Thirty-three Analemmas Later

    In 1991, before the start of the Fall semester, I drew up a proposal for my year-long student project: to trace out the sun's analemma by following the shadows cast upon the SFAI student quad. Although Paul Kos, my teacher at the San Francisco Art Institute, very much liked the idea I proffered, he proposed another project of his own: to learn Spanish together with him. My idea was quashed as we set out to learn Spanish after hours, and I never did get to perform the analemma.

    Here below is that very artpiece submission I put forward to Paul.*

    As I was coming up with the idea, I thought surely the notion of recording the shadow must have occurred to others, but I never saw such a timelapse captured. 

    It would be that way for a great while.

    Finally, in 2024, nearly thirty-three years later, someone, a certain Nick Wright of Falcon, Colorado took note of his driveway shadow as taken by his security camera. Voila! On November 29th, 2024 NASA's APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day) posted Wright's inverted "Driveway Analemma" on their YouTube Channel.

     Again, the decades long wait is not to suggest that no one else had ever thought to document the aforementioned shadows before me or since. I merely say, that in my case, it took that long at last see it so recorded by another.

    *ADDENDUM: Just to make the original 1991 proposal a little easier to visually follow, I added in some shading. Here it is with the building shadows in place.

Finality

     My final view from the San Francisco residence, high on a hill, of Karl-Heinz Teuber, who at eighty seven, departed this life just ten days ago. It is hard at the moment to think him really gone, and not merely abroad.

The northwest view from apartment 507, The Crestview, 1980 Washington Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Karl, a Life

     This is a re-edit of the very last montage I made for Karl, celebrating his life. That was in 2020. With a new beginning and conclusion to the video to mark the sad occasion of his passing, I share this work anew. Karl's large life was a colorful one, and I am truly grieved, along with others, to see him go. His friends were many.

    As always the music of Mozart was Karl's mainstay.

 

Karl-Heinz Teuber (February 2, 1937 ~ November 14, 2024)

    In memory of Karl-Heinz Teuber (Tuesday, February 2, 1937 ~ Thursday, November 14, 2024) seen here, in his film debut, playing the wig salesperson opposite Tom Hulce’s Mozart in the iconic “three heads” scene* from ‘Amadeus’ (1984). 

    Interestingly, on set Karl in his true capacity, was in fact, the assistant hair and makeup person for the production (his “bending hair” helping to snag the Academy Award-sweeping feature yet another win). This bit part, apropos to Karl’s then profession, was director Milo’s Forman’s onscreen reward to Karl for all his intensive labor.

     Having earned it, Karl could rightly take pride, ‘Amadeus’arguably being the quintessential exploit crowning his stellar career.** The role was an honor.

    And for nearly four decades, this notable person was also an intimate acquaintance of mine till we eventually went our separate ways. Nevertheless, I am profoundly surprised and sadden by the news of my former friend’s unfortunate and untimely demise .

    That said, he has at last attained his one, driving desire and become, in effect, a star - a luminary now solely comprised of light, shadow, and sound, removed and remote, forever reaching down to us from the past - the final, heavenly curtain having lowered on his person, his vocation, and calling. 

    Karl was eighty seven.

    Rest in Peace.

*Scene 44

**Karl often use to speak of ‘Amadeus’ “living on” for him long after he was gone, taking comfort in that knowledge and  prospect. His would be a celluloid immortality, Karl assured himself.

    That there now exists, only the celluloid memory, I for one, find it bitter at best; a cold comfort and solace alas.

Ever

This sentiment I like. 

Guest Antoinette Lee's concluding remark from Olayemi Olurin's 'Olay and Friends'.

 

 

In These Very Trying Times (update)

    With only three to go until the 2024 Presidential Election as of this post, and the grave, growing concerns of  a distinct way to yet "game the system" and steal the vote, I decided to update my graphic. Though the whole world is in turmoil, there is a mounting constitutional concern over the immediate future of the United States.

 

 

   The drama may not end until the crucial date of December 11th, as spelled out by yesterday's news interview of The Nation's Justice Correspondent, Elie Mystal by Amy Goodman of 'Democracy Now!' It all has to do with former president Donald Trump, and the "little secret" he has with the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, likely forcing the Twelfth Amendment to come into play. Through a deliberate series of delays in certifying the vote, Trump and Johnson can subvert the Electoral College's process calling on a “contingent election” by the house, to snatch the election from Vice President Kamala Harris’ grasp via the said amendment should she “win”.

 

    To quote Mystal: "We in a constitutional crisis now, bro!"

 

    For details, follow the link  below:

'Democracy Now!' "Little Secret"? Elie Mystal on Trump's Likely Plan to Steal Election with GOP House Speaker Johnson

ADDENDUM 

    It is now post election, Trump has won the presidency, the senate, and I believe the house. The court is already stacked as the country shifts hard to the right. Fewer people overall voted, with a decline on both sides. However, the number of disaffected voters was by far higher on the Democratic side. The tunnel we’s about to enter… well, it’s quite possible I ain’t gonna live long to see light at the other side. That’s depressing. Still, like I just heard Antoinette Lee state on ‘Olay and Friends’ YouTube cast, defiant in the face of racism and the coming fascist state, “If you’re gonna shoot me… I ain’t gonna be on my knees - ever.”

Fall Back

     Just a little visual reminder I created for Facebook regarding tonight's upcoming time change. The clip is from the Marx Brothers' 'A Night at the Opera' (1935), the conclusion of the famous "stateroom scene". The unsuspecting actress is of course, Margaret Dumont.

 ;-)