Introducing Lauren Kolozak!! The newest Minus The Box Volunteer Blogger

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A sincere and warm welcome to Lauren Kolozak! Lauren is Minus The Box’s newest volunteer blogger. She will be sharing her views on a variety of topics so make sure you comeback often to read what she has written. Below is her biography. Looking forward to her contributions.

L. Kolozak is an aspiring author, Broadway star, forensic psychologist, and Lost Boy. She enjoys zombie movies, Florence + the Machine, and pretending she’s on Cupcake Wars. She recently finished her first novel and is currently procrastinating on several other manuscripts.

 

Love is All You Need?

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A very powerful short film. In a world where homosexuality is the social & biological norm while heterosexuality is the deviant minority, a girl struggles with who she really is. The effects of bullying, religious doctrine, and parenting are all examined as part of a world which firmly and irresolutely tells her that she is wrong.

Watching this film, I was reminded of another Beatles song, begging us to imagine a world where all of us can live and love in peace. In the face of discrimination, intolerance, and hatred, sometimes all we can do is imagine something better. And all I can do is hope that the imagined future that so many of us share is not so far away.

 

TED Tuesday – Bobby McFerrin plays… the audience!

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A shorty but a goodie, this video represents the universal power of music.

“Regardless of where I am, anywhere, every audience gets that.”

 

The Sunday Review – Gansu Dance Theater in “Silk Road”

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A glorious assault of light, color, and sound, “Silk Road” is a testament to the capacity of culture to translate across time, space and country. The China Gansu Dance Theater has ambitiously taken on the task of retelling the story of the Silk Road, an ancient trade route that at its peak linked parts of North Africa, Asia, and Europe. Taking the form of family drama, “Silk Road” is about the love of a father for his kidnapped daughter.

Broken into eight acts, “Silk Road” moves swiftly between scenes each made unique with the use of distinct costumes, music, and set. Beginning in a stunning Buddhist temple, the audience finds master painter Shenbi Zhang, played by the magnificent An Ning, dutifully at work.

The performance quickly shifts and the audience is soon mesmerized by a barren desert where a Persian businessman, Yunus, has collapsed in a sand storm. Shenbi Zhang and his daughter Yingniang rush to aid Yunus. In the process, they are intercepted by bandits, led by Song Yulong as chief bandit Dou Hu, Yingniang is subsequently taken captive. Thus begins the epic story of a father’s search for his missing daughter.

The beautifully crafted story spans space and time, inviting the audience to explore mythic palaces and lush gardens through dance. Shenbi Zhang pays the ultimate price to see his daughter, causing Yingniang to seek justice. At a glamorous gala, Yingniang disguised as a dancer, accuses the man who held her captive and murdered her father. Dou Hu and his co-conspirators are captured and made to pay for their cruel crimes.

Glorious scenery, outstanding costumes, and tremendous performances from all involved make “Silk Road” a magnificent journey. Choreography aside, the scenery and costuming alone are worth accolades. Ornate, interact, and with colors that exist beyond the imagination, the costumes and scenery clearly indicate the level of dedication that went into the production of “Silk Road.” Beautiful woven fabrics and jewels adorn the dancers as they move, one would be so lucky to wear such carefully handcrafted garments.

With some choreographic elements that are similar to pop-and-lock, break dance and classical ballet, “Silk Road” speaks to the power of cultural transition, how elements of a culture can traverse both perceived and real boundaries.

Done with great athleticism, the dancers perform a demanding sequence that they make look effortless. It is awe striking to consider the psychical requirements of such a performance. To dance for nearly two hours, beneath hot lights and under close observation is amazing, and to make it look easy is outstanding.

An Ning, who played master painter Shendi Zhang, delivered an exceptional performance. You will wait with baited breath for the next moment in which he will grace the stage. He moves with great elegance, a masterful lightness and energy that are unmatched.

Absolutely stunning is An Ning’s delivery. As a feather floats through air, An Ning moves through space with ownership and delicacy. He illuminates life when he moves and it is a glorious illumination. Words cannot fully capture his capacity on stage.

Also outstanding was Song Yulong as chief bandit Dou Hu. Song Yulong fully animates his character bringing a drama and life to it that is unmatched. From his facial expressions to his walk, Song Yulong has created a memorable and distinct figure. Audiences will enjoy the character of Dou Hu as he is a comical villain; frightening, agile, and yet interesting.

Rounding off the tremendous leading cast are Chen Chen who beautifully depicted the painter’s daughter Yingniang and the wonderful Huang Deshuang who played the Persian merchant Yunus. Chen Chen provided the audience with an elegant depiction of Yingniang.

With unimaginable flexibility and grace, Chen Chen is a sparkling jewel within the performance. Stunning to watch Huang Deshuang, as Yunus, performs a multitude of quick repetitive spins. One can only imagine the grueling nature of such a move, but Huang Deshuang consistently performs with great energy and zeal.

The true crime is that “Silk Road” has a limited engagement. An exciting display of dance and color, “Silk Road” is an enjoyable experience for everyone. No matter what, audience members will find something that draws and excites him or her about the “Silk Road.”

Waiting for the Fallout by Lauren Kolozak

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There are not very many things more terrifying than imminent rejection. Whether it be something as simple as how that pair of skinny jeans will look or as imperative as the dream job you’ve been working towards. But, it’s not the rejection that’s terrifying; it’s the unknown reaction to a question that has us holding our breath and chewing our nails. It’s the millions of scenarios running through our minds, each one leading us down an even darker outcome.

In the face of uncertainty, we are all jaded creatures, concocting the worst possible scenarios in the back of our minds as we wait for the answer to our question.

“Will I get the job?”

“Will she say yes?”

“Will this dream I’ve harbored for so long finally come to fruition?”

It’s easier to handle that rejection if we’ve already heard “no” echoing in our heads. It becomes part of a script rather than an unwelcome surprise. We’ve prepared for the fallout, bunking down in cement walls, surrounded by freeze-dried meals and whispering, “I knew this would happen.” When nuclear waste riddles the optimistic on the surface, we are safe from radiation in the shelter of our cynicism.

Hidden beneath the ground, we forget the taste of strawberries and the feel of sun on our face. We forget the incredible expanse of the sky and the sound of the wind through the trees. We forget how incredible it is to feel hope sing in our chest and hear the answering refrain of “yes.”

In the end, there are worst things than survival. And, as terrifying as it can be to emerge from the earth and away from the safety of cement and cynicism, the fallout of “no”  can be endured. The wasteland of rejection can be traversed.

You just have to be willing to step into the sun.

 

Wanderlust Wednesday – Paris Circa 1920s

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Welcome to Wanderlust Wednesday, where we traverse time and space to bring you the best of travel, food, music, and culture. Enjoy!

The European home of Hot Jazz and Josephine Baker, 1920s Paris was remembered fondly by Woody Allen in his film “Midnight in Paris.” The coolest hot spot was of course the 18th district, Montmartre. Causally known as the artist’s district many well-known artists including Salvador Dalí, Amedeo Modigliani, and Pablo Picasso once called it home.

To learn more about Jazz in Paris check out the documentary “Harlem in Montmartre: A Paris Jazz Story”  http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/harlem-in-montmartre/preview-of-harlem-in-montmartre/827/ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=qQ-xXA7D6YA

Musical Inspiration: 

Visual Inspiration: http://pinterest.com/denisetallman/1920s-paris/

Film Inspiration: http://www.sonyclassics.com/midnightinparis/


Documentary:

 

 

 

TED Talk Tuesday – Gustavo Dudamel leads El Sistema’s top youth orchestra

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Whenever I begin to feel disappointed in humanity, I simply turn to the arts for inspiration and to feel uplifted.

Here is an amazing, AMAZING youth orchestra from Venezuela. These tremendous young musicians are in high school and their talent is outstanding; I don’t even remember what I was doing in high school and I was certainty not doing anything as significant as these students. Led by renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel enjoy this slice of musical heaven.

Words of Wisdom from Patton Oswalt

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This well articulated commentary comes directly from Patton Oswalt via Facebook. Sympathy for all those affected by the tragedy in Boston.

Boston. Fucking horrible. 

I remember, when 9/11 went down, my reaction was, “Well, I’ve had it with humanity.”

But I was wrong. I don’t know what’s going to be revealed to be behind all of this mayhem. One human insect or a poisonous mass of broken sociopaths. 

But here’s what I DO know. If it’s one person or a HUNDRED people, that number is not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the population on this planet. You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out. (Thanks FAKE Gallery founder and owner Paul Kozlowski for pointing this out to me). This is a giant planet and we’re lucky to live on it but there are prices and penalties incurred for the daily miracle of existence. One of them is, every once in awhile, the wiring of a tiny sliver of the species gets snarled and they’re pointed towards darkness. 

But the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We’d have eaten ourselves alive long ago. 

So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, “The good outnumber you, and we always will.” 

Cigarettes, Diamonds, and Melancholia by Lauren Kolozak

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It’s just one of those nights tonight. When the room is too quiet and my feet are too cold and my phone is seemingly empty of all human contact. Loneliness has snuck in through the cracks, sweet and sinister like the smoke curling from cloves. It burns the back of my throat; my eyes begin to sting.

Instead of banishing it, stubbing out the end of that cigarette into the surface of my coffee table, I do something else. I breathe it in. I let that sugar-drenched scent pour into my body and soak up through my pores and stick to my tongue. I blow smoke rings of sadness back into the air, watch it dissipate into nothing.

It’s a beautiful thing, being lonely.

So often, we are told to hoard emotions like happiness, love, excitement – these are the glittering jewels that we wear on our fingers and hold in the hollows of our throat. They are cherished; they are beloved. Yet, not all that glitters is gold. Pain, fear, and sorrow shine just as brightly. But, rather than wear them like diamonds, we do our best to blot them out, erase their existence into the blackness from whence they came. On nights such as this, I’m expected to wear a false smile of cubic zirconia as if everything is fine.

But, there is something beautiful in all the things we hide. There is poetry in tears, how they cling to lashes with a lover’s desperation. There are songs sung in your bones even as they break in envy. Paint swirls beneath skin in angry, crimson strokes. And loneliness burns as cloves, deadly sweet smoke filling your mouth.

It’s nearly one in the morning and I’m still alone. In the darkness, I can see the embers of a half-lit cigarette glittering like a jewel.

I breathe in.

 

The Sunday Review – Cirque du Soleil: Totem

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Awaken your inner child, ignite your passion for creativity, and join the thousands that have witnessed the glory of Cirque du Soleil’s “Totem.” An amazing theatrical production, “Totem” is Cirque du Soleil at its best. Stunning acts, live music, and amazing costuming combine to create something simply unforgettable. “Totem” is an outstanding experience that must be enjoyed several times over. You will fall in love and it will be love at first sight.

Through a series of entertaining acts, “Totem” creatively explores the process of human evolution. It tracks man from amphibian, to ape, and ends with our need for astrological exploration. Along your journey you will encounter young lovers, skilled jugglers, and punk rock Neanderthals. You will be amazed by the skill and capacity of each member of this traveling show.

“Totem” begins with the illuminating spark of creation descending from the heavens. It sends a spark that lands upon the back of a tortoise shell. The shell is an important symbolic element in “Totem” as many indigenous creation stories prominently feature tortoises. Within the shell, the audience witnesses the first sparks of energetic and acrobatic life. This is the opening scene of “Totem;” quick and vibrant, it effectively prepares the audience for the entertainment to come.

A diverse mix of acts with varying degrees of difficulty make “Totem” an all around entertaining experience. The acts are a testament to creativity and the ability of the human body. Agility, coordination, and strength are all key factors in what makes these performers some of the best in the world.

“Foot Juggling (Crystal Ladies)” takes the common act of juggling and turns it into something spectacular; much like what Cirque Du Soleil has done to the traditional circus. Performed by Belarusian twin sisters Marina and Svetlana Tsodikova, “Foot Juggling (Crystal Ladies)” is an amazingly coordinated act executed with tremendous precision. The performance is well coordinated and beautiful to watch as their costumes glisten under the Big Top lights.

Young and shy aerial lovers are seen in the “Fixed Duo Trapeze.” Playful while still technically impressive, Guilhem Cauchois and Sarah Tessier remind the audience of youthful first love. Rapid dance-like movements done midair are as exciting as the lovers themselves.

Massimiliano Medini and Denise Garcia-Sorta exquisitely perform “Roller Skates,” by far the most outstanding act of “Totem.” Edge of your seat exciting, this performance is mesmerizing. Fast, elegant, and beautiful, the speed and accuracy of this act are amazing. Taking the form of a courtship the pair move in complete harmony.

“Totem” is the only show of its kind to feature traditional indigenous performance elements so prominently. The “Hoops Dancer” is a crucial character in the non-linear storyline of the performance. He appears as a lone warrior in the first half of the show but returns with a female counterpart for his second act. It is great to see such creative and cultural diversity represented on a main stage.

The unspoken heroes of “Totem” are the musicians and crew. These unnamed individuals work together to create a supportive environment in which these artists can excel. From outstanding costuming to tremendous live music, these individuals are equally responsible for the great success of “Totem.”

Despite the unintentional black and brown face, “Totem” is a true family affair. It takes the best of science, myth, and magic and creates a compelling story on life, love, and change. Wonderfully mixing different elements of expression, “Totem” is a joy for children and adults. An amazing story of life is illuminated through glorious movement that is sure to please all.

“Totem” is a traveling show. For more information or tickets, call 718-507-6387 or visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

 

TED Talk Tuesday – Shane Koyczan: “To This Day” … for the bullied and beautiful

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For the bullied, the belittled, and the beautiful…an Amazing conversation between poet and audience, but they are all amazing.There are so many great lines in this piece I cannot put them all. Stop the hate, stop the bullying, stop the criticism. We can’t see the damage it does to others but it does do damage, and long lasting, heart breaking damage. I still remember times I have been bullied, many years after the event. It can end, we can stop it, we can make the world and our lives better. May this piece remind us all to be a little kinder, a little gentler, and a little more compassionate.

 

“ When I was a kid, I wanted to shave. Now, not so much. When I was eight, I wanted to be a marine biologist. When I was nine, I saw the movie “Jaws,” and thought to myself, “No, thank you.”

“See, they asked me what I wanted to be, then told me what not to be. And I wasn’t the only one. We were being told that we somehow must become what we are not, sacrificing what we are to inherit the masquerade of what we will be. I was being told to accept the identity that others will give me.“

“ I thought to myself, “What now? Where do I turn?” Poetry. Like a boomerang, the thing I loved came back to me. One of the first lines of poetry I can remember writing was in response to a world that demanded I hate myself.From age 15 to 18, I hated myself for becoming the thing that I loathed: a bully. When I was 19, I wrote, “I will love myself despite the ease with which I lean toward the opposite.”

“When I was a kid, I traded in homework assignments for friendship, then gave each friend a late slip for never showing up on time, and in most cases not at all. I gave myself a hall pass to get through each broken promise. And I remember this plan, born out of frustrationfrom a kid who kept calling me “Yogi,” then pointed at my tummy and said, “Too many picnic baskets.” Turns out it’s not that hard to trick someone, and one day before class, I said, “Yeah, you can copy my homework,” and I gave him all the wrong answers that I’d written down the night before. He got his paper back expecting a near-perfect score, and couldn’t believe it when he looked across the room at me and held up a zero. I knew I didn’t have to hold up my paper of 28 out of 30, but my satisfaction was complete when he looked at me, puzzled, and I thought to myself, “Smarter than the average bear, motherfucker.”

“In grade five, they taped a sign to the front of her desk that read, “Beware of dog.” To this day, despite a loving husband, she doesn’t think she’s beautiful because of a birthmark that takes up a little less than half her face. Kids used to say, “She looks like a wrong answerthat someone tried to erase, but couldn’t quite get the job done.” And they’ll never understand that she’s raising two kids whose definition of beauty begins with the word “Mom,” because they see her heart before they see her skin, because she’s only ever always been amazing.“

“and if you can’t see anything beautiful about yourself,get a better mirror, look a little closer, stare a little longer, because there’s something inside you that made you keep trying despite everyone who told you to quit. You built a cast around your broken heart and signed it yourself. You signed it, “They were wrong.”

Try a Little Tenderness (Chocolate Wouldn’t Hurt Either) by Lauren Kolozak

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It is a truth universally acknowledged that working at a job under your skill level almost always sucks. The reasons we work these jobs are many: financial difficulties, family responsibilities, attending school, etc. These jobs are a necessity in a way that’s different than a career. And, it’s all too often that the work environment leaves a foul taste in your mouth and a migraine knocking away at your temple.

I’m at one such job as I finish up my master’s degree. I’ve worked in customer service for what feels an eternity, a weeping Sisyphus pushing a boulder up the metaphorical hill. I’m currently working for a veterinary service that, while having top notch doctors and excellent medical practice, has – how do we say – lackluster management.

Observe.

I’m working in the phone room, managing the multi-line system with four other coworkers. It’s a tiny, tucked away dungeon that never sees the light of day, where our hunched-over, beleaguered forms are kept far from the sight of any clients. I had just finished setting up an appointment when I heard my phone buzz. I pulled it out of my purse to glance at it (a missed call from my mom). At that moment, my manager happened to see me with the phone in my hand.

The scolding I received was both cataclysmic and showed a remarkable range of vocabulary to express my utter incompetence.

During this spiel, I watched as my other three coworkers played Words with Friends, Temple Run, and one was laughing at a Youtube video posted on her Facebook wall. They were somehow spared from the slaughter.

It’s moments like these that make the bitterness and resentment and disappointment swirl together in this ugly maelstrom that threatens to ooze from your pores and bubble past your teeth. It sits heavy in your chest as you sit in your apartment, staring at the degrees on your wall and wondering, “Is it worth it?”

What I have found is that, during these times, the best weapon against the storm of self-loathing and doubt is a simple measure. Self-appreciation. Taking time to treat yourself. Watch that emotionally wrenching film that always makes you cry and indulge in the romance of Elizabeth Bennett and Mister Darcy to your heart’s content. Buy that double fudge pint of ice cream without worrying about whether it will go to your hips (who cares, you know you look fabulous). Get outside and feel the sun on your face, rejoicing in the fact that it’s finally spring. And, know that you are the unbelievably unlikely combination of atoms and carbon and elements that produced an utterly unique you, and that the universe will never recreate another quite like you again in the history of all things.

So, when your boss is muttering about your inability to monitor your paperclip use, remember in that back of your mind that this storm will pass, Elizabeth Bennett finds her true love, and that you are deserve every ounce of fudge in that pint of ice cream.

 

The Sunday Review – Cats

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Now, I do not like cats. Never have, don’t know why people do. But this recent article from Yahoo may change my mind. Enjoy your Sunday.

Original Article: http://news.yahoo.com/pals-little-girl-tomcat-043800703–abc-news-topstories.html

Artist: Andy Prokh

Curiosity and Caution

ht champion jump ll 130405 vblog Pals: Little Girl and Tomcat

A girl and her cat

Champion Jump

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In Dreams of Space

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A girl and her cat

Prince of Persia

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Dreamers

ht bohemian rhapsody by cat ll 130405 vblog Pals: Little Girl and Tomcat

Bohemian Rhapsody by Cat

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The Jugglers

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War and …

ht and peace ll 130405 vblog Pals: Little Girl and Tomcat

… and Peace

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Favorite Fairy Tales

ht accept a draw ll 130405 vblog Pals: Little Girl and TomcatAccept a Draw

Accept a Draw

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Paint it Gray

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Paint it Funny

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Catch a Rainbow

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The Gang

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Saudeks Hiding

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The Carotene

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The Dreamers

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The Dreamers

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The Circus

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How to Make a Masterpiece

Martin Luther King Jr. – “I Have A Dream”

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On this day many years ago, the life of a great man was taken, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4th 1968. In honor of his life, his service, and his vision, below is his famous speech “I Have A Dream.” This video needs no introduction or explanation. May it raise you higher and keep you going.

You May Say I’m a Dreamer (But I’m Not the Only One) by Lauren Kolozak

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As a writer, imagination is my tool. I can shape, create, carve, cut, mold the world to my will with nothing more than a thought. Imagination is my weapon. I defend against stagnation, battle hopelessness, raise it upwards in a rallying cry. Imagination is a voice heard by the world, a song that each one of us carries.

Today, we use our imagination for more than characters and story arcs. We use imagination to create a story that connects us all. A story that can become more than a story.

It can be real.

TED Tuesday – Ron Finley: A guerilla gardener in South Central LA

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When I saw this video for the first time it moved me. Ron Finley is an innovative social gardener improving his community in South Central LA. His talk is real, heartfelt, and insightful. Some of my favorite quotes below, there are just so many. Such a great talk. Enjoy, take pleasure from it, and may it lift you higher.

“I got tired of seeing this happening. And I was wondering, how would you feel if you had no access to healthy food, if every time you walk out your door you see the ill effects that the present food system has on your neighborhood? I see wheelchairs bought and sold like used cars. I see dialysis centers popping up like Starbucks. And I figured, this has to stop.So I figured that the problem is the solution. Food is the problem and food is the solution.Plus I got tired of driving 45 minutes round trip to get an apple that wasn’t impregnated with pesticides. So what I did, I planted a food forest in front of my house.“

“See, I’m an artist. Gardening is my graffiti. I grow my art. Just like a graffiti artist, where they beautify walls, me, I beautiful lawns, parkways. I use the garden, the soil, like it’s a piece of cloth, and the plants and the trees, that’s my embellishment for that cloth. You’d be surprised what the soil could do if you let it be your canvas. You just couldn’t imagine how amazing a sunflower is and how it affects people.“

“ To change the community, you have to change the composition of the soil. We are the soil.“

“I see young people and they want to work, but they’re in this thing where they’re caught up – I see kids of color and they’re just on this track that’s designed for them, that leads them to nowhere. So with gardening, I see an opportunity where we can train these kids to take over their communities, to have a sustainable life. And when we do this, who knows? We might produce the next George Washington Carver. but if we don’t change the composition of the soil, we will never do this.“

“So what I want to do here, we gotta make this sexy. So I want us all to become ecolutionary renegades, gangstas, gangsta gardeners. We gotta flip the script on what a gangsta is. If you ain’t a gardener, you ain’t gangsta. Get gangsta with your shovel, okay?And let that be your weapon of choice.“

 

 

TED Tuesday – Eric Whitacre: Virtual Choir Live

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Today is an AMAZING TED Talk, which doesn’t help since they’re all amazing. Composer Eric Whitacre has taken music and collaboration to new nights. This performance will touch your heart as people from all over the world come together for one glorious musical moment. You will find yourself snapping along with the singers during the performance. May it lift you up.