Disneyland Lessons

I officially want an annual pass now. This place never seems to cease from making me feel like a kid again. Perhaps I am just a big kid at heart. I finally bought my yoda backpack, after a year and half of contemplation. I was indecisive the last time I went to Disneyland if I should get him because I wasn't sure when I'd use it. I regreted not buying him the first time so this was my chance. He is named Yoda Fitzpatrick Bomb Dizon. Middle names, Fitzpatrick given by Diana, and Bomb my Malyn. Yoda F. Bomb! He will be very happy in Walnut.

Ryan teaches me something new and exciting about Disneyland everytime we go there-- such as the Enchanted Tiki Room was the first to use audio automatronics. They're talking birds that move and sing, and work off of prerecorded moves and sounds. This is a trademarked form of robotics created by Disney imagineering. I love the Tiki Room, but I must admit, the singing flowers make me feel like I'm on hallucinogens!

If walking into Disneyland is like walking into a movie theater, the gates represent the entrance while the tunnel decorated with preview movie posters are like the theater walls with movie posters also. If Disneyland itself is a movie experience, then the credits would not be at the end of the film (or theme park in this case), but are scattered all over buildings of Mainstream U.S.A., as inscriptions to Elias Disney, Frank G. Wells, designers of the Haunted Mansion, and so many more people that have contributed to building a place of happiness for all people.

Going to all of the Disney art galleries made me realize I need to start doing some art for myself. Its been so long since I've done anything substantial. There was so much talent and innovation by artists in each gallery that derive inspiration by the theme park itself. I aspire to have their skill, imagination and unique vision. There were even Disney landscapes by Thomas Kinkade that were so vibrant and rich. This must be a signal that I need to paint and draw again. I have been caught up pursuing teaching, writing, and my new curatorial project --Salynrho. I forget to make time for one of the things that make me feel centered and at peace. I think Disneyland really inspired me because of all the lands, intricate narratives, imagineering, fireworks, shops, art, music, great food, attractions, architecture, landscape, and attention to detail. You can just tell Walt Disney infused so much love, affection, and sentimentality in this place. He loved the work he did, and that emanates even to this very day to the people that visit Disneyland. Disneyland was his artwork, treasure, and gift to the world.

Main Street, U.S.A. Frontierland. Critter Country. New Orleans Square. Adventureland. Mickey's Toontown. Fantasyland. Tomorrowland. All lands I find magical and endearing.
I can't help but have my favorites in Adventureland and Tomorrowland. I really want to live up to my Sagittarian nature and be an adventurer of all lands. I love Indiana Jones and Star Wars too, so that is self explanatory!

I guess going back to the title of the blog, visiting this place with my best friends made me learn -- happiness is indeed contagious. I really love being around positivity and happy people. I love learning about new things constantly. Its uplifting. I've been so busy with school, work, and projects that I haven't had time to reflect. I haven't even had time to do art, which makes me feel a bit outside of myself. Here's to making more great memories with awesome friends in 2010, and making time to create some art. Here's to keeping only positive energy and optimism in my life, tossing negativity and crisis out the window. I hope this happiness sticks with me for a good while. :)

"Is a singer, an artist?"

“Is a singer, an artist?” was a question my lovely friend, Diana, posed while we were dining at Coconut Bay after the 101 Cup Thoughts exhibition. We pondered our mid-20 something lives with good conversation about love, empowerment, and ambition, consuming great Thai food, and of course beer. She handled her usual dosage of blue moon with that really cute orange slice garnish, while I, only needing one Tsing Tao to feel wonderfully buzzed (lightweight!), began to feel comfortable about contemplating such general yet thought provoking questions.

At that moment, I thought about her question and a memory of Diana flashed in my mind of her, singing “Foolish Games” by Jewel when she was 16 or 17 years old. She was in show choir, and she performed this song during some Spring high school showcase. Dressed in all black with dark rimmed glasses behind a wooden podium beneath the warm lights, I couldn’t see the emotion in her face as she seemed shy enough to deliberately hide her eyes from the world. I definitely felt the raw pain in her mellifluous voice while listening to the lyrics “Excuse me, think I’ve mistaken you for somebody else, somebody who gave a damn, somebody more like myself.” It was a song about being in love with someone who was possibly elitist or selfish – and not being able to stop loving them. I wondered if it was a crime to want someone like ourselves? Someone who cared about something other than themselves and had the same important values as us. Someone who wouldn’t play these cyclical “foolish games.” Diana sang it with what felt like real heart breaking conviction of adoration, pain, and pity. She moved one of the audience members to tears.

Then my mind darted off to Lady Gaga’s performance of her song “Paparazzi” during MTV’s Video Music Awards last September. It was less about singing, and more of an art installation and performance. It put me in shock, but I knew the performance was a re-enactment of Princess Diana’s death and how the relentless and inhumane paparazzi kept snapping photos as she lay dying in the shattered car. To Lady Gaga, Diana was the most devastating and iconic martyr of fame. That woman died because of her fame. They banked on her misfortune. At the end of the performance, Lady Gaga had blood dripping from her ribcage screaming at the media vultures- the song’s namesake. She tells a real story about pop culture and society. Is this shocking performance art necessary? Though it has been subjected to much criticism, Lady Gaga couldn’t care less. Perhaps, she is an extreme example of how a singer can be an artist, but she definitely transcends different mediums of art to convey her message. I love this quote from a Barbara Walters interview with Lady Gaga. Her biggest misconception- “That I am artificial and attention seeking, when the truth is that every bit of me is devoted to love and art….I aspire to try to be a teacher to my young fans. Who felt just like I felt when I was younger. I felt like a freak. I want to liberate them. I want to free them from their fears and make them feel that they could create their own space in the world.” Unapologetic, bold, and daring- qualities about Lady Gaga, and artists in general I find so beautiful.

Thinking about the question, “Is a singer an artist?” now, sans alcohol, my answer is simply yes, without a doubt. Labeling oneself an artist is a general umbrella for all creative people –painters, sculptors, dancers, singers, culinary artists, martial artists, gardeners, writers, etc. To be an artist, is to have something inside that we need to express to the world whether it is in the form of a song, drawing or a bonsai tree. I have nothing but the utmost respect and affection for other artists, and their dedication. To sing is to pour emotion, soul and heart into a song that can constantly mean something else depending on the way it is sung. It is a permeable medium that can molded and shaped by every unique vocalist who encounters an inspiring cover, and decides to make it their own as well. It is a piece of ourselves we leave for no specific audience to experience. For artists like Lady Gaga, she makes her songs from scratch writing her own lyrics and music- which is very impressive. I’m idealistic in thinking all artists are true to their work, always original, and inspired. The effort to create is admirable in itself. For my fellow shy friends, creative expression is freedom to be who we are without shame or hesitance in front of other people. Perhaps Lady Gaga was also referring to shy people who feel like freaks sometimes- freaks she wants to liberate to be themselves and be proud despite outside judgement.

This was way longer than I thought it was going to be. That’s usually the case when I write.
What better way to end this blog with a quote from my favorite hip hop artist, Common.

“I just want to encourage each and every person that’s out there, to stay faithful. Faithful to the most high. Faithful to yourself and what you believe in. Faithful to your art, and your culture, and your people. Stay faithful."

Common "Faithful" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIS4IWUPszc

101 Cup Thoughts

(Photo by: Lyn Watanabe)

I find it interesting that a simple concept can become such a profound experience. Though there were tangible things created such as the cups and plates with images of the artist's home, the concept of social interaction is also art in itself. Nicola Atkinson took the idea of a "Fika," a coffee break with cake in Sweden (much like the tea time in England) and created a project to connect people together from two countries. During a Fika (break) at work, employees must stay together to drink coffee, eat cake and socialize with one another. Thus, their connection to one another grows beyond a working relation, but potential friendships as well. I admire this concept because sometimes people are so busy at work or at home to find the time to be in touch with people- who they are, and what they're doing at the moment. Nicola explores the idea of "how do we take our coffee?" Do we take it on the go, paying more attention to our social devices-computers, cell phones, iphones, etc. rather than the actual live company we keep? Would we be more productive individuals if we took a break from the world around us, to really know each other, even for just fifteen minutes? This idea reminded me of a poetry session I went to in Eagle Rock-Imix Bookstore, where a young, but very articulate man called our generation "socially connected, but personally alone."

Nicola's project began in Lidkoping, Sweden, in August 15, 2009, where one hundred and one people had taken fika together. The cups they drank from would then be sent to Los Angeles at the Municipal Art Gallery for another one hundred and one people to drink from while taking a fika- enforcing the idea of drinking from another person's cup, exchanging physical objects, tangible ideas, and generating dialogue with new people. Nicola assigned a name and number to each Los Angeles participant, matching them up with someone with Sweden according to their preferences and requests. I was number sixty-three- Lorena. She had requested a woman in her thirties named Lorena as well, which was quite impossible for Nicola. Lorena from Sweden is a ceramics student, who is alot of fun. Nicola paired us together because we have the same kind of energy.

[(Taken from Nicola's website) Some of the participants wanted a person in Los Angeles just like themselves, imagining what it might to be like to be there, while others were quite particular: a male vegan with a beautiful mustache, a social psychologist, a jazz musician, an environmentalist, a fisherman, a music therapist. Many were just open to someone new and unknown. As might be expected, she did receive four requests for famous people: Clint Eastwood, Sam Elliot, Sam Harris and Kat von D.] Clint Eastwood would have been at our table (6) if he was available. That would have been an interesting Fika experience! My table brought interesting props such as a deck of cards to play black jack, a ceramic fish centerpiece filled with bourbon (!), and a vase of flowers. It was indeed a great time with new people. We talked about how we all got involved with the project and our connection- whether close or distant with the artist, Nicola. It made me feel connected to everyone, in some way, to some degree.

I especially enjoyed the vibes in coffee shop/house built in the gallery. Nicola's idea being that there usually is a coffee shop built into an art gallery to provide additional funding for the institution. Why not create the coffee shop as an individual artwork by the artist representing the exchange of ideas and conversation? To re-iterate what I've said in the beginning, this social interaction is art in itself. I loved how the rounded shelves resembled large cake tiers. I was also strangely drawn to the pillows on the wall of the coffee shop as well. It gave it a comfortable, cozy, home feeling to it. Perhaps, that was her intention in the coffee shop- to make us relax and take a fika from the world to appreciate the simple pleasures in life, like coffee, cake and some good conversation.

A Slice of Arts Activism

In March of 2009, the art history department of UC Irvine voted to cut off funding of their own art history library called the Visual Resources Collection. The school of humanities laid off their own curators, who guided me through a year long research project consisting of South Asian and Cuban architectural photography. This library contained thousands of slides, textbooks, websites, and digital images that were accessible to art history professors as well as students. Because of the budget cuts, an important educational resource was taken away from those that needed it the most, resources that enriched their lives. The last sentences one of the former curators said to me, was that art history was becoming an obsolete major.

In August 2009, the dean of the art department at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA cancelled the exhibition design class, halting the gallery design and operations management certificate due to low enrollment. This was also an attempt to cut every corner to adhere to a more stringent budget. Although I had lost all hope in chasing a career as a curator, I took up my professor's offer to go to El Camino College in Torrance, and enrolled in his art gallery management class.

Yesterday, Los Angeles voted on critical issues that involved the only funding source for the Department of Cultural Affairs. Parks and galleries like the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall Park were in jeopardy. I spent hours volunteering at this gallery and participated in one open call. Needless to say, it is very near and dear to my heart. Luckily, the The Los Angeles City Council decided not to vote on the motion to eliminate the Department of Cultural Affairs' sole source of dedicated funding. Their funding is secure for the moment. Thank goodness.

Every time something like this happens, my heart breaks a little -piece by piece. All we can do is fight, write, and hope the arts survive and triumph against this unyielding economy. I know I probably sound really idealistic, but I truly believe in those who pursue a career in the arts or art history deserve a successful place in the real world to convey their unique message. Perhaps Professor Burnes was correct when she said that this was the best time to be an artist or curator. Its a challenging, and rigorous time to turn a negative situation into a positive one through art. With resilience and courage, it could be done.

In the words of Journey, I won't stop believing.

Reasons

There are many places for me to write - my myspace (which is so dated now), my facebook, my comp book, my mini-note book of lists, Microsoft word, etc. Everytime I am compelled to write, it is rather lengthy, wordy, and deserves a space of its own. I guess I just wanted a place for the sole purpose to be one with my writing, one with my thoughts without too much distraction. Feedback is also welcomed and appreciated in this blogspot space to create dialogue, the genesis of thought provoking ideas, etc. Your thoughts are just important as my thoughts. I created this blog for the following reasons as well:

1) To get better at writing. Although I have a degree in literary journalism, I was not the best student. I was mostly average. It was a difficult major that surpassed the fundamentals of journalism, which are the very basics I tend to forget. I believe writing is a life long process. You only get better if you continue to write, and make time for the practice. I love to write, but I believe that I still have much to work on. Here's to writing improvement skills in 2010!

2) All I ever wanted to write about in my journalism classes was art. I gravitated towards museums, exhibitions, cultural events. I wanted to begin an art blog, to vent about how the arts are poorly prioritized these days. Then I realized knowing me, and my scatter brained thoughts, I'll probably find a way to write about other topics I care deeply for.

3) "Once More, With Feeling" is the title of this blog. It is also the title of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode (Season 6, Episode 7) where a mysterious force impels Buffy and the Scooby Gang (the name of her entourage) to burst into song, revealing their true feelings. I can only hope to be as honest, passionate, yet also filtered through my writing.

So it begins... the genesis of endless chronicling.

Mike Sager: A writer writes. Writing is editing. Less is more. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.