My Summer Vacation

During my recent visit home to the States, I got to enjoy just about all the Americana I could fit into 2 weeks.
We drove out to NY, where we visited my sister's college; she'll be attending the Equestrian Science program at Morrisville State College. My grandpa asked if her horse was accepted as well -- Beau will be moving to Morrisville with Alice, but he won't really be "attending" as such. Only the college's horses are really part of the program. Those guys seem to have a good life out there -- lovely stables and huge fields to run around in.

I went camping with my family in the Adirondack mountains of New York State. Such a beautiful area! Unfortunately it was too cold to go swimming in the area's many lakes, but we went hiking a few times. I picked the 7.5 mile hike that almost killed us all with its steep inclines. But there were beautiful views of the whole area at the top!

We also got to visit some family. It was great to see Gimma, Gimpa, Alice & Alex, and Janice!

Angel of the North

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/gormley/
I went to see Antony Gormley's cool cool exhibition yesterday at the Hayward Gallery at the Southbank Centre. I love huge installation work, particularly if it's interactive and/or technically impressive -- this was all of the above. Gormley uses the body as his starting point -- his or those of others -- and experiments with spatiality (and thus somewhat with perception). The Blind Light piece was pretty crazy -- a glass box filled with fog that you can explore and walk around in. You really lose the sense of your surroundings -- after about 10 minutes it got quite disorienting.
Another really fascinating one is Event Horizon, in which 31(?) cast-iron life-size models of Gormley were placed on top edges of buildings, bridges, etc. around a 1km+ area of the gallery, so, stepping out on the roof (or even from the ground), you can see all these human figures observing you. http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/gallery/2007/may/03/art?picture=329805771

Also, the Southbank Centre is really cool. But more on that later.