Archive for January, 2010
Carnivora: Ring
A short time ago I posted an article showing off a mold for a ring I had designed… clearly the actual ring has arrived, and I could not be happier. Cast in platinum silver with inlaid antique ebony (over 100 years old.)
Click the thumbnails below for another view, and an image of the mold from which the ring sprang.
Sights and Sounds
A glimpse, or a taste…
9:45pm, Brooklyn, NY, deep in Sunset Park.
I could still hear the sound of the dancing above and the clinking of Corona bottles.
As I crept along the dark passageway I remember thinking, “the tacos were REALLY good!” I was looking for the bathroom to the small, pleasantly authentic Mexican restaurant just above. Somehow, however, I had managed to stumble upon what felt like a set from Saw XXIV, right down to the eerily dripping pipes and odd scurrying sounds originating just out of sight. Common sense dictated I go no further…
Mere moments later, with great release I was directed to the bathroom IN the restaurant. After, as I washed my hands, I realized I must have found my way into the neighbor’s basement. Who knows what horrors may have waited… and si senora, another Negro Modelo Especial, por favor!
Odd Foods: Dragonfruit
As mentioned before, New York City is a veritable paradise for those who seek the weird in the world of food (and many other worlds… should you choose to stumble down those alleys.)
On numerous occasions I’ve discovered something new simply by walking the streets and stalls of Chinatown. Many of the most prominent stalls along the Eastern end of Canal St. offer a variety of oddly shaped, festively colored, and reasonably priced fruits. One that has often caught my eye is the (seasonally) short lived Dragonfruit, commonly known as a Pitaya.
A pitaya is the fruit of several cactus species, and sensibly occupies an important place in many culinary cultures: they are found across the globe from Asia to the Americas.
The skin of the fruit is somewhat leathery, featuring leafy offshoots. It sits comfortably in the hand, but can weigh anywhere from .25 lb to 1.3 lbs. Wikipedia notes that fruit up to 2.2 lbs has been recorded.
The flesh, a bright white speckled with small black seeds, is similar to that of the kiwi with somewhat more of a physical snap (in texture, not taste.) The red (in this case, though there are other varietals) skin is not consumed and has been known to be fouled by pesticides with farm grown fruits. The flavor is mild and acts as an excellent palate cleanser between courses of more strongly flavored foods. Since it is low in calories you can consume quite a bit of it without worry.
The Dragonfruit is relatively expensive when compared to more common fruits, but it’s flashy appearance and abundant flesh make it an excellent addition to many meals, and has never failed to illicit a raised eyebrow from visiting dinner guests.
Carnivora: a drawing + a mold = a ring
The other day I lurched into the local coffee shop and began to peel off my layers as I stood before the jeweler I had come to meet.
She had asked that I come to take a last look at the wax mold for the ring I had designed.
One of the many things I’ve learned in working with jewelers on the pieces to be showcased in my upcoming show, Carnivora, is that just because one can draw it on paper, does not mean that it will translate literally. I’ve come to live the expression “I make it pretty and you make it practical.” And so it was when I looked upon the small purple sculpture that sat in the hand extended towards me.
The ring, as imagined, will be cast from Palladium with onyx set into the “eyes” and is intended to be worn either with the point towards the wearer or away.
On the hand it just feels right.
Click the thumbnails below to enlarge…
