Shards of Color

When you step off the ARIA Express monorail at Crystals in Las Vegas, you will be surprisingly greeted with an artistic light show. The visually pleasing colour display was created by artist James Turrell.

Its very hard NOT to notice because it’s timed with the arrival and departures of ARIA Express monorail system. “Shards of Color” is actually 1 of 22 art pieces throughout the MGM Resorts CityCenter Properties.

At the time I didn’t realize it, but the cutout in the walls are also part of James Turrell artist approach. I’m kind of embarrassed because I didn’t realize the overall concept; my two years of Applied Arts school failed miserably.

But I did feel the warmth of colours during the interaction of James Turrell display. Didn’t know why, but I felt a soothing calmness immediately stepping off the ARIA Express at Crystals.

My wife was trying to hustling me off to her shopping spree at Crystals when I stopped, saying,” Wait! Look at this, there’s something different here.” Quickly snapped a few pictures.

I knew there was something truly different, but wasn’t aware of an art display. Unfortunately, my wife is not one to appreciate any art piece out of the ordinary. She’s in her glory, just about to embark into her shopping mode, and a little ticked off, she says,” It’s just lights! Come on.”

Artists of the world would cringe at my wife’s words, but I’m not any better for missing the reasoning behind the overall artistic experience. I knew MGM Resorts International had various displayed art pieces throughout its $9.2 billion architecturally designed mega resort, but didn’t take the time to pick-up a brochure.

Maybe it’s because of my earlier experience as an architectural draftsman, my mind was set on the awe-inspiring architectural wonder of ARIA by the prominent Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects firm.

The ARIA, the Veer Towers, the Mandarin Oriental, Crystals and Vdara are all magnificent pieces of brilliance combined together by a selection of creative architects from various firms.

But seeing is believing, experiencing the visual interaction is apparent with or without you knowing the reason behind it. It’s possible this is James Turrell artistic approach.

In Las Vegas there is so much to see and do, your mind is racing by the constant bombardment of delightful surprises. Your brain is a evolutionary refined computer processor, which is quick to “file” your experience until you have time to absorb it.

And that’s exactly what happened.

While in the comfort of my home, I began to trace back the photos taken. It was then I realized the overall importance of James Turrell artistic display called the “Shards of Color”.

Just like James Turrell’s quote,” My art is about your seeing.”

My eyes and mind are now open of the overall experiences at the CityCenter in Las Vegas and next time, I will take more time to explore the 22 pieces of art while staying at ARIA Resort & Casino.

By Bari Demers

Check out the brochure

The photo is one of many I captured while at Crystals, Las Vegas – check out my Facebook page Vegas Reviews – it’s all about – just for fun.

My Elevator Pitch with Steven Spielberg

My elevator pitch is how I’m going to explain my screenplay (Black Angels) within a two minute span, sparking interest with my viewers. But first, I must captivate their interest in the first 30 seconds.

FIRST 30 SECONDS

Let’s pretend I’m being interviewed by Steven Spielberg.

I now have 30 seconds to capture Mr. Spielberg attention, or he will kindly usher me out the door.

STEVEN SPIELBERG: Welcome to Dreamworks Movie Studio. Please, have a seat. I hear you have an interesting sci-fi screenplay called BLACK ANGELS. Go ahead and tell me about your script.

ME: I’m writing a science-fiction thriller set 100,000 years ago, where an intelligent civilization are forced to leave their dying home, Sirus 5. It’s up to an elite military team to get a newly found planet, ” Blue Earth” ready for colonization.

STEVEN SPIELBERG: So, what makes this sci-fi any different from others?

ME: Black Angels is based on a Historical Event Theory, Mankind’s evolution was jump-started by an intelligent race (known as the SIRIANS) from the Sirius Cluster, crossing their genetics with ours. They were believed to be the missing link, making us who we are today.

STEVEN SPIELBERG: What problem or problems are you trying to solve?

ME: Our reluctant hero, Karen Jefferson must carry out the mission so her people can colonize earth before it’s too late, while trying to overthrow their revels, the Jotunns and an evil force lurking throughout earth. What happens next is horrifying, changing mankind forever!

STEVEN SPIELBERG: So, Karen is the main protagonist? What is the obsession that drives her?

ME: Karen is emotional torn between her irrefutable love for Commander Cardin and her mission to help her people colonize before her home planet is destroyed. But the Jotunns stand in her way and to make it worse, the evil force causes chaos.

(My 30 seconds are now up – but I believe I have capture interest by Steven Spielberg)

STEVEN SPIELBERG: It sounds like the main antagonist are the Jotunns. Who are the Jotunns?

ME: The Jotunns are a Reptilian revile enemy who cause havoc, but are not considered the main antagonist. Their main antagonist so happens to be the evil force lurking planet earth. And there’s a twist to the overall plot, which will change the outcome to our story.

STEVEN SPIELBERG: Excellent, sounds like an interesting story, but what makes it different from Aliens or Prometheus?

ME: Black Angels is based on a real theoretical historical event that actually changed mankind into who we are today. It’s base on ” The Gods of the Heavens” Theory, whereas Aliens and Prometheus are fictional accounts based on an evading host.

The Gods of the Heavens even take us to our present day of UFO events. So, in theory, my screenplay can lead into a trilogy of science- fiction stories.

STEVEN SPIELBERG: Is Black Angels a cost effective movie?

ME: Yes. With the use of CGI visual effects, Black Angels can become a budget based movie. We can even trim the characters, if need be.

STEVEN SPIELBERG: Do you have a Synopsis ?

ME: Yes I do – Here it is

STEVEN SPIELBERG: Great. We’ll get in touch within you soon. Thank you for coming.

ME: Thank you for this opportunity. I appreciate your time and it’s wonderful to finally meet you, Mr. Spielberg. I know this may sound cliche, but I have been interested in your movies ever since I saw JAWS, ET and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

And so, that would be end of your elevator pitch, but not necessary the end of your screenplay. With the funds collected, the project may even be the next blockbuster movie, BLACK ANGELS.

By Bari Demers

PS:
I have enjoyed all of Steven Spielberg’s movies, including Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc, War of the Worlds (saw the original movie when I was 8 years old) and other favourites, such as The Goonies and Hook.

One of the most dramatic movies I watched by Steven Spielberg is the historical drama, the Schindler’s List, a 1993 classic film scripted by Steven Zaillian, based on the novel Schindler’s Ark by Australian Thomas Keneally.

Express email to God

What if atheists are right ?

Dear God,

I find it unimaginable to realize you don’t exist.

I pray I’m wrong and your silence is my ignorance and YOU will soon answer. The god awful feeling in the pit of my stomach tells me you’ll never answer our cries for help, letting the atheists win the overall social debate.

It’s understandable we could be a by-product consisting over millions of years of evolution. We’re even considered a small tick on the clock of time, but my inner soul tells me there’s more to us than a biological entity.

Scientists, like Charles Darwin, use science and logic to make their claim, reasoning our existence is only a small part of a much bigger picture on an evolutionary scale.

It’s so unfortunate religion has plague mankind from the beginning of time, exercising it’s power, starting wars and collecting riches through your name. Each man-made religion demands they’re the RIGHT religion and the rest are wrong.

God?

If you don’t exist, everything we do is for NOT.

Our meaning of life is nothing more than a figment of our imagination mixed with the reality of death, suffering and despair.

Love is only a way we know to bond in order for our species to propagate, over-populating our poor earth with the countless masses. We ARE nothing more than a bad virus spreading our seed, causing damage along the way.

But God, please tell me I’m wrong.

Tell me when I see the creation of a little being in the palm of my hands, there’s more to life than we know or could ever comprehend. There are times when I feel your existence. But then, there are those times I don’t understand why you won’t intervene into the suffering of our children.

I plead for your thundering out-cry, saying,” That is enough! No more bloodshed! No more hate! No more greed! No more evil! No more! I tell you all – I AM YOUR LOVING GOD and I’m here to protect you.”

If only I could hear those words from your sweet lips. If only I could love you, hold you, hug you, knowingly YOU ARE REAL and NOT an imaginary existence made up from the electrons of my evolutionary brain.

More and more souls are giving up, feeling our life has no meaning.

It’s called suicide and considered a sin, but it’s more of a sin not helping out their silent cries. Our doctors are becoming complacent, overwhelmed by the masses. They’re indifferent using medical terms and drugs to calm the suffering souls. But I say to you, they’re not aware of the inner feelings of sickness or battling desperation they ensue each and every day of every hour of every minute of every second.

Oh My God, is this your will?

I’m tired of hearing of the needless deaths from suicide or the horrific killing rampage upon our children by the hands of an insane lunatic.

I’m just tired of it all. My tears of sorrow fill the oceans of our earth many times over.

Please God.

Please speak and clearly make your presence known.

What ever happened to that feeling of falling madly and deeply in love?

Where did it go?

Where’s that feeling of bonding closely, enriching our souls to believe we have a purpose?

Why is everything tasteless ?

Why God? Why?

Everyday I hear of a needless death, I whisper those words dear to my heart,” Please God, save their souls.”

It’s more satisfying to know, you’re there to look after them, give them a purpose, showing your care and endless love.

Please God. Reassure them, THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

I believe you can hear my words even before the day I was ever born. My words are your words. My life is your life. I’m in the palm of your hands.

It’s up to you God. It’s up to you.

Make this earth a better place for all of us.

By Bari Demers

ABOUT :

There’s such a negative stigma to those suffering mental illness, that most will not speak out. When they do get the courage, society scoff them as being weak or selfish, when they do act out in desperation.

Once again, on the news two more souls this past week (in my city) loss their life due to their act of desperation. So young are the life’s, it’s makes me cringe with sadness.

I just had to write about it, asking God to make his physical presence visible as I see, hear and touch you today.

The evil and negativism in our world must stop.

Too many teenagers are effected by depression. Countless children are dying by the hands of dictating government greed or deranged individuals.

And, if society can change their views on mental illness, our world would be a better place.

Read any medical journal, and it will explain mental illness is a disease, much like one crippled with alcoholism or drugs. The only difference, mental illness is hard to see. It’s not a visible broken bone, so most doctors don’t know how to treat it. Or worse yet, they won’t !

It’s time society as a whole begins to recognize the problem, making it illegal for those inconsiderate people (who use bullying tactics) lashing out at those who are suffering dearly.

Life is too short.

Life should be a happy place, freely feeling alive, fulfilling your dreams.

Trust me when I say, “Everyone, at one time or another has had depression of some kind, but were afraid to say so.”

Either that or you’re a good lier…

The picture below is a graphic painting I did expressing the depression within our souls.