Creative Caffeine: Materials

http://www.coroflot.com/ashleysantana

Blood Diamonds Project

Artist Statement:

In order to satisfy the naïve desires of materialistic consumers, the habitants of diamond rich soils suffer forced and brutal slavery. Not only is the land raped of it's riches, but forced human labor purges the land of it's peace and freedom, leaving behind barren, dirty, and empty homelands and lives of those made to mine these conflict diamonds. From this, come beautiful and perfect diamonds to be worn on the bodies of completely unaffected humans. A blinded and blinding “perfect” beauty. Through the use of the lost wax casting method, a brooch symbolizes these empty, barren lands and lives of those who suffer from the mining. A rough, uneven, and imperfect exterior to represent the land and lives negatively affected, and a smoother interior to represent the idea of perfection that comes from the conflict diamonds mined is a symbolic representation of this issue.

Images to come:)

NY Times: Now, to Find a Parking Spot, Drivers Look on Their Phones

Published: May 7, 2011


San Francisco has found a solution to the outrageous traffic congestion due to drivers having to drive around for so long looking for an available parking spot — something that as we all know is entirely frustrating to the person looking for the spot and for those waiting behind the people who continue to look for a parking spot. A phone application for "spot-seekers" that displays information about areas with available spaces is a new solution to this issue! The system, introduced last month, relies on wireless sensors embedded in streets and city garages that can tell within seconds if a spot has opened up. HOW COOL!!! Hopefully this doesn't distract drivers even more, though, causing accidents, etc. as they continuously look at their phone to find a parking location. I guess it's the same thing as using a GPS, but a little more like dangerous texting. Still, I think it's awesome! Yay for not driving around forever hoping you'll find a spot right around the corner, but knowing you probably won't! :) I'm waiting to see how successful it turns out to be, and whether or not it will spread to other cities and states!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/technology/08parking.html?ref=technology

NY Times: Global Warming Reduces Expected Yields of Harvests in Some Countries, Study Says

Published: May 5, 2011

"Global warming is already cutting substantially into potential crop yields in some countries — to such an extent that it may be a factor in the food price increases that have caused worldwide stress in recent years, researchers suggest in a new study... At today’s grain prices, that calculation implies that climate change is costing consumers, food companies and livestock producers about $60 billion a year."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/science/earth/06warming.html?ref=science

NY Times Recipe! Soupe au Pistou!

Perhaps Provence’s answer to minestrone, this seasonal vegetable soup — enriched with a simplified basil pesto (no pine nuts) — was inspired by the white beans, canned tomatoes and soup pasta languishing in my pantry, as well as the basil in my garden and the early summer vegetables at the local farmers’ market. The ingredient list is long, but the labor involved in making this soup is minimal. It tastes best if you make it through step 2 a day ahead.

For the soup:

1 1/2 cups white beans, soaked for six hours in 6 cups water and drained
2 quarts water
1 large onion, chopped
4 large garlic cloves, minced or pressed
A bouquet garni made with a few sprigs each thyme and parsley, a Parmesan rind and a bay leaf
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 leeks, white and light green part only, cleaned and sliced
1 pound tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped, or 1 14-ounce can, with liquid
2 cups shredded savoy or green cabbage
2 large carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 medium-size zucchini, scrubbed and diced
2 medium-size turnips, peeled and diced
1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and broken into 1-inch pieces (about 2 cups), blanched for five minutes and set aside
1/2 cup soup pasta, such as macaroni or small shells
Freshly ground pepper

For the pistou:

2 large garlic cloves, halved, green shoots removed
Salt to taste
2 cups, tightly packed, fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan for sprinkling

1. Drain the white beans and combine with 2 quarts water in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Skim off any foam, then add half the onion, half the garlic and the bouquet garni. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes. Add salt to taste.

2. Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet, and add the remaining chopped onion and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Add the leeks and remaining garlic. Stir together for a few minutes, and add the tomatoes. Cook, stirring, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly and the mixture is fragrant, five to 10 minutes. Stir this mixture into the soup pot, add all of the remaining vegetables except the green beans, and bring back to a simmer. Cover and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes to an hour. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

3. While the soup is simmering, blanch the green beans for five minutes in salted boiling water. Transfer to a bowl of ice-cold water. Drain and set aside.

4. To make the pistou, mash the garlic with a generous pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle. Remove it and set aside. Grind the basil to a paste in the mortar, a handful at a time, then add the garlic back in and mix together well. Work in the olive oil a tablespoon at a time, then stir in the cheese.

5. Add the pasta to the simmering soup about 10 minutes before serving, and cook until cooked al dente. Add pepper, taste and adjust salt. Stir the blanched green beans into the soup and heat through. Serve, adding a spoonful of pesto to each bowl for guests to stir in. Pass additional Parmesan for sprinkling.

Serves: Six to eight.

Advance preparation: The soup can be made through step 2 up to two days ahead, and definitely benefits from being made a day ahead. Refrigerate overnight, then bring back to a simmer and proceed with the recipe. The blanched green beans will keep for two or three days in a covered bowl in the refrigerator.

Yummm! I'm definitely going to try this! I love light dishes, and as a poor college student, I choose to spend all my grocery money on fruits, vegetables, and herbs (oh, and milk:) So this is definitely my kind of dish -- something I really could make when I need to clean out my fridge! But, it's usually never full enough to need cleaning out! I LOVE to cook, almost as much as a I love to eat!

NY Times: Japan Reaffirms Nuclear Energy Use

Published: May 8, 2011

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/09/world/asia/09japan.html?src=recg

NY Times: Justice Dept. to Continue Policy Against Same-Sex Marriage

Published: May 8, 2011

"Gay rights advocates have asked the administration to postpone all deportations for same-sex married couples until the courts decide whether the marriage act is constitutional. Under immigration law, an American citizen can petition for legal residency for a spouse, if the spouse is not the same sex."

HOW IS THIS NOT CONSTITUTIONAL!?! If two gay people get legally married in a state that same-sex marriage is legal, how in the world can somebody try to say that it is not constitutional under immigration law? Legal under one law but not the other - how does that make any kind of sense? Our government needs to get their act together. As to same-sex marriage in general, I think people should be able to marry whoever they want, regardless of sex. Nobody should ever have a barrier stopping them from being with who they love and want to be with.

NY Times: New Federal Crackdown Confounds States That Allow Medical Marijuana

Published: May 7, 2011

"Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, but that has not stopped a fuzzy industry of marijuana farms and dispensaries from rising to serve the 15 states that allow the drug to be used for medical purposes. Under President Obama, the federal government had seemed to make a point of paying little attention — until now."

The Washington State Department of Health’s Web site says that dispensaries are illegal, as well as buying and selling marijuana. It says, however, that people who qualify for medical marijuana are allowed to grow their own. I think if marijuana is legal in one way or another, everybody else is obviously going to take advantage of the situation and find ways around the law. I think it's hard to put laws and regulations on "sort of" legalizing something that had always previously been completely illegal and so "hush-hush."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/us/08marijuana.html?ref=health

NY Times: Breast Device Recall Made Most Severe

Published April 14, 2011

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/health/15breast.html?ref=health

Senior Exhibition Gallery Opening!

Ah the show was definitely a success and although I was admittedly nervous beforehand, people liked my pieces and I'm definitely proud of myself to have completed such a difficult project... the true purpose of it, to help me through my grieving and healing process, was fulfilled. I don't know how but I am now able to talk about my feelings in regards to my brother passing, I now know it is okay to cry and let people see my fragile weak side, and I am now able to get out of bed every morning with much more ease, much more desire, and genuinely smile, and laugh. I know some days will still be harder than others, but thanks to my amazing support system of my great family, phenomenal friends, and very supportive, understanding teachers, I am working through it all, in positive and healthy way. Taking on this project was in no regards easy for anyone -- in class critiques were extremely difficult for me, and this was not a good project in regards to accepting criticism from classmates to further and better my work. But, regardless, I am so happy that I took on and completed this series of work... I couldn't have done it without all of the supportive people in my life, or Jan Baum, the head of my department, advisor, and teacher, for allowing me to do this project on my own terms in my own way, for letting me sit and talk with her as cried, and giving me the push that I needed, recognizing the importance of this project in helping me work through my deep, buried emotions. So thank you to every single person who helped in any way... no piece of advice, shoulder, or guidance goes unappreciated! Here are pictures from opening night of my neckpiece and stained glass. I also did a painting which was not in the show.

Tribute to Grievance, Brass, dye-oxide patina, 2011













Road to Recovery, Stained glass, 2011

NY Times: Obama’s Debt Plan Sets Stage for Long Battle Over Spending

Published April 14, 2011

With Obama's proposal to cut the federal budget deficit, with intentions of cutting it $4 trillion dollars in 12 years, many issues arose amongst both political parties. The one issue with this whole situation that really fluffed my feathers was the suggestion that our military personal are "non-essential," in turn facing pay cuts. I think this is absolutely and completely outrageous. Soldiers over in Afghanistan are fighting for our country and they may not get paid for putting their lives on the line for us? This goes for all military. I think it's disgusting. The government needs to get it's butt in gear because to honestly, to me, this is unacceptable.

Tribute to Grievance

Tribute to Grievance, neckpiece, brass, dye-oxide patina.
Photography by Patrick Prather.

Myung & I!

NY Times: Dangerous Levels of Radioactive Isotope Found 25 Miles From Nuclear Plant

Published March 30, 2011

"A long-lasting radioactive element has been measured at levels that pose a long-term danger at one spot 25 miles from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, raising questions about whether Japan’s evacuation zone should be expanded and even whether the land might need to be abandoned."

There have been high levels of radiation detected in Japan after the tsunami hit, disrupting nuclear plants. "While the amount measured would not pose an immediate danger, the annual dose would be too high to allow people to keep living there." I am literally speechless in regards to this situation, and my heart is broken for those over there right now. People are concerned for the minute traces of radiation detected in our waters and milk here in the United States, etc, which while this absolutely should be monitored, it is in no way measurable compared to what the people living in Japan are experiencing right now.

Branding

American Craft Council Show: Myung Urso

I'm estaticcc to be working the ACC on Friday and Sunday with Myung Urso! (Thanks to my friend, Kelsey, who is working there right now!) Her "assistant" cancelled last minute so I luckily get to fill in :) Yay!

I took a look at her work -- her recent work consists mostly of one of a kind jewelry pieces made of metal and other mediums and fibers incorporated... her "imagination transforms itself from memories and personal stories." I was just discussing today during my critique for my neck piece that I'm interested in incorporating fiber into my design (perhaps wool?)which is also based off of a memory and person story. I'm sure I could gain a lot of inspiration, tips, and trips from Myung! ACC and NYC in one weekend?! It's going to be a good one :) P.S. I found out we're going to Droog (in addition to MOMA and the Museum of Art and Design), I can't wait!

Some of Myung's work and info from her website :






I'm in love.

Biography

Myung Urso was born in South Korea. Her studies include a BA degree in Biology, an
MFA degree in fiber arts from Hongik University, Seoul, Korea in 1986 and an MA degree
for Museum & Gallery Management from the City University in London, England in 1995.

Professionally Myung Urso began her artistic career as a fiber artist, from 1988 to 1993 she worked as an editor and reporter at the Monthly Art & Craft magazine (Design-House Ltd.),Seoul Korea. Myung spent five years in London England where she studied Museum and Gallery Management at the City University and worked for the Visiting Arts division in British Council Headquarters in London. In 1997 she returned to South Korea where she began to work as a curator. In 1998 she opened ‘Hand and Mind’ contemporary craft gallery/store and a craft store located in Seoul, which operated through 2005.
As a curator and art director Myung Urso organized more than 50 contemporary crafts
exhibitions throughout South Korea and in the countries of France, the United Kingdom
and the United States. Myung has served as a juror for numerous crafts competitions and
as an advisor for the Korean Ministry of Culture & Tourism, the Korea National Museum
Foundation, and the Korea Craft Promotion Foundation, etc. In addition Myung Urso was
a lecturer at several universities such as Duksung Univ., Kookmin University and
Sookmyung Univ. within South Korea. Currently Myung works as an art jeweler creating unique one of kind fashion art forms.

Process of Healing

For my series of work to be exhibited in the Senior Show at the end of the semester, I'm creating a body of work that focuses on my own personal process of healing. Already, it has been therapeutic and advantageous for me, allowing me to express my emotions of how I feel inside (though many times extremely difficult and usually resulting in a mental break down afterward, but, still good). My brother passed away this past October, and unless someone has personally experienced this terrible tragedy, there is absolutely no way for someone to truly understand the unbearable pain, turmoil, and heartache that follows. I fight my own demons every single day, and although I am still able to be a fairly happy person and smile, and laugh, at least on the outside, my expression of what I am experiencing on the inside is limited. I don't talk about it or express these feelings to anyone, ever, and only release this pain when I'm alone... something I know is completely unhealthy and in no way helping my healing process, but is the only way I know how to handle it. So, through my work, I trying to express my stages of healing...from how I felt when it first happened, how I feel now, and how I hope to feel in the future. I'm expressing this through a medium scale neck piece and stained glass. It's definitely been difficult -- to have to stand in front of the class and tell what my pieces are about and why I am doing them, and especially hard to have to explain to new people critiquing my work, which exposes me and my situation... but, I have already grown from it. Just writing about it on my blog is absolutely not something I would have done a few weeks ago. I never talk about any of my personal life much for that matter. After both critiques, I've gone and cried, sometimes sobbed for hours, not because of the critique, but for having to barely talk about. But, honestly, I think it's good for me. Monday, I came into Casting and was in a foul mood, upset and angry at the world because of what happened (I don't always feel like this)... so after class, I took pre-cut metal I had ready to be textured for my neckpiece, took it into the back studio, and hammered for about 45 minutes, really hard, until my arm couldn't take anymore. Needless to say, I felt a lot better for the rest of the day, and I produced the best textures I had so far. Win-win situation. So, this project might not be the easiest for me to do, but it's good for me, and it's helping. :)

A Practical Guide to Branding

For Senior Project, I was told to research what branding is and how people do it... here's a good article I found about branding! What's my personality and how will I brand? I'm figuring it out :)

Define your brand identity—your product's "personality"—before you spend a dime on advertising or marketing.
by Karen E. Klein

Talk to entrepreneurs about their marketing and communications efforts, and they'll often use the words "branding," "marketing," and "advertising" interchangeably. That reflects the pervasive confusion about the terms, says Gail Guge, managing partner of Wilkin Guge Marketing in Ontario, Calif.. "About 15 years ago, 'branding' became a buzzword in the business vernacular, and people still get the words mixed up all the time," she says.

That confusion is unfortunate, because understanding the concepts and how they mesh is vital to every company's bottom line. Studies show companies that market their products or services without first establishing their brand identities are not likely to achieve return on investment. "If you're spending money to advertise and market without being connected to a brand position, you might as well pile the money up and burn it," Guge says.

Rob Frankel, a branding expert and author in Los Angeles, calls branding the most misunderstood concept in all of marketing, even among professionals. Branding, he says, "is not advertising and it's not marketing or PR. Branding happens before all of those: First you create the brand, then you raise awareness of it."
Your Brand is Your Personality

And while many people think successful branding is only about awareness, it's not, Frankel adds. "Everyone knows about cancer but how many people actually want it? Branding is about getting your prospects to perceive you as the only solution to their problem. Once you're perceived as 'the only,' there's no place else to shop. Which means your customers gladly pay a premium for your brand."

Your product or service is not your company's brand and neither is your logo or your business card. Your brand is the genuine "personality" of your company. "It's what your customers think of you and say about you when they've left your company," says Rodger Roeser, president of Cincinnati-based Eisen Management Group, a public-relations and brand-development firm.

Your brand is what your company stands for and what it is known for. "Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself what you stand for. Go around the room with your leadership and ask them what the company stands for. Settle on one or two brand pillars and build your brand around them. If you can't define your brand, your customers won't be able to, either. And the risk is that someone else will define it for you—probably your competitors," Roeser says.
The Promise You Make to the World

Steve Cecil, a copywriter and verbal-branding expert with Where Words in San Carlos, Calif., says a brand is a promise and branding is the act of devising the promise your company makes to the world. Marketing, he says, "is the strategy that differentiates your brand promise from all the other brand promises in that increasingly crowded house called "your category."

Think of marketing like a toolbox containing branding, advertising, direct mail, market research, public relations, and other tools. "Marketing represents the combination of methods organizations use to persuade their target audience toward some specified behavior such as sales," says Stephen Rapier, of Glendale (Calif.)-based The Artime Group.

Advertising, Rapier says, can take many forms: print, as in newspaper and magazine ads; outdoor, such as billboards; online Web banners; and broadcast advertising on radio and TV. "Typically, the goal of advertising is to grab attention, create positive perceptions, and prompt response while conveying information consumers will find relevant to their needs," he notes.
Your Brand Is a Lifestyle

A successful marketing strategy uses all—or most—of the tools in the box depending on the job at hand, Cecil says. "Crafting a winning marketing strategy is challenging enough even when you have articulated your brand promise and is probably impossible if you haven't."

If you have not specified your company's brand, don't spend another dime on marketing until you do. While everyone's familiar with megabrands such as Apple (AAPL), Nike (NKE), and Virgin, small companies can also develop potent brands and market them successfully, says Steve Manning, managing director at Igor, a branding and naming firm based in San Francisco.

"A brand creates an image in the mind of the consumer. It says something is different at your firm, something worth more than business as usual. If your firm is a commodity, your customers will choose you solely on the basis of price or getting something for free. If you've got a brand, you're selling a lifestyle and you can sell anything you want," Manning says.

Inspiration!

Creative Caffeine #2

Line and pattern... the studio is full of inspiration! :)