Wacky Stickers, Kiwi TV and Sensations of the Ordinary
A round-up of our favorite books, podcasts, films, and more
Welcome to Eyes + Ears—the monthly dose of inspiration, creativity, and fun. In this debut, discover our latest obsession with a Kiwi TV gem, dive into the world of Japanese sticker books, explore our favorite bedtime-reads, and find the art in chores.
We Stack…
Ever since I departed the suburbs of Sacramento at 18, the hum of a dishwasher has been elusive. From the chaos of my vegan co-op in Sydney during my college years, to the bustling five-room house I lived in for 12 year at the corner of Haight and Ashbury, to my current home near Alamo Square with my wife and two kids -- the sound of clinking dishes in soapy water has been a not-so-silent rite echoed on the daily.
At some point, I became obsessed with stacking dishes in the most perilous ways. Whether out of necessity following a big dinner party or just for the fun of it, the act of arranging plates and utensils became a ritual and an art project – the colors, the angles, the precariousness of breakable things.
It was only recently, while reading Jenny Odell’s "How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy," that my love of dish-stacking revealed any significance.
In it, she writes:
“We inhabit a culture that privileges novelty and growth over the cyclical and the regenerative. Our very idea of productivity is premised on the notion of producing something new, whereas we do not tend to see maintenance and care as productive in the same way.”
Reading those words, I revisited the joy I find in stacking dishes. Without much reflection, I realized I had turned a simple task of daily maintenance into an expression of creativity. The haphazard sculptures that my wife lovingly describes as the work of an intoxicated raccoon — is actually a structure, a narrative recounting the tales and tastes of the day.
I always imagined a photo series capturing my sculptures:
Not my most impressive work of art -- but a story of snacks and the after taste of homemade fried rice.
We Watch…
I enjoy exploring the nominees (and winners) of international media award shows on a quest for thoughtful TV shows for my kids. A recent gem I stumbled upon is "Kiri and Lou" — a very sweet claymation series from Aotearoa New Zealand starring Kiri, a dinosaur full of emotions, and Lou, their gentle and contemplative friend.
Amidst a forest of cutout paper, Kiri and Lou weave heartwarming tales with other clay forest dwellers. Each episode lasts around 20 minutes, and is distributed by Nickelodeon in the US but I downloaded a few episodes from the Apple TV Store. Watch out for finger prints in the clay… very satisfying!
We Listen…
Honestly I like kids' tunes, but I also have a soft spot for top 40 pop music. Padam, Padam, anyone?! One recent gem is an album from the Australian kids' music school, Einsteinz Music. Their 2018 release, "Follow The Music," promises to be parent-friendly and it's the real deal. Tracks like "Inanay" and "Bam Chi Chi Bam" are genuine ear worms.
We Play…
These days we love playing animal rescue. My kids are Pooch and Pooch, two mountain lions who are temporarily in human care before they are released back into the wild. The back of our couch is their sleeping quarters and the living room is where the can roam free. One Pooch likes to scratch their caregiver and the other one is always getting injured from a big jumps. Both love to human attention and cuddles. Roles can change quickly, one second I am a human caregiver, the next I am giraffe friend living with carnivores.
What might your animal rescue look like? What kind of animal needs your care? What’s their back story? What part of the house do they live in? How do you show them care? What happens when they get mischievous?
We Read…
We regularly switch up our book lineup every few weeks, and here's our current faves:
Pokko and the Drum
“Pokko and the Drum" by Matthew Forsythe is a beautifully illustrated children's book about a young frog named Pokko who, armed with a drum, embarks on a musical journey through the forest, charming fellow woodland creatures along the way.
Bedtime for Bo
Written by Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold and Illustrated by Mari Kanstad Johnsen, Bedtime for Bo is a beautiful reminder we can turn bedtime struggles into something creative and full of love. A book that's easy to get lost in, but hard to fit on the book shelf.
Where’s Bluey
Bluey is a household favorite. From Ludo Studios, "Where's Bluey" has become our latest obsession, a simplified version of Where’s Waldo. It’s very satisfying snuggling on the couch with my kids as they are endlessly entertained with a simple game of hide-and-seek.
We Stick…
My love for stickers dates back to as long as I can remember. One of my very first “ventures'' was in 2nd grade, selling meticulously cut Lisa Frank stickers 25¢ each—those were the days.
One of our favorite bedtime rituals since Noah was two is a sticker book from Japan, known as Kao Note or Face Notebook, by creators tupera tupera. Making these faces where some of the first art Noah and I created together. Pulling stickers from the sheets helped his dexterity and help me accept that my kid and I could have creative differences about what makes up a face
Ok. This a wrap on very first Eyes + Ears. Do you have any favorite books, projects, podcast or shows you are loving? I’d love to hear about them!
Can't wait to check out Bedtime for Bo! Just discovered your newsletter today, via Cody Cook-Parrott, and I'm glad I did. Looking forward to receiving more in my inbox soon!