Photography Exhibition – West Newton Cinema, May 6 – June 29

 

I have two photographs on display at West Newton Cinema, an art-house international and indie film movie theater.  Stop by the cinema if you’re in the area or read my artist statement below, explaining what’s behind the photographs.

In Dreams Glass Portrait, Metal Print

This portrait is part of my photographic series, “Glass Portraits,” which analyzes the intricacies of personality.  What we see on the outside may not be what is on the inside.  Personality is complex: it can be shaped by one’s environment or deeply ingrained by our genes.

The photographs in the series are an amalgam of natural glass filters, such as vases, and portraits.  Together, these components reflect the convolution of personality.  Color gives way to show internal emotions.  An eerie blue-green hue, commonly used in science fiction films, gives an other-worldly feel.  Certain facial features are made more prominent by the use of light, color, and shadows.

The glass serves as a barrier: representing disconnectedness.  Bubbles and imperfections in the glass disrupt the portrait by literally poking holes, thereby pointing out gaps or changes in character.  Overall, personality has layers—just like the portraits in this series—and is malleable, like glass.

Palm Abstract, Inkjet Print

In my artwork, I like to push past reality, into another realm, so that the outcome is symbolic. Instead of showing a true representation of what I saw in the moment, I like to enhance a feeling. The palm tree leaves in this photograph represent a power struggle through bold color juxtaposition, texture, and the interplay of shapes.

Jutting out across the photograph, the leaves point you in a particular direction.  However, there is tension because one’s eye is also forced to look in the opposite direction due to a palm in the background, which goes against the grain. It drips down to the ground, almost as if it were taking on the human emotion of crying.

Below are photographs from the reception, courtesy of Erik Gehring, a BCC member and former President.

The photographs are on display on the second floor of West Newton Cinema from May 6 until June 29.  Take in a unique film while also enjoying a variety of photographs of places from around the world.

Quintana Roo, Mexico

The palm tree shadows showed as designs on my legs. The dry sandy path leading me to the cenote left white specs of sand on my sandal-laden feet. The surrounding area was a swamp-like forest.

Our destination was a cenote, a natural pool of water that is caused by collapsed bedrock thereby exposing ground water from beneath.

My friend and I were told the cenote was closed. It was our last day in Mexico so that wouldn’t do. We convinced the gatekeepers to let us in early so we could meet back up with our fellow bachelorette-celebrating friends to catch out flight.

As we reached the mangrove-surrounded cenote, we saw we were not alone. Three locals, two men and a woman, were also enjoying an early morning swim. The men sat on a low hanging tree branch, surrounding a cooler of beer.

My eyes fell on the woman who was fully submerged in the water. She seemed out of place, fully clothed in jeans and a long sleeve shirt instead of a bathing suit.

She looked on curiously as we debated whether to jump in.

Our question was whether there was anything in the depths of the dark water that might try to eat us. The woman appeared carefree. I put my trust in her confidence and followed suit by jumping in.

A few joint cannonball sessions and we were taking photographs together.

Cannonballing into the mangrove-surrounded cenote.

The gatekeeper joined…

Five days earlier, seven of us had met at the Cancun airport to celebrate our friend’s last days of singledom. It was my first time in Mexico and a much-anticipated trip after another New England winter.

Our first stop was Playa del Carmen, a seaside city in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately thirty minutes from the Cancun airport. The stretch of beach is lined with restaurants and hotels. The city has lots of nightlife options.

A pathway from the beach to downtown.

On our second day, we took a ferry to the island of Cozumel for an active day of snorkeling and exploring the beaches on the far side of the island.

On a rooftop, looking out at the colorful and palm tree-lined main street in Cozumel.

Waves crashing on the far-side of the island.

Lifeguard stand surrounded by rock and greenery.

Beach bug.

Snorkel session.

After experiencing the nightlife, and surviving a barefoot walk on the cracked pavement, we headed to Tulum, a yoga retreat town. This laid back beach town provides words of wisdom from street signs to inviting beach signs.

Self-explanatory.

Tulum also offers Mayan ruins, which are strategically placed on a dramatic cliff that plunges into the ocean.

View from the ruins.

The essentials: hydration, transportation, and readiness for the beach.

We rented bicycles to explore the ins and outs of Tulum.

Beach bungalow.

Overall, the coastal Mexican towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum make for a fun tropical getaway. With warm turquoise waters, fantastic tacos, historic ruins, and colorfully sewn fabrics you can’t go wrong. These areas are touristy for good reason.

The Real Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville is a coastal city situated among hills in southwestern Cambodia. It boasts miles of continuous beach and large volcanic rock to climb on. The turquoise water is warm enough to swim in the entire day. Looking out into the vast Gulf of Thailand, tropical islands dot the horizon.

The city is named after King Norodom Sihanouk. Read or listen to this NPR article to learn more about him.

Cambodia is full of natural and manmade treasures. A natural example is the wild fruit that grows everywhere. An example of a manmade masterpiece is the temples that were erected during the Khmer Empire, which ruled for over 600 years and who had immense power, wealth, and stunning artistic and architectural achievements.

However, it is also a country still recovering from a horrific genocide that took place from 1975-1979. It has widespread poverty and is rife with corruption.

Beyond the beautiful white sand beaches and luxury hotels of Sihanoukville lies a fishing village. This is the real Sihanoukville.

On our second day in the resort city, my friends and I went for a walk. We climbed volcanic rock, dug our feet into the hot sand, and bought bags full of chopped pineapple with long toothpicks to help us select pieces without a mess. I adhered the bag to my purse and trekked the beach.

The landscape began to change from luxury hotels to natural palm trees. Little boys flew their kites and curiously followed us. Finally we came upon a small town that showed a drastically different picture from the area we were staying in.

Rust covers the side of homes and trash wastes away on the walking path through the town. A friendly dog joined us on our journey.

Fish drying on a rack outside.

And yet, the residents’ have a spectacular view.

Above are girls I met who were preparing fish for a stew.

Boats returned to a pier from a fishing expedition.

Seeing this town was actually one of my favorite days. It was eye-opening to view a way of life I was unaccustomed to.

Somehow, I felt inspired seeing everyone working with their hands. A little ways past the village, my friend found some coconuts. Hungry and without a knife, I decided to attempt opening my coconut on rocks. I began striking the coconut on the jagged edge. Slowly but surely, I was able to peel back the outer skin and crack it open.

Naturally, this led to a yoga/workout session on the rocks…

Namaste.

 

 

Hiking Yosemite National Park

Amid alpines and clear skies, I sat on a granite rock and looked out toward Half Dome, a Yosemite National Park landmark. The rock formation’s name is derived from its appearance of being a dome cut in half. One side is a steep 90 degree angle while the other three are rounded.

I was on the John Muir trail, a 210.4-mile trail according to the United States Geological Survey. Unlike some hikers traveling the whole distance, I was only climbing a portion of the trail for a day trip. My group started at 6am to get in as much isolation as possible on the popular Mist Trail. With motivating views in store, getting up early on this vacation was easy.

We began our steep ascent from Happy Isle Bridge, the prelude hike to the Mist and John Muir Trail junction. We shed multiple layers of clothing quickly. Gorgeous views of valleys rewarded us. When we reached the junction, we refilled our water bottles at the water-stop and forged on to Mist Trail.

Mist Trail runs along a river and keeps up a steady incline. As we reached the top of the waterfall, we found flatter terrain to perch upon. We listened to the thundering water and looked below at the colorful speckles of people climbing toward us.

Proceeding further, we scouted views of a second waterfall, Nevada Falls, off in the distance. We navigated our way back to the John Muir Trail. This would loop us back to where we began. I looked toward Half Dome, squinting to see if I could spot anyone scaling the side.

As we continued our descent, we dropped to the so-called “Ice Cut,” or Panarama Cliff, which gets its name from the dangerous winter conditions.

Those eager to continue along John Muir Trail have Kings Canyon, Sequoia National Park and breathtaking views in the Sierra Nevada to look forward to. The footpath links up with the Pacific Crest Trail for about 100 miles. A majority of the trail is in high elevation, around 8,000-10,000 feet.

The John Muir Trail is named after naturalist John Muir who was an early supporter in the preservation of the United States wilderness and creator of the Sierra Club. As an activist, he petitioned Congress to designate Yosemite as a national park. You can read his books, essays, and letters which reflect upon the spiritual connection between nature and people.

Yosemite is a refreshing experience that allows you to disconnect from daily life and be in  awe of the world’s natural beauty. In celebration of National Park’s centennial birthday, consider taking a trip to one of the 58 national parks. Enjoy a new perspective, challenge your body to adjust to new heights, and disconnect from technology for a quiet moment in nature. I extended my trip by a week so I could dive into all things San Francisco. Read my San Francisco restaurant and activity recommendations here!

San Francisco: Recommendations Around the City

Weaving through the streets of San Francisco’s flattest district, the Mission, I sauntered casually past cyclists and down graffiti alleyways. I stood before Bernal Heights hill. Unlike most hills in San Francisco, it is undeveloped besides the radio tower at the crest. I climbed the steep dirt path surrounded by straw-colored grasses, the California state flower, California poppy, and joined dog walkers. Atop are expansive views of the city. I oriented myself, noting places I had already visited and created a mental map of the city for later use. I could have used google maps, but sometimes getting lost allows you to find unforeseen treasures. Read on for some of those jewels, including restaurant, museum, shopping, and activity recommendations.

Restaurants

Blue Plate, 3218 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110, blueplatesf.com

This eatery boasts American new dishes with a Mediterranean twist. Each dish is strategically laid out on the plate with artistic grace. It won my affection for the most impressive restaurant I ate at on my trip. Unique pairings from locally-sourced farms were mouth-watering, such as artichoke soup with raspberries and chopped peanuts sprinkled on top. My friend and I opted to eat tapas-style and sampled several dishes. The atmosphere was cozy and rustic with an open kitchen. Divided into three main rooms, we sat in the middle, where we enjoyed a glass of red wine and relished in flavorful moments.

Cinderella Bakery & Cafe, 436 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94118, http://cinderellabakery.com/home.html

Moving from Blue plate’s innovative take on American, Cinderella’s slides in with traditional done right. I stumbled upon this Russian Bakery & Café while seeking out completely different food. My friend, who lived in Korea for some time, tipped me off about a great Korean place located by the Conservatory of Flowers, a botanical garden in Golden Gate Park.

As I came to a halt in front of Muguboka, the Korean restaurant, it was dark. I found a sign confirming my suspicion it was closed on Tuesdays. I looked across the street and saw a bakery with wood-paneled outdoor seating surrounded by an oasis of succulents. I darted toward it, eager to find a place to recharge my camera and review my photographs of rare flowers from the Conservatory. As I entered, a waft of savory meat lay in the air. I realized this would not be a quick stop for a camera charge. Instead, my eyes scanned the Russian menu of meat pies and sandwiches.

This Russian gem on Balboa Street has homey foods that could conjure late Tsars from their graves by its sheer smell of alluring sweet and savory treats. Adding to it’s gravitational pull is its proximity to museums of interest, such as the deYoung Museum https://deyoung.famsf.org/, Academy of Science http://www.calacademy.org/, Japanese Tea Garden http://japaneseteagardensf.com/, and San Francisco Botanical Garden http://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org/.

El Techo, 2516 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110, http://eltechosf.com/

This Latin American rooftop restaurant has sweeping city views. It lies above its sister restaurant, Lolinda http://lolindasf.com/. Wait in line, proceed past the beautiful attendant, who manages to pull off a buzz cut, and ride an elevator to the top floor. There seems like a lot of waiting involved, but it’s worth the unobscured city views and delicious small plates, featuring Argentine grilled meats. Dim lights, city views, and a young crowd chatting away under heat lamps on chillier nights make this place memorable.

Dandelion, 740 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94110, https://www.dandelionchocolate.com/

Chocolate lovers: you’ll be in heaven. No milk chocolate is served at this chocolate factory and café on Valencia Street in the Mission district. This small batch chocolate maker sells only 70% cocoa and higher. Chocolate is made on site with two ingredients: cocoa beans and sugar.

Activities

• Bike over Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and Tiberon. Take the ferry back to the city.

• Meander through city districts.

• Climb Bernal Heights hill for superb city views.

• See and be seen at Mission Delores Park.

• Take a side trip to breath-taking Yosemite National Park.

Shopping

You’ll find uniquely curated stores on the streets listed below with clothing, home goods, antiques, and plenty of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Each street has its own character, giving off funky, chic, and lively vibes.

• Valencia Street-for the hipster-leaning folk
• Hayes Street-for chic individuals
• Linden Street-for Hayes Street’s on-trend sibling
• Haight-Ashbury-for a trip back to the 60’s
• Castro Street-everyone’s welcome!

San Francisco’s neighborhoods are interesting to walk through when you’re not in a rush. Each area is full of artistic delights, good coffee, and varied museums. If you’re visiting the city, check out Blue Plate for American new, Cinderella’s for Russian, El Techo for Latin American, and Dandelion for desert.  Of the museums I visited, Academy of Science was my favorite because of the wide array of sea creatures and because I went to adult night, which featured an outdoor rock concert. The art museum I enjoyed most, not mentioned above, was Legion of Honor for its collection of Auguste Rodin’s sculptures and the mummies and medicine exhibition. Get out there and start exploring!