“Winny looking at art”
A few days ago, I went to the opening reception of FOREPLAY: UCR Senior Thesis Exhibition 2012. Winny’s artwork was accepted along with 22 other undergraduate UCR students to exhibit their talents in this gallery. It was very cool to look around and see the artists bring their family and friends. The love and support around the room was very strong.
Winny asked me to take a picture of her looking at her artwork. Being the awkward person that I am, I started taking pictures of her staring at other artworks. This photo set is a bit of a commentary on how people view art, especially in galleries, and definitely in the presence of the actual artists.
I have officially closed my first CSUF main stage show and it has been a pleasure being a part of this production. I want to thank all those people who helped me along this journey. I have definitely grown stronger as a leader and learned more about my personality. I now know what I must work on to become a better person, but I would not have been able to do that without everyone’s support.
Marc, it’s been great knowing you since freshman year and I am glad we were able to work on our first shows together. You will remain forever my favorite sound designer.
Jonathan, Kristin, Abraham, and Tony, I am extremely fortunate to have had all of you through my adventure. From asking how to deal with Deb, designers, and dancers to sending me old paperwork to offering me guidance and endless amounts of hugs. I thank all my fellow stage managers.
Everyone who has had to deal with my insecureness, tiresome rants and whines, and bipolar personalities, thank you for just being there and not judging me. I have discovered that I have plenty of friends surrounding me, and am fortunate to have such a large support system.
This journey has made me a lot more vulnerable and emotional, which is something I never thought would happen. But like I have been saying this whole semester: “it is what it is”. All I can do now is to be content with my past and move on to a brighter future.
This past Tuesday, Jerry and I saw Rousseau and Ed Sheeran open for Snow Patrol.
There were so many teen boppers who came to see Ed Sheeran and they were pretty annoying and rude. I’m glad he’s getting the attention he deserves, but I never thought he would inherit this big teen fan base.
Snow Patrol was amazing, and I am still in awe of them! The lead singer, Gary, is such a great personality and I wish I could relive the concert. It was a good night, considering all the chaos that has been occurring in my life.
I’m totally not ready for finals, but I have no choice but to face these challenges. Here’s to a good end of my senior year!
According to Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species,’ it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself.
[01] Alex Gaudino - “Chinatown”
[02] D-Why - “Animal”
[03] Empire of the Sun - “Walking On A Dream”
[04] Grizzly Bear - “Two Weeks”
[05] Ladyhawke - “Black White & Black”
[06] Marc Simz - “Forbidden City”
[07] Mat Kearney - “Closer To Love”
[08] Nadia Ali, Starkillers & Alex Kenji - “Pressure”
[09] Queen - “Don’t Stop Me Now”
[10] Vanessa Carlton - “Hands On Me”
[01] Alex Gaudino - “Chinatown”
[02] D-Why - “Animal”
[03] Empire of the Sun - “Walking On A Dream”
[04] Grizzly Bear - “Two Weeks”
[05] Ladyhawke - “Black White & Black”
[06] Marc Simz - “Forbidden City”
[07] Mat Kearney - “Closer To Love”
[08] Nadia Ali, Starkillers & Alex Kenji - “Pressure”
[09] Queen - “Don’t Stop Me Now”
[10] Vanessa Carlton - “Hands On Me”
You can keep waiting for somebody else to define you, to give you your place in the world, or you can decide that you’re not just somebody’s broken puppet anymore. Choose!
“February 9, 2012. A resident looks outside from a peephole at the entrance of an illegally occupied building before being evicted in downtown Sao Paulo.”
“A shark gives a diver a high-five. Eli Martinez was interacting with the lemon shark in the balmy waters off the coast of The Bahamas. Eli, who works as the editor of Shark Diving magazine, said: ‘This particular shark I had encountered before. She is very laid-back so I knew if I held my hand out she would come over. At first she was swimming straight towards me, but I didn’t expect her to turn at the last moment. She tapped my palm with her fin like we were high-five-ing’
Picture: Paul Spielvogel / CATERS NEWS”
[01] The Afters - “We Won’t Give Up”
[02] Beach House - “Take Care (Live)”
[03] Benny Benassi - “Control ft. Gary Go”
[04] Carly Rae Jepsen - “Call Me Maybe”
[05] Cher Lloyd - “With Ur Love ft. Mike Posner (Acoustic)”
[06] Flux Pavilion - “Daydreamer ft. Example”
[07] Friction - “Led Astray”
[08] Olly Murs - “Dance With Me Tonight”
[09] Passenger - “Let Her Go (Acoustic)”
[10] Sway - “Level Up ft. Kelsey”
[01] The Afters - ” We Won’t Give Up”
[02] Beach House - “Take Care (Live)”
[03] Benny Benassi - “Control ft. Gary Go”
[04] Carly Rae Jepsen - “Call Me Maybe”
[05] Cher Lloyd - “With Ur Love ft. Mike Posner (Acoustic)”
[06] Flux Pavilion - “Daydreamer ft. Example”
[07] Friction - “Led Astray”
[08] Olly Murs - “Dance With Me Tonight”
[09] Passenger - “Let Her Go (Acoustic)”
[10] Sway - “Level Up ft. Kelsey”
Photographs appear to capture the impossible: a person gone; an event past. That extraordinary sense of seeming to retrieve something that has disappeared belongs alone to the photograph, and it leads to deep and interesting talk.
Spotted this gem as I walked down the stairs of Langsdorf Hall a few days ago:
“When the power of love
overcomes the love of power
only then will the world know
peace
- Jimi Hendrix”
When in America’s history did we not screw other populations? We began as terrorists towards the British, destroying their property, detaining its soldiers, finally saying screw you we are our own country. Then came the expansion to the west, screwing the rest of the native americans with manifest destiny. Then it was imperialism, colonization, unequal trade treaties and spheres of influence with asia, screwing them. Which then led into the cold war, screwing korea, vietnam etc. Now its the middle east.
America was built on screwing other people, and other countries. Why do you think the defense budget is so large? No other country comes close to our defense budget. We are the bully on the playground and that will probably never change.
This post has been sitting in my drafts for quite some time now. I forgot when I discovered this quote, but it’s completely relevant right now because I’m taking American Foreign Policy this semester. I think that America has quite a history of maintaining a vindicationist perspective, but I do believe that the roles have changed. The sooner we realize that we are no longer a super power, the sooner we can focus on what is important and rebuild our economy and democracy.
Without music, life would be a mistake.
Friedrich Nietzsche
(Don’t know how accurate this quote is, but it’d be awesome if it’s legitimate.)
As an artist, you should be getting rejected constantly.
[01] David Choi - “That Girl”
[02] Dillon Francis - “I.D.G.A.F.O.S.”
[03] fun. - “We Are Young (Live)”
[04] Idina Menzel - “Brave (Live)”
[05] Jessie J - “Dominos”
[06] Matt & Kim - “Block After Block”
[07] Modestep - “To The Stars (Break The Noize & The Autobots Remix)”
[08] Skrillex - “Kill Everybody (Bare Noize Remix)”
[09] The Wanted - “Glad You Came (Live)”
[10] Wiley - “I’m Skanking”
[01] David Choi - “That Girl”
[02] Dillon Francis - “I.D.G.A.F.O.S.”
[03] fun. - “We Are Young (Live)”
[04] Idina Menzel - “Brave (Live)”
[05] Jessie J - “Dominos”
[06] Matt & Kim - “Block After Block”
[07] Modestep - “To The Stars (Break The Noize & The Autobots Remix)”
[08] Skrillex - “Kill Everybody (Bare Noize Remix)”
[09] The Wanted - “Glad You Came (Live)”
[10] Wiley - “I’m Skanking”