The Coda Summit “Art- Technology + Innovation” conference in Scottsdale November 10-12th, was a feast of surprises, delights to the imagination, inspiration galore, and even delicious vegan lunches. I was famished for this gang of creative, passionate, and engaged change makers. At this banquet, I drank till I was so drunk with inspiration and insights I was still tipsy days after the conference. I was enchanted and spell bound to hear these creative folks, city agencies, and the Codaworx gang and how they approached their creative process, put a team together, and made the complex process of public art a reality. I appreciated people’s humane, thoughtful conversations and their keen passion for excellence in their craft. There were so many smart and talented folks, I was getting so dazzled and I almost had to wear sunglasses indoors! I loved seeing all these creative people with such a diversity of talents, education and experiences: poets, economists, a physicist, an MD, an FNP/ Homeopath, lots of engineers, teachers/ professors galore, a sociologist, opera singer, thespians, sculptors, social change activists, light designers and more. A plethora of talent! People had attended technical schools and universities like Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech, McGill, French technical schools, lots of MFAs, one Master’s in International Development, and the unifying theme was peoples’ passion for learning. Everyone I spoke to love the challenge of thinking and designing. Though money and financing is vital to public art, the conversations formally and off the record were largely about their passion for design and creativity. People thought holistically about design, deeply listened to communities, and then translated into public art. The artists/ designers created a compelling story with a sensitivity to the broader public. I also valued how people took their personal stories, and created their art such Wendy Maruyama’s art and her family’s story of their displacement from their homes during WWII. As an internationalist, I valued the UN diversity — Canadians, French, Belgian, Arabs, Portuguese, Asians, Latinos, Israeli, African Americans, Irish, etc. In professional conferences like Coda it is difficult to get diversity, this was a zesty jambalaya stew of cultures drawn from around the globe. I also liked that there were so many people in their twenties to their forties, the leaders and emerging talent of their generation, and yet there was plenty of room for us mature artists. Though I wish there was some way we could have brought in younger aspiring artists and teens. Perhaps, in the future, we can make a commitment to more youth. To the person, no matter how accomplished they were in their profession, people were willing to talk and share ideas. I walked away from the conference more confident in my vision and ability to create public art. I valued how all these very smart talented people figured out how to effectively integrate their left and right brains, and connected with others from different backgrounds. Historically, design and creative folks, community leaders and engineers do not always effectively talk to each other. Nevertheless, there is a true alchemy when the poet, designer, engineer, accountant, community, and government art representatives genuinely speak with each other. If the stars line up, we not only get exceptional art, but art that embraces our deeper humanity and builds community through our endeavors. Art and design are not simply grand ideas, but promote community engagement at a more profound level of our being. There were so many fine examples of this; from the — I was here, the Tulsa mural, the Cuomo project in Texas, the big lighting designers, the Agent Orange project and Dr. Rivera’s Stop Hate Campaign and Arnauts. The list of inspirational projects was delightfully overwhelming. One designer spoke about the necessity of critique. He is right, it is not enough to simply fall in love with all this brilliance, good cheer, and innovation; it requires considering how the conference could be more effective? What would make this homeopathic drop of brilliance, passion, and commitment shine even more brightly? It is serendipitous, the Glasgow Climate Summit was also happening, and a host of disasters were occurring around the globe: forest fires in Indonesia, the Amazon, the global refugee crisis, and hundreds of natural disasters because of climate change. However, amid all these disasters, I felt a spark of hope as I spoke with and heard all these folks who were profoundly engaged in art to promote social change, community dialogue, and figuring out through the blend of art and technology how to create a sustainable and beautiful future. Yes, from the crucible of our dreams, skills, and passion, we create the alchemy of Codaworx.
Agent Orange Press Release June 2021
www.Namaya Productions.com Namaya Poet and Artist Art- Word- Performance and community engagement https://www.facebook.com/donotforgetme.ao/ PRESS RELEASE: June 2021 b4peace@namayaproductions.com June 2021 AGENT ORANGE: DO NOT FORGET ME & Yes, I can A peacebuilding project to raise awareness of the impact of Agent Orange in Vietnam Agent Orange: Do Not Forget Me is a B4 Peace project by the artist Namaya and the B4 Peace team. The project’s goal is to increase knowledge and action regarding the ongoing environmental and cost of US military’s chemical defoliant Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Project updates are on https://namayaproductions.com/project/vietnam-journey-to-forgiveness/. The Agent Orange chemical warfare program left enormous environmental damage and caused significant health problems for Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians, and US military Veterans. Presently, over 2 million individuals are suffering from Agent Orange Syndrome in Vietnam and the USA. While many American veterans receive compensation from the US government for AO syndrome, the Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodian victims do not receive compensation. To learn more about the continued devastation and harm caused by Agent Orange (AO), please watch this video: https://youtu.be/Mizi0f3hyzY The AO educational video by Namaya was presented at the Veterans for Peace National Conference in August 2020. Zoom and public presentations on Agent Orange will be offered in 2021. Namaya said, “This project is part of our projects on the impact of war and militarism in society. In particular, with the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam war, I had undertaken a two-month art/ writing residency called “Journey to Forgiveness in Vietnam” We will return to Vietnam in 2021 or 2022 to continue this project.” A sculpture created by Namaya will be installed at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in 2021 or 2022 once the Covid has passed. The sculpture uses (simulated) orange barrels with portraits of those affected conveys the devastating and lingering effects of the Vietnam War. The names of the corporations responsible Monsanto, DuPont, etc., are emblazoned on the barrels. Namaya and the B4 Peace team will partner with the War Remnants Museum in Vietnam, and volunteers, and local artists in Vietnam to implement the project. Plans are underway to display the sculpture in the US and virtually. Do Not Forget Me: Yes I can: The art and parallel social advocacy campaign are designed to raise awareness of the extent of the damage and inspire critical thinking, dialogue, and concrete action addressing the social impact of the chemical warfare program. In sharing the lingering effects of Agent Orange with the US and international public, we hope to promote peace and advocate for continued support for victims. An integral part of the project is “Yes I can/ Yes we can” to highlight individuals’ courageous work with AOS, their families, and organizations. This play will be c0created with the Vietnamese performance artist Nemo. Endorsements & Collaborations The project has been endorsed by Veterans for Peace and is collaborating with other advocacy groups in the US, Vietnam, and around the world to raise awareness of the impact of Agent Orange in Vietnam. Namaya Productions has received a grant from St. Petersburg Arts Alliance & support through Grace Cares and Global Giving campaigns. Facebook: facebook.com/donotforgetme.ao Instagram: Instagram.com/donotforgetme.ao Bio: Namaya Art Rat for Peace and the B4 Peace team have created art, performances, and events worldwide on the impact of war and militarism in society. This program is called “Pornography of War.” Namaya is a poet, artist, peace activist, and USN veteran who creates peace and human rights. Work can be viewed at www.namayaproductions.com. Projects in part are supported by www.gracecares.org. You can help us help others by donating now to www.gracecares.org and the B4 Peace Project Friendship Village Vocational School in Hanoi At the War Remnants Museum in Vietnam Dec 2020
PLANET OF THE HUMANS and GREEN Wash
“Planet of the Humans” is an extraordinarily vital movie to see and consider. Whether you are a conservative or leftists, a tree hugger, or a hunter, it is critical to watch the film and make up your mind. The movie is free to watch at https://planetofthehumans.com. Bravo to Jeff Gibbs, Michael Moore, and their team for creating this provocative and profoundly engaging movie.
Beautiful Extraordinary Africa
We’ve been traveling since late November starting in Nairobi, Kenya, on to the fabled nature preserve of Masa Mara in Western Kenya, on to Tanzania – the Serengeti Nature preserve, Selu River, and to Zanzibar in December. At Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Mozambique visiting one of our dear friends who is the new Peace Corps director. On New Year’s Eve a bunch of people came together for music and drumming, with a huge fireworks explosion over Maputo harbor. Then on to the next two months through Lesotho, Swaziland, and South Africa, more amazing, beautiful, and complex culture than we could had imagined. Our journey thus far of some 10,000 kilometers, that has lead us here to Cape Town, then on to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana for a week at Victoria Falls. Turkish Airlines had a super cheap deal we could not refuse, the chance to spend 48 hours in Istanbul on our way back to New York. It has been a life-long dream to visit, understand, explore, and be awed by the sights we have seen on the journey so far. The cost? What is the price and value of living one of your life time dreams? In our four month stroll through Africa we’ve been astonished and surprised at every turn. In particular, it is the joy and fun of meeting people from all walks of life from former prisoners of Robben Island in Cape Town, our hosts along the way, the house party where I performed in Johannesburg and met a fabulous fun group of people, the bright and courageous activists in Soweto who are creating art schools for underprivileged kids, and other activists leading cultural tours in the impoverished townships. Musicians of all kind surprised us at every turn. Yesterday, we went along the southern coast near Cape Town and a lovely duo Fusa and Zoe were unexpectedly playing. I gave a concert of classical guitar/ flamenco in Eastern South Africa in Blythe Canyon for people who had never heard this kind of music. This is the pure joy of traveling, allowing the spontaneous surprise to emerge. The most unforgettable moments are watching children going to school, some with their mom, dad, or their older sibling holding their hands. Many of the children came from the impoverished Townships and yet despite the lack of water and basic services the uniforms were spotless. This is the enduring dignity of people that we have met – the poorest people with their hope and vision for a better life for their children. Oh, did I forget to tell you about the wildlife? Our original impetus had been to see the great wildlife migration of Wildebeest, Gazelles, and animals. The kind you see on the National Geographic Channel, but the opportunity to see the great five – rhinos, African buffalo, elephants, lions, and cheetahs… there is a spell binding enchantment as we roamed through the great animal preserves of Masa Mara and the Serengeti. Though we have been to zoos around the world, nothing compares to seeing these beautiful animals in the wild… all manner of gazelles, zebras of all stripes (sorry, couldn’t help myself), antelopes, giraffes, and that is only the tip of the astonishing variety of creatures. It is a veritable Garden of Eden. This was never so much true as seeing Ngorongoro crater, the most pristine valley in Tanzania, and the largest volcanic crater in the world. At sunrise, watching the light over this verdant pristine land gave me the feeling of how the gods first imagined and created the world. All the creature from flamingos, to wildebeest, lions, antelopes, the rare black rhinos, and birds of all kind who swooped above us. We were truly in the Garden of Eden. Too often, in the West, our view of Africa is of incredible poverty, vast slums, and misfortune galore, while that is true to an extent and important to consider in our travels, more vital is the amazing diversity and beauty we found in our journeys. We have been energized to meet, advise, and help people with their local community projects. In particular, young activists who have a ton of dreams and need a wee bit of organizational planning. But the brightest stars on our journey have been all the school children in their uniforms all with their backpacks bursting with possibilities. For us as senior travels, in our mid-sixties, we have our share of aches and pain, but we are vibrantly healthy in our passion and curiosity. We still walk between five to fifteen kilometers a day and we are travel junkies. Though we have visited about 100 countries and counting, we are even more animated and curious about the world. Simply, we could not imagine a life where we did not travel. Our budget is modest, out lodgings simple, and If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the vast beautiful areas of the Serengeti, the Masa Mara, the bewitching beauty of South Africa’s Wild Coast, the dreamy enchantment of Zanzibar, moonlight over Maputo harbor, to para-glide off the top of Table Mountain and dance hundreds of meter high in the wind, and to know that you have only tasted a tiny bit of this extraordinary enchantment of the world. In the weeks to come we will journey on to Victoria Falls, more of South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and finally winging home via Istanbul. Come and visit this extraordinary beautiful land and discover this enchanted corner of the globe yourself.
Dar Es Salaam Tanzania 14-16 December 2018
On the 14th through the 16th we were in Dar es Salaam. Flying in from Julius Nyeere airport. Dar es Salaam – like many African cities bursting with overpopulation, lack of opportunity, intense poverty, lack of electricity and clean drinking water for the majority of the people. One of the things that struck me however was how civilized driving was. After spending time in Algeria earlier this year, there wasn’t much horn beeping were aggressive driving. The other problem we saw in Arusha was the cops constantly engaged in shaking drivers down. It was kind of funny in a weird way. There was no radar or speed gun, the cop would say you were going to miles above the speed limit give me $12. Then they would give a printed receipt from a machine that look like a credit card reader. A very legitimate appearing receipt. But, the police are paid a pittance, and this low-level racketeering is endorsed. We could’ve stayed at the higher end part of town by the beach, but we thought we could take in the older museums and the monuments. However, the downtown is broken sidewalks, buildings that look worn and shabby, and the waterfront was strewn with trash. On this Sunday morning of the 16th we walked around the older part of Dar es Salaam. The previous night we had been at a vegetarian restaurant called Swastik. Though the swastika is an ancient Indian symbol it had been sadly hijacked by the Nazis. We met our dear friend Sarah who has worked with us for the past several years. She is on a fellowship here in Dar es Salaam. It was wonderful to get her local knowledge on this. It is exciting to seeing a young friend approaching life and her adventures internationally in the way we did some 40 years ago. During the daytime the city seems relatively safe, but it is dodgy at night. It is a simple equation. It’s just that there is so much poverty that even purse snatching or worse, is the alternative. Generally, we say hello and greet people in Swahili. It is part of our campaign always the matter where we are to master at least the basic 50 words. In some countries it is less and another countries a bit more. On a Sunday it was very peaceful. Very calm. Tanzania is divided roughly half-and-half between Muslims and Christians. So on this Sunday it was very pleasant to walk around the old part of the city. No charm nor anything truly memorable. We did walk by one Lutheran Church close to the waterfront. Oddly they had a German Lutheran mass. There is also a Catholic Cathedral St. Joseph’s. We did not go in since both were full. There is also a mosque a few blocks away that was closed. I am sure like all mosque it would be open to us if we wanted to pray.In the morning at about 430 I enjoyed the sound of the first prayer call. Dar Es Salaam much like most other third world cities is deeply divided. Though we are only here too brief over time, it is a familiar tale. This downtown area that has grown so shabby and worn, and then a few kilometers uptown is the beach area where the international community and the embassies are. It was like taking a rocket-ship to a different planet. We ate at Salt for an Sunday afternoon brunch. All the things that I can’t eat, pancakes and waffles, and it is like being at Bella’s dinner in New York. The only thing missing was the maple syrup. As a Vermonter, it is sacrilege to eat a pancake or waffle without maple syrup. Not just your ordinary maple syrup, but grade B syrup is best with that slightly smoky flavor. Though we are fairly lightweight travelers, generally we travel with some maple syrup and coffee. Delicious first world breakfast! We so enjoyed the time with Sarah and hearing of her adventures in Tanzania. Her story of staying overnight in a Masai Mara home, while welcoming, made my delicate stomach cringe. It is not just the idea of drinking blood and cow’s milk together, but according to her story you pee wherever you want, and you defecate outside the gate. No one washes with soap. There is none. There is no such thing as filtered water. I am sure their got ecology is robust and bullets would bounce off of it. I bet you none of them suffer Crohn’s disease. It is all those invincible parasites. However, I will take a cup of yogurt to assuage my delicate digestion. I know there are travelers, who eats street food in Calcutta to Shanghai, and I am jealous of their intrepidness; however, my gut is made for slightly more refined fare. Sorry to be a woos! Sarah’s story of after the dinner, they would store it underneath the floor and the mice would come out and eat all the leftovers from the pots and pans. She was trying to sleep and kept hearing the sound of mice crawling across the pots. I am waiting for her to write down the story. That evening after we said goodbye to Sarah we went to this incredible first world shopping plaza on the waterfront, the Slipway. It was as if we had landed in Miami Beach or some first world waterfront Esplanade, but this Esplanade was filled with Tanzanians, Africans of all color, lots of East Asians, and a diversity of Mazungos (white people/ foreigners) We had dinner at a Thai restaurant on the waterfront and watching the sun going down across the harbor in Dar es Salaam. The sound of a disco in the background, children wheeling around on little bicycles, families strolling along the Promenade, and occasional women in a burqa, a few women in the multicolored scarves for a hijab. The conversations in the wind were of Swahili, English with accents of all kinds,
At 62, before I go… and a brief Update
I’m not going, yet… I’m mostly healthy and fit, a lot of bumps and bruises from life. It is nearing autumn, friends had died this past year, and the memory of their incomplete lives haunts me. The rustling bones of autumn leaves dance in the wind. My writing, art, and creative work… too much is incomplete too many dreams still to live. I face this imperative each morning at sunrise Write more! Publish the poems! Varnish the paintings. Create more projects for peace and a few more dozen countries still to see. I want to wander in the Himalayas again. Sip tea with friends in Ibb, Yemen. Photography the Serengeti migrations. Play my guitar at the Court of the Lions. Sail to the heart of mysteries unimagined. Dance with my love at Carnival in Rio and this an all too brief list. I want to savor each succulent dream, suck out the marrow, and lick my fingers with delight at this tasty feast. NEWS: 18 August 2017 Please consider my new book “Celebrate Life,” CLICK HERE And also, our Kindness Campaign at www.gracecares.org http://www.gracecares.org/building/ – Is the new Peace Arts Project in New Orleans. THANK YOU – Namaya and Zoe
#StopHate #StopFacism #impeachTrump
It is long overdue to get rid of the Racists and KKK Supporters from Public Office. “Bannon out of the closet”
Drawings, writings for late July 2017
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