Ice Classic

Ice Classic (2007) by Brian L. Frye; video, color, sound, 2 minutes.

The town of Nenana, south of Fairbanks, marks the approach of spring with the Ice Classic Festival. During the festival the town erects a four-legged "tripod" on the frozen Tanana River. The tripod marks the official moment the ice goes out, and break-up begins. All across Alaska, bars and stores sell tickets, on which people guess the fateful moment. In 2000, the jackpot was $335,000. We came to watch the tripod go up, and got shanghaied into helping out. It was about 20 below zero and plenty windy out on the ice. So we warmed up in Moocher's Bar with beers and hot toddies.

North American

North American (2007) by Brian L. Frye; video, color, sound, 1 minute.

Dog mushing is Alaska's iconic sport. And in mid-March, most of Fairbanks gathers downtown on Second Street for the starts of the Open North American. I heard the dogs yelping from my office. They make a din like gulls at sunset, straining at their traces, eager to run toward supper.

BENT Festival 2006

BENT Festival 2006 (2007) by Brian L. Frye; video, color, sound, 3 minutes.

Last year, we visited the BENT festival of circuit bending and related enterprises in lower Manhattan. The accumulated puttering, tinkering, and fiddling produced a wonderful series of performances and explanations. Unlike a joke, a good circuit bend is even better in the telling.

Wooden Whistle

Wooden Whistle (2007) by Brian L. Frye; video, color, sound, 3 minutes.
Just before winter fell, Jason took us up in his ultralight.

Elan Vital

Elan Vital by Brian L. Frye (2007); video, color, sound, 2 minutes.
Alaska is wet and dry at once. The water sleeps all winter, a blanket muffling the sod. But it is very cheerful when it awakens.

The Lions of Florence

The Lions of Florence (2006) by Brian L. Frye; video, color, sound, 1.5 minutes.

Just outside of Florence, Oregon is a cavern at the bottom of a cliff on the shore where sea lions congregate in breeding season, or whenever they care to visit. It's a domestic setting, so listen, without getting too close.

Art Needs No Explanation

Art Needs No Explanation (2006) by Brian L. Frye; video, color, sound, 1 minute.

Justice Sanders opines on the practice of art criticism. No embellishments necessary.

Half Our Lives

Half Our Lives by Carrie Deming & Brian L. Frye (2006); video, color, sound, 2.5 minutes.
On a lovely Sunday morning, we drove up the along the Sound to Hoodsport. Someone had planted wildflowers in the medium all along the Evergreen Parkway, and the blooms almost glowed in the sun. Carrie suggested we make a movie. The Vidster turned the petals into daubs of paint. An inadvertant homage to Bruce Baillie.

The Clean Hands Doctrine

The Clean Hands Doctrine by Brian L. Frye (2006); video, color, sound, 1 minute.
"Those who seek equity, must do equity." Balatrava, Carrie on urban hygiene, a touch of Grand Guignol, and silence.

Ipse Dixit

For those interested, I've finally compiled a (relatively complete) list of my published articles on film and art, which you can view here. It's rather longer than I'd expected, actually. For perversity's sake, I've done the entire thing in Bluebook format as well. Those inclined are encouraged to critique my citation skills. Which are sadly deficient.

Cellphone Cigarbox Bend

A variation on the bent toy cellphone, in which I took out the resistor entirely. The design looks better than the first, too. A sample is here.

Camembert Bend

Camembert Bend by Brian L. Frye (2006); video, color, sound, 1 minute.
A girl's toy magic mirror recased in a camembert box. I used a 2M pot and a 1M resistor, and added body contacts. The led flashes brighter when the speaker is turned off.

Magic Mirror

Magic Mirror by Brian L. Frye (2006); video, color, sound, 1 minute.
A toy mirror I bent as a present for my girlfriend Carrie. Unfortunately, the vidster couldn't catch the best part, a ghostly cartoon of girl's face that appears in the center of the mirror as it tinkles and moans.

Burfoot Swing

Burfoot Swing by Brian L. Frye (2006); video, color, sound, 1 minute.
On a Sunday afternoon we visited Burfoot Park on the east side of the sound. A walk through Olympic rainforest leads to the water. Up the beach from the trail is a lovely ropeswing.

Sailboat (for David Rimmer)

Sailboat (for David Rimmer) by Brian L. Frye (2006); video, color, sound, 2 minutes.
An homage to a reputedly great work of minor cinema, which I've never had the opportunity to see. Sound by Wayne & Liz, borrowed from WFMU.

Safeway Siren

Safeway Siren by Brian L. Frye (2006); video, color, sound, 1 minute.
I was sorting through the pork chops when this young lady asked if she could read me a poem. I consented, and captured the drama. I think the milieu enhances the effect.

San Clemente's Not the Same: The Nixon Rag

San Clemente's Not the Same by Brian L. Frye (2006); video, color, sound, 2.5 minutes.
A music video for Barbara Foster's fabulous "San Clemente's Not the Same," illustrated by H.R. Haldeman's home movies of Tricky Dick and his entourage.

Playskool Bend

Playskool Bend by Brian L. Frye (2006); video, color, sound, 1 minute.
My first (successfully) bent toy, purchased at the Goodwill by the mall. Only two changes: a 1K pot and a 1K resistor. And I'm hooked.

Skate Jam Olympia!

Skate Jam Olympia! by Brian L. Frye (2006); video, sound, 1 minute.

Heather Dunn, et al spun LPs at the Sunday night Skate Party. It'd been ages since I'd laced on a pair of roller skates. But it was just like I remembered from 20 years ago in Santa Rosa. We got an Icee (blue flavor) and used the photobooth. I managed not to run into anyone. And Carrie stole the centipede when they got it going.

Whirligig

Whirligig (2006) by Brian L. Frye; video, color, sound, 2.5 minutes.

The T.J. Hooper engages in her favorite pastime: chasing a laser pointer in circles until exhausted.