Category Archives: Art

Philanthropy – Is This What You are Missing?

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Remember the time you lent a helping hand: opened a door, helped someone move, volunteered at an event? Afterwards I am assuming you had a feeling of empowerment, fulfillment, and the desire to lend another hand…

Why not revert back to those feelings to stretch yourself further in 2013? Instead of the typical ‘eat better and work out more’ resolution that tends to last a few weeks, go beyond an internal resolution and reach out to someone who is more in need.

Join me on February 2nd at the Mason Inn in Washington DC for the ‘give your heART to a child‘ fundraiser for the nonprofit, Family & Youth Initiative (DCFYI), which discovers permanent families for young adults in foster care in the DC area. I have organized this event because I know that without a stable family during my childhood, I would not have the emotional, spiritual, intellectual (I could go on forever) foundation for my future. A permanent home is something that a child wants, and more importantly, DESERVES.

DCFYI Fundraiser

The fundraiser is not just any other ordinary night. I have invited two former NFL players to speak and perform on behalf of the children, two additional singers to perform live, a jewelry designer, urban fashion designer, two graffiti artists (one of which will paint live on an awesome spinning canvas), and a chocolatier. If that isn’t enough, we also have an open bar and appetizers available.

This event happens to take place right before Valentine’s Day so it is a perfect opportunity to purchase a unique present from a well-known local DC artist, which will help the local art community and the foster children in need. Step up your game in 2013 and start your year by having a blast at the Mason Inn for a fantastic cause!

Purchase tickets at the bottom of DCFYI’s webpage or make a donation here.

(If you can’t attend my event or don’t have the money right now to donate – I challenge you to go out and volunteer at a nonprofit in your own neighborhood. I guarantee it will give you the lift you need and truly make a difference in someone else’s life.)

Trust

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Why is it that trust, once broken, is one of the few things that is almost impossible to repair?  It is the fear of repeatable offenses, an ego too large to squash twice, or is it stubbornness or perhaps bravery to not give one the opportunity to fix what is lost?

How much time does it take to regain this trust?  Once trust is regained, is there an ability to trust more than what you once did?  I have only given my trust to a very select few in my life, and it isn’t because I don’t think more are trustworthy, I just believe that trust should be one of the hardest things to earn in life.  It is about honor, respect, faith, and love.

Trust is more evident as the holidays turn the corner.  Strangers reach out for a helping hand; charity donations and food drives are plastered on every telephone pole and Internet site.  Trust isn’t only between two people…it can simply be trusting in your brakes as you make your way down a steep hill.  Trust and faith are quite frequently synonymous.

Below are some pictures that seem to display a deep trust between the subjects.  Sometimes you don’t have a choice whether to trust or not, and sometimes trust isn’t obvious to every observer.

The Other Side of NYC

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I had the opportunity to visit my brother in NYC for the weekend.  With the intention of not scheduling a million things ahead of time, I had the chance to walk around at my own pace and marvel at the city’s greatness. 

Graffiti is an amazing form of installation art – created right on the city walls for all to see.  While some see it as a destruction of property, I welcome it as an ever-changing canvas for artists (hopefully without being offensive).  Below are the unfiltered pictures I took of the city’s graffiti and other amazing architectural designs as I walked the High Line and the various neighborhoods of NYC on Saturday.  I realized that the graffiti was unnoticeable to most while they hurried to their next destination, so I decided to capture the city for them from a different angle as I knew it would be different tomorrow.

Father & Daughter Photography

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The love between a parent and child is unlike any other.  Soccer tournaments allowed me to spend hours and hours and hours and hours in the car with my father traveling to different parts of the country.  The love was always unconditional, whether or not I agreed with his analysis that maybe it wasn’t the best game I ever played (which of course it always was).

Dave Engledow, a DC-based photographer, captures the hilarity in new parenting with his daughter.  Although his work showcases just about everything you shouldn’t do as a father, the photography is stunning and it will bring a smile to your face even though it is only Wednesday morning.  The photos made me reminisce about the times my father would let me stand on his feet as he danced around the kitchen, and also reminded me that he would have no problem turning into Liam Neeson from Taken if anything ever happened to me.

Many more beautiful images: http://www.fotoblur.com/people/engledow/gallery

For the new parents, perhaps one of these photos will fit perfectly in the nursery…

Living in the Moment

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“It’s only temporary.”

How many times have I said this to persuade myself that something better is right around the corner?  Way. Too. Many.

I am the biggest offender of not living in the here and now.  First I was looking forward to becoming a teenager, then I thought it would be amazing to finally be the Senior in high school, then on to a college student, then finally someone who could support myself and live in the big city…it continues to go on no matter what stage of life I am in.  There will always be the next step to look forward to whether it is finding the career I love, or getting married, or having children, or traveling, or becoming a millionaire (ha), etc.  But always looking to the next step reduces my ability to be spontaneous and live life to the fullest.

A friend and I were discussing our apartments and how we constantly feel like our homes and the city we live in are just a temporary solution to where our jobs and friends are located at this point in our lives.  (Moving 10 times in 10 years doesn’t help.)  I then realized that there have been many instances where I have put off buying a nice piece of furniture for my apartment because I didn’t know if it would fit the design of my future house – practical thinking, yet at the same time very impractical.  Who knows if I will ever have the opportunity to buy a house?  The furniture would allow me to feel like I am not always in a temporary state and would improve my living situation, and yet I choose to go without.  I have noticed this has leaked into my commitments and relationships as well.  There is the penetrating thought of possibly moving cities/switching careers and this inhibits my ability to form deeper relationships with the people I interact with every day and commit to courses to further my current career.

The fact is…none of us know how much time we have on this earth.  I have to keep reinforcing this in my head because it is often forgotten.  I am challenging myself to treat my apartment, this city, and my environment as permanent so that I can stop saving all the best colors for the future and fully utilize all the crayons in the box.  Yes, I may move and have a completely different situation in a few months or years, but it is impossible to find true happiness without giving my full love and attention to the task at hand.

This is my life.  Right here, right now.  I need to stop being a bystander in my story and start being the main character.  Yesterday is dead.  Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and it hasn’t arrived yet.  Tackle today.

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.” – Henry David Thoreau
 
After my day job I am going to buy a piece of art I have wanted forever, and then dominate my Video Production class.  What will you do with today?
 

DC Shorts Film Festival

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DC Shorts Film Festival and Screenplay Competition begins this Thursday, September 6th and lasts until the 16th!  I am very, very excited to see what the writers and directors have created!

There are 140 short films that will be shown from 27 countries around the world.  Inexpensive tickets can be purchased to view just one group of short films that lasts approximately 90 minutes, a bundle of 90 min showings, an all-access or VIP ticket, etc.  The length of each individual film is anywhere from 2 to 25 minutes.

This is more than just your average film festival at multiple venues throughout the DC metro area.  It has an annual screenplay competition and other favorite awards for cash prizes and products, free bring-your-own lunch shows to view during the work week, filmmaking workshops, parties at various locations around the city, and most impressively, chef and film pairings where complimentary snacks are matched to the film by local chefs!

This festival has perfect timing - it happens to fall during my birthday, and it has generated even more excitement for my new career as I continue to learn filmmaking and production in school.  For more information visit their website. 

I wish I could post a preview for everyone, but that would take all the fun and suspense out of it.  Who wants to go with me?!

 

What Are Your Toys Really Up To?

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I am almost positive that somewhere in my subconscious there is a deep-rooted will to never grow up.  What is it about toys that bring me back to an obsession with childhood…the freedom and playfulness we oftentimes lose sight of…

I am completely in love with how Marcos Minuchin invents an outside life for toys in his photography.  He is very witty – using action figures to capture humorous scenarios in his creation of The Secret Life of Toys. 

I discovered his artwork on Fab, and each time I find cool and unique contemporary art I feel like I have won the jackpot.  I guarantee his photography will make you laugh.  I don’t know about you, but I plan on purchasing a few of these to remind me to always remain young.

Below are some images from his website…

DC Graffiti Art

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I have an affinity for graffiti.  If you know me well, you will notice I have very few belongings that do not include a paint splash here or there.  When visiting a new city I tend to return with more images of graffiti sprayed on the architecture than of the beautiful surrounding landscapes.  There is something about the spontaneity and freedom of the pieces.  The artists work at such fast speeds that an onlooker would think they have a disregard for the outcomes of the designs, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.  Graffiti artists perfect their art form and can work at quick speeds while maintaining an astonishing eye for detail.

I have had the pleasure of working with DC artist Rajan Sedalia.  He is an unbelievably genuine and modest person who shares my love for graffiti.  He is somewhat of a Renaissance man studying art and industrial design and using his education to blend the boundaries of art, design, comics, and graffiti.  His work is created on any canvas (jackets, shoes, walls, furniture, etc.) except for public buildings, but that is the beauty of graffiti – it can be found anywhere.

About a year and a half ago I wrote him a very candid email explaining how I was in love with his work on artjar.com, how I wanted to get involved, how cool he was, etc., and he graciously let me assist with some of his events and shows.  Always experimenting with his art form to take it to the next level he asked if he could mark up some heels for me to wear around.  The first night I wore them I got countless comments from strangers asking where I got them, how could they get a pair…I never wanted to take them off.  Rajan would never brag about his work or the numerous awards he has won, but believe me when I say that anything he creates is phenomenal.  I encourage you to reach out to him and ask for some custom work…he is more than willing to come up with something personal you or a friend will love.

When I spoke to him about how he became such a talented artist he replied, “I just kept at it. Even when it doesn’t seem like it’s going to work. I kept an open mind and looked for positives in bleak situations. Then, the goodness eventually shines through.”

Put simply, Rajan is down-to-earth and always willing to help out the DC community.  We are working together to throw a fundraiser for foster teens in the area, and I couldn’t be more excited to use his art for a good cause.  If you need the details just ask - it will be a fantastic night of live graffiti painting, appetizers/drinks, and an evening full of music with a talented DJ to raise funds for DC Family and Youth Initiative!

The images below are a very small sample of his work.  If you do decide to purchase one of his pieces, keep it close by…the spotlight is rapidly coming his way.

Rajan is an individual who tackles his dreams every day.  I am going to take a page out of his book and finally pursue mine.