Jason Wilder

Infinitely Curious and Mildly Amused

links I like/endorse

Doyers
gonechester
greenwood books
nts
popwars
spiritualized
sun ra arkestra
vernacular social club
wayofm

  • frisson

    I learned a new word this week while listening to the always fantastic Graphic Ear on WAYO. The guest, Chris Jones, brought up the word frisson, a psychophysiological response to rewarding stimuli. I thought that was just something everyone experienced, but studies say otherwise. I cannot imagine not having this ability (my word). Some bands give me this whenever I listen to them, whether live or through some sort of media. I get it all the time while watching a movie or a great tv show.

    Recently we found an oil painting while in Lewiston, NY. After sifting through some over priced jazz albums, I looked up, saw the painting, got goosebumps, saw the incredible price and purchased the painting. It is now hung in our hallway. We see it everyday.

    I used to get frisson while making photographs, whether candid or posed. I’d see or anticipate something happening and get chills. I knew it was then to make a photo. The photo below is one of those candid instances.

    Sometimes, while sitting at home, I look out windows and get a burst of goosebumps because there’s a cool cloud, when the sky looks incredible blue.

    So, this morning, like a frisson junky looking to get my fix, I rolled out of bed and took off on foot this morning to go for a little walk to Javas to restock on coffee beans in hopes some frisson would happen. There were very few people out doing anything interesting to photograph and I’m not that fond of my own observational photography. I guess it’s probably one of those instances where familiarity breeds boredom. Also, I’m addicted to the idea of making photographs that cannot be made again by me, or anyone else. I tried though.

    After accomplishing my errand, I went to Greenwood Books for a literary fix only to find them closed, which is cool. Everyone needs a break now and then. Then I walked to the new-ish RIT Art Space to check out the zine fair. I left feeling equally influenced/ecouraged and disappointed. First there were some amazing zines there. I find it amazing what people can do with ink and paper. The possibilties are endless. I got to see Tate Shaw, whose artistic mind I’m in awe of. I also enjoyed the LGBTQIA2S+ zine makers and their zines. They were also the kindest of the vendors as well. While their creations are not really intended for someone like me to be their audience, I recognize how their life experiences shows up in their ability to create thoughtful and challenging zines while not just conforming to some popular, yet boring, aesthetic. They didn’t have to engage with me but they did and I appreciated that. For instance, the table that had work by PHAGS, was pretty incredible. They had something to say and were challenging in how they said that. Their zines had a bit a 90s geocities Gregg Araki vibe with a pinch of the situationist movement, which I enjoyed. Those kids are definitely alright.

    My only regret is that I wasn’t able to talk to those vendors more. More times than I would have liked, a conversation was interrupted by someone or another literally boxing me out of what I was attempting to view. It happened so much I just gave up. I think the repeated offenders really do a disservice to the vendors/artists when they act this way, whether they are monopolizing the artists or the space. I found this to be a budding problem whenever I go to a First Friday exhibit that I pretty much stopped going. But, I guess, that is more of a me problem, than a you the reader problem.

    Despite the annoyances, Tate, PHAGS, Zaftig, and Michelle Moode all specifically inspired me so much with their work that my walk home and afternoon had my brain spinning, encouraging me to progress some of those already started projects just waiting for me and to start others that I have been neglecting.

  • justice

    I learned at an early age there’s no justice in the world. It’s very rare that good triumphs over bad. Sometimes, if you let bad be bad long enough, another bad will out-bad the other. Or one bad will turn on another bad. Other times, bad will just adopt the goods’ policies to be worse. This is nothing new. It’s always been this way. It’s just more pervasive now. It’s all over social media, the news, at work, with friends and in families. It’s easier to hate or to act evil than it is than to do the opposite. Those that hate the loudest are now martyrs and saints. It’s batshit crazy.

    The past couple years I’ve been reading a lot about philosophy and philosophers to try to make more sense of the world. It was helping until it wasn’t. I could read on and on about Sisyphus, Meursault and Josef; I really think even they might have trouble finding purpose in today’s world.

    I think for most people, it’s hard to have a purpose outside of trying to survive day by day. I can certainly relate to that. I cannot stand when someone says “just do not watch or read the news.” Or “it shouldn’t bother you that much.” I relate to people who show empathy or simply have some capacity of caring, instead of using those words as a weapon against people who just want good.

    Can you tell I’m trying to be polite here? I’m not as eloquent as Pastor John Wesley.

    Anyways, have you been watching the news about 3I/Atlas? I’m kind of hoping that any further news about this maybe or maybe not comet will make all of this moot. Maybe smarter, calmer and more precise minds will move to the front. Telescopes and satellites are all trained on to this multi-billion year old object. While I have hope that this will be part of some great event, I’m not holding my breath. And if it is, humans will find a way to fuck it all up.

  • two vinyl minimum

    When I walk into a record store with intention to dig and find something to add to my collection, if I only find one album, I will not buy it unless I find another I would like. I have a two vinyl minimum. Is this a thing for others?

  • Don’t just do something, sit around instead

    We recently went camping at Keuka Lake State Park. Initial plans were for hikes, lots of reading, perhaps a little writing and some plein air water coloring. Instead I spent the whole weekend staring deep in and out of thoughts. It was quite nice doing nothing. We saw remnants of the a meteor shower around the time I took the above photo. One sighting lit up the sky a bit. It was a literal high five moment.

    We spent a few hours at the beach there as well. Again, I just sat and watched. It was the first time in a while I could be somewhere and not feel antsy.

    The campsites at Keuka, at least in our loop, were all pretty private, which is pretty rare. While Fair Haven is our favorite, Keuka is a close second. Parks we tried in 2025 but didn’t like at all were Stonybrook and Filmore Glen State Parks. I doubt we would ever tent camp at either of those places again.

  • fiber

    I used to have this view in downtown Rochester. I made many photos out of our windows. That was the only feature of this building I enjoyed.

  • bussin reflection

    August 19, 2013. Main Street. Rochester, NY

  • psychocandy

    Back in the 90s, I used to have a xerox’d print zine named Psychocandy. A bunch of labels sent me stuff, including Carbon Records. Joe from Carbon Records sent me two Muler 7 inches to review. I was under 21 at the time so I couldn’t see Muler, yet. My first Muler show was at the Bug Jar, I believe the album release show for The State of Play. I remember nervously buying a CD from a sweaty Dave. Wish I still had copies of those zines. At some point much later, I learned of Hinkley, which is Will Veeder’s band. Became a big fan and made a bunch of photos of them playing live for fun. Then, before Christmas 2010, Will and Carbon Joe asked if I wanted to help make a cover photograph for a new Muler album. Luckily, the band liked my friend Casey and she modeled for the cover on a Saturday morning at the Bug Jar.

    We saw Muler Saturday night at Bar Bad Ending. Muler plowed through a set of recent stuff, ending with the classic Slowpoke, my favorite song of theirs. Then Beth and I named a drink after a bartender, the Conley. After that, Rectangle Creep played. I only learned of Rectangle Creep because of this show. They have an impressive catalog and while you may say their albums sound much like Guided By Voices, you would be right. Singer Matthew Cutter wrote a book about Robert Pollard, which I need to read. Anyways, their catalog is vast and impressive. I played Circle of Sky a couple weeks ago on Fantastic Voyage.

    On Sunday morning, I put on my finest UFO t-shirt before heading out to the WAYO fundraiser at Radio Social where I drank a mimosa and played an hours worth of 70s and 70s inspired cosmic funk, disco, hiphop and R&B. I had to start the set queuing up the music on eyesight because of faulty headphones but once a working pair was delivered it was smooth sailing. I do have to admit, it kind of boosted the ego/confidence seeing some people vibe out to my weird music selection.

    I did buy two records, which I will probably review on the Fantastic Voyage site, which I have been neglecting sadly.

    This evening I watched The Magnificent Butcher.

    The fighting calligraphy scene early on in the movie was pretty damn cool. The Criterion channel has a few Sammo Hung movies which I will be watching.

  • backyardigan

    June 2013. Rochester, NY.

  • thievin stephen

    July 22, 2013, Rochester, NY. Wall\Therapy.

  • dj cosmic daddy

    Just kidding. I do not have a DJ name. Check out the annual WAYO fundraiser at Radio Social that’s also a second chance art show and record fair. I’ll be hitting the decks from 11 to noon (prime mimosa time), spinning cosmic, spacey and space inspired music. This Sunday, August 10th.