What Do You Get When You Cross Art and Technology?

Mentor Groups Round 2- Silk Screening

Is there a better project out there that combines art and technology than silk screening? Thanks to our beloved educators D.Danger and Fran, zeummasters now have the chance to experiment with silk screening.

We spent the morning discussing silk screening 101. The possibilities are limitless. We could silk screen any image on shirts or paper. David showed us a virtual silk screening demo on an Andy Warhol website and gave us some pointers on what kind of images to use. In a couple of weeks, we will be going on a mini field trip to Babylon Burning (a close three blocks away from Zeum!), a store that centers on top quality silk screening, so we can see how the process works.

The next week or two will be focused on finding and adding personal touches to images we want to silk screen. We have ideas flying everywhere from spoons to faces to the Great Wall of China. The best part? You never know how the images will turn out and it could come with the perfect surprise!

Whatever we decide to make, they will probably be put in display at Zeum so that visitors can be exposed to the world of silk screening. Who knows, our project could inspire future Andy Warhols. All anyone really needs is some time and imagination (and silk screens and ink and paper and blah blah blah). What will you create?

-T

Angry Black White Boy

On Saturday November 8th, 2008, we went on a fieldtrip to see a play called "Angry Black White Boy" at intersection for the arts. It is based off of the book written by Adam Mansbach. The play was about a 14 year old white boy who was angry and tired of learning about white history and how they oppressed black people since beginning of time. That was one of the reason why he wish he was black, another is because he says rap is another form of poetry. The main character(angry black white boy) committed white on white crimes. He was a white taxi driver who tried to rob white passengers, while doing that he threatened them.

This play was interesting. The parts I liked the most were the beats and the music. At first I thought it would be super boring because I don't like plays and can't sit in the same spot for too long because I lose attention focus and want to do other things like text. The play made me a little sensitive thinking about tragedies that happened at my school the past few months and and also other personal things.

This play is very relevant today. There is also more racism and hateful crimes. An example of this is when the N word is used. I feel the feelings felt by the angry black white boy are still felt among youth. The main character said hip-hop isn't for white people but it is. Anyone can listen but I feel the actual rapping should be done by blacks since they are the ones who started it. I feel the same as the main character when he said he hates learning about white history and wishes he wasn't white. For me learning about how whites oppressed blacks, that made me soo mad and not want to be white. I don't know anything about 90s music.

Stanford!!

On October 18,2008 Irina, Wing Yan, Sammi, Nicole, and Leigh Ann went to Stanford for a field trip. On the way there we talked about radio stations, college and a whole bunch of other stuff. When we finally got to the college campus we kind of got lost. Thanks to Irina, we eventually found a parking spot, and began our journey on the campus of Stanford.

Before we went on our tour, we decided to interview five people, but we only interviewed four.  The first interviewee was named Lawrence and he is an economics grad student. What he told us was, "The best thing about Stanford is the weather, academics, and the campus." Like Lawrence, Nell, an undergrad, also liked the weather at Stanford. She also told us, "[The] people here are really eager to learn." She commented that the most important part of the admission application was the essay, on which she wrote about the things she really cared for. The last two people we interviewed was Dariust and Collin. They told us that the worst thing about Stanford was the "stanford bubble", that people think they're living in paradise and are not aware of what is happening in the outside world. But the best thing is the people. They also thought that the essay was the most important part of the applications and that Stanford has a really god financial aid program.

After all of that, we finally went on our tour! The tour guide was Janice, she was so friendly and funny! She talked about the history of the school,  the Stanford quarter system, the different buildings, and the academic programs offered there. Did YOU know that Stanford use to be a farm?! I didn't think so, and now you do! 

Overall we had a great time. We got to eat at a place there and, truthfully, it didn't taste really well, but we were all hungry and we ate whatever we had. Next time, we hope to see many other colleges and we hope we can go with Irina, who takes pictures of people blinking!

and you're listening to....RADIO Z!

It's NEW !

It's HIP !

It is the ZEUM MASTER RADIO STATION .
Coming or as I have heard it is already set up and running at a Zeum near you !

The Zeum Master radio station was a sudden and glorious idea that one of our educators had and was set into immediate action much to everyones pleasure . The idea is that there is a Dj that is one of our great Zeum master staff and they will become the role of Dj and everyone in the museum who is broadcasting the stream shall be able to listen and enjoy .

When I say they become the Dj they really do become the dj . Everyone creates a dj name and a set . A dj set is a group of songs , announcements , contests , etc that are mixed together to create one continuous track .

The Zeum radio conveniently named RADIO Z really allows all the zeum masters a chance to express themselves through music . When you create your set your allowing people to see what music makes you smile , what songs make you sing , what beats make you move . You allow the audience a chance to see a part of you . Here at the Radio Z set all of the zeum masters personality's definitely seep into our sets . Different djs here have built up definite radio personality's that specific to their type of music .

I know when I hear Dj Coco Puffs rumbling through the speakers down in the animators studio I am in for a whole hour of popular hip hop music and crazy contests that have no other way but to tell me that Denzel is on the microphone . When I hear backstreet boys and Hannah Montana then I am definitely listening to Leigh Ann busting it out . When I hear the great king of pop Micheal Jackson playing , well then that could be anyone .

The Zeum Master radio is also a way for everyone in the building to stay connected . Everyone at zeum is close ; part of the zeum family . The radio really lets the zeum masters be connected to each other when there is a whole floor of guests and exhibits keeping us apart . The radio also helps us stay connected to everyone who works as a part of the office portion of zeum . Although us zeum masters hardly see them it dosn't mean we dont wonder who they are , what they do , and how they have been . In a work place where there is so much going on all the time its great to know something so simple as a song playing through the radio can keep everyone together .











Up above you will find a music player playing a music clip that I created with the help of a Zeum educator [the same one who had the idea for the radio in the first place!] help me make and publish onto this blog . Let me tell you NOT as easy as it sounds ! The above clip is a RADIO Z sampler BRIANNA style.

And a huge shout out to Michael the official director of marketing and develpoment at Zeum ! He got my blog to be read by tons and I really loved all the feedback . So thanks to everyone who supported my blog !

Signing Off - DJ BEE -

Camp Zeum from the inside...

This summer I got to work with two camps AND help with the film festival. The first camp I did was Little Voices I. with educator Fran. Little Voices camp This camp's theme was puppets. We made many puppets like sock, bag, string, stick and shadow. We had a guest speaker come in and talk about the history of shadow puppets and showed us how to tell a story with shadow puppets.

The next camp I did Shout Out! with educator Irina. For this camp we learned about ourselves, different communities and communities around the world. We did blogs, podcast and short films. This camp was made up with kids ages 11-13. We interviewed different issues relating to the 3 topics of out camp. For ourselves we interviewed Nick from BayCat. For our community, we interviewed London Breed from African American Cultural Center in the Filmore. She talked about how she is trying to make change for kids in that community so that they aren't wandering the streets getting into trouble. The last people we interviewed were Katina and Victoria. They talked about world issues and helped us realize other people's perspective and we should keep an open mind about people around us not just ourselves or our community.

After working on the two camps, Irina, the camp coordinator asked me to help her with the Zeum's first annual film festival. I was totally shocked she asked me to help because she could've asked anyone else. I spent 2 days editing the podcast and films for Shout Out! camp. That was really long time to edit and more than I wanted in the beginning but once I started editing the stuff, I really got into it. I wish I could've done more editing.

For Fran's camp, at first the kids gave me a headache. I think i thought that because I am not use to working with the same group of kids for a week straight because otherwise i work with different people all moments of the day. Once i got to know them one on one though, it was alot better. They were respectful, adorable and sad that camp was ending when the week was over. The kids were amazing.

Working on camps was fun. I got to many things i never thought was possible for me since I'm usually working on the floor. Camp was tiring since I am not use to waking up at 6:45 to get ready to be at 8:30AM. Usually I wake up at 8:00AM to get ready to be at work before 10AM. Waking up early for a week straight was worth it though since i grew to love the campers. My favorite memory was when I learned new things like, for example, going in depth with Imovie and garage band and the history of shadow puppets! Once the camps were over, I was sad because even though camps were only a week, I grew attached to the kids!

Nae's trip to the Jewish Museum!

Hey! Its Nae...I'm currently a zeummaster. I've been working here for two months now and i love everything about zeum especially helping kids create things by using their imagination.

All the zeummasters went to visit the Jewish Museum on 8/12/08. We had the chance get a tour given by two teens that work in the program there. The place was coo and from what i heard everyone enjoyed themselves. We learned how old the building is and what it was used for back in the day because part of the building is old and part is new. It was cool to see how the building had more meaning than what i'd thought was a "sacred place for people all around to see how Jews live and feel". Here's this coo pic that I got off their website!

I was impressed with the tour guides and their interest in the architechtural structure. They made it easier for me to become interested. What really shocked me was how much time and effort people had put into making the building..it shows they care about the space they were given because they were creative and used it wisely. I think the tour would've grabbed more people's attention if they showed us some art that resembled the Jewish community.

When i stepped inside of the building it was as if i was surrounded by art that i quite didn't understand. As they started to tell me about what the walls symbolized and the history of the building I started to become comfortable with the art. I was able to see how things connect.

It was great and I really enjoyed myself. This was a museum like no other, It had its own style. I usually walk into a museum and see painting or sculptures that represent something and I didn't feel that at the Jewish Museum...I'll be visiting again, soon!

*+_+BREANNA+_+*

hey everybody my name is Breanna, I love a lot of things here at Zeum. I started here not knowing too much about this internship. i am now sad that I'm leaving on thursday and probably won't get to see all the friends i've made over the past 12 days ( the program I'm in makes the learning experience really short) because we live really far. I am so glad that I've gotten this opportunity to meet people who come from all over the world to visit Zeum, at first i was like you got to be kidding me and like my second day of working at Zeum i met people who where from israel. I LOVE THIS PLACE!

+_-*JESSENiA*-_+

HOLA EVERY1!

My name is Jessenia and i love art, music and poetry. Working here is so much fun and has been a very big experience for me, because i have met people of different cultures and races that have inspired me to become more open minded. Also, i have met cool Co-workers that i would have never thought i would be friends with. Im so glad i have had the chance to be here, because i have been learning new things every time i have came to work. I enjoy being around people and making them feel good. Zeum and the people that i have been surrounded with God has truly blessed me to have you guys around me a lot because by the time i leave, i will walk away with new skills, life lasting memories and good friends. I Thank GOD for this opportunity and GOD bless all of u at Zeum that has worked with me. Thank You very Mucho!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i hope you guyz have also enjoyed working with me also.

A Reflective First Blog Post by Brianna

Hey Everyone !
Brianna is taking this blog for a joy ride . I have been working at Zeum for almost one year . That one year mark is coming at me fast and I really can not even believe it . Going from never visiting Zeum to becoming so much a part of it is a dramatic and welcome change . When you first introduce yourself to someone you put down the basics " Hello my name is ___" and then your age , birthday , what you like , what school you go to , and other things along that line. Well heres how mine sounds - Hello my name is Brianna . I'm fifteen years old, and a ZeumMaster.

Zeum is such a big part of my life now . It is a place where I work yes but also it is a place where I learn. I honestly can not say how much I have learned from everyone who works here at Zeum. I believe it is because people who work here are all so different and diverse. If I have a question about anything under the sun and beyond I believe there is someone who works with Zeum that can answer that question ... Or at least know enough to help me find the answer.

Also Zeum is a very rare place where teens can work with adults and feel like they have some importance. I'm not busing tables at some awesome cafe , bagging grocery's at your nearest Safeway , Or even serving you coffee at your neighborhood Starbucks . I am a part of an organization that really incites great feelings in people. A place where people like working . A place that harnesses creativity . I really truly believe that a young children's lives are very impressionable. When I was around seven I used to watch tons and tons of movies . I would read almost non stop . When I used to read I would make the books I read into movies in my head . Then as I realized that I could make the images real . What I saw real . That came in the form of art . Now as I am getting older I still carry that same passion for art .

I think everyday that I work at Zeum I look at all the kids and can notice the ones that are going to take something from this place that day . Really that is what we are here for . To open peoples eyes to something they may have or have not ever before seen . I am just ecstatic to be a part of that great mission.


P.S : This was my first blog not only for Zeum but EVER. YAY !

Blinky Bug Workshop

On Saturday 06/28/08, we had a guy come in at 9:30 to do a special workshop with the ZeumMasters. The workshop was about making Blinky Bugs. "What is a Blink Bug?" you may ask. A Blinky Bug is a bug you make from using electronic parts like: LCD Lights, copper wire, guitar strings, conductive tape, pipe cleaner and 3volt button battery.

He told us how one day he was bored and he had a bunch of old electronic parts lying around so he decided to experiment by putting the parts together. He also told us that before he discovered the conductive tape or glue dot he had to saughter the parts together(hot glue gun the parts together). He said it is cheaper to buy the materials online instead of an arts and craft store, walgreens or electronic store.

For me, when Ari told us about the blinky bug workshop i thought "This is going to be boring or dumb" but once we actually got to making it, my attitudes changed. I actually liked it, i wanted to keep making more but time ran out. My blinky bug didn't work and was all messed up. One reason mines didn't work is because i chose red and blue eyes and those two colors don't work together. This has to do with how l.e.d.s work. But look above. Two blue eyes and it works!

Kickoff to Summer and...

ZeumMasters finished off a long and inspiring day of team building and nonstop action on the summer kickoff day with a few songs in the music production lab.