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August 31, 2008

Urban Garden...the aftermath

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 5:13 PM | Comments (1)

Fight Club...

A few months ago I sat down with some other guys to watch a classic film for our generation: Fight Club. After we had eaten too many tacos and had drunk several PBRs to wash down the overflow of chili, cheese, and sour crème we sat down our full-to-capacity selves to escape into the reality of Tyler Durden. While we had remembered the movie as a fun film with great one-liners and action, the movie would have us all possessed by every quote, complete with glazed eyes and a long discussion to be had afterwards. The movie, which features Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, was not only a film that pushed the envelope in movie making, but it's plot, based on the book of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk, speaks to a generation of males in their late 20s/early 30s who have become disillusioned by their place in the world today.

As I've been working at Kaldi's for a long year after graduation with a Masters in Theological Studies, I've waited for something to come along...something that would matter and help me find my place in the world, in a word, importance. I've worked with guys in the same position, hating their jobs, but scared to sell out to "corporate America." I don't want to head down a road without feeling a strong connection to where ever I head. If that's sales, then so be it, if that's teaching, then so be it...but the problem is not getting there, as much as where "there" is...I don't know. I figured by the time I was 32 that I'd be doing something, I would have ended up where I was supposed to be, and that I'd be loving what I do. I keep applying for jobs that seem to fit me, yet, nothing comes through to fruition, so I just keep working the same job I've done for the past three years. I'm stuck. Generally I do a pretty good job at my place of work, but there are some days that I am mad. Why am I still here? I should be doing more than this, holding responsibility, creating, planning; making things move forward, not just having to be a part of the movement. There are many like me out there. I'm not alone, and this could be our anthem:

"Man, I see in fight club the strongest and smartest men who've ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. [Damn] it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off." -Tyler Durden

So maybe I'm not so extreme as what Brad Pitt's character had to say in this film, yet I resonate with these words. The one comfort I have is that I'm not looking to be a millionaire, or a rock star, or any of that; in fact, I would go as far as to say that all that stuff helps no one. I guess I'm looking for the excitement that would come with those ideals. There is importance and power that comes with being a movie god, there is freedom in creativity with being a rock star. That's what I'm looking for, but a Nathan version of that...something that is a continued process, something that can grow in time and get better and better, something that would include many people, and would ultimately give me goals to achieve and triumphs to top. What that is I don't know.

At times I'm scared to even hope that I'll find what I'm looking for, and at other times I still see a light at the end of this long and windy tunnel. Which reminds me of another line, this time from the Narrator of Fight Club, "And then, something happened. I let go. Lost in oblivion. Dark and silent and complete. I found freedom. Losing all hope was freedom." I get that...it's like, why even bother hoping that there is something better then what I've already got? However, I know that there is something out there that will serve a good purpose that I will be responsible for...just got to keep on hoping...and fighting.

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 4:51 PM | Comments (3)

August 24, 2008

Tree

Here's a print I just finished working on. It's not the best I've done, but I like it none the less...it's a tree

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)

August 21, 2008

Come on Feel the Illinoise! Bringing Back a Classic!

The other day I was talking to someone about a great artist, Sufjan Stevens. As I talked with him about the album that made him famous, 'Come On Feel the Illinoise!,' I was reminded of how excellent the music is and what a testimony it is of God's creative gifts given to us! Yes, Sufjan is a Christian, and yes, he writes with words that could only be inspired in a creative writing class, and with beautiful composition. This is a follower of Christ that is putting out something original and new...not a carbon copy of what's been done before, (see Point of Grace, Plus One, etc., etc.)! I thank God for a believer who writes from the heart with an authenticity that is felt in the heart, albeit painfully at times, and which spurs a feeling of joy at other times.

I remember reading the review in Rollingstone, which referred to his album as "hippie-Christian-folk," and hailed the album with 4 stars, an excellent rating. Paste Magazine wrote, "Despite a predilection for the chilling ("And in my best behavior / I am really just like him," Stevens sings on serial-killer ballad "John Wayne Gacy, Jr."), the mode of Illinois--as it reads simply on the spine--is playful." Even the New York Times fell for the singer/songwriter, calling his poetry "breathtaking", and going on to say, "His meditative, lo-fi albums are speckled with small, surreal outbursts of sophisticated musicianship." All that to say, it is rare that a Christian would receive such rave reviews...I therefore, went to Borders to pick up a copy, but it was sold out...I then went to Vintage Vynal, again, sold out...I finally found it at Best Buy. I blasted the introduction of piano chords and flutes on Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illanois, and went on a musical journey across the state of Illinois. See, Stevens is on a quest to produce an album honoring all of our fifty states, which started with 'Michigan, the Great Lakes State.' 'Illinois' goes in and out of joyful bliss, in songs such as Come On! Feel the Illinois! and then takes you to the songs of heartbreak that life hands us all eventually, in Casimir Pulaski Day.

I mentioned the authenticity of his words chosen...I haven't heard anything as honest as the chilling account about John Wayne Gacy Jr.. We hear his self-reflection of the sinful state that indwells us all in the final line, "in my best behavior, I'm really just like him, look beneath the floorboards for the secrets I have hid." Another writer that reflects these hards truths is the apostle Paul, "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." We have to accept this to see our desperate need for a Savior who can cleanse us, pull us to Him, and live a life devoted to Jesus. Sufjan speaks this same truth without openly directly saying, "All the glory when He took our place, but He took my shoulders and shook my face, and He takes, and He takes, and He takes."
If you're looking for some great music, regardless of whether you're a Christian or not, go buy this album, download it, do what you need to do...it's one of the greatest I've ever heard!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 6:54 PM | Comments (0)

August 18, 2008

The Disk: Code Zero

Some of you know that I've been a part of a movie called The Disk, welp, here's a new trailer, followed by the older one made a few months ago. The premiere will be held at the Tivoli Theater on Delmar on December 28th...get your tickets now, I'm sure it will sell out like The Dark Knight did.

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 11:16 PM | Comments (0)

August 14, 2008

New HEROES Coming Soon!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 9:50 PM | Comments (0)

Threadless.com

While in Chicago we went to a great store called Threadless! They have a great array of shirts...go check out the website: threadless.com

They even have a shirt my mom would like!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 5:33 PM | Comments (0)

Chicago Trip 2008!

Hey everybody!
I went to Chicago this past weekend with one of my roommates and a couple of our friends! We had a great time. If you're bored with the pictures, you can at least enjoy the funny banter below, which you should find funny; I'm pretty hilarious...

We left St. Louis on Saturday morning around 5:15 a.m., which made for a beautiful sunrise!

We were barely out of St. Louis when we had to make our first stop. Of course, Neil saw a blade of grass that he hadn't taken a picture of yet, which caused us to stop on our way back onto the interstate after first stopping for our first stop. Get it?

Once we had reached Chicago Land, we stopped by IKEA to pick up some pots, rugs, lamps, cookies, and cheese for our Swedish roommate. Sorry Jonathan, no straw goats here. We experienced our first sign of windy-ness that makes Chicago the "Windy City"!

Our first stop once in the city was Clark Street, which is like St. Louis' Loop on steroids...it's like a mile and a half, and full of hip thrift stores and other stores that charge $80 for t-shirts...

We had to stop for a Chicago Dog, pickles, tomatoes, peppers, and all...

We arrived at Wrigley Field during the 9th inning with the Red Birds stomping the Cubs 12-3. It was awesome!

The Cubbies will never be the Cards...

We went for a walk on the rough side of the lake and I got a little aingsty...

The boats and the lake was beautiful, but my friends were more excited about the raccoon they found in the dumpster...not sure why they were looking in the dumpster in the first place?

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 4:44 PM | Comments (2)

Chicago Continues...

I wanted to pass by Intelligensia, home of the winner of the Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition, who actually made my drink. It was excellent! We had a few laughs there as we were slowly moving to a state of dillirium. (Is that a word?)

Tanya was way more excited to get the deep dish pizza than Heidi was...

We finished our first night with a view of the city from the lake, which oddly enough inspired us to sing songs inspired by modern Disney Songs...how can you be by a big body of water and not think of the little mermaid?

A gigantic steal bean in Millinium Park...not sure what the significance is, but it was way cool

A stage at Millinium Park, the shape and design reminded me of the Guggenheim in L.A. and Bilbou. I'll probably sing on this stage some time in the future...

We walked down Michigan Ave. on our way to the Hancock Building...Chicago's architecture is incredible!

We went to the top of the Hancock Building for a drink, which never happened because our server never came to hook us up. Oh well, we got to see the top for free! These pictures are taken from the 95th floor...what can I say? It was an uplifting experience!

Our final stop was in Greek Town! We enjoyed gyros, greek coffee, and saw lots of Greek columns, of course. It reminded me of my fraternity days. Ha!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 4:19 PM | Comments (3)

August 8, 2008

Calle Cherokee

I went for a torta on Cherokee street in South City today. If you haven't been, you should go...it's a lot of fun, and there's great food to be had by all! It's the street that many in the St. Louis Latino community consider the best for Mexican food. Here's some pictures I took with my new camera that I got for my birthday...

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 1:49 PM | Comments (1)

August 7, 2008

Modern Day Culture!

Have you seen the McCain ad where it shows Britney Spears and Paris Hilton and then places Obama in the same context as your favorite US Magaine Cover celebrities? I hate the race of any election where the candidates talk as much about the other candidate as they do their own policies. I'm sure Obama's side will have a response...none the less, Paris recorded an answer to the Obama-bashing campaign herself. Hope you enjoy...

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/64ad536a6d

Have you heard about Joss Weadon's new creation? It's Dr. Horrible, featuring Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion. A musical in three acts where Dr. Horrible and his nemesis, Captain Hammer face-off to the beautiful sounds written by Weadon himself.
If you have not experienced this beautiful, hilarious creation, you must go now during your lunch break and enjoy! It's free on hulu.com...just search, that's right, Dr. Horrible!

Is anyone as annoyed by these shmoes as I am?

If you haven't seen The Dark Knight, you must right away. It's the best "popcorn movie" I've seen since Spider-Man 2, and, well, Batman Begins. Never have I experienced a comic-book movie with so much grit, authenticity, and messages that apply to our lives in the States today. The movie will leave you asking questions, with a need to sit down with a fellow viewer to process the overlapping stories. Oh ya, and in case you haven't heard, Heath Ledger gives an amazing performance worthy of one of those golden statues!

Have you been to boxofficemojo.com? It's a very interesting site that gives the daily and weekend totals of movies at the box office, (could it get any more obvious?). Right now they have adjusted totals of the all-time highest grossing movies considering inflation. Do you know if Gone With the Wind were to be released today it would make $1.4 billion in the States alone? And just so you know...the famous boat movie that made Leonardo DiCaprio famous and left us all hating James Cameron is not #2!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 5:27 PM | Comments (0)

August 4, 2008

Opening Pandora's (music) Box

If you haven't heard, there's a great site to go to for all your music needs. Just sign up for a free account, then place in the box who you want to hear...and they'll design a station for you! That's right, if you want one with Sufjan Stevens, they'll not only play Sufjan songs, but songs like his music. If you don't like what you hear just drag the arrow up to the picture of who's playing and you can give a "thumbs down;" that will help them know how to define what you're looking for even more! It's awesome! It's amazing what they have on there...I've listened to Bach when studying, but, I can pull up Kings of Convenience while at work. Just go to pandora.com!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 10:10 AM | Comments (2)