Off the Grid

January 22, 2007 11:32 AM

Time of the Season: Conceptual artist Chris Hardman of Antenna Theater has reimagined the calendar. His ECOcalendar abandons the grid concept, instead unrolling like a scroll to define days vertically. Each day appears in its unique position along the arc of gradual seasonal change, with graphics linking stars to tides to the terrestrial world . Radio interview here.
posted by Miko (17 comments total)

I really wish he'd created this as a web interactive rather than a product, but there you go.
posted by Miko at 11:34 AM on January 22, 2007

Lovely conceptual art. Not so useful for remembering dentist's appointments.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:39 AM on January 22, 2007

Fairly gruesome.
posted by signal at 11:56 AM on January 22, 2007

I'm all for the re-imagining of things. Reading the description of it piqued my interest. But when I saw it, my mind went into bucking convulsions and I broke out into hives.

So I guess it's not for everyone.
posted by hermitosis at 12:06 PM on January 22, 2007

its just an ad for a calendar? i want to see some online, possibly interactive, crazy calendars!!
posted by joelf at 12:10 PM on January 22, 2007

The point seems to be recognizing natural cycles rather than applying our own names to them.

But then, this calendar still does that, arguably more than your Aunt's Normal Rockwell calendar does. It's pretty, though.

Other (slightly more useful) alternative calendars here and here.
posted by roll truck roll at 12:13 PM on January 22, 2007

It is kind of just an ad, joelf, but the concept was what interested me. I really wish it could be developed interactively, too.
posted by Miko at 12:13 PM on January 22, 2007

Trill and Celeste? Huh?
"This is a celebration of time and its infinite manifestations. It marries the sun and the moon to feathers, rime and starfish.”
oh, well, never mind then.
posted by nj_subgenius at 12:14 PM on January 22, 2007

Thanks a lot, joelf. I just moved all my iCal todos to tomorrow and added "watch this thing" for today.
posted by roll truck roll at 12:15 PM on January 22, 2007

Very nice, but what frickin' day is it ?
posted by R. Mutt at 12:17 PM on January 22, 2007

Why, it's White WolfPup, as the calendar clearly shows! Don't be so linear and Western!
posted by Miko at 12:23 PM on January 22, 2007

Pretty, but I just get the Old Farmer's Almanac for this purpose.

My favorite alternate calendar is Kingdom of Loathing's calendar (today is Frankruary 4).
posted by figment of my conation at 12:36 PM on January 22, 2007

What is a calendar when it isn't a calendar?

A poster.
posted by Ynoxas at 12:52 PM on January 22, 2007

Don't be so linear and Western!

*hangs head in shame...
posted by R. Mutt at 1:04 PM on January 22, 2007

Great concept, wish it was less new-age though. Rather than gushing bad poetry, and useless phrases like "water everywhere", more useful phrases, like "plant bulbs" would be... um, more useful. :)
posted by -harlequin- at 6:07 PM on January 22, 2007

was there a pot leaf on the back of that thing?
posted by dminor at 9:14 PM on January 22, 2007

I liked the idea, but then the stands you need to display it? And the scented candles?

Man, hippies will buy anything. It's sad how being "anti-materialistic" just means that the stuff you buy is dumber and even more unnecessary than, oh, an ordinary calendar. Without a stand. Or tie-in candles.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:32 PM on January 22, 2007