Gallant Chief

[gallantchief-blog]

two very interesting works 

one by oliver herring entitled TASK involving random people meeting and interacting with each other

The other by Abigail DeVille in her Harlem Stories where she attempts to reclaim the space of Harlem being bombarded by gentrification.

[gallantchief-blog]

I think I understand the ideals of Republicans after watching this and reading the Fountainhead. Works in theory. But just not practical - especially in the modern world. And always leaves the marginalized just that, marginalized. Liberal for life. 

[gallantchief-blog]

Got about half way through this thing today. I think its so important as you grow into manhood to understand the trials and tribulations of life through someone else's shoes. Sidney did not grow up rich, was not accustomed to the great life he achieved. Through introspection of himself we are able to see where his strength, determination and perseverence took him. That mixed with a little luck charm and a positive demeanor.

As an artist I actually really relate to some of his struggles. As one to always enjoy the intellectual stimulation of the world rather than plopping down and watching tv I understood his feeling of being an outsider. "I always saw things differently. I viewed the future differently. Most times I asked of myself much more than I was able to give. I unquestinably had to be lucky, since my struggle for survival was no more than a patch work of trial and error."

Looking at Mr. Poitier through the lens of Hollywood we only see only a confident leading man. Through reading this book you see that Sidney and celebrities alike are no different than ourselves, struggling to find an identity in an ever changing world.

Hopefully will finish today and give a full review but already I highly recommend.

[gallantchief-blog]

O the buildup. Perfect

[gallantchief-blog]

Started the day with a little beach yoga - RECHARGE

[gallantchief-blog]

Bored at the folks house last night I decided to check out my Dads new apple TV and came across the film The Fake Case with Ai WeiWei. During my graduation at Pratt I had to the opportunity to have Ai WeiWei speak at my commencement and was so moved to have had the opportunity to see him speak. With a large Chinese student body at Pratt I had already learned much about the man and the injustice he continues to face in his home country.

While I may have some gripes with how our own country is run here in America, I think our greatest freedom is our free speech, ability to say what we think, and ultimately voice our opinion. Ai WeiWei was unjustly held by his govermnent, confined and charged on ridiculous charges that he is still fighting to this day. All over art. 

Really makes you appreciate how important art can be and the influence it can have on people. Makes me proud to consider my self an artist. 

[gallantchief-blog]

I've Decided to Blog Again

I've formulated dozens of blogs in the past, always to imagine that some kid out there will get inspired by my musings, or some company was going to few my ideas, my likes my dislikes and I'd be some sort of phenomenon sought after for the latest gig. The fact is I don't care much for that anymore and have taken to Instagram and now Tumblr for the sheer fact to document my experiences. To take from them what I can and use them as a fueling for my art and general progression in life. 

After nearly two years chained to a desk, I understand that art and academia are in fact the only things that can truly sustain me. Symbiotically both items make me happy and need to coexist. So currently I am on a mad dash to do everything in my power to make that translate into my life. 

Here you may find random musings, ideas, things that inspire me, and things that pick my brain. I do hope to inspire others using this blog as well as myself. A day without learning is a day wasted in my opinion and will continue to publish my growth, my research, and my findings. 

So heres for the first post. Lately I have been thinking of a research topic that could lend a study of artwork that could be developed over a lifetime. Something that I've always been interested in. Wow, what a tricky question when you boil it down to the root. A topic that has always gauged ones interest. 

While this thought process is always in the works for me the thought process truly came to fruition after meeting with San Diego State Interim Director of the School of Art and Design, after consulting him on how to become a college professor. He laid a clear path with the inclusion of education, making yourself known, attending lectures, volunteering in the community, and lastly a research project that you are working on. 

It's interesting in art school such a path is never laid out. Not even in the likes of Pratt which I am a proud alumni was the focus ever on what to do after school. Sure you make the work while in, exhibit, but what exactly does one do post graduating. I know in my case I have taken many twists and turns along the way. Beginning with a entry level position for the worlds largest modeling agency IMG which I would say has shaped me in a lot of ways and been one of the biggest growth factors to me as an artist and person. Then transitioning to a role in advertising that ultimately unfulfilling to me personally and professionally. In between these stints were just levels of complaining (What do I do next, why can't someone help me, what, when, where, how why?) As if someone were to just say, heres the answer. HA! What I learned was that I must come up with the answer, turned to points of inspiration, meticulously viewed and created as much work as possible, switched mediums, did everything humanly possible to shake up my position and ultimately fuel the dream that had existed since I was a child to pursue the arts full force. 

Thus the topic was born, something I had always been doing. Searching. Adventure. Escapism. The reason why I have a ship tattooed on my arm. The reason I left to attend graduate school in NYC. The reason I came back to California. And the reason I never want to feel truly grounded. For me life is a journey that I don't ever want to see come to an end and and want to experience as much of it as I truly can from as many viewpoints, perspectives as I can. 

So with Mr. Nakamura's advice the research is in the works - pulling from film, poetry, art, music, and life experience. I am currently volunteering at the Lux Institute, gaining teaching experience at the ARTS San Diego foundation and New Children's Museum and attending as many lectures, gallery openings, and creating as much work as possible to achieve my dreams.

Holy shit - this is a long post.

To summarize I hope this leads the rise of a career. I have worked jobs before which lacked a feeling of purpose and that is no way to live life. I hope that with hard work, dedication to my craft, and an unscrupulous amount of research and devotion a DREAM can become a REALITY.

Alex