w a n d e r l u s t » relationships

Believe It When I See It

Jeff Nguyen — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:16:34 +0000

Sometimes I think a healthy romantic relationship (or my idea of one) is like Montana. I’ve heard reputable and educated people talk about it, read about it and even seen footage of it on TV but I’ve never set foot on its soil or seen its mountains with my own eyes. So does it really exist? (and really, have you ever met anyone from Montana?) It’s just plain sad when I think about it. I don’t know a single healthy romantic relationship. I think there are relationships that “work” but aren’t necessarily healthy. People stay together for companionship, to raise kids, to financially maintain a lifestyle, and there is nothing really wrong with those reasons but I don’t I think they are the initial reasons to be together. Call me naive but I am going to hold on to my make-believe notions of love and Montana is a conspiracy by the man to keep the brown man down.

Soundtrack of Mi Vida: Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight – Amos Lee

Perfect Timing

Jeff Nguyen — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:50:39 +0000

When I was a kid I had a a cheap blue clock much like the ones Felix Gonzalez-Torres‘ used for Perfect Lovers. I bought the clock with a bucket of arcade tickets because I didn’t want more candy or parachute men and didn’t have enough tickets for that red radio controlled race car. So when I first saw Perfect Lovers in a magazine and after in more periodicals, TV, and even in person a couple years ago at MoMA, I wasn’t too impressed and never paid it too much mind. It was up there with that swirling plastic bag in American Beauty in artistic value to me. But I saw it again in a magazine recently and this time it made me stop and feel that there was more to it.

The clocks are like the relationships in our lives, always changing. We may begin perfectly in synch with the same passions and directions in our lives but like the clocks, over time we will grow seconds apart. Seconds can become minutes that become distant hours. That moment of perfect timing has come and gone. We either choose to re-synch our clocks with each other or find someone else that is at this moment in time already in synch with us.

“Good timing” was something I never really thought I had in relationships. More and more I see it’s because I am resetting my clock to someone’s else’s time thinking we can move forward together. Right or wrong? I don’t know exactly. Its just what I have chosen to do and never have or will regret it. The better and the present question is am I where I want to be now and if I am on my to where I want to be later. When I can say yes to both, “I” can be replaced with “we”.

Soundtrack of Mi Vida: Question – Old 97′s

Love Transcends All

Jeff Nguyen — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:50:18 +0000

Joel Tauber gives new meaning to “tree hugger” in his exhibit, “Sick Amour” at the Vielmetter Gallery in L.A. The object of Joel’s affection is a Sycamore in parking lot section K of the Rose Bowl. I think I was drawn to the exhibit initially because of the contrast of asphalt and nature. I stayed because I saw the Sycamore giving joy to everyone all its life and still remains alone in its beauty. Well, until Joel came along. A sweet love story if I ever heard one.

SUSANNE VIELMETTER LOS ANGELES PROJECTS
5795 West Washington Blvd , Culver City, CA 90232 [map]
Phone: 323.933-2117
http://www.vielmetter.com
Hours: Tue-Sat 11-6
Cost: Free

Soundtrack of Mi Vida: These Streets – Paolo Nutini