Post quake

Yesterday's quake and its aftershock left me waiting longer than anticipated at Piarco, as the flight was delayed while they checked for cracks on the runway. When the aftershock happened, I was talking to two friends who happened to be on the same flight. We felt the departure lounge start to rock and roll and we grabbed hands and moved under a kind of doorway where we stayed, talking about "Trinidad and all that is happening" even after the tremors had subsided. One of my friends was saying that the quake is a sign for people to really wake up.

The flight was quite rough as well. So much so that I said to the man next to me "We're having an earthquake up here too." He chuckled and said loudly (making the other passengers laugh out): "We havin' a 6.0 in de sky!" When I asked him where he had been for the first quake, he said he was sitting in the airport laughing as he watched people running away from behind check in counters, travelers scampering, a woman 'bawling' and running out of the building.

Me: So you just sat there during the tremors?
Him: Yes, I does be calm for everyting.

I am here now, having a lazy day after going to sleep late and having a 'turbulent' night, thinking about Trinidad's quake and having strange dreams. Other than an early morning trip out to buy some fruit, veg, etc., have not explored much yet. Clue #1 to where I am. Her name is related to the patron saint of eye problems.

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Elspeth

Up, up and away (video)

Click here: My nephew Liu sets his helium Spongebob free.
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I will be flying out of Trinidad today. I will blog daily as usual from my new location. See if you can guess where I am when I do. Those of you who may know, don't give it away.

Bye.

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Elspeth

Ripping to shreds

The other night, after going to see Yao Ramesar's "Sista God" with two friends, we went to get something to eat. As we were waiting for our tofu (after over 30 minutes of waiting, the waiter came back and told us "There is no Tofu" - so we left) we were discussing the film. During our conversation, I brought up a pet peeve - the way some people love to badtalk and criticize creative efforts behind the artist(e)'s back. Yes, we all will like or not like things and will talk about what we like and don't like accordingly, but there is a fine line between discussing or criticizing something in a healthy way ... and scathingly ripping the person and their effort to non-constructive shreds.

Some people are 'experts' at detailing what they think the creator of a piece did 'wrong' and outlining all that the person "should have done instead" to make their piece worthy. Everyone but the creator of the piece may hear this 'advice'. My peeve that night as we sat around our tofu-less table was that half of the people who will badtalk Yao's film (or any creative work) in a scathing, dismissive or non-constructive way may have never done a film (or creative work) of their own and don't understand all that has gone into it.

Then one of my tofu-less friends told me: "They do it to you too, Elspeth. People that you think are friends were ripping you to shreds after All of Emily showed at Deluxe that year." After the premiere, when people were gathered in the Deluxe (now Zen) lobby, he stood there and heard all that was being said in his presence (they, not realising that he was a friend of mine).

Well, as I said, it's natural that people will like or not like things, so that's not the point. My point is ... how often do these people go up to the creator of a piece and talk to them about it rather than talking about it behind their backs and coming to their own conclusions ... without understanding the genesis and process of (or thinking behind) that particular work?

Granted, sometimes one may not know what to say, may have nothing to say or may not feel moved to say anything. And it's not always physically possible to tell everyone what you think or feel.

Nothing is perfect. It's a whole two-way learning and growth process. When you speak to someone about what they have created, whether you like it or not, you learn about the creator's perspective and understand something that you didn't before. And vice versa. The creator gets feedback and takes into consideration other perspectives.

We're all entitled to our opinions and ways of sharing them or not. And at the end of the day, you can't please everyone. You just have to do what you do the way you would do it.

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Elspeth

All of Emily (2002)

Showing at the 2006 CARIFESTA Film Festival, Grand Market, Jean Pierre Complex (VIP Lounge), Port of Spain on Friday 29 September 2006 from 4:00 p.m. Admission Free.

In this scene from the movie, Elliot (Joey Clarke) broods next to his deceased wife Emily's urn. More scenes below.

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SYNOPSIS:
“Elliot ... about my cremation ... I want you to do one thing for me when it’s over ...” Emily’s last wish of her husband (Elliot) … that he divide her ashes between himself and her best friend (Jessica) … goes unfulfilled, as Elliot is unwilling to share his wife, even in death. The plot revolves around the widower as he develops an attachment to his wife’s urn. As events unfold and secret aspects of Emily’s life are brought to light through the pages of her diary, Elliot is driven to do the unthinkable.
*
Running time: 22 minutes
Written, Directed and Scored by Elspeth Duncan
Producers: Cauri Ltd.
Executive Producer: Stefan Jones Productions
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SOME MORE STILLS FROM THE MOVIE

Jessica (Cecilia Salazar, l.) and Emily (Renee Castle, r.) in the whistling scene

Jessica appears in Elliot's dream

Emily in one of the diary scenes

Jessica and the urn
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Past festivals at which ALL OF EMILY has appeared (chronological order):
Nov 2002 - World Premiere: 1st International ‘Kairi’ Film Festival, Deluxe Cinema, POS, Trinidad

June 2003 - European Premiere: 2nd Annual Commonwealth Film Festival, Manchester, England

October 2003 - 2nd Festival of African & Caribbean Film, Barbados,W.I.

October 2003 - 5th Annual Cine Nuestra America, Madison, Wisconsin,USA

January 2004 - F3: Female Film Festival, The Upper Room Art Gallery, Mount St. Benedict, Trinidad. W.I.

October 2004- Cinesalon, St. Catherine, Montreal, Canada

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Elspeth

Films, 'All of Emily', Schedule for CFF

If looking for something alternative and interesting to do, day or night, for once there are several options. To begin with, films: the CARIFESTA Film Festival at the Stadium (CARIFESTA Grand Market, Jean Pierre Complex, VIP Lounge - all movies free), The Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival at Movie Towne (each movie $15TT), the Galvanize Video Festival at CCA7 (free admission) and the Grassroots Film Festival.

Cecilia Salazar as 'Jessica' in a scene from All of Emily (see below)

The CARIFESTA Film Festival (CFF) looks like it has some good movies, all outlined in the neat little programme available on site. I went to the opening the other night and the room in which the movies are being shown is intimate, seating about 50 people (?? I'm not good at estimating numbers, so could be more). I've already earmarked it as a good place to escape to when in POS - not only to see the movies, but to avoid heat and traffic. With entrance to CARIFESTA and the movies being free, you can't go wrong. Secured parking for $10 at the nearby Woodbrook Youth Facility will keep your mind at ease re still having a car when you return.
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For those who never saw but want to see my movie, All of Emily (2002), it will be showing at the CFF on Friday 29th September, 2006 from 4:00 p.m. in the VIP Lounge, Jean Pierre Complex. I will be out of the country then, so won't be attending. I'll give a synopsis and other information on the movie in tomorrow's post.

Below is a list of the films showing at the CFF

(All free of charge):

CARIFESTA FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Tuesday 26th September
2:00 pm (REPEAT)
BLINDED
DIRECTED BY ANDERSON QUARLESS, GRENADA

DRAMA,

80 MINUTES/2006

4:00 pm
NO SEED
DIRECTED BY HOWARD ALLEN ANTIGUA & BARBUDA DRAMA/THRILLER, 90 MINUTES/2002

6:30 pm
JEFFREY'S CALYPSO
DIRECTED AND WRITTEN BY VASHTI ANSERSON ?USA/TRINIDAD & TOBAGO DRAMA, 24 MINUTES

7:00 pm
SISTA GOD
DIRECTED AND WRITTEN BY YAO RAMESAR TRINIDAD & TOBAGO,

FEATURE,

72 MINUTES/ 2006

Wednesday 27th September
2:00 pm
EXPRESSIONS OF DIVALI
PRODUCED BY DION SAMSOONDAR & AL RAMSAWACK, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO DOCUMENTARY, 25 MINUTES

GANGA DASHARA , ANCIENT HINDU RIVER FESTIVAL
PRODUCED BY DION SAMSOONDAR & AL RAMSAWACK, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO DOCUMENTARY, 21 MINUTES

SPIRIT OF CEDROS
PRODUCED BY DION SAMSOONDAR & AL RAMSAWACK, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO DOCUMENTARY, 25 MINUTES

OUT OF THE CANEFIELD
PRODUCED BY DION SAMSOONDAR & AL RAMSAWACK, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO DOCUMENTARY, 25 MINUTES

4:00 pm
WHEN VOICES RISE
DIRECTED BY ERROL WILLIAMS, BERMUDA, DOCUMENTARY, 74 MINUTES

5:30 pm
COLD DEAD HANDS
DIRECTED BY KAZ OVE,

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO,

THRILLER ,

12 MINUTES

6:00 pm
D'BI YOUNG: BLOOD, DUB AND THE MATRIARCH
DIRECTED BY FRANCES ANNE SOLOMON, CANADA/CARIBBEAN,

DOCUMENTARY

24 MINUTES/2005

6:30 pm? (REPEAT)
CALYPSO AT DIRTY JIMS
DIRECTED BY PASCAL OBOLO

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO/CAMEROON ::

85 MINUTES/2005

8:30 pm (REPEAT)
NO SEED
DIRECTED BY HOWARD ALLEN ANTIGUA & BARBUDA DRAMA/THRILLER

90 MINUTES/2002

Thursday 28th September
1:00 pm
THE SHOES

7 SHORT FILMS
DIRECTED BY: NALA, MAHMOOD PATEL, T MELLO, PAMELA WHITEHALL, CARL BRANCH, MICHAEL CLARKE, JEFFREY BISHOP.

BARBADOS

DRAMA. 49 MINUTES

LA DIA'BLESSE
PRODUCED BY SHAMKOE PILE, BARBADOS

DRAMA

25 MINUTES

STONE HOUSES
PRODUCED BY MAHMOOD PATEL,

BARBADOS

DOCUMENTARY

40 MINUTES

DISCUSSION WITH VISITING FILMAKERS

4:00 pm
WAN LOBI TORI (A LOVE STORY)
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY SHARDA GANGA,

SURINAME,

DRAMA,

40 MINUTES

5:00 pm
JAH BLESS
DIRECTED BY HOWARD ALLEN,

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

COMEDY

50 MINUTES

5:30 pm
WALKING ON A SEA OF GLASS
DIRECTED BY ERROL WILLIAMS,

BERMUDA

DOCUMENTARY

8:30 pm

SKIN DEEP
DIRECTED BY SACHA PARISOT, USA/HAITI,DARK COMEDY

86 MINUTES
ADULT CONTENT

DIRECTOR PRESENT

Friday 29th September
1:00 pm
GRASSROOTS SHORTS (Emerging Filmmakers)
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

1:30 pm
SECONDARY SCHOOL SHORTS
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

2:00 pm (REPEAT)
CALYPSO DREAMS
DIRECTED BY GEOFFREY DUNN AND MICHAEL HORNE

USA/TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

DOCUMENTARY

90 MINS/ 2003

4:00 pm
COLD DEAD HANDS

(REPEAT)
DIRECTED BY KAZ OVE,

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

THRILLER

12 MINUTES

JEFFREY'S CALYPSO (REPEAT)
DIRECTED AND WRITTEN BY VASHTI ANSERSON

USA/TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

DRAMA

24 MINUTES

ALL OF EMILY
DIRECTED WRITTEN AND SCORED BY ELSPETH DUNCAN

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

DRAMA

22 MINUTES

MOTHER TO A CHILD
CAMERA AND EDIT, ELSPETH DUNCAN

LYRICS AND VOCALS DELANA MITCHELL

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

EXPERIMENTAL

5 MINUTES

PLEASE STAND
CAMERA, EDIT, MUSIC

ELSPETH DUNCAN

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

DOCUMENTARY

4 MINUTES

DREAMS
DIRECTED BY VAUGHN STANFORD

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

DRAMA

14 MINUTES

6:30 pm
LA REBELLE
DIRECTED BY SACHA PARISOT

USA/HAITI

DRAMA

93 MINUTES/ 2005

8:30 pm
ROBLE DE OLOR (REPEAT)
DIRECTED BY RIGOBERTO LOPEZ - CUBA/SPAIN/FRANCE-

FEATURE

140 MINUTES/ 2003

Saturday 30th September
2:00 pm

(REPEAT)
WALKING ON A SEA OF GLASS
DIRECTED BY ERROL WILLIAMS

BERMUDA

DOCUMENTARY

4:00 pm (REPEAT)
JOEBELL AND AMERICA
DIRECTED BY ASHA LOVELACE

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

83 MINUTES/2004

6:00 pm

(REPEAT)
BIDESHI
DIRECTED BY FRANCES ANNE SOLOMON TRINIDAD & TOBAGO/CANADA DRAMA
20 MINUTES/1995

7:00 pm

CLOSING SCREENING
CARNIVAL ROOTS
DIRECTED BY PETER CHELOWSKI?

USA/TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

DOCUMENTARY :: 90 MINUTES

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Elspeth

In decision

In my indecision I ...

In my indecision I found ...

In my indecision I found my decision.

*

Elspeth

If it is ... or isn't

If it is mine, I can't lose it.

If it is not mine, I don't want it.

- Florence Scovell Schinn -

A good movie to see

Went to see Glory to Gloriana, a Jamaican movie (true story) at the T & T Film Festival at Movie Towne last night. It's showing again tomorrow at 8:30 p.m., $15 admission. The real Gloria is here, as well as the actress who plays Gloria and the actors who play her two 'men'. The movie was 110 minutes long and, although I have a short attention span, was tired and normally don't reach the end of many movies with my eyes open, this one had me hooked throughout. If you can, it is a must see. It's quite simple and not 'perfect' (but what is?), but it's certainly entertaining and a good story ... and, being a true story, it's all the more captivating.

This blurb on her autobiographical book gives an idea of the message in the movie, which is applicable to everyone: persistence, ingenuity, success and 'all things are possible'.

If it wasn't a true story, I would not have thought that it could be.

Afterwards there was a question and answer session with the real Gloria and the actors. The real Gloria struck everyone as an amazing woman. After watching the movie, seeing her in the flesh was a treat. She gave some advice at the end - basically: Whatever you want in life, just envision it and formulate a plan for it. Don't go with fear and don't ever worry about the money ... and it will happen. (She kept stressing "Don't worry about the money.") - and when you see the movie, you'll see that she didn't.

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Elspeth

Out in public

Can A Really Innovative Festival Ever S______ Trinbagonian Artforms? (can't think of an 'S' word to go there).

Driving around the Savannah yesterday with a friend, we saw the CARIFESTA banners hanging on the poles, announcing the festival. "What festival?" Apart from traffic, there was no sign that anything of a major creative nature was going on in the city ... apart from some men setting up booths in Queen's Hall and at the Stadium. When we stopped at a traffic light opposite the US Embassy, my friend, who has a dance company in NY and is no doubt accustomed to a different kind of public creative landscape, commented: "There should be people standing at the roadside doing poetry, artists, booths, street theatre ..." etc etc etc etc etc. "This is supposed to be CARIFESTA, the biggest Caribbean festival!" We started talking about the different kinds of things that could be going on around the Savannah at least to bring 'CARIFESTA' alive and to bring it, in whatever small ways, to a public who may not necessarily take the time to go and see it wherever it is happening.

At one point we stopped off in HiLo, St. Anns and there was a man playing a clarinet, with a guitar strapped to his back. Elsewhere, his performance would be seen as busking, but here it's probably considered to be a creative form of begging. We agreed that his performance was what 'CARIFESTA' should be ... or at least a semblance of what it could feel like. He was free, open, out on the street performing, bringing the HiLo carpark alive for the people who were there, whether they took him on or not. Imagine the nooks and crannies of the nation filled with artists and musicians doing all kinds of interesting things ... (not just the traditional pan).

People stuck in traffic are a great captive audience. Imagine musicians, poets and dancers along the route, on traffic islands, roundabouts, performing in shifts - and perhaps under umbrellas so they don't get barbecued in the hot sun. (That's where advertisers could get their piece of the pie - emblazoned on an artist's umbrella). Things like that ...

And why wait for CARIFESTA for that to happen anyway?

I remember when I used to have my "Busk at Dusk", to promote my INFINITE CD. I would advertise it in a simple 'underground' kind of way, but most people did not understand what 'busk' meant. On about three consecutive Saturday evenings (at dusk) I would take a blanket or Indian wrap and lay it on the grass around the Savannah, light some incense, put out my black fishing hat (for public contributions), display a CD on a little stand, pull out my guitar and start singing. I didn't attract eager throngs, but it was fun and interesting to say the least. Some people would just walk past, looking from the side of their eyes with curiosity but never stopping; some people would stop and spend a while, listening, sometimes commenting, sometimes giving donations. One or two would stop by and start talking ... and keep talking and philosophising. Some would ask me what spiritual organisation or yoga group I belonged to (I guess because of how I was sitting crosslegged on the blanket). Once, what appeared to be an entire family (parents, children, grandparents) stayed and listened to quite a few pieces and put a $20 bill in my fishing hat before leaving. That $20 felt like a million.

But ... let's say 'outdoor performance' things like that were happening for CARIFESTA. Would people take the time to stop and experience them? Or would there be deterrents keeping them from being out in public experiencing the artforms? The unbearable heat, the traffic, the noise and dust from nearby construction sites, the fear of stray bullets, the thought that someone could run out of nowehere and steal your bag?

We should let the creative things, not the destructive ones, take over our streets.

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Elspeth

I need a helicopter

The amount of traffic these days on the roads is a major deterrent for me. I barely leave the house unless I have to. Only on weekends or very late afternoons onwards can I step out with the knowledge that I won't be sitting for hours in a motor mass. But then again, even that can't be guaranteed. Somewhere, someone may be digging or paving, a policeman will be directing traffic (and causing more) or there will be an accident and everyone will be stopping to look. Gone are the days when you can describe a place as being 5 minutes away by car. That 5 minutes can now be as much as 30 minutes, 25 of which are spent sitting in one spot or inching forward slowly.

Yesterday was planning to have a totally relaxed day and venture up to Asa Wright and around the coast with a friend who is here for a while and going back to London soon. In the end we could not go, so I went into Port of Spain in the morning instead, to get some things done. There was surprisingly not much traffic - at least it was flowing at a good pace. I did a few things around town then drove up to Maracas to shoot some seawater. Being up there was a striking contrast to being in 'civilisation'. When I got back to POS, I decided to go and check out some of the Galvanize exhibits or maybe drop in at Movie Towne to see one of the films at the T&T Film Festival (showing TT & Caribbean films), but the traffic was so crazy and the day so hot that I started to feel drained and just decided to go home.

It was about 2:30 and I started heading over the Lady Young as usual. I was met by a long line of almost stationery cars. Not wanting to be trapped, I turned at Hilton and decided to go down Charlotte and through Picadilly. A bad move. Bumper to bumper traffic for about twenty - thirty minutes from the St Anns roundabout to Charlotte Street/Picadilly traffic lights. There was no escape! Everywhere I looked, every alternative route I could have considered was packed with metal sardines glinting in the sun.

Eventually I made it onto the Eastern mainroad and decided to seek refuge in CCA7 where I watched some of the short films done by people "in and of the Caribbean". That was 20 minutes running time. I then went into my studio and did some tinkering and filmed some experimental shots for a video I'm doing as a backdrop for Makeda's dance project. By that time it was after six and I was tired, so I headed onto the road ... only to be met with a bumper to bumper line. I could not bear to sit in that mess, so I found myself driving over the Lady Young, back into town. I bought something to eat and decided to go and see the photo exhibit at Tattoo Farm or go to Movie Towne or even go and visit a friend to pass the time. But ... TRAFFIC! Everywhere! What a massive deterrent. I was getting nowhere.

Eventually I felt I was just wasting gas and decided to head home, thinking that the Lady Young would now be clear. It usually is around half seven. But it was worse than when I had left the studio! This time I just sat in the traffic, realising that trying to escape from it only makes it worse.

It was disturbing to come home and see the photo in the Newsday yesterday of 'all the new cars' on the port. Where are those cars going to fit?!

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Elspeth

Affirmations

My reflection in the pane of affirmations

(The Enchanted Forest Window Lamp).

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Eyes closed,

sitting,

every morning,

each one

affirming,

fingers feeling,

knowing,

deeper in.

*

Elspeth

Serendipity

My reflection in the 'water droplets' on Serendipity's lower pane. The story behind Serendipity (depicted in the ten minute video) took place largely in Salybia where the river meets the sea. Hence the water droplet symbolism.

Serendipity in her corner of the studio. The photo doesn't do justice, but gives an idea.

The simple sign in Studio which invited visitors to slip their names and contact info into the mailbox provided, to win the chance to be one of two random people selected (to be among six of my in-studio dinner guests). The winners were Susie D and Carole Anne F.

The feeling of the Studio at night with Serendipity (in the corner), candles, incense, etc. was very soothing (if I must say so myself). Among other things, those who experienced it described it as 'welcoming', 'oasis-like', 'magical', 'like coming home'. The blue square glow on the floor is the TV (for showing the video) and the other window with the four panes is not a lamp that I've started yet. I just lit it up and used it to hang the mailbox on. It's amazing how many people walked into the studio on Thursday and, upon seeing the word 'Serendipity' said: "That's my favourite word!" One even said he had 'Serendipity' as one of his pastimes on his resume.

This is the table on the Saturday, before the guests arrived for dinner. The room has a different feel during the night (as you can see in the above photo). Once darkness fell it took on a warm, cosy glow.

Serendipity's top pane reflecting the yellow flowers offered by the Baptists to the river and the blood merging with the water. Even though Serendipity was a small lamp, her presence was large. The studio feels totally different (almost empty) now that Ser is gone.

*

I now shift my focus to The Enchanted Forest, the third commissioned window lamp, currently in progress.

*

Elspeth

Finally!

Called TSTT for the third time today and a girl called Adonna told me to press the reset button for 3 seconds (no more, no less), turn off the computer for 5 minutes then turn it back on and the DSL should be working. It wasn't ... but she then took me back into the Speedstream site (which many technicians had taken me into before with no results) and a new thing popped up where I had to reinsert my username and password a few times - which I did ... and voila! I have back my DSL! Up until now I don't know what was wrong, but at least it's working again.

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Elspeth

Gulf of Paria here I come

(In my new home, the Internet Cafe)

Bright and early I repeated my daily ritual of calling TSTT and explaining from scratch what the problems are to a new customer service rep. She put me on hold for half an hour ... but I dared not hang up and start all over again. Instead, as I held my landline to one ear, I called on my cell phone and got another rep (I had to explain from scratch to him). As I was talking to him, she came back on (so I hung up from him) and told me that a technician would be dispatched.

I won't bother to go into our ensuing conversation, but it ended with me realising that I had no choice but to wait on them, as I am not a technician myself.

Yesterday I wrote a two page letter of complaint, outlining the details and requesting a rebate. I don't know what else to do after that ... other than personally and physically go in to TSTT and camp on their doorstep until someone responds ! Some people may recall the newspaper article some time last year about the man who slapped and beat up the TSTT employee in an outlet. This is what our teleccomunications people drive customers to?!!!

A friend's mother yesterday was telling me that she once told a TSTT employee (when she went in physically after weeks of their phone not being fixed and no-one respondin): "Do you want me to drop my phone on your desk or do you want me to do like Eric Williams?" When he looked confused she explained that Eric Williams )in the days of TELCO poops) had dropped his phone in the Gulf of Paria ... and they immediately came and gave him a new phone.

*
Elspeth

The Serendipity photos will come eventually

I won't bother to go into detail about the process of waiting on TSTT to come and fix what they must so that I can have back my DSL connection after what is slowly becoming weeks of inconvenience and frustration. On Friday when the TSTT man never turned up (after saying he was comiong at 10 a.m.), I resorted to driving up to a TSTT van (further up St. John Road) which was fixing cables on a pole and outlined the problems to them. They must have seen my frustration (because I was at the height of it by then) and assured me they would come when they were finished with what they are doing. Two days later ...

Anyway, Serendipity's dinner went very well last night. All six guests loved the food (lasagne and salad) and the evening and the two recipients of the lamp were moved and surprised. There are photos, but those will have to come when my DSL is back. Right now I'm on my parents' computer (dial up) and uploading all the photos will be almost as much of an excercise in waiting as it is with TSTT.

Some days I may be unable to update, but as soon as possible, daily updates will be back to normal.

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Elspeth

The Dinner Winners

(In Internet cafe) My DSL connection is stillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll down, so I will upload photos of last night's open studio at another time. I enjoyed it, so did others who entered Serendipity's space. Some moths are drawn to light and some are not. It was a peaceful, scented evening of light.

The two names chosen at random from the special mailbox to attend the multisensory multimedia launch of Serendipity this Saturday are: Susan Dayal (Trini artist) and Carole-Ann Ferris (UK photographer). I chose one name (S.D.)and Vanessa Soodeen (artist visiting from Spain) was both a witness and selector of the other name (C.A.F.). The chosen two will join four other people around the table in my studio for the experience which we are all looking forward to.

Looking forward to that.

Photos to come when the DSL is finally sorted out. (TSTT man due today to check filter. And if that's not the problem, another techniciian is due to check the 'noise on the line' tomorrow). Sigh.

*

Elspeth

Another day

TSTT ... DSL ... what is going on?

In more pleasant news, see yesterday's post and submit your name and contact info if so inclined.

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Elspeth

Short notice, open studio, Serendipity, multimedia, multisensory

(Hurried entry from Internet Cafe, St. Augustine)

The No-DSL-connection-at-home saga continues. I called TSTT again this morning and once again was fortunate to get the same girl who assured me that I would have it back this evening as "I'd been without it long enough." I am fed up of the inconvenience now ... but, since I can't fix it myself, I can only trust that she is correct.

*****************

In other news:
Submit your name and contact info to me (either here, via e-mail or by writing it on a piece of paper and slipping it into the special mailbbox in my studio) ... and you can be one of 6 people who will get the chance to experience the multisensory, multimedia launch of SERENDIPITY on Saturday 16th September, 2006 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in Studio #2 at CCA7. Four people have already been 'chosen'. The other two will be selected at random from the names submitted to me via whatever means (by Thursday night for the latest).

At CCA7 on Thursday from 7 p.m. the launch of Project Galvanize will take place. This is open to the public and there will also be open studios (artists will open their studios to the public) - a 'work in progress' kind of feel. Since I haven't really had the time to be focused on my studio (or focused in it) due to other activities beyond those walls, I don't have as much going on in it as I would like to ... but everythign in its time. My focus on that night will be on the simplicity of Serendipity and the offer to those who visit to 'win' a chance to be at the special launch this Saturday.

It will be a magical Saturday evening.

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Elspeth

That school

(Still no DSL connection ... On parents' computer)

Re yesterday's comments about the state of that school I visited. Yes, I agree with you Anonymous about 'stop waiting and to start acting'. That is something that this whole country needs to do to get moving.

Whilst at that school listening to the Principal talking, my mind kept running on what I could do to help. I may end up helping ... as much as I may not. It's very easy for humans to feel sorry about a situation someone else is in, but how often do we really reach out and do something, even if it's a small thing? It's like trying to pick up all the stray animals on the road to give them a better life. It's impossible to pick up all without flooding the TSPCA or floooding your own garden or devoting your entire life to it. Picking up all those animals and finding good homes for them is a full time job. Likewise, helping all the schools who are in need is a full time job ... i.e. the job of the Ministry.

Yes there is a lot we can do as individuals, but there is also a lot more that the authorities must do. Are they doing it? I asked the Principal if he had ever met Hazel in person. He laughed in a don't-be-naive kind of way and said: "Oh no! etc etc etc ..."

Here I think of a woman like Eva Peron who for me, when I read the book about her life at the age of thirteen, instantly became my hero ... an icon. Yes she had her 'bad ways', but on the other side of the coin, even if one just wants to look at her metaphorically ... the way she captured the hearts of the poor of Argentina was admirable to me. I think I so fell in love with 'Evita' that my lack of interest in Spanish in school suddenly was transformed into a passion. Admittedly, I even used to cry listening to the songs from the musical. I must read the book again (years later) and see if I feel similarly. But clearly, something about her had grabbed me then.

I use Eva as an example because I would imagine that someone like Hazel would (or should or could) take the time to reach out to her 'desaparecidos' ... children who have disappeared into the failing national system and who want to be found again. Cut through the red tape and put on your sneakers, Hazel ... Go walking in the country (or through the entire country) with or without your entourage. It will be a lot of walking. Meet, speak to, listen to and relate to the children and the Principals you have never seen and who have never seen you (other than on TV and in the papers).

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Elspeth

T & T ... get back up

(Internet cafe ... guess why)

The TSTT man came yesterday to fix the DSL and was unsuccessful. He left saying that he had to get in touch with someone 'inside" (i.e. in TSTT) and that most likely my DSL would be 'up and running' by evening. He took my cellular number and said he would call to check in. To date I have not heard from him. Neither is my DSL up and running. I had called 824-TSTT yesterday and luckily got the same girl I'd spoken to before. She said tons of people have been calling in with reports of 'internet down' and she, having sent on the reports to the relevant authorities as she is supposed to, has no idea what is going on as she has not heard from them. What a pity Digicel doesn't offer internet service. Then TSTT would be on their toes.

The title of the book "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe comes to mind when I think of T & T ... especially between yesterday and today. Today, we witness the lines of traffic piling up as people hustle to get the last drops of gasoline. My half tank will have to last me for 'emergency usage' and I will take taxis in the interim (that is, if they themselves have gas after a few runs).

Yesterday I was on my way to a school in Waterloo to see if I could use them for episode 2 of the I SPY video project. I had not reached Chaguanas yet on the highway when I ended up in a massive traffic pile up. No doubt they were paving the road or doing something of the sort. It seems that everywhere I drove yesterday, they were either digging or paving and causing traffic pile ups because no policemen were there to direct the traffic (although they also cause traffic on many occasions).

Not in the mood to swelter in traffic, I quickly turned off the highway, abandonning plans to go to Waterloo. By a twist of spontaneous fate, ended up at a little school in a country backstreet. Being out in the country, they happened to have a garden (an orchard). In speaking with the principal, we soon went beyond talk of the project and he ended up speaking about things that the school needs. I asked him what those 'things' were. When he began to tell me, I was mortified. To think that a Government primary school is so in need of simple things that can easily be provided ... and should be provided ... but are not being provided. Instead, monstrous buildings, sporting complexes, multimillion dollar toll highways, smelters and the like take precedence. And they wonder why children grow up to become criminals?

The principal has been at the school for 2 years. When he went there, he had to beg an NGO to help provide the school with a telephone! Today, the roof has leaks which are gradually causing the ceiling to cave in. "If a piece of ceiling falls on a child's head, it is my responsibility," he said. Their library is scant and their books are kept on termite ridden wooden shelving (they need metal shelving). They applied for computers over a year ago and to date their request has gone unanswered. The principal is unable to tell parents when certain books will be provided for the children. Etc etc etc. Yes they are behind God's back, but come on Min of Edu ... (and TSTT).

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Elspeth

The importance of being e-mail

(Another internet cafe, St. Augustine. The unnecessarily rude attitude of the girl in the one I was at yesterday warrants not returning).

No sign of or word from a TSTT technician yet. Grrrrr. Not having regular access to my e-mail and internet at home makes me realise how much I use it and how many people (clients and otherwise) communicate via e-mail rather than phone. I have to keep checking e-mail to catch important or urgent messages. Unfortunately the TSTT account seems to clog up after a certain amount of e-mails and it doesn't seem possible after a while to clear them when accessing directly from the tstt website. As a result, e-mails sent after the clog-up point bounce back. Oh well ... if it's really important, hopefully they will make contact again.

A seemingly long day stretches ahead ... consisting of a trip to Waterloo and who knows what else. I'm ready for a feeling of confirmation, definition and knowing.

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Elspeth

3 - 5 working days

(In Internet cafe, St. Augustine)

DSL connection at home down for reasons unknown to the very patient and helpful girl from TSTT with whom I spent over an hour on the phone yesterday trying to figure out what had suddenly gone wrong. She even called back later to check up on me and my modem. She was completely baffled, after trying everything she knew. She told me that I most likely need a new modem. "The technician will be there is 3 - 5 working days," she promised. The last time I heard that phrase was when my phone was making strange noises (not working) and I called TSTT from my parents' phone. I got the "3 - 5 working days" line and no-one has turned up yet ... over a week later. Thankfully the phone miraculously fixed itself later that day. When I told the TSTT internet girl that one, she laughed incredulously.

Anyway, if you don't see any updates over the next 3 - 5 working days, you know why.

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Elspeth

It's really time to start recycling envelopes

Yesterday I went to buy envelopes at the stationery outlet I go to most of the time. I picked up a pack of the brown envelopes which I normally buy and noticed that the price sticker said $10.XX (can't remember the exact amount of cents). My first thought was that it was some special new brand of envelopes, so I put it back and went looking for the 'ones I normally buy'. I have never paid over $10 for a pack of envelopes. Normally they are between $4 - $6 if I remember correctly. But most of the envelope packs I was looking at were over $10. I haven't bought any packs in a while (maybe one or two months), but how can they have risen to over $10 in such a short space of time? I eventually ended up buying a pack of white envelopes for $6.XX.

I asked the girl at the cash register if envelopes had gone up. She looked at me like I was speaking Greek. I asked her again and she shrugged and said "I can't help you. I don't know."

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Elspeth

Video clip: I DO 2, Arima

Click here for short video clip of I DO 2 in Arima,

Saturday 2 September, 2006.

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Elspeth

Painted or unpainted?

Yesterday I was driving into town and, as I passed through Aranguez/Barataria backroads, there was a pick up truck driving in front of me with an Indian man sitting in the back, holding something ornate, draped in red cloth. I absently wondered what it was, but it wasn't until I got closer to their bumper (when they had stopped behind another car) that I realised it was a statue of the elephant god, Lord Ganesh, the remover of obstacles. As I continued driving behind the truck, I thought about what the god signified and it symbolically felt as though they were clearing a path along the road for me. They eventually turned left at the Food Giant roundabout and I turned right to go over Lady Young, feeling thankful, as though 'the way' really had been cleared and as though I was meant to see that.

I remember that as a small child I was scared of the statues of Hindu deities. Not scared in the sense that I would run screaming when I saw them ... but they made me feel uneasy. I don't know why. Could have been because of something I was told about them. Could have been because of their colourful, unmoving faces, some with frozen smiles. Could have been the result of a visit to a place which was dark and had the statues all crowded around, seemingly staring at me (I have a vague recollection of such a thing, but can't remember where that was).

I don't know what eventually made me 'unscared' of them. They no longer have the effect on me that they did in childhood, but I think I generally am not fond of painted statues in general - even the white decorative ones that are out in gardens or the ones that are seen in Catholic churches. Not that I hate them, but if I were to choose a statue for anything it would be unpainted and raw.

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Elspeth

Arima Arrival

Yesterday I realised one of the reasons why the dream I had had before waking (about the Amerindian girl) was significant.

As we drove into Arima for yesterday's I DO 2 (photos here), the first thing that caught my eye was the Amerindian statue standing near the velodrome. It is the statue of Hyarima, who was 'the last great leader of this nation's indigenous people'. Makes sense why the borough is called Arima (Hyarima) ... in addition to which Arima is considered to be 'the home of the Amerindians.

The statue reminded me immediately of my ceremonial dream of the Amerindian girl. Until then, I hadn't linked the two ... her being Amerindian and Arima being considered their 'home'. It's as though she was spiritually preparing me in the dream to go to the 'home' ground.

In another way this all has even more significance when I consider that I myself have Amerindian heritage. Sometimes people ask me if I have Chinese in me, but I don't. It's Carib. Makes me feel that on some deep level I connected with a part of myself in that important dream. A part to be explored and reawakened?

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Elspeth

An amazing visit(ation)

Just before waking I had the most amazing and vivid dream which I can still 'feel' because of how real the experience was. I was in a large old house (like a large plantation house) with dark wooden floors and high ceilings. Not sure what I was doing there, but there was a young woman sitting on a cream-coloured couch talking to whoever else was in the room at the time. I can't remember who the person is; I'm not aware off seeing them - kind of like looking at someone being interviewed on TV but you don't see the invterviewer. So all I was seeing in the dream was the girl even though she was talking to this person. The more I looked at her, it was like trying to figure out where I knew her from. I felt quite drawn.

She was quite striking looking - like an Amerindian in colouring and features, with long straight jet black hair. She wore a kind of brown cotton dress with natural leather jewelery, feathers, brass, etc. In fact I got the impression she and her family made jewelery.

At one point she pulled out a cream-coloured recorder (the musical instrument most if not all children learn to play in school, to the chagrin of neighbours). It was sheathed in transparent rubber which I wondered about until I saw what she did with it (later). She started to play it and what came out was not sounding like a recorder - it was deep and haunting and had no particular melody, resulting in a very hypnotic, almost primal sound like a small didgeridoo with a slightly higher pitch than normal.

Suddenly I was not sitting where I was. I was squatting with my knees to my chest like I normally do when outdoors and stationery for long periods. The girl started banging the recorder on the ground (which is when I realised why it was sheathed in the rubber) in a ceremonial kind of way. It was as if there was an imaginary circle and I was squatting on the edge of it. Then she fell to the ground, similar to what happens when someone catches the spirit in an Orisha feast, but more subtle and more like a dance. Lying on her back on the ground, with her toes facing me, she then started to push at my shins (as I squatted). When she did this, I realised that I was strong and she was not able to push me over. But then she pushed harder, as if to make me let go and I realised I was tensing and resisting. I thought "Why am I resisting?" and I let go immediately.

The feeling was amazing. Immediately any bit of tension that was in my body disappeared and I started to fly backwards with my eyes closed. It's impossible to put into words what it felt like. It wasn't even like the feeling in a regular flying dream. When I landed there was no feeling of ground and no pain (I landed on my back - perhaps because I was feeling my spirit moving from or within my reclined/sleeping body). Afterwards someone asked me something and I couldn't speak.

It went on and other women appeared. But the above was the part that really moved me and resonated.

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Elspeth

The 'big day' is tomorrow

Tomorrow's 'wedding' in Arima will be somewhat different to the last one in Port of Spain. To begin with, the bride will be played by a different person (Terscha). She will be a little more ornate (environmentally designed tiara, new bouquet of garbage and possibly face/body paint). She will also have an attendant/flower girl accompanying her, playing the bottle and spoon and holding the large transparent garbage bag into which members of the public will place the bottles once they remove them from her trail. The rest of us will be reading the pledge to members of the public and tying green commitment bands on their wrists when they say "I do."

If you are interested in being a part of I DO 2, do not hesitate to be there. These are details for the route and two meeting places:
(a) the starting point itself (in Arima) - start 8:00 a.m.
(b) the meeting point (in Curepe) for those who want to travel in the car pool - meet 7:00 a.m., to leave by 7:15 latest.

See you there.

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Elspeth