Thursday, December 2, 2010

Finding Happiness



How do you find happiness when everything in your life falls apart? the idea of happiness came up into a discussion I had with my friends earlier today over a cup of coffee and some cigarettes.

What does it mean to be happy? it's more than smiling and laughing because you can be depress and still smile and giggle. it's more than an emotion because "happy"emotion can still come and go in a depressive state. For me happiness is a personal view of ourselves and our lives that is created from an inner reflection. Our emotions and mood changes very rapidly and we can laugh and smile from time to time even when we're sad. But it is how we perceive ourselves and our lives and everything in it that truly determine the state of our happiness. But to find true happiness that last for a life time, we have to be honest with ourselves and seeing the truth and accept it as who we are. It is when we learn from ourselves through our honest critique of ourselves that is when we will be honestly and truly happy.  It is the honest part that is the difficult part.

So can we still find happiness when everything in our lives fall apart? I can say from my personal experience that yes people can.  It is when we go through these tough trials that we find our true self and it is in our darkest moments that our true character shines. And when we go through these turbulent times that we see who we are and we understand and appreciate every moment of our lives; the "normal" moment s becomes more precious and valuable. I believe that everyone must go through these trials and tough time to find happiness but I know that a lot of people out there are going to disagree.

Happiness is discovered by ourselves within ourselves and no where else.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Critiquing Babylon: Class Assignment


This oil on canvas painting is called Babylon by Robert Davis and Michael Langlois. It is a painted collage filled with nude people, animals, flowers and objects, all interlaced with an organic twine. One can look at this and immediate see the context of this painting and its correlation with the characteristic of western societies especially the United States.  This piece brings up social and political issues and portrays it in a very beautiful painted comical satire.    

What immediately draws the viewers' attention is the use of various tone of blue and how it all comes together into a symmetrical gradient expanding from the center horizon outward. The blue tone gives the painting a cold and artificial feel. But it is the presented subject in the painting that makes it very interesting. One's attention gets immediately drawn to the naked woman in the center with two commercial airplanes on her back like wings standing on top of a monkey that is standing on a lotus flower which is supported by two overweight individuals on each side.  The naked woman with the airplane wings implies the over-saturation and glorification of sex used in commercial media. the monkey standing and cheering on the lotus flower below the naked woman gives a very comical message like all of this is a big joke.  The two overweight individual at the bottom supporting it all with the Bentley logo in the middle symbolizes the foundation of this country build with the over-indulgence of unhealthy food and unhealthy lifestyle.  

The painting is also divided up between left and right, where right represent the right wing conservative and the left is left wing liberals. Each sides portrays ideas and issues that America is struggling with. On the right side, the conservatives are dealing with foreign affairs, stealing land from other nations and exploiting it for oil. On the left side, the conservatives are dealing with issues with the acceptance of homosexuality and sustainability. And all of this is woven together with "the fabric of our nation" that is held together with Neo-Gothic style architecture in the background.

The overall piece is very successful in creating a profound satirical imagery of America. It brings up serious social and political issues that is in the back of American's mind and present it in a very comical way.  Although it is funny, it makes one truly analyze the currently state of our nation and wonder if this really is how the United Sates really is.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

MOFO Event




Just came back from The Oversocial Mofo revue at Anno Domini, a poetry slam and music event held by my friend Mike Mcgee.  To simply put it, the show was amazing. The event had both amateur poets as well as veteran poets such as Mike Mcgee and Jamie DeWolf, a legend in the poetry scene from Oakland, music from the Gold Hush and a performance from Veronica Malki.

The poetry was raw, full of emotional subjects and expressive gestures from all of the poets.  The music was entertaining as well as funny. The overall atmosphere, from the supportive audience to the charismatic hosts, generated a very intellectual and creative vibe.  It was a great event and a nice way to end a crazy week.

Crazy Wednesday



Wednesday started out with high hopes. I was told by my friends at work that there a great place to do a photo shoot in the Santa Cruz mountains called the Big Basin. I did some background check on it and founds picture of it online filled with great scenery of giant red wood Forrest and water falls. So My friend Damian and I decided to go and look at the place ourselves first before we take the girls out for a photo shoot.  I was excited and hopeful as we begun to embark on the journey.

Neither of us had any idea where we were going; my GPS was not working and the long road took us up the mountain to some obscure location with no other cars around. We came to a giant rest stop parking lot with just another car parked there.  We saw that the sun was setting and the fog were drifting in so we decided to takes to quick shots.  As soon as I got my equipments out I took some snap shot and the sun set, the fog filled the sky and the temperature dropped.  I yelled to Damian to hurry him up to continue our trip. 

I got to the car and I realized my keys were not in my pocket but it was in the car on the passenger seat. I freaked out and started cussing and screaming but that didn't help, as a matter of fact the people in the other car was laughing and enjoying my misery. I try everything to get my doors to open, both Damian and I even though of breaking the trunk lock and try to get into my car from the back but that failed miserably. Finally after an hour I gave up and pulled out my phone to call for road service but just my luck there was no signal. This was the very moment that I realized that I was stuck in the middle of a mountain with no way of getting help.

Finally out of desperation I asked people from the other car if they had some tools to smash my windows with and surely enough they did.  Bam! quarter window gone. what left are shatter glass shards and a frown on my face. I thanked the other people and got back in my car, contemplating if I should continue the trip. I figured since I got this far and gone through all this trouble I might as well continue the trip. So Damian and I continued on, only to find ourselves lost, alone, and cold in a one lane road in a middle of a dense foggy forest with no signs of life from anyone or anything.  After getting lost for another two hours we somehow magically found ourselves in Santa Cruz.  At that point we figured we might as well head back to San Jose; we agreed to never go back to that pointless place ever again, or at least never go back at night. 

Monday, November 8, 2010

A Photo Shoot with Carly






Over the weekend my friends Damian, Carly, Bernadette, and I decided to go out and do a photo shoot. On my previous photo shoot with Bernadette, she told me about a location in San Francisco where she used to go to when she was little and she remembered it being a really nice location to do a photo shoot.  It was a ruin of an old bath house from early 1900s that was burn down during a fire. What is left are concrete walkways and remnant of old bathing pools that are now filled with sea water, algae and lily pads. But unfortunately that day ended early because as soon as we got there it rained and the sun already set.

Now a week later we returned to finish the photo shoot, but unfortunately the sun was already starting to set so I only had time to shoot Carly. For this shoot I was a bit more prepared, I was shooting with my digital camera as well as my film camera.  The result was amazing.

I tried to take as many shots as I can before the sun set because after it sets it becomes near impossible to do any sort of shoot without artificial lighting. But since Carly already have had modeling experience before, we were able to work quickly and diligently.  She knew exactly how to pose, it was like she can predict my shots a head of time.

Overall it was a fun photo shoot and I'm planning on doing more with both Carly and Bernadette in the near future.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

A Photo Shoot With Bernadette





Last weekend I decided to do a photo shoot with my good friend Bernadette.  I've taken pictures of her before and all the pictures came out really good; she is very photogenic and very expressive. Originally we were planning to go to downtown San Francisco to do the shoot but as soon as we got to her house and I saw her back yard I fell in love with the place. The back yard was filled with vintage cars and motorcycles, a shack with tools and a tree house.  It was very chaotic but has a sincere nostalgic feel to it. So I decided to do a quick shoot there with her in her vintage cars. The shoot came out spectacular.

Soon after we headed toward the west side San Francisco to continue the shoot at a bathhouse ruin next to the waters. Unfortunately it was raining and the sun had already set, so our photo shoot was cut short. I've learned a lot from this shoot life bring lighting equipments, extra outfits, and definitely check the weather. All and all it was still a good day. I'm definitely planning to finish this shoot but at another time.

You can see the photo shoot on my deviantart page here.

A Night Without Plans





Around the middle of last week I had the urge to just leave San Jose and go to San Francisco.  As much as I love San Jose, I've grown tired of the city because I have spent the last seven to eight years working and going to school there.  So to go to San Francisco is therapeutic for me. So my best friend and I headed toward San Francisco near sunset without any plans; what ever happen happens.

The point of the trip was simply to get lost and discover new places in San Francisco that we have never been to before and we accomplished that.  We somehow ended up in the industrial side of East San Francisco and found amazing old abandoned factories, power plants, old abandoned schools, old warehouses, and run down buses.  There is something so amazing about these locations, maybe it's the fact that it's been neglected or forgotten or the fact that people don't even know these places exist.  For my friend and I, finding these spots is like finding lost treasures.

As the night goes on, we were further lost and somehow ended up by the stadium where the Giants were playing the Rangers and got stuck in the horrific traffic for half and hour. It is probably the only time I have ever got road rage. When we finally got out of that mess we found ourselves lost again and next thing I know we were at the San Francisco City Hall, which I always drove by plenty of time before but never stop to look at it.  We spent a bit of time there exploring that area and took some nice photos of it.

Finally to end the night we figured we might as well go to the Mission District to eat and relax from all the walking we did that night.  And after a nice dinner we found a nice bar that had gypsy jazz band performing and spent the rest of the night there hanging out before heading back home to sleep.

It's funny how time and time again whenever my friend and I go places without any plans or expectations, we always end up meeting awesome people and have a lot of fun.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Open Mic Night



Been really busy with school lately that I haven't had time to really do anything fun.  So when there's a chance to take a break to listen to some great music from my friends, I jump on it. I wish I can describe what I heard but all I can simply say that my friends never disappoint.

Both of my friends, Tori and Jessica, are talented singers. I think the reason why I love their music so much is not simply because they have great voices but it's the subject of their music that are interesting.  They sing about things and people that are personal to them: their family, their love, and events in their lives.  I think it's because they are willing to share this level of intimacy in their music that is how they connect with their audience on a much deeper level.

Good music that is free is awesome.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Cypher at Johnny Vs





Last night I went to Johnny V's in downtown San Jose because I heard it was open mic night.  I really didn't know what exactly to expect seeing how San Jose doesn't have a really big music scene...at least to my knowledge.  But as soon as I got there and walked in, the music was blasting, thumping so hard I can feel every vibration from the bass in my muscles.

But once the MCs got on stage, and the artists started to perform my view of the music scene in San Jose changed.  All the artists were local kids who just love hip hop.  The Dj were mixing beats from old school rap, then switched it up to dubstep, back to bay area rap, back  to electronic.  All the while, the MCs were rapping their heart and lungs out, everything was on beat and precise.  The rhythm, the mood and atmosphere along with the crowd made the whole performance memorable.  This is definitely something worth going to again.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

SF Graffiti



Walking around San Francisco, I noticed there are a lot of graffiti.  Even downtown and by the piers, graffiti are out in the open, shown with pride.  It is then that it occurs to me that the appreciation and the view of it as an art form is what separate city like San Francisco from other cities like San Jose.

There are graffiti in San Jose but it is always hidden away in parking lots and under bridges and overpass.  There is a lack of appreciation for graffiti art in San Jose; as if it was a sin.  Is it because San Jose is so oriented on being a business city? it can't be because there is a growing art scene developing in downtown and the people in San Jose are very creative people and are artistically conscious.  there are painting and artworks all over San Jose, but they are more like murals than real street graffiti piece.  So Why isn't graffiti accepted in San Jose?

The graffiti in San Francisco give the city so much more life and character.  I think if San Jose did the same, with its own style and influence, it has the potential to be a more charismatic city.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Hamlet on the Rocks





Hamlet on the rocks sounds like it would make for a good drink but it is actually a Hamlet play that takes place on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco.  I went recently and the only thing I have to say is that there is not a single word in the American dictionary that can describe how spectacular this play was.  It is one thing to watch Hamlet as a movie, it is another thing to watch it in the theater with live actors, But when the actors are five feet way from you acting their heart out with real settings, it is the best way and the only way to watch a Shakespeare play.

I was very unfamiliar with Hamlet going into the play so I did not know what to expect from it.  But as soon as the play started, I was immediately hooked.  The play begins on the Ferry and immediately continues as soon as the audience gets off of it and onto Alcatraz.  The play takes place all over the island; it starts on one side of the island, work its way into the inside of the jail cell and use-to-be sewing room, and ends on the other side of the island.  The audience practically run around with the actors and actresses all over the island.

Everything about this play is phenomenal.  the costumes my friend Julia designed was awesome, the night time and the San Francisco fog with the lighting that was set up created the perfect effects, the acting is top notched, and the fact that the audience was part of the play is just the sprinkles on top of it all.  

No matter how much I write about this show I can never do it enough justice.  I recommend anyone and everyone who loves Shakespeare or plays or good story to go to this. Go and watch it for yourself.  Support theater art and its artists.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Our legacy...





You know the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure"? Well, that's a lie. I've been going around to different antique stores, flea markets, and salvage stations and I notice that no one really cares about these places or the things that are there. It seems the only type of people that are interested in things from the past are the older generations who grew up in those eras, the fifties and sixties. 

The problem is people are so obsess with staying up to date with technology that as soon as something new comes out, everything before that becomes old and obsolete; creating more "waste" and "trash". you can go into any mall and see for yourself how frantic people are shopping for new things and staying up with trends and styles. 

If there is anything archeology has taught me it is that we learn about past cultures and civilization based upon the things they had build and created and have left behind.  So with all of our trash and e-waste and all the things we throw away or leave laying around our house unused, what does that say about our generation and us as people?

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Luck or Fate





Everyone has heard of the saying "everything happens for a reason." Well lately I've been noticing that to be really true.  

At first I thought it was just luck but when one situation leads to the next and the outcome is something really unexpected but in a positive way, it seems like "it happened for a reason."  For example for the longest time my friend Damian and I have been searching for classic cameras like the Leicas and Hasselblads but we could never find it anywhere except online and it seems like it is way out of reach.  But our tireless search for these treasures, at first glance seems hopeless, had led us to meet various interesting people from shop owners and antique dealers to amateur and professional photographers from all over the bay.  Every person my friend and I come across has led us closer to those cameras; some have even become really good and close friends of ours.

Is it luck or fate that all of this has happened?  Well whatever it is I hope it will continue. It has led me to a lot of great people and stories.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Julia and Hamlet





I've been hanging out with my friend Julia this past week in Berkley.  She is definitely one in a billion.  She is one of the most positive and creative individual I've ever met.  Seeing how she works and understanding how she thinks really makes me appreciate not just fashion designer but creative people in general.  Her positive attitude definitely gives me a different perspective on life.  

Currently she is working overtime on designing costumes for "Hamlet" that's going to take place on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco here. I'm actually really excite about it because it's a modern take on Hamlet and seeing Julia working on the costume gave me a bit of a preview of what to expect at the play.  It is definitely something worth going to. It's also a great photo opportunity.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Photoshoot


Earlier this week I did a quick photoshoot for my friend Troy at Caffe Trieste on 1st street.  The shoot was to help promote special events at the cafe and the music artists that perform there.  The idea that Troy had was to help create a much bigger art scene in San Jose and really promote all the venues and business that support art and music.  This was the start of it and I'm very glad to take part in it.

The photoshoot itself was a bit difficult because I don't have all the necessary equipment to do a professional shoot like lighting and flashes. Despite that the shoot still turned out pretty good.

Troy has a performance at Caffe Trieste in the upcoming week at the beginning of October.  Feel free to go and check him out nd have some coffee.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Everyday Design


The more I study design, the more I see design in everyday life.  People often overlook simple every day items not realizing that it is design in some way or another.  It is often said that "the best designs are the designs you don't see." It means that the best designs are design so well that it becomes part of the daily life that people don't  realize it.

Generally when people think of design, they often think of Ikea furniture, apple products, or Mercedes and Audi cars.  But the reality is everything is designed. Only a few of those are truly design well.  

Some examples of good designs that most people overlook are: Tupperware, double spout soy sauce bottle, zippo lighter, legos, Bic ballpoint pens, modern day bicycles, and soda cans, letter envelope, the lightbulb, etc.

Next time you use a product, observe how it works, how you use it, how it feels, smell, taste, looks, and sounds like.   

Monday, September 20, 2010

City by the Bay


I've been spending a lot of time exploring San Francisco within the last couple of months. The more time I spend there, the more I grow accustom to the variety of lifestyles that can only be found in San Francisco.

It has a unique atmosphere that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Every neighborhood, every street corner, every local store and restaurants are uniquely distinctive to the city.  The people there are a whole different breed of life. Everything from the clothes and fashion to the attitude and actions of these individuals reflects the carefree and peaceful identity of the city.

I've been there countless times yet every time is different. There are always new thing and scenes to be discovered, new people to meet, and new ideas to share.  It is definitely a city I would love to be a part of in the future.

A Slow End


I'm starting to realize that I'm getting too old for school.  More and more I walk around the campus and I see people, young people, I can't relate to anymore.  This might be because all my friends have graduated and are working now.  It could also because I'm 25 and been in school for 8 years now. It could also be that my brothers are both married and a lot of my friends are on their way to getting married.  I'm officially a quarter century old yet I feel as though I haven't done much with my life. 
           
Instead of being stuck in school and sitting in class and waiting for the hour to go by, I want to go places and meet people and have little random accidents.  But it seems more and more I'm trap in school and work day in and day out.  This repetitive cycle is slowly killing my motivation and creativity.  I'm a prisoner in my own life.

The only thing that’s truly and honestly keeping me going is the desire to follow my dream...and this is the start of it.