My interview with Kenneth Campenelli, Executive Director of Facilities Management and Planning.
Vaping
Entering the doors of Speak Easy Vape Co. you will wander through a cloud of smoke before you are in front of aisles of e-juice. Vaping has become a new alternative to smoking cigarettes all across the world. Since 2013, vape shops have been opening all across New York City. Worldwide vaping sales in 2014 were around $7 billion dollars. There were at least 466 e-cigarette brands.
“Vape shops are very competitive, if you don’t have almost all of the e-juices that other vape shops have you will lose customers,” says Josh Lazaro, a manager at Stay Easy Vape Co., where he has been vaping for three years now.
New flavors are coming out all the time. So much to choose from you could go for years vaping trying new flavors. Over the past few years vaping have been gaining popularity, primarily among cigarette smokers who want to reduce the risks of smoking. The growing sales of vapes, driven initially by word of mouth and user enthusiasm, are now seen by entrepreneurs to gain financial stability and to threaten sales of cigarettes. Vaping has gone so viral that social media accounts were created for competitions. Below is an example of a vapor that calls himself “vapeanese” on Instagram.
“FDA is trying to take away our access to life saving vapor products… Vape shops cant tell you anything about mods, they cant tell you its a better alternative to smoking. We can’t do builds because they are basically forcing people to continue smoking” says Lazaro.
The legal status of e-cigarettes is currently pending in many countries. In May 2016 the FDA used its authority to deem e-cigarette devices and e-liquids to be tobacco products, which meant it intended to regulate the marketing, labeling, and manufacture of devices and liquids; vape shops that mix e-liquids or make or modify devices. E-cigarette and tobacco companies have recruited lobbyists in an effort to prevent the FDA from evaluating e-cigarette products or banning existing products already on the market. In order to consume or buy any e-liquid or e-cigarette you must now be 18 years old.
Although vaping is still being researched it definitely is an interesting trend that has been brought up within the last few years. While some smokers are still smoking cigarettes, others are seeking vaping. Lazaro describes this as a way to socialize with others and to have some fun. He encourages people to #STOPBLOWINGSMOKE to help out the vape community. All of social media contributes to help vaping grow and stop the growth of cigarette smokers.
Cat Cafes in New York City
The concept of Cat Cafes is not a very popular term in the United States because it originated in Taiwan, and became popular in Japan. At least in New York, our day-to-day stressful life does not allow most of us to have pets, which is the reason why the concept of having cats in a cafe came to life. Because the people in Japan have very little space and very little time to take care of pets, in 2004 this type of business was introduced, allowing the population to feel the joy of having a pet without the responsibility. Nowadays in Japan “more than 150 cat cafes have opened in the last ten years” and New Yorkers now have four to enjoy.
Although our American concept of a cat cafe is very similar to the Japanese concept, there is a notable difference in the New York businesses: here, you are able to adopt the cats. The businesses usually pair up with shelters, and the owners rescue stray cats in order to bring them back to the cafes. Both companies I went to, The Meow Parlour and The Brooklyn Cat Cafe work for the same objective: to conscientize their customers about the felines and push them towards adopting, not buying.
“You have to make sure you have space for the cat and a different space for the cafe, in the U.S the health laws are pretty strict so you have to have the food separately” Talia, a 20-year-old cat lover, is one of the three people that work in Meow Parlour and an adopt don’t buy person herself. She started working in Meow Parlour because she loves cats and thought that “if there is any job I would have to do, taking care and being surrounded by cats is definitely my first option.”
Adopting isn’t as easy as we think. The possible candidates for adoption have to go through series of check-ups by the workers for them to grant the green light, “cats are living things, and of course is work and dedication. But, in the spectrum, cats are one of the less tedious animals to take care of” Talia explained. They ask you questions such as “are you financially stable?” “Do you have the time to spend with a cat?” And if you are, and meet most of the requirements, you are good to go. However, if you can’t commit yet, you can always foster! allow the cats into your home and then bring them back to the business, or adopt them if you feel you are ready.
Cat Cafes are an innovation in NYC because they allow us to interact with the cats and be in their environment. It is very surprising how little maintenance these felines require, but how much love and attention they crave. So, go get your cat and your coffee in one go!
Art as Therapy vs. Art Therapy- There’s a Difference.
The common expression “A picture is worth a thousand words” suggests the idea that a visual aid can communicate more than what a person may be able to articulate through the use of many words. So if that’s true its clear that possibly not everyone can fully express themselves with words, especially at a younger age or where there is an emotional barrier, art may be better at telling a story and unlocking underlying emotions more than descriptions of a persons feelings through words. Art Therapist Linda Turner and Art Educator Peter Haughwout explain in depth how art therapy combines this use of art and counseling through strong relationships between the client and the therapist or teacher.
In midtown Manhattan in a small studio apartment is Linda’s office with a Gold Plate on the door displaying her name and profession. The instant you step into the space there’s a feeling of comfort and relaxation which gives one a sense of openness and ability to share. Linda makes a firm distinction between the use of art as a “therapeutic process” and Art Therapy.
British artist Adrian Hill was the first to coin the term art therapy back in the 1940’s, American Art Therapy Association defines art therapy as “The therapeutic use of art making with a professional relationship by people who experience illness, trauma or challenges in living and by people who seek personal development” What Linda stresses is this relationship between the therapist and the client being crucial to the process, which is why just coloring, or painting or doing art recreationally may be therapeutic but it’s not therapy.
Art can benefit people in many ways. Many psychiatric institutions and hospitals use art as a trauma relief activity for patients. Current Art Teacher at Syosset High School actually started his career with just that.
As students run to their next classes and teachers rush to say the last minute homework assignments Peter Haughwout enters the room with an air of zen that only someone who has worked in art for so many years can behold. He smiles as he thinks back to his years working at THAW (Talented Handicapped Artistic Workshop) and Northshore University Hospital and reminisces about the day he was hired and explaining to the patients how to use the art materials. Many patients, he says, aren’t comfortable moving clay and working with tough mediums so he starts them off on less stressful things like drawing or coloring. For the more ambitious people he also shows them how to set up art boards and even do some minimal woodwork. He says he believes his work there was to help patients who had undergone trauma get some of that emotion out and lessen the stress they were enduring.
There is a definite line between art as a therapeutic system and art therapy. Linda and Peter describe these processes as if it’s an art in it of itself. Linda says, there are many different approaches to art therapy and there is really no right or wrong approach. While some may use paint and guided meditation, others may use collages to put together meaningful words and images on a singular page. Art therapy is simply a way to tap into the mind with a more indirect, creative approach.
Class Agenda – Nov. 28, 2016
Check in about final projects
In-class production for those who are ready to begin
Discuss ways to combine various multimedia elements
Examples:
Photos and audio:
Where Beauty Softens Your Grief
Mostly photos:
Multiple videos:
Video and audio:
Photos and video:
A little of everything:
Angelo Stanero Professional Magician!
Hope you guys enjoy.
“Artist” is not a dying profession
Originally, I had planned on interviewing a youtuber to see what it was like to be someone in his shoes. Unfortunately, he flaked last minute. Ultimately, my cousin was able to hook me up with one of her friends. She was down to earth and is wicked talented with stencils and a brush. She may not make Art her career, but believe me when I say that if she wanted to, she definitely could.
So, without further ado, lets meet Gabrielle Silva. A 19 year old young woman with some great talent.
Note: I accidentally posted this in our Feature Writing blog on Wednesday. That was my bad.
Curved by J – Video project
Leaving the nest and building her own
When a 28 year old finally leaves her nest to build her own
The Art of Gaming
Please enjoy learning about the journey and impact of gaming on Greg Ozerskiy who was kind enough to have me at his home and share his experiences!