Derive-ing is de-riveting

So much fun and money this weekend but totally worth it

Phillips Collection for half an hour (freee admission) - Rothko Room was amazing!
Derive-ing in DuPont Circle, seeing the fountain, a live jazz band on the street, cool book stores, different embassies (indonesia, good job....egypt is a haunted house...and senegal is a convenience store front), Art Jamz!, The Board Room
Then tapas and salsa dancing at Bossa Lounge~

no one danced for like two hours but once 12:30am hit, it was like everyone got on the floor and starting shaking their salsa butts off! it was so great haha

got home late, and then woke up late x-x
went on an outing with Leslie from tmh and Sara from the front desk to Oyamel and then to air and space museum
marines making art/paintings/drawings! good stuff
tons of plans and space things~ and so many families
the original wright plane!

now im getting ready to go out for dinner with my lovelyyy roomie Rumi :D
whooo unos! lol

Let's Get Ready to R-r-r-r-rumble!

If only I could go, but maybe if by some awesome miracle I'll run into Stewart in the area while getting lunch or something XD

The Importance of Creation Stories

One benefit of being a NMAI staff member is hearing indigenous knowledge from tribal elders and leaders. Today, Clyde Bellecourt (Anishinabe) who is a ceremonial leader and one of the founders of the American Indian Movement, Arlette Loud Hawk (Oglala Lakota) who is a ceremonial leader, activist and radio host and Russell Blacksmith (Oglala Lakota) who is a defense attorney and treaty activist shared stories of creation, treaty rights and activism. Partnerships like these support the continuance of culture, traditional values, and transitions in contemporary Native life, which is a part of our NMAI mission statement.
(Facebook, NMAI page)

Lesson of the Day: Everyone Is Part Cherokee

Just made a 15 page list of all the potential benefit committee celebrities for the NMAInaugural Ball

Some hilarity:

Jessica Alba (Metis/Mexican)

The star agreed to take a DNA test prior to her appearance on comedian George Lopez's late-night show, and felt sure genealogy experts would discover her ancestors were more indigenous American than any other group. He told the actress, "You are 13 per cent indigenous American and you are 87 per cent European." A shocked Alba responded, "Really? Wow!" http://www.cinemablend.com/pop/Alba-Learns-She-Is-European-21454.html
 

 Johnny Depp (Cherokee/Creek/Comanche)

Harris said she had read in interviews that Depp identified himself as being part Native American, so she thought it would be fun to adopt him — a tradition she says is common in Comanche culture. She ran the idea past her adult children, and they agreed.
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-05-22/news/31816918_1_johnny-depp-honorary-member-tonto#ixzz1voMfAlu4|

Fergie (Mexican/Native American) >_>

"Yes, I have Mexican in my ancestry,” said Fergie. “My Dad's grandmother was born in Guanajuato. I’m very proud of it; that’s probably where I get my fire! I’m mostly Scottish-Irish, though.”
 
http://www.latina.com/entertainment/music/exclusive-fergie-breaks-down-her-latina-roots
  

Megan Fox (Cherokee)

Referring to her role as Cherokee superhero, Rainmaker in Gen 13, she said “She’s a Native American and I have a little bit of that blood in me,” she said. “It would be a bit of a stretch –but if Jake Gyllenhaal can be the Prince of Persia, I think that I can do that.”
 
http://ethnicelebs.com/megan-fox

Cher
Prior to 1973, Cher’s biography always listed her father (John Sarkisian) as being of Armenian heritage, while her mother, Georgia Holt, was of Irish and German extraction. But when Cher’s single “Half Breed” started climbing the Billboard charts (it would eventually hit number one), suddenly she remembered that she was 1/16th Cherokee on her mother’s side.

Channing Tatum

"Tatum has stated in interviews that he is one-quarter Native American, but never lists the tribe. Biographies of him have stated he is from the Alabama region. In a January 2012 edition of USA Weekend, Tatum said that he was "35-40 percent Native American." He loses some credibility with me because if he said earlier that he's one-quarter then that would make his grandmother a full-blood. This 35-40 percent doesn't make very much sense. "

http://www.reznetnews.org/opinion/blog/2012/celebrities-american-indian-ancestry-should-be-recognized-american-indians
 

REAL WIN MOMENT:

Tommy Lee Jones
--> "I feel pretty lucky," [Tommy Lee Jones] says. "Those guys, they know my name. They know who I am. Not bad for a little Indian boy. Not bad."
I ask him his tribe and am quickly corrected about his grandmother's heritage. "It's not a tribe. It's a nation," he says. "The Cherokee Nation."  http://www.ericokeefe.com/wdranch.php

Huichol Vochol ~ Vehicular Art

lol last blog was dedicated to Potbelly and Cheng
when i finish my project i'll recount the hilarity of my findings XD but let's just say that channing tatum is hilarious.

today's theme:
Huichol Vochol
March 20, 2012 - May 10, 2012
NMAI
http://www.si.edu/exhibitions/details/Vochol-Huichol-Art-on-Wheels--4852

http://www.flickr.com//photos/smithsoniannmai/sets/72157629542562649/show/

http://grist.org/list/the-prettiest-road-spill-youll-ever-see/

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-04/ink-spill-ups-truck-paints-highway-rainbow

Garden In Transit (2007)
http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2012/02/16/9198920/GIT%20Times%20Square.jpg

Garden in Transit (2007)
http://www.nyc.gov/html/gardenintransit/home.html

JUMBO PICKLE

(see cheng?)

Quote of the Day: Math & Art

"The disciplines of mathematics and art share a creative aspect. I love the poetry of mathematics; its approach to resolving abstractions forces the mind to clarify itself and ask questions. As the equations unfolds, it investigates and discovers. In the same way, an artist ritualizes with the experience of creating a work."

http://www.e-flux.com/announcements/inner-equations/

- Lorenzo Clayton, New Tribe: New York, the urban vision quest


math and art~

architecture (see: mies van der rohe)
painting (see: Lorenzo Clayton)
beadwork (see: how to bead, counting, patterns)
origami (see: between the folds)

Amila Hrustic
"Plato's Collection"
Paper, textiles
http://rachelmaeng.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/sarajevo-artist-creates-math-inspired-origami-dresses-from-paper-textiles/

Between the Folds (2008)

"Hi I'm calling for the DNA?"

i should really start having a longer hello like a receptionist
"hi, national museum of the american indian. special events dept, my name is tiffany, how may i help you?"

because right now im just settling in and there's no reason for anyone to call me so i just keep answering 'hi"

and the three phone calls ive gotten are thus:

1) "hi we'd like nmai to come out to our university to talk about what they do"

2) "hi i'm an undergraduate student at ******* and i'd like to know more about the museum and how it sees its goals" <--- okay seriously, you're in college, you should really have internet access--how else did you get my specific number?

3) "hi i'm calling for the dna test?"

what?

no words.

First Day of Work!

Whooooooo
I'm exhausted!

More free catalogues, getting lost to the elevator (like a fool lol), free breakfast thanks to my boss
my own HUGE cubicle
my own SI EMAIL OHH SNAP
im moving up :D
got some bulgogi from a food truck, now to find some lunch buddies
currently reading up on lots of stuff about the museum

went on a highlights tour led by Sandra which was really enriching and awesome
and talked to jose who is a really cool educator/cultural interpreter about the abstract geometric symbols on lakota beadwork
MY LIFE IS AWESOME

got out of work at 3:30pm
ran into someone at publications, which is kismat because i realllyyyyy want a book that i can not find anywhere and i hope to buy it :O
speaking of books, i found http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Southwestern-Jewelry-Diana-Pardue/dp/1423601904 in the gift shop for $10! Better wait for my ID and hope that it's still on sale :)

got home, passed out, just finished reading a small guide about the museum's building and history, amaaaazinggg

good things are happening i know it

Bedtime reading:
Living Homes For Cultural Expression: North American Native Perspectives on Creating Community Museums
SERIOUSLY, MY LIFE IS AWESOME :D

First NMAI Day!

Wheee, well my sunday was uneventful except that i got lost near the capitol and then i saw jon wood at a chipotle, whoohoo

ANYWAY
Met the other two interns and Jill Norwood, my internship coordinator. The other two live together and both work in Registration in Maryland, while I am the ONE. AND. ONLY. intern on the Mall.
I'm a bit worried about that but you know WHAT, I will still have a damn awesome time because I'm Tiffany and this is my dream museum!

Jill took us around everywhere and did a nice general orientation, of course we dont have our IDs because in the museum world, you never get your IDs except into 2 weeks of your 8 or 10 week internship.

Her recounting some of the buildings things and how the museum is truly a community center (hence why I now see it as a museum on welfare) really explains why i may not get a job after this internship but if i cross my fingers really hard and make myself really really really positively known, who knowssss

Got a free catalogue, which happens to be a resource I don't have already AND its hardcover AND i used it for my thesis.

Spent $20 on lunch because NMAI's restauranteria (restaurant prices, cafeteria reality) is ridiculous. Better get all the books and publications I can for free. Got my eye on like 7 already hah

Went to the CRC (Cultural Resources Center) which has all the collections, curators, conservators, etc. all the goodies tucked away and oooohhhh my god i need to return to it because all i can say now is (melts)

I'm so tired but in such a wonderful awesome fantastic way, ive been awake since 6:30 am but this day has really reaffirmed my love for native art, maybe to the point that i dont care if i make tons of friends here in d.c. because i could sit all day staring at all of these exhibits

went on facebook to find this:

Corresponding with Monday, September 24, 2012, in the Gregorian calendar is 7 Eh. Eh is Bobcat, also the Path and the Tooth; 7 is a pivotal number. Eh can orient individuals, groups, or communities to their destiny. Solitude is in Eh, light rain, kindness, alignment.

7! destiny!

(passes out, smiling)

Brain Workout in Woodley Park

woke up late, got to union station and rode the train (with my smartrip card haha)
to woodley park

had lunch with joe at a nice busy brunch place
didnt realize it would be so godforsaken hot so i was sweating outdoors
enjoyed a nice burger

walked around to the zoo, saw some cool zebras and birds and such. the cheetahs were sleeping in the grass which made me want to sleep in the grass too and the giant pandas just gave birth so they were resting inside (awwwww)

after the zoo, walked over with joe to his apartment where he (and i helped) cooked dinner--the same thing he has every night, whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce, spinach, turkey, and mushrooms (yum mushrooms)
and we talked for about 4 hours or so about life, philosophy, emotions, love, god, and art

learned more about philosophy in that one night than i ever did in my life
and like every great moment ive experienced, really saw how the world comes together in parallels

call me silly but it's what keeps me happy and going and why i love to learn :)

most inspirational things as of late: samsara, between the folds, and joe coniglio

and the fact that joseph van coniglio himself gave me the kindest compliment made my night completely awesome. telling me i have the best definition of art he's ever heard and that he wants to quote me, what an honor :D

spent the rest of the night well, perusing through new potential tv shows...

Last Lazy Day

0020 0002 1382 841 7

two phone interviews
lunch at tortilla cafe,
cvs shopping for snacks and toiletries
(still need shower caddy and tissues)

walked behind the supreme court which made me realize "holy shit i live behind the supreme court"

this is real o_o

Arriving to Thompson-Markward Hall

yeah i cant keep up with this traveling business, i hate how heavy my luggage ends up being (i swear its all clothes), the humiliating shoving things out of my suitcase into my already heavy overstuffed backpack

then of course the handle of my suitcase broke :( poor samsonitey; the casualties of my traveling are so many scattered random things in petersburg, santa fe, chicago, and now this handle in d.c.

wooorst megabus ride ever, i definitely need to get some things back to ny before i do, probably go back for a weekend or something and spend time with the parents :)

something about this city makes me already want to leave it....its just a vibe

got to union station, nearly broke my back with the billions of bags -_-
cab ride was an unnecessarily long and expensive given that he didnt read the numbers on the buildings correctly and went in the wrong direction, wasting my time, his gas, and my money

checked in and met rumi, so far the best thing about this city lol
:D

the room is also really nice and spacious, my things are so minimal given the space provided, which is good
went down for dinner, chicken kiev night which was eh. there's no soda in the building, but definitely a salad bar!

the building is definitely strong, down to the parlor with the steinway piano and the proud and quiet nature about the halls. my door is turquoise :D
only thing i dont know how to handle is the coin laundry....something tells me im gonna cock that up really badly the first time lol

but its nice and wonderful here, it reminds me of home aka strong, and i can go about my life as though i am still a college student which is the best thing of all :D

Moar To Do in D.C.

- buy toiletries  ------------------
- need map
- buy a smartrip card (metro station) ----------------


- taste of DC (october)
- IMAX movie at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum
- C&O canal // Georgetown
- Free nightly concerts at the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage - http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/schedule.html
- ben's chili bowl 1213 U Street 
-  u street music hall 1115A U Street NW
- The Diner - 2453 18th Street Northwest
- Dolcezza Gelato - 1560 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest
- Newseum
- http://www.si.edu/Museums
- https://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/ISC18/Volunteers.html
- The Phillips Collection http://www.phillipscollection.org/visit/hours-and-admission/index.aspx
- Old Town Alexandria http://dc.about.com/cs/sightseeing/a/oldtown.htm
- Eastern Market
- Adams Morgan

people to see to hang out:
matt lasnoski
joe coniglio
rumi tomizawa
leslie johnson
amy jacks?

professionally:
paige rozanski (National gallery)
mat leonard (americans for the arts)
NMAI publishing, conservators, fundraisers, curators, publications (tanya)
terry snowball & mychel (teri greeves)
raj solanki, Ann Drumheller (Head Registrar), Margaret Cintron (Assistant Registrar) (rachel griffin)
all the new york people ever--education & development!

people visiting:
kelvin
eunice
helen
larry (?)
mom