Current Green Featured Community Member: SeaJade
Last week JanforGore recommended SeaJade to be the next featured community member.
SeaJade may be best known for her original works of art and photography of sacred sites. You can tell from her work, her comments, and her posts that she is a sensitive soul with a sharp eye, and a desire to share her love for the world. Without further adieu: SeaJade:
This was the last location I filmed at a few years ago (oh but I haven't changed much, really :). Due to our current global crisis I stopped traveling abroad so frequently and pulled in to document the magic, beauty and sacredness of my own space in my garden (have published a lovely book on my garden came out on earth day this year) and local venues... I will resume my documentation of "Sacred Places" in the world at large when more appropriate.
Current Green: What environmental topics are close to your heart?
SeaJade: Everything connected with clean air, water, land, forests, food, energy, and freedom to choose a "natural" life. Our world is a living, breathing, whole entity unto itself, and the way it works (without the "ego-hand" of humans) is fantastic - we are part of a whole miraculous system and every part of it needs to be respected for its unique contributions that make up this reality we share - I care about it all, and I care about human health in the same way - we cannot be healthy, thrive, or feel abundant (I'm not necessarily talking money here) if our environment is not healthy. We live in the age of "The Insanity of Humanity" where too many value material things over love and wisdom, where too many have been taught to value what a person owns (or is in debt for), instead of what they do. What "they" do affects the rest of us (plants, animals and minerals included here). Exploitation, abuse, greed, "damaged ego" thinking and acting out need to be replaced with understanding that being a steward and thinking with the heart can go a long way to cleaning up our environment and how we feel about ourselves as individuals.
I'm big on solutions - we have the technology to vastly improve our world's problems and all people and life on this planet can be more than o.k. if they choose (inner attitude counts as well)... It has to start with the individual first - our governments and corporations won't "save" us - they will and are doing the opposite - it will take billions of people to wake up from the manipulations that got us here in the first place and act in a positive and responsible manner to heal this situation. The way we build our buildings, design our cities, towns and infrastructure is a good place to begin on the larger public scale, agriculture - wisdom from the past combined with permaculture practices can produce miracles. Monsanto, Bayer and other military/industrialized businesses - if they have their way - are and will bring such misery, despair and darkness to this world - its terrible to think about. If I were a parent I would be consumed with worry about my children's health and future. It doesn't have to be this way - but it does take well informed people to drive local and world markets so they spend their money wisely (one can get well informed by turning off their mainstream television and spending their time elsewhere). In today's world with the knowledge we have war is a scam - its a tragedy beyond measure - what are we going to do with all that depleted uranium, cluster bombs and other buried explosives still killing and maiming from wars long past? Have many people connected and measured how much of a carbon footprint war leaves with these ultra polluting weapons of mass destruction! We don't need coal, its not clean - these corporations are creating another Mars - it won't take long if they are left to their own devices.... don't get me started on the insanity of uranium mining, bio-fuels are a travesty, we need to be thinking and acting upon truly sustainable energy sources - wind and solar are the best we have and its all we need.... We have the money to do this as well... If there is enough money to decimate and destroy other countries and bail out banks and wall street, we have enough money to repair and heal, its a choice, and its a clear choice....
Current Green: What are your go-to environmental websites and blogs?
SeaJade: Here is a combination of educational websites, videos and the best blog site I know of is JanforGore's for variety and in depth research and connecting the dots. Some of the links I recommend below are not specifically about the environment - however, our business practices directly affect the environment and are thus included.
I recommend "The Century of The Self" for people who have not yet understood how manipulated we are by mainstream media - its well worth the four hours of viewing time. I call it a "bridge documentary" - its foundations are socially acceptable - the BBC made it after all - and yet it has information that will broaden the viewers mind and probably piss them off for being so manipulated.... Hopefully this will take the viewer to positive action and use that energy for re-creating a better world.
Century of the Self
If you are still not sure after that how the wool is pulled over our eyes (hard to think thats possible, but...) I have also posted this one hour presentation on Current, but when I searched it the only title I found is this post by mrcc55 (and also a link to the youtube presentation)
Polls show that between one-third and one-half of Americans still believe that there is "no solid" evidence of global warming, or that if warming is happening it can be attributed to natural variability. Others believe that scientists are still debating the point. Join scientist and renowned historian Naomi Oreskes as she describes her investigation into the reasons for such widespread mistrust and misunderstanding of scientific consensus and probes the history of organized campaigns designed to create public doubt and confusion about science. American Denial of Global Warming and here is the full youtube link.
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
Other favorites include:
The wickedness of factory farming can be seen here: The Meatrix
Why are we still using fossil fuels?
There is a revolution going on in the farm fields and on the dinner tables of America, a revolution that is transforming the very nature of the food we eat. THE FUTURE OF FOOD offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade. Please also go to Janforgores channel here on current, she has much more information.
"THE FUTURE OF FOOD offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade.
From the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada to the fields of Oaxaca, Mexico, this film gives a voice to farmers whose lives and livelihoods have been negatively impacted by this new technology. The health implications, government policies and push towards globalization are all part of the reason why many people are alarmed by the introduction of genetically altered crops into our food supply.
Shot on location in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, THE FUTURE OF FOOD VIDEO examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations seek to control the world's food system. The film also explores alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the farm crisis today."
Other sites of interest include Saynotogmo and The organic & non-gmo report.
Provoking, witty, stylish and sweepingly informative, THE CORPORATION explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time. Part film and part movement, The Corporation is transforming audiences and dazzling critics with its insightful and compelling analysis. Taking its status as a legal "person" to the logical conclusion, the film puts the corporation on the psychiatrist's couch to ask "What kind of person is it?" The Corporation includes interviews with 40 corporate insiders and critics including Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, Milton Friedman, Howard Zinn, Vandana Shiva and Michael Moore - plus true confessions, case studies and strategies for change.
Janforgore has the best collection of research on GMO's/ Monsanto/Coal-Mountain Top Removal/Uranium I have seen - I recommend going to her channel here and check out the articles and videos - an amazing body of work, as well as her blog water is life.
Andy Lipkis who created Tree People in Los Angeles is one of my heros.
This link takes you to a ten minute presentation by Andy Lipkis, see how Southern California could stop participating in the draining of the Colorado River - its worth the watch.
The Natural Resource Defence Council does awesome work, as does earth policy and organic consumers.
Dan Jacobsom heads up Environmental California another amazing person making a big difference to the quality of life we share, The Environmental News Network, For health freedom updates.
Permaculture is an Interdisciplinary Earth Science which encompasses all kinds of Appropriate Technologies and Sustainable Design Methodologies, such as; Renewable Energy, Water Conservation, Organic Food Production, Ecological Building Techniques, Micro-Economics and much much more!
In a world of Rapid Ecological Change & seemingly insurmountable Social & Environmental Problems, Permaculture offers Practical Solutions using Design Principles drawn from the Observation of Natural Systems.
From Individual Homes to Entire Bio-Regions, Permaculture has the potential to Repair Damaged Landscapes, Build Capacity in Communities and replace Apathy with Self Empowerm
Check out this project called "Building A Sustainable World: Life in the Balance". (I made it up and got it going with awesome partner Tim Clark) It was calling for entries to demonstrate that we can build in harmony with nature, not destroy it, and even heal our environment as we went along, and it was an answer to Al Gore's film "Inconvenient Truth" which described our problems so well, but not the solutions.
There are many more sites I resource from, and many of the videos I recommend can be found on Current, (I ran out of time to place links with individual people)but for now....
Current Green: What's the most recent green thing you learned about that "wowed" you?
SeaJade: Perhaps because my whole life has been focused on "green" I am not wowed as much but rather deeply appreciative of those who spend their time to contributing to the betterment of the whole - I find "green" inventions to be more the norm in my world view and is my place or space of comfort in this world. What I get "wowed" about is the negative stuff - I sit and go "wow" with momentary despair when I read about the continuation of uranium mining, coal mining, Monsanto's latest dirty tricks, pharmaceutical companies' dirty tricks, mainstream media's constant rude barrage of "psycho babble", the taking away of our rights for health freedom, how multi national corporations create (and get away with) war, destroy lives of local peoples, pollute other people's lands and water sources, and exploit human energy for their own gain..... I would go "wow" with much enthusiasm and joy if the world collectively went on strike for a month or so and stopped the evil multi national companies in their tracks... the strike would be no one would turn up for work and no one would buy their products..... that would mean that we would all have to help each other on a local level to survive the period of time we strike for - what a concept!
CurrentGreen: Who do you recommend should be featured next week?
SeaJade: This is the most difficult question to respond to, there are so many great people here. I will recommend Stopnoise to pass the baton to: Stopnoise has been contributing to current before I started here, I really appreciate his focus on "noise" pollution (can we get rid of leaf blowers please!), he supports many others and many times I know what is going on here on Current because Stopnoise has taken the time to pass on the stories. He also contributes positive solutions and is able to see our environmental problem as a holistic one and has also joined the dots, and he takes the time to add credit where credit is due....
Current Green: If you had to choose a place to do environmental graffiti, where would it be?
SeaJade: Having to choose between Monsanto, Chevron, Shell, or Exxon Headquarters, the White House, or the walls and halls of Congress is another difficult question the walls and halls of Congress - what would work best would be a mysterious paint that cannot be removed by ordinary methods - every time its cleaned up it re-appears, the only cure would be if the whole of Congress and the Senate started to act with common sense, heart and intelligence and stopped being bought by the Corporation. A note here, I would make the graffiti beautiful. I am asking for our world's beauty to be left in tact, so therefore, I should give the same considerations...
SeaJade on environmental art....
I'm an opportunist when it comes to using media and the arts to inspire others to think about our environment, heritage, and place light upon our disappearing wisdom - it really depends upon where I have been at during various stages of maturity and what is around me to act upon. I think for me, it all flows as one thing - I have no separation from my work or what I do for fun, and therefore, my work is my entertainment. When I was much younger I prayed (I'm not religious) that the great spirit of all that is (whatever that is) would guide me to a life's work that would be in "integrity" for me and please great spirit something not "normal".... I was eventually handed on a metaphoric silver platter the gift of photography and the appropriate opportunities to go along with that. I chose the subject of "Sacred Places" with still photography to be the vehicle in which I would create my life experience through - as a foundation for my life, and whatever came with that - the good the challenging the scary - so be it.... This act seems to have brought all sorts of interesting and fulfilling projects to my life - money - for better or worse - doesn't come into the picture - I move with my heart and excitement - and yes, there have been times when I have nearly starved by sticking with this concept (but I was o.k in the end and shouldn't have worried) - and I have no regrets.... (I have a nut missing, I am not motivated by money at all, but motivated by life experiences and opportunities).
Sometimes its not necessarily my "art" that is used, but my background that my career in photography has given me that has enabled me to forge ahead with lofty plans and ideals such as the "Building A Sustainable World: Life in the Balance" project - in fact, I think that is the most important work I have done - it took me two years of intense focus (and no help from mainstream media) to pull all those people together and complete. I couldn't have done and wouldn't have done this project if Tim Clark (a visionary and founder of the RIBA-USA) had not agreed to become involved. Or my name and presence as a "media" person from Hollywood (I'm not really, although I am a media person and I live in L.A.) had been used effectively to get attention on saving an Elm tree in Denver for example. I have the privilege of working with two extraordinary musicians/producers/composers - both legends in their own fields - Patrick Leonard and Shenkar (formerly known as L. Shenkar) provide me with inspiring or evocative music and I just flow with that and use the images I have on hand collected over years and years of work.... These pieces which you can see on my network here as SeaJade are to assist people to calm down in the midst of our storms and focus on something beautiful or moving (but trust me, as an artist, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so don't expect everybody to be moved :-) Some works are based on the concept that what we think about we create (such as the Meditation: A Walk Through The Sierras)..... The pieces are also bathed in mythological metaphor ("Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley" and the "In Search of Camelot" piece). I just do what I feel might assist or inspire or move at any given time. I donate works to many charities for their fundraisers, and offer my time up where I feel appropriate - this August I am giving a workshop on photography at Tree People for Tree People to help them raise funds and awareness of their organization. I also make these videos of stills and music for my own healing process - I can't take all the bad news and not feel badly myself - I take as much as I can and hopefully process it positively, contribute where I can (that is helping people understand that Mainstream Media has not served them and help people understand we can make better choices), and then I take time out to re-focus and create something that is the opposite of negative news. I've been involved with films that demonstrate all is not well with the world, I produced an awesome concert a few years ago to help raise money and consciousness about our environment, I have used the opportunities I have had as lecturer/speaker (along with images) to hopefully inspire my audiences to think differently, I nudge here and there, I try to live my own life as well as possible and be a positive example (I'm not perfect, I'm human, but do a pretty good job) - and from my own experiences and choices I KNOW we can create a beautiful, equitable, harmonious world if we choose "collectively" to do so.
SeaJade may be best known for her original works of art and photography of sacred sites. You can tell from her work, her comments, and her posts that she is a sensitive soul with a sharp eye, and a desire to share her love for the world. Without further adieu: SeaJade:
This was the last location I filmed at a few years ago (oh but I haven't changed much, really :). Due to our current global crisis I stopped traveling abroad so frequently and pulled in to document the magic, beauty and sacredness of my own space in my garden (have published a lovely book on my garden came out on earth day this year) and local venues... I will resume my documentation of "Sacred Places" in the world at large when more appropriate.
Current Green: What environmental topics are close to your heart?
SeaJade: Everything connected with clean air, water, land, forests, food, energy, and freedom to choose a "natural" life. Our world is a living, breathing, whole entity unto itself, and the way it works (without the "ego-hand" of humans) is fantastic - we are part of a whole miraculous system and every part of it needs to be respected for its unique contributions that make up this reality we share - I care about it all, and I care about human health in the same way - we cannot be healthy, thrive, or feel abundant (I'm not necessarily talking money here) if our environment is not healthy. We live in the age of "The Insanity of Humanity" where too many value material things over love and wisdom, where too many have been taught to value what a person owns (or is in debt for), instead of what they do. What "they" do affects the rest of us (plants, animals and minerals included here). Exploitation, abuse, greed, "damaged ego" thinking and acting out need to be replaced with understanding that being a steward and thinking with the heart can go a long way to cleaning up our environment and how we feel about ourselves as individuals.
I'm big on solutions - we have the technology to vastly improve our world's problems and all people and life on this planet can be more than o.k. if they choose (inner attitude counts as well)... It has to start with the individual first - our governments and corporations won't "save" us - they will and are doing the opposite - it will take billions of people to wake up from the manipulations that got us here in the first place and act in a positive and responsible manner to heal this situation. The way we build our buildings, design our cities, towns and infrastructure is a good place to begin on the larger public scale, agriculture - wisdom from the past combined with permaculture practices can produce miracles. Monsanto, Bayer and other military/industrialized businesses - if they have their way - are and will bring such misery, despair and darkness to this world - its terrible to think about. If I were a parent I would be consumed with worry about my children's health and future. It doesn't have to be this way - but it does take well informed people to drive local and world markets so they spend their money wisely (one can get well informed by turning off their mainstream television and spending their time elsewhere). In today's world with the knowledge we have war is a scam - its a tragedy beyond measure - what are we going to do with all that depleted uranium, cluster bombs and other buried explosives still killing and maiming from wars long past? Have many people connected and measured how much of a carbon footprint war leaves with these ultra polluting weapons of mass destruction! We don't need coal, its not clean - these corporations are creating another Mars - it won't take long if they are left to their own devices.... don't get me started on the insanity of uranium mining, bio-fuels are a travesty, we need to be thinking and acting upon truly sustainable energy sources - wind and solar are the best we have and its all we need.... We have the money to do this as well... If there is enough money to decimate and destroy other countries and bail out banks and wall street, we have enough money to repair and heal, its a choice, and its a clear choice....
Current Green: What are your go-to environmental websites and blogs?
SeaJade: Here is a combination of educational websites, videos and the best blog site I know of is JanforGore's for variety and in depth research and connecting the dots. Some of the links I recommend below are not specifically about the environment - however, our business practices directly affect the environment and are thus included.
I recommend "The Century of The Self" for people who have not yet understood how manipulated we are by mainstream media - its well worth the four hours of viewing time. I call it a "bridge documentary" - its foundations are socially acceptable - the BBC made it after all - and yet it has information that will broaden the viewers mind and probably piss them off for being so manipulated.... Hopefully this will take the viewer to positive action and use that energy for re-creating a better world.
Century of the Self
If you are still not sure after that how the wool is pulled over our eyes (hard to think thats possible, but...) I have also posted this one hour presentation on Current, but when I searched it the only title I found is this post by mrcc55 (and also a link to the youtube presentation)
Polls show that between one-third and one-half of Americans still believe that there is "no solid" evidence of global warming, or that if warming is happening it can be attributed to natural variability. Others believe that scientists are still debating the point. Join scientist and renowned historian Naomi Oreskes as she describes her investigation into the reasons for such widespread mistrust and misunderstanding of scientific consensus and probes the history of organized campaigns designed to create public doubt and confusion about science. American Denial of Global Warming and here is the full youtube link.
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
Other favorites include:
The wickedness of factory farming can be seen here: The Meatrix
Why are we still using fossil fuels?
There is a revolution going on in the farm fields and on the dinner tables of America, a revolution that is transforming the very nature of the food we eat. THE FUTURE OF FOOD offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade. Please also go to Janforgores channel here on current, she has much more information.
"THE FUTURE OF FOOD offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade.
From the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada to the fields of Oaxaca, Mexico, this film gives a voice to farmers whose lives and livelihoods have been negatively impacted by this new technology. The health implications, government policies and push towards globalization are all part of the reason why many people are alarmed by the introduction of genetically altered crops into our food supply.
Shot on location in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, THE FUTURE OF FOOD VIDEO examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations seek to control the world's food system. The film also explores alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the farm crisis today."
Other sites of interest include Saynotogmo and The organic & non-gmo report.
Provoking, witty, stylish and sweepingly informative, THE CORPORATION explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time. Part film and part movement, The Corporation is transforming audiences and dazzling critics with its insightful and compelling analysis. Taking its status as a legal "person" to the logical conclusion, the film puts the corporation on the psychiatrist's couch to ask "What kind of person is it?" The Corporation includes interviews with 40 corporate insiders and critics including Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, Milton Friedman, Howard Zinn, Vandana Shiva and Michael Moore - plus true confessions, case studies and strategies for change.
Janforgore has the best collection of research on GMO's/ Monsanto/Coal-Mountain Top Removal/Uranium I have seen - I recommend going to her channel here and check out the articles and videos - an amazing body of work, as well as her blog water is life.
Andy Lipkis who created Tree People in Los Angeles is one of my heros.
This link takes you to a ten minute presentation by Andy Lipkis, see how Southern California could stop participating in the draining of the Colorado River - its worth the watch.
The Natural Resource Defence Council does awesome work, as does earth policy and organic consumers.
Dan Jacobsom heads up Environmental California another amazing person making a big difference to the quality of life we share, The Environmental News Network, For health freedom updates.
Permaculture is an Interdisciplinary Earth Science which encompasses all kinds of Appropriate Technologies and Sustainable Design Methodologies, such as; Renewable Energy, Water Conservation, Organic Food Production, Ecological Building Techniques, Micro-Economics and much much more!
In a world of Rapid Ecological Change & seemingly insurmountable Social & Environmental Problems, Permaculture offers Practical Solutions using Design Principles drawn from the Observation of Natural Systems.
From Individual Homes to Entire Bio-Regions, Permaculture has the potential to Repair Damaged Landscapes, Build Capacity in Communities and replace Apathy with Self Empowerm
Check out this project called "Building A Sustainable World: Life in the Balance". (I made it up and got it going with awesome partner Tim Clark) It was calling for entries to demonstrate that we can build in harmony with nature, not destroy it, and even heal our environment as we went along, and it was an answer to Al Gore's film "Inconvenient Truth" which described our problems so well, but not the solutions.
There are many more sites I resource from, and many of the videos I recommend can be found on Current, (I ran out of time to place links with individual people)but for now....
Current Green: What's the most recent green thing you learned about that "wowed" you?
SeaJade: Perhaps because my whole life has been focused on "green" I am not wowed as much but rather deeply appreciative of those who spend their time to contributing to the betterment of the whole - I find "green" inventions to be more the norm in my world view and is my place or space of comfort in this world. What I get "wowed" about is the negative stuff - I sit and go "wow" with momentary despair when I read about the continuation of uranium mining, coal mining, Monsanto's latest dirty tricks, pharmaceutical companies' dirty tricks, mainstream media's constant rude barrage of "psycho babble", the taking away of our rights for health freedom, how multi national corporations create (and get away with) war, destroy lives of local peoples, pollute other people's lands and water sources, and exploit human energy for their own gain..... I would go "wow" with much enthusiasm and joy if the world collectively went on strike for a month or so and stopped the evil multi national companies in their tracks... the strike would be no one would turn up for work and no one would buy their products..... that would mean that we would all have to help each other on a local level to survive the period of time we strike for - what a concept!
CurrentGreen: Who do you recommend should be featured next week?
SeaJade: This is the most difficult question to respond to, there are so many great people here. I will recommend Stopnoise to pass the baton to: Stopnoise has been contributing to current before I started here, I really appreciate his focus on "noise" pollution (can we get rid of leaf blowers please!), he supports many others and many times I know what is going on here on Current because Stopnoise has taken the time to pass on the stories. He also contributes positive solutions and is able to see our environmental problem as a holistic one and has also joined the dots, and he takes the time to add credit where credit is due....
Current Green: If you had to choose a place to do environmental graffiti, where would it be?
SeaJade: Having to choose between Monsanto, Chevron, Shell, or Exxon Headquarters, the White House, or the walls and halls of Congress is another difficult question the walls and halls of Congress - what would work best would be a mysterious paint that cannot be removed by ordinary methods - every time its cleaned up it re-appears, the only cure would be if the whole of Congress and the Senate started to act with common sense, heart and intelligence and stopped being bought by the Corporation. A note here, I would make the graffiti beautiful. I am asking for our world's beauty to be left in tact, so therefore, I should give the same considerations...
SeaJade on environmental art....
I'm an opportunist when it comes to using media and the arts to inspire others to think about our environment, heritage, and place light upon our disappearing wisdom - it really depends upon where I have been at during various stages of maturity and what is around me to act upon. I think for me, it all flows as one thing - I have no separation from my work or what I do for fun, and therefore, my work is my entertainment. When I was much younger I prayed (I'm not religious) that the great spirit of all that is (whatever that is) would guide me to a life's work that would be in "integrity" for me and please great spirit something not "normal".... I was eventually handed on a metaphoric silver platter the gift of photography and the appropriate opportunities to go along with that. I chose the subject of "Sacred Places" with still photography to be the vehicle in which I would create my life experience through - as a foundation for my life, and whatever came with that - the good the challenging the scary - so be it.... This act seems to have brought all sorts of interesting and fulfilling projects to my life - money - for better or worse - doesn't come into the picture - I move with my heart and excitement - and yes, there have been times when I have nearly starved by sticking with this concept (but I was o.k in the end and shouldn't have worried) - and I have no regrets.... (I have a nut missing, I am not motivated by money at all, but motivated by life experiences and opportunities).
Sometimes its not necessarily my "art" that is used, but my background that my career in photography has given me that has enabled me to forge ahead with lofty plans and ideals such as the "Building A Sustainable World: Life in the Balance" project - in fact, I think that is the most important work I have done - it took me two years of intense focus (and no help from mainstream media) to pull all those people together and complete. I couldn't have done and wouldn't have done this project if Tim Clark (a visionary and founder of the RIBA-USA) had not agreed to become involved. Or my name and presence as a "media" person from Hollywood (I'm not really, although I am a media person and I live in L.A.) had been used effectively to get attention on saving an Elm tree in Denver for example. I have the privilege of working with two extraordinary musicians/producers/composers - both legends in their own fields - Patrick Leonard and Shenkar (formerly known as L. Shenkar) provide me with inspiring or evocative music and I just flow with that and use the images I have on hand collected over years and years of work.... These pieces which you can see on my network here as SeaJade are to assist people to calm down in the midst of our storms and focus on something beautiful or moving (but trust me, as an artist, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so don't expect everybody to be moved :-) Some works are based on the concept that what we think about we create (such as the Meditation: A Walk Through The Sierras)..... The pieces are also bathed in mythological metaphor ("Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley" and the "In Search of Camelot" piece). I just do what I feel might assist or inspire or move at any given time. I donate works to many charities for their fundraisers, and offer my time up where I feel appropriate - this August I am giving a workshop on photography at Tree People for Tree People to help them raise funds and awareness of their organization. I also make these videos of stills and music for my own healing process - I can't take all the bad news and not feel badly myself - I take as much as I can and hopefully process it positively, contribute where I can (that is helping people understand that Mainstream Media has not served them and help people understand we can make better choices), and then I take time out to re-focus and create something that is the opposite of negative news. I've been involved with films that demonstrate all is not well with the world, I produced an awesome concert a few years ago to help raise money and consciousness about our environment, I have used the opportunities I have had as lecturer/speaker (along with images) to hopefully inspire my audiences to think differently, I nudge here and there, I try to live my own life as well as possible and be a positive example (I'm not perfect, I'm human, but do a pretty good job) - and from my own experiences and choices I KNOW we can create a beautiful, equitable, harmonious world if we choose "collectively" to do so.
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