It's a Fine Arts future in Singapore

More than 20 years ago, at the crossroad of my teenage life, I asked a teacher if I should enter into an art vocational school.

"Don't. There is no future in art in Singapore."

When I heard the reply, I wasn't surprised. It's 20 years later and I do not think my teacher was wrong then. She answered to the best of her knowledge. She was echoing the prevailing sentiment those days, and perhaps even today.

PREVIEW TO AN OPEN HOUSE
Tonight I was at a blogger's preview for the coming Open House for the National Arts Gallery of Singapore (TNAGS).

The TNAGS folks fielded questions candidly. Questions on operating costs. Or whether TNAGS may affect the sales of private art galleries. I wanted to ask what TNAGS collections would be (later I learned their collections would focused on Asian/ Singapore and mainly on Fine Arts -- paintings, sculptures -- but would also include contemporary art works).



The guided tour revealed interesting nooks within the Former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings (the two would be eventually linked by a sky bridge to become the National Art Gallery).



We had a special tour to the top of the dome of the Victorian-style Former Supreme Court building...


... which gave us an excellent view to the night cityscape.


We were guided along through and into courtrooms, judges' chambers, prisoners' holding cells...









... and venues that have been silent witnesses to history.



THOUGHTS
I thought it was a brilliant decision to use the Former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings for Singapore's National Art Gallery. The Corinthian-style architecture reminded me of art galleries in Vienna and London.

Tonight, although there were no art pieces on display, I had a pretty good sense how a visit to TNAGS might be like. And I'm really looking forward to the official opening (by then, maybe TNAGS might offer a tactile-experiential element...)

Seems to me that art and space are intertwined. It's not just the visual aspect of looking at an art piece but also the experience of 'being there', standing in a gallery.

The grandeur of the physical building brings a different experience to viewing the artwork. Size does matter.

DREAMS
But for much of the tour, what kept coming to mind were the words my teacher said to me 20 plus years ago.

Ever since my Kindergarten days, teachers have always noticed my flair for drawing and painting. My parents must have recognised it too, for they paid for my once-a-week art lessons for several years up, till I was 13.

It wasn't until the end of Secondary School that I seriously thought of continuing my education in Fine Arts. But 20 years ago, the conventional thinking was that one should take up a course of study that would put food on the table. Which meant that one should pursue a career in anything but the arts.

As an adult now, far from looking back with regrets, I'm quietly happy.

Not that I expect TNAGS to exhibit my hobby work (I have my own *ahem* online multimedia gallery for that, heh).

I'm happy because at this point I can better appreciate and value art, not as a job or work but as catharsis. And I'm happy because the National Art Gallery would be a place to further expand my enjoyment and capacity for the fine arts.

Also, I'm quietly hopeful.

That our National Art Gallery would be an inspiration for Singapore's young. Some of whom might one day stand at their own crossroad in life, and wonder if there's any future in art.

My answer to that is there is definitely one.

p.s. Hat-tip to Kevin and Walter for the invite. And to other TNAGS staff for organising this.



The TNAGS Open House will be held on 9th and 10th Oct, 2010. The website for sign-ups will be up soon is here. BTW, Barcamp Singapore will also be held at TNAGS (how cool is that?!) I'm thinking of doing this as a barcamp presentation. If there are no takers for this topic, I might just sit there and... paint :)


Tag: tnags, TNAGS

NLB's Customer Appreciation Day + 15-Year Anniversary

A few hours ago, I was at the Central Public Library for the launch of NLB's Customer Appreciation Day.


The event is into its fifth year. Its the NLB way of thanking library customers for their support.

Hours before the speech and presentation ceremony, kids were invited to create figurines from polymer clay.


Here's a shot of three of the library's Junior Reading Ambassador rehearsing their show.


[Fast-forward to the presentation ceremony] After the speech by the Chief Executive of NLB, awards were given out to library customers. Some were for demonstration of good library etiquette while some were recognised for being avid readers/ users of the library.




Seated right in front of me was an avid reader! I spotted this child reading a compilation of the READ! Singapore stories, which was part of the goodie bag for guests.


Guests queuing for food and refreshments after the simple award ceremony. Staff were on hand to mingle and interact with them as well.


NLB 15-YEAR Anniversary
This September is also the 15-Year Anniversary of the formation of National Library Board.



Here's a non-comprehensive list of highlights in the 15-Year NLB history

• 1996 - Jurong West Public Library; first NLB library in a shopping mall.
• 1997 - Library Supply Centre at Changi opens.
• 1998 - Bukit Panjang Public Library; first to prototype Colour Coding of library books. This was also the year of the centralised library sale of weeded books (used to be held at individual libraries). Bukit Batok PL was the first library to have the RFID electronic library management system. Made possible the instant online clearing of loans as soon as items are dropped in.
• 1999 - library@orchard opens; designed and positioned as a lifestyle library (targeted at adults; no Children's section) located at Ngee Ann City, in the hub of Singapore's shopping belt. This was also the year NLB launched the Student Virtual Community web service. It was a service concept ahead of its time, where the site offered online collaborative features like file/ document sharing and repository -- kinda like a more primitive version of Google Docs and YouTube.
• 2000 - Marine Parade PL opens; the first NLB library co-located within a community club. This was also the year Asian Children's Festival opens.
• 2001 - "Born to Read, Read to Born" reading initiative launched.
• 2002 - library@esplanade opens, the first performing arts public library. That was also the year Sengkang PL opened; touted as a DIY library (has a concierge service rather than a full-fledged service counter).
• 2004 - kidsREAD initiative launched. Jurong Regional Library was also re-opened, featuring a dedicated floor for teens. In that year, the National Library building at Stanford Road closes to public.
• 2005 - READ! Singapore launches. The new National Library building opens at Victoria street.
• Library 2010 plan published. Email reminder service launched too.
• 2007 - www.deposit.nl.sg launched.
• 2008 - Molly the Mobile Library launched.
• 2009 - Library In Your Pocket service launched. Quest, a reading initiative targeted at reluctant readers, was also launched.
• 2010 - newspapers.nl.sg launched. Facebook app launched as well.

This page from the NLB corporate website has a more comprehensive list of the milestones (1995 - 2008).

Loads of things happening from now till 15 Sept ("15 Treasures", "15 Lucky Draw winners" etc.). Check out the pl.sg website for more details.

Here's to 15 years more!

The ASCAP "Copyleft" fund-raiser: Campaign of misinformation?

If you've not been following the Creative Commons scene, you might not have heard of the fund-raising campaign by the American Society for Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), started in June 2010.

The ASCAP fund-raiser for a legislative campaign
First, you ought to read their letter for yourself.

Their fund-raiser is for a "legislative campaign" to "urge the members of (the U.S.) Congress to support [their] rights".

I've read the letter several times. I'm still not sure what rights ASCAP is campaigning for. Or is it for a law against the lawful sharing of works -- even if initiated by the creator?

What's really controversial was ASCAP's claims that 'Creative Commons promote "Copyleft" in order to undermine "Copyright"'.

Wired.com was probably the first to break the news (25 Jun), and the article sums up the fallacies in ASCAP's position:

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is urging the membership to donate money to battle the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Public Knowledge and even Creative Commons.

ASCAP’s attack on EFF and Public Knowledge are farfetched. Those groups do not suggest music should be free, although they push for the liberalization of copyright law.

But the attack on Creative Commons is more laughable than ASCAP’s stance against EFF and Public Knowledge.

While lobby groups EFF and Public Knowledge advocate for liberal copyright laws, Creative Commons actually creates licenses to protect content creators.

LINK

Did ASCAP bother to find out what Creative Commons (CC) really is about?
CC is built upon the foundation of Copyright. CC is NOT an alternative to Copyright; CC works along side it.

The idea of Creative Commons (CC) is not hard to understand. So I was puzzled as to why an organisation like ASCAP would choose to espouse wrong ideas.

A Red Herring?
Reading the ASCAP letter carefully, I think the basis of their concerns is in this statement (emphasis mine):

If their views are allowed to gain strength, music creators will find it harder and harder to make a living as traditional media shifts to online and wireless services.

I think there's the real issue: the weakening and gradual collapse of the traditional music publishing and distribution business model, brought about by technology.

Technology is the cause of the industry's collapse (or some might say the greed and/ or narrowly-defined business models of music publishers). Certainly not global movements like Creative Commons.

Don't take my word for it. This business week post (Jul 2010) cites technology as the underlying issue to the fall in traditional music sales. Musician John Mellencamp already said it so back in 2009. Even further back, here's a MSNBC article summary by Bob Baker in 2003 that reads just like it was written yesterday.

ASCAP is trying to do something. But I think initiating a legislative campaign is just barking up the wrong tree. Not to mention wasting resources (from doners).

A music community responds to ASCAP
Anyway, what's more interesting to me was how a music community like ccMixter chose to respond to ASCAP's claims. Check out this Freedom To Share campaign.

Excerpt:

So here’s how it works. FREEDOM TO SHARE has two stages.

Stage One: Write, record and upload a piece that reflects the theme FREEDOM TO SHARE.

Stage Two: Remix someone else’s upload from Stage One. Upload your remix BETWEEN AUG 18 - SEPT 5.

STAGE ONE:

WHEN: Aug 1 through August 14

WHAT: Write and Record a lyric that comments on the themes of this project: artistic freedom, sharing culture, collaboration, the evolution of the music industry, etc.

HOW: Up through August 14, upload a recording of your lyric as an acapella….you can submit a spoken word, a rap, or a melody. (If you’ve never uploaded a poem or a song, this is your opportunity!)


STAGE TWO:

WHEN: UPLOAD BETWEEN AUG 18- SEPT 5.

WHAT: Remix one (or more) of the uploads from Stage One.

HOW: You can start woking with pells from Stage One as soon as they are submitted and upload between Aug 18 - Sept 5. Upload your remix here (or remixes) that include at least one track from Stage One. Your remix should continue to explore the theme of this event — artistic freedom, sharing culture and collaboration. Again, your remix must include at least one track piece from Stage One (please note all samples in your remix must be yours originally or under the appropriate Creative Commons license). You are free to upload more than one remix too.

SHARING THE MESSAGE

Through this project, we at ccMixter will create a musical body of work that demonstrates the power of creative collaboration using Creative Commons licenses. We also hope the FREEDOM TO SHARE Remix Event will sonically illuminate matters requiring more light in this debate.

The music created by the project will become a tool for educating others about the versatility of Creative Commons licenses. We intend to share these remixes via curated playlists, podcasts and compilations in as many venues as we can reach, including other websites that support CC licensed work, such as Jamendo, Soundcloud, FMA, Archive.org, etc.

LINK

Debate seems to be over before it begun
CC co-founder, Lawrence Lessig, offered to publicly debate the issues. ASCAP declined and continued to issue puzzling statements that lumped CC as part of movements that encourage "a culture of disrespect for copyright".

The irony may be that ASCAP's campaign has done the opposite of its intent. They might have inadvertently created greater awareness of movements like Creative Commons.

Dear Mr Williams...
Whichever the case, here's my contribution as an amateur songwriter. BTW, I didn't deliberately choose to make my mix an "international" one. It just so happens that I found suitable stems from musicians from Mexico and Japan, not to mention the ccmixters from US, UK, Canada (I think):


The track was made possible by those who have chosen to share their works under their chosen Creative Commons licenses:

• beautiful paranoia by urmymuse. CC-BY-NC 3.0.
• Dear Mr Williams by Loveshadow. CC-BY 3.0.
• Mine + Yours = Ours by snowflake. CC-BY 3.0.
• We Hold These Truths by essesq. CC-BY 3.0.
• Dear Mr Williams (Snowflake Adaptation) by snowflake. CC-BY 3.0.
• Why? by Admiral Bob. CC-BY 3.0.
• Musica Mexicana. Artist/Composer: Sr Nopal. Attribution 2.5 Mexico
• Hypnotic garden by Universal Hypnotica. Creative Commons license: Attribution 2.1 Japan

The Full mix and backing tracks available at this ccMixter page.

Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG): History, today.

It came down to this.



BTW, here's a refreshingly (positive) perspective about Singapore hosting the inaugural YOG. (via Ridz.sg).

Thinking aloud
It's hard for one to fully appreciate the competencies required to pull off such an event.

We only see the end product.

We take for granted the organisational capabilities that have to exist, in order to make such a thing happen.

Taking on the responsibility of being the first to host the YOG. That required an appetite for risk.

Above all, we forget that it requires imagination to even conceive of such a possibility.

Even with awesome pictures like this, it is still hard to fully appreciate the gumption involved. Months or years later, some Singaporeans are still going to say that Singapore's decision to host the inaugural YOG was a waste of resources.

It's easy for some of us to forget that Singapore is really a tiny country, relative to the geographical giants out there.

Whenever I'm in a foreign airport, clearing immigration, I'm reminded of one stark cold fact: outside of my country, the name 'Singapore' means little to many.

Confession: Months before, I didn't think that much about Singapore's hosting of the inaugural YOG. Wasn't against it. I was simply apathetic to the whole thing.

Now, I'm wiser.

And not too late to say that I'm proud of our tiny little country.

The next time I'm in a foreign land, faced with puzzled looks when I tell them I'm from Singapore, I'll add that I'm from that country that hosted the world's first Youth Olympic Games. First in the history of modern society.

Doesn't matter if they still give me blank looks.

History has already been written.

Read in Jun 2010

In no particular order:


Roughnotes | NLBsearchplus


ISBN: 0814409113
Ebook version | NLBsearchplus | RoughNotes


RoughNotes | NLBsearchplus


RoughNotes | NLBsearchplus=


RoughNotes | NLBsearchplus


RoughNotes | NLBsearchplus


RoughNotes | NLBsearchplus


RoughNotes | NLBsearchplus


RoughNotes | NLBsearchplus


RoughNotes | NLBsearchplus


RoughNotes | NLBsearchplus



RoughNotes | NLBsearchplus


RoughNotes | NLBsearchplus


Roughnotes | NLBsearchplus


Roughnotes | NLBsearchplus


Roughnotes | NLBsearchplus


Roughnotes | NLBsearchplus


Roughnotes | NLBsearchplus

Flying the Singapore Flag: We're 45 - Part 1

Today's Singapore's 45th birthday.

I wanted to exercise my left/ right brain and write something about it. Led me to start writing about National Identity and the concept of Nationhood. Intellectually serious stuff.

Then I received an email from Siva. He had just published this blog post about my sharing of a recent experience on our national Park Connector Network (PCN).

A week before my trip to Melbourne, I bought a foldable bicycle. All because I saw a newly constructed park connector near my home.

After my first late-night exploration of that connector, I was so stoked that I immediately emailed Siva and Lucian. Both are cycling enthusiasts. Siva contributes to the Cycling in Singapore blog. Lucian traced the PCN onto Googlemaps, plus he cycles to work.

So what has the Park Connector Network got to do with National Day?

Siva's post ended with a "Happy National Day everyone!"

Nothing odd about that, since today is National Day.

But that one simple sign-off, in a post about the PCN, made me appreciate National Day from a simpler perspective.

I decided to leave my thoughts about national identity and nationhood for later.

For now I'm enjoying the simple fact that I have a Park Connector Network near where I live. It's just one one of the many reasons why I'm happy to call Singapore home.



Happy birthday.


[Later: Part 2]