Zachary Trebellas. Sandwich/Sandoicchi.Mixed Media Scanogram. 2015.

Zachary Trebellas. Sandwich/Sandoicchi. Mixed media scanogram. 2015.

This is the second piece of several I have planned focusing on the Japanese habits that have replaced my American ones. In this instance the custom of wrapping food or other objects in cloth has replaced wrapping lunch in plastic wrap.  —— This is part of the series I’m working on, Nippo Greco American, exploring my relationship with the three ethnic groups I in some way identify with.

Zachary Trebellas. Ποιος θα μπορούσε να είμαι στη Θεσσαλονίκη; (Who could I be in Thessaloniki?). Text on 35mm photograph. 2015. In August I spent three weeks in Europe with my friend Shareen and my twin brother Miles. Ten of those days we spent traveling around Greece. As Greek-Americans, he and I were very curious to see the country we’d related to in various ways for our entire lives. As I expected, it was full of foreign and new experiences, but some familiar ones as well. I was happy to be able to see so much of the country and finally experience it first hand. At the same time, I knew ten days would be only a taste of Greek life. Like I did with Japan, I long to spend more time in Greece to get to know it as a place and culture, and to build my own Greek experiences and memories. I wonder when, down the road, I’ll be able to make that happen. Thessaloniki, Greece’s artistic capital and second city, is where I’d want to have that experience. I hope in the future I’m able to.

—— This piece is part of the series I’m working on, Nippo Greco American, exploring my relationship with the three ethnic groups I in some way identify with.

UICA TRAILER

↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑ A new commercial made by my coworkers on a budget of $0 to promote our workplace, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids, MI. I’ve got just one month left before my temporary position there runs out, but I’m happy to have learned so much these past four months. Working in museum education has been a dream come true.

A Greek Record Store franchise bearing my Greek name, Ζαχαρίας (Zacharias). Athens. August, 2015.

Top two photos: July, 2014. 35mm. Shimabara and Amakusa, Japan.

I do miss Japanese life and the beauty of Amakusa/Kyushu a lot lately, but with each good experience in Grand Rapids, I'm reminded of the reasons I moved back. Last night I joined the Avenue for the Arts (GR's art district) advisory committee and on Friday I'm going to my second meeting for their spring art festival planning committee. They've lined up so many spaces for exhibitions this year, anyone who wants to curate one can. That never would've happened in Chicago, though, come to think of it, the Amakusa pop-up art festival last year had similar opportunities. 

Beyond that, I'm starting docent training soon for the contemporary art museum's new exhibition and will probably be signing up for a new artist-focused business course in the spring. None of these resources existed in Amakusa. Even in Nagasaki and Kumamoto, the biggest cities near me (2.5+ hours away) the art scenes were very weak. 

I just hope I can go to some of the Michigan dunes soon to get my nature fix. Everyone's stories and photos make them seem incredible.

Zachary Trebellas. Hand/Hando Taoru. Scanogram. 2015.

This is one piece of several I’m working on that focus on the Japanese habits that have replaced my American ones. In Japan, it’s not uncommon to find restrooms without towels or dryers, the expectation being that you carry your own hand towel for such instances. The restrooms in the schools I taught in were like that. Back in America, I’ve found it infinitely useful to carry a towel on me, though I notice that sometimes others seemed surprised when I pull it out. “Is that a ShamWow?” one friend asked. —— This is part of the series I’m working on, Nippo Greco American, exploring my relationship with the three ethnic groups I in some way identify with.