Bowling in the 21st century

Austin, TX

Bowling has come a long way.  Did you know that the lanes can be programmed for left and right handed bowlers?  Bumpers can pop up for some players and slide back down for others?  Tips for improving your game can be displayed based on your bowling patterns?

The things you learn when you go home for the holidays!

Here is my 3 year old niece Ella contemplating the ball as it slowly makes its way down the lane.

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Hylton Nel Gets a Light Bulb

Barrydale, South Africa

Hylton Nel is the most well respected and well known ceramicist in South Africa. But all that attention and acclaim haven't gone to his head.  He is about as unassuming and unpretentious as a man can be.

His studio, located about 4 hours outside Cape Town, on a lonely stretch of highway, is all about isolation.  As he explains, he doesn't like to be influenced by what other people are doing.  Everything comes from his own experience, his books, and his immediate surroundings.  

In fact, he was so unaccustomed to having visitors, that he had to follow us around with his only light bulb, which he would transfer from room to room as we made our way through his house (he's carrying it in the photo). The man had lots of wine, plenty of mature fruit trees, rooms filled with books and artwork, but only one light bulb.  

Made me wonder - could I be happy with only one light bulb?  I sort of wish I was that "one light bulb" kind of guy, but I just dont think I am....  I think I will always like TV and the internet with my wine, books, artwork and mature fruit trees.  

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Paved in 250 Billion Dollar Bills

The Road from Zimbabwe

South Africa is filling with immigrants from Zimbabwe, along with their useless Zimbabwean dollars.  One guy I met planned to wallpaper his bathroom with 250 billion dollar bills, figuring the whole job could be done with currency worth less than 1 USD.  Though the currency has recently been revalued at 750,000 to one USD, the old bills, like the one featured below are still circulating through the holidays.  But using them is difficult, since buying any one item at the 99 cent store would take a stack of money higher than the average person  (1 USD = 7500000000000000 old ZD).  

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Ceramic Food

Johannesburg, South Africa

We visited an artist who specialized in ceramic food.  He literally had a ceramic feast spread across the length of the table.  Its really one of those things you have to see to believe. Pictured is a tiny piece of that table, with a real strawberry thrown in for a little perspective.

Just another one of the many amazing artists that can be found in South Africa tucked safely behind a thick concrete wall topped with electrified barb wire 

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A Little Love for the Giant Tortoise

Western Cape, South Africa

This is the living room of the acclaimed South African artist Michael Medven.  He does those lit paper animal sculptures that are so popular.  (Though the deer heads seem to have been reproduced ad nauseam).  Much of his work is truly amazing, and his home is filled with it - life sized zebras on the run, eagles in flight, dogs napping by the door... and, bizarrely, meandering among all these sculptures, was the family pet, a giant african tortoise.  This sweet lady would make her way from room to room, following us around on our tour of Michael's studio.  At one point, she actually got stuck under the coffee table, pulling it all the way across the room until it jammed in the doorway, allowing her to escape. This was an impressive - and determined turtle

I had many questions about the daily care required for an african tortoise, but we didn't have the time to satisfy my curiosity - after all, Keith was working and I was supposed to be shooting a show about shopping.  

But the tortoise was pretty amazing.  And surprisingly fast!  I want to learn more...

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She's Waiting for Her Boyfriend

Johannesburg, South Africa

Downtown Jo'burg is very post apocalyptic.  Like one of those movies where a strange virus takes over and the city is quarantined.  But every now and then, you see signs of life.  Like this girl in the park.  I think she is waiting for a call from her boyfriend.  A call that will never come.  (at least, thats the drama I have created for her).  

At any rate, there is something about her that is profoundly sad....

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One Giant Leap

Wilderness, South Africa

Our last stop during our trip to South Africa shooting "Man Shops Globe", was at Magpies, which is an artists collective that create chandeliers (among other things) from found objects and trash. Keith knew it was a very good thing and he was right. The chandeliers have since been shipped back to the US and have ended up in some very prominent households. They are truly amazing - you have to tune in to Man Shops Globe to see them and find out more....

After leaving Magpies, we were all on a real shopping high. I decided to celebrate the days finds by leaping from the highest bridge in Africa.

This is me obliging the staff photographer who insisted I give the "thumbs up". It was a very good day....

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