A Hidden Gem In Plain Sight

Growing up in Syracuse and being involved in the art community, I've been lucky to know of the Everson and have visited fairly often throughout grade school. To me it was a cornerstone in the community I loved, but I have recently come to realize how few people really know what a gift our community has had for decades.

Most people would be surprised to learn that Syracuse is home to one of the largest collections of ceramics in the United States, as well as home to one of the first museums to focus on American artists. This is the rich history we have been given and yet it seems hidden to many. This fact is even more surprising when you consider its hidden within a truly astonishing building.

The Everson as we now know it was designed by I.M. Pei, who wanted the building to be as much a piece of art as the work it holds inside. Sculpture is experienced "in the round" and so is the architecture presented here. Entrances are hidden and the building has protrudes in different ways as you wander about. Syracuse is one of the few places in the world blessed with not one, but two pieces by I.M Pei, a fact most would never have guessed. 

These are the reasons I felt compelled to document my latest trip to the museum. I hadn't been back in a number of years, and in that time much has changed. The museum has recently gone under a renovation to modernize their exhibit spaces and it truly has provided a new experience for all who visit. As the progress continues, I hope to visit again to see where they take it from here. Due to the museum's policies I have only documented pieces in their permanent collection, but its important to note the museum has a very active visiting artist scene with some incredibly interesting pieces on display. I hope this video encourages people in the community, and anyone with plans to visit Syracuse, to explore this hidden gem that's not so subtly in front of our eyes.

Winter at the Zoo

2016 was a long, difficult year on many levels, so it seemed fitting to begin 2017 on a much softer, more adorable note. I decided to take a trip to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse to wander for a few hours and get my mind off of the current state of politics, and was welcomed by a wide variety of animals happy to be my companion.

I spent a half hour just watching the goats eat and wander around, a couple of them finding me interesting enough to spend some time with me. Unless you spend time close to goats you tend to miss how interesting their eyes are. It feels as though they're looking through you instead of at you, which can be both comforting and disconcerting at the same time.

I walked the loop, noticing all of the red pandas piled on top of each other at the top of a tree, deciding to come back later. I then came across the penguins who seemed giddy with the weather. Watching penguins interact is one of my favourite things as they come off as bickering children, smacking each other around, but then immediately making up as friends.

On my trip back around I struck gold, finding one of the younger red pandas running about, climbing up and down the tree repeatedly. As is usually the case when I come across an active red panda, I spent nearly an hour just watching him have fun, enjoying the brisk weather. 

So although this video has no deeper meaning, I find its important to step back and just enjoy life as these animals are. Sometimes you just need a cuddly animal to lift your spirits for the day.

Top 10 Movies of 2016

Every year I like to reflect on the many, many movies I see in theatres and put together a personal top 10 list. I always advocate seeing movies in theatres as I truly feel that experience is unlike any other, plus you're supporting artists who took years to craft their visions. So without further ado, here are my top 10 films:

1. Moonlight

This film is truly a work of art and one of the most moving films in several years. Rarely do films create such three dimensional characters, even those with minimal time on screen. The actors who portray Chiron flow together perfectly with simple mannerisms that show his softer, unsure self, even when he's a self-sonfident drug dealer. The film's strength comes from its trueness to life, even with its poetic depiction of it. It doesn't shy away from the brutal truths that thousands of kids grow up with and have to come to terms with. I hope this film blazes a path for more directors to boldly take.

2. Manchester By The Sea

I truly feel this is one of the most accurate portrayals of loss I have seen on film. We don't openly weep constantly after losing a loved one, but instead it comes in fits and spurts, each person finding their way to that feeling on their own time. Not all stories have to end happily with a nice little bow, changing the characters for the better. Life is not written to a close, but instead has an ebb and flow of growing and shrinking, which Casey Affleck does a phenomenal job creating in his role.  

3. La La Land

This movie is sold completely on the natural chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, two people who I hope work together often in the future. Being a creative person myself, I found myself identifying with these two dreamers who seek success but struggle with maintaining balance in their life. Its a simple story told many times, but this film gave a fresh spark into it that had you fall in love with it. The final musical interlude is one of the finest pieces of cinema in years, both hopeful and heartbreaking at the same time. It was the perfect ending to their story, even if it wasn't the one I was hoping for as I watched it. That scene by itself would place this film high on my list.

4. Jackie

I would argue that this is Natalie Portman's best performance so far, which is saying a lot. There's something timeless about this film, perhaps Jackie's reflection on trying to shape and save her husband's legacy seems oddly relevant in the current world. Few films this year have stayed with me so long after walking out of the theatre, causing me to think about my own legacy I hope to leave. To see a woman grappling with these thoughts just hours after her husband was violently taken from her is tragic and yet uplifting in a strange way. You almost feel empowered by her insistence on perfection, even pushing back on her husband's successor trying to capitalize on the situation at hand. Its a film I hope more people take the time to see.

5. Rogue One

Leap frogging into my list of top 3 Star Wars films comes this tight, uplifting, and surprisingly sad entry into the Star Wars Saga. A simple flaw in the original Star Wars kick starts an action packed explanation for such an obvious design flaw in the Death Star. Jyn Erso follows in the footsteps of Princess Leia by being a strong woman who is in no need of saving, leading a rag tag bunch of rebels to redeem her father's legacy. 

6. Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Another film that deserved a bigger audience. Fun, quirky, and a great coming of age film that embraces the oddity of this pairing in creative ways.

7. Wiener

An incredible documentary with incredible access at the worst time in Anthony Wiener's life. A story of a talented politician who could've done great things in the world had he not indulged in less than savory activity.

8. Arrival

An alien invasion film that dares to question how we would respond. Maybe we're the one's who immediately look to turn violent? How would we go about communicating? A human size film about immense questions in the universe.

9. Christine

A film that truly didn't shy away from tough topics of mental illness and what the sensationalism of news does to journalists. Not an easy watch by any means, but one that sticks with you in haunting ways.

10. Patriot's Day

A film I never expected to like as much as I did. I went in worrying that it was too soon after that tragic day, but it was done tastefully and gives us a much needed boost in patriotism after this tumultuous election year. 

Honorable Mentions

Zootopia, Hell or High Water, Central Intelligence, Snowden, Deadpool

Its Time To Rethink Our Education Borders

The article below contains a very interesting proposal and I think its time that people start thinking outside the box about how things are done in CNY. Sadly, there are too many people unwilling to try something new and yet wonder why things don't get better. 

Reading through the comments on this article you begin to realize just how bigoted and closed minded people are, referring to students in the SCSD as "hood rats" and "hoodlums." As someone who graduated from the district I take serious offense to these depictions and also would like to point out that these are the type of people who don't take the time to do research and realize that what he proposes would in fact make a difference.

Over the last 20 years it has become clear, through deep research, that mixing income levels raises all boats, not just those of the disadvantaged. For those who comment saying that allowing city residents into suburban schools would increase problems and decrease the education level have not read the many reports pointing to the fact that low income students who have the ability to attend a better district tend to over perform, providing them a better opportunity to move up the economic ladder. This has been the guiding view of urban planners since the housing dispute in Yonkers in the 1990s. It has been repeated throughout the country, placing public housing in better neighborhoods and allowing for porous school district borders has only helped to improve neighborhoods, not reverse fortunes for those already succeeding. 

Will this proposal be enough? Probably not, but it at least starts a much needed discussion. The only problem that arises is that it would need the buy-in of the very same people who seem to look upon city residents as a lower class of citizen. These are the same people who want I-81 rebuilt, not understanding how it would further tear apart neighborhoods, leading to the same issues they constantly complain about, just to save 2 minutes on their commute. 

I guess what I am trying to say to those in the suburbs is: Understand that you can make a serious difference in our greater community by being open to change.

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Ask Questions On The Important Issues

As we approach January 20th I think its important to reflect on some of the challenges that lay ahead of us and that will challenge our new leader. I had the pleasure of meeting Malcolm Nance, an incredible intellect with vast experience and just a interesting person to converse with. He mentioned this encounter he had on Morning Joe months ago and how he's no longer welcome on the program, which you can see why. Joe Scarborough has long been a thorn in my side, a man who changes his opinion each day so he can point back to something and say he was right down the line.

Mr. Nance, a man with a deep understanding of our military tactics and challenges, does everything he can to explain how Scarborough is misinforming the public in a polite manner. We cannot have the someone like Scarborough misrepresenting his understanding of these serious challenges that we face. He claims to have spoken to agents who found actionable intel from torture, seemingly without realizing that Mr. Nance was the head of the department that trained our military in those techniques and how to respond when those techniques are performed on them. He's even had the unfortunate experience of being waterboarded himself, but that seems not to phase Scarborough in his righteous belief that he's right.

If that were not enough, he had Trump waiting on the line ready to come in once their conversation was over. This is not proper journalism, this is a man with an incredible ego aiding another egomaniac who will soon be our president regardless if it harms our understanding of national security.

I have not read Mr. Nance's book on ISIS, but after speaking with him and watching numerous interviews with him I plan to pick it up soon. I think its important as a citizen to inform yourself on these topics and go beyond the talking points of people like Joe Scarborough. Hopefully this inspires some people to take a look themselves.