Category Archives: California

A Line in the Sand

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Can you cite three examples of green energy, technology,  and/or resources and do you implement any of them?

Claire R., 34, nanny, of Seattle, Wa.: “bicycling, architectural recycling & buy organic. I implement all three. Organic is a challenge at the end of the month because it is expensive.”

Frieboes Family, 23, 34, & 12, fitness consultant, chef, & student, of Oregon: “recycling, solar and composting. Yes we use all three in our daily lives.”

(l-r) Daniel N. 50, unemployed, Seattle, Wa. & Brian L. 42, window installer, Renton, Wa.: “wind, solar & composting: We were just discussing this. We walk rather than driving or taking the bus. We’re able-bodied. We can drive but choose not to. We take solar showers. Use high-U.V. glass for the home. This makes for lower heating bills and conversely lower cooling bills. All of this makes for less waste and consumption.”

(l-r) Martin D. & Kitti J., 24 & 23, automotive I.T. & hair stylist, of Bratislava, Slovakia: “wind turbines, hydroelectricity, & solar Energy. Unfortunately not, but, we do use solar generated lamps in our garden.”

Emily P., 23, restaurant hostess, Colorado Springs, CO. : “walking, public transportation, & recycling. We walk instead of using my car and additionally use public transportation. We also recycle and compost, limit our water use. We shower one time per day and shower together to save water.”

All replies and photographs are published with the participants permission. Photographs taken using an iPod touch.

A Line in the Sand column copyright, Ana Elisa Fuentes.

My sincere thanks to the participants.

Can you cite three examples of green energy, technology,  and/or resources and do you implement any of them?

A Line in the Sand: Are Environmental Issues Influencing Your Election Decisions?

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Keenan G., 20, Cellular Biology student, Santa Barbara, California: “I feel like in the beginning, it didn’t. But now, it is a bigger deal. Issues like global warming, ice caps melting and our diminishing resources; these must be difficult decisions for our next president. I feel like the candidates need to listen to the people more and be less concerned with the popularity that comes with being President. Maybe I ought to look into and invest more time in the green party. These are issues that the entire planet is facing, not just the United States.”

Trudy B., 63, Vocalist, Santa Barbara, California: “Yes. I’ve always been interested in environmental issues. I don’t like some of the things we are doing to mother earth. I feel very strongly about our precious mother Earth. In many ways we have been unconscious about how we treat her and her resources. We need to wake up.”

Julie C. 69, Retired Nurse, Shreveport, Louisiana: “To a certain extent. I don’t want us to be foolhardy. I’m from a red state, Louisiana. I want us to be energy independent whether, it’s oil, gas, or solar. I’m a conservative. I study both sides of the issues. There are a lot of resources that should be taken use of. This will provide jobs. We need to be smart about what we do. Take every opportunity, be careful and watchful about how we protect our environment.”

Gerald D. 80, Retired Electrical Engineer, Portland, Oregon: “Environmental issues are not going to convince me one way or another. Period. They are not going to end up doing anything about it anyway.”

Oscar M., 60, Musician, Santa Barbara, California: “The environment is important to me. If I was voting, it would be somebody who is not representing corporate interests. I think we are due for big changes, on all levels, including our environment and our voting system.”

Todd G., 34, Electrician, Sheridan, Oregon: “No, not really. But, I think nuclear is the cleanest energy. I think it has the smallest environmental impact per square foot.”

Kyle D., 22, Unemployed, New Mexico: “I will not base my decisions on political discussion. They are roundabouts and the issues in question are constantly changing. I will decide in my own way. I will do my research then. I will vote based on who they are as a person. Specifics don’t matter.”

All replies and photographs are published with the participants permission. Photographs taken using an iPod touch.

A Line in the Sand column copyright, Ana Elisa Fuentes.

This blog post powered by foot and public transportation.

My sincere thanks to the participants.

Are Environmental issues influencing your election 2012 decisions?

A Line in the Sand

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Welcome to A Line in the Sand – my new weekly column that will address pertinent questions about our environment in open public spaces.

Question: What does climate change mean to you?

Johnathan G. and Bridget M. both 19, students, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
” We were just talking about this. Climate change is caused by human activity. People need to pay attention. People need to be aware, about everything we consume and how we consume, and how we obtain what we consume, and our disposal. We need to be aware of our ecological footprint. All of this affects our biodiversity, especially when it starts killing things around us. It is so easy to ignore.”

Paolo M., 29, scientist, Lugano, Switzerland: ” I think it’s a measure of concern. It is underestimated. Our life is short, but the effects are long-term. We don’t do enough to prevent it. It’s important to try to make people aware of it, especially in the U.S.A. where people drive their car for an errand five minutes away. And plastic. I have been here two weeks and have a hundred bags. In Europe, the glaciers are disappearing.”

Oscar G., 32, window washer, Chula Vista, California: A variation of hot and cold weather. Stormy weather. Hot winds, cold fronts, dramatic and not normal weather patterns.”

Shao-Ya Hsu, 37, student, Scripps Ranch, California: Awareness of the environment. Before I was not so aware. Personally, I try to do more – recycling, not wasting our resources. Just to be here and observe the ocean. I just appreciate it. We have only one earth and we need to protect it.”

Ramona B. 49, housewife, Louisiana: I’ve heard about it on T.V. It’s all I can think of.”

All replies and photographs are published with the participants permission.

A Line in the Sand column copyright, Ana Elisa Fuentes.

My sincere thanks to the participants.

What does climate change mean to you?

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Wind- A – Ma – Jig

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“Wind-A-Ma-Jig” a kinetic sculpture by artist George Rhoads, is a public art project of  the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission at Goleta Beach State Park, Santa Barbara, California.

From the Mississippi Delta

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Portrait of Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland, scholar, playwright and novelist. Dr. Holland received literary accolades for her play and novel, “From the Mississippi Delta,” a memoir. Her life transformed and liberated by the civil rights movement; she later brought these same activist qualities into the classroom, where she became the first faculty professor at the University of Southern California to receive a joint appointment  in the School of Theater and Gender Studies.

The historical photograph of Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland, depicts her and others marching for civil rights in Greenwood, Mississippi. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Holland’s personal collection and archive.

These photographs will be featured in my exhibit at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County.

A Treasure Comes Back

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Jazz has always been an important part of my life, integral to my life, just like photography. Just like cycling. Just like tea. Put the two together and it brings a lot of happiness. I use to be the kid that would stand outside the clubs to hear, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Gabor Szabo. I just liked the music. Years later with a drivers license and the right to vote, I was very fortunate to have photographed for a small club in exchange for entry. The Jazz Hall brought the kings of jazz to an intimate setting.  The night I met and photographed jazz drummer Elvin Jones, I thought I died and went to heaven.  Simply known as the Jazz Hall, it was a gem of a club, in my hometown. But, when Chick Corea assembled a quartet, for the Tribute to Bud Powell tour,  a change of venue was necessary. These photographs were recorded on Tri-X film during the bands sound check and later during their performance. Chick Corea on piano, Roy Haynes on drums, Christian McBride on stand up bass, and Wallace Roney on trumpet.

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Jazz pianist Chick Corea during a sound check at the Victoria Street Theater, in Santa Barbara, California. The preeminent jazz musician assembled an impressive ensemble of friends for their Remembering Bud Powell tour, who included Joshua Redman on tenor saxophone, Charles McBride on bass, Roy Haynes on drums and Wallace Roney on the trumpet.
This image added on Tuesday September 7, 2021.

I kept my promise and made prints for the Jazz Hall.  Had I not done this, I would have lost this moment forever. The art,  music, and jazz community would have lost this record forever. The photo negatives had been intentionally destroyed. This was a heart shattering experience for someone like me who trained traditionally in the darkroom. Whose training in deadline includes cooking your film for one minute, putting your film in the enlarger wet, caption to printing plate/press under five minutes.

The good news is that I’m really happy to have made and kept this community thread. While it’s not the negatives, it’ a digital record of a print. It’s party of my history and community posterity. A treasure comes back.

As for the Jazz Hall, welcome their new incarnation.  Who knows maybe my photo with Elvin Jones will come back! Elvin Jones , playing drums with John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, “In A Sentimental Mood” It was so lovely to hear Elvin Jones play the drums to this tune while he was alive.

 
 
All photographs in this post copyright Ana Elisa Fuentes. Photographed using Tri-X film at Victoria Hall.

Positively Green Education

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Absolutely! What about green education? How do we encourage the inquisitiveness and focus captured in this photograph? How do we SUSTAIN this? In addition to the emerging sustainable and renewable energies we need an educational curriculum for children to match it.

The earlier the introduction the better. It is only fair. It is the children who are the heirs to our global catastrophe.

The earlier the better. These children appear focused while having fun. Listening to the Coyote medicine songs and stories. The photographs were taken on assignment some years ago at the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, California. An Earth Day school field trip brought 400 students to learn about the emerging green technologies while having fun. Above, children look at a Hydrogen technology exhibit, which points out that water vapor is the only emission. As you know the German car manufacturer BMW has created a water fueled vehicle, called the Hydrogen 7. You can go for a test drive here. (the video is ten minutes long). Keep reading please, because children are important. In some cultures it is the health of the children that measures the success of that tribe, culture, or village. Listen/see another video on what Native American youth have to say. Please go here.

A one day field trip like this can leave a life-long, lasting impression. Can you imagine what a child friendly math/science/green/school textbook would look like? If you can then perhaps you might consider writing one. Above, Adam Locker a teacher and Photovoltaic energy installer encourages children to pedal a stationary bicycle to generate electricity. The screens display the kilowatts generated through their cycling efforts. Wow! This stationary cycling teaches children the correlation between exercise, healthy living, and energy generation. Energy generation rather than consumption.

Below Doug Livingston, a power and systems design consultant explains hydrogen technology, to third and fourth graders. How Positive!

All my relations.
Images ©Ana Elisa Fuentes/aefpix