CitySavage

ICP, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

I came across the message about Atta Kim's photo exhibition at a photographic forum. A brief introduction to the exhibition shows he uses the long exposure technique. It didn't look very appealing to me, at that moment. Then Monika recommended him to me again, in the middle of a dinner. It must be something unique.

I stepped into ICP, where they have one of Atta Kim's project: On-Air.
The big picture on the entrance is riveting and mysterious. It looks like lava with yellow glow. What is that? It turns out a melting ice cube. It took about 8 hours of exposure, and recorded the whole life span of a block of melting ice cube. The long exposure make the light glowing, and full of energy. The photographer is trying to convey the greatness of unnoticeable, the engergy of the stillness, through the insurmountable chisel of time.
The DMZ series are amazing too. It took the photographer years to get the permission to take pictures in the de-militarized zone. And the exposure for each pictures takes around 8 hours. The photographer says the pictures are taken by a shutter speed of 8hours/50yrs (the South Korea is separate from North Korea for 50 years).

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underground, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

Noam started his own band, General Assembly, in his Village Underground, after selling the Cafe Wha. His love to the musci and his creativity are magic ingredients to his success.

Let's take a peek of what is on the menu:

We thought you might like to know about the fantastic entertainment schedule we have launched this summer at the FBPC and the Village Underground. We take enormous pride in our entertainment at the FBPC and the Village Underground. We feel on any give night you would find it very hard to find anything superior. Come down and check out one of our nights, we promise you won't be disappointed. As always, if you are not completely satisfied just let our manger know and we're pretty sure we can make things right. Best of all, there`s never a cover charge (except Sundays :<).

Downstairs Wednesdays nights: The UnionN

Featuring Elan, Jason Murden, Vince Jackson and many special guests, dance to Classic Rock and R&B, Funk, and Reggae. Also available for private parties, the UnionN can be contacted by emailing UnionN@FBPC.com

Downstairs Thursday Nights: World Music with the General Assembly

Featuring Rosalyn McClore, Ron Long, Eric Adams, Franco Morillo, Patrick DeSantos, Kyle Paas and regular special guests including Jason Murden and Inaya Day. The Assembly plays music from the streets of New York, including Funk, Reggae, Rock, Latino, Brazilian, Country, Jazz and more. A dynamic collection of styles and musicians unique anywhere in the world.

Starting this Week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays in our Moroccan lounge we will feature Brazilian Jazz with the Patrick DeSantos Quartet.

Mondays of course is our wildly popular Karaoke night, and Sundays we feature the most famous open-mic night in the world with Ron Grant and Melonie Daniels

This Thursday we will have a special 8:00 performance by Vivian Sessoms and Albright.

For reservations or any questions please don't hesitate to email us.

We're at 130 W 3rd Street right across from the Blue Note. 212-533-4790.
Sincerely,

Noam Dworman
Owner
FBPC
Village Underground
Comedy Cellar

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Z POOL, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

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VIP Lounge, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

The beautiful part is that everything is not planned. I happened to know that Ambassador Jesse will be in town when I visited Shanghai. I am excited to meet up with Jesse thousands miles away from New York, since last farewell party.
I called up Wendy, my local insider, for help on local resorts. We ended up at a club called VIP. It is just like the one that I had visited in Atlantic City. I have to refer you to Jesse, our Ambasssdor's more insightful comments of the place, which I not only personal experienced but also concur. Thanks for Wendy's help to distribute the gifts to other friends that I don't have enough to meet up. And all the best to you all!

Jesse with his friend Ryoko. I heard that Jesse just converted from Vegetarian to cannibal.

Wendy, my local insider.

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798, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

798 Facotry (Dashanzi Art District) located in suburb area of Beijing China. The odd name comes from along with its history of being a millitary factory. (In the old days, those millitary factories were all named with just numbers to hide their real identity, for security and organization purposes.) After over 50 years, those eastern German style big spacious factories buildings shifted their mission "slightly", with more and more artists moving in. Those artists, successful or starving, turned this place into a rising, trendy art zone. Later, bookstores, restaurants, bars blossom. In fact, this area becomes so diverse that some compare it to the East Village in New York City. Yes, we had a village now located far more "east" to the Eeast Village.
More interesting oberservation is that the area still have factories producing actively. The real factory may just be next door to a Studio or Gallery. It is amazing how those people manage to co-exist. The contrast between the two are huge. It is so bold and finally becomes extremely inspiring. The area, the factory itself becomes an art piece. The same fascinating feeling comes from the MOMA PS1(Public School No.1). It is now an art gallery but used to be the first public school in the States.
It was summer and scotching hot when I visited the factory area. Yet I still saw a considerable number of people walking around the area for those galleries and studios. So I can imagine how crowded it would be when the Dashanzi Art Festival every May.

Statue of Liberty and Statue of Libration?

Believe your own eyes! Those steams are not from special effects, they are real, fresh from the factory.

Me in the picture.

I alwyas wish I could bike around 42nd Street and time square.

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Xi Tang, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

Xi Tang is one of the six famous traditional towns in China, which includes Zhou Zhuang, Tong Li, Lu Zhi, Wu Zhen, Xi Tang and Nan Xun. They are all part of UNESCO World Heritage. Xi Tang is a less commercialized one among the six. The architectures remain the style from Ming and Qing Dynasty. The residences in the town still keep their traditional way of living. I actually saw people wash clothes in the river. On the other hand, it is very close to Shanghai, only about one-and-half-hour drive away from the metropolitan. Actually the "Mission Impossible III" is shot here.

Tom Cruise performs during the shooting of "Mission Impossible 3" in Xitang, an ancient town in east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 24, 2005. The first scene in China of "Mission Impossible 3" was shot in Xitang Nov 24.

This is the living room of the Traditional Chinese family. I happily found my name (willow) as part of the calligraphy over the wall. The house was at the deep end of a small LongTang. The owner of the house was very friendly, and asked us to feel free to walk around or have a rest.

Yueju opera is popular in the region south of the Yangtze River. It originated in Zhejiang Province, the location of the ancient State of Yue, hence the name. Listening to the traditional melody, you feel that you have a stronger connection to the town, to the culture.

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P7020096, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

One day gate-way to the Great Wall in the wild.

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P7010001, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

Those four buildings right outside of Beijing Tsinghua University will host world class companies.

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