Plaid Voyeurism Project: Block Work Plaid

Framed by a hand painted plaid backdrop, entusiastic participants
demonstrate skilled block-work at artist Abby Manock's Play-Fare.
Kitchen Block Party. W19th Street btwn 10th and 11th Aves.

Why PVP?

Hello and Welcome to the Plaid Voyeurism Project (PVP.) The Plaid we're after is called Buffalo Plaid, though it is technically a check.

Here at PVP we are fascinated by the versatility of one pattern to span three centuries with its vast spectrum of users and uses. Buffalo Plaid is worn by young and old, city mice and country mice, in art museums and atop telephone poles, camoflauging the masses in a uniform of familiar anonymity.

BACK STORY

Buffalo Plaid is a weave of two colors (usually wool) in equal parts, holding no preference to positive or negitive space. Classically seen in red and black, current popularity has spawned all sorts of color combonations.

The American Heritage Dictionary states the origin of the title: Buffalo Plaid, as being the name given to the pattern by it's designer in the 1850's in honor of his herd of buffalo.

Buffalo Plaid has a wide variety of household names such as Vermont Plaid, Lumberjack Plaid, Backwoods Tuxedo, Redneck Check, and Hipster Burberry, to name a few, though it is most commonly regarded as "Hunter" Plaid.

Before the advent of modern fabrics and printing techniques, sport hunters in Northern forests used to wear Buffalo Plaid to obscure the outline of their silhouettes from their trophy's gaze. Buffalo Plaid is truly an American invention, not to be confused as a derivative a tartan from Scotland's Hunter Clan.

Though the pattern has become obsolete as camouflage in the woods, Buffalo Plaid has achieved an undeniable nostalgic status, evoking notions of rustic charm and romanticism of hunting accouterment of yore.

How We Do It.

You may have noticed an inconsistency in the quality of our collected images. Most of the pictures in our archive have been taken with sub-par camera phones in somewhat compromised light conditions, all the while maintaining the subtle finesse of a gazelle. However, when faced with a narrow capture window, subtlety is not always an option. Pride and ego are pushed aside for the glory of a focused capture.

PVP spies have been known to swoop in for the shot with all precision of a winning tetherball serve, then CLICK, turn, retreat, and recover to casual walking speed; ready to pounce again at a moments notice. This maneuver is known for obvious reasons as, "the Tether." Other popular methods of capture include: The "Faux-n Call," the "Shameless Paparazzi," and the "Canoe." (Use you imaginations.) New moves are being developed and field tested on a semi-regular basis.

Who Are We?

The profile of a "typical" PVP volunteer team member may include one or more of the following characteristics:

-Not much experience and/or skill with arcade games as a kid, though probably a champ in capture the flag.

-Seeks mild adrenaline rush without running the risk of physical danger, as he/she probably doesn't have health insurance.

-Can saunter down city sidewalks in soft soled shoes somewhat silently.

-Owns or has access to a camera phone and displays moderate proficiency with camera function.

-Has or has had a bottle cap and/or lost glove collection at some point in life.

-Possesses a burning desire to uphold and spread the awareness of Buffalo Plaid as a conscious choice, rather than a default surface pattern.

PVP DONOR ALIAS ROSTER: In chronological order

WAGONWEEN

BABY PINK

SISSY PANTS

THE AQUA CHEWBAQUA

BISH

THE AVIATOR

BARLEE

PTHALO

CALL PAUL

LOVELY NAILS

THE ARMIGE

PILLOW TALK

NOTASTALKER

LICORICE WHIPS

CIGARETTE GIRL

WOOD HAWG

EAGLE EYE

REVERSIBLE PANTS

GPS

PISS OR PEPSI

QUEEN OF THE SAVAGES

WILLY TWO SUITS

BIG JER

MATHS

JOHNNY BLUE EYES

HI KICKS

STEVE

COCA COLA CLASSIC

CAVETEEN

THE GERMAN

BEACON

NIAGRA

1, 2, 3, MARCH!

KISS/KILL

TIFFANY'S EX

WOODGRAIN

I LIKE HAWKS AND FALCONS

CODA

EILEEN HANNAH

COOLBY

DUDE

ROSEBUD

THE VOICE OF REASON

FABIO

TINY DANCER

ROBBIE

TEA BAG
RIP VAN WINKLE

THE NOISE MONSTER

SWIRLY HENRY

HEAVY D

LAB PARTNER

TICKER

THE CASHMERE SHEIK

SPARKY

H-ROCK

BAMBI BOY

SMOKEY JACK

MINI LEA

OLD MAN

OLD MAN SR.

RIGHT BEFORE LEFT

IHEARTMIAMI

WEPPODE

AWESOME GNOME

COOL BEANS

Get Involved.

If your heart goes pitter-PLAIDer at the sight of the Buffalo Plaid, don't hesitate to whip out your phone and capture it. Email your photos to the dedicated lab technicians at:

plaidvoyeurismproject@gmail.com

Please identify TYPE of fabric, (guessing is good enough) WHEN, and WHERE (aprox) you spied it, and we'll probably post it.

Thanks for your interest in Plaid Voyeurism Project. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any comments or questions.

Sincerely, PVP, PRD (Public Relations Division)

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Block Work Plaid

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Blog Archive

Why PVP?

How We Do It.

Who Are We?

PVP DONOR ALIAS ROSTER: In chronological order

Get Involved.

Friends of PVP

BYTES OF BUFFALO PLAID ON YOUTUBE:

BUFFALO PLAID IN THE NEWS

PVP LIST OF "OFFICIALS"