Archives for category: design

NYWC 2A: The Story

October 20, 2007 //

I missed the second half of today’s NYWC because our family went up to Disney for their annual Mickey’s Halloween Treat night. If you have the chance to go, it is lots of fun — games, crafts, dancing and, of course, tons of candy. In any case, that’s why these are my reflections from Day 2A at NYWC.

The running theme throughout the convention is “Storyline” and the YS team has done a fantastic job so far in pulling together the idea that we are all part of God’s larger meta-narrative story. I love that in the room where we meet for the general sessions, they have even played with the way we sit — kind of an “in the round” experience. I was half-expecting one of those U2 circular-type stages where Crowder could run a circuit through the crowd :)

For me, Joe Castillo’s artistic presentation of the Creation story was totally new and unexpected. I can be kind of a cultural Philistine when it comes to art, but my heart was definitely moved by his “SandStory” presentation. Joe has a SandStory video clip of the Passion on his site, which will give you an idea of what this was all about. Marquis Laughlin presented a powerful monologue from the book of Revelation — what a voice! If I had a voice like his, I would talk all day long (not that I don’t already!). I love the fact that to kick off the first general session, we were immersed in the beginning and the end, so to speak, of The Story.

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I’m a sucker for old-school punk rock. I grew up skateboarding to Minor Threat and The Pogues, so getting to hear Flatfoot 56 for the first time today at the general session was really nice. I mean, seriously, how can a band with a bagpiper not put a smile on your face? I really appreciated the video clip in which Tic interviewed them and they had a chance to share their heart. They are reaching kids who might feel utterly rejected by the church by literally meeting them where they are — for example, opening for Irish-punk heroes Flogging Molly. I commented to the bagpiper afterward that this probably isn’t their usual crowd, but he smiled and said they knew this wouldn’t necessarily be their typical audience but that they still had lots of fun performing.

* * * * *

Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil gave a stirring talk which used The Lion King as an extended metaphor for reclaiming our identities as the people of God and our role in pointing youth back to their true heart and calling. It will probably take a couple of days to interpret the scratches and doodles I wrote in the dark in my notebook, but I will share soon about some of the great things Dr. McNeil shared about the global story in which we, and our students, find ourselves.

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As I’ve said before, I’m a big fan of the David Crowder*Band. And, from what I could see today, it appears that so are most of the 4000 or so of us gathered here this weekend. From the opening quarter-note hoedown clapping of “Undignified” to the really green keytar and the exhortation that our singing was “pretty” but need to be much louder, it was classic Crowder — which is to say, the man really has a knack for leading groups of people into the presence of God. The Super Mario synth jam and the (somewhat frightening) video of Crowder as Mario were bonuses.

Singing “Remedy” this afternoon was particularly powerful for me. I think people who have criticized the Remedy album for being too simple have missed the point. I think David has always been an incredible lyricist — pushing the boundaries of our imaginations in corporate worship — and his skill has only grown over time. He evokes so much through so few words. Those of us in ministry (or who have suffered through the “sermon that never ends”) know that it is much more difficult to preach a meaningful short message than it is to drone on & on for an hour.

These words came to life as we sang:

Here we are / Here we are

The broken and used / Mistreated, abused

Here we are

Here You are / Here You are

The beautiful one / Who came like a Son

Here You are

So many of us in youth ministry are hurt, wounded and weary. That’s why I appreciated Marko’s words about the “holiness of wasting time” so much. We need to be honest about our brokenness, not hiding it by working even harder. But it’s not just a story of our brokenness; rather, as we view our frailty and limitations, “We lift up our voices / We lift up our hands / To cling to the love that we can’t comprehend.”

Categories asian american, communication, design, faith, indie, music, postmodern, race, reconciliation, youth ministry

NYWC 1: Freebies, Guitar Hero And War-Torn Nations

October 19, 2007 //

I joined the National Youth Workers Convention last night after a full day at church. While having the convention in town means I get to sleep in my own bed, it also means that I’ll be running back & forth from church and and a few other things. So, apologies for a somewhat less-than comprehensive look at NYWC.

A little while back, I had visited the Children’s Pastors’ Conference at the same location (the Town & Country) because my wife was attending. It was at the same location, but right off the bat I could tell that NYWC was going to be different. I’m guessing it was the giant screen Guitar Hero battles being waged in the ballroom hosting the YS store. While I was getting my convention bag, I was wondering why I kept hearing Rage Against The Machine.

Speaking of the bags, YS has done something really incredible. The convention bags come from a company called Freeset, who are “in business for freedom.” Each bag tells this story of freedom in North Calcutta. For 6,000 women, poverty no longer dictates that in order to provide for their children they have no other option but to sell their bodies in prostitution. Now, because they are paid fair wages and work decent hours through Freeset, they can break free from the cycle of degradation and poverty. As their site says, “Freedom has been passed on to the next generation.”

* * * * *

As I wandered through the massive exhibit hall, I tried to find the fine balance between looking at each booth long enough to figure out if I was interested not looking long enough to make eye contact with the people there in case I wasn’t interested. But, like a good youth pastor, I do love the freebies — and this exhibit hall is a treasure trove of freebies! I gathered a nice water bottle, two t-shirts, a couple of pens, several devotional books and magazines and even a DVD in my first day of hunting-gathering. I’m also entered in several drawings to win an iPod.

An aside: The only time I’ve ever won anything in a contest was in high school. I was listening to the local alternative radio station when a contest in which the tenth caller would win an awesome prize would win. Eagerly, I called into the station. I was surprised when I dialed the phone number and I heard ringing rather than a busy tone, even more surprised when someone answered. Breathless, I asked whether I was the tenth caller. Confused, the DJ asked to which contest I was referring. I explained what I had heard and we put two and two together and realized that I had been listening to a program I had taped (perhaps a primitive form of podcasting?). The DJ got such a kick out of the mixup that, although the original prize had long been claimed, he offered me an alternate prize — an Anthrax VHS cassette. Embarrassment won the day, though, and I never went in to pick up my winnings.

* * * * *

I had a great conversation with the good people at the Invisible Children booth. Invisible Children began when three college students filmed a documentary giving a glimpse into the horror of the twenty-year Ugandan war, in which children live daily in the real fear of being abducted and forced to fight and kill as part of these warring armies. You can see an Invisible Children clip online here.

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The late evening Worship Together concert featured Matt Maher and Michael Gugnor. While I have seen their names around, I haven’t really had a chance to listen to either one of them. [edit] ~~It seems that Matt Maher’s big hit is his version of Tomlin’s “Your Grace Is Enough.”~~ Matt is best-known for the song he co-wrote with Chris Tomlin, “Your Grace Is Enough”

Before Marko pointed out that Matt was actually the co-author of “Your Grace” and not just someone re-doing the song, I was thinking about the American worship industry’s strange fascination with making big hits out of cover versions of current praise songs — particularly when there is not much substantively different between the versions. Blessed Be Your Name, Here I Am To Worship, Beautiful One and Hang On To You immediately come to mind as recent examples.

The fact that I did not feel a connection with Matt’s songs does not reflect on the level of his performance or execution. His songs are great and he has a nice, clear voice. Rather, I think my heart has been moving in different directions when it comes to worshiping through music. While Matt was leading, I tried to reflect on what songs I do help me worship God. My mind wandered over to Sufjan Stevens’ rendition of the hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

So, it was with great pleasure that I received Michael Gugnor Band’s first song which was, of course, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” It was nothing like Sufjan’s pared down, intimate take; no, this take featured drum loops, soaring guitars and sweeping synth lines. They took to the stage with passion, and were greeted with folded arms and what appeared to be mostly scowls. I think the youth pastor crowd is pretty tough. In fact, after their concert, I told the band how much I enjoyed their set — but what I really wanted to say was, “Tough crowd, eh?”

But they certainly won me over. I love the fact that they seem to genuinely enjoy playing, and they wore their hearts on their sleeves in worshiping God. On their most recent CD, which I picked up at the merch table afterwards, the track “Fly” features what I imagine must be the only banjo solo meets Queen-referencing harmonized guitar solo in the worship industry. It didn’t hurt their appeal to me that their t-shirt I purchased doesn’t even say their name. It simply reads, “God is green” — incorporating a tree and recycling symbol. Gotta love a worship band that promotes stewardship of the earth!

Categories asian american, church, design, faith, music, worship, youth ministry

Aesthetica On The Go

September 3, 2007 //

In honor of the Labor Day weekend, I thought I would share some thoughts on traveling. I think I really enjoy shows like Globe Trekker and No Reservation with Anthony Bourdain because they allow me to do my vacationing vicariously — neatly edited with a snappy soundtrack, with none of the hassle, humidity or jetlag I might encounter should I actually travel to any of these far-flung locales. A nice vacation in my book would involve a lot of lazing around the beach, chocolate ice cream soda in hand. There are a couple of place, though, that I would like to see in person.

An icon of modernity, Philip Johnson’s Glass House, opened to the public for tours this past spring — and quickly sold out until 2008. For me, the Glass House has a particular resonance because it reveals that modern design and nature must not necessarily conflict, but can exist in harmony. Imagine the view from inside the house — a year-long cinema of the wonders of God’s creation. Architecture and design can have an impact beyond being aesthetically pleasing. This article, “Mississippi Turning,” from Dwell magazine shows how architecture and design has inspired hope and restoration for one community hit hard by Hurricane Katrina.

If I could book a quick architecture/design vacation, I would also visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri to see the new Bloch buildings there. Like the Glass House, these new buildings symbolize a kind of beautiful convergence — in this case, of classical and modern architecture. From the New Yorker [read the full article, “Lenses on the Lawn,” here]:

Its boldness is no surprise, but, in addition, it is laudably functional, with a clear layout, handsome and logically designed galleries, and a suffusion of natural light. Furthermore, Holl’s five glass structures, punctuating the hill, don’t mock the old building as you might expect; they dance before it and engage it.

I love the idea that the new must not necessarily push out or reject the old; sometimes, the new can revitalize and reinvigorate the old. I am sure the are theological and ecclesial implications but I will explore those another day. I also appreciate that many have commented on how the new buildings do not compete with but, rather, complement (and even perhaps enhance) the art pieces they house.

Have a happy Labor Day weekend. Please, stay hydrated!

Categories art, design, family, hooray!, travel

Strong Enough For A Robot, But Made For A Human

August 23, 2007 //

I had the chance to meet up with DJ Chuang yesterday. It is fun to see social networking actually build community and friendships. It was great to get to know him more and pick his brain about a number of topics. We had a nice laugh over the way bloggers might be more likely to recognize one another by their site names than by their actual names. It makes me glad that I didn’t name my site “big nerd” or “xX1004QTaZnKimchigAngstaXx” (those of you in Asian American youth ministry know what I’m talking about).

After meeting with DJ in OC, we ventured out to LA — where we met a friend at the Giant Robot store. GR is probably best known for their magazine, which has covered Asian American pop culture since 1994. Being a fan of the magazine, I was excited to visit their Los Angeles store.

Maybe I had built it up too much in my mind, but when I first entered the store I was a little bit disappointed. To me, it was a little bit too small and a little bit too crowded. We bought our daughter a little Doremon keychain and went to meet our friend at the Giant Robot restaurant, gr/eats. (which, as Jonathan Gold has written, is a great place to eat with little ones).

Being a t-shirt junkie, I went back to the GR store after dinner and — after much deliberation with my daughter — picked up this shirt (and, no, that’s not me in the photograph). It was strange, but returning for a second visit left a very different impression on me. Maybe it was the tasty french fries I had just eaten at gr/eats (shoestring potatoes, yams and bananas) but the second time, in this case, was the charm. Actually, I think it was because the store was pretty empty and I was able to interact with the people working there — we talked about different magazines, music, and they helped my daughter find just the right Uglydoll (which she has since renamed “Sleeping Beauty”).

Community is such a funny thing. We find it in the most unlikely places — even the quickly disappearing indie record store. Whether it is connecting over common interests and life pursuits, sharing a nice meal together or helping someone sift through an entirely too large pile of Uglydolls, we are made to connect with one another.

Categories art, asian american, church, community, design, hooray!, indie, just grinning, reviews, youth ministry

It’s Like Space Without The Stars

August 21, 2007 //

Over the last couple of years, I have been drawn more & more toward the modern design aesthetic. I definitely want to live in a space that is comfortable and inviting — modernity has been caricatured for being cold and outlandish (think: the oddball Schoeners sketch from Saturday Night Live featuring Fred Armisen and Maya Rudolph as strange Euro ultra-mods). I think I am drawn to the simplicity, clean lines and serenity the best of modern design and architecture can evoke.

What I took away from the film Soylent Green was not the socio-political commentary about class, age or the environment — no, my takeaway was an abiding love for this chair, featured briefly in one of the apartments from the film. In fact, to this day, although its proper name is the Barcelona chair I insist on referring to it as “the Soylent Green chair.” However, being able to afford even a “cheap” knockoff is kind of a pipe dream on our limited budget, so we have been forced to find creative ways to express our design aesthetic.

Recently, we have turned our attention towards creating some interest on our wall space. Blik is a great source for vinyl wall graphics — affordable and easy to install. Back in OC, we paired the blik Fly design with an accent wall we had painted a deep shade of aqua to dramatic effect (picture this image, but in reverse). We had been considering a couple of whimsical designs for our current place: the blik Zipper (vaguely reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s Beat It jacket) and Me, Myshelf and I (fake bookshelves, complete with fake book & vase graphics). In the end, though, both designs are a little bit too smirky or hipster-ironic for our tastes.

We did, however, recently install a small DIY art project that we picked up at My Own Space in La Jolla. The seaweed-like design above is called Algue, created by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec. As highbrowfurniture describes, “Algue is interlocking plastic ‘branches’ that can be easily assembled to create web-like wall hangings, freeform sculptures, organic scrims or dramatic room dividers. You become your own designer!”

We had some good friends stay with us this past weekend, and their five-year old daughter asked my wife what was hanging on the wall. Here is an approximate recap of their conversation:

Child, pointing at the Algue hanging on the wall: Eemo (aunt), what’s that?

Adult: Well, you know when you go into the ocean, there’s seaweed. It’s supposed to look kind of like that.

Child: (Silence. Confused expression.)

Adult: It doesn’t look like that to you?

Child: (More silence. More confusion.)

Adult: Well, it’s art. It can look like whatever you want it to look like. That’s what art is — you get to decide what it means.

Child: (Further silence. Extreme confusion.)

Adult: It’s seaweed.

Child’s father, shouting from a distance: Are you trying to teach my daughter about art?!

We ended up choosing the white Algue to hang on our white walls. Reminds me of the scene in Spinal Tap, where Nigel Tufnel looks at the edited cover of their new album (which replaced the horribly offensive cover “art” with an all-black cover) and asks, “It’s like how much more black could this be? And the answer is none, none more black.”

Categories art, design, family, films, reviews