Synchrodogs - Behind The Lens

Synchrodogs recently exhibited at the Dallas Contemporary, part of five separate individual shows currently on display. Their series SUPERNATURAL was commissioned by the Dallas Contemporary and shot throughout their 4 week road trip in the Western United States. I got a chance to sit down with Tania and Romen to talk about one of the pieces in the show.

What were your goals and inspirations behind it?

We were always working on the topic of nature as natural environment is the one that brought us up. It is where we find relief. It is what makes us happy and what calms our souls. Working on Supernatural project we continued exploring connection between human and Earth, went on a 4000 mile road trip throughout US to rediscover our own capacities and energy limits, to see how a human can walk into darkness, go straight into unexplored relying on intuition, go where subconscious leads and feel safe in the World of the unknown.

What is the meaning of the work?

We only perceive our projects as a whole, not giving individual meanings to each photograph. With ‘Supernatural’ project we strived to create our own reality, used our own constructed images as a vehicle for erasing the line between real and illusive, between natural and artificial, between evident and unexplored.

Did you have any past artists or photographers in mind when you photographed it (like Edward Weston?)

No, when we are working on a project we are usually too concentrated on our own thoughts and try to avoid other visual materials around not to loose our own ideas.

Was the horizon line and angle of any importance?

Everything is important, you change the angle and you make an absolutely different picture.

How do the methods you chose complement your intentions?

Our method of working is absolute self-devotion. We know our goal, we have our ideas in mind and we climb the highest hill on the hottest sunny day to get to the best piece of nature and make a shot.

How did you decide to arrange this composition?

Our composition is always straight just like the world you see around.

If you had to attribute a specific style to this, what would it be?

Naturally surreal.

Photo courtesy of Synchrodogs 2015.

For more information, visit

Synchrodogs

website

Dallas Contemporary

website

Ekaterina Kouznetsova

Instagram @Czarina_ekaterina

website

#synchrodogs #dallascontemporary #art #photographydallas

Chic and Easy Last-Minute Halloween Costumes

It seems like every single year, Halloween comes out of nowhere. At least for me it does! With all the stores putting up Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations in the middle of September, it's easy to lose the spookiness of October. Also, procrastination. If you think back to July, you'll remember you had that one perfect costume idea that never made it into your busy schedule. Now, Halloween is just a few days away and you've got plans, a lot of them. Maybe it's a few Halloween parties, a concert, or just a night on the town with a pit stop at the festivities, you need a quick and easy costume to impress your friends. Have no fear, these costumes take less than an hour and there is absolutely no emergency runs to the Party City involved.

For the artsy ones:

LOVE THE PAINTING, BE THE PAINTING

You like art and paintings? Why not do some arts and crafts to make your very own Mondrian? The geometric lines and primary colors and easy for even the artistically-challenged, and all you'll need is a 10 minute trip to Hobby Lobby! Another advantage of this costume is that you can put it over your clothes with no preparation if your night isn't all spooky, themed fun.

You'll need:

• 2 white foam boards

• Red, Yellow, Blue, and Black paint

• Foam brush

• 2 pieces of elastic of fabric to attach the foam boards

• Staples, superglue, or whatever else you want to attach the fabric to the foamboard

For the makeup guru:

POP ART IT OUT!

Image courtesy of Pinterest

Become a cartoon! As you can tell, I love art and this costume is a throwback to both comic books and the genius Roy Lichtenstein. It might take about 20 minutes for the full makeup, but remember that you can pair something as bold as this with pretty much any clothes, so no costume shopping (unless you want to, Yandy and other party stores have a perfect dress to pair with it)! If you want a makeup tutorial to follow and get it absolutely perfect, this one is the best I found, and it shows you 4 different ways to do it!

You'll need:

• 20 minutes of free time

• Fake eyelashes (optional)

• 1 costume makeup palette OR find alternatives at home like:

• Black eyeliner or pencil

• Red lipstick

• Light concealer or white eyeliner

• Blue eye shadow or pencil

• Cream eyeshadow for the POW!

#halloweencostumeideas #halloween #costumeideas #cheapcostumeidea #makeuptutorial #halloweenmakeup #popart #artcostume #comicbookcostume

Unique Dallas Halloween Events

No, you don't want to go that friend's club party and get "turnt". You want something different this Halloween. You want scares, or history, a little 80's action, or even a spooky art gallery! Below is a small list of unique things to do in Dallas on Halloweek 2015.

Wednesday

Historic Halloween Happy Hour hosted by Dallas Heritage Village (Lee Harvey's)

Make a toast to Halloween and Dallas Heritage Village with fellow members, visitors, and friends. We’ll be gathering at Lee Harvey’s, a long time favorite watering hole in the Cedars Neighborhood. We’re also kicking off the planning for our annual fundraiser, History with a Twist. For 2016, we’re leaping forward in time to the 1960s, all in honor of our 50th anniversary in 2016. Bring $5 (or more!) in cash or gift cards to help start building some great auction items.

The conversation begins at 5:30, with ghost stories commencing at 6 p.m. Join us!

View their event page here.

Thursday

Spooky Decks at the Park (Klyde Warren)

What could be better than dancing your Thursday night away in full costume with the city as your stage? The weather is slightly cooler, so go ahead! Bust out that cookie monster costume.

Special Guest DJ's:

Dee Jay Select The Feels Loskop JT Donaldson Wade Randolph Hampton aka WISH FM Jeff Mitchell Jose Pascuall G Wanz Dover

To view their event page click here.

Haunted Tour of the Wilson House (Preservation Dallas, 2922 Swiss Avenue)

What's spookier than a real haunted house tour? Nothing, that's what! This year the Preservation Dallas Young Professionals are hosting a fun, historical night at the Wilson House! If you like ghost stories and free drinks, this is the event for you. It starts at 6:30, and you have to RSVP on their Facebook event page here or contact Preservation Dallas to secure your spot.

It's a spooky 80's Halloween night! Blake Ward vs LZRPRK at Double Wide

Starting at 10, these two Dallas DJ's will battle for the ultimate prize: your approval. Spinning 80's, they promise to include the best and worst hits of the decade of pop, hip hop, electro, rock, metal, and GLAM ROCK! So tease up that hair to obscene heights, put on your outfit of 4 different animal prints, and come shake your booty after a few of their drink specials.

Bonus: It's Ladies Night. For more info click here.

Friday

Go classy at a Pre-Halloween Wine Tasting at Astoria (Addison Circle)

If you don't usually venture above 635, or as one of my buddies said, "above Mockingbird," this is a pretty great time to start. If you're too lazy to go to their FB event page, here is all the info you need to know.

Wine tasting fee: $20/person This event is RSVP ONLY! (Space is very limited) Halloween is just around the corner so, why not indulge yourself to a sophisticated Trick or Treat Pairing Class? Learn how to pair your favorite Halloween sweet with the wickedly good HOB NOB wines.

Wine tasting package includes: - Sample of 5 Hob Nob Wines: HobNob Chardonnay, HobNob Pinot Noir, HobNob Wicked Red, HobNob Cabernet Sauvignon, HobNob Merlot - A Candy Bag to pair with the wine Event starts at 7pm and everyone samples as a group (if you are late you will have to start sampling where the group has left off) All 5 Wines will be available for purchase at the end of the tasting with big discounts and complimentary gifts! :) Because space is limited, you must RSVP to get a spot. To make a RESERVATION, please send us a private message on Facebook or call (972)239-5853. Make sure and quote: 1. your full name 2. the number of people in your party 3. best contact phone number to reach you

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