A FAMILY GUITAR BUSINESS.
>> I'M COMING HOME, AND I'M
GOING TO WORK IN THE GUITAR
FACTORY TO TRY TO FIND OUT HOW
THESE THINGS ARE MADE.
>> AND AN ARTISTIC TWIST ON
TUPPERWARE PARTIES.
>> AND THEN I STARTED MAKING
MORE MONEY DOING THIS THAN I
EVER DID AS AN ACTOR.
SHOOT, I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN
HOLLYWOOD ANYMORE.
THEY HAVE EARTHQUAKES AND CRAZY
PEOPLE.
>> IT'S ALL AHEAD ON THIS
EDITION OF "ARTS."
>> HI, I'M APRIL ANCIRA AND
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR
THIS EDITION OF ARTS.
TONIGHT WE BEGIN OUR "BEST OF
LOCALLY" AS WE ROUND OUT THIS
SEASON OF KLRN ARTS AND 2017.
LET'S CHECK IN WITH OUR DONNA
PARKER FOR HER PICKS OF SAN
ANTONIO'S BEST OF LOCALLY.
¶
>> ENDORSED BY HIS HOLINESS THE
DALAI LAMA, THE MONKS OF THE
MYSTICAL ARTS OF TIBET PLAN TO
SPEND THE NEXT FEW DAYS
CONSTRUCTING A MANDALA, MADE OF
BILLIONS OF GRAINS OF SAND.
ELIMINATING NEGATIVE ENERGY AND
PULLING IN THE POSITIVE BEFORE
THE ART CREATION GETS UNDER WAY.
>> THE MANDALA IN TIBETAN, WE
CALL KILKO, THE CENTER AND THE
SURROUNDING.
IT SHOWS DIMENSION WHERE THE
BUDDHA LIES AND ENTIRE
SURROUNDINGS.
>> CREATING THE MANDALA IS ONE
OF THE WORLD'S MOST SACRED
TRADITIONS, MEANT TO FOSTER
WORLD PEACE THROUGH HARMONY AND
UNDERSTANDING.
MANDALA, WHICH TRANSLATES TO
CIRCLE, ALWAYS BEGINS AT THE
CENTER, WHICH REPRESENTS A
MICROCOSM OF THE UNIVERSE.
>> THEY DO WITH THE STRING.
SO IT TAKES AROUND A MONTH TO
CREATE THOSE LINES.
AND WE'RE GOING TO WIPE UP ALL
THE CHALK LINES AND GET THE
FINAL DESIGN.
>> THE MONKS USE METAL FUNNELS
TO PAINSTAKINGLY PLACE COLORED
SAND PARTICLES.
>> THOUGH WE'RE USING MANY
DIFFERENT COLORS, WITH THE
PRIMARY COLORS LIKE THE WHITE,
RED, YELLOW, GREEN, AND BLUE,
WHICH REPRESENTING THE FIVE
ELEMENTS OF THE NATURE.
THE FOUR ELEMENTS, AND WE ALSO
ADD THE FIFTH.
>> THE MONKS MEMORIZE THE
SCRIPTURES GUIDING WHERE EACH
COLOR GOES, AND THEY GIVE NEW
MEANING TO THE WORDS
CROSS-TRAINING.
>> SO THEY KEEP SWITCHING.
EVERYBODY CAN DO ANYWHERE IN THE
MANDALA.
>> ALL THIS FOCUS ON CREATING
THE MANDALA, ABSORBING AND
RADIATING THE FOCUS, IS
PRACTICING TRUE MINDFULNESS.
>> IT'S A VERY, VERY KIND OF
MEDITATIVE MINDFULNESS WATCHING
THE MANDALA.
THE MONKS CAN BE VERY
MINDFULNESS ON WHAT YOU NEED.
VERY INTRICATE ARTWORK.
HAS TO BE VERY, VERY MINDFUL.
BUT THE MINDFULNESS ABOUT WHAT
IS THE BENEFIT THAT YOU BELIEVE,
LIKE IT'S CREATION, WHICH IS TO
BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT.
>> IT ADDS VALUE TO IT, EVEN
MORE VALUE TO IT, KNOWING THAT
IT'S ONLY HERE FOR A TIME.
SO IT'S VERY REFLECTIVE OF THE
WAY WE SHOULD BE ENJOYING OUR
LIVES AS WELL.
>> IN THE TRUE SYMBOLISM OF THE
BUDDHIST TEACHINGS, THE GRAINS
OF SAND ARE CERTIFY MOEMONIOUSL
TO THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER,
ALLOWING THE HEALING ENERGY OF
THE MANDALA TO FLOW INTO THE
WORLD.
AND SO IT GOES, THE TRANSITORY
NATURE OF LIFE.
>> UP NEXT, THOUSANDS OF SAN
ANTONIOANS SHARE THEIR FAMILY
STORIES IN A COLLABORATION KNOWN
AS ARBOR DE LA VIDA; OR TREE OF
LIFE.
>> THE TREE OF LIFE IS
TRADITIONALLY KNOWN AS A MEXICAN
CRAFT.
WE SEE IT THROUGHOUT MEXICO.
THE WAY WE KNOW IT IS IT'S A
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CLAY SCULPTURE
THAT TAKES THE FORM OF A TREE.
YOU HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE
TREE BRANCHES, AND WITHIN THEM
WE HOLD PIECES OF SCULPTURE THAT
TELLS THE STORY.
>> THESE STORIES, THE VERY
FABRIC OF LIFE IN SOUTH TEXAS,
GO BACK GENERATIONS, WEAVING
TOGETHER THE NARRATIVES OF OUR
EARLY EXISTENCE IN SAN ANTONIO
AND PAINTING A PICTURE OF WHAT
WE ALL SHARE WITH OUR ANCESTORS.
>> IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE
INVOLVED IN THIS KIND OF ART
BECAUSE IT BRINGS US -- IT'S OUR
HERITAGE.
IT'S PART OF OUR FAMILY
BACKGROUND.
>> THE TREE OF LIFE DATES BACK
TO THE OLMEC INDIANS, WHO LONG
BEFORE THE WORD WAS INVENTED,
UTILIZED IT AS A STORY METHOD,
WHICH WAS USED TO CONVERT
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE TO
CHRISTIANITIES.
>> TREE OF LIFE WAS USED BY
SPANIARDS, WHEN THEY CAME TO
THIS PART OF THE WORLD, TO
SPREAD THE WORD.
>> NOW THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER
FOUNDATION IS INVOLVED IN A
COMMUNITY-WIDE PROJECT TO
CONSTRUCT A HUGE PORTAL LEADING
INTO THE MISSION SAN FRANCISCO
DE LA ESPARTA.
>> THIS TREE IS GOING TO MEASURE
40 FEET TALL, AND IS GOING TO BE
70 FEET WIDE.
>> THESE PEOPLE, SOME ARTISTS,
SOME NOT, ARE CONTRIBUTING THEIR
SCULPTING WORK TO THE TREE OF
LIFE AS A WAY TO TELL THEIR
INDIVIDUAL FAMILY'S STORY, BUT
ALSO AS A COLLECTIVE.
>> MAYBE YOUNGER PEOPLE WOULD BE
INTERESTED AND START LOOKING
INTO THE HISTORY OF THE
MISSIONS, WHICH IS THEIR
BACKGROUND.
IT'S SOMETHING THEY REALLY NEED
TO BE SPREADING BY YOUNG PEOPLE.
>> SOMETIMES WITH THE EXCITEMENT
ALONG THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER, THE
MISSIONS IN OUR CITY ARE
OVERLOOKED.
PART OF THE EMPHASIS BEHIND THE
ARBOR DE LA VIDA IS TO DRAW
ATTENTION TO THE MISSIONS IN SAN
ANTONIO, GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO
PAUSE, REFLECT, AND ENJOY THE
SOLITUDE AND MEDITATIVE
QUALITIES AND VISIT THE HISTORY
THAT IS OUR CITY.
>> WHEN YOU'RE WALKING ALONG THE
RIVER, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY
KNOW THEY'RE THERE.
THERE WAS THAT IDEA OF COULD WE
PUT A PIECE OF PUBLIC ART IN
PLACE THAT WOULD GET PEOPLE TO
PAUSE?
IF THEY PAUSE, WE CAN REDIRECT
THEM TO TAKE THAT MOMENT, FIND
SOME SHADE, AND THEN REALIZE,
WOW, THERE'S THIS INCREDIBLE
18th CENTURY ARTIFACT, THIS IS
AMAZING WORLD HERITAGE SITE,
RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE YOU ARE.
AND IF PEOPLE LOVE SOMETHING,
THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE WILLING
TO PROTECT SOMETHING.
>> NEXT WE GO INSIDE A LIMESTONE
CAVE IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY.
>>> HARD TO BELIEVE, AS YOU
WATCH THE DEER GRACING IN THE
GRASS, THAT JUST 80 VERTICAL
FEEL BELOW IS ANOTHER WORLD,
MAGICAL, MYSTICAL, COOL.
DEDICATED TO NATURE AND
PRESERVATION, THE MAJESTIC CAVE
WAS FIRST DISCOVERED YEARS AGO
AND HAS A STORIED PAST, PLAYING
HOST TO A STILL DURING
PROHIBITION.
IT HAS PLENTY OF THE USUAL STA
LACTITES AND STALAGMITES.
BUT IT WAS MUSIC TO MANY TO --
TOM'S EAR WHEN HE REALIZED THE
SOUND WAS MAGNIFICENT.
>> THE ACOUSTICS CANNOT BE
DUPLICATED BY A BUILDING.
IT'S AWESOME ACOUSTICS.
>> SO OFTEN THEY HONOR THIS
GRANDE DAME OF A VENUE WITH
DRUMS.
GUITARS, EVEN DIDGEROOS.
>> YOU PLAY DOWN HERE, AND IT
SOUNDS GREAT.
IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO PLAY.
>> THE CAVE TALKS BACK BECAUSE
OF THAT RESONANCE.
THAT REVERB YOU HEAR DOWN HERE,
YOU FEEL IT.
THE SOUND COMES BACK, AND YOU
CAN HEAR IT ROLLING AND ROLLING.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S LIKE BEING IN A BIG
CATHEDRAL.
>> I THINK WE TRY ANYWAY TO
BRING THE AUDIENCE WITH US, BACK
THROUGH TIME, INTO SIMPLER AND
MORE GROUNDED TIME, WHEN WE WERE
LITERALLY IN OUR BODIES MAKING
MUSIC TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE IN THIS
AMAZING SPACE HERE, 120 FEET
UNDER THE GROUND.
SO WE'RE LITERALLY IN THE WOMB
OF MOTHER EARTH.
COMING DOWN THOSE STAIRS AND
FEELING THE HUMIDITY AND THE
COOL IS A PART OF THE MUSIC, AS
IS THE CAVERN ITSELF.
ALL THE SONGS WE PLAY, ALL THE
PIECES, ARE PROGRAMMED TO
ENHANCE THE NATURAL
REVERBERATIONS OF THE CAVE, BUT
ALSO JUST THE AWARENESS THAT THE
CAVE ITSELF IS A PLAYER IN THE
BAND.
THE CAVE IS BEING FORMED MOMENT
BY MOMENT AS WE PLAY ONE DROP OF
WATER AT A TIME.
THE MUSIC IS BEING CREATED ONE
MODE AT A TIME.
>> THANKS, DONNA.
WE'LL CHECK IN NEXT WEEK FOR
YOUR FINAL PICKS OF "BEST OF
LOCALLY."
UP NEXT, THE MARTIN GUITARS IS A
FAMILY BUSINESS BASED IN
NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA THAT HAS
BEEN KRAEFTING INSTRUMENTS FOR
SIX GENERATIONS.
IN THIS SEGMENT, CHRIS MARTIN
REFLECTS ON HIS FAMILY'S LEGACY
IN THE MUSIC WORLD.
¶
¶
¶
¶
¶
¶
>> MY PARENTS WERE DIVORCED AND
MY MOM AND DAD DID NOT GET
ALONG, AND MY MOM DID NOT
ENCOURAGE ME TO ENTER THE FAMILY
BUSINESS.
SHE SAID DO WHAT YOU WANT.
I WAS GOING TO BECOME A MARINE
BIOLOGIST.
OKAY.
SO I WAS GOING TO BECOME A
MARINE BIOLOGIST, AND FRED
WALECKI FROM WESTWOOD MUSIC CAME
BACK EAST TO COME -- HE WAS A
FRIEND OF MY DAD'S.
CAME TO HANG OUT AT THE FACTORY
AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WE
GOT TALKING, AND HE SAYS WHAT
ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH YOUR
LIFE?
I SAID I'M GOING TO GO TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AND STUDY
MARINE BIOLOGY, AND HE SAID WELL
WHY?
I SAID IT'S BECAUSE IT'S WARM.
AND HE SAID WELL DON'T YOU HAVE
AN INTEREST IN THE FAMILY
BUSINESS?
AND I SAID I DO, BUT FRED I FEEL
LIKE AN IDIOT.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
AND HE SAID WELL ITS WARM IN
CALIFORNIA.
YEAH.
HE SAID IF YOU CAME TO
CALIFORNIA YOU CAN GET INTO A
SCHOOL BECAUSE I WAS A FULL
PAYING STUDENT.
SO UCLA TOOK ME.
AND HE SAID I'LL GIVE YOU A PART
TIME JOB AT MY MUSIC STORE, AND
YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT THAT SIDE OF
THE BUSINESS.
OKAY.
SO I CAME OUT AND WENT TO UCLA.
THIS NERDY KID FROM THE EAST
COAST, 29,000 STUDENTS.
I WAS A LITTLE FISH OUT OF
WATER, AND I GOT INTO THE STORE
AND FRED PUT ME OUT ON THE SALES
FLOOR, AND I WAS A DISASTER
BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING.
HE SAID, ALRIGHT.
WELL, GO IN THE BACK AND HELP
JOHN CAROTHERS REPAIR GUITARS.
ANOTHER DISASTER BECAUSE I
DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO REPAIR
GUITARS, BUT I SAID TO MYSELF,
BOY, THERE'S MORE TO THIS THAN
MEETS THE EYE.
SO I GOT ON THE PHONE AND CALLED
MY MOM AND SAID, I'M COMING
HOME.
SHE SAID WHAT'S WRONG?
I SAID THAT I'M QUITTING
COLLEGE.
SILENCE.
I'M COMING HOME, AND I'M GOING
TO WORK IN THE GUITAR FACTORY
AND TRY AND FIND OUT HOW THESE
THINGS ARE MADE.
¶
WHAT WE NEED TO DO TODAY IS MAKE
3,000 OF THE BEST GUITARS THIS
COMPANY HAS EVER MADE, AND I
FELT THAT THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO
REGAIN WHAT I KNEW THE MARTIN
GUITAR ASPIRED TO BE AND THAT
RESONATED WITH MY COLLEAGUES OUT
IN THE SHOP BECAUSE THEY WERE
LIKE WHY IS THE COMPANY SO
DISTRACTED?
I SAID, LOOK, WE ARE GOING TO
GET RID OF THESE ACQUISITIONS
THAT AREN'T WORKING, AND WE ARE
JUST GOING TO MAKE ACOUSTIC FLAT
TOP STEEL STRING GUITARS.
AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT MTV
UNPLUGGED HAPPENED, AND WE WERE
READY, AND THE PHONES STARTED TO
RING.
HONESTLY OTHER THAN A COUPLE OF
ECONOMIC UPS AND DOWNS THAT I
CAN'T CONTROL, THE PHONES HAVE
BEEN RINGING EVER SINCE.
¶
ON MARCH 18 OF 1915.
SO BY THIS POINT THE ORIGINAL
HMS DREADNOUGHT WAS OBSOLETE AS
I HAD SAID, AND THEY WERE ON TO
THE SUPER DREADNOUGHT, BUT IT
WAS STILL IN THE FLEET.
IT WAS UP OFF THE COAST OF
SCOTLAND WITH A SISTER SHIP, A
SMALLER BRITISH BATTLESHIP.
AND AN INFAMOUS GERMAN U-BOAT
U-29 SURFACES, FIRES A TORPEDO,
HITS THAT SHIP, AND THE HMS
DREADNOUGHT COMES ALONG AND
SLICES THE U-BOAT IN HALF.
THE ONLY BATTLESHIP TO EVER SINK
A SUBMARINE BY CUTTING IT IN
HALF.
WHEN THE UNITED STATES VERY
RELUCTANTLY IS BEING DRAWN INTO
WORLD WAR II, SO THINK OF THAT.
THAT POLITICALLY WE KNOW IT'S
BAD, AND WE KNOW IT'S NOT
GETTING ANY BETTER, AND WE DON'T
WANT TO BE A PART OF IT, BUT
WERE BEING DRAWN IN FORTUNATELY
FOR EVERYONE WE WERE ABLE TO
HELP THE BRITISH AND EVEN THE
RUSSIANS DEFEAT THE GERMANS
ULTIMATELY, BUT SO THAT'S THE
CONTEXT INTO WHICH MY GREAT
GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER, AS A
HISTORY BUFF, SAID I'M
DEDICATING THIS GUITAR TO THIS
SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL EVENT.
¶ THANKS TO MR. MARTIN I'M ALL
RIGHT ¶
¶ ONCE AGAIN THIS STEEL GUITAR
HELPED ME THROUGH THE NIGHT ¶
¶ I'M KIND OF GRATEFUL TO YOU
¶ YOU KNOW HOW TO MAKE THEM
RIGHT ¶
¶ THANK YOU MR. MARTIN
I'M ALL RIGHT ¶
>> AFTER PLAYING SMALL ROLES IN
HOLLYWOOD TELEVISION SHOWS,
ACTOR KEVIN FARRELL FOUND A NEW
WAY TO PAY THE BILLS USING HIS
ACTING SKILLS.
HERE'S HIS STORY.
DYI IS MY CHARACTER TO SELL
TUPPERWARE.
DYI IS A LITTLE TRAILER TRASH.
SHE IS NOT VERY CLASSY; SHE CAN
KIND OF TALK LIKE A TRUCK
DRIVER.
HER LOOK IS JUST OUT THERE; IT'S
LOUD AND IT'S OUT THERE.
I AM LIKE A CLOWN, BUT SHE'S FUN
LOVING AND SHE LIKES TO HAVE A
GOOD TIME.
IF SUZIE HOSTESS, SHE IS HAVING
A TUPPERWARE PARTY, CHANCES ARE
ALL HER GIRLFRIENDS ARE LIKE,
OH, REALLY, YOU KNOW, I JUST
WENT TO THE JEWELRY PARTY LAST
WEEK.
NOW I'VE GOT TO GO TO A CLOTHING
PARTY NEXT WEEK.
BUT WHEN THEY SEE A PICTURE OF
DEE W. IEYE, THEN ALL THE GIRLS
ARE LIKE, OH, MY GOD, I'M GOING
TO COME TO THAT.
>> ARE YOU ALL DRINKING?
I'M PRETTIER WHEN YOU'RE DRUNK.
>> HER CHARACTER IS FROM
TENNESSEE, AND SHE WAS THE LAST
SOLE HEIR TO THE JACK DANIELS
FORTUNE.
SHE HAD A LITTLE DRINKING
PROBLEM.
SO DEE W. IEYE IS DRIVING WHILE
INTOXICATED.
I WORKED AS AN ACTOR FOR TEN
YEARS IN CHICAGO.
I GOT CAST ON FRAZIER, WHICH
BROUGHT ME OUT TO LOS ANGELES.
I PLAYED DAVID HYDE PIERCE'S
LOOK-ALIKE ON AN EPISODE.
>> EVERYONE, THIS IS RODNEY
BANKS.
>> HOW DO YOU DO?
>> THE PLEASURE IS MINE.
>> THAT TOOK ME TO LOS ANGELES,
AND I STARTED WORKING AS AN
ACTOR NONSTOP.
THEN I STARTED SELLING
TUPPERWARE, AND IT JUST TOOK
OFF.
>> I WANT TO DO A LITTLE SURVEY.
HOW MANY HAVE BEEN TO A
TUPPERWARE BEFORE?
RAISE YOUR HAND.
VERY GOOD.
QUITE A FEW OF US.
WAS IT A TUPPERWARE PARTY LIKE
THIS?
>> IN 2010, I WAS NUMBER 1 IN
THE NATION.
FOUR YEARS IN A ROW, I SOLD MORE
TUPPERWARE PERSONALLY THAN
ANYBODY ELSE IN THE NATION.
THEN I STARTED MAKING MORE MONEY
DOING THIS THAN ANYONE DID AS AN
AGENTOR.
SHOOT, I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN
HOLLYWOOD ANYMORE.
THEY HAVE EARTHQUAKES AND CRAZY
PEOPLE.
SO I DECIDED TO MOVE BACK.
NOW I LIVE HERE.
WHEW, I'M A BUCKEYE.
>> I THINK TUPPERWARE HAS GROWN
TO EMBRACE THE DRAG QUEEN
ASPECT.
THERE ARE OTHER GUYS WHO SELL IN
DRAG.
I'M NOT NOT THE ONLY ONE.
WE'RE BRINGING TUPPERWARE TO A
WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF PEOPLE
WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW TUPPERWARE
IS STILL AROUND.
WE DO IT WITH SUCH AN
ENTERTAINING ASPECT TO OUR SHOW
THAT PEOPLE JUST FIND IT MORE
FUN.
¶ PICKLES AND CHEESE
ZUCCHINI AND CARROTS ¶
¶ SERVE SOME FINE TASTING
FERRET ¶
¶ YOUR FOOD HAS NEVER TASTED SO
FRESH TO DATE ¶
>> I WOULD SAY THAT 90% OF THE
PEOPLE COME TO SEE DEE W. IEYE,
AND THEN THEY BUY THE TUPPERWARE
AFTERWARDS.
TUPPERWARE CORPORATE IS ON BOARD
WITH WHAT THEY DO BECAUSE WE'RE
SELLING MORE PRODUCT THAN HALF
OF THEIR SALES FORCE, BUT THERE
ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT I DO, AND THAT MAKES ME SAD
BECAUSE I'M AN ACTOR WHO DRESSES
UP AS A CHARACTER.
I COME AS KEVIN.
I GET DRESSED UP AS DEE AT YOUR
HOUSE, AND I TAKE DEE OFF AND
LEAVE YOUR HOUSE AS KEVIN
BECAUSE I DON'T DRIVE AROUND
TOWN IN DRAG, AND I DON'T GO TO
THE SHOPPING STORES AS DEE.
I DON'T HANG OUT AND GO TO THE
ZOO AS DEE.
IT IS A CHARACTER THAT I PUT ON
AND A CHARACTER I TAKE OFF.
MUCH LIKE ANY CHARACTER IN OUR
LIFE PLAYING AT THE THEATER.
THE BUSINESS SIDE OF MY BUSINESS
IS HUGE BECAUSE I AVERAGE FOUR
TO FIVE PARTIES A WEEK.
IF I'M NOT WORKING, I'M IN MY
OFFICE.
I'M CALLING HOSTESSES TO CONFIRM
THEIR DATES, DATING NEW PARTIES,
ENTERING ALL THE ORDERS.
SOMETIMES THINGS DON'T SHOW UP
IN SHIPMENTS.
I'M CALLING THE WAREHOUSE TO
MAKE SURE MY ORDERS ARE
FULFILLED.
WHEN I MOVED TO LOS ANGELES, I
THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE THIS
BIG TIME TELEVISION ACTOR.
I WAS GOING TO HAVE MY OWN SHOW,
I WAS GOING TO HAVE THIS HUGE
HOUSE IN BEVERLY HILLS, AND IT
WAS ALL BASED ON MY BEING AN
ENTERTAINER.
WHAT HAPPENED IS I GOT EXACTLY
WHAT I WANTED, BUT IT JUST CAME
IN A DIFFERENT PACKAGE, WHICH IS
AMAZING.
>> COME UP HERE AND TOUCH AND
FEEL.
THE TUPPERWARE INCLUDED.
I JUST WANTED TO BE A PAID
ACTOR.
NOW MY PAYCHECK COMES FROM
TUPPERWA
TUPPERWARE.
IT DOESN'T COME FROM HBO OR
SHOWTIME.
I'M SELLING JUST AS MUCH HERE AS
I DID IN LOS ANGELES.
THERE'S REALLY A NEED FOR A DRAG
QUEEN TUPPERWARE LADY IN
COLUMBUS.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT
20-YEAR-OLDS TO 90-YEAR-OLDS CAN
COME TO MY PARTY AND HAVE A GOOD
TIME.
I REALLY JUST WANT TO ENTERTAIN
PEOPLE AND FOR THEM TO HAVE A
GOOD TIME.
>> MY NAME IS DEE W. EYE, AND
I'M FROM TENNESSEE.
>> THE FEDEX MAN IS HERE TO
DELIVER TUPPERWARE.
>> FINALLY, WE JOIN KANSAS CITY,
MISSOURI ARTIST WHOSE PUBLIC
INSTALLATIONS COMBINE COMMUNITY
ART WITH AN INTERESTING FAMILY
LEGACY.
TAKE A LOOK.
I HAVE WHAT I WOULD CALL A
TRANSDISCIPLINARY PRACTICE.
I MOVE BETWEEN MEDIUMS,
INSPIRATIONS, PURPOSES, REASONS.
I DON'T TEND TO QUESTION WHY I
WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING.
I JUST MAKE IT, AND THEN I KIND
OF FIGURE OUT HOW IT FITS
TOGETHER WITH OTHER THINGS THAT
I'VE MADE LATER.
IN THE DIFFERENT WAY THAT WORKS
MANIFEST THEMSELVES IN MY
STUDIO, SOME ARE JUST OF THE
MOMENT ASSEMBLAGES, PURELY
VISUALLY AESTHETIC OR SYMBOLIC.
HAVEN IS THE FIRST PROJECT IN
WHAT I THINK WILL BE A LIFELONG
WORK OF MINE WHICH I CALL THE
DEEP ECOLOGY PROJECT.
HAVEN HAS A FUNCTIONALITY.
THE CONVENTIONAL AESTHETICS OF
THE WORK, WHAT IT'S MADE OF, HOW
IT LOOKS-- THOSE ARE ALL
IMPORTANT, BUT WHAT IT COMES
DOWN TO IS WHAT THE PIECE SAYS,
WHAT THE PIECE IS COMMUNICATING,
AND HOW ITS FUNCTIONALITY IS AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THAT.
[ BEES BUZZING ]
SO I'M AN ARTIST AND A
THIRD-GENERATION BEEKEEPER.
AND I GREW UP AROUND BEES, AND
THERE'S BEEN A BIG CHANGE IN
BEEKEEPING PRACTICES THAT I FELT
LIKE I WOULD ADDRESS WITH THIS
PROJECT.
AS A SCULPTOR AND A PUBLIC
ARTIST, I FUSED THOSE TWO
INTERESTS TOGETHER AND CREATED
THIS PROJECT.
SO THE HIVE IS PRETTY HEAVY.
IT'S FILLED WITH HONEYCOMB AND
HONEY.
BEES LIKE THEIR HIVE ENTRANCE TO
FACE SOUTH OR SOUTHEAST.
SO EVERY SITE WHERE HAVEN IS
INSTALLED, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT
IT'LL BE FACING SOUTHEAST.
IN ORDER TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS
POSSIBLE TO INSTALL, THE ONLY
TOOL YOU NEED IS ONE WRENCH.
POWERFUL MAGNETS THAT ARE --
EMBEDDED IN THESE PANELS AND
SNAP RIGHT TOGETHER.
AROUND 100 YEARS AGO, BRANCUSI
SAID, "SIMPLICITY IS COMPLEXITY
RESOLVED.
" AND THE POLLINATOR ISSUE, THE
DECLINE IN THE HONEYBEES, AND
THE THREATS THAT FACE ALL THE
POLLINATORS RIGHT NOW IS
EXTREMELY COMPLEX.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS TO
CREATE SOMETHING WHICH WAS AS
ELEGANT AND SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE.
IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GIVE
BEES WHAT THEY NEED, AND IT HAS
THE POTENTIAL TO ACT AS A TOOL
TO GIVE US WHAT WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT'S
HAPPENING.
WITH THE DECIMATION OF THE
POPULATION RIGHT NOW, IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK AT
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WILD AND
WHAT KEYS THERE MIGHT BE TO
THESE SURVIVOR BEES.
IF WE'VE LOST 80% TO 90% OF BEES
IN THE WILD, THESE 10% TO 20%
THAT ARE STILL LIVING, TO ME,
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
HONEYBEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
POLLINATING 1/3 OF THE FOOD THAT
WE EAT.
IF THE BEES GO, WE LOSE THAT
FOOD.
AND THAT HAS PROFOUND RIPPLE
EFFECTS, AND THIS IS A PRETTY
IMPORTANT FOOD SECURITY ISSUE.
PART OF THE PROCESS OF
INSTALLING THESE HIVES IS ALSO
IN CATCHING THE WILD HONEYBEES,
WHICH I DO IN THE SPRING.
IF IT WERE A BIGGER BRANCH, I
WOULD JUST POUND THE BRANCH OR
SHAKE IT AND HAVE THE BEES FALL
INTO THE BUCKET.
I'M GONNA JUST TRY TO TAKE THE
WHOLE BRANCH THAT THE BEES ARE
ON.
THAT'S WHY I'M REMOVING AS MUCH
OF IT AS POSSIBLE.
THEN I'LL JUST PUT THE LITTLE
PIECE OF THE BRANCH IN THE
BUCKET AND TAKE IT WITH ME.
AND WHEN I INSTALL THE BEES IN
THE HIVE, I'LL TAKE THE BRANCH
OUT.
WELL, DIDN'T GO QUITE AS
SMOOTHLY AS I HOPED.
THAT'S WHY I PUT THE TARP DOWN.
THE QUEEN IS SOMEWHERE IN THIS
MESS OF BEES.
AND WE HOPE THAT SHE'S IN THE
BUCKET.
IF SHE'S NOT AND SHE'S ON THE
TARP, THE BEES WILL JOIN HER.
IF SHE'S IN THE BUCKET, THE BEES
WILL JOIN HER IN THERE.
¶
AND THESE BEES ARE GONNA BE
GOING INTO A HAVEN HIVE AT A
PRIVATE RESIDENCE.
HERE IN KANSAS CITY, I HAVE
HAVEN HIVES IN BOTH PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE HIVES AT HYDE PARK, THE
DST GARDEN AT 18BROADWAY,
KAUFFMAN MEMORIAL GARDEN AND THE
KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION, JOHNSON
COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, NERMAN
MUSEUM'S COLLECTION, WHICH WILL
ALSO BE ON THE JOHNSON COUNTY
COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS.
AT EACH HAVEN SITE, THERE IS A
TITLE PLAQUE WITH A QR CODE.
THE TITLE PLAQUE DESCRIBES TO
PARK VISITORS WHAT THEY'RE
LOOKING AT.
THE QR CODE TAKES THEM TO A
WEBSITE WITH A SURVEY PAGE.
THE WEBSITE GIVES THEM MORE
IN-DEPTH INFORMATION AS TO
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE
HONEYBEES AND WHAT THIS PROJECT
IS ALL ABOUT.
AND THE SURVEY PAGE ALLOWS THEM
MAKE THEIR OWN OBSERVATIONS AND
UPLOAD THAT INFORMATION TO THE
WEBSITE TO HELP CROWDSOURCE THIS
DATA GATHERING.
IT ALLOWS VISITORS TO ENGAGE
WITH THE PROJECT AT ANY LEVEL
THEY WANT.
IT CAN EVEN SERVE AS A TOOL FOR
EDUCATORS THAT WANT TO TAKE A
CLASS OF KIDS OUT TO SEE WHAT'S
GOING ON AND LEARN ABOUT WHY
POLLINATORS ARE IMPORTANT.
THESE ARE THE BEES THAT ARE
SPREADING THE SCENT TO TELL ALL
THE OTHER BEES THAT THIS IS THE
PLACE TO COME.
"THE QUEEN IS IN HERE, COME AND
JOIN US.
IF YOU SIT HERE FOR A WHILE
EVENTUALLY YOU'LL JUST SEE ALL
THE BEES IN THE AIR AND THE TARP
KIND OF COME INSIDE AND JOIN
THEM IN THE BUCKET.
THE BEES PRETTY MUCH JUST WANT
TO IGNORE US, AND WE'RE NOT
REALLY ON THEIR RADAR.
WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ARE
FLOWERS.
THEY ARE NOT PRONE TO ATTACKING
AND CHASING DOWN PEOPLE.
COULDN'T TALK WITH THE BEE ON MY
LIP.
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE
HIVE IN A WAY THAT WOULD ALLOW
VISITORS TO ANY URBAN PARK FEEL
COMFORTABLE IN ITS PROXIMITY.
AT THIS HEIGHT, AT 16 FEET, THIS
IS A WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
INTEGRATE THEM INTO OUR URBAN
AND SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENTS AND
MAKE THEM PART OF OUR ECOSYSTEM.
¶
PUBLIC REALM IS A GREAT PLACE TO
PLAY WITH ART, AND THIS PROJECT
GIVES ME A GREAT CHANCE TO STEP
OUT OF THE GALLERY WALLS, TO
STEP OUT OF THE INSTITUTION, TO
INTERFACE WITH MY ART AND A
GENERAL PUBLIC DIRECTLY.
AND TO ME, THAT'S BECOME A VERY
VALUABLE PART OF MY PRACTICE.
>> AND THAT WRAPS IT UP FOR THIS
EDITION OF ARTS.
JOIN US NEXT WEEK AS WE FINISH
OUT OUR "BEST OF, LOCALLY" FOR
2017.
WE'LL CHECK IN WITH DONNA PARKER
AS SHE PICKS OUT A FEW FAVORITES
FROM THIS SEASON.
I'M APRIL ANCIRA, AND I'LL SEE
YOU WITH MORE "ARTS" NEXT WEEK.