danielincandela.com

Title: Coffin Chatter or Tombstone Talk
Artist: Daniel Incandela
Materials: Granite or marble, (2) 40″ weather proofed LCD/Plasma screens

This is not a statement on death. It’s a celebration of life. An idea came to me several years ago about creating a fictitious cast of characters that would perform in cemeteries on flat screen monitors installed into the ground – almost like a coffin. As time passed, this idea shifted into more personal connections. But throughout my thought process, this remained a celebration of life. It is not a statement, mockery or slight on dying, death or loss. Trust me. I know the pain and sadness that comes with that.

Original sketch for Coffin Chatter

I spend a lot of time in Crown Hill Cemetery. I visit my father’s tree once a week and I enjoy the peace and quiet that comes with thoughtful reflection. I think we’re supposed to be that way. Right? Or maybe not.

This is a new time. The digital era. The life we live in today allows anyone to be an author, creator and producer of memories. And these days, we’re talking digital memories – memories or quips or jokes or laughter or stories or performances or advice. Think about what we do with digital files.

I thought about some of my favorite people over time – Earnest Hemingway, Kurt Vonnegut, Steve McQueen, George Gershwin, Edie Sedgwick, Gandhi, Peter Sellers and lots more. I would visit their graves at the drop of a hat.

I would also jump at the chance of visiting an interactive grave – incorporating digital files from their life – music, comedy, writings, teachings, advice, quotes, video, historical information, and dialogue.

A family of talkers

It’s a cross between the moving images in the Harry Potter picture frames or newspapers and a traditional grave – all produced with thought, grace, respect and ideally, moments of laughter and tears.

A lonesome, interactive grave

When I consider digital strategies, I often think about the longevity of digital projects. The digital content we produce today via Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, blogs and YouTube, in theory, will last forever. Technology will always support converting our current files into future file extensions and uses. Unlike the generations before us, we are generating more personal data than ever before. Digital memories. Our digital footprints will outlast us and it’s our own way of leaving an impact in this world. Billions of us are doing it.

Maybe in the future, our kids or grand kids will visit Jim Morrison’s grave in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. They’ll encounter a headstone and maybe, just maybe, a new cemetery interaction with digital memories such as poetry readings, photographs, album covers, concert footage and interviews.

It gives rest in peace a new meaning. I write, take photographs, think creatively and develop collaborations because I’m focused on creating my own digital memories.

After all, this blog post and crazy concept will live longer than I will.

Renderings courtesy of Michele Jasper.

Filed under: Art Concepts by Daniel
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Any event where you watch the sun set and then see the sun rise is alright in my book. Daytona, Florida welcomed us with open arms as we arrived in town to cover the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This was a perfect scouting trip for us, since we’re hosting a GRAND-AM event later this year.

Daytona – not the prettiest spot in Florida, but filled to the brim with sunshine, fresh seafood and fast, fast cars.

Welcome to Daytona

I’ve never quite understood endurance racing. There are big cars, small cars, different series and classes and the whole 24 hour thing with multiple drivers. Nonetheless, I found myself incredibly excited for this event. In the past year, I’ve had the honor of covering the Centennial Running of the Indianapolis 500 and now the 50th Anniversary of the 24 Hours At Daytona. How lucky.

The cars are incredibly beautiful. I’ve become accustomed to open wheel cars, but these sports cars offer familiar and innovative lines. Some look like a car you would drive (if you’ve got bank) and others are directly from the drawing board. There is diversity abound.

Familiar and innovative machines

The sultry blue Corvette

The crowd is not incredibly diverse, but they’re certainly devoted. Many camped out for the full 24 hours. A few stayed the whole time. Most of the fans left for some shut eye, but returned at day light. That’s incredible commitment. This is a different level of race fan – passionate, in it for the long haul, and incredibly knowledgeable of their sport. It’s more like a cult (a good cult of course).

It’s also an environment where young up and coming drivers mix with sports cars superstars, IndyCar drivers, NASCAR drivers and legends from the past. And when I say legends, I mean Sir Jackie Stewart. Wow. I simply love this photo and it all came down to luck and timing – like most things in life.

Sir Jackie Stewart

Staying up for the 24 Hours is tough. Like most race events, I turned my thoughts to the experience of the mechanics. I’m just not sure I could stay so switched on for that long. I remember one of the Ganassi cars coming in after about 18 hours for a gearbox change! That’s insane. The mechanic responsible for that change not only has to respond quickly, but also without error. The real superstars of this event? The Crews.

The Crew

In terms of an event – impressive. GRAND-AM runs a professional race and a superb media center. The members of SPEED were as always, a joy to work with. And I was absolutely blown away by the power of a brand, specifically Rolex. Before this race, I associated endurance racing with Tag Heuer and Steve McQueen. Not now. I get the romance and allure of a Rolex. When I watched the winning drivers receive their watches, it all made sense to me. Like IndyCar drivers chasing a taste of milk at the Indy 500, these drivers all chase one thing – a Rolex they’ll wear for the rest of life. It’s a brand, it’s a memory. Well done Rolex.

Rolex 24 & Champagne

When I landed back in Indianapolis late Monday night, utterly exhausted, I tweeted that this had been on of the best weekends of my life. Sure I got grumpy during periods of the night. I was cold walking around at 3am. And I might have cursed when I realized I had to start our camera to get time lapse footage of the sunrise. But you know what? A 24 hour race is a challenge, a test, an endurance race and I made it.

We’re all chasing something in life. I’m still going.

Now I just need to get that Rolex.

Filed under: Motorsports by Daniel
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Dear iRobot Roomba -

I’d like to put my name forward as a tester for any of your vacuum cleaning robots. I’m in awe of your adaptive technology, clever design, innovation in the field, and the fact that you’re creating purposeful, hard working and tidy robots. Nothing like that perennial show off, ASIMO.

Fancy Pants ASIMO

I think you’ll find my qualifications unique for this role. In fact, if had to provide a resume, I have no doubts you’d be impressed. I’m bring a lot of Robot street cred. And my home is the perfect testing ground. It’s like being in the trenches.

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Filed under: Robots by Daniel
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Fractal.

A rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is (at least approximately) a reduced-size copy of the whole. – Benoit Mandelbrot

I visit my Father’s tree at least once a week. As I stop to grab my breath and save my lungs (I usually run there), I’m always struck by its perfect symmetry. It’s shape is actually etched in my mind. Sometimes I think it’s a tree made up of identical leaves. Fractals.

Dad's tree - waiting for the leaves!

Nature presents some incredible patterns.

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Filed under: Random by Daniel
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On January 2 – I published this post and declared a new strategy to content on this site. Since then, it might appear that things have been fairly quiet. Not to worry, a lot of ideas have been put in motion, including a new Art Concepts idea, a new May I Present to You, an SEO campaign, new front page design, and some other top secret concepts. Top Secret!!! In the meantime, I thought I’d share some things that have kept me entertained, engaged, stimulated and laughing.

T.P.S. Report by Flickr user Philhouse

Have you filled out your T.P.S Report? Let’s get on with it.

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Filed under: Random by Daniel
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