EDITOR'S LETTER • SOM0307 • A ROOM OF ONE'S OWN

Dear Readers,

Years ago when my passion for rubber stamps became ignited, all I could think about was finding the time and space to stamp. I remember late at night, after the dishes were cleaned, laundry folded and everyone fast asleep, I’d bring out my art supplies and stay up until the wee hours of the morning making card after card … it was pure joy. The most frustrating part was putting everything away into small corners of the house … never feeling that my art supplies ever had a place of their own.

One day, I decided that I would empty out a hallway closet and claim that as my crafting space. I felt so liberated. But eventually my art supplies and my imagination grew larger than the closet could hold. Today, I am grateful for my husband and children who allow me to use a large room in the front of the house that is dedicated to my artistic passions. And I love that they call the room “Mom’s Studio.”

Before rubber stamps and children, when I was an undergraduate in the late 1980s, one of the most significant works of literature that influenced my development was Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own. It was an “aha” moment to read a perspective that so clearly shed light on the discrepancies between the literary contributions of women and men.

Virginia Woolf argued that if women are to fairly compete with men and offer literary contributions with our equally talented minds, then we needed to claim for ourselves “a room of one’s own” … a place where we could be free of domestic duties … a place where we could romp around in the field of our imaginations to write, study and ultimately publish.

In this “Women in Literature” issue of Somerset Studio, artists pay tribute to women who (by varied means) found a way to carve out that precious time and space to create celebrated literary works. From Jane Austen to Pearl Buck, Sylvia Plath to Sandra Cisneros, Emily Dickinson, Dorothy Parker, J.K. Rowling, and so many more.

The power of Virginia Woolf’s message has remained evergreen over the years as women have realized that her message applies to so many of life’s facets. Much like their literary counterparts, female artists throughout history have courageously insisted on carving out a space of our own … to paint, to draw, to sculpt … and ultimately to produce evidence for history to record our talent and perspective.

One of my favorite things to hear from readers is how Somerset Studio is frequently the catalyst for their decision to carve out a place of their own. From breakfast nooks to emptied closets, dining tables or refurbished garages, I hear the thrill in readers’ letters who are finally able to value their talent and believe in their potential enough to find a space where the demands of everyday chores remain separated from their creative sanctuaries.

Artist Jill Postema (page 89) recalls that her space for art evolved from a small card table in the bedroom, and then to the basement, and then a small bedroom, and finally to a nice loft-like space in her new home. For Janice Lowry (page 70), it became evident that given the volume and scale of her creations that her space needed to be completely separate from her house. She works in a rented studio that is in the heart of Santa Ana, an urban city in California. Aside from her formal studio space, Keri Smith (page 40) elects to use the world as her room … as she flutters about with creative abandon to practice what she calls “guerilla art.”

Regardless of the actual square footage of your creative space, Somerset Studio offers a place where each person belongs … a place that is uniquely our own … a place that is open early in the morning and even late at night. It is where we can find inspiration to fuel our individual aspirations to create evidence of our talent, our perspective.

Cheers,

Jenny Doh

Editor-in-Chief & Director of Publishing

[This letter was published in the March/April 2007 issue of Somerset Studio.]

EL SOL'S FIRST-YEAR FLAIR

Santa Ana recently made national news when the U.S. Census Bureau announced that this urban community has the largest percentage of Spanish-speaking people among cities with populations of 250,000 and above. As one of the 100 largest cities in the country, Santa Ana is also known for its youthful population, with a median age of 26.5 years.

These realities, combined with many residents’ low incomes and low levels of educational completion rates, create a need to develop an outside-the-box approach to education. El Sol, a new science and arts academy, opened its doors last September with an approach that promises to shine a ray of hope on Santa Ana.

On Thursday, officials from UC Irvine, the Santa Ana Unified School District and the city will gather at the El Sol campus to celebrate the school’s first-year achievements. A K-8 charter school, El Sol offers academic excellence through its English/Spanish dual-immersion curriculum, high learning expectations, talented teachers and partnership with parents.

El Sol recruits 50% of its student body from English-speaking families and 50% from Spanish-speaking families, and is being developed in phases, with 120 kindergarten and first-grade students now.

Development of excellent schools in urban settings like Santa Ana requires partnerships where resources, know-how, and goodwill are shared. Less than two years ago, the El Sol concept was brought before the members of the Santa Ana Board of Education, which had the courage to embrace the concept and help make the dream come true.

A friend of El Sol, Jack Peltason, former UC Irvine chancellor, views the school as an “educational model that cultivates academic success, leadership development and an awareness of the complex challenges of our diverse community.”

Indeed, this is a popular view among a growing number of friends, who are helping the campus’ vision become fully realized. Ultimately, El Sol’s success will depend on continued development of strong partnerships.

UC Irvine is one such partner. The university is helping train El Sol parents to support children academically. The program, Make It New, coaches parents on ways to renew their kids’ motivation about learning. Because some parents have more experience and education than others, the program’s parent mentorship component provides support to those who need greater confidence and skills to support their children.

It makes sense for a Santa Ana school to offer dual-language immersion, which instructs students in all subjects in two languages, so that students become fully bilingual. Not only do 74% of its residents speak Spanish, but 15% do not speak English at all.

Pragmatism aside, however, El Sol’s model is based on logic, because research of similar programs demonstrates the dual-immersion model’s success throughout the world.

There are about 300,000 students in English/French immersion programs in Canada. Consensus exists among applied linguists about the benefits of well-implemented dual-immersion programs. Almost 150 studies since the early 1960s testing a variety of aptitudes report advantages for bilingual students.

As parents, we believe that linguistic isolation carries the potential for one of the greatest social, academic and professional disadvantages.

Within a few months, we have witnessed our previously monolingual English-speaking children start to acquire a second language, and in the process learn that the “others” have something to teach and give, just as much as they do.

We are frequently asked, “What about after El Sol? Where will your children go after eighth grade?” Our response is usually, “Where won’t they be able to go?” El Sol is creating scholars with an emphasis in the sciences and arts. They just happen to be doing it in two languages.

Of course, some of our graduates may elect to attend local high schools, both public and private, and undoubtedly, many who get sparked by El Sol’s arts component will compete for enrollment in Orange County’s High School for the Arts.

If you pass the corner of Broadway and Halesworth Street, just north of 10th Street, you may notice El Sol’s school logo on a Victorian house, now transformed into the school’s administrative offices.

It is a corner where courageous people have pledged their support to grow a campus prepared to meet the complex urban challenges of its community.

It is a corner where students are rigorously challenged, and where parents are partners in the educational journey.

It is a corner where you can feel the sun’s rays transforming possibilities into probabilities, making each day gloriously new.

[This commentary was co-authored by me and Cynthia Criollos and published in the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, April 7, 2002. On May 2, 2003, an incredible event called Solar Expressions took place — where friends and partners throughout Orange County came together to create an unforgettable evening for more than 400 attendees. It was the most difficult thing I've ever done. It was also the most rewarding.]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK

On August 29, 1923, Jack Peltason was born. 

He served as UC Irvine's 2nd Chancellor from 1984 until 1992. He was MY Chancellor. He then served as President of the entire UC system from 1992 to 1995. If you ever drive near the campus, you'll probably run into Peltason Drive ... a street named after Jack. He is an incredible person — a courageous maverick within the higher educational arena — who I am blessed to have as a friend and mentor.

Here is one of my favorite photos with me, Monica and Andrew visiting with Jack, his amazing wife Suzie, daughter Jill, and granddaughter Gracie.

I, like the MULTITUDE of people whose lives he has made an impact on over the years, LOVE Jack. 

MAURINE'S TURNING 40

Ever since this invitation came from Maurine ...

I've been making plans to travel to New York ... my FAVORITE city.

Where her closest circle of girlfriends will gather to celebrate her 40th birthday! A few years back, Maurine gathered her friends in like fashion in Oakland ...

I wonder how this circle will have evolved ... I'll be finding out very soon, as I board the plane tonight to make my way to spend what will certainly be several magical days in THE CITY. Be back soon! (But hope you'll still stay tuned to this blog as new posts will continue to be going up every day!) ;)

ROUND-ROBIN LOVELIES

Check out what I've been tinkering with lately ... hmmm ... wonder what it could be. Looks cute, doesn't it?  

It's part of a round-robin project I'm involved with.

 

Stay tuned to future issues of Belle Armoire to learn more!

WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE

Thought I'd show you the results of my cool new writing instrument: the white Sharpie Poster-Paint marker.

I doodled one of my favorite adages on black paper with it. It's similar to the white gel pen that we all love ... but a bit more juicy ... and a bit more slick ... and if your strokes are quick, there are little splatters that happen ... which is kind of cool. (Also comes in other colors.)

In terms of the adage ... it's so true, isn't it? No matter how far we travel, how dark or light we color our hair, how high or low we hem our skirts ... no matter where we go ... WE CAN NEVER ESCAPE OURSELVES. Which is why it's so important to figure out who we are ... so that we can move confidently into the direction of our dreams ... whether it's abroad or right in our own backyard, with bleach-blonde curls or deep dark locks ... and sporting New Balance cross-trainers or patent leather sling backs. ;)

PRIMER: SANTA ANA

Last week, Gerardo and I attended a WAY COOL screening of a brand new documentary that features the extraordinary people and places of Downtown Santa Ana. The documentary is titled Primer by Akorn media — produced by Jeff Horn and directed by Ali Akbarzadeh.

One of the people featured was artist Janice Lowry, who you may remember from here. The story of the art that she has made throughout her lifetime including assemblages and art journals was featured. It was TOTALLY inspiring. Here she is with all of her family members ...

Janice has been such a positive artistic force in my life. And I'm thrilled that her story about her more than 133 art journals will be told in the upcoming publication: Somerset Art Journaling.

Aside from assemblages and art journals, Janice is a painter and mixed-media artist. Here's one of her works that Gerardo and I are the proud owners of. A poignant piece that honors her veteran brother ... who like many veterans carry wounds that make "coming home" extremely complex and sometimes not possible.

Of all the things that intrigues Janice, she is very much intrigued by water. Here is just a peek at the water she has collected from all over the world. 

After watching Primer, Gerardo and I enjoyed walking around the downtown Santa Ana area ...

One of the few places in Orange County with truly beautiful historical buildings.

Buildings that have over time (like people) endured forces of water, sun, wind, and all other elements from life ... 

The effects of which impact how we in turn tell our stories and make our marks.

BOWLING DATE WITH THIGH-HIGH SOCKS

Prior to last night's festivities at Zoofari, I had the distinct pleasure of hanging with my Andrew at our local bowling alley.

I'm the one on the left ... wearing really cool thigh-high socks that Cynthia got me from Japan during her recent trip. She says socks are all the rage in Japan. Here's another pair she got me ... which are totally HOT!

An oh-so-feminine pair that covers only the toe area and then laces up like ballet slippers. (All I need now is the perfect pair of shoes to go with these socks!)

Before we started bowling, Andrew and I wagered five bucks. But the thing about these sorts of bets is that I don't have the heart to make my kids pay up.

Instead of the five bucks, I asked him for a back rub, which he happily provided. Love it when that happens. :)

ZOOFARI ... CAROUSEL

Last night, Gerardo and I attended ZOOFARI — the annual gala event to support the Santa Ana Zoo. It was a blast.

The theme was "Carousel," to help celebrate the installation of a really terrific carousel ride that will be part of the zoo. The carousel will include a Giant Anteater ... in anticipation of the live pair of REAL Giant Anteaters that will be joining the zoo next year.

It's the cutest thing ever.

 

More details to come as we break ground and cut ribbons next year to welcome the Giant Anteaters to the zoo!

THE BUILDING

Chances are that if you were born in the ’70s or ’80s, which most of you were, the messages you’ve been hearing throughout your lives go something like this:

            #1. You can become anything YOU want to be.

            #2. Follow YOUR dreams.

            #3. Believe in YOURself.

            You. You. You.

Although these messages have SOME merit, they are, I believe, INCOMPLETE. Because in reality, in order to become what you WANT to be, you’ve got to want what you are MEANT to be. In order to follow one dream, another dream may need to be put on hold or sacrificed altogether. And if truth be told, even if you have the kind of high self-esteem that your parents and mentors have tried to instill in you with the message INDIVIDUALISM and BELIEF IN SELF, you will STILL experience challenges, failures, and disappointments. BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT YOU. It’s ALSO about your co-workers, your boss, your family, your community — all with complex facets and deep-rooted history. And chances are, when you experience failures, YOU WILL NEED the support of those around you to overcome, to move forward. Because if there’s anything that WE SOCIAL SCIENTISTS should understand, is that we are NOT islands unto ourselves. We ARE, because we ARE TOGETHER.

For those of you who saw this year’s Academy award-winning film, Crash, you will recall being introduced to a set of characters who were living as though they WERE islands unto themselves ... where they lived in isolation with no REAL connectedness nor the ability influence one another. The film made me wonder whether in fact our interactions with each other are nothing more than completely INSIGNIFICANT accidents. Because if so, wouldn’t we be justified in CHAMPIONING individualism, where we tended ONLY to ourselves, only to our own edifice, lest all other needs and structures crash and falter?

If this is where the film had ended, its message could help defend a life ethic that fuels FIGHTS and FLIGHTS, but not the ability to FOCUS and tenaciously figure out ways to STAND BACK UP and dust ourselves off from the falls, to tend to the healing of others’ wounds, and learn and implement ideas to prevent falls from happening in the future.

In my current professional role in the publishing world, I’ve unfortunately encountered MANY young professionals who when faced with a conflict, or a nasty fall, believe that their only options are to FIGHT or FLY. This is particularly a shame for those professionals who I KNOW ARE MEANT TO BE in the world of publishing.

One young professional not too long ago explained to me that in response to the challenges of certain work projects, that she would be calling it quits and giving her two weeks’ notice. She further explained that she was interested in finding a work environment where she could build what she called, AN EDIFICE OF HER OWN. In other words, an island where she could be what SHE wanted to be, where she could follow HER dreams, and where she could believe in HERself.

But as the characters in the film Crash eventually demonstrate, we DON'T live on islands. The interactions that we have with each other — in the work place, at family gatherings, within political movements, and at social outings — those interactions do connect us, and they influence the processes that eventually LEAD to the building of programs, policies, publications, companies, and important bodies of knowledge ... EDIFICES can be dreamed up by ANYONE, but they RARELY become built by a SINGLE ONE. Because it’s ALWAYS been about more than just you or just me.

One of my all-time favorite books is The Little Prince, a short book for children and adults authored in 1943 by a French pilot and writer, Antoine de Saint-Exupery. In the story, The Little Prince has toiled for what seems to be an ETERNITY, to cultivate the life of a rose on his small planet. And because of this long-term relationship with TENDING to the rose by pulling out unwanted weeds, exposing it to proper elements like the sun and water, and protecting it from inclement weather, he is INTIMATE with the challenges that this rose has gone through, and in RETURN, the rose is intimately aware of The Little Prince’s character. They have TAMED each other, they have developed TIES with one another, they have allowed themselves to be affected by each other. Their INDIVIDUALITY has become actualized THROUGH A RELATIONSHIP.

But one day, the Little Prince decides to leave behind his small planet and his beloved rose to search for something more — perhaps something better — perhaps something more GRAND that he can discover ALL BY HIMSELF. Immediately, his journey brings him face to face with a whole host of new characters. But no new character satisfies The Little Prince’s search so he continues on his journey, in hopes to find what he is looking for. There is eventually a sense of desperation that The Little Prince feels ... much like the desperation that the characters in Crash were feeling ... a sense of hopelessness where isolated units endlessly and arbitrarily crash into one another, without EVER becoming tamed or ever becoming special.

In the middle of his journey, The Little Prince meets the fox who states to him that “it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eyes.” It is through the fox’s insight that The Little Prince learns that it’s EASY to encounter a multitude of new things ... it’s easy to FIGHT ... it’s easy FLY ... but it’s difficult to make one thing special, meaningful, and impactful. He learns that meaning doesn’t exist without a relationship. A planet, an edifice, a career, a family, ... they become built when we are ready to STOP FIGHTING, TO STOP FLYING, AND START FOCUSING.

When we look at those who have accomplished great things, we could mistakenly believe that BELIEF IN SELF is what it took for such accomplishments to be achieved. But I invite you to consider the accomplishments of the MANY leaders who are standing before you today —  like Provost Gottfredson, like Vice Chancellor Gomez, like Dean Dosher, and like UCI student leader Vanessa Zuabe. Though you may believe that edifices such as the UCI campus, the School of Social Sciences, or important student organizations were built solely through these individuals’ dreams and efforts alone, I am certain that they would be the FIRST to tell you that they are ONE OF MANY who have contributed to these structures ... structures that will continue to evolve LONG AFTER their contributions have been made.           

Provost Gottfredson, Vice Chancellor Gomez, Dean Dosher, Vanessa, and many of us here today realize what the fox helped The Little Prince to eventually realize ... which is that our work becomes special, influential, and meaningful only when we dare to put our hearts into it, to dirty our hands as we toil over it, and to care for it, ESPECIALLY when it becomes difficult. If we build it CORRECTLY, the results of our work will belong to no SINGLE one of us, and therefore to ALL OF US.

For all that you have TOILED OVER and FOCUSED ON for the past several years, to FINALLY reach this day ... the day that marks the completion of your contributions and achievements, I proudly and happily join your fellow students, faculty, staff, and family in honoring and cheering you on — the graduating class of 2006. Congratulations.

[Per the invitation of UC Irvine, on June 17, 2006, I was honored to deliver this commencement address to the 2006 graduating class of UCI’s School of Social Sciences.]