A. S. Tarmu

Career Progress, Community Events, And Cultivating Joy

2023-10-19T19:01:00.004-04:00

While I try to stay up-to-date with world events (I use the Ground News service for this purpose), I try to not let myself get overwhelmed, through "tending to my own garden". Lately, I have been focused on cultivating joy. I recently finished reading a book on this very subject. It was recommended by an architect of Romanian origin whose work I admire. I am linking to the independent bookstore nearby, where I also pre-ordered this little gem.

I interviewed a lot in September, in search of suitable contract work through my business, Beginning next week I will be going to Manhattan much more often, for my newest assignment.

Last month, my life partner and I initiated a series of community events at a coffee shop in the neighborhood. I relaunched our multimedia production company website and restarted taking weekly dance lessons. At the beginning of October, I participated in my second Hispanic Dance Parade. Later I met with fellow GIS conservationists for a happy hour event.

During September I also attended a few sessions at the UN Science Science Summit, where I had the opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneur, futurist, and poet, Tami Pudina, founder of Hyperdrive Anthropology. We partnered on an exciting geospatial project for which we are currently applying for funding. Later I attended a business dinner organized by EarthDaily, which prompted a possible collaboration on our project.

This Monday I attended an anxiously awaited concert of the Madrid Royal Theatre Orchestra at Lincoln Center. The program featured some of my all-time favorite symphonic pieces.

Yesterday we went out to celebrate by seeing one of Dorian Devins Trio's last concerts at their jazz residency in New York - they will be moving out of the area soon. She is one of the moderators of Secret Science Club, and an artist. They will be back at Flute Champagne Bar on November 29.

Photography Archives, Readings, Multimedia Production

2023-09-03T13:52:00.003-04:00

Digital cleanup entails discovering previously unused images and videos in my archives. Some I only posted on my personal Facebook account. I have been fiddling with AI and graphic design platforms such as Canva and Adobe Express as a creative outlet, making posters and promo videos for my multimedia production company. I have also been writing more on my other blogs, getting inspired by WordPress prompts (their collaboration with Day One is a good idea; I used to journal based on Day One prompts).

This summer I did freelance work that allowed me to catch up on my readings. I wrote on Linkedin about a book that I greatly enjoyed - Braiding Sweetgrass. It inspired me to write about my own adventures trying to find a balance between "overengineering and abandonment" tending to my backyard garden. That files under "comfort", so the place for those stories is my Substack newsletter. My complete reading list is disclosed to subscribers.

"Blog" Universe

2023-08-30T23:19:00.001-04:00

I mentioned before that I consider this blog and any of my blogs a palimpsest. I reserve the right to go back and edit older posts. Recently I added images to all the recent posts that lacked them. Not just any images, but AI-generated ones, even for posts written before the public availability of AI. The title is a play on the block universe. The future already exists for those old blog posts.

In other news, a new semester just started (this fall I am teaching Ecology again), together with a new and exciting possible collaboration. I have been more active on social media and my Romanian blog, which has the word "palimpsest" in its domain. Next week I will be attending the Science Summit at the United Nations.

My Latest Job Hunting Mindset, Regular Jane, Artsy Jane, and Naturally Curious Jane

2022-07-15T11:43:00.009-04:00

For as long as I can remember I have been equally interested in arts and in sciences. When I took a job aptitude assessment, I scored highly in both realms, with a slightly higher level in sciences. I am a licensed scientist married to a musician with a doctorate degree. I enjoy moonlighting as a multimedia producer, with all that it entails. It is my artistic outlet. Yet, I was hesitant to add this activity (or my graphic art studies) to my LinkedIn profile for a long time. It is still absent from my CV. Like many others in a similar situation, as I discovered along the way, I am pretty used to being discounted as a "serious" scientist.

Never mind that I have a graduate degree in Biology from one of the highest-rated universities. More than a decade ago, noticing this dismissive attitude on both sides of the Atlantic led me to the decision to separate my artistic persona from my scientific one. I obviously did not want to look like the misfit or oddball in the "nerd" community more than I already am. I did not want to hurt my employability in technical and scientific domains. Unsurprisingly, too many people still think (or like to think) that you can properly do just one thing. I strongly believe they are missing out, thus not only hurting themselves but also their team and by eventually their community. I took great care of not flaunting a too wide array of skills, in both my personal and professional life. I met a few others like me who were doing the same thing. Until I realized that no way in hell I would ever be comfortable (at least not for long) in a "regular Jane" cookie-cutter position. Nothing wrong with regular Janes. I worship at their feet. Without their work, we would be nowhere. It is just that, by most accounts, I am not one, and likely never will I be one. They have their role. I have mine. Only that mine is not so obvious to most employers and potential collaborators. That is perfectly fine. It is a great way to weed out jobs and collaboration offers where my particular skill set would be underused. Now whenever I am not selected for a particular position, I am grateful for being free to move on to a better fitting one.

I started blogging on Blogspot without a plan, in 2006, just because I like to write and I am not bad at it (thank you, free version of Grammarly). When in 2010 Blogspot/Google offered me the chance to register my blog with a domain for a very reasonable yearly fee, I gladly accepted. Choosing my personal domain name was guided by the content I have been posting at the beginning. Mostly travel - a personal log to keep various friends and interested acquaintances informed with my latest. I was drawing and painting a lot back then, while getting my US "footing", and I was using my middle name to sign my works. I still do. My social media handles were using it too. Art has always been a violon d'Ingres for me, just as foreign languages. My main focus has always been science. When I draw, I mostly depict the natural world. I chose science for my formal education to gain access to labs and equipment that otherwise would have been nearly impossible to reach. For all the rest all I needed was at most (and increasingly so) a library card/the internet.

(So there is the explanation for my domain name. Otherwise, I am perfectly ok being called by my first name.)

Enjoy the summer, my friends. Please feel free to comment with your experience hiding and masking some of your abilities and interests, just to increase your "acceptability"- know that I moderate all comments.

And speaking of Janes, I am definitely a naturally curious one. P.S. Dear Janes with other body types, please know that you are beautiful as well.

Professional Organizations and Volunteering

2021-08-06T13:00:00.015-04:00

In the past eighteen months, I have been trying to become (even) more aware of the image I project on social media. Since June this year, I have been much more active on Twitter, leaving Facebook for sharing personal things mostly with friends, relatives, and acquaintances. The extra time spent in front of the screen, which was previously allotted to socializing, was redirected almost entirely toward professional organizations. What I noticed once socializing as usual resumed, was my increased awareness and focus in face-to-face conversations. I am much more present. I relish the body language that video-conferencing does not convey, at least not entirely.

The professional organizations in which I have been most active are The Society for Conservation GIS (whose 2021 Conference just ended) and Women in Geospatial. I cannot stress enough how important being an active member of at least one relevant professional organization is, regardless of your career stage and goals. This blog post was actually inspired by two conversations I had recently: one with a recent graduate who approached me during the online annual conference of SCGIS, asking for career advice; the other one with a fellow member of WIG+, asking me about starting as a GIS freelancer. This was the number one piece of advice that came to my mind. As a recent graduate of my master's studies, I needed to "take my own medicine" and do what I knew all the career gurus were recommending: networking.

In 2017, together with Priscilla Cole, whom I met while working as a geospatial data specialist at NYC DEP, I started the NY/NJ chapter of SCGIS. I have been a member of SCGIS for almost ten years, greatly appreciating its listserv for members - always inspiring, and an effective way to keep up to date on what was going on in conservation GIS. While I was wrapping up my master's studies in Ecology and Evolution at Montclair State University, I noticed that SCGIS was encouraging its members to start chapters in their area. As it happened, SCGIS did not have a chapter in the NY metro area, where I have been living since 2008. I found that rather odd, given the rather high concentration of GIS people focused on conservation in this area, as one would expect in a metropolis. This chapter business consists of volunteer work that most people perhaps estimated to be too time-consuming, so it was probably not exactly appealing. For me, however, knowing too well the importance of what happens to be my number two piece of career advice - volunteering, it sounded like a perfect opportunity.

I must admit that I hesitated at first. A LOT. I was still too shy and reluctant to "put myself out there", which is something that, as I knew from "sunnier" days, leadership entails. My shyness and dread of public speaking had been partially cured by the science presentation course required in graduate school. However, public speaking is a skill that, just like any other, needs to be practiced to improve. Fortunately, I have always been one to love a challenge... Especially when I have to challenge myself.

Working on your public speaking skills is a good idea even if you do not plan to do any public speaking. Clear speech, communication, storytelling, eloquence, persuasion, adequate body language are features that can improve all aspects of our personal lives in (sometimes) surprising ways.

It was through SCGIS that I had the opportunity to be contracted as a consultant for the National Geographic Society, as a satellite imagery interpreter. This was the first contract of my consulting business, whose website is still in the works. The open-science product of this endeavor has been recently launched.

I joined WIG+ during the height of the pandemic, through an announcement posted in the SCGIS listserv. Last fall I enrolled in their peer-mentorship program, which I warmly recommend. It has been a deeply enriching experience. I plan to write more about the valuable lessons I learned through this experience in a future post. Our team's project will be made public soon.

Career Advice

2021-08-05T15:09:00.009-04:00

This is a work in progress (so are all the posts on all my blogs, for that matter). I might add, delete or modify items in this list. Each item will be addressed separately in dedicated posts.

I have been asked twice for career advice in the past week. I am happy to share what worked for me:

1. Put yourself out there through professional networking and volunteering.

2. Work on your professional portfolio. Save everything you worked on and are proud of in one place. This can be a website, blog, Slideshare, or Evernote (by the way, you can blog directly from Evernote...)

3. Perfectionism is not a positive trait: it will get in the way of finalizing projects and will give you imposter syndrome. Settle for good enough. What is "just ok" for you, others might find outstanding. If unsure, use peer feedback as much as possible.

4. If you are a freelancer, use accountability tools and have a clear schedule that includes time off.

5. Work a little on your skills every day, or at least regularly. Persistence is key.

6. Keep track of your work, job applications, contacts, by using productivity tools. Be as organized as possible. I like to use Evernote.

7. Don't feel guilty if you get distracted from your goals. It might only mean that you need time off. Also: your interests might fluctuate during your career. Stay true to yourself.

Making the Most Out of the Isolation

2020-07-29T19:52:00.053-04:00

The year in which I had the most extensive world trips planned, the year when I realized I prefer working in teams whenever possible because there will always be at least a fair amount of independent work, and in most cases, several minds are better than one... was the year everything changed. Such is life.

I am no stranger to isolation. I always prefer a good book or a good movie to dubious company and even more dubious food. However, I always tried to go out whenever I was given the chance. Simply because I very rarely regretted it. After all, the offer in the New York Metro Area almost never disappoints (unless you still live with the illusion that NY is the city that never sleeps; turns out it does, oooh yes it does...) But I didn't realize just how social I was until the COVID-19 pandemic.

Let me tell you again how much I love building community... (Befriend me. By all accounts, it looks like I am a super-connector. I know it came as a surprise to me too...)

And yet, I am far from being depressed. I have projects accumulated on the back burner to last me for years. I keep busy - extremely busy, even. Only that now I dictate my own schedule.

One of the things that I miss dearly is interacting with the local community of flamenco dancers, instructors, and musicians. Taking dance lessons online is not for me. I try to reduce my "Zoom" interactions to a minimum. Day-long online events are out of the question.

I regret not keeping a pandemic log. I am still working on a daily journaling habit. And speaking of creating and maintaining healthy habits: I have five free 30-day passes to give away for a productivity app that I greatly enjoy using on a daily basis. This app (along with a few fitness trackers, because, boy, do I love me some stats) turned me into a serious runner, and back into a journaler. The link is in this post. There are several other goodies spread throughout that blog, you may want to check it out.

2019 was the year of self-discovery for me. I focused a lot on personality assessments and personal branding. One thing that kept coming up, as a silver thread in my career, was sustainability. Yes, I am an ecologist who walks the walk. "Walking the walk" is, no doubt, the way of integrity. For instance, I have recently realized that it is ten years since I have been systematically composting all my household's food scraps through various methods. Having a garden and being a member of community gardens has definitely been a motivating factor... Volunteering at the United Nations Food Garden was a highlight of my gardening journey. (It's funny how I only started gardening after moving to the biggest metropolitan area in the world.) But composting is only one of the aspects of "closing the circle". I have been advocating for reducing harmful environmental impacts ever since fifth grade. Choosing a career in ecology was a given. Advocating for scientific literacy - a constant. As a result, I have accumulated a wealth of specialized knowledge and experience, which I am more than happy to share, by hosting a tiered blog on Patreon. My concept of sustainability starts with the individual level: how do you sustain yourself, physically and mentally? How do you integrate the sustainable use of resources with the "here and now"? What is your impact on the community? What is your legacy? The upper tier is capped - inner circles are supposed to stay small by definition, however, I will be sharing plenty of posts publicly.

Until next time.

You Should Start Learning to Code. Today.

2020-03-12T00:49:00.004-04:00

I am writing this article for the members of the Society for Conservation GIS NY/NJ Chapter who are at the beginning of their careers, but all those who want to add coding skills to their resumes can benefit from reading it.
I have been an advocate for STEAM education my entire life. Coming from a family of educators, and being a nerdy kid, it was not exactly hard to be convinced of its enormous value early. Most recently, I have been extremely worried to observe how a lack of education is undermining democracy itself.
I am talking about STEAM education, not just STEM. Meaning that the Arts should always be part of the package. They are much more important for modern civilization than you might think. More important than science? Just as important, and equally important to physical education, in my opinion. I will detail this on another occasion.
I am not only an advocate of STEAM education. I am an advocate of life-long learning. And one of the skills you should start honing today is coding.
It will reinforce your reasoning skills. It will teach you how computers think. In addition to keeping your mental abilities in top shape, you might discover a way of earning a good living in a very in-demand field, from the comfort of your home, or from wherever you have internet access.
I code in Python, R, SQL, JavaScript, and PHP. I am proficient in HTML and CSS.
There was never a better time to learn in the entire human history. You no longer have to go to a brick-and-mortar school and pay top dollar for tuition. You can learn for free online, using freely available apps and platforms. But here is the trick: you will have to do it daily. It has to become a habit. Just like physical training. Even ten minutes a day will matter.
If you are a complete newbie, I recommend starting with Python on SoloLearn. It is available on desktop as well as a mobile app. Feel free to try other free versions of coding apps. Other favorites of mine are Mimo and Py.
If you are interested in statistics, or just want to see if data science is for you, learn R. A great way to learn R is through its own package called swirl, but try it in Datacamp first. There is a very high demand for data scientists, they can work remotely, and they are paid even better than web developers. Plus, learning statistics even at elementary levels is extraordinarily useful in today's world. Python can also be used for statistics, but R was created especially for that purpose. You will see what I mean once you learn both. And if you are in the GIS field coming from a conservation background, like I am, you will want to learn both.
As a nature scientist, I cannot recommend enough the HarvardX specializations available on edx.org. Start with the Data Science Professional Certification. Then move on to Data Analysis for Life Science. I wish I took the Data Science courses on EdX before getting certified in R Programming on Coursera (I took The Data Scientist's Toolbox first). As exhilarating as it was writing my first R scripts, it was a rather steep learning curve (read: I almost freaked out a couple of times that I would never be able to solve those coding problems. Turned out it was only my patience and attention to detail being tested... Yes, coding will also cultivate your patience, attention to detail, and grit.)
If web development is more your thing, the University of Michigan Web Applications For Everybody on Coursera is amazing - I never thought I would learn PHP, yet, here I am. Take Web Design for Everybody first. I am midway through the Python for Everybody specialization from the same institution, taught by the same one and only dr. Chuck. For a spatial data scientist, Python is a must.
As soon as you are no longer a newbie, get on CodeWars. I love that they require you to solve a riddle to gain access... Once in, go ahead and challenge me to a Kumite. My username is soranatarmu. My level is currently 7 kyu.
Coding will keep your hyperactive brain busy with a wholesome occupation, therefore lowering anxiety. When I launch my IDE (my favorite one is Atom) I am in a place of peace. Everything makes sense. Reason prevails.
Start learning to code now especially if you are a girl. You will thank me later.
Finally, if nothing else, learn to code for free brain training. You can try learning to play a musical instrument. Take dance classes (bonus: physical health benefits and socializing). Learn a foreign language. Play crossword puzzles. Play sudoku. But, by all means, give coding a try. It is not at all as hard as it seems. And you might discover an incredibly rewarding career path.

Conservation GIS Symposium Organized by the NY/NJ Chapter of SCGIS at Hunter College in NYC on April 16

2019-04-12T14:10:00.000-04:00

Two years ago, together with my coworker and colleague, geospatial data scientist and event organizer extraordinaire Priscilla Cole, and backed by a handful of dedicated professionals, we founded the NY/NJ Chapter of the Society for Conservation GIS. Next week, on April 16, we are holding a symposium at Hunter College in New York City. The symposium is organized for seasoned professionals and college students alike. We still have a few spots available, and we also offer on-site registration. Check out our social media accounts to stay up-to-date. You can always subscribe to our mailing list by using the contact form below.

How I Rediscovered the Art of Pen-and-Paper Journaling

2018-11-12T13:39:00.001-05:00

Originally published on Medium.

I started my first diary when I was ten. My father, a writer himself, who noticed my penchant for elaborate compositions at school, thought that not only it would be good for me, but I would also enjoy it. He was right, as he often is, at least when it comes to nurturing literary creativity. He handed me an exquisite little hardcover notebook, black covers with red spine and red corners. I am quite sure it was made in China. To this day, I have no idea where he sourced it. High quality anything was rather difficult to come by in pre-1990 Romania.

“A pencil on the blank pages of an open notebook” by Jan Kahánek on Unsplash

I eagerly started journaling, and kept at it until college, when life became hectic, much more social, and certainly more interesting than my journaling habit. For the first time I was among plenty of people to whom I could relate. I came to realize that keeping a diary, along with my voracious reading habit, helped me survive high school. During college, I gradually lost patience for journaling. Now I regret not regularly recording my exploits during those years. I was studying natural sciences, had the most amazing classmates, and each and every one of our field trips was nothing short of epic. It was the time right before the internet and digital technology boom (we were still using analogue cameras).

“An overhead shot of a blank notebook, a magnifying glass, a camera and several other exploring-related items” by Dariusz Sankowski on Unsplash

After college, I journaled sporadically, especially when I came across nice notebooks. I attempted designating different notebooks for different purposes. I started a dream journal long before it was trendy. However, I could never get to my senses fast enough to properly hold a pen, let alone write down my dreams as soon as I woke up, as it was recommended. My dream recollections had to be edited by the filter of daylight.

“The moon on the night sky with a glowing halo around” by Hoàng Duy Lê on Unsplash

I started using planners, which I loved. Most of them had hard covers and fancy paper. However, sometimes days, weeks and months went by without me jotting down a single thing in them. So I used those blank pages for drafting essays, poems, writing all kind of recipes, or various lists.

Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash

In came the internet era, and, sooner than most of my peers, I discovered blogging (I was also one of the first people in my circles to have an email address; all of the acquaintances who already had one were IT pros). A few years before starting to blog, I was keeping a “digital multimedia diary” on my computer, a precursor to public “weblogs”. The idea of sharing my thoughts with the world seemed a little intimidating, if tantalizing. I still find it a little unnerving. However, to my former shy self, it was sure vastly better than public speaking… Yes, I said former. In a future article, I will tell you the story of how I overcame shyness and excessive self-consciousness.

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

So I blogged for a while. Never with any serious intention of turning any of my blogs into a business. I considered blogging a novel way to stay in touch with friends and maybe make new ones. However, I started being increasingly aware of how much information I was sharing about myself, and what image I was projecting. It started as a hobby blog, mostly, an idiosyncratic idea diary based on select cultural events, places, and people. I almost never wrote about my professional life, my career as a wildlife ecologist, my opinions on current events, or specifically about my core beliefs. Now, in the era of “sharing”, I view my personal blog as an extended business card. I am in the process of rethinking it. So check back regularly, or subscribe to my feeder.

Photo by João Silas on Unsplash

Fast forward ten years, the benefits of journaling are praised by productivity and self-improvement gurus everywhere on the web. Bullet journals. “Brain dumps”. Dream journals. Planners for everything, from fitness to business. The benefits of longhand. I never stopped collecting pretty notebook; meanwhile, I was blogging less and less. I realized I was missing writing, and especially writing by hand. So I returned to pen-and-paper journaling. Here is a tip, by the way: if you are new to journaling and want to give it a try, start with “brain dumps”, in the cheapest composition book you can find. Just write down everything that crosses your mind, stream-of-consciusness style, for as long as you want. It will feel like your psyche is taking a shower, and you might even have a few epiphanies.

Photo by Easton Oliver on Unsplash

As a seasoned diary keeper and user of planners, I was very intrigued by bullet journaling. I am in the process of fine-tuning my own approach to it, after years of under-using planner pages. In a future article I will tell you how I am using my classic planner as a transition to bullet journaling.

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

Follow me — I am planning a series of articles about the habit of journaling and cultivating creativity — two of my most beloved topics.

Wait

2018-05-03T15:37:00.002-04:00

Cocooned
in your soundveils
Hyperaware
In my neural web
Write
On my papery skin
Emerge
Before
I turn
Into a pillar of salt

Blazed
By your beauty.

Saturnalia

2018-03-23T15:00:00.005-04:00

Tinsel and glitter
Dissimulating irrational fears
Nurturing shallow suns
And memories of light
Feeding on
Their reflections
As I gradually let go
Of Cartesian rules and rigors,
I dive towards
The heart of the winter,
Stubborn spark
Dancing with chaos
Daring the darkness
For yet another proof
Of congruence.

A Happy Holiday Season

2015-11-28T19:07:00.001-05:00

I must admit: I am not a fussy gardener. No time for that. I do not grow orchids or tend high-maintenance landscapes. Sustainability entails as little human interference with natural systems as possible. So I must adapt. If you didn’t get it already, here’s the gist: sustainability is about using nature for life hacking, not about revivalism or tree hugging. And, as a biologist moonlighting as a designer, I truly believe that some natural systems can be improved. I will go into detail about this on another occasion.
The day after Thanksgiving, to shake off the effects of overeating the typical yummy foods of the feast, I went into my dormant backyard garden and opened the bags of organic garden soil that I left on my three garden patches a few days ago. I spread them all over the leaf-covered plots and sowed my shade-friendly wildflower seed mix (I usually purchase it from American Meadows). I realized the plants need to be shade friendly after the white mulberry tree that I got from The Arbor Day Foundation grew amazingly large almost overnight. I had another bag of scented wildflower seeds, which I sowed in the patio containers, by the street. Although I reserved most of my containers for growing veggies, the ones near the street are too prone to be infested by traffic pollutants.
It is amazing how running my hands through the bare soil, raking it, and the simple act of sowing seeds brings so much peace and a funny sense of fulfillment. Must be the archaic regions of the cortex – so many generations of agricultural people must have left their imprint on the rewards systems of the brain. Maybe my seasonal tendency to start knitting and working with yarn come fall is related to the same mechanism.
And speaking of seasonal: the affective disorder is on the table again, no surprise for a sun worshiper like myself. Nothing tea and dinner parties with friends cannot handle, though…
P.S. Due to the changing climate (and maybe because I am still not used to living at parallel 40! thriving fig trees, anyone?) my garden is not entirely dormant. I still have some mustard greens and nasturtium leaves growing in containers – delicious in salads and sandwiches!

Musings on The Future of Data Mining, “Old School” Mining, and Genetics

2015-01-25T13:48:00.006-05:00

There will come a time when humans will be able to access and copy the memory data stored as proteins in our brains. Even if consciousness would not be preserved, our “story” will.
There will come a time when landfills will be mined for raw materials, using machines controlled by other machines, while other machines will sort them, and others will reuse those materials for the benefit of humankind.
There will come a time when humans will be able to set up giant, planetary-scale “primordial soup” laboratories to create new life forms, after performing simulations using dedicated supercomputers. For that, of course, they will have to live for eons. To do that, they will use their stored genetic information to repair their aging DNA as needed. And (to come full circle), because any natural brain has limited data storage capacity, they will store their accumulated memories in microchip “zip drives”, or even a “God” cloud…
Now, to brag a little, about fifteen years ago I predicted that there would come a day when TV will merge with the Internet. I was not blogging back then, and the “unfortunate” interlocutor was my brother Horatiu, who is now an accomplished programming engineer, living and working in Vienna, Austria, for a company that collaborates with NASA. He looked at me a little skeptical, a little intrigued, a little pensive. I also told him that I would miss the feeling of watching a show knowing that so many others are watching it at the same time. Now I know that feeling is replaced by the satisfaction of being a visionary, and temporality is irrelevant.
...And temporality will become more and more irrelevant.

Mapping and Caffeine

2014-08-02T21:31:00.001-04:00

This is what happens when you are a Jersey City based mapper with a caffeine addiction.

Shadowless Discourse

2014-05-21T15:34:00.001-04:00

(Didascalia: Muted steps align following
Diurnal spectra that
Scatter thousands of scarabs
Over the uncertainty of noon)

From dawns, I have been searching
for the Glimpse of the Unmovable Axis -
- my eyes are prowled by waterfalls – and
I hold between my palms and my mouth
The ball of yarn wound up
Since I have been exiting
A M A Z E

Other than that
I am building
Perfect stretches of land.

Reversed Telescope

2014-05-19T21:31:00.003-04:00

Face of the demiurge reflected in the world
Broken mirror
Wisdom is called
Living each second
As it were the last
You ask
From behind the dome
Of the cornea
On which I glide
Surrounded
By the meanings of the moment.

Incommunicado

2014-03-02T15:29:00.002-05:00

I admit
I succumbed
to the temptation
of building a silence
The bliss
of the perfect vitreous body
Shadowed only by
The mist of thought
Is my artisan ego
The only thing
I still share with you
Is the guilt
of killing the wish
to shatter it
Once the first sound
Is uttered.

Happy 4th of July!

2013-07-04T15:52:00.001-04:00

Not going anywhere but working in my studio, as usual during holidays. This time I work on a design sketch for the next Pro Arts Eat-Up Party. The details of my submission are here, on the PRO ARTS website. This would be my first garden art installation, so I am a bit nervous. Last night I took one of the nightscape backgrounds that were lying around in my studio for a long time and I drew something that would resemble what I had in mind for my open air museum lanterns. I must admit I was inspired by the whimsical artworks of Katherine Dunn and her wonderful Apifera farm, but also by Diana Trout, who left a gracious comment on my studio blog, after I reblogged one of her posts. I own both Katherine’s and Diana’s books, which kept me inspired and happy.

The design sketch is still in the making.

The Clock

2012-12-31T07:05:00.004-05:00

It looks like any concept of time attracts me no ends. So much that I decided to spend my New Year's Eve at MoMA, because of their show The Clock.
The idea of long lasting multimedia art installations and performances seduced me ever since I discovered the incredible Marina Abramovic. I have recently discovered her on PBS, and her discourse enthralled me like no other. I didn't get to see her show at MoMA, so the decision to spend New Year's Eve at this art show is my homage to her.
A Happy New Year full of harmony, truth, and wise decisions to you all, my friends!
"On December 31, MoMA presents a special New Year’s Eve showing of "The Clock" in its entirety, which is the first opportunity for the public to view all 24 hours of the piece at MoMA. The Clock will go on view at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 31, and will run continuously until 5:30 p.m. on January 1.

In conjunction with this showing, the Museum’s Cafe 2 restaurant offers a special menu of wines, cheeses, salami, and desserts on New Year's Eve from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., along with an all-night espresso bar.

Admission on December 31 after regular Museum hours is: Adults $12; Seniors (65 and over) $10; Students full-time with current ID $8; Children (16 and under) under free. Members free."

More information about "The Clock" can be found here.

A Wandering Weaving Shuttle

2011-09-29T00:00:00.001-04:00

An antique shuttle from Țara Făgărașului (the name of the land near the Carpathians that covers part of the area of Brașov County in Romania), has been traveling for some time over meridians, connecting them by an invisible thread. It is the weaving shuttle of “mama Ruța” from Mândra, and you can find its story by clicking here. (Use Google Chrome for an almost instant translation).

The citadel of Făgăraș, Brașov County, Romania

I have been honored to be the shuttle’s host for a while, proud that it comes from my mother’s birth place, especially since my own maternal grandmother, “mama Maria” from Vad, Șercaia Parish, used to weave yards and yards of rugs, blankets and all kind of wondrous cloths. I don’t remember her shuttles, just her loom, which used to fascinate me. Holding mama Ruța’s shuttle, I felt the same thread connecting me to the amazing guild of the weavers from Țara Făgărașului, and I realized that this guiding thread was always there, weaving a fabulous tapestry in my spirit; the details of this tapestry were just beginning to reveal themselves…

First, I took the shuttle to the Wesselényi castle in Jibou, my native town, where I happened to be for a few days in August. The former park of one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in Transylvania has been functioning since 1968 as a Botanic Garden and it harbors the Biological Research Centre.

Then, with the loom shuttle in my purse, like an unmistakable identity sign, I returned to the metropolis that I call home since 2008: New York!

And here is the antique shuttle enjoying views of the East Coast megalopolis:

watching Manhattan’s skyline from across the Hudson and from Liberty Park, towards Lady Liberty,

and taking a stroll through Central Park.

I must admit I cheated on this one – I took this picture at an art opening that featured photography from New York.

The shuttle’s next destination? Not just one, but a whole bunch of them, in an extended world tour, beginning October 14! You too can request the shuttle by writing to the email address provided on its blog. It is a magic traveling shuttle, carrying a spark from the sprit of mama Ruța from Mândra, Romania, the relentless weaver who wanted so much to see the world. Host it for a while, and you will realize that by doing so, you are strengthening the warp of one of the world’s oldest and most mysterious tapestries…

May 22, The International Day of Biodiversity

2011-05-22T02:35:00.001-04:00

Video message by Edward Norton, United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for biodiversity on the occasion of the global launch of the International Year of Forests 2011.
The global launch of the International Year of Forests 2011 has been held in conjunction with the High-Level Segment of the ninth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests.

International Year of Forests 2011 website.

World Day for Cultural Diversity

2011-05-20T23:02:00.001-04:00

A subject that always stirs my interest and activism. Accused during my teenage years in communist Romania of being “too cosmopolitan” and interrogated by the overly nationalistic authorities, as a consequence, at the age of seventeen, I can say I have been keeping a very keen interest in other cultures than mine for all of my adult life.

I was looking with a pleased smile over the suggestions of the UNESCO Facebook campaign “Do One Thing For Diversity and Inclusion” for this day – pleased because I have checked almost all those thought starters for individuals.

It’s no wonder to me that destiny has led me live in one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods that I have ever encountered. Jersey City, at least its downtown, where my home is, not only has that refreshing urban variety that I have always favored, but it is also amazingly tolerant and peaceful. (Maybe I shouldn’t say amazingly, but unfortunately tolerance seems not to be yet the working norm in the world). I have no doubt that this harmonious patchwork of cultures has a lot to do with the fact that the place has become a thriving hub for a lot of free-spirited, creative people attracted by the affordability of living in a place so close to Manhattan.

I can only hope that more and more neighborhoods in the US and the world will become just as welcoming and peaceful.

Back to the Land of the Setting Sun. For the Whole Summer.

2008-06-20T18:28:00.008-04:00

I left my homeland. This time for good. Left my job as a nature conservation consultant and my dear friends and colleagues in the NW of Romania. Went to the US. California, for now. More precisely Venice.
I am taking a sabbatical. I know - I am incredibly lucky. I run on the beach every day. I go to coffee shops on Abbott Kinney. I draw and paint and read at my heart's content. I am redefining myself.
Next? New York.

Dying Winter

2007-02-15T03:10:00.001-05:00

Early spring. This morning the frost was biting my cheeks, but the sun was blinding. I was strolling on the streets of my town with my headphones on, listening to some lively remixes of Brazilian music - Red Hot & Rio (what else, lately...). A kid was carrying a pizza box on which was written: Old Times. "Alright," I said to myself, "pack them in a pizza box and throw them away. Make space for the new".

The town is filled with lovely snowdrops and March amulets for sale. It is amazing. Still, I mourn a lost white season...