Heart-Shaped Sunglasses

Spanglish dogs

2008-08-10T11:26:00.005-04:00

My family on this past saturday night discussing the dogs. Making their appearances are My aunt, Pixel, her friend, Mary, my Abuela, my brother (briefly), and my mom (very briefly). You can hear my mother calling JPEG who will... not listen to her... apparently neither will Elvis--Mary's dog. Hence the conversation

Olympics scores widget

2008-08-09T23:22:00.001-04:00

Found this and will be following it though it would have been better as a dashboard/desktop widget don't you think?

Little Lolita

2008-07-21T11:44:00.001-04:00

Little Lolita
Originally uploaded by StarGirl714

Poster boy, JPEG. I'm limited for models here. Who would have thought I'd start shooting dogs... ohhhhh man. ;-)

Inspiration Whore moving to a new address

2008-07-13T22:59:00.002-04:00

I need to focus on personal musings or inspirational objects, products, people and locations. I've tried to put that all into the same blog because I really am an Inspiration Whore, but the point of a blog is to have focus and niche and this just doesn't. I've decided to keep lpasarin.blogspot.com as a personal musings blog in order to stretch my story-telling capabilities and challenge myself with witty and concise blurbs of my daily(weekly...?) observations. Inspiration Whore will function as a FOB/BOB [front of the book/back of the book] service journalism piece.

I'll possibly be moving archives around within the next 24 hours.

Thanks for the readership; I hope this clears up the confusion.

-LP

Barefoot Blues

2008-07-01T10:51:00.003-04:00

Barefoot Blues
Originally uploaded by StarGirl714

It's the perfect day for a bananafish...

Missing her already, but looking forward to her travels (living vicariously through my office computer screen).

I have to hand it to you Mr. Salinger

2008-06-29T13:14:00.002-04:00

"I do like him. I'm sick of just liking people. i wish to God i could meet somebody I could respect..."

-Franny in Franny and Zooey.

Putting it on hold.

2008-06-24T21:52:00.004-04:00

"I'm not yours to have. I'm no one's and right now that's how I like it," she said staring at the wall. She was good at avoiding eye contact particularly when there was none to be had. "Here's a lesson to learn. If you're serious about pursuing put it on hold, and learn to be my friend first."

-LP

Ed note: listen to Leona Naess' "New York Baby" as I think that might have rubbed off on me.

My sweetest downfall

2008-06-03T23:06:00.003-04:00

I feel like dancing. The mood I've been in lately, dancing is the only thing to take that away. I remember doing a modern dance workshop to this song last October. Today I just blasted this and let loose. Try not to smile.:)

I love Spektor's voice here. It's hard not to rond de jambe and sweep up into a back arabesque turn and then let your body drop softly under to follow the current of the turn. A graceful and powerful set of moves that mirror Spektor's ballad.

Enjoy.

MIA

2008-06-03T17:07:00.004-04:00

I'm sorry I've been MIA on posts the last few days. I was working on three at a time when I got word that a friend of mine died in a head-on car crash Thursday. I've been "numb" this past weekend. Rest assured I will have an entry dedicated to Alex and all the ones I put a stop to coming this evening.

-Lindsay

Ed Note (8/27/08): I never posted the entries I wrote in my sketch book. I drew out a dream I had of Alex, a memory I had from graduation (last time I saw him), and a picture of me sitting on my bed with my head raised praying/talking to Alex. We didn't know each other long, but he had a profound effect on my life and this summer. I've held off on writing to his family. I am still numb about his death as among other thoughts it made me reflect on my own and the shortness and point of life. I will do my best to bare these sketches and the prose that accompanied them as soon as I can. I apologize for not having done this soon. Thank you for your understanding.

Inspiration: Corinne Bailey Rae

2008-05-29T17:58:00.005-04:00

Trouble Sleeping
Originally uploaded by StarGirl714

Corinne Bailey Rae has inspired my mood and my artwork lately. I've been practicing a new illustration for an upcoming poster. More about this here.

Smoother than the LA weather....

2008-05-29T16:25:00.007-04:00

Dear God have mercy on me... and all readers of this blog! I went out to karaoke at 2ndOn2nd Karaoke Bar and Restaurant last night with Harvey from NYC Social on Flickr. (Enough links in that sentence???)

I started off with Jewel's "Down So Long," a song I lovvvvveeee to sing... er.. in my car, strumming on my guitar er.. alone in my apartment, in the shower... etc.

I followed up with the song below: Leona Naess' "Charm Attack" and finished the evening with one of my favorite songs from RENT (I'm a Renthead): "One Song Glory." Harvey got footage from the last two songs, but said this was much more entertaining (mostly b/c i couldn't care less about hitting the notes... she mostly talks through them and because I am clearly being awkward.. unsure of what to do with myself. Um.. we were the only ones there unless you include the singing DJ, the bouncer and the bartender.. we went a little early. As we left the place started to get busy. Hint: go at 10 p.m.

Enjoy my embaressment and if you're curious about the conversation we've all been having about this check it out through the link to this video on Flickr.

-LP

P.S. The link to Naess on Last FM also allows you to listen to the track "Ballerina" from her self titled album. I use the lyrics in away messages every so often. It's a slow song, but definitely one to listen to when you're relaxing. Nice way to end a mix CD... oh wait.. I think I did that, Becca...

Seven things you didn't know...

2008-05-28T00:16:00.003-04:00

Pocket full of daisies
Originally uploaded by StarGirl714

I'm starting a new photo series on Flickr. This will be ongoing. It may not be constant, but it will be something to look for if you're interested. As noted in the set, I'm using these images to use "visual images to inspire memories. Each photo should tell you a bit about me--usually telling a cyclical story that connects each tidbit to each other and back to the image itself."

The first image is called "Pocket full of daisies." I didn't intend to write much, but I started to tell a story as I let it go. It was a good experience as it helped me with memoir experience. I start off by telling you my favorite flower (not a daisy...) and come back to the daisy after I tell you some loosely related memories in the process. This one touched on past pets, favorite flowers, personality for simplicity, wanting to be an actress, and wanting to be a storyteller.

You can find the series (currently consisting of one photo with seven points) on Flickr.

Part 1: Shame

2008-05-27T14:50:00.007-04:00

The fact I can't escape back to Syracuse hasn't quite sunken in. I still wake up thinking I'm in a different bedroom, thinking I can run errands to establishments that don't exist (e.g Wegmans) here... but the reality of the lives I'm living among is glaring. I escaped this for an education, and I feel at times shamed by my education and my presence.

Briefly: When I found out I was accepted to Syracuse and when my parents had made the decision to let me go (financial decisions) life got a little colder at high school. Word spread quickly as it always did and people's opinions of me were confirmed. I was a condescending bitch. I was a little like the girl on that MTV series "The Paper." I wasn't as bad as her, but there's no denying I'm very driven. I forgo reality and put all my energy and time into projects and work. I can be over zealous and that tends to rub people the wrong way. Age brings insight and i've learned to cool it. Of course there's no escaping my determination; sleeping in my office and pulling all-nighters to finish multimedia components are proof.

What that has to do with the present is that I've learned to feel ashamed of making a better life for myself. I felt ashamed and pressured to choose between "making a difference" and "making my peers happy." Back in my hometown for a week now. I'm quiet about the quadruple-major undergrad, the masters, the summa cum laude, and all the responsibilities and opportunities I've worked hard to gain. Not just because I'm coming back to teen-pregnancies, high school dropouts, druggies and underpaid parents working two jobs to afford their overpriced apartments. It's because all that doesn't matter in the long run. It's the work you turnout, the person you are (do you have a good heart), and the difference you make in the community you live in.

Telling anyone what I did the last five years is an internal struggle. I worry I'm smacking them in the face with my words. So I bottle my pride. Another secret this hometown has yet to hear. So much of the person I was in Syracuse is dead here.

Feel the earth under your feet

2008-05-27T13:57:00.011-04:00

I've been running again.

I haven't done this much running since maybe October. Things got busy and my knees started to kill. More importantly, my free time was spent choreographing and dancing for DanceWorks. I'm still settling into this apartment and lifestyle. Turns out Syracuse rubbed off on me more than I thought.

I spent the majority of the last five years alone. I had roommates, but I was alone. I really crave alone time. I'm a reflective and productive person. I can't shut my brain off. I'm always asking questions, writing, editing photos, designing, knitting, constructing something. When it calls time to be social, I'm social. I'll talk to anyone and everyone in the room, dance, laugh, etc. But all that can tire me out and I need time to myself.

I can't find my peace so easily here in city life. The problem is the close proximity to my family. We're not a big clan, but suddenly I find the pressures to please them again. I'm one of those people who can drive myself crazy trying to make other people happy just because i want to see them crack a smile. I escaped that back in Syracuse, but it's back to the same routine again and I'm getting tired. Thus it's been difficult to get myself motivated enough to turn my lists of inspiration into actual artwork. I'm getting closer to this, but I still haven't found a "place of my own yet." I'm looking for a coffee shop or somewhere where I can just escape and get work done. We only have commercial Starbucks here... no open mic, laid back lounge-type like Recess or Funk 'N Waffles where I can find some solace.

But pounding the pavement--concentrating on my breathing while Minus the Bear rocks on to uneven beats in my headphones--is helping. It gives me time to reflect. I just need to turn those reflections into entries, illustrations and photographs. For me it's not the ideas I'm having trouble with, it's the motivation for execution. If I was on deadline it'd be different, but I'm not sure i've even got an audience.

I talked to Becca about this who is having similar frustrations. We agreed it would come in time, so maybe i just need to summon my patience. I've decided this humid day is probably the day to start. I checked the forecast... seems there's a flood of entries on the way...

-LP

New Project underway. Coming summer 2008

2008-05-16T14:33:00.007-04:00

It didn't take me long after settling back into the NYC area to get started on a new project.I pulled in last night around 3:30 (I left around 11PM due to unforeseen circumstances)and nearly drove off the road a few times I was so tired. After some sleep and time relaxing while listening to the rain I'm ready to start a new project. I haven't even been here 24 hours.

The short story is that this summer I plan to gather photos and audio of my Abuela on an extended story. It'll be in Spanglish (w/ translation when necessary). Interviewing her about her life growing up in Cuba, her immigration to the U.S., life working in the garment factories, the sacrifices she made for my father and aunt annnndddd other details I was always too scared to ask(e.g. her life with an alcoholic husband).

Elva Pasarin just turned 88 two days ago. I don't know how long I've got with her. I'll be working with my aunt on the interviews since I'm not 100 percent fluent in Spanish.

You all know I need to keep busy even when no one's giving me assignments to work on. I'll drive myself crazy otherwise. I think this is necessary for me. I'm moving back into my old apartment, which is in my old neighborhood. There's much to deal with when it comes to that. I live in two different worlds: the one back home where people think they knew who I was and one in Syracuse where I was the most honest with myself and those that met me. Working on this project is as much for her as it is for my understanding of her and my understanding of home. I need this.

Looking forward to the outcome-

-LP

Look on the Bright Side

2008-04-16T23:09:00.012-04:00

Julia, Look Up
Originally uploaded by StarGirl714

I have been busy working on various sites, designs and mulimedia projects while balancing job hunting.

In less than a month I'll have more free time and I'll be moving back to the the City. I'm excited... and actually sad to leave Syracuse. There's few people I'm leaving behind so it's not so bad. Most of the people I'm leaving behind will be leaving Syracuse within the next 1/2 year or so and will most likely scatter themselves around the country.

I'm not one to be weepy over leaving people. I'm sociable and involved, but I do my best to not get attached. It just makes it easier to move on. That's not to say I haven't been attached before. However, in high school, after Project Graduation, when everyone was crying, hugging, snapping photos, I simply gave my smile, tapped my foot impatiently as I waited for my mother to pick me up, and gave my last wink and nod to the high school where my experience can be summed up under the nick name "El Presidente Pasarin." Thanks Joseph Menendez for giving that one to me. Endearingly he'd holler this down the crowded hallways of NBHS. It passed above the ears of couples making out, teachers handing out criticism and students savoring the last moments before the period bell rang. In short, I joined and often "lead" every group or club imaginable. And yet I was the one impatient to leave.

I detached myself the same way I've been doing lately. I've been quiet and seemingly moody when in reality, besides being sick recently, I've been in good spirits. I just don't want to "miss what I had" more than "enjoy" the excitement I feel whenever I think about moving back. I want to get the job, get involved with the youth in my community (through dance or photos) and make new (or rekindle old) relationships. I'm ready to move on and further more it makes me happy when I think about it. I may not be settled with a job the way some of my peers are, but I've got strong talent and determination. I'm not worried, I just have to keep working toward my goals.

Julia (pictured here) will be moving to Philly although she'll be living in Syracuse for the summer working with her design firm until someone gives her a job. Becca is moving to Luxembourg to be an au pair and work on her writing. As for me I've got an editorial internship with Zink magazine, but I'm looking for another one that is more photo, design or new media based to share my time with. I like keeping busy. The internships are a great opportunity to gain more professional experience while I keep searching for a full time job. Viva NYC. I'm moving home the morning of May 12.

When it comes to this blog I've got a few drafts waiting to be "published" but I'm a perfectionist without a deadline and there are more important things to attend to. Sorry to keep you all waiting.

Until then please check out my Flickr account. I've been working with a number of visuals lately so that's been updated more frequently.

Hasta luego,

-LP

Rolling Through

2008-04-04T13:41:00.004-04:00

there's something about the *"roll over the toes" move I love. It's the moment you let go, hang your head and arms as far back as they'll go- like doing a back bend while balancing on the top of your foot.

For the few seconds you're holding it's like jumping out of an airplane . And you can't hear anything but your heartbeat.

Watch it being performed in Breathe Me. The time of the move should be 1:16. If you have the sound up enough you'll hear a guy say "dammmmmmnnnnnn."

*I've searched desperately for the name of this move, but i can't find it. if you happen to know it please comment. :) Thanks!

Spring's photographic inspiration

2008-03-24T20:40:00.019-04:00

Just a listing of what caught my eye lately. Happy Spring to everyone and belated Easter to those who celebrate it :)

Please check these artists out as their photostreams are filled with talented works of art.

-LP

Jason Lee photographs one of his daughters for the coming of winter. Inspirational just as we're saying goodbye to the season

Lindsey is inspired by Minus The Bear's "Pachuca Sunrise"

Amber's son digs into his Easter basket

Vanessa Ho gives a captures the light and female form at just the right angle

Sabina was inspired to take this photograph when her husband brought home these delicious apples

Keico's colors are vibrant and her angle is always delicate. Happy Spring again!

James Sagi Kirshenfeld might be young, but his photographs rarely hint it

The puppies are here

2008-03-20T00:44:00.003-04:00

Pixel and Jpeg are the new additions to the Pasarin family.

I'm tired. I should drive home and pack and get some sleep. i've got to wake up earl in the orning to TA, hold office hours and finish my animation. Grr... still not finished.

I'm leaving Syracuse and going home for the Easter weekend for the first time in six years. The reason is the Jpeg and Pixel have arrived. The Pasarin family puppies came all the way from Texas on Tuesday and I can't wait to hang out. We all have the same birthday!

More photos and perhaps a story about them in the next 36 hours.

-LP

Jetsetter

2008-03-17T23:31:00.002-04:00

Travel is amazing. I was "bitten by the bug"--to use a cliche--at an early age thanks to my aunt. Of course now my loans are paying for travel and I know my most recent trip to San Francisco will be the last trip for awhile until I can start paying off London, Prague, my masters and my photo equipment. Debt is not something I want to live in, but I'm addicted to learning. The opportunity to document immigration and life in Chinatown was amazing (and amazingly short).

I will make sure to update this coming weekend once I have a handle on my assignments and a small edit test that are all due mid week.

More soon,

-LP

New Song to Choreograph and Photo Shoot Updates

2008-03-08T17:19:00.012-05:00

Becca Fishow models for the Danceworks microsite constructed by Lindsay Pasarin, Julie Murinka and Lindsay Berard

Driving home from Target on East Genesse I took a left onto the Nottingham High School road. "Aint No Sunshine" by Bill Withers was playing on the radio and it hit me then. I'm going to choreograph to this song.

It's only a little over two minutes long so a section of it will be good for the modern dance workshop I'm teaching April 26 (4-5:30). However I'm going to start teaching a modern dance class on Fridays from 6-7:30 (when I had "Breathe Me" practice the last two semesters) so maybe we can get through this in the next two months and perform it. Next weekend when I get back from San Fran I'll put together some posters for the class and hang them up on campus. Viral advertising works better though... as do Facebook invites.

If this were to be performed on stage I've already got the lighting figured out. Ha. My brain is always thinking of new projects to do. Speaking of which, I'm still trying to hear back from Scott about whether I can borrow those old Danceworks costumes for a photoshoot. I found these gorgeous white ballet dresses I want to a few models to wear and one see through dress (that must have been worn with a slip, but I'm thinking of shooting a nude) that I want to use when the weather gets a little clearer come early April. I'm thinking of taking a drive out to the wineries again to do another shoot, but we'll see.

The weekend after we get back (March 22-23) I want to do the shoot I've been talking about with the lace 1950s pill box hats. I want to shoot some in the studio: close ups on the fabric and the model's eyes, but I want to do a full out 1920's fashion shoot on location.

I'll keep you all posted,

-LP

Whatcha Working On?

2008-03-07T01:38:00.006-05:00

I've been getting questions lately about what I'm working on so here's a list of things I'd like to finish (or start) by April:

--Reworking the microsite we did for Tommy's flash class--making some changes and smoothing out anything we over looked
--News gathering (photo and audio) in San Francisco (3/10-3/14) and building another microsite out of my stories
--An animation for my special effects course using fake 3D hand-drawn illustrations and After Effects
--Fashion shoots (I have two or three in mind, but since many of the models are DW dancers I needed to wait until after the show. I'm looking forward to the next few weekends of shoots
--Preparing for some more freelance shoots: headshots and model shots mostly
--A book of fashion/travel photos from my summer in London/Prague
--Online portfolio/personal site and printing promo cards

I'll keep everyone updated as things happen. For now finishing my animation, reworking the microsite on DW and newsgathering in San Fran are the three big projects.

-LP

This blog is changing

2008-03-06T21:59:00.005-05:00

I've been thinking about how I want Inspiration Whore to run. It was originally just a place to write about daily life and inspirations that came to me--a way to talk with friends who had moved to other countries and a way for us to catch up on each other's lives. But I want to keep the "personal" to a minimum. I have a journal and I'm not looking for my blog to be one. This blog should tell a little bit about me through witty life stories (as seen in some of the earlier posts) or through articles written about artists and concepts that inspire me. There are many drafted blog entries that I need to dust off, edit through and post that follow this mission. There are more that I need to write. I have a list at my desk of people I want to write about, interview, photograph, etc. As discussed in the last post- I'm trying to make time for my personal work between freelancing and assignments for class, but I know the importance of personal work and drive so I'm going to keep plugging.

I'm not deleting older posts. I don't feel the need to do that, it's almost like trying to hide where this blog has been, and the mistakes I've made using it. I think the evolutionary process is much more interesting and realistic.

On another note, when I get back from spring break I'm going to talk with Becca about starting work on a project we both have in mind. It will mostly consists of audio and photography and is slightly inspired by The Washington Post's On Being. We'd both had similar ideas and thought it might be worth it to come together for the project. If it goes well I'm going to design a database and site so that I can work on that even when I move back to NYC and she moves to Luxembourg.

Keep your eyes peeled and enjoy,

-LP

Catching up

2008-03-06T21:26:00.011-05:00

Julia Renn, Becca Fishow and Kendra Brogden performed in "Tribeca" at the 2008 Danceworks show. The dance, scored by Sia's "Breathe Me" and choreographed by Lindsay Pasarin, represented contrasting emotions of depression and faith.

I know... it's been months since I've written a post. I feel so behind on my personal writing and photography lately. I've been focusing so much on making my assignments portfolio pieces and I've been taking as much time learning, learning, learning. It's what I'm here for. But there's only 24 hours in a day. Still... that feels like an excuse. I'm trying hard to manage time between input (learning and school) and output (personal work). My priorities of course are my master's and job hunting. I've also been working on some clips and multimedia stories that will be up on the Web late March/ early April-ish. The biggest "personal" structure I need to work on (in a speedy manner) would be my site. I'm buying the domain www.lpasarin.com (since I always go by lpasarin or LP). I've already sketched out designs. I just need to get a move on so I can send it out and print out some promo cards. I hate that right now my clips, blogs, photos, microsites, etc. are scattered all over the Web.

In other news: Danceworks is over. I'm not sure how I feel about that. It's probably my last time dancing on stage, but it's time to move on. For me it's less about the dancing and more about the emotion of the piece I choreographed. Even though I danced in three other numbers, the only one that really collects in my head this year was "Breathe Me." By now most of you know the story behind this dance: why I choreographed it, what it means to me, what it means to my dancers, etc. For those who don't, just listen to the lyrics or travel to back in time to read some August entries...

I just contacted my dancers for the first time in two weeks tonight. The performances were Feb 21-23rd... it's been difficult for me to put it all together in my head. "Breathe Me" wasn't just a dance; it was also a way to break the silence. There's a quote that started my "breaking of the silence" four years ago.

"...It is not difference that immobolizes us, but silence. And there are so many silences to be broken." - Audre Lorde

I placed it in the program for this reason.The dance symbolizes the end of a cycle. It's also something I would love to recreate with professional dancers in the future (b/c the moves should be stronger and the lighting and moves are off at times).

My brother put up a version from the last night we performed on his site. The following are a few notes about this version of the video:

The focus goes out every so often, it's slight, but it's just a warning. The dance was dedicated to my brother who last minute decided he'd tape it, but of course was trying to watch and tape.. hmmm..

My brother is off on the right side of the audience taping so things that should be lined up (hence the beginning) don't feel like they are b/c you're not seeing the dance from straight on.. either way you get the gist.

The dance was the "Tribeca" subway stop on the "D" line. The show was set up as a bunch of subway stops on the "D" and "W" lines (Danceworks)... so that clears up any confusion.

Now that Danceworks is over however I have much more time to work on my job hunting (and I have.. applying to jobs and internships every chance I get). Please refer to the post above for how that's going to affect this blog.

I need to run... I should really work on my animation (1/2 hand drawn and 1/2 computer animated using After Effects) since that's do after Spring Break. I leave Sunday for San Francisco where I'll be covering a multi-media story about China town. I'm doing vignettes about immigration and the Americanization of Chinese-Americans growing up in Chinatown. More on this another time, but I'll be gone all next week interviewing people (man-on-the-street style and set up interviews). I'm also doing still action photography so it'll look like video in a sense.. but not quite.

This post is too long. Have a great night everyone and let me know what you think about the dance.

-LP

**Photo: Laura Story**

With All Your Might

2008-01-04T21:20:00.003-05:00

With All Your Might
Originally uploaded by StarGirl714

Deceptacon2: Close Up
Originally uploaded by StarGirl714

I've finally edited and uploaded pictures from a workshop I did at The Space in NYC with Jeff Licata. I've talked about Licata's work before and I guess to be honest I've taken for granted that I've had the opportunity to work with (and LIVE with in London!) such a cool and popular professional photographer.

These photographs are from a shoot he did as a workshop to my fashion class last year. They set it up like a pro shoot and worked a whole day for free for us basically. At the end when the wrapped up and the model was still in the outfit she agreed to let us photograph her. We were able to move the set around a bit and give direction and shoot. These are some of my shots. More [and more to come] on Flickr.

I'm in the mood to start working on my own fashion shoots again. When I get back I'll get right to it. I've got at least four already planned and two are already staffed with models! I've decided that I'm going to really put my effort into photographic assistant jobs at magazines in addition to online or "assistant web editors". I need to write more clips so that my portfolio has recent work, but I'm not sure I'm going down the writing root anymore. In the end I keep saying: I'll take a job anywhere if the benefits to my career, health and finances add up.