Post- Undergrad Life Begins

The seventeen years of the formal education path I set forth upon at the age of six has come to an end. This is not to say formal education will never return in my future, but that the marathon I worked diligently through has finished and a new one has begun.

This new chapter of my life seems as though it will be marked by frequent travel and relocations in order to gain the experience my professional goals require. From articles I've read and from those I know working in this field, this seems to be a trend for our generation. Gone are the days of stable employment for thirty years with a guaranteed retirement.

This isn't to say those jobs are impossible to find, but for those in a creative field the security is no longer there; although some would argue the security was never there to begin with. This is not to say I'm not up for the challenge, but it creates a difficult conversation between those of this generation and our parents. The cliché of parents being concerned for their children who pursue the arts is understandable, but now their concern is relevant for all of their children. Many of us will never have a career that provides us with benefits and a 9-5 work schedule. Many of us may not want that to begin with.

From working overnights in the city, to working beyond early hours in Albany, the first year beyond college has thrown some interesting pitches and has allowed me to gain some experiences I never would have foreseen. To me, these experiences are invaluable and have given me a new appreciation for the work that must be done (and when it must be done). This blog will be a reflection on projects I've taken on, personal experiences that influence me and my work, as well as observing what's going on in the world, in my business of choice and in the world at large. This may be insightful to some and may give you an inside look at at least one person's creative process.

March

Spring is here and you can tell when wandering the streets. On a beautiful, sunny day in Troy, NY you find people excited to find their way back outside after their winter hibernation. From runners to shoppers to concert goers at the local music hall, you begin to see a world filled with life. 

I was recently listening to an old recording of Alan Watts, the Buddhist philosopher, that reflected on humans being a microcosm of the universe; a mini universe in-and-of itself. As I wandered Troy and watched people go about their days, I felt I understood what he was saying. We each function completely on our own and yet we find ourselves coming together to form a larger whole. I wanted to give that sense of being to this video, as a reflection on what it means to be human. 

February

As I continue my exploration of the Capital Region I found myself drawn to Troy, NY, a smaller city to the north of Albany but with a much richer sense of self. The streets are tight, lined with cars and small shops. The bitter cold didn't deter people from walking to local eateries. In many ways this city feels like a miniature New York City. 

My walk around the city lead me to capturing the beautiful 19th century architecture and enjoying the peacefulness of the first light snow of the season. There's something magical and timeless about an old city in winter time, and I looked to present this feeling in this short, poetic way.

January

As I begin to explore my new home of Albany, NY, I found it beneficial to start looking at it in a creative way. So on my first free day I decided to take to downtown Albany with my camera and see what there is to offer. The world I found was a split one between stark, modern buildings for the state capital and rich historic architecture of a time gone by.

Being a city built around government, the streets were mostly empty on the weekends as workers flee to their homes for relaxation, giving the city a bit of an eerie feeling. But as I wandered I found some truly beautiful views of this clash of architectural styles. This short video is my way of capturing the feelings the streets gave me that day.

You're Not Alone, You're Wonderful

When I first heard David Bowie I knew I was hearing something truly unique. I was right away taken with his music, but it took a number of years before I realized just how important his music and his outlook on life would be to me. He embraced being different, following his own path through life. He made it acceptable to be quirky and creative, to look at the world in a different way.

Waking up to the news of his passing was difficult. It was the saddest of surprises, especially after hearing his hauntingly beautiful album, Black Star. For a man who was still at his creative peak 40 years into his career, it was unthinkable that he was working through what he knew would be his death. And it brings his music into a completely new context, one that shows how cheeky he could be; coyly writing music that we only now realize was his final goodbye.

Out of all of his music "Rock and Roll Suicide" has always meant a lot to me, with its final refrains basically screaming "you're wonderful!" I've listened to dozens of his songs throughout the day today, and will continue to, but this is the one that really made me stop for a second. It brings me back to when I first heard it, brings me back to this past summer cranking this song up to full blast while working at 3am at the Pier with everyone. I think just from looking through Facebook and Twitter and Tumblr you realize how much of an impact he had on people. He brought the outsiders together and made them feel a part of something. You're not alone, you're wonderful.