I know I said my next blog post would be part2 (of many) of my stay with Wen-Hung and his family of great cooks, but I got a bit distracted with all the adventures I'm trying to squeeze into my month in Taiwan.  It's funny how even a month is just not enough time to really experience a place, even when you're lucky enough to get a crash course of tradition and history during their 10 days of celebrating  Chinese New Years.  

Fireworks, hot springs, beautiful hikes, good surfing, cultural hospitality, eccentric and tasty food ... all of it has created a determination in me to return later, since my landing visa is almost up (30 days for Americans). I've begun looking into different ways to make that happen and so far, my best bet looks like the Taiwanese government scholarship to learn Chinese where they give worthy candidates a stipend of 25,000NT ($800US) a month.  Considering that I'll be departing Taiwan next week with only spending 600 dollars for a whole month of living and travel, it's not such a shabby offer.  Especially since teaching English can really help put some extra cash in your pocket.  

Coming around full circle, that's my excuse for jumping blog posts.  Look for The End of the Road part2 soon.   

In the mean time, I wanted to share a couple of night shots from the past couple of days.  Below is a shot from our rooftop of one of the many colorful explosions that litter the sky every night.  The superstition is that fireworks scare away evil spirits intent on eating you (*Taiwanese friends: Please feel free to correct/expand on my understandings of traditions)  

The second shot is of our own, blooming contributions to the Flora of the sky.    

   

Searching...

Stemming from travel and all the inspiration and excitement that come from displacement, and the stories and accomplishments of Tanner Coleman and Alexis Gregg during their work, I've begun researching Artist in Residencies Programs.

Specifically, I've been looking into programs involving the National Parks of the world, to help continue my studies and creations of my dreamscapes, using different land and plant-scapes.

Here is a large list of National Park Programs within the United States:

Acadia National Park

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers, composers
Application deadline: November 1 to January 1 (received)
Residency period: May, early June, September, October
Number & length of residencies: Five to six of three weeks each
For More Information, including application:http://www.nps.gov/acad/supportyourpark/artistinresidence.htm

Badlands National Park

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers, video/filmmakers, composers
Application Deadline: For Fall residency - June 15 (received); for Spring residency - December 15 (received)
Residency period: (Fall) mid-September to October; (Spring) March to mid-May
Number & length of residencies: Two of four to six weeks each
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/badl/supportyourpark/air.htm

Buffalo National River

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers, video/filmmakers, composers
Application deadline: January 31 (postmarked)
Residency period: March - November
Number & length of residencies: Four of up to three weeks each.
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/buff/supportyourpark/air-application.htm

Cape Cod National Seashore

This national seashore hosts two individual residency programs.
C-Scape Dune Shack
Residencies open to: Two dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers, video/filmmakers
Application deadline: February 15, (postmarked)
Residency period: Year-round
Number & length of residencies: Number varies, from one week to up to three months each
Contact: Tom Boland, Residency Coordinator, at tomboland@mediaone.net
For additional information, write: Provincetown Community Compact, Inc., PO Box 819, Provincetown, Massachusetts USA 02657 (Include a 52-cent stamped self-addressed envelope)

The Margo-Gelb Shack
Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, writers, video/filmmakers
Application deadline: February 1(received)
Residency period: Mid-May through mid-October
Number & length of residencies: Six of two weeks each
Contact: Send a 52-cent self-addressed stamped envelope to OCARC, 22 Nelson Avenue, Provincetown, Massachusetts USA 02657

Crater Lake National Park

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, painters, dancers, cinematictographers, musicians, writers, composers, and other visual and performing artists.
Application deadline: TBA
Residency period: June - October
Number & length of residencies: Two artists; up to two weeks residency.
For more information, including application: http://www.nps.gov/crla/air.htm

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers, video/filmmakers, composers, craft artists
Application deadline: (Spring) December 15; (Summer) February 16
Residency period: (Spring) March through May; (Summer) June through September
Number & length of residencies: Two of six to eight weeks each
Contact: Mary Pat Doorley, Cultural Arts Program Manager, at 440-546-5995 CST, ormary_pat_doorley@nps.gov or Joni Starr, Summer Camp & Arts Director, Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association, 330-657-2796 ext. 114 or jstarr@cvnpa.org
For additional information, call 800-642-3297 or write: CVEEC Artist-In-Residence Program, 3675 Oak Hill Road, Peninsula, Ohio USA 44264

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Peters Valley Craft Education Center
Residencies open to: Craft artists
Application deadline: Varies - call for information
Residency period: Year-round
Number & length of residencies: Varies - call for information
Contact: Peters Valley at 973-948-5200 EST or pv@warwick.net
For additional information, write: Peters Valley Craft Education Center, 19 Kuhn Road, Layton, New Jersey USA 07851

Denali National Park and Preserve

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, sculptors
Application deadline: October 31 (postmarked)
Application Form: Download the application form at arts.alaskageographic.org
Residency period: June through August
Number & length of residencies: up to three - 10 days each
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/dena/historyculture/arts-program.htm

Devils Tower National Monument

Residencies open to: Writers
Application deadline: April 1 (postmarked)
Residency period: Fall
Number & length of residencies: Two of one week each
Contact: Christine Czazasty at 307-467-5283, ext. 224, MST or christine_czazasty@nps.gov
For additional information, write: Writers-In-Residence Program, Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, Montana, USA 82714 or Bearlodge Writers, PO Box 10, Devils Tower, Wyoming USA 82714

Everglades National Park

Residencies open to: Visual Artists, photographers, sculptors, writers, filmmakers, and composers.
Application deadline: October 1
Residency period: Year-round
Number & length of residencies: Six residents, two-four weeks each
Contact: AIRIE Program Coordinator, 305-242-7750 EST or EVER_Interpretation@nps.gov
For additional information, write: Artist-In-Residence-In-Everglades, Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034. AIRIE applications are available on-line at:http://www.nps.gov/ever/supportyourpark/artistinresidence.htm

Glacier National Park

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, writers, video/filmmakers, composers
Application deadline: February 15
Residency period: Summer
Number & length of residencies: Number varies, four weeks each
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/glac/supportyourpark/air.htm

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Headlands Center for the Arts
Residencies open to: California, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Ohio two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers, video/filmmakers, composers (Each state has individual eligibility requirements)
Application deadline: First Friday in June
Residency period: Febraury through November
Number & length of residencies: Thirty of one-eleven months each
Contact: Holly Blake at 415-331-2787, ext. 24, PST or hblake@headlands.org
For additional information, write: Holly Blake, Residency Manager, Headlands Center for the Arts, 944 Fort Barry, Sausalito, California USA 94965

Grand Canyon National Park

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performing artists, writers, musicians/composers
Application deadline: TBA
Residency period: Three week periods
Number & length of residencies: Five (5) residencies; first begining in Spetember, 2007, the remaining four (4) from Spring 2008-August 2008.
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/grca/supportyourpark/air.htm

Herbert Hoover National Historical Site
Residencies open to: Writers, composers, and all visual and performing artists
Application deadline: February-March
Residency period: May through September.
Number & length of residencies: Two (2) of two to four weeks each
Please note: Housing may not be readily available for upcoming resident artists.
Contact: Adam Prato at 319-643-7855 CST
For additional information: http://www.nps.gov/heho/supportyourpark/air-for-artists.htm

Homestead National Monument of America
Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers, video/filmmakers, composers.
Application deadline: June 15 (postmarked)
Residency period: July - September
Number & length of residencies: Depending on type and number of applicants, residences can range in length from 2 weeks to three months.
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/home/supportyourpark/artist-in-residence-program.htm

Hot Springs National Park

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, craft artists, video/filmakers, performers, writers, poets, and composers.
Application deadline: February 1
Residency period: Call or write for details
Number & length of residencies: Several of two to four weeks each
Contact: Jeff Heitzman at 501-620-6707 or HOSP_Interpretation@nps.gov
For additional information, write: Artist-In-Residence Program, attn: Volunteer Coordinator, Hot Springs National Park, 101 Reserve Street, Hot Springs, AR USA 71901

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Residencies open to: Artist/Illustrator that can create line art for publications in 2008
Application deadline: March 1 (postmarked)
Residency period: 2 - 4 weeks; June through August
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/indu/supportyourpark/air.htm

Isle Royale National Park

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers, video/filmmakers, composers
Application deadline: Febrary 16 (postmarked)
Residency period: June through early September
Number & length of residencies: Five two to three weeks each
For more information: Download this park PDF application.

Joshua Tree National Park

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, writers, video/filmmakers
Application deadline: Accepted year-round
Residency period: October through May
Number & length of residencies: Four to six of four weeks each
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/jotr/supportyourpark/air.htm

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Residencies open to: Traditional sculptors working in stone, stone carving instructors
Application deadline: For Summer residency watch for announcement on www.usajobs.opm.gov; between December and early February; Fall residency submit resume postmarked May 1
Residency period: Late May through early October
Number & length of residencies: Two total; Summer residency is 12-16 weeks (paid), Fall residency is one week (unpaid)
Contact: Rhonda Schier at 605-574-3182 MST or rhonda_schier@nps.gov
For additional information, write: Artist-In-Residence Program, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 13000 Hwy. 244, Bldg. 31, Suite 1, Keystone, South Dakota USA 57751

North Cascades National Park

Residencies open to: Practicing artists with a portfolio of published, performed, or exhibited works. Applications are accepted from visual artists, writers, musicians, and other creative individuals.
Application deadline: February 1 for spring residencies and July 1 for fall residencies.
Residency period: April/May and September/October.
Number & length of residencies: Two residencies of 4-6 weeks each in two separate areas of the park, for a total of four annual residencies.
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/noca/supportyourpark/artist-in-residence.htm
Contact: Charles Beall at 360-856-5700 x.365, charles_beall@nps.gov, 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284

Petrified Forest National Park

Residencies open to: Two & Three dimensional visual artists, photographers, painters, writers, sculptors,poets
Application deadline: March 15 (postmarked)
Residency period: May thru October
Number & Length of residencies: Number varies, each residence up to three weeks
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/pefo/parknews/artist-in-residence.htm
Contact: Scott Williams, Museum Curator at 928-524-6228 MST or scott_williams@nps.gov

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers
Application deadline: December 31 (postmarked)
Residency period: September or October
Number & length of residencies: One of four weeks
Contact: Gregg Bruff at 906-387-2607 EST or gregg_bruff@nps.gov
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/piro/supportyourpark/artistresidence.htm

Rocky Mountain National Park
Residencies open to: Professional Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers, video/filmmakers, composers
Application deadline: TBA
Residency period: Early June through late September
Number & length of residencies: Five to eight of two weeks each
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/romo/supportyourpark/artist_in_residence.htm
Contact: Artist-In-Residence Coordinator at 970-586-1206 MST

Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site

Residencies open to: Sculptors
Application deadline: Varies, call for information
Residency period: June through October
Number & length of residencies: One of 12 to 24 weeks
Contact: Gregory Schwarz at 603-675-2175, ext. 107, EST or gregory_c_schwarz@nps.gov
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/saga/historyculture/artist-in-residence-programs.htm

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, writers, composers
Application deadline: April 15 (postmarked)
Residency period: September - October
Number & length of residencies: Two of three weeks each
Contact: Lisa Myers at 231-326-5134 or lisa_myers@nps.gov
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/slbe/parkmgmt/artistinresidence.htm

Weir Farm National Historic Site

Residencies open to: Visual artists (including printmakers & painters), photographers, sculptors, video/filmmakers
Application deadline: January 15, July 15 (postmarked)
Residency period: Year-round
Number & length of residencies: One or two artists at a time for residencies of two to four weeks.
Contact: Constance Evans or Amy Allen at 203-761-9945 EST
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/wefa/supportyourpark/artist-in-residence-program.htm

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Residencies open to: Check with park.
Application deadline: February
Residency period: March - October
Number & length of residencies: Two to four artists; one to four weeks.
Contact: Whiskeytown.Art@gmail.com
For additional information, write: AIR Coordinator, P.O. Box 188, Whiskeytown, CA 96095

Yosemite National Park

Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors
Application deadline: July 15 (received)
Residency period: Year-round
Number & length of residencies: Four to ten of up to one month each
For more information: http://www.yosemiterenaissance.org/artists-in-residence.html  

The Beginning: The End of the Road (part 1)

Taiwanese hospitality is something that can take you aback.  Coming from the train station, unable to pronounce the name of my destination to a taxi driver, a young man on a scooter asks me if he can help.  After asking him to translate to the taxi driver, he shakes his head and tells me to hop on,  he had just finished dropping off his girlfriend and had to go that way anyway.  My first scooter ride in Taiwan was through the rain, with bags, wearing a helmet inlined with Hello Kitty and hanging on to the coat of a young man that seemed to know the same and only rule of driving in Taiwan (see below posting for the rule).

Tanner Coleman and Alexis Gregg are two amazing Americans who have helped make my trip to Taiwan possible because of their Art Residency at Taiwan's Museum of Ceramic Art (posting soon to come).  They befriended Wen-Hung, a worker at the museum and an all around amazing guy who has the the same hospitality trait that seems to run so deep in this culture. He invited us to spend Chinese New Years with him and his family in Chaiyi, a two hour drive south of Taipei.

1/20/12

We depart for Chaiyi, a small village in Taiwan that we're told has never seen foreigners before. Wen-Hung's family lives there and farms everything from crabs to avocados the size of your head.  They do well, and have the traditional housing structure:  Grandfather and 1st son in the main house, 2nd son in the house to the right (if your facing the main house), 3nd son living in the house on the left, the youngest son in the house on the outside to the left.

Some of the family speaks English.  Some very well, some not so well.  English is an international language and therefore taught in their public school system when they are young.  It sticks to some, it's deported by others, but either case is better than my Chinese or Taiwanese.  With one word having  five different meanings depending on how it's said, it takes me days to pronounce "happy new year" correctly and I find non-verbal communication is the bridge over the language gap with other family members.

 

We show up just in time for tea time.  A lot of families have a table specifically for tea time that they can assemble and break down with ease.  It has all the handy convinces you'll ever need, including an area for snacks and a drain for the spillage that comes from pouring.

Cutting into the largest avocados I have ever seen, Wen-Hung tells us they are a different breed of avocado that love the climate in Chaiyi.  The oldest tree they have will produce over 1,000kg (2,200lbs) a season and how they turn them into "avocado milk" as the main way to consume them. Along side our hardly slice of avo, we have dragon eye fruit, purple peanuts and fish flavored chips.

   

                       Soon to post: a tour of the farm and a BBQ of epic proportions and species

The Arrival

Wandering around a district of Taipei my first night/morning to try and get some orientation and energy to fight off jet lag at its greatest. I find my senses and personal space are bombarded by the color, noise, and harsher type of air that vibrates off the buildings and traffic that belittle my sense of self. "Tight" is the first word that comes to mind, during my walk as I see the way people interact and live.  My personal bubble, so used to a western lifestyle feels like it's going to pop from everyone and thing bumping into me. Not only do people invade my space and nip my heels, but so do scooters, bikes and cars.  Traffic signals, signs and lines are more like guidelines than rules for Taiwanese people as they run red lights, go the wrong way down one way lanes and zip in and out of traffic.  The only true rule I have figured out is:  If they can see you, they'll stop.  If not, you will get run over. (GoPro video of biking through traffic soon to come) 

See the rest of the photos at: http://www.cismithphotography.com/Travel/Taiwan/

Oh the places you'll see

HUGE changes are happening with cismithphotography.  I've been getting ready to embark on a journey across the seas, into Asia and South-East Asia for an undetermined amount of time.  An uprooting and change of focus in life is leading to a change of focus in my work.

Out with the old to make room for the new.

I'm only a day or two away from having a xmas sale special to help lighten the load and fund my traveling experiences.

I also just set up a newsletter to send out photos, videos and stories while I'm traveling abroad.  It takes five seconds to sign up and you'll be able to see much more than you do on the blog:


Subscribe to our newsletter

CAH Azusa Opening

Ahhh, is it that time a year again when the weather gets colder, stout beer takes the place of session beers and I finally get my act together long enough to do a blog posting.

One of the projects I've been working on is a video for Congregation Ale House's Azusa Chapter. Being able to photograph it, and wanting a reason to tackle my new version of Final Cut X, I hired Aaron Kahn and his talented eye to help fill my video bank with the finest ingredients to cook up a fun and quick documentary of the Grand Opening.

The learning curve was much slower than I thought with this new version of Final Cut since it's drastically different than the previous versions, but once you get the hang of it, it is much faster and easier to use. Here's what came out of the effort (takes you to Vimeo)...

CAH Azusa Grand Opening Video

Beachwood BBQ food shoot

There are a lot of people out there who are almost excited as some of the Long Beach CityBeat staff about the new Beachwood BBQ location opening up on the promenade. Most of the time, we are very considerate of our co-workers and requests but when the opportunity to do the resturant review at Beachwood, we all clamored across the table to grab it, shoulder shoving and face pushing anyone who was in the way.

Amazing taste with southern BBQ flare, it offers amazing and hard to find dishes that none in Long Beach seem to rival. The newest aspect about their Long Beach location that is different from their Seal Beach location is the brewery in the back. In progress, they will have 12 of their own beers on tap from a award winning brew master Julian.

More to come!