A few examples of lantern slides

= WHAT ARE THESE? hello???... ...anybody?

Definitely Awesome Artwork-------------------------------                                                    

Definitely a lot of emotion in the   original images.

 It's my inheritance, mildly...

When my grandfather, a projectionist, passed away about a decade ago, he left the earth with a number of his scattered treasures.  I feel as though I've found the X, it's marking the spot. 

My grandmother gave me these slides to try and sell them on eBay (which is now basically defunct).  They are still really interesting.

GOBOs or Lantern Slides

I have a ton of these things, and in all shapes in sizes.  Probably about ~400 total.

They are each a masterpiece of artwork.  Hand painted (I think) artwork on a glass slide that is then projected with light onto a certain type of surface.

Missing Pieces

Unfortunately, I am missing the actual LANTERN to the LANTERN SLIDE set up. 

Although I have, but almost a million of these bad boys, I can only see them in their truest splendor with a flashlight in a closet with all the lights off.

Even still though, with the help of my friend Jason Russell, I was able to capture some VERY cool shots of light reflecting throughout the paint on some of these slides.

There are a few different varities:

• Small 1"x1" glass slides with strange pictures of all kinds of events and written words.
• Larger 2"x2" glass slides with a metal frame that slides into another piece that I have (not shown)

• Wood-laden, hand painted, vintage lantern slides.  They require a special projection system to be enjoyed at their maximum capacity

It's just a little bit interesting...

Soo...life has but, pressed onward forward.

Got a Cherry Pop at the end of my mid-work week.  Very tired and energetic all at the same time..

Luckily, I have the company of some good people, Jason Arrr (Russell) and a young man named Phil, 

to keep me occupied.

After working "WrestleMania" as a stage-hand in Northern Jersey, I'm a bit sore...

Not entirely so, however, as I have worked extensively in the field of manual labor (e.g. "Amazon, FedEx Ground")

Hard work gets what hard work earns

 Indeed, I am grateful, almost eternally, to the forces that have brought this opportunity before me.  

In the tradition of nepotism, I have received an opportunity beyond words or imagination. 

I am indeed, very grateful...

The gig entailed the coiling of many a spaghetti-like cord and taking down the structures (or "trusses") that held the lighting structures.

Look Here for a more extensive view of what the show entailed

 

 Wednesday Night is "DollHouse Revue" night at Voyeur in Philadelphia.

I am most excited for going to see a great show tonight at the Voyeur club in Philadelphia.

Last week's show featured some pretty great acts, including "Satine Harlow" and "Cherry Poppins" performing to a song called "I love it" in a sister act.  It was really a treat to see these girls dressed up in matching ZEBRA striped outfits and dancing along like true sisters.  The song was a rip and Satine and Cherry Pop's dancing movement followed suit.   It was an absolute blast to watch.  The grandness of their performance was matched only by that of their amazing waist buckles.  Both featured a palette of yellow sequins or metal pieces, which is, yet another indicator of these girl's unity in their performance. 

In the world of color symbols, yellow represents unity and friendships, also new beginnings.

You can find out more about Satine and Cherry here at their FaceBook page.

Well, that's all for now folks, I'll report back in just when the internet presents itself to me...

 

Peace,
Christopher Strawley

The Lovers and the Others

Do you think it matters what the lovers say,
or what the other people say?

Do you think it matters what the lovers say
or what the other people say?
Do you think it matters what the haters say
They've got so much shit to say
Do you think they'll see you through the day.
All they wanna do is make you late...

That's very funny of you...
That's very funny of you...


Words and Melody by: Christopher Strawley
Produced by: Christopher Strawley

Thanks meow!

The Words of my Diaries... (April 1st-Now)

What a fool, I don't even know what day it is...

April Fool's?  I missed it right?  Nothing happened?

Publicized Journals, you say?  That sound like quite a brilliant PLOY!!!

A Smashing Plot... A mind bending thief of the mind, this journal..

 

 

His Power may be stopped even yet.

 

\

\

\

I am not but a saint, but a sinner!  (lol)

What is that word?  A mere mortal "confession"?

I'm not entirely sure...

 

I wish that I could perform this LIVE for you...but I have run out of batteries...

 

 

 

4/2/13

 

You didn't fool me though...Even though my handwriting may look like scratch, I continue to add these words, these thoughts or understandings.  For things need to become better across the board.  All aspects...

It's the point...there is only one that keeps me from that old power...the power that took me down into a hole.  deep down into a hole

I met a young individual named "Angelic" at Voyer last Wednesday.  What a name, and a matching personality to boot.  I wish I could have snagged a picture of that fabulous haircut....MMM, is delicious...

4/2/13 cont.

I'm walking around the room, slightly dazed as I look at the new TASCAM SUBMIXER from the 80s that I just picked up. 

Gotta go to the thrift store now.  Be back later.

McDonalds Retro Vintage Window Song

Ain't no Fools on this April Day...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a day yesterday was...

 

 

It felt like a great gift from the universe

everyone was pleased in the end...

 

I got to meet up with an old friend named Jon Martin yesterday. 

His name is Jon Martin.  Jon currently resides in Conshocken, PA

Jon and I had originally met @ Suburban Station on 17th and JFK Blvd in Philadelphia, PA

 

 

 

Here's a song we all did together on an impromptu pickup jam session after snacking down on a McDonalds "Double Cheeseburger w/ Big MAC sauce".

 

 

It's called "Retro Vintage Window"



 



Words and melody by: Christopher Strawley (SD/LO)
Production values added by: Jon Martin
Background vocals: Tina Sera.

 Look for more music from StepDown<>LiftOff in the next few days, as well as an insight to some of Jon Martin's original music!

 

Where Have I Gone? Where is Bunky?

Greetings All!

"Where have you been for the last week", you ask?
In transistion.  I moved to a new apartment in New Jersey that overlooks the Tacony Palmyra Bridge. 
I am truly grateful to have this ------->
as my view everytime I sit down to play the piano
and record.

 
So what have I been up to over the last week and a half?
Hmm, that's a great question...If you watched the video titled "The Breaks" from a few weeks ago, you'd know that I've been going through some financial crisises.  Thanks to my friends and the business that I've started up selling video games, the "Save PIkachu" movement has succeeded.  I thank everyone who supported me during this time of crisis.  You are truly my Princesses and Princes.  Thank you!

Music -

In the new apartment I moved into, the internet access is scarce.  My MacBook Pro is currently not connected to the internet, so I have been posting from public internet servers where available. 

I have been spending a lot of time in the city, connecting with other musicians and performers to feel out where I might be able to put my hands in.  I have always loved music, and now that I'm in a more metropolitan area (Philadelphia, Camden, etc), the opportunities that have been presenting themselves to me are out of this world.

I am happy to report that I have been writing music non-stop.  With a large river as my inspiration, the "Sologram" album is shaping up to be a personal masterpiece, I am very proud of my work!  :)


New tracks will be posted when they become available!  :)

Videos -

Thanks to an old friend of mine, named Cameron, I have a very nice, handy Q2 HD Video Recorder.  I have been using it to capture all kinds of videos over the last few weeks.

Life in General -

To everyone who has supported and loved me: I want you to know that I love and support you back.  I am going to visit my mother's side of the family tonight and spend some quality time with them. 

I want to report in to the blogging world to let anyone who is listening that I am very busy letting the universe speak to me and recording it's intention. 

Toodle-o for now,
Christopher Strawley

The Perpetual Breaks

Non-stop craziness.
I feel like a marionette being pulled in a million directions by my weathered strings

I am in a Verizon store right now posting this as my new roommate activates her old cell phone since her new "incredible droid" phone got the blue screen of death.

I want nothing more than to appease everyone and its breaking me into pieces, like shattered glass.

The universe is the only thing keeping me sane