Traveling across Asia for 40 days

"Tuk tuk. You need a tuk tuk" is chanted as we walked down the busy streets of Bangkok. People and noise are everywhere.

Tuk tuks are mini taxis with three wheels, and weave through the streets as if on an obstacle race. These dare devil drivers try to attract you in any way possible, and then deceive you. They offer to take you wherever you want for 10 baht (about 30 cents). Too good to be true. But what they don't tell you is the unexpected stops on the way. Tuk tuks have a deal with local shops. If they bring customers, then the owner will give the tuk tuk money for gas.

One of the tuk tuks favorite trick is to tell you the famous sites are closed for the day (it's the king's birthday or national Buddha day) so you will travel with them. They tried it on us, but we were wise to their ways (thanks to some travel book wisdom).

Rachel (my beautiful wife) and I are having a blast.

Our trip is as follows. We started in Tokyo, then to Bangkok, next to Chaing Mai, followed by a trek through the hillside for 3 days, and now back to Bangkok. Next we will travel along the southern coast of Thailand, then to Malaysia, Singapore, and to Indonesia. We have slept in nice hotels, shady hotels, village huts, trains, and traveled on bamboo raft, foot, taxi, elephant, airplane, train, and on a few occasions run like crazy to make our deadline.

Everything is amazing. When it is all over we will sleep for a week, and then start planning our next trip.

Interview with Joshua Wann / deejay essence Part 1 of 3

Matthew Downing from reformedvision.com interviews deejay essence of Lamp Mode Recordings in a three part series. The first part starts with a question about the meaning of Lamp Mode, and how he got involved with hip-hop music.

Interview with Joshua Wann / deejay essence Part 2 of 3

Deejay essence discusses how Christian hip-hop is a context to build relationships and create excitement for theology. He also explains his many roles with Lamp Mode Recordings, as well as his biggest struggle in the music industry.

Interview with Joshua Wann / deejay essence Part 3 of 3

In part three deejay essence describes the key artistic features to hip-hop, and how music gives God glory. He concludes with a demonstration on his turntables.

Honoring Anne d'Harnoncourt

I noticed that June 19th will be the official day of appreciation to honor Anne d’Harnoncourt, who died June 2, 2008. The Philadelphia Museum of Art will be open and free to the public on June 19th from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

At 11:30 a.m., the City Council will issue a resolution honoring Anne d’Harnoncourt’s extraordinary leadership and public service. A tribute ceremony will begin on the East Terrace at 6:00 p.m., which will include the Philadelphia Boys Choir, Ed Wise and His New Orleans Jazz Band, and Michael Nutter.

Throughout the day guest books will be on display in which visitors can share thoughts and memories. A complimentary audio tour of d’Harnoncourt’s Director’s Delights will be available to all guests.

“In the spirit of Anne’s warm and welcoming way, we offer this complimentary invitation to the public, everyone, to join us on June 19th in sharing the Museum and collections that she loved so much here in the city to which she was so completely devoted,” said Gerry Lenfest as quoted in the Philadelphia Museum of Art website.

An official memorial service will be scheduled for Sunday, September 7, 2008, which would be her 65th birthday. Donations in her memory may be made to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the Anne d'Harnoncourt Memorial Fund. The gifts have been placed in a restricted fund to identify a meaningful tribute.

It seems like it always takes death to make us appreciate life. But even when death comes to important public figures or loved ones, a few days pass and life is back to normal. I don’t think we should live in the shadow of death as that would not be a joyful existence. But the important lessons that death teaches are too soon forgotten. For example, life is precious and our time on earth is short compared with eternity. May the death of Anne d'Harnoncourt, a giant in the art community, teach us those lessons and encourage us to invest in our gifts and talents.

We need to remember to pray for Anne d’Harnoncourt’s family and friends during this difficult time.

The Ritz Rules

I love the Ritz. Not the Ritz-Carlton, the Ritz Camera Shop, or the yummy cracker. My love affair is with the Ritz Movie Theatres in Olde City Philadelphia.

I love the available Film Bill with the detailed movie analysis, the fresh coffee, and the almond biscottis. I love that the workers wear uniforms resembling a tux. I love the laid back atmosphere and the lack of crowds. I love the adjacent cobblestone streets with horse pulled carriages passing by.

After the movie I love walking across the street to Positano Coast and getting a Tonica Fresca along with a side of Mussels in Parmesan/Sage Broth. And all of these wonderful aspects of The Ritz Five are apart from their excellent movie selection.

Last Saturday night my wife hosted a bridal shower at our house. That gave me the opportunity to get out of the house and do something my wife doesn't enjoy. The Ritz was my first thought. It's not that my wife hates The Ritz (I don't know how anyone could hate such a wonderful institution), she just doesn't enjoy the total experience as much as I do.

I saw The Counterfeiters, a German made movie in subtitles about the holocaust. It explores the Jews role in counterfeiting the pound and dollar during World War 2. For a great movie review check out Armchair General's blog.

The Counterfeiters wrestles with the holocaust's complexity. It does not neatly wrap up all the issues or conclude with a happy ending. I left the theatre sobered by the unbridled cruelty, which was conveyed through specific artistic decisions by the director. Two apparent artistic themes were silence and music.

The main character, Salomon Sorowitsch, reduced his words as the movie progressed. His silence was an outward sign of his internal despair and a protest against the violence. He did not protest verbally or he would have been killed with the other millions of Jews. There are a few instances of acute silence when Salomon Sorowitsch enters a rage of anger. There was not a sound in the theatre. It forced me to consider the emotions of the character, but before I was able to fully contemplate the intense anger the silence ended, as if reminding me that such a task was impossible.

The soundtrack of The Counterfeiters consisted of classical tangos by Argentinean harmonica player Hugo Diaz and old opera recordings from the 1930's and 1940's. The soundtrack added time period authenticity to the movie while instilling a sense of hope in the viewer. Each song complimented the scene.

It is important to reflect on the use of silence and music within the arts and Christianity. Throughout the Bible silence is used to show God's displeasure with the unrepentant. In the same respect, people demonstrate their hard hearts towards God in their silence towards Him. On the contrary, God's power is made manifest when He speaks. He spoke the world into existence, and His word became flesh in the form of Jesus.

Music is used throughout the Psalms to sing praises to God. And throughout Church history beautifully written hymns have been sung in worship to God. But the opposite is also true. Many songs have been written that blaspheme the name of God. Silence and music evoke powerful emotional responses.

How is silence and music expressed in the broader scope of the arts, and how does that reflect the true character of God?

Romantic Comedy Overdose

My romantic comedy intake has increased 1,000 fold since getting married in December. That didn't take much, because the last romantic comedy I remember seeing was on a movie date in eighth grade.

One of our first joint married decisions was subscribing to Blockbuster Total Access. It was a beautiful moment, not realizing the difficulties ahead.

After registering we headed to our local Blockbuster, 48th and Pine. I was giddy as we entered the store. Movie title after movie title scrolled in front of my eyes - documentaries, mob movies, foreign films, suspense thrillers. Married life will be good.

We had a casually romantic evening planned, which included dinner at Vientiane Cafe and then relaxing at home with a movie. So to expedite the movie picking process and get the romance started (at least that's what I was thinking) we decided to separate, pick a few movies, meet back, and select one. Ten minutes later I had my three - Godfather, Into The Wild, and Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room.

A slight grin was on my face as I showed what I thought to be the perfect movie combination. How could she not like any of those three? Well, she didn't. And with a wider grin then mine displayed her three selections: The Nanny Diaries, Enchanted, and 27 Dresses.

I took a deep breath as I thought to myself how could she not like any of mine, and how could she like those? I didn't want to say anything rude (trying to remember some guidance from our pre-marriage counselor), but I am sure my face said it all (as she confirmed with me later that night).

Is my future movie watching experience going to be filled with romantic comedy after romantic comedy? My stomach sank at the thought.

This seemingly simple process turned out to be quite the opposite. We left Blockbuster without a movie and didn't make our dinner reservation. Tom Yum soup and Sweet Basil Chicken was replaced with a cold sandwich from our fridge. Not what I envisioned.

I am not declaring all romantic comedies bad and foreign films good. But we must acknowledge that we have movie preferences, and those preferences matter. They matter because movies are an influential form of entertainment and will not remain neutral. In light of that it would be wise to evaluate our preferences.

What do you base your movie preferences on? How does the movies artistic expression and content reflect God's character? If God isn't glorified by the content or the artistic forms, then don't waste your time - whether it be a romantic comedy or a documentary.

Rocky, Philly's Nike Of Samothrace

The debate over the Rocky statue's artistic relevance keeps going and going and going like the Energizer Bunny (does Energizer even use that bunny anymore?).

A post from Life in the AM got me thinking about this artistic debate once again.

After much thought I'm convinced the big bronze Rocky statue should stand tall on top of the art museum's steps. Looking proudly over the city.

Rocky is art. Rocky is more than a movie character. Rocky represents toughness, he represent victory. We need identifiable figures that ignite inspiration and provide guidance. A beautiful landscape or architectural structure might leave me awe filled, but some days I need practical over transendent beauty. Where should I look when I'm having a tough work week or a difficult time paying the bills? Rocky is a start, and the way he knocked the snot out of that Soviet, Ivan Drago.

William Penn is Philadelphia's other great sculptured figure. But Philadelphians no longer connect with William Penn who ascendeds above them on City Hall. We need a figure to speak to our generation with our struggles.

Here is what I propose. We get together and move that statue ourselves to its rightful place atop the museum steps. It will be a demonstration of democracy at work. Rocky can be Philly's version of Nike of Samothrace. A sculpture that encourages and celebrates victory.

Who is with me?

Anne d'Harnoncourt, Philadelphia Museum Of Art Director, Dies At Age 64

I was devastated to hear that Anne d'Harnoncourt died last night, June 1, 2008, at the age of 64. The presumed cause of her death was a stroke. She served as the director for the Philadelphia Museum of Art since 1982, and as CEO since 1997.

"It's a shock and it's very sad. It's unimaginable - the museum world without her," said Philippe de Montebello as quoted in the Inquirer. "There's no question that she was one of the very few people at the very summit to whom all museum directors and curators would look up and consult. She was a very big influence on the international museum group that meets every year. She was just someone who made a difference wherever she went."

It goes without saying that her death is a huge loss to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia community, and the entire art world. Prior to d'Harnoncourt arrival in 1982, the Philadelphia Museum of Art couldn't afford to keep all major collections open to the public. Her leadership helped to reinstall the European collections in more than 90 galleries, and guide the renovation of 20 modern and contemporary art galleries. She also brought special exhibitions like Vincent Van Gogh and Salvidor Dali. Today, the museum is thriving.

She demonstrated a clear future vision for the museum. At the time of her death she was overseeing a massive $590 million expansion and renovation of the museum, including a Frank Gehry reworking of the main building, restoration of the exterior and the erection of a new sculpture garden atop a underground parking garage. The long awaited Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building was completed on Sept. 15, 2007.

The life of Anne d'Harnoncourt teaches me the importance of advocating for the arts. All visitors to the Philadelphia Museum of Art have benefited from her expertise in selecting, acquiring, and displaying art. I know I have. Each visit I learn to appreciate the arts in new ways. It was at the Philadelphia Museum of Art where I first surveyed surrealism, and grasped impressionism. I continue to expand my knowledge each time I return (most recently at the Frida Kahlo exhibit), partly because of d'Harnoncourt's powerful influence upon the museum.

She will be greatly missed.

Check out these articles for more information: Philly.com article , Daily News article , Populist post , Bloomberg.com article

Where Would Jesus Live - City or Suburbs?

I drove to the Delaware beach for the Memorial Day holiday. And as you could guess the traffic was terrible. High gas prices didn't stop the masses from traveling.

About 2 hours into the trip I needed a break, as I could feel my road rage starting to overflow, or maybe that was just the sweat from my back. Either way I saw a Starbucks sign and exited at Middletown, Delaware.

Middletown used to be farm land, but not anymore. The major thoroughfare that was formerly used for transporting farm goods is now lined with strip malls, and beyond the strip malls endless housing developments. Everything looks the same - large single homes with beige siding and a 2 car garage. The supposed American dream.

Before I go any further I need to disclose something, I despise the suburbs. Not all suburbs, but the one's that resemble an Andy Warhol. (Imagine the painting below with houses in place of Marilyn Monroe) Every time I see those type of suburbs I get a vomiting sensation like when I drank cough syrup as a kid.

Allow me to ask a few questions to illustrate my point. Why do bakers use cookie cutters? Because it's easy and uniform. What do you think of when you see a tray of cookie cut cookies? Probably, yummy I'm ready to eat. I bet you never looked at a cookie produced from a cookie cutter and pondered the artwork. You didn't because it is not awe inspiring.

Now imagine a handmade cookie plopped onto a cookie tray in an array of unique shapes. The handmade cookies are not only more delicious then the cookie cut ones, but also possess more of an artistic form. No right minded cookie eater would ever choose a cookie cut cookie over a handmade cookie, because the latter is superior in both taste and asthetics. Let's bring our cookie logic to houses.

Our houses should be unique in a way that reflects God. He created man and woman uniquely in His own image. When we demonstrate our uniqueness we glorify him, even in the design of our houses.

In closing, Where would Jesus live - the suburbs or the city? (I ask that in a joking manner) Let's not become overly spiritual about where we should live. One living environment isn't innately better then another, even though I live in the city and prefer the city. But our living environment should reflect the God who made the heavens and stars, not a tray of uniformed cookies.

Getting Frank About Frida Kahlo

The above painting greeted me as I stepped foot in the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

My initial reaction to attending the exhibit was - yeahh sure, I'll go. Who are we going to see again? I wasn't that excited, but my attitude changed as I looked at the first painting. I was no longer there just because. I was engaged. I'm not sure what flipped the switch for me. It could have been Frida's bold stare, those little animals on her shoulders, or the necklace piercing her skin. I became excited to see the rest of her work.

I didn't know much about Frida prior to the exhibit, except for her name as a pop culture reference and that famous uni-brow. This exhibit changed that. It included over 40 original works of art from 1926 - 1954 (the year of her death). There were also 100's of photographs taken of Frida, often accompanied with her lover and acclaimed muralist Diego Rivera.

Three things stuck out to me - the vivid colors, graphic symbolism, and extensive self examination. The colors seemed to jump off of the page. They were bright, bold, and energetic. Still Life with Parrot and Fruit (1951) (see below) is a great example.

Surrealistic symbolism was also apparent in many paintings such as Henry Ford Hospital (1932). This painting shows Frida lying on an operating table with internal organs removed from her body. One of those items was a fetus, the reason she was in the hospital. It represents her inability to have children.

The third feature that I appreciated was her continual self examination. She obsessed with how others viewed her, and her own self perception. At first, I thought - get over yourself and start illustrating some important stuff. Enough of the head shots. But as the portraits continued, it showed her serious approach to self discovery and I began to understand.

The Frida exhibit, celebrating the 100th anniversary of her birth, is no longer at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. However, I would encourage everyone to spend some time viewing her artwork. There is a reason for her prominence in the modern art community.

To clarify, I respect Frida's artistic abilities, but I do not agree with all of her lifestyle or art decisions. She committed open affairs within her marriage, which is clearly against God's commands. Many of her artworks also lacked redeeming values. They did not provide a hope that the Gospel brings.

But I do think her art made significant developments. Anyone that denies that is missing the big picture. She progressed the experimentation of previously accepted art forms with her self portraits, colors, and surrealistic themes. At the same time she gave women a powerful voice that often originated from her emotional and physical struggles.

Frida's content didn't always reflect the true character of God, but her artistic talent did.

What do you think?

Can We Escape Art?

No.

Art is inescapable - all around us, all the time.

We can't get rid of it. Take a look around your room. See that lamp, that blanket, the location of that table. They are all art. When you went to Home Depot to pick out the paint color for your family room, you made an artistic decision.

Check out Susan Thomas' blog entry My 8 to 5. Her simple work cubicle turned into her work of art. She selected her favorite quotes to cover the walls. The quotes were printed in varying font styles, sizes, and paper shapes. Even the way the post it notes were organized on her wall had form, and thus of artistic nature. She selected that candy bowl, because she liked the form. And that snazzy "Easy" button. It doesn't serve any purpose, except for decoration, style - an artistic touch.

We cannot escape art or the forms surrounding us. The only question is if we will appreciate the many artistic decisions that we and others make, and then pursue excellence in the arts. Whether it be orchestrating flowers for a vase, picking a frame for a picture, or the right word in a poem.

You are an artist.