Friday, December 28, 2007
I could have been a stuntman, maybe
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Da Factory glass, Maui style
Here is a video of one of the things recently made at the glass studio and gallery where I work. Charles Lowery and his team make a rendering of the Hawaiian goddess Pele's sister Hi'iaka. Enjoy!
you can see more Da Factory videos at its YouTube channel here.
Merry Christmas!
All week I looked forward to Christmas Eve: it was the day that my box was supposed to be delivered, according to the tracking info I'd been following on UPS's website. Having this box meant a lot to me because it contains some of my things I couldn't pack and had to leave behind - the most comfortable Wallabies ever made, some extra clothing and my glass tools (which are all very sentimental). Since I don't have any family with me on the island, I really got attached to having a box of warm and comforting familiarity to open on Christmas.
That was all turned upside-down when the box didn't show. I called and was told that a delivery was attempted just thirty minutes earlier, but no one was there. "We were here!" I protested. I felt my Christmas spirit crumbling. Could this actually ruin my day?
It took me an hour to accept that I wouldn't have the box. During that hour, I paced. I considered riding my scooter in the rain for 25 minutes to pick it up in town. I felt heartbroken and lonely, followed by foolish for being so attached to the idea of the box. Impulsively, I left Da Factory to check the mailbox I rent, half-thinking that something would put me and the UPS truck carrying my box on crossing paths, saving my holiday. But not.
Somewhere along the ride back to Da Factory I reclaimed my peace of mind. I'd gotten a card from Aunt Coddee and the Leopard Upgrade from my man Big Nick, and immediately I felt better. My Christmas was saved. And I saved it myself, on the ride back, by deciding that it was as simple as deciding. Grasp on to those fleeting feelings as they pass you by, and they will carry you with them. Let them be and recognize how it always goes, go with the flow, be peaceful and serene and know happiness. The choice is always yours.
Letting go - that was my gift to myself. But it wasn't the best gift I got this Christmas. That distinguished title goes to a gift of perspective I got today, while standing in the bathroom as I prepared to take the first warm shower I've had in two weeks. As I stood there and thought about what I was doing, the everyday act of taking a shower all of the sudden meant something more to me. There I was, appreciating warm water. I think that there are few things that the first world takes for granted more than warm running water. So as my appreciation arose in me and I recognized it, and focused on it as I stepped into the water, I took what became the best shower I've ever taken.
It's so encouraging to gain insight like this, as I struggle with wondering whether or not it was really a good idea to do what I'm doing. Gaining new understanding, and appreciating things I've always taken for granted are two reasons I uprooted myself, and feeling progress is wonderful. And roughing it the way I am on Maui really brings me closer to Laura, who is under incredibly stressful lifestyle adjustments in Morocco. What I'm enduring is hardly a fraction of what she's confronting, but still it makes the 8,200 miles between us a little shorter, and any lessening of that great divide is good.
I had a great time today, talking to and seeing my brothers and sister, my dad, and all of my extended family on my dad's side, via Skype. It really made me feel like I was there, and it felt great to laugh so much with everyone. My spirits were lifted. And later, talking to my Mom was great. I really miss being near her.
I got a bunch of Merry Christmas texts from many of my friends back home. Thank you for that, it meant a lot to me.
For the next few days, I'm staying in a cottage that was offered to me from a great woman I've gotten to know from Zazen. Her sister usually rents it, but because it was empty she offered. I'm so grateful, and not just because I can take warm showers; it's a much needed vacation from sleeping at the glass studio, where it just doesn't ever feel like anything more than somebody else's couch, and the farm, where it's next to impossible to have any privacy. It's a little winter vacation for me in a way. Thanks Rachelle :).
That was all turned upside-down when the box didn't show. I called and was told that a delivery was attempted just thirty minutes earlier, but no one was there. "We were here!" I protested. I felt my Christmas spirit crumbling. Could this actually ruin my day?
It took me an hour to accept that I wouldn't have the box. During that hour, I paced. I considered riding my scooter in the rain for 25 minutes to pick it up in town. I felt heartbroken and lonely, followed by foolish for being so attached to the idea of the box. Impulsively, I left Da Factory to check the mailbox I rent, half-thinking that something would put me and the UPS truck carrying my box on crossing paths, saving my holiday. But not.
Somewhere along the ride back to Da Factory I reclaimed my peace of mind. I'd gotten a card from Aunt Coddee and the Leopard Upgrade from my man Big Nick, and immediately I felt better. My Christmas was saved. And I saved it myself, on the ride back, by deciding that it was as simple as deciding. Grasp on to those fleeting feelings as they pass you by, and they will carry you with them. Let them be and recognize how it always goes, go with the flow, be peaceful and serene and know happiness. The choice is always yours.
Letting go - that was my gift to myself. But it wasn't the best gift I got this Christmas. That distinguished title goes to a gift of perspective I got today, while standing in the bathroom as I prepared to take the first warm shower I've had in two weeks. As I stood there and thought about what I was doing, the everyday act of taking a shower all of the sudden meant something more to me. There I was, appreciating warm water. I think that there are few things that the first world takes for granted more than warm running water. So as my appreciation arose in me and I recognized it, and focused on it as I stepped into the water, I took what became the best shower I've ever taken.
It's so encouraging to gain insight like this, as I struggle with wondering whether or not it was really a good idea to do what I'm doing. Gaining new understanding, and appreciating things I've always taken for granted are two reasons I uprooted myself, and feeling progress is wonderful. And roughing it the way I am on Maui really brings me closer to Laura, who is under incredibly stressful lifestyle adjustments in Morocco. What I'm enduring is hardly a fraction of what she's confronting, but still it makes the 8,200 miles between us a little shorter, and any lessening of that great divide is good.
I had a great time today, talking to and seeing my brothers and sister, my dad, and all of my extended family on my dad's side, via Skype. It really made me feel like I was there, and it felt great to laugh so much with everyone. My spirits were lifted. And later, talking to my Mom was great. I really miss being near her.
I got a bunch of Merry Christmas texts from many of my friends back home. Thank you for that, it meant a lot to me.
For the next few days, I'm staying in a cottage that was offered to me from a great woman I've gotten to know from Zazen. Her sister usually rents it, but because it was empty she offered. I'm so grateful, and not just because I can take warm showers; it's a much needed vacation from sleeping at the glass studio, where it just doesn't ever feel like anything more than somebody else's couch, and the farm, where it's next to impossible to have any privacy. It's a little winter vacation for me in a way. Thanks Rachelle :).
Monday, December 10, 2007
A Week of Assimilation
Early in the week I whipped up an ad with photoshop for Robert's excavation business, and he was so enthusiastic about the way it turned out he gave me three days off from farm work. Good thing he did, because a vicious Kona storm rocked Maui the first half of the week and stranded me at Da Factory, where I politely accepted a nice spot on a comfy couch...
-
a welcome change from the inch-thick sleeping pad in my tent.
I made my first mudras last week. This one is Prithvi. My hands are getting tighter, in proportion and detail, but the challenge remains and keeps the process interesting. I took a few to a wellness center in Haiku to see if they'd consider a trade, and now I'm waiting to hear back. If it works out, I'm taking Yoga and Capoeira, the former for flexibility, the latter because I've always wanted to learn. Next to the Eastern traditions, Brazilian culture has always intrigued me, from the sound of the Portuguese language and the rhythms of Bossa Nova to the crushing political angst of Sepultura that I listened to as a teenager.
December 8th was Bodhi Day, celebrating the awakening of Siddharta Guatama. This is the Mantokuji Soto Zen Temple in Paia, where I go Sundays for Zazen. There was a modest celebration there yesterday for the holiday. There are very few in the congregation there, mostly elderly and middle-aged descendants of Japanese immigrants that came to Maui at the turn of the twentieth century to work on plantations. This lack of membership surprised me at first, because Paia is a town full of hippies. I thought, surely hippies practice Zen meditation. I guess that's the problem with stereotypes - they aren't reliable or accurate. Anyway, I befriended the resident minister there, who's about my age, and he's taught me a lot about the Soto tradition and Zazen. Buddhism is very interesting, and has always stood out the most of all of the Eastern traditions I've studied because of its tolerance and compassion-centered teachings. I've dreamed of experiencing this path first-hand for some time, and I'm happy to be living the dream now.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
First Saturday at Da Factory
I've never seen so many people at a glassblowing demo - not even at GAS conferences.
Every first Saturday, Da Factory has an opening. The holidays are coming, and in Hawaii, winter means big waves. The theme was kind of Big Wave Christmas - several artists that work glass there regularly had ornaments and other pieces out in the hall. Some painters had canvases on the cinder block walls. A woodworker that has a shop down the hall pulled out some of his sick furniture and displayed it. There were pupus (snacks) and drinks. People filed in all night long. And for the first hour, I ran a bench and made ornaments that guests designed. They'd sign up and pick out two or three colors, I'd gather and roll up the frit, start a bubble and then have the person inflate the ornament with their breath while I shaped it at the bench.
Later on, the theatrics really picked up as the lights dimmed and the music crescendoed, and video footage of big wave surfing was projected onto the wall in the hotshop. It was like a cross between House Party 2 and a Spanish bullfight. A team of six made a big glass wave at the bench while a local artist painted a big wave on canvas. Dozens of onlookers watched in anticipation, hootin' & hollerin' whenever a gather was made, cheering every time someone struggled to get the glass from one place to another. At one point, I stepped up to take a big gather, but the rest of the time I just stood back and watched. I'm not into working in a crisis atmosphere: especially when the guy in charge, the "master glassblower", is drunk with ego and condescends to his team. It doesn't jive.
Every first Saturday, Da Factory has an opening. The holidays are coming, and in Hawaii, winter means big waves. The theme was kind of Big Wave Christmas - several artists that work glass there regularly had ornaments and other pieces out in the hall. Some painters had canvases on the cinder block walls. A woodworker that has a shop down the hall pulled out some of his sick furniture and displayed it. There were pupus (snacks) and drinks. People filed in all night long. And for the first hour, I ran a bench and made ornaments that guests designed. They'd sign up and pick out two or three colors, I'd gather and roll up the frit, start a bubble and then have the person inflate the ornament with their breath while I shaped it at the bench.
Later on, the theatrics really picked up as the lights dimmed and the music crescendoed, and video footage of big wave surfing was projected onto the wall in the hotshop. It was like a cross between House Party 2 and a Spanish bullfight. A team of six made a big glass wave at the bench while a local artist painted a big wave on canvas. Dozens of onlookers watched in anticipation, hootin' & hollerin' whenever a gather was made, cheering every time someone struggled to get the glass from one place to another. At one point, I stepped up to take a big gather, but the rest of the time I just stood back and watched. I'm not into working in a crisis atmosphere: especially when the guy in charge, the "master glassblower", is drunk with ego and condescends to his team. It doesn't jive.
[Just as a technical note for all you glass people: notice that there is no real jack line on this massive solid-worked piece. It took four attempts to get the piece to disconnect from the pipe. But when it finally did, it didn't just crack off. No, the entire moile exploded first, then there was nothing left for the piece to be connected to (what?!). Yea, seriously. In other words, when the piece was transferred to the punty, the pipe was clean.]
I'm still working my way into the fold there, deliberately and tactfully. And I'm introducing new concepts for a team of my own.
Here's an overall shot of the studio. Behind the easel on the left is the first gloryhole, followed by another , the 600 lb. electric pot furnace, and another gloryhole (lit). It's a nice shop - spacious with great ventilation. But its definitely no Tyler. The more hotshops I see, the more grateful I get for having had the privilege to study in such an outstanding glass program.
Thanks Jon, Dan, Anna, Angus, and Dre.
P.S.
Speaking of big waves, Laird Hamilton and Gabrielle Reese walked into Anthony's Coffee, where I'm writing, and sat down at the next table over. Among the crazy guys that ride waves over forty feet high on the face - waves so big you need a jet ski to tow you into the break, he's the most recognized, and considered by many to be the most gifted. I couldn't help but overhear what he had to say to someone interviewing him. He talked about his frustration with surfing competitions - and how he regarded it more as an art. After hearing that, I wanted to invite him over to the studio to try glassblowing (I hear it's similar to surfing, wink wink), but I didn't want to disrespect his privacy.
I hear that many other famous people live nearby. I was excited to hear that Ram Dass lives in my town. Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson have been spotted in Paia, Oprah recently bought a house here, Willie Nelson lives somewhere around here, and Ziggy Marley has a house on my street (I haven't seen him though). Maybe, one day in the future, someone else will sit in this cafe and blog about how Jesse Daniels lives here.
Hahaha, maybe....
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