Midori Stories

Mardi Gras Indians 2

2011-03-20T14:15:00.064-05:00

There is debate over the origins of the Mardi Gras Indians, but some research can bring to light the probable evolution of the tradition. When I initially asked about it, few people had answers, or the ones they gave me were conflicting. I wondered why, when the participants are largely African American, why they are obviously referencing Native American (Indian) culture?

After reading about the origins I found that the beginnings of the Krewes date back to the 1830's. Because the government forbade African Americans (or people of color whether slaves or freed) from parading on Mardi Gras, they rebelled by forming their own parades. Unfortunately, for many years competing Krewes did use violence in their effort to gain territory over their parade routes, although this has not been the case for a very long time.

In order to skirt the law they would keep parade times and routes secret often beginning early in the day and changing the routes as they went, sending out "Spy Boys" to see where other Krewes might cross their path. This is a "Flag Boy", but you can see how they identify themselves with their signage in matching beads and sequins.

According to these sources, black slaves began to socialize with the Native Americans in the area at the time (evidenced by many people's ethnic heritage here) and began to adopt some of their traditions for these costumes. At a certain point in history, though, when the government began to move the Native Americans to Reservations in the West, local African Americans distanced themselves from the culture in order to avoid being relocated. the traditions remained however, and in the way that is so very "New Orleans" they took the melange of cultures and evolved it into its own incarnation.

Here you can see how this tradition is a multi-generational family affair. One that is passed on from generation to generation. Each Krewe has a Chief, a Queen, a Flag Boy, a Spy Boy and others as well as the children who march alongside.

Here is another in my series of Mardi Gras Indians parading and dancing. You may also go straight to the YouTube link here.

Mardi Gras Indians 1

2011-03-20T14:00:00.003-05:00

Although they have a violent past, the Mardi Gras Indians have evolved into more of a symbolic form of competition. One in which Krewes challenge each other through costume and dance, rather than actual violence.

As yet another secret society they do not announce the location of their parades and don't even apply for permits, so the only way to find them on parade days is word of mouth, or locals who where the elders live and their likely paths.

The costumes are one of the most important elements of the competition and participants spend all year carefully (and secretly) creating them.

Each year a new suit is created although the bead patches are often recycled into new costumes. The beaded patches often depict battle scenes reminiscent of American Indian illustrations. As they dance they hide the patches and reveal them first when challenging an opponent.

Here is the first of several videos of the Mardi Gras Indians dancing on Super Sunday. Link to my YouTube channel here.

More Mardi Gras Indians and Mardi Gras coverage to follow.

One Man Band Bike of the St. Ann's Parade

2011-03-08T13:30:00.001-06:00

I'll catch up with my Beijing posts soon. But for now a little snapshot of New Orleans. The week leading up to Mardi Gras includes numerous parades, and on Mardi Gras day several parades weave through the city. The St. Ann's Parade includes hundreds of artists and musicians in handmade costumes who march from the Marigny / Bywater neighborhoods into the French Quarter. We watched for a bit, then joined them near the end and came across this man.

He played haunting music on his bike/instrument, constructed of found metal objects, including the colander he wears on his head. As he rode past bubbles floated down from the balconies and people danced by in their bizarre costumes. I love this city. Here is a link to the video or you can scroll down to watch.

Lighting Incense at the Buddha Llamasary in Beijing

2010-08-06T16:30:00.010-05:00

At the Buddha Llamasary, like many temples, you can purchase incense to burn as an offering. Here I joined numerous people who knelt in prayer to the Buddha.

Lighting the incense was tricky, as was trying to get the flame down to just smoke. It was like one of those trick birthday candles that won't blow out! Below is the video of me trying to stay serious as my incense keeps reigniting. Watching it now I laugh through the whole thing because of that! So much for a serene and pious moment, I guess ;)

Tiananmen Square (4): The 1989 Protests and Massacre

2010-08-06T15:57:00.003-05:00

Let's not leave Tiananmen Square without paying respects to the thousands of people who protested and died here in 1989. Like many things in China, information about this event is censored. They do not teach it in the schools so, much like the memory of the American internment of the Japanese-Americans in the US during WWII (which my family experienced), which was swept under the rug, there is fear that future generations will not be aware of this important event in history.

I remember this event and the world-wide news coverage playing on television and my very politically aware friends in outrage. Although I was young and couldn't understand the full details of the event there were several things that stuck in my memory. The fact that these were the people of China standing up to their own government. A government that chose to fire openly onto crowds of unarmed civilians. News cameras showed ambulances blocked from entering the are to help the injured and a few of the ambulance drivers were also shot by the government. Of the many people killed or injured that day many were innocent bystanders, not even involved in the protests, which you can see in this BBC video from 1989. Probably the most memorable image from this time was a man they called "Tank Man". News cameras documented him standing alone in front of rows of tanks preparing to roll into Tianamen Square.

(Photo by Jeff Widener)

The Chinese government does not acknowledge whether this man was killed either at the scene or as punishment for his offenses, nor do they confirm the exact amount of people killed. The record from the Chinese Government listed 241 dead and 7,000 wounded, while their own Chinese Red Cross listed 2,600 dead by the next morning. NATO listed 7,000 dead and the Soviet Union claimed 10,000 were killed. Despite the discrepancies in the head count, the fact remains it was a cruel and unnecessary tragedy. Tiananmen Square contains many important landmarks, has been host to numerous important historical events and is sure to be the the center of many more to come, but hopefully none that end in this kind of tragedy. You can read more about the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre here.

Tiananmen Square (3): Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

2010-08-06T15:00:00.002-05:00

The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, or the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, as it is also known, stands on the previous site of the Gate of China that was demolished in 1954.

Although Mao requested to be cremated, he was embalmed after his death in 1976. His body is displayed in a crystal coffin and people line up every day to view his body and pay tribute.

People from all over China contributed to the design of the Mausoleum as well as to the materials themselves including granite from Sichuan, pebbles from Nanjing and rock samples from Mount Everest.

The sculptures in front of the museum, sometimes called the Workers' Revolutionary Statues, are part of a group of four "teams", two in front and two in back of the building. Altogether there are 62 figures measuring 3.5m.

The entire group of sculptures took 5 months to complete by over 100 sculptors from 18 different provinces in China.

Tiananmen Square (2): The Architecture and History

2010-08-06T13:00:00.002-05:00

Tiananmen Square holds a lot of cultural significance due the political events that have occurred there, particularly the Tiananmen Square Protests in 1989, the proclamation of The People's Republic of China by Mao Zedong in 1949 and the May Fourth Movement in 1919. And that's just the last 100 years. (Pictured above: The Monument to the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People).

While the Tainanmen (Qianmen) Gate to the Forbidden City was built in 1417, the Square itself was not built until 1651. In the 1950's it was enlarged to four times its original size, becoming the largest public square in the world (440,000 m² - 880m by 500m) and can accommodate up to 600,000 people.

The Square lies between the Tian'anmen North Gate and the Zhengyangmen (Qianmen) South Gate which leads into the Forbidden city.

Pictured here: The Monument to the People's Heroes.

On the west side of the Square is the Great Hall of the People (above) and the Monument to the People's Heroes and on the east side is the National Museum of China (below), which focuses on Chinese history before the May Fourth Movement in 1919).

Another sign of China's continued control over monitoring the activities of its citizens can be seen here. The lamposts here sport video cameras and policemen in uniforms and plainclothes patrol the area.

Hmmm... I guess not so different from some Chicago neighborhoods, eh?

Tiananmen Square (1): Qianmen, The South Gate

2010-08-06T12:00:00.001-05:00

Qianmen is the colloquial name for Zhengyangmen, which is the South Gate of Tiananmen Square. It once guarded the entry to the inner city and, after the walls were destroyed in the 60's, only the gatehouse and the archery tower remain.

It was originally built in 1419, during the Ming Dynasty and, after the Communist victory in 1949, it was occupied by the People's Liberation Army. Since it was vacated in 1980, it has become a tourist attraction and the architecture is extremely well preserved.

As a military structure, its fascinating how much care was taken in designing the decorative details as well as the practical aspects.

Street Scenes - Beijing: Literally... in the street

2010-08-06T10:00:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure what these folks are playing, cards, mah jong or checkers, but there is most likely some gambling going on. More shocking than gambling in the street, is that they are literally "in the street". Chinese love their fresh air and living in close quarters with one another necessitates sitting outside, especially in the summer. But these folks took it one step further taking over a little corner of a median strip in the center of a busy four lane street.

From the looks of it, this is their regular spot. They've got their little stools, shirts off, dogs leashed to the lamp post. Even grandma is having her "settin' time"... while tempting fate in the incoming traffic.

Location: Near the Pearl Market, Beijing, China

Street Scenes - Beijing: Bamboo Baby Bjorn

2010-08-06T09:00:00.002-05:00

How much did you spend on that Baby Bjorn? Seriously. Because this kid looks pretty content and I think I could make this for you out of Lincoln Logs.

Location: Temple of Heaven, Beijing.

City Lights: Night View from the Park Hyatt, Beijing

2010-08-06T00:00:00.003-05:00

When in Chicago, I often take out-of-town guests to view the city lights at night from the restaurant and lounge in the Hancock Tower. Not because its a great restaurant (sorry), but more for the view. So I was excited to learn about this restaurant, The China Grill at the Park Hyatt, Beijing.

The China Grill at the Park Hyatt in Beijing is a similar to the Signature Room, in that you mainly come for the view because the food is only "good enough". It wasn't bad, just about on par with a nice restaurant in any major city. Although D noted that many of the restaurants on Beijing, even the nice ones, seem to be lacking in consistency of service and no one seemed to be able to understand how to time the arrival of dishes to the table. The saving grace for me were these two dishes: the spicy/crispy calamari and a glass of citrus sorbet layered with frozen citrus slices, which served well to cut the oiliness of the rest of the meal.

The view, however, is spectacular. My pictures here cannot do adequate justice to the beauty of the city lights of Beijing at night. Here is a video of this view, which I captured as best I could with my Flip Video. Click here for the YouTube link.

Located on the 66th floor, its not as high at the Signature Lounge at the Hancock, but the China Grill is the highest restaurant in the city and has 360 degree views of Beijing. And the views couldn't be more different. The lights in Beijing are much more colorful on the buildings as well as the signage and the streets curve in rings, rather than the grids of more modern cities. Beautiful.

These pictures look like code from the Matrix, but if you look closely you can see that these are the windows of some of the smaller residential buildings and their reflections along with the brightly lit Chinese characters in the commercial signage. Its like a painting.

Here are a few images of the interiors. One of the stairs leading from the elevators near the lounge and one of the lobby interiors.

More to come ...

Donghua Men "Snack Street" (3): Food Challenge #2... Scorpions!

2010-08-05T23:45:00.003-05:00

After the snake skin I wanted to try something a bit more challenging. But there are so many choices. The starfish looked impressive, but I heard they can be a bit tough. There is sea urchin, but I can get that in the states. That offering to the right is, I think, some animal "maleness", if you know what I mean ...

Those are cicadas up above, but I've heard mixed reviews about those as well. Maybe too much guts for my first bug. The crickets look appropriately intimidating, but maybe I want something a bit more sinister. Like Scorpions!

Yikes! Do you have anything a little smaller?

That's better! These look like just the right balance of scary and manageable! One stick costs about 15 Yuan or a little over $2 USD. Once ordered they are dropped into hot oil and salted, which can make almost anything palatable! How do they taste?

Surprisingly good! I'd eat more right now if I could! They taste salty and crunchy on the outside and meaty and a little nutty on the inside. Not stingy at all ;)

Here is the video of me eating them and talking to some people in the crowd.

Click here for the YouTube link.

Donghua Men "Snack Street" (2): Food Challenge #1... Snake Skin!

2010-08-05T23:00:00.004-05:00

Sure, its a bit strange that in a place filled with ancient culture and historic treasures I am fixated on my food challenges, but I blame it on all the travel/food shows where they challenge the host to eat crazy stuff. But I think that, if the local culture eats it, I'll give it a try. Especially if it gives me a chance to shock the audience a bit ;)

The hardest part was choosing. Here are some of the more tame offerings...

This looks a little more interesting. Squid, and ... are those crayfish?

Beautiful and probably very tasty, but I had to choose carefully, since I only had a limited time here (my BF was not having as much fun with this as I was and it was very crowded). But finally I saw my first choice...

Snake skin! Aside from making creepy western wear, they can apparently be a good snack.

Honestly, it wasn't great, but it wasn't bad. It was very oily and a bit ... scaly, but overall not bad. I figured I eat eel, so why not snake?

Here's how they cook it on the grill. They press it under a hot iron, fanning it with a paper fan:

Posing with my snake skin kebab... and trusty Flip Video camera, on which I recorded this video of me eating the snake skin!

Click here for the YouTube video.

Donghua Men "Snack Street" (1), Beijing: Everything from Soup to Bugs...

2010-08-05T22:45:00.017-05:00

I don't know what it says about me that, amidst ancient temples, Chinese opera and the Great Wall, one of the high points of my trip thus far is Donghua Men Street, where you can find every exotic snack from the mild (fruit kebabs) to the challenging (bugs)!

I know that you are waiting to see me eat bugs, and I promise not to disappoint! But for now, let's take a walk past each of the stalls and choose a snack...

Click here for the YouTube link.

Beijing Smog: A Fashionable Solution...

2010-08-05T22:30:00.002-05:00

Supposedly the smog has gotten much better since the clean-up efforts that surrounded the Olympics. But people who live here will still say that the smog is a serious concern. During humid times of year the fog can be of equal concern from a visual perspective, but at least the rains that follow help clear the air.

I tried to take the following pictures from approximately the same place, so as to illustrate the differences in air quality. Here is a picture of a typical smoggy day:

Here is what it looks like on a rainy day (smog + fog):

And here is a picture of a rare, but beautiful clear day. This is what they refer to as "Blue Sky" days in Beijing and you can measure the air quality by the number reported in a year.

If you are looking for an ironic and fashionable solution to the smog problem, from a personal approach at least, you can protect your lungs a bit with a cotton face-mask. But rather than going around looking like a surgeon on lunch break, you can instead opt for a stylish cartoon face-mask, like this one I found at an "all panda" shop in one of the busy houtongs!:

Notice the little skully-carcinogen looking bad guys inside the panda? He is saying "No,no!" and looks very perturbed. Priceless.

In order to see what it looks like on, I have engaged this individual to model it for you. For his sake I have protected his identity ;)

WangFu Jing Street: Dichotomies at their best...

2010-08-05T21:00:00.002-05:00

If you are looking for a place to buy your upscale European gear and still be able to grab some fried cicadas and silk worm kabobs on the way home, WangFu Jing Street has it all. If you start at one end you can buy your Prada and Burberry, then weave your way through the crowd to the far end, turn the corner and you're on Donghua Men Street where you can snack on fried bugs until you come to your senses!

WangFu Jing street has actually been around since the middle of the Ming Dynasty and has housed commercial activity nearly the entire time. the area was originally settled by eight aristocratic estates who located there when a particularly special water source was discovered he the well there. The name "WangFu" means "aristocratic residence and "Jing" means "well".

Sorry some of these pics are a bit blurry, but that's what happens when you are trying to keep up with a long legged white man in a crowd like this ;)

Next post: Donghua Men Street!

Temple of Heaven (7): Music in the Temple Gardens (VIDEO)

2010-08-05T15:45:00.001-05:00

Beyond the beauty of the historic architecture, the gardens on the grounds of the temple are beautifully landscaped, and in the open areas musician gather to play and sing traditional Chinese music.

Below is a video of a man playing a traditional Chinese instrument as people gather and (try) to sing along. Here is the YouTube link.

Here is a group of men who have gathered at the gates of the temple to sing. Here is the YouTube link.

One of the beautiful old trees in the temple gardens.

Temple of Heaven (6): Sketching at the Temple draws a crowd of children (VIDEO)

2010-08-05T15:30:00.004-05:00

Since he was last here in 1982, Beijing has changed... a lot. But historic sites like this one change very little, aside from the multitude of baseball hats and cell phones. So D chose to sketch the hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, since it was one of the landmarks he remembered most from his childhood trip.

At times like these, since I'm not really into drawing inanimate objects, I generally just sketch D as he is sketching. I know, its seems weird, but I'm not that great at drawing architecture, so I would only do it an injustice. Plus, its kinda funny. People definitely had a laugh when they watched D drawing and then came around to see what I was drawing, amidst all this historic architecture, and its just a sketch of him sketching. Oh well, I amuse myself ;)

Here is my sketchbook with my phone set to the Temple of Heaven page from the Beijing Taxi Cards app on my iphone.

Wherever he goes to sketch, he always draws a crowd of curious children and sometimes adults. They always want to pose for pictures with you too, which I agree to do with children, but not adults. Its not that they think you are a celebrity, just that, you look different... or at least he does. Anyway, the children were cute and funny, especially this solid little man in the yelllow tshirt.

And here is some of the video of the children watching him sketch. So cute! Here is the YouTube link, if you prefer.

Temple of Heaven (5): The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests... VIDEO!

2010-08-05T14:30:00.007-05:00

Here a brief look at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests on video. You can see how crowded it was, and this was not even the most crowded area. Its interesting also to hear the variety of languages in the background. Here is the YouTube link.

Temple of Heaven (4): The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

2010-08-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is the main attraction on this site and even the path leading to it is significant.

This sign explains the Danbi Bridge, which is the oldest overpass in the "ancient capital of Beijing". It had separate walking areas for people based on social rank.

Next you approach yet another set of gates to pass through and following that a kind of bridge building which would have been guarded, I presume.

The detail and color of all of these buildings is repeated throughout the site. They have been restored to their originally intended color, which is much brighter than you might expect. Much like when the Sistine chapel was restored and everyone thought it was too bright, despite records showing that those were the original colors.

Now, finally we get our first glimpse of the Circular structure of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. It is set an a circular marble structure, much like the altar mound, and the building is much larger in size than the Imperial Vault.

One is not allowed inside, but if you worm and crush your way into the front you can snap a picture over the heads of the other tourists. I'm very tenacious ;)

More to come...

Temple of Heaven (3): The Temple Grounds

2010-08-05T13:00:00.001-05:00

Surrounding the Imperial Vault are smaller, but equally beautiful buildings housing symbolic offerings and prayers. Knowing that nearly everything about this type of architecture is symbolic, its easy to begin reading into the meaning and purpose of everything.

The colors, quantities, shapes, directions and, of course animals or symbols depicted, all have specific meanings. For instance, Earth is represented by a square and Heaven by a circle. The number nine refers to the Emperor and the number twelve refers to the hours of the day and the months of the year.

The colors that seem to prevail over most of this type of architecture are also significant. All of the buildings in the Temple of Heaven have dark blue roof tiles, which symbolize Heaven. Red, generally considered a good luck color, also represents a fire element, which can chase out evil spirits. Gold, or golden yellow, represents Earth, wealth and happiness.

Also on the Temple grounds are these precious protected trees which are hundreds of years old and also believed to hold special spiritual qualities.

Here is the "Nine Dragon Juniper", so called because of the spiral grooves encircling the trunk like "dragon writhing up to the sky". Or, as the translation below says "wreathing" up to the sky ;).

More to come...

Temple of Heaven (2): The Imperial Vault of Heaven

2010-08-05T12:30:00.003-05:00

The second structure you encounter at the Temple of Heaven is the Imperial Vault of Heaven. It is a circular structure like the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, which is the main attraction and resembles it in design.

This is the sign above the entrance to the Imperial Vault of Heaven. Notice the chicken wire to keep the birds from roosting in there.

Here is the carving that goes up the steps leading to the from entrance (although they direct the tourists around the side, as you can see).

Below the carving is this sign. I don't know what it says... maybe, "don't walk on the carving".

The Imperial Vault of Heaven is surrounded by an Echo Wall, which can transmit sound long distances, most likely used for prayer. If you look closely at the wall you can see where people have scratched in graffiti. I wonder if they are prayers or just "I was here" scrawls.

Inside, the first thing I noticed was the beautiful, intricate ceiling. Partly because It was so crowded you had to worm your way in to get a look at anything below head level. Well, thank God for long arms (to hold up the camera) and determination. I was able to squeeze in to get this picture of the inside, which contained some beautiful, symbolic offerings.

More to come...

"Beijing Cool": Beijing Fashion and Sub-Culture

2010-08-05T12:00:00.003-05:00

Remember Fruits and Fresh Fruits, the collection of photographs by Shoichi Aoki, documenting Tokyo street fashion and subculture? That book was an obsession for me for years. So I was excited to find this book "Beijing Cool".

Like "Fruits", this is a collection of photos of street fashion by Ai Weiwei, whose style is decidedly more hands-on artistic, rather than the more removed journalistic style of Shoichi Aoki.

The fashion in each book differs as well. One can assume it is due to cultural differences, but I will also point out that, as a photographer, one still chooses what and whom to shoot. So the images also reflect the photographer's tastes.

In any case, Weiwei's collection from "Beijing Cool" seems to reflect an edgier, grittier more New York style while still maintaining the Asian penchant for bright colors and cartoon references. It was only in relation to this new book, did I notice how the Tokyo fashion in Aoki's book seemed much more innocent and optomistic, reflecting the politics and mindset of the young people and their personal expressions. Perhaps Beijing kids have more reason to be a bit darker and more realistic in their views of the world and therefore, their personal self-expression through fashion and art.

In any case, this book is my new obsession, inspiring me to feel more freedom and individuality in my fashion expressions, as I hope it inspires you :) I will post more images in the future, but for now this is a taste of street fashion from the other side of the world!

Temple of Heaven (1): You are now entering the Temple of Heaven...

2010-08-05T10:30:00.003-05:00

You are now entering the Temple of Heaven. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, will be to try to take pictures that do not include baseball hats. Good luck.

Its summer, vacation season, and despite the fact that there are thousands of international tourists visiting these historical sites, there are even more Chinese tourists visiting. With Westernization being what it is today (and the fact that baseball hats no longer require any association to the game of baseball) its virtually impossible to take a photo that does not have a baseball hat in it somewhere. Really. Look closely and count them in the photos. It could be a drinking game.

Oh well, I am taking photos document my trip, not to get published in National Geographic. And besides, this is China as it is today. Part of what I have enjoyed seeing is a culture incorporating input from around the world (well, limited input due to the Great Firewall of China, and other kinds of censorship) and blending those things into their own unique interpretation. Even if I'm not down with all the baseball hats.

The Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings in Beijing built between 1406 - 1420 by the Yongle Emporer, who also built the Forbidden City, so the style of architecture, colors and architectural details are very similar.

The complex is as much landscape design as it is architecture, which you can see illustrated in this aerial map from Sacred-Destinations.com. Both of which influenced design in the Far East for many centuries afterward.

After entering through two sets of gates, and crossing walkways with sections that include designated areas for people, depending on their societal class, you arrive at the Circular Mound Altar, where the Emperor prayed for good harvests.

The Circular Mound Altar is a marble structure made up of three circular platforms. It was built originally a in 1530 and re-built in 1740, so it was not part of the original design. However, it is a distinguishing feature of the site and one hat sets it apart.

According to Wikipedia, "The number nine represents the Emperor and is evident in the design of the Circular Mound Altar: a single round marmor plate is surrounded by a ring of nine plates, then a ring of 18 plates, and so on for a total of nine surrounding rings, the outermost having 9×9 plates".

Also, for some reason, people like to do the Titanic pose in the center of the top level. So naturally, I must join in. I should mention that this is listed as a "sacrificial altar", so I can only assume there were animal sacrifices of some kind? I will have to research further.

Here is the view towards the rest of the complex...

Stay tuned for the next installment of the Temple of Heaven, featuring the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Imperial Vault of Heaven...

Bicycles of Beijing

2010-08-05T05:00:00.004-05:00

With the exception of Amsterdam, I don't think I have seen so many unusual, or unusually customized, bicycles in one city before. Most of the bikes here are not very expensive, nor in the best condition and many were never kept locked. Those who did lock them often just ran the chain through the back wheel, which is not a major deterrent against theft in most cities.

But here, people seem to trust that no one will bother to steal their bicycle. A testament to honesty, community, or maybe just that the bike is so crappy, who would bother? Either way, they are fascinating to see. Here are a few that have been customized to haul goods.

*UPDATE* my friend Ms. Peng, who is from Beijing, had this explanation of the picture below: "It's a recycling wagon. The guy would tour the neighborhood on it yelling whatever he buys for recycling. Residences can stop him whenever he's around. This has been going on for as long as I can remember. Now I think of it, Chinese people might be the first people on the planet to recycle before all the LEED, Green stuff came out..."

See? No locks! I also like the background here, with the signage and the unusual paintings of the woman's faces in the shop window.

Many I saw were motorbikes, or had been customized with small motors.

This one above looks like it is for an awfully small child. Seems young to be on a motorbike? And this one below is technically a motorcycle, but its a classic and beautiful one, so I am including it :)

Beijing Food: Feeling Adventurous or Homesick? Or just sick?

2010-08-04T23:55:00.012-05:00

Tired of eating jellyfish and rice? There are options! Although not as popular as KFC or Pizza Hut in Beijing, McDonald's is a close third place. I have yet to eat at an American fast food place while overseas, except for that one time in Paris. But in my defense, I only had a Diet Coke, so does that count?

Many people who are unwilling to eat fast food at home break their rules when overseas, usually out of sheer homesickess. But if you are hungry for a piece of home, don't expect it to taste like it does in the States.

Most places, like KFC, adapt their food to local tastes. Which may be why its more popular. In any case, you can usually count on McDonald's for a western style bathroom, which is a more welcome bit of home than you may realize!

Maybe you'd prefer Mexican food? Churros seem to be pretty popular with the locals, probably because they are fried. Who doesn't like fried food?

But why are there pictures of white people above the counter?

Burritos? Hmmm, does not seem as popular as the Churros stand.

Of course, if you are willing to be adventurous (isn't that why you travel?) you can challenge yourself (and your stomach lining) and eat local. The question is, how local are you willing to get?

Hong Kong Food City, looks local, but maybe too touristy... too safe.

How about some "Homely Style Food"? Its not ugly, just a little... homely.

Would you be willing to eat an ear of corn cooked on the street?

Pick your own fish for lunch?

How about a nice home cooked meal here?

Because this is the kitchen. Seriously:

But, of course, the ultimate food challenges are found on Donghua Men street, where squid would be the least obscure option. Here you can find everything from starfish and scorpions to snake skin and silkworm larvae! I won't give away too much more about this yet, but stay tuned ;)

798 Art District (7): Skeltons and Robots, Obscure Beijing Art

2010-08-04T23:50:00.002-05:00

It is the oddities of the art in this area that I find more interesting than the traditional types of art you might expect to see in China. Where else can you find tiny robots made of computer parts or jewelry made from the skeletons of birds and reptiles?

In contrast to the sculptures and the works created on a more massive scale, these tiny objects become more personal because you must get so close to appreciate them.

Here is the series called "Gimino" found at the 798 Art Center. These included tiny robots, animals and related objects made out of computer parts, circuit boards, USB ports, etc.

This is the shop called "Skeleton". Notice their sign is fashioned from actual skeleton parts! The artist collects the skeletons of tiny birds and reptiles and casts them in precious metals to create lovely, creepy jewelry and sculpture. One of her pieces was a silver ring with a bird skull in it that had a working, movable jaw. Another was a solid gold bird skeleton set with jewels and tiny feathers. Like many artists she would not allow photos in her shop because (and rightly so) she is concerned about copycats, but I will update with a link to her website.

Lastly, here are some photos of an exhibition being installed at a gallery called "Iberia". They appear to be bits of translucent shell-like material, each hung from a slim stick of wood inserted in the wall. It has a lovely scale-like effect that moves and shimmers. I will update with more gallery and artist info when I can track it down.

Beijing Pets are not a food source... I hope.

2010-08-04T23:45:00.010-05:00

People in Beijing love their pets, just like anywhere else in the world. Even in the humblest neighborhoods there were many little dogs and cats sitting in laps or following their people around. No where did I see any evidence of anyone eating them... except maybe that bunny.

These three kitties were lounging in a small public square in the 798 Art District, when, right on cue, all three ran to this doorway and began mewing and pawing at the door. In a few minutes the metal gate went up and a man came out with their dinner in a little can.

Naturally, the Pekingese is one of the most popular breeds in Beijing (Peking). Supposedly it is because, with their flat noses and expressive eyes, they bear resemblance to the guardian lion statues that sit outside the entrances to many homes, like this one.

I also noticed that most of the dogs were not on leashes, but seemed very good about not straying far from their owners.

This dog was waiting outside his home in one of the city's Houtongs, the smaller alleyways that are the old, original streets. This is another popular breed of dog in Beijing. I think it is a Spitz, which is a German breed. Most dogs I've seen here are toy breeds, as well, which are practical choices in the crowded and over populated areas.

I saw several little bunnies in cages outside homes or even inside shops. They seemed to be pets, but I thought that about the bunnies I saw in Mexico and it turned out some of those were just being kept as a food source :( I hope for this guy's sake, and that of this little boy who seems to love him, that he is a pet!

UPDATE!: More evidence of pet lovers in Beijing: Here is a little store located in one of the houtongs that sells handmade clothes for dogs and cats!

798 Art District (7): Gallery Architecture

2010-08-04T23:30:00.005-05:00

There are over 100 galleries/exhibition spaces listed on the official 798 guide map (see their website here) and trying to figure out which ones we visited is twisting my brain. The entire area grew out of a deserted factory/warehouse district, so the skeleton of the structures in the neighborhood are largely old brick and concrete shells. The galleries, studios and residences that sprang from these include both low-end/cobbled together rooms and higher end well-designed structures.

The first gallery here is one of the newer ones, the Xin Dong Cheng Space for Contemporary Art. It is an open interior with a modern poured concrete shell.

(This is also the courtyard where the Red Tree House and the two statues looking up are located).

The pattern of lights across the ceiling of the main room is an art installation on its own.

It also features and unusual egg/cave-live entrance and a glassed in tree that was preserved during the building. In another neighborhood we watched a crew building a structure around an existing tree in order to preserve and showcase it, much like this one. Very thoughtful.

I'm not sure if you are supposed to, but we went inside to visit the tree! :)

The second gallery has kept for of its original structure, and rightly so. Likely a factory room or assembly room of some kind, it features many skylight windows and an unusually shaped roof in a kind of wave pattern. It reminds me a bit of an airplane hangar.

Inside they have built a glass box to house the staircase that leads to a small second floor gallery as well as a ground floor shop and cafe. The open glass and center handrail of the stairs would likely not fly in the US due to code issues, but it is beautiful, if a bit vertigo inducing ;)

On the whole it seems that the architecture in this area is not bound by many rules, nor are they held to strict codes, which allows for more freedom and imagination (an a few safety violations ;). It may not be everyone's taste, but I found it quite fascinating.

798 Art District (6): Accidentally Art

2010-08-04T23:00:00.006-05:00

According to China.org, the name "798" is more than just a number, its a symbol. "In Beijing it means, arts, vanguards, unchained personalities and alternative life goals. Free and rambling atmospheres as well as wild unconquered attitudes are everywhere".

Speaking of "free and rambling", this fence seems to contradict itself by being rather free and rambling. It looks as if someone has recycled wood from a sign and created this lovely composition that now protects their tiny garden. It looks like sharks teeth wearing braces! Beautiful.

Pretty accurate description, really. Everywhere you look there seems to be something strange and beautiful or at least thought provoking. The intentional art mixing with the unintentional art seeming to grow on its own, organically from the atmosphere here.

These (fuse boxes?) were in a vitrine in a small arcade leading from one tiny street to a larger courtyard. Someone has altered and personified them with genders.

Timeline of recognizable art: First the galleries, then the boutiques, then the artists' studios, then the public art, then the private art in public spaces, then the mix of old and new architecture, then the graffiti, then the odd mixes of constructions or signs that have become like art on their own and finally the community itself, as one living, organic performance art installation.

Is this an installation? Two pristine white chairs (not in dialog with each other) set up with nothing to watch but their own reflection in a blank screen. A comment on China's censorship or television media? Or, maybe someone was just painting their chairs and left them here to dry. Am I reading too much into things?

Apparently if you park here, your comically undersized car will be towed away and you will be sad, resting your comically oversized head in your tiny hand.

While this does not appear to be manipulated, someone has recognized its beauty and left it exposed at the entrance of the arcade. Perhaps the same someone who appreciated those fuse boxes?

When your written language is beautiful it can make anything look interesting.

Look! Even the sidewalk has been decorated with little metal bits:

798 Art District (5): Dog Art at the Xin Dong Cheng Space for Contemporary Art

2010-08-04T22:50:00.020-05:00

Loved this series by Hung-Chin Peng, called "Face to Face", in the Xin Dong Cheng Space for Contemporary Art Gallery in the 798. Its not just because I love dogs, these are tender works.

The first is a series of dog sculptures made of fiberglass and incorporate sound. The dogs' forms are exaggerated shapes and their heads/skulls are open so that you can see from the inside, viewing out through their gaze.

Yes, that is a portrait of Che Guevara, by Xue Song, in the background.

Near the sculptures, in a small adjacent room, is a small monitor playing a loop of film that runs both forward and backward. It shows a dog licking away and then (as it runs backward) seeming to write excerpts from the Analects of Confucius. I wonder what they used to paint the characters? Something yummy, I expect. To a dog, anyway. This clip shows the dog "writing" the following: "When a bird is about to die, his cry is full of sorrow. When a man is about to die, his words can only be good and truthful." Click here for their website.

Dinner in the 798, Accompanied by Cicada Symphony

2010-08-04T21:45:00.003-05:00

Dinner at the Art Cafe in the 798, accompanied by a cicada symphony: The dinner wasn't worth mentioning except that you shouldn't expect the chicken to look or taste like the kind of chicken you may be used to when ordering a Caesar salad. It tasted fine... just not like chicken. Which is funny since everything is supposed to taste like chicken, right? I think it was some of the grisly bits, deep fried. Anyway, that atmosphere was peaceful and the cicada symphony was calming, if a bit aggressive ;) To watch the video and hear the cicadas click here.

798 Art District (4): Red Tree House, "YingXiang Zhiou" Boutique

2010-08-04T19:30:00.002-05:00

Here is a small boutique called "YingXiang Zhiou", but I have referred to as the Red Tree House because the tree is wrapped in red yarn and red lanterns are hung from the branches. They have also piped in traditional music into the small courtyard where it is located, behind an art gallery. The whole effect is very dollhouse/otherworldly.

Inside they sell handmade clothing in very fashion forward designs. Everything is linen or silk and is very "Beijing Onion Style", which is a layered look, like the skins of an onion.

To see the video and hear the music click here.

798 Art District (3): Sculpture in the 798: The Political and the Whimsical... or is it all political?

2010-08-04T19:00:00.004-05:00

Maybe its me, but i am reading political undertones to much of the art here. The freedoms and exposure to western influences are still recent enough that even the young generations have seen massive change in their lifetime.

Many of the sculptures I saw in this area had obvious political themes, while others seemed more directly emotional or whimsical. Although on second look I began to read a kind of symbolism into them.

These ones, with their broken faces, seemed, at first , to reference the remains of artifacts found in ancient ruins. But perhaps the way in which they are "broken" is intentionally symbolic. The fact that their eyes, ears and the whole tops of their heads (the brains and therefore thought) have been removed, illustrates how the country censors what they are allowed to see and hear from the rest of the world, impeding their ability to have think for themselves.

The melancholy expression of the mouth showing the emotional reaction.

Here are some of the more seemingly obvious political sculptures:

This artist had other interesting sculptures in his shop that seemed to reference traditional Chinese characters and these morphed into exaggerated modern interpretations.

These three dragons are wearing communist garb and standing at allegiance with hands over heart. I am not sure if the colors are significant but dragons are quite symbolic in Chinese culture, symbolizing the Emporer. So here stand three dragons in communist garb with full pockets... hmmm.

These seem a bit more light-hearted or design oriented in nature:

If these guys look familiar, perhaps it is because there is one like this in Millennium Park in Chicago. I am not sure if it is the same artist, though.

Not sure how much whispering a giant metal butterfly/lion will be doing in the wind... but, ok.

798 Art District (2): What are they looking at?

2010-08-04T17:00:00.002-05:00

Installment 2 of the 798 Art District. These sculptures were in a small courtyard behind one of the larger galleries. I love how quiet and introspective they are, despite their size. Are they looking up with optimism? Or disappointment, at what they can't have? They communist garb and lack of ornamentation suggests a stoicism of 'living without' while their gaze, directed upwards, towards they sky suggests dreaming of something more. Sort of hopeful-against hope. Yearning but still doubting. I have included pics as well as a small video, showing... what they are looking at.

Watch the video here.

798 Art District (1): Graffiti

2010-08-04T15:30:00.003-05:00

Installment 1 of the 798 Art District: There is so much to see here that I must break it down into sections. This first one contains examples of the graffiti art around the 798 Art District, an area that grew out of a former factory/warehouse district into a flourishing neighborhood of galleries, boutiques and incorporated artist colony. Residences, galleries and shops all blur the line in a bustling hive of energy and creativity. The Graffiti here is both art and tagging as well as some social commentary. Seeing the influence of the artists who live here as well as the Chinese characters make it especially different than what I have seen before.

Beijing Nights 1

2010-08-03T23:30:00.038-05:00

On the way home D humored me and let me takes pics of some of the night spots, even though we weren't stopping in. The vibe seems to be kitchy / 70's / Vegas? I think I just officially became too old for this. Here we have Cargo, G3, Gaga, Cutie and Babyface:

Hunting Down the Elusive Prey: a restaurant that still exists.

2010-08-03T21:00:00.005-05:00

As warned by the travel guides, restaurants come and go with such frequency that by the time of print, they may no longer be there. Since D is old-school, and armed with a printed Time Out Beijing guide, I knew it would be hit or miss. I tried to hedge out bets by cross-checking restaurants on the internet, but even that is not quick enough for the elusive prey... the Beijing restaurant.

We were initially looking for a restaurant called Hot Loft, which was said to have awesome hot-pot. After a confusing cab ride, where even the driver had to ask for directions twice, we finally found the exact address... of where they had been. In its place was a very brightly lit seafood place (why are so many restaurants here lit like hospital rooms? trust me, you don;t always want to see you food in that detail). Not what we had in mind.

On the way, however we passed some very pretty alternatives, so I convinced D to wander back on our path where we passed an intriguing single-malt scotch bar, which was nicely designed (and reminded me of the commercial scene with from Lost in Translation with Bill Murray). Then we came to The Green T House, hidden behind glowing green light, white curtains and an impossibly high thin door. No windows and very secretive (you have to ring the bell for entry), it has a very exclusive ambiance. It gets mixed reviews from locals,mainly due to bad service, but everyone agrees that its a feast for the eyes.

The restaurant was the creation of a woman named Zhang Jinjie, a chef, calligrapher, artist and musician (and now, restauranteur). Apparently she is China's only female master chef and plays yang qin (Chinese Dulcimer) and gu zheng (Chinese table harp). The design was very NY art loft and gorgeous (although showing a bit of wear and tear). A long white room lit at the far end with cool green spot lights across a tangle of branches suspended from the ceiling. On one side, along the windows) there were tea-house style seating on white banquettes and in the center tall (like Alice in Wonderland tall) dark wood chairs seated around a communal table. On the opposite wall they projected arty animations accompanied by an eclectic soundtrack that included everything from European classical music to Chinese classical music to jazzy electronica (which was a bit too loud at times, but cool). Over all it was more stage set / performance art than restaurant, which made up for the "mama huhu" (so-so) service. (See? I'm learning Chinese ! ;P)

Of course they don't allow you to take pictures there, or anywhere here other than public spaces (so you will have to look at their pretty flash images on their website). I think because they are all paranoid about getting copied. A valid fear given that this is the land of knock-offs. But I managed to sneak a snap of D before the waitress told me to stop ;) So aside from the pics I took of myself in the multi-mirrored ladies room (they cant stop me in there !) where I recreated (in my head) the closing scene from All About Eve, I am relegated to pulling pics of the interior from the internet.

Food-wise it was yummy. Even though they brought me the wrong dish (I am pointing on a menu, how hard can it be?), it was all still super yummy! Being that it is a tea house, many of the dishes include tea leaves or tea oil, which has a lovely bitter and piquant aroma. The table breads are served from a basket with chopsticks and are tiny little knots (I called them belly-buttons) of dough, they taste a bit like a profiterole or croissant dough, but not flaky, more doughy. You dip them into a green tea pesto (I will definitely have to try making this at home!), yummy!

The drink list was printed on clear plastic, I ordered a non-alcoholic mocktail (a lot of mocktails here, I guess a lot of people don't drink), called Bitter Lemon, which was like a bitter lemonade over tea leaves. D refused to order my suggested drink for him (the "Beautiful Boy Martini", why not?) and had the Green T Martini. Both cocktails were served in the kind of crockery you normally see tea or miso served in. beautiful, hand made pottery and presented on a long tray with bamboo leaves, which was beautiful, but takes up a lot of room on a small table.

We started with these amazing little fennel (and tea leaf?) dumplings, steamed and briefly pan seared. The insides looked to be packed with leaves and that lovely bitter licorice aroma, so different from many dumplings with their mystery meat interiors ;). The laowai (foreigner ;) behind D ordered a dish served on a bed of rose petals: veal with black sesame?

Then we were served, what turned out to be a dish called "Autumn leaves" which were like those Vietnamese lettuces rolls, a butter lettuce leaf filled with shredded vegetables, what could have been some kind of pickled vegetable or meat, fennel seeds and what might have been chrysanthemum petals. It was yummy and we ate it even though I ordered something else. They then brought another dish I hadn't ordered and this time D still felt the order mix up required some telling-off so he marched up there in stocking feet to straighten it out (we were sitting shoeless on the white banquette seating, like Bed in SoBe).

Whatever he said did the trick and they removed the dish and brought him the spare ribs he ordered which were super yummy, but so rich we had to fake-finish the last ones (only take a bit or so out of each). No room for dessert!

With all the rich food and huge portions, the only way I am not gaining weight here is due to all the walking, and walking, and walking...

Welcome to Beijing...cough, cough! (Narrated by the voice of Kathleen Turner)

2010-08-03T08:00:00.008-05:00

What is it like to wake up in Beijing? In a word: smoggy. Look at that. Doesn't it just make you want to give up, throw your hands in the air and chew down some filterless Pall Malls?

No that is not romantic fog rolling in from the mountains. Its smog. Apparently 16 out of 20 of the world's smoggiest cities are in China, Beijing being one of them. If you want to read the technical details, here is an informative link. Supposedly it is getting better and the government is making efforts to improve it now. But for the next ten days, this is the air I breathe. Yum! Cut me a slice of that fresh Beijing air!

Night Kites in Beijing

2010-08-02T21:30:00.009-05:00

First night in Beijing: Even though I was sleep deprived from a long (and complicated connecting) flight, I didn't want to waste any time. Across the street from the hotel is a shopping mall that contains a surprisingly yummy Sichuan restaurant called South Beauty. Surprising, because it is in a mall and apparently is part of a chain. But yummy none the less :)

We had short ribs and sauteed greens to start, then I had an amazing snapper poached in spicy hot chili oil with sprouts, bamboo and fragrant peppercorns that crunched and released an almost perfume-y scent! D had a thinly sliced pork sauteed with vegetables that was so flavorful it was almost bacon-like. As expected, the portions were enormous and there was no way to finish it all (lord knows I tried). I countered all that rich food with a glass of freshly crushed watermelon juice (yum!) and D had a TsingTsao (?) beer.

After all that I had to walk it off a bit, and being one of the cooler nights in Beijing recently (only in the 90's!) we walked down the main thoroughfare (6 lanes) and through some side streets. Looking up I asked D what those strings of lights were in the sky? He said they were enormously long kites strung with LED lights! Look closely in the photo below of the street at night and see the kites strung with tiny lights! I included a close up of the lights, best I could get so far.

I guess that is a nice alternative to the stars, which are never visible due to the smog. I couldn't help but think that if you flew those over New Mexico you would get a rash of phone calls reporting UFO sightings! Hmm... future prank?

Independence Day

2010-07-04T21:30:00.003-05:00

Its Independence Day (4th of July), so we are down on the beach to watch the fireworks. I was just lamenting that "they seem less spectacular every year, and didn't they used to have ones that exploded into shapes?" when suddenly, one did! A heart! How apropos :)

Its also "independence day" for me because D is leaving for China, so we will be apart for awhile. In the remaining days and hours I am soaking up as much quality time together as possible. And sitting under the stars on the beach, watching fireworks, and the beacon of light from the Palmolive Building, and the twinkling lights of the boats out on the lake is heaven.

Here is the one in the shape of the heart. Good night :)

An Evening with Rea Tajiri

2010-06-07T11:31:00.032-05:00

One of the main features of this trip was to visit my Aunt Rea and see her show, a retrospective of her film and video work since 1991. It showed at the Prince Music Theater in Philly on July 7th and featured excerpts from four of her works. They included "(Bridge) River is Remembering", "Strawberry Fields", "Little Murders" and "History and Memory".
A full description of the event is here.

I had forgotten how lovely the images alone were, or how compelling the narrations and stories. I smuggled my dogs into the theater in their carry case and afterwards we all went to a local Chinese restaurant. It was nice to see her students so appreciative of her work :)

"Drink Me": More Alice References...

2010-05-31T18:30:00.033-05:00

Actual size. Slight Edit Ann reference. Swarthmore, PA.

"... this time she found a little bottle... and tied round the neck of the bottle was a paper label, with the words "DRINK ME" beautifully printed on it in large letters. It was all very well to say "Drink me," but the wise little Alice was not going to do that in a hurry. "No, I'll look first," she said, "and see whether it's marked 'poison' or not... if you drink much from a bottle marked "poison," it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later". However, this bottle was not marked "poison," so Alice ventured to taste it, and, finding it very nice, she very soon finished it off.

Sounds familiar...

"What a curious feeling!" said Alice. "I must be shutting up like a telescope!" 

And so it was indeed: she was now only ten inches high... she waited for a few minutes to see if she was going to shrink any further: she felt a little nervous about this; "for it might end, you know," said Alice to herself; "in my going out altogether, like a candle. I wonder what I should be like then?" - Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Wow. I never realized how fatalistic Alice was, or how morbid children's stories can be when you really get into them. I'm not even talking about the Brothers' Grimm, which are obviously frightening, but even watching "Where The Wild Things Are" as a film left me thinking I must have blocked out the creepy parts out as a kid.

Back to the photo: The chair is actual size. Its on the Swarthmore campus. Also the bottle was there when I got there... swear. When I posted this on Facebook with obvious Alice references, one of the first responses was an Edith Ann quote. My mother was really into Lily Tomlin, but I never thought my peers would remember that character. So maybe I will end this post with some Edith Ann quotes. She was perhaps a bit more savvy than Alice, but both wise beyond their years ;)

"I have always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific."

"The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win you're still a rat."

"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain."

"Reality is the crutch for people who can't cope with drugs."

- Lily Tomlin as Edith Ann

Cambio es Bueno

2010-05-25T20:47:00.004-05:00

Change is good. Well, its inevitable, anyway. So, as my sister says, find a way to "get ok with it".

A few years ago when I was living in Bucktown I would pass this building near the train station. Every week or so someone would change the art, just a graffiti style poster series pasted to the wall. The messages were frequently simple but touching and always evocative. I love how this one conveys that sentiment between hope and mourning. Its also a very pertinent image for change.

It seems no good change comes without struggle, like a difficult birth, and at the end you're left wondering if the positive feelings you have are from reaching a higher ground or just relief and exhaustion. I guess the trouble is that you never know what you are dealing with until its long over and you can look back on it with perspective.

I'm thankful right now for all the positive things in my life the forward motion and I'm using that energy for strength to face all the question marks in my head.

Here are some thoughts on change:

"We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses." - Carl Jung

"Imagine a scenario in which you could live your life with equanimity if the situation in question never changed and then meditate on how you may help evolve it into something new." - Paraphrased from a newspaper horoscope

Possibly one of the most touching songs ever sung: "A Change is Gonna Come" - Sam Cooke

Goodnight :)

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!

2010-05-15T12:00:00.006-05:00

Its Harvey Milk Week, kids! Check out the schedule in your area: Chicago's schedule.

There are some interesting, informative and fun events all week long. Most cities are culminating with a rally and march on Saturday, May 22nd. It was not that long ago that this simple freedom of self expression was unheard of, but there are still more rights to fight for! So celebrate it for yourself, support those in your life that you care about... or attend an event to learn and broaden your understanding of the people you share the planet with :)

"All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential." - Harvey Milk

"I have tasted freedom; I will not give up that which I have tasted. I have a lot more to drink." - Harvey Milk

"I know that you cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you, and you, and you, and you gotta give 'em hope."- Harvey Milk

Starry, Starry Night...

2010-04-30T23:59:00.006-05:00

I opted for my starry-eye look for Step Up For Autism: Benefit for Autism Speaks.

Each performer in the line-up donated their performance to help raise money for this important cause. Additionally 100% of the proceeds were donated to the cause. The entire event was planned, managed and emceed by Kate "Sebastian Las Vegas" Versage, who also performed in the line-up, which was filled with some familiar faces in the Chicago scene including Zander Mander, Mid-Tangent Productions, Yuri Lane and Angelique Munro.

More to come ...

Inspiration for tonight's performance...

2010-04-30T12:12:00.002-05:00

Still gathering inspiration for tonight's performance. Think: Japanese / Cabaret / Circus.
I wonder how the look will come out? These pics are not mine, just inspiration, my will follow soon...

This one is from Doe Deere's Blogazine which, if you are into costume-y makeup, you must check out :)

Onstage at The Shady Lady

2010-04-16T19:34:00.004-05:00

Miss Midori, onstage at The Shady Lady in Chicago

Thanks, Dion, for bringing me back for the opening of The Shady Lady in Chicago.

See the full story below...

"They can't take that away from me..."

2010-04-15T22:00:00.004-05:00

Miss Midori singing on stage at Olive, 1998? 99?

Its been a minute, but I had a chance to get back onstage for a song on Thursday for the opening of Dion's new club, The Shady Lady.

Its a small venue with an even smaller stage, and I sang over a recorded track rather than with live accompaniment, but it was good times :)

Back in the day I led the house band, performing every Saturday night at one of Dion's old clubs (the now defunct) Olive, a jazz club in Chicago. I Dj'd there during the week and booked talent for the venue during the day. With my band, "Miss Midori & The Jazz Inquisition", we recorded a CD at Chicago's Southport Records, a label known for its jazz and blues artists. I played venues around the Midwest, opened for some of my favorite bands at the time such as Indigo Swing and Southern Culture on The Skids and sang on stages as far afield as Paris, France at Le Caveau de la Huchette. Eventually though, I moved on, pulled up roots, left Chicago, traveled the country and tried my hand at being an grown-up. I'm not sure its going to stick, but I'll keep you posted ;)

In the struggle between my private and public personas (and I do mean plural personas), I wonder whether performance is something I want or need in my ongoing future. There is something wonderful about allowing yourself to become someone different through performance. Its a freedom few people get to experience. Either way, whatever happens, I'm just going to enjoy it.

*Side note: This is one of the "Dresses with Stories". It was a vintage red velvet dress (which I still have, btw). It ripped up the side seam while playing a show on the road (it might have been in Milwaukee or Detroit) and I had to tape it up from the inside with silver duct tape. Works pretty good if you don't plan on sweating or breathing much ;)

"Peep-shi"... file under "That Ain't Right"

2010-04-04T22:28:00.006-05:00

My long standing Peep obsession started in childhood when, after days upon days of torment watching my brother's uneaten Peep sit, untouched, atop his Easter basket I finally lost control and dragged a kitchen chair to climb up on the counter and reach the basket where it sat, poorly hidden, on top of the refrigerator. With my precious forbidden treasure in hand I couldn't even wait until I climbed down to eat it - I bit into it right there, or tried to, anyway. After days of sitting out in the air it had, of course dried to rock hard. I nearly lost a tooth. After only a short moment to review my options I did what anyone would have done. I carefully put it back in his basket (tooth mark and all) and backed slowly away.

Then there was the time in college when, while on my study abroad trip overseas, I couldn't get Marshmallow Peeps. My boyfriend at the time was kind enough to send me one. One. One single Peep smashed flat in a business envelope. It was hilarious. I kept it far too long (but did not consider eating it... surprising in retrospect).

Teryn and I used to wait until after Easter and buy trays of our favorite Easter candy for half-price. I bought trays of Peeps which I stored in the freezer and never ate (because they looked so cute all in their rows :). She bought trays of Cadbury Eggs which she had to eat in secret so her health-nut husband would not find out.

Don't forget about Peep jousting which, if you've never experimented with exploding things in the microwave, is when you take two Peeps, supply them with cocktail swords or toothpicks, and stick them in the microwave. As they swell, whichever one jousts the other first, wins. I haven't made a Peep jousting video yet...yet. But here is a a pretty good one.

I wholly admit that Peeps are more about how they look than how they taste. If they were shaped like something heinous or boring they wouldn't have nearly the draw that they do. Maybe that's why the other Peep products aren't nearly as popular as the one with faces, like the Marshmallow Flags they sell on the 4th of July, there's no personality! There's nothing funny or cute about eating a flag. You're forced to realize that you are eating a spongy tasting sugar blob. No Fun. Its all about the faces. The row upon row of hapless, slightly deformed expressions, varying just enough to make us personify them with little personalities :)

On that note, I bring you "Peepshi". Sushi made from Peeps. It reminds me of an art project I did in college with my friend Laura Kina. We made "sushi" from traditionally American ingredients like peanutbutter and jelly. It wasn't mean't to be delicious, just ironic. Click here for the website with instructions on how to make your own Peepshi from Peeps and other candy.

Where Easter Bunnies come from...

2010-04-03T17:11:00.000-05:00

I was waiting for my sister in the hair salon and came across this picture in a magazine. It reminds me of a time when I was little and saw butterflies mating. I said "Daddy, why are those butterflies stuck together"?

The Easter Bunny has another surprise for you...

2010-04-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

I found this in a book of postcards called "Breaking Bad News With Baby Animals". Way funnier than any lame "cheezburger" website.

Easter is coming... time for my ongoing rabbit obsession...

2010-03-28T15:16:00.000-05:00

Your Secret Message For The New Year...

2010-01-04T23:00:00.080-06:00

I was taking a picture of the pretty glow of the holiday lights through the condensation on the window of The Matchbox and found this message someone left behind.

If you haven't been to The Matchbox, its billed as "Chicago's Most Intimate Bar". This refers mainly to its size (460 square feet) but also to the fact that you can't help but get to know your neighbor, or at the very least eavesdrop on them and spill eachother's drinks. Yes, Anthony Bourdain has been there.

Yes, it looks like a dive and, well, it is one. But its a dive that serves impeccably made cocktails and is linked to The Silver Palm, next door. An amazing vintage train car turned restaurant that serves really delicious modern American classics.

At this point I can't even remember what we had other than the table was covered in beef, ribs, onion rings and cheese in various combinations. I'd eat there again, or bring out-of-towners, but mainly for its novelty appeal. If it weren't for the frighteningly loud woman at the table behind us talking about the dialation of her cervix during birth (and the fact that she looked like an R. Crumb illustration) I would have really enjoyed my meal.

Hey, how did my new years greeting turn into a restaurant review? What was the secret message? And who was it for? If you think it was for you, you are either a stalker or else you also think the TV is projecting your thoughts. You're not paranoid if people really are out to get you.

On that note: Happy New Year.

Baby New Year... R.I.P.

2010-01-01T00:01:00.043-06:00

Mono was my New Years baby, born in January of '95 in Todos Santos, Mexico. A very kind couple fed Mono and his mother, Mariposa while camping near the beach. He was her only surviving puppy.

They posted a sign looking for homes for the two dogs and when I saw the picture it was love at first sight. I knew Mono was my dog.

They couple decided to keep Mariposa and she became their loving companion for many years. She passed away in Febuary '10, outliving Mono by a few years.

My good boy, Mono, passed away in '06. I kept him comfortable as long as possible, but didn't want my boy to suffer. We had a lovely Going-Away party for him and said our goodbyes. Rest in peace, my special guy :)

Friends can visit him at : www.goodboymono.com.

More Sketchiness ...

2009-12-15T23:33:00.002-06:00

I found this sketch among some old drawings I did when I lived in Mexico. After college I lived in a very small town on the Baja called Todos Santos with my boyfriend at the time. He would pay the housekeeper extra to bring her children along to sit as models and would paint them while their mother cleaned. This is one of a few sketches I did of her children at the time.

I like the tension in her hands. Its a mixture of self-consciousness and boredom, perhaps.

As with many experiences in cultures where the financial situation is in contrast to our own I felt uncomfortable that we paid her so little to clean the whole house, even though the rate was well above he standard for the area. There was some issue as well concerning the sexist viewpoint that she could not be paid more than her husband, who was an oyster diver earning $6 a day. If so she would suffer his wrath at his humiliation of earning less than his wife, if that makes any sense. No, its not 'right' but at the time I think we felt it was not our place to assert ourselves into their culture in a disrespectful way. We did buy his oysters though and use her services... and drew and painted their children.

It was a very different time.

Gaga Monsters...

2009-12-06T03:33:00.035-06:00

Midori, Emily and Danielle (Jim McKenzie behind the video camera).

In response to the Lady Gaga "call-for-entries" we chose to create our own video submission. One of the things I love about her as an artist is the way she and her team continue to create unique concepts and material. As a part of her current Monster tour she is accepting video content from the public which is incorporated into her tour video as an ongoing, ever evolving group project. Amazing!

Emily, Matthew and Danielle. (Photo by Jim Mullin).

We shot the video in December and with the help of our amazing videographers (Jim McKenzie and Matt Cornelison) we were able to transform the interiors of my apartment into a surreal and urban backdrop.

Emily, Danielle and Midori. (Photo by Jim Mullin).

The theme Lady gaga chose for this project was "Apocalypse", so our costumes and makeup reflected a futuristic and urban look influenced heavily by, of course, Lady Gaga. We were lucky to work with Emy CraCra (of Tres Jolie by Emy) and Angel Romero for hair and makeup and Jim Mullin supplied the wardrobe from his JM Couture line. I will upload links to the final video once its edited, but for now, here are some "behind the scenes stills"!

Midori, makeup and hair by Angel Romero.

Here are some details of the makeup and hair concepts created by Emy Cracra and Angel Romero.

Midori, makeup and hair by Angel Romero.

Emily, makeup by Emy Cracra, hair by Angel Romero. (Photo by Jim Mullin).

Danielle, makeup by Emy Cracra, hair by Angel Romero. (Photo by Jim Mullin).

Matthew, makeup by Angel Romero.

This was such a fun project from beginning to end and came out even better then we expected. It reminds me that sometimes we just need an excuse to round up or friends and fellow artists and get creative! So get to it! For those interested, there is still time to submit your entries. Just go to her link and upload your material: http://www.showstudio.com/project/ladygagasubmit/.

Our Rockwell Moment...

2009-11-26T13:03:00.004-06:00

For the past few years my tradition has been to hold a "Thanks-For-Nothing" party on the day after Thanksgiving. The reason being that on Thanksgiving Day we all have to play nice with family and folks who may not get along. So the next day, when we are done being thankful, we gather up the left-overs and gripe with our friends at the Thanks-For-Nothing Party!

Its also a great chance to bring people together who, for various reasons, may not be able to go home to for the Holidays.

"Brrr... I need feathers!"

2009-11-26T12:56:00.011-06:00

My nephew's Thanksgiving turkey drawing.
What happened to tracing the hand?

Sketchy

2009-11-11T23:11:00.073-06:00

David Sketching at 4th Presbyterian, by Midori Tajiri

David and I went sketching the other day. We've got kind of a "Jack Sprat" situation where he only draws inanimate objects (architecture) and I only draw animate living things (people and animals). No matter, he drew the steeple of the 4th Presbyterian Church and I drew him!

I had forgotten how cathartic and enjoyable it is to draw. It inspired me to scan some older sketches. Here are a few of my favorite dog sketches I did several years ago. The first is my beloved dog, Mono, who passed away a few years ago. The other sketches are dogs, Jane and Rudy and their owner, my old friend, Sean.

Mono, Sleeping by Midori Tajiri

Jane and Rudy, Sleeping by Midori Tajiri

Sean '00, by Midori Tajiri

"The Berlin Wall", photos & book by Shinkichi Tajiri

2009-11-09T23:28:00.019-06:00

20 years ago today the Berlin Wall fell after having divided East and West Germany since 1961. I remember marveling at the fragments that my family brought home and framed. At the time I had just returned to Chicago from Los Angeles and was focusing on getting accepted to SAIC, The School of The Art Insitute of Chicago, where several of my family members, including my parents, had attended.

The fall of The Berlin Wall, November 9, 1989

My Great-Uncle, Shinkichi Tajiri, had also attended SAIC on the GI Bill after WWII. This was after he fought as a decorated US Soldier in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team with his brothers Jim, Tom and my Grandfather, Vincent Tajiri, and before he expatriated to Europe, where he spent the remainder of his life.

Rubble from the Berlin Wall

Like many young Americans in the 1940's, my grandfather and his brothers were fiercely American. They were born in Los Angeles, grew up speaking English and had faith in their government. Like many Nisei (first generation Japanese Americans), however, he and his siblings were classified as "4C" or "Enemy Aliens" after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (which ironically fell on Shinkichi's 18th birthday). Nonetheless, they still fought for their country, even while their family was interned by the U.S. Government in Arizona at the Poston "Relocation" internment camp and their family property, real estate and home were confiscated by the U.S. Government, never to be returned.

Barracks at Poston, the interment camp built by the U.S. Government on a former Native American Reservation to house Japanese American civilian families for the duration of WWII

U.S. Government Issues Instructions to Japanese Americans re: "relocation" to internment camps

Although the U.S. Government initially segregated the 442nd due to suspicion based on their Japanese heritage, they became the most highly decorated military unit in the history of the United States Armed Forces, including 21 Medal of Honor recipients. Despite this fact the soldiers of the 442nd experienced intense racism upon returning home to the U.S. and were denied jobs and homes due to their race. Even other Asians did not want to be mistaken as Japanese during this time, lest they also experience ostracization.

Japanese American shop owner declares citizenship the day after Pearl Harbor in a futile attempt to avoid racism, Unknown Photographer

Naturally disillusioned by all of this Shinkichi chose to leave this country and returned to Europe where he could live and pursue his career in art in a (somewhat) less racist environment. In 1969 his travels brought him to West Berlin and to the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate. As someone who had experienced, on a very personal level, what it felt like to be segregated, ostracized, trapped and forbidden in his own country, he must have felt a special affinity to the significance of the wall and the political situation at the time.

Brandenburg gate, 1969, Unknown Photographer

He began a photo project that lasted several months and documented every kilometer of the inhabited areas near the wall in 550 black and white photographs. He could not have known the significance of this project or what would become of the wall over the years. His photographs show the wall and its surroundings in its "clean" state, in 1969, before it was covered in the colorful graffiti it became known for, and before its fall in 1989. The project was shelved for 30 years before interest in it was renewed.

Excerpt from "The Berlin Wall", Shinkichi Tajiri

During those many years his art career soared and he became known for many different works, most notably his "knots" which have symbolized, among other things, a "coming together" of separate forces; an ironic or perhaps idealized concept considering the subtexts of these significant experiences early in his life. Through his many "knot" sculptures he symbolically reunited what was, in his life, divided. The walls that kept him emotionally separate from his family and place of birth would not fall away before his death, like the Berlin Wall. But in his work he found a way to bind them together.

"Friendship Knot", Shinkichi Tajiri (Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA)

Shinkichi passed away earlier this year. I saw him one last time in January. We discussed this project and we spoke about ways to promote the book and the collection of original photographs. He was ill at the time but hanging on fiercely for many reasons, the completion of projects among them. Or perhaps, it was the continual addition of projects that gave him new reasons to continue hanging on.

Either way I have come to understand the many roles that art plays in our lives. That we, as visual, auditory, sensual creatures, find ways to communicate and create solidarity through creative expression. To leave our mark on the world and to let others know, in good times and bad, that they too are not alone.

The current exhibition of Shinkichi Tajiri's "The Berlin Wall" opens today, November 9, 2009 (on the 20th anniversary of the fall of The Berlin Wall) at the Exposorium at the VU Free University in Amsterdam, Netherlands where it will run until January 6th, 2010.

For information about the Shinkichi Tajiri Foundation you can visit the website at: www.Shinkichi-Tajiri.com.

News: CNN iReport Link

"You Know Me": "Reality Killed The Video Star" vs. "Video Killed The Radio Star"

2009-11-08T14:56:00.013-06:00

Perhaps its just my ongoing obsession with rabbits and their seeming symbolic proliferance in my life right now (seriously, what does that mean?), but I love this new Robbie Williams video, "You Know Me" from his new album "Reality Killed The Video Star".

It is a beautiful song, but would I be as drawn to it if he weren't dressed as the March Hare... maybe not. Either way the video is gorgeous and evocative. I love how it combines the fantasy of Robbie Williams imagining himself as the rabbit and then the rabbit imagining himself as a playboy surrounded by Vargas-esque "bunnies".

Also amusing is the topical reference to this generation's level of media evolution wherein reality programming (including things like YouTube), which have put the camera, the subject and the audience all in the hands of the masses, may potentially make former music formats obsolete.

Therefore, if "Video Killed The Radio Star" in the '80's, then reality may kill the video star now? Not completely... yet. However, the growing popularity of reality based programming, including YouTube, have significantly decreased advertising and therefore revenue to formats such as radio, making production budgets smaller as corporations turn more attention lower budget vehicles such as Reality and YouTube. Time marches on, March Hare.

"You Know Me", Robbie Williams, Reality Killed the Video Star"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDb9fpSj34k

"Video Killed The Radio Star", The Buggles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWtHEmVjVw8

Silent Scream

2009-11-06T18:56:00.007-06:00

Sometimes, when you are really frustrated and want to scream, but you can't, do you imagine it?

That's what I am thinking when I look at you like that.

This piece was done years ago, as part of an attempt at collaborative work with my friend Sean Watson. He did the photography and photoshop. I mostly just screamed ;)... (and did hair and makeup).

Benetton, I Blame You!

2009-11-04T00:01:00.010-06:00

I've always been inspired by creative make up artistry. Art you can wear, that transforms you as a person. It all began with those Benetton ads in the 80's that I took waaay too literally. I haven't been able to find some of the ones I remember, ones that had bright, tribal-esque or theatrical inspired colors in geometric shapes painted asymmetrically on fresh faced models. If you find them, please, please forward them my way!

Makeup and Photo by Panda Cat Baby on Flicker

In junior high I remember going to school with my hair in a side ponytail with a neon orange stripe painted on one side (I think it was supposed to be a lightening bolt). Once I wore a mime stripe over one eye and another time it was a black cross, again, only over one eye (matched my Madonna inspired rosaries). The most avant garde look I came up with involved one green eyebrow and pink eye shadow with little "seeds" painted on the lid. It was supposed to look like a slice of watermelon... I know. This last incident may have been the one that inspired the Principal to call me out of class to ask me if "everything was ok at home".

Sadly I don't have pitcures of those early attempts of my own, but I did find these lovely images on Flicker by Panda Cat Baby. She did the makeup and photography for the image below and the one above. I still haven't gotten through all over her albums, but already I'm all "Rachel-Zoe-I-Die" over her.

Makeup and Photography by Panda Cat Baby on Flicker

In high school I only continued to get more... "creative" with my hair and makeup themes, which were frequently "conceptual", but I'll save those stories for later ;)

Obviously I still take every opportunity to play "dress up", whether its for a party or a holiday, (or just watching a period film). My friend sent me this link to the MAC Facebook site that shows techniques for some of their outragous looks: MAC FREAKS OUT BEHIND THE SCENES.

One of my favorite looks from this collection is the Roy Lichtenstein inspired comic book heroine face, painted with little dots:

MAC FREAKS OUT BEHIND THE SCENES.

Roy Lichtenstein

Another favorite source of inspiration is Japanese street fashion. A constantly evolving melange of western and asian influences, there is always something unexpected transforming there.

I'm collecting images of my own MUA work for my portfolio... coming soon :)

When Life Hands You Lemons... take pretty pictures of them and rant on your blog!

2009-10-31T23:55:00.028-05:00

Attribute it to karma, klutziness or abundant physical electricity but for some reason I seem to be one of those people who occasionally stop watches or seem to cause multiple electronic failures in a room.

I am admittedly klutzy in that my arms and legs seem magnetically drawn to corners of walls, shelves and coffee tables. And I have been known to walk into plate glass windows and wall mirrors, sober, mind you. As for electricity, I sometimes transfer a shock when touching people or things, my electronics acquire mystery afflictions and the last time my watch suddenly died both hands were directly on midnight. Really.

But truthfully, its probably just karma. When it rains it pours, right? This weekend (after putting together my best, most extensive costume to date) both my cameras broke.

Science of the New Thought (Erastus Whitford Hopkins, 1904)

My video camera just stopped recording image and my still camera flew out of my hand when I tried to photograph a guy dressed as Michael Jackson (but maybe that was his karma ;).

The upside is that, since we marched in the parade this year, there are numerous pictures that other people have taken of us, so will compile an album of photos from various sources. In the mean time I have been playing with filters and crops on the photos that I took with my iphone, which came out more arty than snapshots would have anyway ;) so there.

I'll post more detailed images of the costumes and the parade soon. But for now, please enjoy these images: Halloween 2009: Marie Antionette and Louis XVI march in the North Halsted Street Halloween Parade, Chicago!

COSTUME / HAIR AND MAKEUP UPDATE:

Costume: I made the costume from a vintage dress (strapless floor length light blue satin), a long crinoline, flowers and ribbon.
Makeup: The makeup included a sheer layer of white under powder and star shaped beauty mark (women of her era often wore a beauty mark, sometimes in shapes of hearts).
Wig: The wig was actually 3 wigs: 2 braids used under the main wig as a "bump", a long wavy silver wig that wrapped around a platinum bob wig (for extra height) in an updo. I puled some of my own hair up and around the sides and into the ponytail to help anchor the whole thing. I then sprayed down the whole thing in white and silver hairspray... and tons of glitter :)

I was still feeling bummed here because my camera had just broken, but I tried to pull it together for a bittersweet Marie portrait.

I love these portraits of David and me as Marie and Louis. Believe it or not these costumes were his idea.

I can't remember the name of this band, it might have been Chicago Red Line Cabaret (so correct me if I am wrong), so I am just calling them the Rabbit Band, which played music as they marched through the crowd.

This couple was one of the finalists for "Best Couple" in the costume contest. They should have won first place in my opinion. They are dressed as Queen Elizabeth and Walter Raleigh. The costumes were handmade by Kai Wallace (one of the revelers here). Stunning and inspiring!

I'm not sure what this one was supposed to be, but I thought it was a Dr. Seuss character. He stood on 4 foot stilts for extra height. Amazing.

I like pictures like this that have that moving memory feeling, like an unspecific dream or thought you just can't seem to articulate.

This one I am calling "Marie Von D", after Kat, the tattoo artist. If Marie were alive today I think she would take many brave fashion risks, like tattooing her face.

Actually, my aunt has a tattoo on her face, which was her homage to her female mentor, Vali Myers. I would get a tattoo on my face, perhaps. Maybe like the one I have drawn here, a star over my beauty mark.. but then I would miss my beauty mark, which I have named "Elizabeth Taylor" (She has one in the same place)... but maybe I'll save this thought for another post ;)

Overheard in Chicago 1: "Of Rats and Men"

2009-10-20T18:30:00.012-05:00

"Ok, so the point is, RATS have FUR, and furriers can make any fur look like..." - (some guy talking on his cell on Michigan Ave near the Tribune building).

I really wish I had stayed to hear the rest of that sentence.

(Gareth Pugh's Rat Coat, W Magazine)

FYI: The guy saying this may or may not have been talking on his phone. I just assumed he was on an earpiece, but Teryn was convinced he was talking to himself (i.e. crazy man). He was wearing a trench coat and walking funny...

Hearing that guy gave me pause and I simultaneously thought:
a) Note to self, be careful when purchasing fur that it is not rat!, and
b) ... wait, why would I be buying fur?!

Before those who know me cry "hypocrite", let me first confess. There may be a few scraps of fur lying around my closet, and by scraps I mean a beaver jacket and a mink stole, both of which were thrift store finds, not that it makes them any less "fur" or me less guilt ridden.

Gareth Pugh's "Rat Coat", pictured above, debuted in 2007 and was called "the most subversive anti-fur protest we have ever seen", by Fashionista.com. I agree it is both subversive and darkly humorous, but will the targeted audience be swayed by this kind of statement? I'm not sure those ladies get this type of humor ;). (Read full article here: http://fashionista.com/2007/11/gareth_pughs_rat_coat_an_essay.php).

I have in the past tried to rationalize ownership of things like this by saying that they were vintage and died long ago for someone else, but it is a lame attempt I admit. I have to own up to the fact that even buying them from thrift or wearing them in general perpetuates an industry based on violence borne against the very creatures I love so dearly.

Currently I have rationalized their presence in that they are part of a costume collection, but even that seems like a lame attempt to appease the Id driven cave woman in me that wants what she wants when she wants it. I guess my lesson to learn here is that some things (like boycotting Denny's or not smoking) are easy to give up in the name of politics and morals, and some things (like foie gras and fur), are very difficult.

Soon, my dearies, very soon, I will have to pry these treasures from my own greedy fists and make a drag queen somewhere very happy.

Garden Bugs Mini-Cupcakes for my sister's birthday!

2009-09-27T19:02:00.006-05:00

I swear, all my posts will NOT be about baking. I just happens it's birthday month. That and the fact that I am channeling my creativity into cute baking outlets rather than "serious" art at the moment. Not that baking art isn't legit, but maybe I have been watching too much "Ace Of Cakes" lately. Guilty as charged.

Anyway, I wanted to bake something special for my sister's birthday but I had to factor in that whatever I create must: a) survive a six hour car ride, and b) also be appealing to three nephews under the age of ten. I assumed they would not appreciate pink girly cupcakes so I thought a cute bug theme might still appeal to them, although I was worried about their finicky taste regarding unfamiliar food. Happily they like bug cupcakes and even ate the fondant bugs :)

I made three kinds of mini cupcakes (42 in total). The first set were little caterpillars.

The cupcakes were made from a home made chocolate cupcake recipe and the little nests are chocolate frosting with chocolate sprinkles. The Caterpillars are green fondant and sprinkles.

The ladybug cupcakes are chocolate cupcakes with white frosting and chocolate sprinkles. The ladybugs are red and blue fondant and chocolate shot for antennae. Why are they so much cuter in groups?

These are little scarab beetles. The cupcakes re chocolate with white frosting and white non-pareils. The scarab beetles are blue fondant with pink and lavender sugar crystals and chocolate shot antennae. These were made with my mom in mind. I remember how she likes scarab beetles.

I feel that I should mention here that I don't actually like sweets and, other than tasting these as I go to make sure they are good, I don't usually eat much of what I bake. I just really like making them. And feeding them to people. It fulfills a necessary maternal instinct of mine to nurture people.

"M-Alice In Wonderland": My Birthday Party 2009

2009-09-13T15:32:00.015-05:00

I chose the "M-Alice In Wonderland" theme for my birthday party this year. It was intended as a kind of bizarre tea party gone awry. It lived up to that goal and then some. Here I am as "M-Alice".

I made my own cake, of course. The cake itself was a checkerboard cake assembled from strips of white and chocolate cake so that when cut they resemble a checkerboard. There are kits for this kind of thing but they only come in small round 9" cake pans and I wanted to do a larger rectangular cake, so I had no choice but to do it by hand. It was tricky, and I miscalculated the number of layers I needed, so I ended up with a shorter cake and a surplus of white cake, but it worked out in the end and was a three layer checkerboard. To do it properly I would have needed another layer of chocolate. But it turned out fine since my carb-fearing guests didn't finish the cake anyway, opting more for liquid refreshment ;)

I stayed up late making all of the integral Wonderland characters,my versions of them. It is important to me when making novelty cakes and edible art that it in indeed is completely edible, making it a greater challenge. Therefore I don't want to use anything plastic or cardboard or foam, etc.

Most of the figure forms are built of marshmallow and draped in fondant (Alice, White Rabbit and Cheshire Cat) while the other ones (Caterpillar, Mad Hatter's hat, Red Queen and King) are built completely of fondant. Their feature and accent pieces are made of rolled and cut Mamba candy, or candy such as licorice, sprinkles, dragees, etc. I also made a tiny tea set out of a meringue, fondant and dragees. I really enjoy these tiny obsessive tasks I can get lost in. I get it from my mother ;)

I also made cookies in the shape of playing cards (for Alice's croquet match with the Red Queen) and tiny chocolate cupcake "gardens".

I can't believe David sat patiently for so long carefully placing the little flower candies and sprinkles in a specific color scheme and arrangement. They turned out adorable.

As you can see I have now reached the "flammable" age (where it takes so many candles to count your years that things get a bit... flammable. It's a valid worry when you are at a costume party covered in wigs, feathers and highly flammable materials ;)

I always like to document the aftermath. I couldn't bear to toss the rest of the cake, but I couldn't bear to eat it either so it sat in the fridge for awhile. Interesting how the figures in their melted disarray bore a striking resemblance to me and my guests at the end of the night ;)

9/11 : David's Memorial Ritual

2009-09-11T12:59:00.172-05:00

We all have our stories about where we were during the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York on 9/11 and we all have our different ways of grieving and memorializing our experiences. This year I joined David in his memorial tradition.

We went to the edge of the lake after dark and set up 2 rows of votives inside lunch bags (one row for each tower). There were 30 votive/bags in total, one for every 100 people who perished in the attacks.

Naturally, the candle lighter thingy I brought died after only lighting three candles, so we attempted a few failed solutions of looking for something flammable and using that thing to light the candles. I couldn't find anything that would work properly but I did find a scary looking blob of seaweed and sticks that looked like a dead animal washed up on shore, so I made David inspect it to make sure it wasn't a dead animal before I would continue.

We finally had to resort to gingerly lighting one votive off the other in the high winds off the lake. Not an easy task if you are trying not to burn your fingers and you value your eyebrows, but it worked.

I had never done this before and was worried about the whole thing catching fire and us getting in trouble for this or for littering or something but apparently there is a trick to it. You put sand in the bottom of the bag and it keeps the whole thing from blowing around and angering the scary beach police.

Hmmm... my row looks alot more crinkly than his here. I would have been ok leaving it that way, but he wanted it to be more uniform.

It was my idea to form them into rows to represent the twin towers.

The wind off the lake caused the paper to flutter and the flames to flicker. It almost seemed to make hem come alive, each as an individual, moving on its own.

I like the way that things like this can become abstracted when you look at them closely.

The result was really beautiful and moving. The beach was relatively empty, only a group of young people hanging out near the pier and a couple walking behind us. I wondered if anyone else would understand the relevance of our display, but figured that it was lovely on its own as an art piece anyway.

David was in Chicago when the attacks occurred, but had just come from living in New York. He said that for years he would perform this ritual at Lake Michigan, lighting three candles, one candle for each of his family members. This year he decided to light thirty candles.

It was a beautiful and touching display and I was more moved than I thought I would be. Although it was out of doors on a public beach, it was at night, relatively alone, which made it seem very private and personal.

I thought about how the materials here, fire, paper and wind, were representative of so many things. In one way they were elements present during the attacks: the fire from the airplanes and the buildings, the papers that flew from the offices and fed the fire, raining down on the streets below in ash and scrap, and the wind that whipped around the tops of the towers and blew the unimaginable debris across the city and its people.

In another light you could see these materials as symbolic of our lives and our place in the cycle of life, death and renewal. The paper, being our fragile existence, seemingly structured, but at the mercy of the elements around us, and the wind as time that moves the fire through us, reducing us to our purest elements, waiting to begin again.

"Wake Up" by Sliimy (my birthday song 2009)

2009-09-06T15:43:00.012-05:00

"Wake Up" by Sliimy

This reminds me so much of friends of mine in high school. I also love how the video is so DIY.

YouTube video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMHl_ck3u5E

Malice In Wonderland... A Birthday Tea Party.

2009-09-05T19:04:00.001-05:00

It's my birthday tomorrow and I don't have anything thoughtful, remarkable or precious to say in relfection on the past year or the one to come. So to borrow from George Bernard Shaw, "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself". In my case, I guess I'm not done yet.

I created this image from an accidental photo taken during a shoot with Matt Dula. Sometimes he continues to shoot when I'm not posing and I end up with some of the only pictures of my "non-staged" self. I was fixing my hair between poses, when he took this shot. The image shows such a natural expression and introspective mood I couldn't have posed this or have been brave enough to show my real self if I had known he was still shooting. That ties into my theme for the future, which involves being brave enough to reveal my true self without fear of judgement or reprisal. Good luck with that.

The other layers in this image are a chess board from the cement at the beach and a headless birthday girl cake topper (also the mascot of this blog). It was headless when I found it which is why it was so precious to me. It reminded me of the line from Alice in Wonderland, "Off with her head".

When I was little I wanted to grow up to be Alice in Wonderland. At the time I was drawn to the way that a fantasy world could become so indistinguishable from reality. Now that I am grown up I see the other aspect of Alice's character... her frustration with not being able to tell the difference. I guess I can relate to that.

Selected Images from "Still Myself" exhibited at Gilda's Club Chicago

2009-08-16T15:05:00.015-05:00

Selected Images from "Still Myself", exhibited at Gilda's Club Chicago

The works in this series were created during and after my experience with cancer and were exhibited in a solo show at Gilda's Club Chicago. The layered images combine drawing, photography and computer manipulations that reflect the attempt to question the understanding of our physical reality and individuality. Through the process of letting go of our physical bodies we begin to question what defines each of us as an entity. By accepting my mortality I began to explore the concept of who I am, on an existential level, separate from my physical body, and how that affects the understanding of the environment in which we live.

Detail from "Cultivate", Midori Tajiri

"Waiting Room", Midori Tajiri

"Breaking The News", Midori Tajiri

Link to original website for this show: Anatomically Correct Gallery