SCMM Pix - Malibu Breakfast, Nomadic Museum, and Camera Obscura, May 6, 2006

SCMM Malibu Breakfast, Nomadic Museum, and Camera Obscura, May 6, 2006

Our May Malibu breakfast turnout was much smaller than the previous month, but we still had around 30 MINIs show up. Breakfast at CooGie's was great as usual, and folks seemed to have a pretty good time.

During the parking lot shmoozing, Lex tagged a CHP Cruiser with an SCMM card, and just as things were wrapping up, some of us spotted Cheech Marin and a companion heading in for breakfast.

While several folks headed over to EF1 Motorsports in Long Beach, for Day One of Randy Webb's FINAL Los Angeles Area Pulley Party, some of us continued on to visit the Ashes and Snow photography exhibition at the Nomadic Museum, temporarily located adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier. Constructed from used shipping cargo containers, rolled paper structural columns, and pressed paper tea bag curtains, the museum made for an imposing space for experiencing the very moving still photography and video works by Gregory Colbert. The Nomadic Museum closed in Santa Monica on Mother's Day, to be reborn at a site somewhere else in the world. Among the itinerary cities is San Francisco, so those who missed it here, may still have an opportunity to experience it.

After leaving the museum, we made our way to a very unique attraction: The Camera Obscura! Located in the Santa Monica Senior Center, this Aristotlean concept is basically a room-sized camera body that visitors can enter, and observe a live, projected image of the surrounding area on a round tabletop located in the center of the darkened chamber. An optical prism and lens assembly at the top of the room can be manually rotated to change the view being projected onto the tabletop.

Erik Sharp obtained the key to this marvel of optics by leaving his driver's license with the attendee, and we followed the signs past the men's toilet, up a short flight of stairs and into the chamber. Although it doesn't sound like much, there is a slightly "magical" feel to the place, seeing the live image. Definitely a strange artifact in a strange location.

After having our senses of wonder exhausted, we headed over to the King's Pub, and had Brit Cuisine! Draft Hard Cider and Bangers & Mash made my day! Thanks for the suggestion, Erik!

The Gang, in front of CooGie's	Eve's "GOTMINI"
	We're still waiting for this guy's membership application...	After breakfast, the Nomadic Museum group parked on the roof of a Santa Monica structure.
	I bet the MININUTS would enjoy this place!	The Nomadic Museum
		The line of ticket-holders wrapped around the side, along the bank of porta-potties...
An interesting use for shipping containers	The crowd was big enough to draw the Goodyear Blimp.
Rolled-paper columns, and tea-bag curtains
	Interesting local architecture
On our way to the Camera Obscura	A projected image of street traffic	We turned the wheel to get this view...
Our silhouetted fingers pointing at a projected image of the Nomadic Museum!	Jen's white sweater provides a sense of scale to the viewing table image	We switched the lights on to get this shot of the turret control
No comment.	The lovely Camera Obscura signage, partially obscured... (The rotating turret can be seen at the top.)	Erik looks too comfortable here...
After the Pub, we all practiced counting our fingers...	Lee Ann following us home in traffic

(Modified 1745 PDT - May 15, 2006)