K10 Photo

Tokyo - 4 weeks and counting

2012-02-28T09:44:00.001-05:00

Ok Im super excited. I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Tokyo. I think the image in my mind is one of a city and energy that is unlike anything anywhere. Sure each place is unique, but Tokyo seems to be so special and has so many things that I cannot wait to take on. First I have a ton of art I want to see there. My mission is first contemporary galleries, second wood block print shopping, and third to be more adventurous with food than I was in Kyoto. At the end of Kyoto I was disappointed that I didnt try more, so Tokyo shall be a foodie mission of top order. I have to channel my inner Anthony Bourdain and just be open to it, even if it looks a bit strange. The stranger, the better the photo ops.

I have been planning some when I have time in between the tons of work I have been doing. I have mostly been focused on my gallery list because there are so many and I only have a week. There are bunch of museums there too and of course we will do the history/temple jaunts as well. Hope my sore back holds up for this one because moments in Kyoto were a bit like being on the rack, with rusty spikes being drilled into my hip whilst the reaper of age chose to flagellate my lumbar a few times a day.

OH YEA and its going to be cherry blossom time. I just cant believe its happening and so soon after Greece and Kyoto. Im quite lucky and extremely beside myself about it all.

Reflections of Greece and Kyoto- onto Tokyo

2012-02-12T09:19:00.000-05:00

So far its been a crazy year only a few weeks into 2012. Greece was fabulous. We did so much. I still have a ton of photos to edit through from Crete, Knossos, Delphi, Mycenae, and more of our last days in Athens. It really was a great trip and I think we planned it out perfectly.

Then came the winter break which we spent in Kyoto. It was a very special week. We saw a gazillion temples, did some excellent shopping, and found a fondness for the public bath houses called onsens. I have been working on those photos which included a day in Nara which was very interesting. The weather was quite cold but I left feeling like I wanted more of Japan. So when we found out we were not having to go for a conference in Bangkok for spring break this year we decided right away to go to Tokyo. Without hesitation I booked the flight and hotel so we will have a week in Tokyo during cherry blossom time. Im very excited.

It's been a rough time with a lot of drama going on but in the end I would say that I have learned a lot about many things, most of which is how to try to deal with the stresses that life brings. Sometimes you just have to step back and reflect, and then see that things have a way to work out. I hope that is true for the rest of the year. There is a lot of work ahead but I feel it will work out. So with that I look forward to Japan, seeing all the great work my students will put together in the coming weeks, and then the UK in the summer.

さようなら

Just one Hitch

2011-12-16T04:31:00.001-05:00

I wrote a sort of essay about a month ago in response to a video project dedicated to Christopher Hitchens. With his passing today I remembered writing the essay and wanted to post it for posterity. I hope he knew all the love and respect so many had for him, including me one of his biggest fans.

______________________________

First, I have to say Im not easily intimidated, but if I was to be intimidated by anyone, it would have to be you Hitch. I tried to do the vid clip but got so bloody nervous speaking that I decided to write my thoughts and read it so I get to say what I think and feel without hesitation or forgetting what I have to say in a short clip. Time is valuable. So is thinking- really thinking. Not just speaking off the top of ones mind but having to ponder seriously what all perspectives are- on any topic. I always found myself putting serious thought into the ideas you speak and write about. Knowing someone else was thinking about these issues too gave me some solace in this screwed up world. And I have always valued the methods you use- be it with humor, pure ethical reasoning, logic, and occasionally the Hitch slap. (Love the Hitch slap!!!)

I suppose that as an only child, with a father who was sort of “Zen” without ever really professing or preaching, and who died in front of me with a cerebral hemorrhage when I was 10 and he was 36, I admit it now that I have always sought father figures in my 31 years since his death. And Id like to add that the rest of my “family” were either ritualistic Roman Catholics or bible banging born agains which led me on a path of constantly questioning and thinking long before I heard you speak. I have been a seeker, not for a God, but for truth and peace. When the Mel Gibson slaughter porn came out I was so incensed that so many people felt they “had to go see it. I recall taking my mother to see Lord of the Rings and watched as lines of busses came in with people from church groups going to see the carnage of The Passion that Sunday afternoon. I was ill from witnessing it. At least the carnage of The Lord of the Rings was about the warnings of how evil needs to be opposed. It had a point. The Passion had no point other than to guilt, and preach, and point ugly fingers. I came home from the LOTR and saw you on one of the news channels going full force into all the things I was thinking about the sickness of religion and that "movie". Your words and your way of speaking them was like victory bells in my head and my heart. I remember that your words literally gave me sanity during that time. I know you support the Iraq war but for me at that time during 2004 I nearly had a nervous breakdown from W inc. and then that movie was just a bit too much for me to handle in my post 9-11 funk. I felt that everything was like a mad hatters tea party- pun intended for irony's sake. If I have to say I believe in anything, its cause and effect. And I just wanted to say that the effect you made in your convictions were quite inspiring and made me feel like I wanted to hear more about what you think. I thank you for your writings and your speeches. I was scheduled to see you in the summer of 2010 on the book tour and I tried to see you with Rushdie at the NYC YMCA but that was right before I was to move to Asia for my new teaching job. I teach art history to 17 year olds who are non religious or Buddhist. I think you would be proud of my approach when I have to cover all the Christian art and its impending implications there after. I teach the students to understand the context and to think about the REAL purpose of it all.

Religion is like a combination of cancer and an addictive pharmaceutical drug in which the side effects are much more harmful than the possible positive effects.

I want to thank you for introducing me to the writings of Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins and I really want to thank you for being a father figure to me- someone I look up to, someone I might not always agree with on politics (sorry just cannot think anything W, Wolfowitz, and Cheney ever did was justified) but I understand your thoughts and compassions for the Kurds and appreciate your convictions to stand up for what you think. And that is the key, you think, then you stand up and speak it with well thought and punchy elegance. It is a true life lesson and has made me always want to do the same. So I thank you and want you to know how much you have meant to my life and will continue to do so.

Cheers Mate

Kristen Jones

____________________________

And now, Rest in peace Hitch- I hope you felt the love there is for you in this universe for LIVING WELL!!!!!

2011-12-14T09:47:00.001-05:00

Just a few more days and we are off to Greece. I really just cannot imagine how it is going to feel to be in Athens, Delphi, Mycenae, and Crete. We have a full itinerary planned out for each day and all the reservations are made. Just need to pack and say goodbye to this island for awhile. I really need a break from it all. Its been a hectic month and a good dose of archaeological sites, museums, Greek food, music, and maybe a bit of shopping will hopefully do the trick. I hope to take it all in and hope to get a good load of new photos. Im very excited about all of it, with no one part being a highlight in my mind. All of it is a highlight. We are hoping for decent weather and smooth sailing..... yes we will be taking the overnight ferry from Athens to Crete which is one part maybe Im not totally excited about. But as long as there isnt too much rocking on the boat I think it will be fun. I have had a few ferry rides in the past that were not too pleasant and the feeling is not one I choose to remember if I can help it. I dont mind fly whatsoever even with massive turbulence I can handle it but if the boat starts swaying in every direction my stomach is not a happy camper. So in 48 hours we will be on the plane with excruciating lay overs in Beijing and Munich but Im sure it will be all worth it once we arrive at our hotel at the foot of the Acropolis Sunday morning.

Occupying my mind

2011-11-21T06:04:00.001-05:00

It is a strange feeling to see all the protests in the US and around the world. It gives me a dual feeling of optimism and reality. It also makes me feel strange to not be in NYC for any of it after all the drama of being in the streets 2003 and on with the last event being 9-11-08 where it was bitter sweet to know that I would be leaving NYC very soon, to go to of all places, the Middle East. Then in the summer of 2010 protesting in little towns to defend the Marcellus Shale from being raped for "natural" gas. Strange how things change, and we learn from them, hopefully......But too often the lesson needs to be repeated for those with short attention spans. I guess looking back I learned the lesson that change is something you just cannot predict. You can have hope, you can try to make impacts but some times the only thing that is grounding is reality. My reality is, I miss NYC but I dont miss NYC. I miss the feeling of being home, but is it ever home? Its always changing. Mostly not in good ways. Over the years it's become a haven for the rich, so its ironic that the occupy movement has made it ground zero. The things I have loved about it are fading, or a shell of what they used to be. So I guess I miss what is in my minds eye, the snap shots of the past which are memories pretty much over. The spirit has evaporated to exist in a place where memories and old digital photos preserve it. I do not think it will ever return. But again, change is something you cannot predict.

I feel pride in what Occupy has done, and I know if I was "home", (and most likely things for me there would really suck with no work since art is not high on priorities with an economy in the shitter), Im sure I would be there protesting. Im so sick of this crap- SOOO much crap. what issues to protest first? For me fighting natural gas would have to be priority because if that goes through then say bye bye to fresh air and clean water- FOREVER. I wish I was able to partake, but I also do not wish I was there. Every day I watch various websites, now I have a live stream and I feel the pain, the confusion, the anger. I was so sickened by it by the time of 2004. Then again in 2010 with the natural gas protests. But I know how being in those groups can be healing, to feel connected. I met some wonderful people at protests. I think that regardless of if anything can come out of the occupy movements, I am sure that many people are making some incredible, well needed human connections, with like minded and kindred spirits. That makes me smile to think about it to know that SOMETHING good is happening in the world.

In less than a month I will be in Greece. With all the protests there, and the seriousness of their situation, I must admit Im a bit afraid of the thought. I would love to take some photos of any events but I worry about how much hatred there is of Americans, so I will need to be careful. Maybe saying Im Canadian will be a kind of protection. Its really sad but its true..... It makes me think about the anti Iraq war phrase we said over and over protesting up 7th Avenue for the republican convention--- "NOT IN OUR NAME!!!!!" and here it is, that is what is left. Everyone in the world blames AMERICANS for the wrongs in the world. And I guess they are right, but only to an extent. Most Americans did not support the wars, most Americans are not supporting multi billion dollar corporations. Most Americans are just like, the average Greeks, the Egyptians, and the rest of the world - who have families, have hopes, have pains, have fears, have dreams. but now Americans have to answer for all the shit W and his band of thugs dished out. People of intelligence have been made to stand up to be questioned for it. But what was anyone to do? It was so screwed up. Up was down, down was really really down. And now we all have to go through the chemo of it in hopes that there will be a remission, if not a cure found. Is Occupy a remission? could it be a cure? I do not know. I hope its not a placebo allowing the tumor to spread. They need to be smart because the powers that be- the POINT ONE PERCENT- not the 1%,-----they are cunning, and they do not care about a thing. Nothing but themselves. They have nothing to loose because they do not know what loosing means.

I say, Occupy should demand that W, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rove are brought to the Hague for crimes against humanity, and only then will they stop - but until then there will be no justice. They are the ones to blame. Not Americans!

Europe Photos complete

2011-11-15T17:56:00.001-05:00

Finally finished - 4 months later to edit my Europe photos. They are all here- https://picasaweb.google.com/artpatchphotos

Ready for Athens. All booked and planned for a 2 week trip- Athens, Delphi, Crete, Mycenae. Very excited!

2011-10-14T04:26:00.001-04:00

Just booked the trip to Kyoto. Really excited about this trip since I have always wanted to go to Japan. This trip will be three weeks after going to Greece. I have that all planned out. Here is the basic itinerary so far:
Athens for 5 days
Delphi for 2 day
Athens for 2 more days
Crete for 2 days
Mycenae for a day
Athens for 2 more days

We are also going to Bangkok for a long weekend soon. Lots of traveling in the next weeks. Im very excited and plan to take a lot of photos.

Still working on my summer Europe pics. So far I have albums for Munich, Reims, Paris, Amiens, Ghent, Brugge, Utrecht, Antwerp, Brussels, Berlin, Dresden, and Prague. Have to work on Nuremberg, and the last days in Munich then they are all loaded to my picasa site linked on the left.

Booked to go to Athens and Crete

2011-09-18T03:31:00.002-04:00

Just got my tickets to go to Athens and Crete in December. Im very excited about this trip. I teach art history classes so this is going to be quite valuable for my lessons in the future but also there should be tons of photography opportunities. We will be gone for about 2 weeks and plan to do all the archaeological sites as well as art museums. I really cannot wait for the food either since Greek food is one of my favorite cuisines. Then after that we are off to Japan a few weeks later for Chinese New Year. Greg cannot take being in Taiwan for that week since the whole place is shut down. So off to temples and sushi and sake.

I photoshopped and loaded less than half of my Europe pics from the summer to my picassa album. Im just on Beligium...... OY- with Antwerp, Brussels, Utrecht, Berlin (lots of Berlin), Dresden, Prague, Nuremberg and the last days in Munich. Lots of work to do. Im going to try to finish up Antwerp, Utrecht and Brussels today.

Also have to get planning for the itinerary for Greece. Totally exciting.

Back from 5 weeks in Europe

2011-07-29T13:24:00.001-04:00

Ok so I totally did not keep up on my travel blog like I planned for our trip around Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Czek Republic. I really wanted to but due to the fact that we did so much each day and most places we stayed did not have a great internet connection- or none at all, it was quickly apparent that it just was not going to happen like I planned.

We had a fabulous time with only a few little bumps in the road but all in all it went great. We saw tons of art museums, learned a lot of history, and took thousands of photos. Im in the process of trying to weed them out and loading them gradually to my Picasa site. I loaded Munich and Reims, now just have Paris, Chartres, Amiens, Brugges, Ghent, Antwerp, Utrecht, Brussels, Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Nuremberg and the last days in Munich to go... Oy! Its going to take time to get that done but I am determined to post some of the best of each place. TONS of catherdal shots which I think will come in handy when my art history classes are covering Gothic material. We also did a number of WWII and holocaust sites which were insightful and moving.

2 More weeks until school starts so I have some time to work on the photos and do some of my planning that I havent finished for my courses. I have a lot to do but being that its 10 million degrees outside each day I would assume I will have a lot of internet time in the AC.

I just want to finish with saying I learned so much on this trip and there is so much more to learn about art, history, and culture that its overwhelming but also inspiring to know thta my subject matter is so exciting and doesnt get boring in the least bit. I hope I can bring that to my students who I am really looking forward to for this year. They are a great bunch and with the background I gave my students I had last year I think they are giong to do great in my art history and art classes.

Munich

2011-06-25T17:53:00.000-04:00

We have been in Munich for the last few days and have had an amazing time. Tons of great art museums and interesting history here. We have been out walking literally about 12 hours a day. Gregs feet our not doing well and my back is pretty stiff. Getting old sucks. but we have been keeping up our endurance and enjoying all the things we planned on seeing. tomorrow night is the Death Cab for Cutie show here and Im pretty excited about that. Should be cool to see them in a small venue and will be interesting to see how German crowds react to them. We checked into a really nice hotel today after staying at a pretty cheap place for first few nights. It served its purpose but this place is really nice and comfortable. We decided to just take it easy tonight and relax. I was out to pick up some drinks at the corner store and I saw what looked like Alex Grey. I remembered seeing a poster that he was going to be in town for a live painting show. I said hey Alex and he and is wife Allyson were very friendly and excited to be recognized on the street. I told him that I met him at the Chapel of Sacred mirrors in NYC back in 2007 and told him what Ive been up to since then. He said he will be traveling around some to the UK and that the new Chapel in upstate NY was going well. Maybe next summer I will make my way up there to check it out. Im so pissed because I forgot my camera, would have been a great shot of the two of them accross the street from the Hauptbanhof.

I am writing on the hotel computer because the internet in the room is too much money but when I can get on wireless I will post the blog I wrote in the Bejing airport. I think its pretty amusing to read it in hindsight.

cheers!

5 days and couting.....

2011-06-16T06:05:00.001-04:00

Well we leave in 5 days. Im super excited. The plan has changed just a bit but now its pretty set with all our places to stay worked out and most of what what hope to see at each destination.

Munich for 5 nights including Death Cab For Cutie concert at a little venue on the last night in Munchen, also maybe TV on the Radio concert.

Reims France mainly for the Cathedral

PARIS- finally going to get to see it. Includes Roger Waters perfom The Wall and also Bach violin sonatas at St. Chapelle Cathedral

Amiens- my favorite Gothic Cathedral and to see the sights for a day

Belgium for a week- Staying near Antwerp
Ghent
Brugge
detour to Utrecht to see the Bright Eyes concert
Brussels

THEN - a week in Berlin- super excited about this as it was the main inspiration for the euro trip. I want to see all the museums and art possible to fill in 7 days and 6 nights

Dresden
Prague
Nuremberg
and back to Munich

I think we planned out quite a lovely loop trip. I do hope to be able to see all that I can and Im really looking forward to learn as much as I can for my art history students. Of course lots of photos to come and hope to post them regularly on my picasa site and link them here as well.

Euro 2011

2011-05-04T01:05:00.000-04:00

Very soon I will be traveling to Europe for 5 weeks. I hope to keep a travel diary.
So far here is the intinerary

Munich (for a few days and to see Death Cab For Cutie)
Reims
Paris
Amiens
Bruges
Ghent
Brussels
Dusseldorf
Berlin
Dresden
Prague
Munich

Photographer Kristen Piece Jones

2009-10-12T17:00:00.013-04:00

Photographer for events, fashion, music. kristenpiecejones@yahoo.com

all photos owned by Kristen Piechocki

aka Kristen Piece Jones