IT IS FINALLY HAPPENING!

It is time for the honors students in the 2014-2015 Praxis Lab: “The Valley as a Laboratory” to begin the formation and completion of our individual projects.

Initially, the idea I had for my project was to prepare a website or a pamphlet that detailed student success resources.  This pamphlet would include a directory of phone numbers, names, email addresses, building numbers, etc. to direct students to the individuals on the University of Utah campus that could help drive students towards a pathway of success.  The pamphlet might also include a FAQ (frequently asked questions) section to give students a direct and hassle-free guide to commonly asked questions such as “Where can I get tutoring for _____________” or “how do I apply to the honors college?” etc.  A few other accommodations this pamphlet might provide are a campus map that is easy to read and orient, a financial aid “how-to-apply” section, and a research opportunities guide.  However, I am beginning to believe that compiling all of this information by April with my very limited and tight schedule would be a tough task.

MY NEW IDEA:  I wish to collaborate with a fellow student by the name of Courtney Hoyt on the task of educating the public (initially the University of Utah) on the effects of light pollution on wildlife, humans, and our environment.  I am equally (if not more) passionate about this project.

Light pollution is pollution caused by having artificial lights turned on during the night.  Here is a list of just some of the detrimental effects that light pollution has on the earth:

-It prevents us from viewing the stars and knowing our place in the universe, removing a large sense of wonder

-It distracts many nocturnal animals from finding their way around through the night

-Light pollution has lowered the population of baby sea turtles (that survive) significantly because they use the reflection of the stars on the ocean to find their way to the water

-Birds become dazed and confused by the lights, causing them to fly into windows and to ultimately injure or kill themselves.

-Leaving lights on in the night has a detrimental effect on our natural circadian rhythms (sleep cycles and production of melatonin) and thus degrades our health as a consequence.

-Countless wildlife populations that depend on the darkness of the night are negatively impacted.

As a biology major, I believe that my passion for this project stems not only from a genuine interest in science, but also from my love for animals.  This is the project I wish to pursue.

I will post updates on project details later this week.

Thank you for reading!

For Lease or Sale

In my ventures around Salt Lake City this past week, I could not help but notice a disturbing number of empty buildings that were for Lease and for Sale in parts of downtown Salt Lake and South Salt Lake.

Though I was unable to take many pictures as I drove (I am not the best driver and this is illegal anyway,)

I was able to scope out at least 12 different empty buildings.  A few of these buildings had beautiful architecture from earlier in the twentieth century.  Some of the locations of these buildings were right downtown, and it did not make sense to me as to why they were not filled with tenants or some sort of business.  The first photograph was taken right at about 400 S. and between Main and State Street.  It was a beautiful building with small lion statues guarding its entrance, as well as a bold red door as the entry.  It was an olive green paint over brick, with cream accents.  I would live in that building had it been used for affordable housing.  I find it disappointing that this structure sits on such a lively block, empty and serving no purpose.

In the second photograph, the pictured building is located on 700 E. and about 2200 S.  When I began to address why this building was empty, I was already able to give a good diagnosis.  First of all, it nears a very heavily trafficked freeway entrance/exit off of I-80 East.  Secondly, the walkways here are not inviting, and there is no obvious parking near this building, nor is there a bike rack.  Perhaps this area would have had a better chance to prosper if it were not for the huge freeway ripping through the residential area, connecting the residential area to the business district of this area.  I will never know who designed this city, but they did not do a very good job of it.

Something I hope to do one day is give a meaning and purpose back to these older, beautiful buildings that can be found empty all over Downtown Salt Lake.  Whether they be changed into affordable housing, a locally owned business, a place for artists to collaborate and work, or some sort of social place, it is right that these buildings have life to them.  It is senseless to continue building new buildings and expanding the city outwardly when we have so much potential and space that is there for us to use NOW.

I intend to photograph (with a better quality camera) more of these empty buildings as I see them through out the city.

Those are my thoughts for now, thanks for reading.

A. Ikegami

No Fixed Address: An Exhibit on America’s Homeless Population

This weekend I was assigned to go to The Leonardo Museum to explore an exhibit called “No Fixed Address,”  which is a collaboration between a few artists that brought together photographs, stories, videos, and first-person accounts of homeless individuals in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as in America as a whole.  Its purpose seems to be to educate the public about not only what the homeless population suffers through on a day to day basis, but also how homeless become become homeless, and what you can do to contribute to decreasing the suffrage of these individuals and families who live without a permanent residence.

Though this exhibit was actually very small, it took me about an hour to walk through it.  When you walk in, you read a sort of preface that describes the purpose of the art work and exhibit.  I watched a short film first, about a ten year old boy who is living his life staying in motels, constantly relocating.  He talks of his dreams to one day be reunited with his older brother and to have a home and possessions of his own.  He speaks of his pride in his elementary education, and how this is one of the only things he has to hold on to.  It really opened my eyes to how easily ungrateful we may become for our own material possessions, homes, etc.

Next is a collection of large photographs of people.  Men, women, teenagers, families, children, even toddlers.  They are all homeless.  The diversity in their ages really solidifies the fact that anyone at anytime can lose their home, and for many different reasons.  Every story is different.

Finally, towards the end of the exhibit there are a collection of first person accounts on the walls.  I took my time to read them all.  When a homeless person describes their trials themselves in this way, it truly is hard to read.  You cannot possibly imagine what these people go through unless you hear it from someone who has been there.  It was truly enlightening to learn of these stories.  I was glad that I could try and place myself in their shoes and sympathize, although I could not empathize.

I would recommended this exhibit for anyone who has a hard time understanding homeless individuals, and for anyone who has a hard time giving them sympathy.  People do not always become homeless because they are lazy, to addicted to drugs and alcohol.  It can happen for reasons such as divorce, the loss of a loved one, getting fired or laid off from work, depression, mental illness, and so much more.

At the very end of the showroom, there is a collection of non-profit organizations and other businesses with their descriptions on the walls, and places for you to donate money to their causes.  Each organization benefits and serves the homeless population.  I gave a few dollars of course. 🙂

Tickets to this exhibit are $9.00 for general admission, and $8.00 for students.

Thanks for reading,

A. Ikegami

Observations from Praxis Lab Lecture December 2nd, 2014

During last weeks lecture my professor had us watch a case study on the city of Ann Harbor, Michigan.  This case study was a documentary filmed by a student who was studying and identifying trends that linked the happiness of city-goers and the city itself.  What makes a city successful?

Here are the qualities that we observed about Ann Harbor, Michigan that make it such an enjoyable, habitable place:

• There is efficient lighting during hours of darkness
• Many historic buildings with authentic architecture
• Widened, pedestrian friendly sidewalks
• Narrow streets with slowed traffic
• Less stop lights, more stop signs (contributes to slowed traffic flow)

When individuals (natives to the city as well as others,) were asked what they liked about Ann Harbor, these were common responses:

• Street names that identified the place
• LOCALLY OWNED restaurants, boutiques, shops, bakeries, cafes, bars, etc.
• Visual Diversity
• Shops with large windows for passerby observation
• Restaurant plaquards
• Things to read
• Places to sit
• Restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating
• Lights/Decor
• Trees and plants

When individuals asked what they disliked about a place, these were their common responses:

• Big, open spaces with no architecture
• Uninteresting buildings with no eye-level windows
• Large corporations/banks
• When there are no places to sit
• VOID
• When there is nothing to observe or look at

After watching this student-crafted documentary, it was obvious to me that the most successful, interesting cities are the places that facilitate interaction, conversations, and the chance for a random encounter with other individuals.  People are happiest when a city has places to sit and enjoy food amongst friends, little shops and cafes with new menus to explore, areas to relax and enjoy the ambiance, and interesting architectural detail that makes seeing and exploring the city something that is easily encouraged.  I feel that the reason that this documentary made so much sense to me is because I completely agree with the comments made by the individuals who were interviewed about their opinions on Ann Harbor.  I also enjoy cities that lack mainstream retail stores, chain restaurants, and big corperations, because these cities are filled with small businesses that were born and are unique to that area.  These places always have the most fresh, local food, the most interesting architecture, and the most historic character.  I would choose a small cafe downtown to grab a coffee and study in over a Starbucks any day.  Not only is the character of the local business different, but it feels more welcoming, warm, and inviting.  These kinds of places feel as if they are inviting you to stay and enjoy yourself, rather than to grab what you need and get the hell out so the next person can make a purchase.

Cities should be constructed to make its patrons feel happy, warm, and invited.  Instead, many cities are made for efficiency.  They are fast-paced, and designed to get you in and out as fast as possible, whether you are simply driving through the city or searching for a business within it.

I hope to find a project this semester that will help preserve or restore an area in Salt Lake City or on the University of Utah campus that gives SOLESTALGIA, the love of place.

That is all of my observation and thought for now!  Thanks for reading.

A. Ikegami

An “Illuminated” Perspective

This photograph was taken on a fall night about one month ago after my class discussion with the members of the Honors Praxis Lab ended at the University of Utah.  I remember this sunset very vividly, it was beautiful, inspiring, and mesmerizing.  I recall that while sitting in class watching out the large windows in the Honors college, I could not wait to go outside to get a better view.  The colors ranged from purples, pinks, blues, indigo, yellows, and orange.  I sat outside in the cold with my friend for the better part of half an hour, just enjoying the beautiful display put on by our sky and the setting sun.  In this weeks class discussion, we have been asked to observe the way artificial, electrical light affects us, versus the way we feel while immersed in natural light, as well as to reflect on shadows.  I shall expand my thoughts on this subject in tonight’s entry.

Artificial light, as necessary and useful as it is, often makes me feel exhausted, irritated, and uncomfortable.  The intensity of some lights that over-brighten classrooms and workplaces can put a strain on the eyes.  By the time I shut my lights off to fall asleep each night, I feel as if my eyes crave darkness and cannot wait to escape these bright lights.

In contrast, natural light that comes from the sun is very comfortable, warm, and inviting.  I much prefer to study and work in places with large windows that allow vast amounts of sunlight into the building.  For reasons I cannot physiologically explain (yet,) the more natural light I immerse myself in throughout my day (whether it be while studying, working, reading, eating, conversing, etc,)  I find myself to be happier and in good spirits.  I feel less tired as the day progresses.  In fact, I could say that natural light invigorates me with energy and warmth.  I am sure that I am not the only one who feels this phenomena.  Moonlight and candlelight/fire also provide this exact feeling.  Apart from feeling more energized and in a better mood, the light that comes from candles and our moon provides an essence of romance that cannot be replicated by unnatural lighting.  If you have ever sat in a dark room with nothing but the light of your roaring fireplace and the heat it provides, allowing yourself to melt into its warmth and calmness, then you know exactly what I am talking about.

As for darkness, the absence of light, I feel as if it is overlooked in its importance to life and vitality.  All creatures of this Earth depend on darkness at some point in their day, whether it is to sleep, to hunt, to hide, or to migrate.  In our brightly lit metropolitan cities, it seems we have forgotten the importance this darkness has to us and to others.  Not only does having constant lights on throughout the night waste energy and further pollute our atmosphere, it also takes away our view of the beautiful starlight and moonlight.  Not only this, but it is harmful to our other earthly species that we co-exist with that depend on the darkness.  Personally, I think that we have over used light as a commodity for advertising, when it should be used only to guide us safely from one place to another.  Darkness is as healthy as natural light, and necessary for our functioning as humans.

After class on Tuesday, I hope to expand on this hugely significant topic.

Thank you for reading.

A. Ikegami

The Empathetic Civilization

Please watch this video.

If I gained anything from watching this animated narrative, its this.

It is not in our human nature to be greedy, vain, materialistic, and crude.  It is in our human nature to care for others, live in communities, share and value our resources, and have an empathetic response to the situations of others.  We are “soft wired” to feel what others feel as we observe their feelings and actions.  This empathic distress causes us as human beings to desire belonging and the well-being of others.

The narrator speaks about the preciousness of life, and the reality of death.  When we learn of this fragile state of life on this planet, and that we have a “one and only” life, we can compassionately celebrate the life of other creatures and feel empathy at their plight.

Is it possible to extend our empathy to the entire human race?  To other species?  To the biosphere itself?  If we could create an “empathic society” where we extended this innate empathy into our civilization, creating communication, socialization, and collaboration, could we break down the private walls we have built up that retain the unnatural human states of vanity, greed, and selfishness?  What if we were a self-LESS society?  Might we save the earth…?

After watching this mind-altering video, I could not help but contemplate a society such as this. An Earth full of cities where there were plenty of close-knit social spaces meant for communication, activity, recreation, collaboration, and the progression of our culture.  Locally owned businesses operated and adorned by the people of the city.  Means of transit that facilitated conversation and a greener biosphere.  I think that it is only through close, constant interaction with other humans as well as other species that we can induce this empathetic response and create a more loving civilization.

The SOUL of a citizen

Soul of a Citizen

September 13, 2014

The literary piece “Soul of a Citizen” is an insightful article that describes the how the human desire for interaction, companionship, social and environmental change, and collaborative acts for community improvement are often hindered by the negative thoughts people have towards their abilities to induce such movements.  The author describes how many individuals are discouraged from starting community movements for positive change because they feel that their voices will not be heard, and that they are not a powerful enough force to compete with larger organizations.  The author includes a few examples of true success stories of individuals from all socio-economical backgrounds that have prevailed in coming together with other individuals in their community for a common cause.

How did these individuals succeed against all odds?

One common denominator I found among the entirety of these success stories is that these people had a deep passion towards changing something that they saw to be detrimental to their community.  These individuals united others that shared this same passion for their cause, and erected the formation of a group that progressively became larger and more impact-ful as their efforts and labors increased.  These people worked side by side passionately for change with friends, neighbors, and family to come to an outcome that would benefit all.

I now see that our potential as individuals cannot be ignited without the help and concern of others.  To make change, we have to work together, we have to feel together, and share a passion.  We cannot hold back our voices, or wait for someone else to do the work for us.  We must feed off the energy of other people and climb together.  If we act helpless, we will become helpless.  If we believe we can be strong, we will become strong.

As the title indicates, we citizens have s SOUL that is representative of the passion that us humans have for interaction, communication, and the well-being of ourselves and the community.  How can we re-invigorate our cities in a way that allows its SOUL to flourish and prosper?  How can we rearrange, recycle, and rebuild upon our current assets so that it facilitates the coming together of people and the expression of our culture?  These questions are something I aim to solve in the coming months in this praxis lab.  I hope to diagnose the city of its ailments and isolate a treatment that will induce health, happiness, and wealth in our community.

In this praxis lab I hope that I can unite not only with my classmates and professor, but also with other powers in the community, the state government, and the citizens themselves to make Salt Lake City an even more beautiful place to live.  I am absolutely invigorated with motivation, energy, and passion!

My Experience with People and Place in the Salt Lake Valley

The Human Scale: As it Pertains to My Own Life

September 5, 2014

Just as I discovered that urban ecology and architecture has a huge influence on the way people feel, interact, and think, I started to think about these ideas on a smaller scale.  I was assigned by my professor to shrink my “scale” and contemplate a much smaller, more personal space such as my own bedroom and home.  In this excersize, I am to diagnose which areas of my room, home, work, and means of travel are considered healthy, and which are considered “ill.”  I will begin with examination of my bedroom.

My bedroom, a large, wide open room with a large bed and simple furniture, is a painted a calm beige with subtle blues to compliment as decor.  The energy in this room is calm and relaxed.  As I sit on my bed, I notice the room is very cool and air-conditioned.  The room is simple, yet the vanity area is very busy and crowded with books, perfumes, and other toiletries.  When I notice this, I begin to feel anxiety from the clutter.  The rest of the room with its calm colors and easy accents is relaxing.  I sleep well in this room.  Perhaps the most unhealthy area of my bedroom is my dresser and vanity area, where there is too much clutter and chaos.  For the most part, I have made this a calm and comfortable area for myself.

As I walk into my kitchen, I notice a cluttered area with mail scattered across the counter, younger siblings school supplies sprawled all over the table, and random clothing garments on the floor.  This area is too busy.  Often there are a few dirty dishes in the sink, usually nothing too overwhelming.  The smell of burnt toast and coffee is what I wake up to every morning, and it reminds me that I need to quickly get ready for my morning classes.  The appliances are new and beautiful, but the room is often a mess.  Perhaps cleaning this room, removing the unneccessary clutter, and keeping the mail in the office would reduce the feelings of urgency, anxiety, and dirtiness.

The last room I often spend time in is the office.  This area is a complete disaster, with papers and folders covering most of the large desk area.  Sticky notes, pens, calculators, miscellaneous technology, and other office accessories cover most of the free area of the wooden desk.  It is hard to study in this room with so much mess and chaos happening, but I still pull through with it.  I prefer not to study in this room, but it is often the only option considering that the rest of the house is so loud with my younger siblings around.  If the papers, folders, envelopes, pens, etc. were organized into some practical containers and files, this mess would easily be removed.  Maybe some different paint on the white walls, and facing the desk a different way would reduce glare on the computer screen.  This room is overall chaotic and uncomfortable feeling (besides the office chair.)

Lastly, when I leave to go to and fro, I leave in my cute little Jeep Patriot.  It is a brand new car, so I do enjoy that aspect of ownership.  However, to live closer to campus and work would be much prefered over owning a vehicle.  What if I didn’t have to pay for gas anymore?  Or what if I did not have a car payment?  Not only would I save immense amounts of money but I would also be doing a justice to our already awful air quality.  That way I could ride a bike, walk, or take public transit.  Fresh air and excersize, it sounds beautiful.  Unfortunately, I live too far from my usual destinations and I must battle traffic and the crappy Utah drivers every day.  It causes me anger and frustration every single time I am driving, never do I actually enjoy my transit.  Every other person in their cars driving seems to be in the same feelings; unhappy, annoyed, and tired.

These are my primary diagnostics for my everyday places and transit.