Join Sezio, Set & Drift, and Turista Libre for a bicycle-powered street art tour of Tijuego (Tijuana + San Diego). The tour will be split into two rides and will visit urban art installations adorning both of our sister cities.

TJ Ride // Saturday, July 31 // 1:00 pm
Meet at the gates on the South side of the pedestrian border crossing in Colonia Federal. After-party at Pop Diner starting at 4pm

…SD Ride // Sunday, August 1 // 11:00 am
Meet at Urban Outfitters, Hillcrest by the OBEY mural
The ride will conclude at MCASD Downtown at 2pm
After-party at Super El Camino in Little Italy at 4pm

Photo Scavenger Hunt
We’re encouraging all participants to document this ride, and the art we’ll experience along the way. After the weekend, upload your photos to Flickr and email the set link to info@sezio.org. We’ll choose two winning albums, one based on quantity of photos and one based on quality photos. Each winner will be granted a one year membership to Sezio and to MCASD, along with gift certificates to El Camino and El Take It Easy, and some gear from Velo Cult.

Border Crossing Details
We recommend taking the trolley to the border. If you choose to drive, park at San Ysidro and cross through the first turnstile into Mexico. Walk down the promenade with a mural on the right and a row of official-looking teller windows on the left. Soon thereafter you’ll come to a fork where you can keep going straight or turn right. Turn right, go through the second turnstile, and we’ll be right there on the other side waiting for you.

Bike to the Museum Day @ MCASD
The SD Ride corresponds with Bike to the Museum Day at MCASD’s downtown location, and the Viva La Revolucion exhibit. A free bike valet will be provided at the TNT location (across from the museum). Your bike valet ticket will be good for 1/2 price museum entrance and for a 2 for 1 drink special at the El Camino after-party.

RSVP on Facebook

Check out the tour map

Tired bicicletas. These guys made the trek from the San Diego neighborhood of South Park down to Tijuana. (We gave them a break on the trolley on the way home.)

On 05 of December 2009 we set out by bicycle — joined by Jay, Katie, and Michael of North Park farm-to-table restaurant The Linkery — in the direction of Suzie’s Farm, an organic farms that supplies The Linkery with some of its produce.

Set & Drift also happens to be part of the Suzie’s Farm CSA program. Every two weeks we pick up one box of whatever is in season at the farm (from Grant’s Marketplace in South Park – oh so convenient). To give you a sense of what’s inside, we laid out a December box on our table.

So beautiful. Such variety. Building recipes based on what’s on hand is a new creative challenge.

Suzie’s Farm owner Robin was generous with the taste tests. We were also excited to hear that strawberries will make their way into the CSA box in early spring.

They’re trying out growing heirloom tomatoes in the greenhouse. Farm owner Lucila explained that sometimes it’s good to be rough with tomatoes. Perhaps if they think they’re on their way out, they’ll make babies faster. And those are some delicious babies.

Suzie’s farm is not far from the U.S./Mexico border. So close, in fact, that we decided to take the bikes across. We ended up at Tijuana ceviche restaurant Erizo: amazing. The quail egg was a nice touch.

After many shared plates and a few bottles of wine we decided to link up with Derrik on his Turista Libre outing. We found ourselves at TJ bar Garces, a fantastic lounge that pays homage to Mexican actor Mauricio Garces — fully outfitted with gold upholstered booths and mirrored tables. We spent a good amount of time with the Turista Libre crew, admiring their loot from the Tijuana shopping spree, before hitting the road.

So sore the next day but so worth it.

2009 was a fine year for Set & Drift, as we followed the compass eastward and trekked it over to New York City. October in NYC was host to the Feast conference: an inspiring gathering presented by All Day Buffet that is definitely worth putting on your calendar. It’s an interdisciplinary happening of open dialogue and presenters that explores how creativity impacts business in a positive way.

We checked out the Ace Hotel (above). It was inspiring to see the creators behind this hotel putting artists to work to create individualized and soulful scenes behind the beds. Back at home in San Diego, we have been equally excited to see the work of up and coming artists grace the walls of local establishments (like the Tocayo murals featured at local eatery El Camino). We experience creativity in the everyday when business leaders in the community make conscious decisions to showcase it. Got to support that.

Which is why we loved this DIY ice cream truck kicking it in Brooklyn… Unicorns and hot pink bow tie included.

Another highlight was The High Line. The city reclaimed an elevated rail from the 1930′s and with the help of a talented team of architects converted it into a mile and a half long public park.

East Coast driftage…

And an undercover shot from the museum.

If there’s anything consistent about us creative types, it’s that we need inspired space — for architectural models, for interdisciplinary think tank meet-ups, for gallery shows, for filming. etcetera. We’ve seen a surge in the collaborative workspace concept here in San Diego, and over in London, they’ve created a non-profit version.

Village Underground is an innovative coupling: ex London Underground tube train carriages have become creative studios, piled above the expansive raw space of a restored Victorian warehouse below, which can be transformed into a flexible and multi-functional arena.

It is the pleasure of Set & Drift to publish this interview with Oliver, we hope you enjoy his images and insight.

S&D

What draws you to photography?

OW:

Photography, in my quite personal style, has become my elixir of life. It gives me strength and it makes me happy. Every little moment is important in itself and every photograph has its own little story in my head. The photo is not in the foreground but rather quite a lot of human interactions and meetings that originate from it.

S&D

Could you tell us the story behind one of your photos? How do you begin a conversation with the people you photograph?

With this man, I spent almost a whole afternoon in his modest home. I was invited by him, and we drank tea and entertained ourselves with our hands and feet. In the end I asked him if I could take a picture of him. What I want to say is: there are situations in photography which need time. In other situations, you have to be more quick.

This is a typical street scene. The group of children passed me. Here I was able to make eye contact with a child. Within seconds, there it was, the photo.

As a general rule, I drift along on the streets; things don’t come to me at a hectic pace or in a rush. Photography is not actually at the forefront of my mind, rather it’s about having a lot of human interaction. The image through the viewfinder creates a sense of eagerness in me, as well as a sense of relaxation at the same time. All events condense around me in one moment. Then it’s a matter of capturing it in such a way that it becomes something special. My photos aim to reveal deep insights into human lives. The situations embody what develops while watching people’s lives and tell unmistakable small stories. I’m never an outsider to the story. Photography is, for me, a picture language that everyone all over the world can understand. This makes it valuable as well as inimitable and this is why I love it so much.

What brought you from Germany to your current home in the Canary Islands?

My work as a doctor.

You are like a modern storyteller, documenting the lives of others through photography and human interaction. Why do you find this an important role for today?

Thank you for the “modern storyteller”. In our crazy world, there is such a hurry and bustle.
Since 2002, I’ve pursued photography, if you want to put it this way, seriously. The so-called “street photography” has arisen through my creating different cycles. It comes to life through spontaneity and the feelings and recognition of situations and moods. You never know what will happen next. The art is to use foresight to grasp the right moment and take the picture. Once the moment is over, it is lost for good. If you have managed to capture this unique moment that makes you rest for a moment, then the picture has its justification.

If you were a mythological creature, what would you be?

Honestly I have not given this much thought. So I took a test on the Internet.

The result: I would be a Griffin: “Loyal hardworking, winged beast, the fierce griffin is a trustworthy friend. One of the more famous creatures, you should be proud of scoring this. You are valued as a tough fighter but are also dexterous in the ways of the world. You will look to the light to know what to do. You can become sulky and secretive if left without guidance though.”

What is inspiring you this week?

I am inspired by the crazy world we live in day to day.

What would your dream assignment be? Where would you like to go next?

I would like to make a picture story about my neighbor, a man who lives a very modest and hard working life. But he is happy and content with his life. Perhaps I will manage to carry this happiness through in my pictures. I will go out today and ask him…

What more do you feel you need to accomplish in this life?

My vocation is being a doctor, and my passion is taking photographs; the two together is my dream combination. There is nothing better than connecting work and hobby. The one can’t be without the other for me. For me personally, there is no absolute “need” to accomplishing something in my life. I am content as long as I have ideas in my head and the power to implement the ideas.

You can see more of Oliver Weber’s work on his website.

All photos © Oliver Weber – from the series Marrakech and other collections.

Los Angeles artist Megan Whitmarsh has a show coming up on September 12th at K___R____E_T___S, an art gallery/project room in Malmö, Sweden. KRETS shares our common vision, seeking to show contemporary art in a way not bound to the conventional and commercial art market. KRETS works with diverse media and happenings, such as art exhibitions, workshops, film screenings, and music performances.

The upcoming show, “YETI CRYSTAL RAINBOW”, is up through October 11, 2009, and includes an opening with the artist on September 12th. The exhibit features Megan’s signature embroidered canvasses, soft sculpture, and a site specific wall mural, communicating her desire “to synthesize an optimistic vision of the future with the detritus of modern life.”

Not in Sweden? We hear ya. Check out her embroidered yetis and other fanciful creations here.

Pictured below – (Not necessarily in this show but one of our favorites nevertheless) –

King Kong Shares Kit Kat

I guess you saw the first wall painting.  But it wasn’t finisched stage.  So here comes its entire picture.  Also I’ll write down each word.
I can tell you the meaning, too. Here is a list of the word.

1 Eichhornchenschwanzspitze
The very first word I got from a visitor.  “tip of the tail of a squeal.”

2 Oberschenkelknochen
I can’t remember the meaning.  rather short, but good practice.

3 Telekommunikationsdiensteleisungen
Someone found this word on an old phone bill.  So this word is legit.

4 Betaubungsmittelverschreibungsverordnung (2-bit a)
regulation requiring a prescription for an anesthetic

5 Muhlenstillgugsdurchfuhrungsverordnung (2-bit u’s for the first and fourth)

6 Konstantinopelitanischerdudelsackspfeifenmachersgesellschaft
From Mark Twain’s Connecticut Yankee.  He invented this word as a magic spell to scare people at King Arther’s Court.
Bagpipe Maker’s Union in Constantinople

7 Niedergeschwindigkeitswidkanalversuchsergebnis
Results from low-speed wind tunnel testing

8 Rindfleischetikettierungsuberwachungsaufgabenubertragungsgesetz
Specially mentioned at Germany’s word of the year ceremony. This is a legit legal term, regarding to regulations on labeling on beef.

9 Donaudampfschffahrtsgesellschaftskapitan
Every German knows this or other variations. Danube Steamboat Company Captain

10 Schneckengrunerfeuerwehrdrehleiterverantwortlichrinreservestellung
Someone told me, or just made up in front of me.  Something about a position at a small village’s fireengine, or something like that.

There are some misspelling, which I can’t remember where.  And  can’t keep mentioning “2-bit” this time.  It became way too cumbersome.

And the last but not least, here is a quote from Mark Twain again.  It’s nice reading, and my last work is from this anecdote. Here goes.

A Dresden paper, the Weidmann, which thinks that there are kangaroos (Beutelratte) in South Africa, says the hottentots (Hottentotten) put them in cages (Kotter) provided with covers (Lattengitter) to protect them from the rain. The cages are therefore called Lattengitterwetterkotter, and the imprisoned kangaroo Lattengitterwetterkotterbeutelratte.

One day, and assassin (Attentäter) was arrested who had killed a hottentot woman (Hottentottenmutter), the mother of two stupid and stuttering children (Stottertrottel). This woman, in the German language, is entitled Hottentottenstottertrottelmutter, and her assassin takes the name Hottentottenstottertrottelmutterattentäter. The murderer was confined to a cage – Beutelrattenlattengitterwetterkotter – whence a few days later he escaped, but fortunately was recaptured by a hottentot, who presented himself at the mayor’s office with beaming face:

“I have captured the Beutelratte”, he said.

“Which one?”, asked the mayor, “we have several”.

“The Attentäterlattengitterwetterkotterbeutelratte”.

“Which Attentäter are you talking about?”

“About the Hottentottenstottertrottelmutterattentäter”.

“Then why don’t you say at once the
Hottentottenstottertrottelmutterattentäterlattengitterwetterkotterbeutelratte”?

Here’s an excerpt from his always hilarious emails:

This is painting of “Data Matrix,” or 2D barcode, which encodes German text translated from my following Englisch writing.

In German
Every letter has right and duty
Every word is pronounced as it should be
Let Knopf be Knopf

In German
Typeface is as black as a night at a forest
No legal limit is set for word length
Let them call for Mississippi Steam Boat Company Captain (this would be one long hell of a word in German) in the dark

In German
Vowels have crowns (or 2-bit in my own term)
Consonant are strong and clear
Don’t let me say a German word
I’ll spit in your face

97″ x 97″ acrylic on the wall
no more straight lines on uneven walls!

Vienna-based art collective Gelitin crafted the rabbit and has classified the project as a solo show, spanning 2005-2025.  After almost 5 years of knitting, the straw-stuffed toy rabbit has found its home in the Italian Alps. Visitors are encouraged to climb on the comfy 200 foot rabbit (which has been spotted by Google Earth).

The artists explain, “Behind a hill, as if knitted by giant grandmothers, lies this vast rabbit, to make you feel as small as a daisy.” See their full project description below.

Rabbit from the sky:

Rabbit under construction (with visitors):

The creators, Gelitin:

“The things one finds wandering in a landscape: familiar things and utterly unknown, like a flower one has never seen before, or, as Columbus discovered, an inexplicable continent;
and then, behind a hill, as if knitted by giant grandmothers, lies this vast rabbit, to make you feel as small as a daisy.
The toilet-paper-pink creature lies on its back: a rabbit-mountain like Gulliver in Lilliput. Happy you feel as you climb up along its ears, almost falling into its cavernous mouth, to the belly-summit and look out over the pink woolen landscape of the rabbit’s body, a country dropped from the sky;
ears and limbs sneaking into the distance; from its side flowing heart, liver and intestines.
Happily in love you step down the decaying corpse, through the wound, now small like a maggot, over woolen kidney and bowel.
Happy you leave like the larva that gets its wings from an innocent carcass at the roadside.
Such is the happiness which made this rabbit.
i love the rabbit the rabbit loves me.”

-Vienna-based art collective Gelitin

Though freshly baked goods are delicious, no rice to eat sucks.  There is tiny Asian store and buy Tofu, but a little old.  But when there is no other choice, I buy old tofu with a little sour taste. I work in old distillery.  Dark and dump, but no long skinny legged spiders and other crowlies.  Try to go for walk in the morning, otherwise I’m confined in that building in a small area of not much larger than 0.125 sqare mile.  Which is central part of Hann. Munden (period after 2nd n, and 2 dots over u)
No Starbucks, but many Cafes.  No tattoo parlor, no check cashing service, but so many cell phone stores.  I mean So Many, 5, 6, or 7 stores on main street of 1/4 mile long.
Someday I’ll go to Berlin to see wild hogs, or maybe Knoot or whatever polar bear.
TV without Billy, Paris, and all the juicy celebrity crap is boring.  Not much music choice, neither.  I’ve been listening Classic FM station.  Bach, Mortzalt, Beethoven and so on all day and every day.  I can’t wait to spend another fabulous day on the ladder to make fuckin’ cunst!

The first few days were warm and humid, then about a week of cold rainy days followed.
Now I see sun shine again, and I can heal my vitamin D deficiency.  I should probably go for walk to McD in 5 kilo from my resident.

Our friend Linsey snapped this shot in NYC this week… enjoy.