For You The Traveller

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

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For You The Traveller: A Human Guide To The World is a unique hand-bound travel guidebook. In fact, it’s more like a directory of bighearted folks  who will act as ports-of-call to travelers passing through their country and bearing the guidebook. These hosts are scattered across the world from Europe to South America to Africa and beyond. They live in cities and rural areas alike. They are metalworkers, scientists, builders, farmers, ecologists, urban designers, musicians, shipwrights, leatherworkers, political analysts and many other things. Some are old, others are young. What they have in common is that they are interested in meeting travelers. If you share yourself with them, they will share their shelter, philosophy, and homes with you.

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 For You The Traveller provides host’s names, stories, telephone numbers and hand-drawn maps to help you on your way. The book is currently available only in a strictly limited edition of 200. Each edition has been printed on recycled paper, hand-bound in oak and covered in recycled rabbit fur. 

For You The Traveller is the first book by artist Nabil Sabio Azadi. All profits from sale will be donated to Nouvelle Planète to fund the construction of five footbridges in the rural villages near Ambano, Madagascar. These footbridges will provide the villagers with safe passage to nearby townships in all weather conditions, allowing them to earn a living and send their children to school regularly.

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If you’re curious, check out Azadi’s website here.

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Posted in Africa, Art, Books, Europe, Maps, Middle East, South America, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

British Problems

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

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Based on reddit posts, the ever clever folks at Buzz Feed have compiled this hilarious set of quintessentially British “problems”. If you’ve ever spent time in the UK, these images will resonate for you. If not, just have a laugh. I have to admit that during my early visits to Britain the sentiments expressed in the final graphic went right over my head, but I can recognize an insulting toff most of the time now.

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Not Lovin’ It

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

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Ian Strange (aka kid zoom) is an Australian-born, New York City-based street artist who has been “disrupting” advertising displays in major cities around the world since 2007. Specializing in bus shelter advertising, Kid Zoom uses his insightful aerosol interventions to skewer big corporations by improving on their expensive advertising campaigns.

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There’s No Country Called Holland

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Colin Grey is a New Yorker who is now based in Britain. His Youtube channel is a treasure-trove of information on politics, geography, history and science. Quite a while back, we posted one of his clever videos on London. But this video explaining the complex linguistic distinctions that surround the country we know as the Netherlands is his best yet.

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Happy New Year 2013

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

For a few years, satellite radio listeners were treated to the wonderful, eclectic Theme Time Radio Hour hosted by the one and only Bob Dylan. One year he shared an amusing “Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions” list. Now, thanks to the YouTube, we can enjoy Bob’s quirky list each and every New Year. Have a listen:

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London Voyage

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

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Voyage is a simple, but appealing project created by partners in the design firm Aether & Hemera of Newcastle at London’s trendy Canary Wharf. Artists Gloria Ronchi and claudio Benghi launched a vivid, tiny fleet of 300 polypropylene boats illuminated by colorful LED lights.

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The creators hope that their vision will “provoke memories, explore aesthetics, and elicit feelings of connective human experience.”

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h/t to reader Evan Smythe — images ©Sean Batten & Ian Docwra

The installation will be in place until February 15, 2013.

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Habits Makes It Sound Disreputable

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

On December 20th, the Pew Research Center‘s Internet & American Life Project released a thought provoking study of “Reading habits in Different Communities” in the United States.

It appears that only 78% of Americans ages 16 and older report reading a book in the past 12 months. While urban and suburban dwellers report that 80% have read a book, only 71% of residents in rural areas have done so.

At least the survey shows that 58% of U.S. adults still have a library card, although that figure drops to 48% in rural areas.

This excellent infographic sums up the findings quite well and you can read the entire report at the Pew website here.

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Art Makes The Trip

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

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Anyone who uses public transit, especially subway systems, knows that artfully designed and decorated stations make travel less tedious, and even enjoyable. Metronapoli, in Naples Italy, has taken this notion very seriously and has initiated a long-term project called “Art Stations” to make public transit stations more attractive and to give riders the opportunity to experience contemporary art.

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So far, there are thirteen “Art Stations” in Naples with original art work and designs by ninety international artists. Each station is the province of an individual architectural firm, with a discrete sensibility and aesthetic.

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You can see images from all thirteen stations at the Metronapoli website.

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Mind The Bison

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Push Pop Press founder photographer Mike Matas has put together a terrific three-minute tour de force film of a cross country excursion by car from San Francisco to New York City with more than 5,000 photos. I really enjoyed the creative juxtaposition of iconic tourist destinations with those mundane moments that we all endure when we undertake a long road trip. Take a ride and then checkout Mike’s website.

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Atelier Visite Virtuelle

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

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Situated in the bustling heart of Paris just a two minute walk from the Louvre, 59 Rivoli is a six floor, 19th century repurposed bank building packed with artist studios. Founded as an artists’ squat in 1999, 59 Rivoli was “legalized” in 2006 and restored by the municipal government. The ex-squat reopened in 2009 with 20 ateliers for permanent artists and another 10 for temporary residencies that last 3 to 6 months. All of the studios are open for visitors and the ground floor gallery space hosts free musical events most weekends. If you can’t make it in person, at least your can take a virtual visit right here.

If you’re interested in visiting some similar artists’ squats-collectives, check-out les frigos and la generale.

h/t to Cara Black for the link

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