Off to the Internet World 2008

Once again this year, I am attending the Internet World at Earls Court London. Although last years exhibition did not have the best reviews, I still think that if you manage to look beyond some of the sales pitch you will be able to find some very useful conferences worth listening to. I am specially looking forward to BBC’s Kym Niblock regarding the “Commercialising of Content Propositions” and “Network Entry Point Expansion” by Dan Cohen of MSN.

London will be once again invaded by the loads of Irish residents most of them coming from Google, Double Click and MSN. Hopefully I will be seeing lots of familiar faces in the venue and at the nearby pubs!

Grandpa’s Impressionist Paintings on Auction

My uncle stumbled upon some of my grandpa’s impressionist paintings on E-bay. His original name was Hans Mertins but he used to sign his paintings under his artistic name: Juan Mertins. He was a known artist in the San Francisco area during the 1920’s, he used to paint backgrounds for films back in Hollywood’s golden age.

The piece has all the characteristics of his early paintings and his name on the back. This specific painting was exhibited at the Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE) 1939, which was held on San Francisco’s Treasure Island in order to celebrate the opening of the city’s two new bridges. The Fair ran from February 18 through October 29 in 1939, and from May 25 through September 29 in 1940.

Wols Sketches and Etchings

He explores the beautiful complexity of nature creating miniature elusive worlds and fantastic landscapes using natural surreal forms. Alfred Otto Wolfgang Schulze perfectly uses abstract forms and delicate lines but maintains a very minimalist structure. A few of his of his etchings are now being exhibited in the TATE Modern. The etchings are located in the third floor in the 4^th room within the Dream and Poetry exhibition. I try to visit them twice per month, hoping they stay here longer.