MOMI visit

When I visited the Museum of the Moving Image, I felt a wave of nostalgia, I got to check out my old favorite exhibits I had enjoyed as a kid. I was amazed that though so much had changed since my childhood there was still so much that had stayed the same. After admiring the new entrance and facade of the building I went inside was greeted with a display of old black and white photos of famous movie stars and then I sought out my old favorite exhibits. I was delighted to see that the exhibits like the Freddy's sweater from Nightmare on Elm Street and the makeup from the Elephant Man that had shocked and scared me as a kid were still there, though they didn't seem half as threatening as they did when I was 10. I also was excited to see the old sci-fi exhibits with the original Yoda puppet from Star Wars and the makeup of Chewbacca as well as the practical effects from films like 2001: A Space Odyssey with the monkey limbs. I also spent some time at one of my personal favorite interactive parts of the museum, the exhibit of Georges Milies' 'A Trip to the Moon', I always enjoyed the frame by frame viewer that you could use by turning the hand crank and changing the picture rapidly to create a moving image. I found the fast moving still frames were a fascinating lesson in the relationship between static and dynamic movement in film and media.

Audio Project;

Sound and Image relationship

In this scene from the horror film, Cabin in the Woods, there is an interesting use of editing and self-awareness to it, just like there is in the rest of the film. The scene, which depicts an underground facility being overrun by every horror film creature imaginable, relies on the use of fast cutting and jarring sounds. The use of mundane sounds of an elevator opening are also used to chilling effect, the soft ding of the elevator is offset by the graphic violent images that accompany it. The first monsters enter and attack in a long shot complete with the sounds of screams and the high-pitched whirring sound from one of the robot monsters. The camera remains stationary and even has one of the victims thrown directly at it, giving the scene a gory red blackout and breaking the fourth wall of the film. T Subsequently, there are then quick cuts between various rooms of the facility, all being displayed on security camera-style footage, complete with the small mechanical beeps and static that occur each time the shot cut to something else, the camera then pulls back to reveal these scenes are all occurring simultaneously on various video monitors. I find the editing gives the film a tone reflective of the chaotic unraveling natures of the scenes and the stationary nature of the security cameras add a sense of realism to the horror. There is even an overt editing reference, in one of the security camera shots, the "doctors" are preparing to make an incision on a helpless victim, who yells, "Don't cut!" The camera does not listen to him and cuts to the next shot anyway in an editing style that is both darkly humorous and self aware. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1SV0LInE-s

Hypnotize - Jonah Sanders & Ilana Krugolets from Jonah Sanders on Vimeo.

"SoundWalk"

 Today, I was traveling in NYC without headphones, trying to take in all the sounds I had spent so long trying to block out and ignore. When I started listening I began to discover the fascinating sounds and noises that encompassed the city.

While walking through the winding paths of Central Park I encounter first notes of the "soundwalk" symphony. It is the sound of the park itself, humming and buzzing with activity. It is a rather windy day at the park and the wind whistle by softly and infrequently. The soft lull emanating from the faint thrum of the bugs in the grass, is interrupted by the loud sudden blare of an ambulance siren. 

The cacophonous noise rises immediately to the foreground demanding attention and spreading warning in sharp drawn out wailing blasts that immediately draw focus to it. The ambulance’s siren then fades away as the emergency vehicle passed on its way uptown. A small steady beep emanates from a box by the cross walk, persistent yet muted, it is intended to assist the visually impaired with an audio cue.

 All the while, the dull roar of car engine rolling by create an ambient background hum that most New Yorkers tune out after a while as it becomes white noise in the . Layering over street hum are the scattered bits of conversation and footfalls of nearby pedestrians create a polyphonic melody to accompany the bass lines of the passing cars.

 Near the end of the block a massive 18 wheel tractor trailer pulls up to the light, its lumbering sound adding a new layer to the encompassing "soundscape". The light turns green and the truck rumbles past noisily honking its deep bellowing horn at the SUV in front of it. The solos of cars and sirens provide an interesting addition to the orchestra of the New York City street.

Duck Video

Hi everyone!

I made a video of ducks at Central Park. The editing is a little rough and stuff, but it's my first video so there you go. I made it while singing the Duck Tales theme song to myself and now I can't get that "Woo hoo!" out of my head. Enjoy

https://vimeo.com/109047348

Artist Statement

Artist Statement

Originally, I used to create my art primarily for my own enjoyment. I believed that if other people would see or enjoy my work, that’s great but ultimately the intended audience of my work was usually myself. However, I have begun to try and share my somewhat self-reflective internal work with the outside world. Music is my primary artistic medium but I do enjoy combining that with visual elements such as film and images, particularly through the format of music videos.

My musical background began with childhood love of rock bands such as The Beatles and Stones and developed into an obsession with rock music history and culture. I found the music seemed to reflect an internal feeling of rebellion and individuality within myself. I use my music as an outlet for my own emotional and philosophical ideas and concepts as well as means of creative self-exploration.

I want to be able to express my music on a visual level and add another dimension to my work. I have always had a fascination with pop culture, particularly pop music and I want to find a way to incorporate my own music into various forms of media as well as analyze and discuss the music of others. I’m interested in documenting and sharing my interpretations of artists and musicians as well as create my own work. I’m interested in the field of music criticism and analysis. I wish to try to understand the art on a deeper more emotional yet cerebral level. I want to be able to create films that enhance or complement my music as well as explore the work of others.