Rob Walker's Blog, page 26

Updates: iPhone app, art show, and $1,000-plus for Girls Write Now

Three pieces of exciting news:

1. Our friends over at Electric Literature dropped a line to let us know they have created "mini-book of our Significant Objects on the iPhone. It's free content, and the app is free." How cool is that? Follow this link to get the free E.L./S.O.  iPhone app from iTunes. And since I don't have an iPhone, tell me all about it!

2. The Rabbit Candle + Neil LaBute Story from v2 will be part of a real-live art show! "Los Angeles, I'm Yours," according to the site...

Absolution Figurine + Colleen Werthmann story

Object No. 37 of 50 — Significant Objects v3

[Bid on this Significant Object, with story by Colleen Werthmann, here. Proceeds from this auction go to Girls Write Now.]

During the Sacraments, cheat out. That way the whole church can see you, and your parents can get a nice picture, not just the back of your head.

"In my thoughts, and in my words, in what I have failed to do, and what I have done." Pretty much covers your bases. Except when you do something partway. I guess you add those kinda...

Implement + John Wray Story

No. 36 of 50 -- Significant Objects v3

[Bid on this Significant Object, with story by John Wray, here. Proceeds from this auction go to Girls Write Now.]

"It's certainly—well. It's certainly a something," Lily murmured, upon being introduced to the Object. "But what kind of something is it?"

"This," said Oliver, cradling the Object reverently in his open palms, "Is the something that is going to save our marriage."

Not having been birthed yesterday, Lily had her doubts, but she was willing to...

Significant Tweets for Week Ending 2010-04-11

First public reading from an iPad? May be @jimhanas reading a Signficant Objects story! http://bit.ly/b02m8z #
In a new Slate series, James Sturm is giving up the Web for 4 months. Sturm collaborated with Sig Obj, we dig him! http://slate.me/bdGVe9 #
RT @hilobrow #gnomon http://bit.ly/bgePoD Sig Obj stories about bad parents: http://bit.ly/cnmArz #
How the paperback novel changed pop lit http://bit.ly/9mScZw #
Laura Miller on Lipsky / David Foster Wallace book http://shar.es/m2yi4 #

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James Sturm goes offline

A highlight of the first volume of Significant Objects was our collaboration with cartoonist James Sturm and his students at White River Junction, Vermont's Center for Cartoon Studies. Rob and I loved the cartoons by Betsey Swardlick, Nomi Kane, and Josh Kramer.

So I thought I'd point out that Sturm has started a new project, reporting to Slate.com in cartoon format about a four-month-long effort to stay offline. He's not going to use the Internet or email during that period, because:

Reactions...

Significant Objects meme (8)

Chen Karlsson is a Scandinavian-Asian homeware company. This post was on the blog Junkculture yesterday.

Star Wars Cards + Jim Shepard Story

Object No. 35 of 50 -- Significant Objects v3

[Bid on this Significant Object, with story by Jim Shepard, here. This is part of a collection curated for Significant Objects by Paola Antonelli, and co-published on Core77.com. Proceeds from this auction go to Girls Write Now.]

When I was little I'd ask my mother what I was getting for my birthday. I'd ask like the morning of my birthday. It always pissed her off because my birthday was December 27th.

"Look under that tree," she'd tell me. "You...

Birthday Candles + Scarlett Thomas story

Object No. 34 of 50 -- Signifcant Objects v3

[Bid on this Significant Object, with story by Scarlett Thomas, here. This is part of a collection curated for Significant Objects by Paola Antonelli, and co-published on Core77.com. Proceeds from this auction go to Girls Write Now.]

You can find all kinds of crap in the back of drawers. Here is the string we once used to tie the handles of the French doors together so that Julius wouldn't open them and walk into the pond. Here is a thimble, and a...

Signficant Objects X Kate Bingaman-Burt X 20×200!

We've hinted at various cool stuff that we're up to that's in the offing and that we can't quite share details about yet.

And now we're doing it again!

But listen: You must have heard about 20×200 by now — the online art gallery that lets you "discover great artists at an affordable price"?

And maybe you also know the work of Kate Bingaman-Burt, whose book Obsessive Consumption was just published by Princeton Architectural Press?

Well let's just say this. IF we at Significant Objects WANTED to...

"Crumpter" + Matt Brown Story And Materials

Object No. 33 of 50 -- Significant Objects, v3

[Bid on this Significant Object, with story and collateral material by Matt Brown, here. Authenticity of collateral material not guaranteed; if you're curious, ask. This is part of a collection curated for Significant Objects by Paola Antonelli, and co-published on Core77.com. Proceeds from this auction go to Girls Write Now.]

When I first met Ron Chutney I was 16 and looking to cut a record. Sang a few songs for him at his studio and I...