9th Annual Chinese Institute of Engineers Seattle 2011 Scholarship Program

9th Annual Chinese Institute of Engineers (CIE) – Seattle 2011 Scholarship Program

- To provide our contributions and commitment to the Asian Pacific American (APA) community, CIE/USA – Seattle is proud to announce the following 2011 APA youth scholarship program: A motivation program designed to promote APA career interest in the fields of science, engineering, and technology. There are three award categories covering 7th graders to undergraduate college students with a total award amount of $4000. Application period ends May 31, 2011.

For the detailed award program and application process, please visit http://www.cie-sea.org.

For more information about CIE/USA-Seattle organization, please visit http://www.cie-sea.org or email us at ciescholarship@cie-sea.org . We look forward to having students from Rainier Beach participate in this annual scholarship opportunity.

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A Follow Up Interview with Paul Kikuchi!

Earlier today I received my email from Mr. Paul Kikuchi, who answered my questions which I interviewed him about. For those who do not know him, he is a professional artist who works with percussion styled instruments to create music. To get even more information…read the earlier post about him ;]

I asked him a few questions and to me, his answers seem very interesting. Let’s take a look:

Q: What did you dream to be when you were younger?  How did these dreams change and why did they change? If there was no change, how did you keep that dream alive?

A: When I was young I wanted to be a doctor.  My grandfather was a doctor, and he was a man that everyone seemed to respect, and who I looked up to.  Once I was in high school I came to the realization that I was more drawn to the arts and humanities.  I started seriously playing music and cooking in restaurants, and I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to go to music school or culinary school.  I tried culinary school, and quickly realized that it wasn’t for me.  Then, there was music!

Q: How do you get inspired to create your music? What leads you to making it? And in what ways have you been moved by music?

A: Inspiration comes in so many forms.  I try to cultivate a state of mind in which I can be open to inspiration when it arrives, however it arrives.  It may be inspiration from taking walks, from another artistic medium such as film or dance, environmental sounds like rain, or physical activity, my favorite being ping-pong.  The key for me is to be open, so the little seeds of ideas can grow.

Music has led me to a great deal of introspection, personal growth, and interpersonal growth.  Playing music is a way for me to examine who I am and how I relate to those around me.  It’s also a damn good time.

Q: How can music bring awareness for something in the community?

A: To be a good musician you must be a good listener.  You must learn how to work well with others, establish solid, positive communication, and have the ability to see outside of yourself.  Any community can utilize folks with these skills!

Q: What excites you the most when working with youth?

A: I get excited to pass on my knowledge of music and sound, which is so special to me.  When youth are interested in this material, and are excited to explore it with me, I get even more excited!

Q: Who are your musical influences and why?

A: My mother, who plays piano, and my father, who had a keen appreciation for music and would sit and listen to his favorite jazz records when I was a child.  Their support made me realize that music was something that I could pursue as a career and a passion.

Q: If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why? Pick one man, and one woman.

A: I would like to meet my great grandparents on both sides of my family.  It would be so interesting to talk to them about their lives!

Interesting! Also, if anyone would like to join YouthCAN from hearing about Paul Kikuchi you can visit the “ABOUT ME” page on the YouthCAN blog to get the application!

I would also like to add Paul’s official website if you would like to learn any more information about him: http://paulkikuchi.com/

 

 

 

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Interview with Mugi Takei

I’m baaaack~ I asked Mugi 7 questions and if you scroll down, you’ll see it. I have to tell you, you’ll be interested in how she answers them. They are word for word and before I forget, here’s ANOTHER link!

Her blog: http://mugidrawings.blogspot.com/

Did you click it? You’ll learn some new stuff about her so I hope you guys check it out. Now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for! :D

1. What do you try to express in your art?

Mugi: whatever that compels me and I decide to talk about. what I hear, what I see. friends, family, love, relationships, nature, personal experiences, emotions around them, life and mysteries in life. 

2. What favorite tools/materials do you like to use in your work?

Mugi: I like water color/gouache, pencil on paper. I sometimes like clay. I like to use very basic simple tools/materials that doesn’t make me sick. I like to write stuff on my drawings, my little thoughts or poems. I also like to make animation and add my songs to it.

3. What started your interest in art?

Mugi: I don’t know why, but I was always interested in making things. I like all kinds of visual art, performing art since 3. Art just fascinated me.

Art has been serving me and my life!

When I was child, I was interested in all sort of things I was not supposed to as a child, like naked people, pubic hair, under wears, butts, how mermaids would copulate and lots of weird stuff. My parents thought I was perverted. Maybe other grownups too, but I don’t remember. Since I couldn’t be openly interested in the stuff I was interested in, I started making secret drawings of them and hide them in my desk drawers. 

That how I seriously got myself involved in drawing.

I was very very very shy as a child and I had a hard time sharing my thoughts with others. I felt my thoughts were often off mainstream and I was a bit ashamed of my thoughts. Art was always the safe place for me to express and explore my everyday thoughts. Then later art became a place for me to exchange my thoughts with others.

4. If you could go anywhere you want, what place would you visit and why?

Mugi: I think I would go to Belgium because the person I loooove is there!

5. What kind of art do you admire or inspires you?

Mugi: honest, sincere art work. art work that confronts, exposes, communicates, cares, emotional and shakes my heart.

6. What do you value most in art?

Mugi: its ability to connect people.

7. Tell me something funny or exciting that has happened to you.

Mugi: I have a lot of funny stories. I’m shy but very funny. When i was a child, my cat had like 5 babies. One afternoon I was watching her nursing her kittens and I decided that I wanted to be nursed too. I put my head next to her belly and started sucking her nipple. I didn’t get any milk though. What a disappointment. I think cat nipples are too small for people. 

Now, how’s THAT for an interview? She even said I was free to ask if I had anymore questions :D  So, here’s your chance. Propose a question and I’ll direct it to her juuuust for you~

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Introducing Mugi Takei!

By Michelle

News Alert! I’ll be working along side (actually, learning from) an artist, Mugi Takei. From what I know, we’re going to have some kind of poetry and/or drawing unit. She’s an exceptional artist who has experimented with various tools, such as oil paints, water color, canvas, wood, etc. I’ve already searched up a few of her paintings and it’s clear that they all focus on women.

Here’s a link of her portfolio:

http://www.cullomgallery.com/index.php#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=0&a=0&at=0

Note: That was a BIG hint to click on it :P

As a result, there are many different kinds of reactions people have given her artwork. For me personally, I usually feel confusion, curiosity and sometimes a little disturbed. Hm, what do you guys think when you first see one of the paintings? I’d like feedback. Not only that, I’m interviewing Mugi! A total of 8 questions. I was dearly hoping I could squeeze it in before this blog post. Obviously, I failed, but have no fear! I shall return with answers and a whole lot more interesting information about our friend, Mugi Takei.

Oh yeah. I can teleport, but don’t look…cuz my powers don’t work when people are looking ;D That’s enough for today. Cya!

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6%Doki Doki!!!

By Michelle

Earlier this week, my friends and I went to check out a store named Momo back in china town. I’ve never once set foot in there, although I did know that Momo meant Peach in Japanese! Alas, there were no peaches to be found.

We heard there was a fashion event going on (models in cute clothing, check!) and turns out they’re from Japan. Arriving early helped since the show started around 4pm but eventually a crowd of people began attacking them for their autograph AND picture; I personally got both… ;) Hey, it’s not everyday you meet Japanese fashion models!

Well, besides that, they were promoting themselves so if any of you go to Sakura Con this year, keep an eye out! O_O You might spot them. Unfortunately, I won’t be there. Why? Uh, does YOUR wallet like to be raped for your personal needs? Cuz My wallet likes to have at least some money inside, so no Sakura Con for me.


 

By John

I am very excited! Why? Because I got to go to Momo a shop in Chinatown and guess who came?! Sebastian Masuda and his 2 shop girls from 6% Doki Doki, a popular Harajuku shop in Japan. There purpose: to help save the style of Harajuku. Due to the earthquake and tsunami devastation in Japan, not many tourists come and shop around Harajuku.

However, to raise awareness, Sebastian and his shop girls Amy and Yuka have traveled the world to raise the awareness. They have gone to London, Paris, L.A., and other places!

It makes me very happy because I have never seen people with this style before. I used to think that dressing in harajuku was a costume type thing, but it is a style altogether.

I asked Sebastian what he thought about Seattle (in my broken Japanese) and he said “it is a very nice town.” When I asked Yuka this question, she answered saying, “it’s very pretty.”

I also got to take a picture with Shop girls Amy and Yuka!

AREN’T THEY KAWAII?!?!?!?!

OH AND THAT’S NOT ALL, I ALSO GOT THEIR SIGNATURES ON MY IBUKI MAGAZINE!!

 

By Brian

Aww, look at nervous Brian

One step closer to my dream. What dream is that you may ask? Well it’s the dream of being in Japan and seeing my favorite Japanese group Perfume! How am I a step closer?
Earlier this week my fellow Youthleads and I were brought to a store called MoMo in the ID.  They were holding an event to create awareness on what’s going on in Harajuku, which is famous for its unique clothing stores such as the 6% Doki Doki. I got to meet three awesome people: Sebastian Masuda who is creator and two very pretty girls Ami and Yuka. The girls style was just the “head turner” you expect to see at Anime conventions, but in Japan it is a great fashion sense. I had a wonderful time being there as I got take pictures and get autographs from them. I was so nervous that I was shaking while handing them my magazine >.<


I even found out that speaking Japanese for the first time was very nerve wrecking but it turned out well! Not only that, but there were 3 of them and Perfume is a group of 3. Sometimes i wished it was Perfume that came ^.^ , but nonetheless these people that visited are awesome! They gave me more motivation to try my best to learn Japanese and try to go on vacation in Japan. They’d also appeared Sakura-Con. I spot them walking into the Convention center but didn’t attend because this year i failed again to cosplay as this guy:

 

Here are more pics of our trip!

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Introducing Paul Kikuchi!!!

By John.

YouthCAN is proud to introduce one of the teaching artists for YouthCAN’s 2011 Summer Studio: Paul Kikuchi.

Mr. Kikuchi was born in Indianola, WA, where there as a youth, played in his own rock band.  He decided to study music by going to Bennington College and received his BFA.  After doing so, he further continued his studies in California Institute of the Arts earning his MFA. He now currently works as a percussionist, instrument builder, composer, and a music educator in Seattle, WA.

His past experiences as a music educator come from the Oakwood School, the Community of Arts Partnership (both in Los Angeles, California),West Sound Academy, and the American International School of Budapest.

Paul Kikuchi’s notable projects have been: the Toy Boats, Open Graves, Tide Tables, Empty Cage Quartet, and many more.  Artists which he as collaborated with like, Alexander Vittum and Tiffany Lin, are endless.  Kikuchi has also created and currently runs his own record label, called “Prefecture Records” where it supports artists which experiment with percussion or unusual types of environmental acoustics.  The label also seeks for artists which have invented their own instruments.

Paul has received much support in his music career by obtaining funding from Seattle’s Artist Trust, the Jack Straw Foundation, the American Composers Forum, Chamber Music America, and from the Montalvo Center for the Arts.

Kikuchi’s drum excerpt solo can be seen in this video:

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Apply for the Seattle Youth Commission

The Seattle Youth Commission application is now online at http://seattle.gov/syc*. The Commission exists to represent the interests of teenagers directly to local elected officials, and it presents a great opportunity for young people to engage directly with decision-makers on issues that are important to them.

The Commission is open to Seattle residents between the ages of 13 and 19, and the deadline to apply is May 4th; we’ll be doing interviews on a rolling basis as applications are received, so the sooner someone applies, the better their chances of getting the interview slot that they want.

We had a wonderful group of Commissioners in 2010-2011. In terms of elected officials alone, by the beginning of May the 2010-2011 Commissioners will have met with Seattle’s Mayor, City Attorney, Police Chief, and 6 out of 9 City Councilmembers, as well as the King County Executive; and later in May they’ll be doing presentations directly to the Mayor and the full City Council about their work and their priorities over the course of the year.

The Youth Commission is a big time commitment, and I recognize that, but the more active, engaged young people who are part of the Commission next year, the more effective it’s going to be in representing the interests of as many different youth across the city as possible, which is definitely the goal. I need your help to make sure that the 2011-2012 group is just as good.

- Sol Villarreal,Community Engagement Coordinator

Office of Mayor Mike McGinn

Direct Line: 206-233-2656

Cell: 206-427-3062

Fax: 206-684-5360

http://seattle.gov/mayor/signup

http://seattle.gov/engage

http://seattle.gov/syc

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