Earth Month 2010

I know, I know, it's been a while, but The Journal will be up and running again in no time. Miss Yumi is conspiring and preparing for her move to London and will have many more sightings to report in a few! 

This Earth Day, I visited my school, The Key School to help out by setting up irrigation systems with Mr. Waymouth and painting rocks with Mr. Katz for a moving collaborative installation piece on campus. It's nice to go back to an establishment and see the tweaks and changes that people are making to better the environment.

On the other side of the continent, Honolulu's HI-5 program has just released a PSA on their Eating in Public website and on YouTube. If you're in Hawai‘i, give back by making a recycling bin and placing it where you know people need one! 

And finally, here are a couple shots of my contribution to the Earth Day Art Project with the 6th graders at Key. Each river stone is designed with an abstract message about the Earth in mind and will connect to the surrounding pieces. Pictures to follow once the kids pick a location for the 60 something natural installation!

Please don't litter

Because even the smallest piece of trash could change our ecosystem. Today, my dad sent me a few links of photographer, Chris Jordan's work. Jordan has been documenting the world and it's irresponsible and over-indulging aftermath in traveling exhibitions depicting global mass consumption and pollution. In the past decade, Jordan has captured the destruction of Hurricane Katrina and chronicled the outcome of many albatross chicks throughout Midway Atoll. Maybe we will think twice about what we eat and where we leave our garbage if we catch a closer glimpse at the damage that our cultures are capable of creating.

An unaltered image of a baby albatross on Midway Atoll. Photograph by Chris Jordan.

The Magic Number is 350

October 24th, a day to unite and respond to a call to action. In 5 days, we will see 2009's International Day of Climate Action.

Log on to 350.org to find out more about global warming, the politics surrounding this touchy issue and what you can do to help. Anything you do will make a statement-- from uploading pictures incorporating the number 350 to donating money to registering for the cause. Together, we can catch the attention of the media as well as our nations' leaders. For the future of our planet! <-350!

Artists, athletes and writers alike can participate in the 350 movement!

Meltdown

I really appreciate art when it has a important statement other than "I'm human," "I'm hurt" or "I'm unique." There is something about how selfish and loud people are that leaves me with less chances of empathy or compassion. Today, I came across an article on Treehugger that changed my mind. Brazilian artist, Nele Azevedo installed 1,000 miniature ice sculptures at a public square in Berlin with the help of the World Wildlife Fund. It's interesting that it took that much effort to remind people that we, too, are endangered species.

Read more about the New Arctic Warming Report here. Photo via Wend Blog

I saw the future and the future saw me

When you wake up from a dream where you are putting semi-futuristic groceries into a slightly more advanced refrigerator than your own, it's hard to refrain from questioning the dreamworld and reality. If my thoughts and nightwalks are all a collaboration of what I have seen and learned throughout my entire life, including conscious and subconscious thoughts, where do the sideways dreams come from? What sort of "release" is it when you awaken less rested than the previous night?

On the plus side, I also remember an interesting new form of brown paper grocery bag that was covered in dark purple velour text. There were various perforations to either save some of the print as a poster, or use the other sides as coupons. I'm not quite sure why this method was better than what we use today. Let's hope our attempts at recycling follow through in the future.

One night @ Spada. Is this what we we'll see from the past?

The Button Mashers Benefit Art Show

RT from Mr. J Domingo: Project 365: The Button Mashers

atypicalLIVING and Grace Bible Church Pearlside Youth Ministries, in association with OlaNui!, present The Button Mashers, a benefit art show for Grace Bible’s Youth Camp this Summer.

This event will feature multimedia art displays, live music, a live art mural painting featuring Shaun Castro, Janel Natividad, Philippe Anthony Quinal & RZone, a BBoy Battle, a Street Fighter IV Tournament, and interactive, hands-on video game displays.

This all goes down Saturday, June 27th, at OlaNui! Christian Fellowship, 760 Halekauwila Street, next to Logos Bookstore & near Ward Center.

All proceeds to benefit Grace Bible’s Summer Youth Camp.

Big UPS to Grace Bible Church, OlaNui!, Redefine, lightsleepers, prolifik, Prototype, First Lady The Movement, Liberty Peralta, Yumi Vong & Mike Ulep.

Get Ready… awesome is imminent.

8-bit for All!

To choose or not to do?

When life throws you an opportunity that changes everything, do you always have to think twice before taking it? At what point can we decide to live for ourselves versus following the will of our parents and families? They will always be protective and afraid and alone without you, because that is their job and their love. We are lucky to have them as the angels on our shoulders and to have their opinions at hand, but to become individuals and to grow into our own paths. We must change the past and pick a different future-- one that might seem less safe and more uncomfortable than the ones that our ancestors and relatives have had, but also, one that will define the new generation. As long as we keep their love, knowledge and experience at heart, we can let loose and roam free to create a better day.

Sincerely,

Miss Yumi

Good luck with your decision, Karen! No matter what you choose, we're here for you!

*Calibration

Hello my pickles and friends.

It has been a while and many bloggable events have come and

gone. Sometimes I miss out on them and sometimes it's just better to let them rest in our memories. Whatever the case, sorry for the absence and delay.

At the moment, the house is clean, the kitten is clean and the island looks like it may cleanse itself after a few muggy days of vog. Spring cleaning is over and summer may begin.

Interestingly, as much as I have mocked the idea of master photographers and the like, I was recently given the opportunity to switch from one career to the other while staying diligently in the arts. I, Yumi Virginia Vong, am now an apprentice master wedding photographer. A few months ago, I claimed the email address of masterphotographer@me.com through Apple's MobileMe accounts and sure enough, it predicted my future.

Step 1 complete. Time to initiate Step 2: complete training in a different field, learn more about people and how they respond to life and apply to Step 3.

I've got the bike. Now, ride!

It's been awhile...

... more time than I've wanted between posts, but I think I'm beginning to come across my quarter-life crisis. Now is the time. The symptoms are: lack of focus, interests in vintage jewelry and ethnic housewares, cases of synesthesia and loss of appetite.

Wikipedia states that, "the quarterlife crisis (QLC) is a term applied to the period of life immediately following the major changes of adolescence, usually ranging from the early twenties to the early thirties," and of course, Wikipedia knows best. I believe my case is a slight variation, as I haven't recently experienced a major change, but have instead returned to the usual flit and flanter of my post-collegiate life.

In any case, here are a few items that I have found that will be added to the "Note to self" category/I want:

1. World Peace

2. Time to fly

3. Good Luck

4. Wisdom

5. Courage

Target® just may be the answer to all of our requests.

"Puddles"

One of a few different commercials that 1013 has done for the launch of UNICEF's Tap Project Hawaii. Give a child 40 days of drinking water

with just $1. Go to tapprojecthawaii.com to find out more!

Tap Project Hawaii 2009

I'm currently working on UNICEF's Tap Project for the state of Hawaii with 1013. I wanted to give everyone a heads up about the goings-on in various restaurants and boutiques from March 22nd to March 28th. During World Water Week, restaurants all over the world will be asking for a $1 donation for every glass of water to help save children in need.

For more information, about the event in other cities, please check UNICEF's Tap Project website at www.tapproject.org. We will be updating the Tap Project Hawaii site with more information shortly. Stay tuned!

Illustration for Tap Project Hawaii 2009