that we as a nation say we want for our children and demand from our schools: academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity.

I have one son who struggles with classic school work. He was in Kindergarten, and reading and writing were torture for him. But his teacher saw this very early, and instead of trying to force traditional learning styles upon him, she utilized his natural artistic ability. He hated doing letter flash cards, so instead she asked him to make his letters out of Legos, and we got amazing 3D sculptures. Sight words were another struggle, but allowing him to write them on a pan filled with salt or shaving cream…he nailed them! Visual learning…I love it! Now, he is still going to have to work hard to get his reading and writing to where it should be, but through art, he has gained confidence and his school work as a whole has greatly improved. I can read all the research and articles, but I don’t even need to because I see it first hand with my boy.

Please notice that when I reference “arts”, I don’t strictly mean fine art. The exposure to music & dance, along with art are essential. There are programs like Project Osmosis that are trying to provide what is now lacking in our schools. We, at Rule29, are passionate about this and are trying to work with programs like Project Osmosis in our area. We also have a dream to, one day, change our garage at the office to art gallery and to offer workshops for all the arts there. Again, this is our dream. This is one way we want to help.

What can you do to keep the arts alive in your community?

Let me paint the scene. We are shooting our documentary This is My Normal in Nairobi, Kenya last year. We had decided to follow one of our subjects home from work one night. He happened to live in the Kibera slums (one of the largest in Africa). Throughout our trip, there was one primary rule we had been given. “Don’t hang in the slums at night.”

Not only did we decide to travel through Kibera that night, we chose to carry large film equipment, including a giant battery powered LED light (which I happened to be holding over my head). Standing out is an understatement. I’ll admit. My heart was beating fast. We moved fast through a number of alleys and streets and eventually came upon a path that led to the train tracks that ran through the slums. The tracks were elevated. As we walked along the tracks and began to head down the other side towards our friend’s home, I became captivated by the rooftops I now saw. They were painted. They were mesmerizing. They were art?

Not until I returned home and stumbled randomly upon this TED talk, did I realize this was the artwork of famed French artist JR. Not every photo seen above was still present, but enough “eyes” that caught my attention. In the midst of some of the most intense moments of my trip, I paused.

Is this not the hope of good art? To pause. To wonder. Read the rest of the entry >

This past Friday night, my wife and I had the chance to catch Sufjan Stevens live at the historic Chicago Theater – three days after the release of his latest full-length album, The Age of Adz (pronounced Odds). The moment we headed back to our car, the inevitable question showed up…

So, what did you think?

For the most part, we tend to answer this question in one of two ways… “liked” or “disliked.” And unfortunately, the conversation often ends there.  With the over abundance of review sites such as Pitchfork, Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB, or Meta-Critic, these type of responses (or lack thereof) is of no real surprise… for in many ways, the four star rating system of critics has killed the participant’s experience.  We have forced films, music, food, art, whatever into “good” and “bad” categories (largely) on the basis of entertainment value.  Will I receive my money’s worth of leisure?

While nobody wants to negate opportunities for mindless entertainment, (in my opinion) this sense of entitlement that is encouraged has slowly dismantled the relationship between the viewer and the art – no matter the medium.  Unfortunately, this negates the simple reality that (most) art was created with the intentions of it being experienced with someone.  Sure, Sufjan certainly creates music nobody gets to hear; however, his overall hope is that it is a participatory event.

Two questions emerge.  Should we maintain this relationship (between art and viewer)?  And if so, how?

Read the rest of the entry >