Me and Despi at Club Havana in Paris

I’ve had the honor of working with Despi at two places – the Indiana State Museum and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. At the State Museum she was a tour de force. At the IMA she helped push the museum into the digital world with work that resulted in many awards and the plaudits from other museums. Along the way I was there as a colleague and friend. We argued, collaborated, pushed one another, laughed a lot, traveled all over the world, and became a dynamic duo.  My career would not be where it is today without her. My life would not be as rich. Despi has become family – not just my friend, but also Lea’s. Oliver even tries to say her name.

That’s one layer. There are many more.

Despi over achieves in all areas of her life – as a wife, a sister, friend, colleague, activist, gardener, cigar aficionado, writer, toy collector, educator, toy maker, gift giver, foodie and so much more. She evens spreads cream cheese on a bagel with perfection.

For the past 8 years, I’ve been lucky to be involved in Despi’s life. Her professional achievements have been outstanding and wide-ranging – the Chicano exhibition was the best show I witnessed during my time at the ISM (even beating a dinosaur exhibition – and I love dinos).

I witnessed some of her best work at the Indianapolis Museum of Art where I came to expect nothing less of brilliance in the areas of education, communication, organization and the ability to combine all of these into a creative experience. Not an easy feat. Her role in the Education department with Visual Thinking Strategies and support of exhibitions was superb. Within New Media she spearheaded countless important and award winning projects, including but not limited to, the IMA Blog, Roman Art from the Louvre interpretation, a Maya Lin documentary, the genesis of ArtBabble, and as curator of Nature Holds My Camera: The Video Art of Sam Easterson. All of these were groundbreaking projects for the museum and reconsidered the traditional visitor experience both in gallery and online.  And we had a lot of fun.

Bro and Sis - On location at the Piazza Navona

Despi has since gone onto bigger and better things with Williams Randall Marketing, and soon, a new adventure with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. I can’t wait to see what she does next. It will exceed all expectations.

She’s a brilliant thinker in general, but within the digital space she’s passionate, running 2 blogs – Figuring out Food and Toys for Change, a personal site, RobotoWear, as well as the expected Twitter chit chat.

I could go on and on about her, but it’s kind of getting sappy. Instead, hear directly from her yourself. She’s remarkable. Read all about it…
What drives you? I am most driven by the need to make a difference. In every aspect of my life, I want to continually get better and make the world better.

What has the internet done for you? The Internet is so complicated. It certainly has given me a platform to investigate things that I deem important, indulge in hobbies and teach myself things I never realized I wanted to know. But not without some sacrifices, particularly in personal privacy and time.

Window or aisle seat? Aisle seat. I prefer the window seat, but I rarely travel alone, and am almost always with someone I care about, so I give up the good seat.

Your 3 favorite toys. My three favorite toys are:

UglyDoll: Wage John bought this guy when we were first dating and I convinced him to change the doll’s name to Carl and lose the apron. Carl became the inspiration for many of my own toy-making endeavors and he still hangs out in our house and is a sweet reminder of that time in our lives.

Clyde: He is a monster I made, inspired by Carl. I love him. However, my dog, Shifty, hates him. He finds Clyde’s giant eye very upsetting.

Stay Puft Marshmallow Man Pencil Sharpener. It was a childhood favorite that my sister recently found and gave to me. Owning him is like holding a piece of childhood in my hand. I have almost no childhood toys, so he’s really special.

Tell me about Figuring out Food. What was behind that? Figuring Out Food started out as a way to manifest a New Year’s resolution. I committed to doing more to further healthy food in my own life and to help others, so the blog became a vehicle to tell my story, share what I’ve learned about local, organic food and connect with people. So far, it’s been good. But I could do so much more. I wish I had 100% more time to devote to it.

Despi's organic garden

Favorite artist, favorite designer, favorite rapper – and why? My favorite artist changes all the time. People always ask me this question when they learn I have an art history degree, and I can never give them the one word answer they are looking for. “The” answer.

I also live with an artist that rocks my world, so it is hard to get over that and pick some guy (or girl) I don’t get to watch think, evolve and create on a daily basis. Having said all of that, my short list always includes Albrecht Dürer, Jan Van Eyck, Caravaggio, Yoshitomo Nara, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol,…and depending on the day, a hundred others.

My favorite designer is a tough one. Are we talking fashion? Graphic design? Sneakers? Furniture? Recently, I have really come to view “design” much differently. I think the availability of information and products online has had a profound impact on design industries, particularly in the last 5 years or so, and as a result, there are so many more designers, across an amazing array of fields, to consider. Right this moment I am obsessed with everything Alessi.  I am also in dire need of an Eames lounge.  I guess I am obsessed with home furnishings because my house is still so new to me. I’m sure I’ll be back to sneakers and couture any minute.

My favorite rapper, hands down, is Jay Z. So what if it is an expected answer?! He has produced the most consistently good music in the last decade of any artist out there, in any genre. Yeah, I said it. Brooklyn stand up!

If you could ask yourself any question, what would it be? And what’s the answer? Do I get a pass on any of these questions? Because if so, I would use it here.

Seriously, this is so hard for me to answer because it is counter to my way of thinking. I question myself constantly, it is part of my problem-solving process, so I don’t really leave things, especially big ones, floating around, un-thought about. And, anything I’m not thinking about is in the “blocking it out” category and you can’t have any of those.

What does RobotoWear mean to you? RobotoWear is an amazing opportunity that is most significant to me for two reasons. First, it is the realization of a crazy pipe dream. One of those things that gets thrown out in conversation as a “wouldn’t it be cool if…” sort of thing. It is rare to see one of those come to fruition. Also, it is a physical manifestation of relationships, talent and collaboration that mean a lot to me.

Biggest misconception about you? I used to know the answer to this, but I’m not sure I do anymore. I have changed so much in the last couple of years that I’m not sure what people are saying these days. I’m kind of glad, actually, that I don’t know.

If you could go anywhere tomorrow – where and why? If I could go anywhere, I would get into my car and go on the regional Mark Rothko tour I planned a couple summers ago. I had it all figured out. I contacted museums to see what they had, what was in storage and what was on view and then plotted a journey. (St. Louis, Detroit, Chicago, etc. ) Then I just never made time to do it.

Rothko’s paintings are mesmerizing, but seeing a photograph of one is like looking at a blurry photo. It is a snapshot, a hint of a memory, but nothing like the experience of being there. I love standing in front of his big color fields. I feel like I could just step into one. Or that I could close my eyes and just feel the red. I can’t wait to try.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In 5 years I see myself still unwilling to answer the question: “Where do you see yourself in 5 years.”

You can learn more about Despi HERE.

Cuba always ranks very high on my list. The Island is stunning. The culture is intricate. The cigars are worth it. The imagery is unforgettable. And the lodging can be….worthy of a blog post.

Why did I go? To make a long story short, it was in support of an exhibition at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. I shot video, conducted interviews, attended a Rumba, and met lots of people. Some video below from ArtBabble.

But enough about that. How was Cuba? Here goes.

I fully prepared for this trip. I researched the country, this history, the politics, the you-name-it. I read about Ernest Hemingway in Cuba and determined I would follow some of his footsteps in Havana. I even brought Old Man and the Sea with me.

But of course I was not prepared.

I arrived in Havana in the early hours of the morning. I went through customs (where they did not stamp my passport). We then took a van into the city and our shared housing. I was staying with 2 other colleagues in someone’s household that had rooms for rent. I was dehydrated, tired, and in that state of mind that comes from being in a foreign environment. I was happy to be led to my room, with a door, with some privacy. The room was tiny, but it had a bed. I hit the bed within seconds. Then something hit me: the smell of cat urine.

Remarkably, I slept a few hours that night. Fortunately, there was a rooster right outside of my window that made sure I woke up. It’s hard for me to talk about sleeping, engulfed by the smell of cat urine. It’s horrible. And that smell never goes away. When I got out of my very own litter box, I was eager for a shower and a new room. I accomplished one of those things.

I spoke to my landlord about other rooms. Andreas didn’t like me from the start. He could not comprehend that I was a married man without kids. He informed me that all of the other rooms were occupied. This included my immediate neighbor who walked around all night. He was visiting from Trinidad and Tobago and was here for his daughter’s thyroid operation. Andreas called her “the fat one.” Joining my T&T neighbor in walking the corridors at night was Andreas’ little dog Honey. Honey’s paw nails were painted bright pink. And I was being judged for not being a father.

The streets of Havana

I shared a bathroom with others in the house, but I didn’t really care. It had a shower. After processing the previous night – sheets, pillows and a mattress marinated in cat piss, this guy walking around, the dog, rooster and Andreas, all I wanted to do was wash it all away. I guess I did, with freezing water. The water for the shower was heated by an exposed electrical wire. Water comes out of the shower head, hits this wire and then hits me. I had never seen anything like this. And apparently it wasn’t working. Day 1 – it had to get better. I put in a long day of work in Havana and was ready for a good night’s sleep.

Since there were no other rooms available, I braced myself for night 2. I had more time to assess my surroundings and prep my room. I simply accepted the smell of cat urine. I had my AC unit blasting and my bedside light was glowing. I got started on Old Man and the Sea. I was exhausted, but falling asleep to a good book is pretty close to heaven. I fell asleep. And then I awoke. Power outage.

I learned during my time in Havana that power comes and goes. It’s a way of life. The interruption in power stopped the AC unit. The air became stagnant, and the stench of cat urine permeated my hair and skin. I could taste it. Random people walked around the house. Honey barked and barked. The rooster was rustling. I laid in bed, my eyes wide open trying to find the humor in all of it. I was sweating. It was pitch black. I smelled horribly. And a dog with painted toe nails was barking.  Yeah, it was kind of funny.

Working in Havana and sweating

So the next day started the same way – cold shower, except this time I had to shave. And by shave, I really mean carve into my skin and bleed profusely. But there was good news. My T&T friend was checking out. His room was available. I sweet talked Andreas – who still looked at me with disdain. I had no offspring. BUT – he gave me the keys to the palace – a new room.

The new room was absolutely incredible (meaning, urine free). It was clean, spacious, had a balcony and a private bathroom. I wanted to hug Andreas, but knew that would be a grave mistake. Two nights in the litter box had resulted in a near miracle. I had earned this.

The next few nights were fantastic. I would sit on the balcony drinking rum, smoking a cigar and reading my book. The breeze was relaxing. The sounds of the streets were energetic. I appreciated every single minute of it. Honey would come to visit. It allowed me to fully process the beauty of Havana. I felt so lucky to be there.

A look at Old Havana

I finished Old Man and the Sea on my last night. I stayed up until 3am in my room reading. I thought of Hemingway, Havana, life, being a man, and all that stuff. I felt a little like Santiago. I still felt lucky. I dozed off and woke up a couple of hours later – I had an Air Cubana flight to catch. I hopped in the shower.

I came out of the bathroom at around 5am in my boxers. Andreas was standing there. Also in his underwear. Just his underwear. He stared at me. I stared back. He had a scar running from collar bone down to the bottom of his gut. His gut was round. He didn’t say anything. Neither did I. I got dressed. I packed. I organized. And Andreas watched. Honey popped in and out of the room. She wasn’t barking. They never made a peep.

You know what? It wasn’t weird. After a week of being Havana (and I realize I’ve not mentioned about all of the adventures I had in the city), working long hours, sleeping in such interesting conditions and so on, it was going to take a lot to fluster me. An older Cuban man standing in underwear with a massive scar at 5am is nothing.

This was a portion of my Havana experience 5 years ago. I would go back tomorrow if I could. I would go back and re-read Old Man and the Sea, smoke some cigars, explore the city and of course, visit Andreas.

I’m a father now. He and I would have lots to discuss, in our underwear of course.

So, the first of this series focuses on the blog Stuck at the Airport by Harriet Baskas.  I’m a travel junkie and absolutely adore airports. I wasn’t lucky enough to travel through JFK and see the Eero Saarinen TWA terminal during its heyday, but I would have truly appreciated it. To provide a little background, I’ve been fortunate to travel frequently. My favorite airport is Singapore’s Changi and as an Indianapolis resident, I started the the IND Flickr group. Through my work at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, I convinced Patrick Smith, author of Ask the Pilot, to write a beautiful, compelling blog post, The Jetliner as Art. I love airports, traveling and planes.

The beautiful sterile Changi

But enough about me.

I stumbled upon Harriet’s work in the first half of 2009 through some general research about airports and travel. I immediately became a fan of her blog and the many travel, airport and airline related articles she crafts. As it often happens in the online world, we exchanged e-mails, blog comments, and tweets. I remember thinking how cool it was that I could easily connect with someone that I respected. Harriet is a wonderful commentator on the state of modern travel, specifically the culture of airports, airline industry, quirky happenings and the latest in TSA occurrences. Beyond that, Harriet is a pretty big fan of museums, a talented and award winning radio producer, contributor to USA Today & MSNBC, author and much more.  It’s not often I meet someone who shares my passions – travel, airports, airlines, museums and so on. And she’s an expert!

Stuck at the Airport

After some communication, Harriet featured me in one her blog posts – Airport fans: yes, there are some – which made me feel pretty chuffed. Harriet and Stuck at the Airport made this series, because she’s an example of intelligent internet publishing. Harriet is not only active on her blog, online publications and other sites, but synthesizes her content through Twitter (@hbaskas) in a way that is engaging and interesting. Her multiple online methods of communication are fully integrated and connected to reveal her content, her stories. So many people fail at this.

Travel is one of the most rewarding things we can do in life. It’s inspiring, challenging, sometimes life-changing and hard work. Travel helps us understand this world and the beauty of cultural diversity. Harriet has created the perfect job.  So the next time you are planning a trip, in the midst of traveling or stuck at the airport, check out Harriet’s work. She’s totally worth it.

Stuck at the Airport

Her column on USA Today

Her column on MSNBC

And, as part of this “May I present to you…” series, I plan on always asking a series of questions. So here goes -

What drives you? Personally, generally?  General curiosity, mostly.  Oh.. and coffee. That’s what led me to traveling around to visit unusual and offbeat museums for a long running series of radio stories and for books. And that’s what got me stuck at the airport that one day when I decided there needed to be a guide to all the other things (besides waiting) to do at airports.

….Thank you to Harriet for participating in the very first, May I present to you…., series. Stay tuned for the next installment, and if you have someone you think I need to feature, please let me know.