Come sit by me…

So, about a year ago I was invited to attend a committee meeting for something called the Kyoto Prize Symposium (KPS). Apparently, KPS is like the Japanese version of the Nobel Peace Prize. Did I know anything about it? Nope. Turns out I wasn’t the only one in the dark. Bradley Zlotnik, who heads up the San Diego Barcode of Life, was impressed with our gatherings at the Social Club, and thought an event on the Mesa would be a great way to get the word out to a different crowd. With absolutely no clue about this prize, I squeezed the meeting into my already double-booked afternoon and jammed over to Morrison Foerster. For the record, they go by MoFo (you bet your ass I was cracking up the first time I read the invite). Park, business jacket over tiny dress and heels… While running into the lobby of MoFo, I literally ran into Malin Burnham. I knew very little about this Symposium. I also knew very little about who was the driving force behind bringing it to San Diego.

There I was, in a room full of the who’s who in the world of San Diego change makers. Queen Bee, Mary Walshock from UCSD Extension; Dick Davis, former head of EDC; Kathy Lindley; Peter Farrell. And Mr. Malin Burnham, co-founder of the Kyoto Symposium Organization (KSO). In a nutshell, Malin saw this was an incredible opportunity for our kiddos and fellow San Diegans to experience and learn from some of the most incredible minds and creative masters of the 21st century. He also realized hosting the KPS was the perfect opportunity to showcase our miracle coast. Our bi-national region’s strengths in technology, scientific research, high technology, and the arts align perfectly with the key areas recognized by the prize. Smooth move, Malin. Smooth move.

Malin and the team he has behind him on this project are so inspiring. Their passion and commitment to host this event, which by the way is a huge honor (our city is the first to host this event outside of Japan), is unwavering and infectious. “Malin Burnham tapped me to be involved in San Diego’s signature global event in 2004,” says Ed Mracek of Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty. This has been going on since 2004? San Diegans. People. Why don’t we know about this awesome event? Continues Mracek, “The Kyoto Prize Symposium continually builds bridges with San Diego, USA-Mexico, Japan, and the home countries of the laureates.”

This upcoming week’s events include an all-out gala, lectures, and presentations by the prizewinners themselves, and the awarding of six $10,000 scholarships for college bound graduates from both sides of the border, funded by KSO. My pick for all you right-brainers—the “Shakespeare Danced” presentation on the 17th at USD, showcasing the works of Mr. John Neumeier, 2015 Kyoto Prize Laureate in Arts and Philosophy. And if you are to the left, to the left… be sure to check out the presentations by Dr. Toyoki Kunitake on Advanced Technology and Dr. Michel Mayor on Basic Sciences. Now, what gown do I wear to the gala? What? You can take a girl off the stage…

Upcoming events on the Mesa (I'll be at the fun table…)

• Two scientists walk into a bar
  I guess we take it for granted, the fact that we have a bar full of scientists drinking beer daily at the BellaV. While pouring a nice IPA, I can overhear conversations about the latest in cancer research or stem cell therapies. Ruben H. Fleet Science Center is on a mission to bring these scientists to your local bar. And we couldn’t be happier to share our brilliant minds with one of our favorite local breweries, Green Flash. So head on over just east of our Mesa, down to Mira Mesa Blvd., and knock back a few with the guy or girl with the sign on that reads “We are scientists. Ask us anything.”
  March 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Green Flash Brewing Co.
• Dr. Michel Mayor – Basic Sciences Presentation
  Did you know that astrophysicist Michel Mayor has discovered the first extra solar planet orbiting a sun-like star? This year’s Kyoto Prize recipient in the area of Basic Sciences will present on his accomplishments and engage in a Q&A session at UC San Diego’s Price Center on Wednesday. Event is free but be sure to register.
  March 16, 3:30 p.m., UC San Diego’s Price Center
• Conversations of Change: Conscious Capitalism from DC to SD with Chris King and Naila Chowdhury
  Very excited to see Alliance4Empowerment back in action at the BellaV. This group serves as a platform for both non-profit and for-profit organizations to connect, be it local, bi-national, and/or global. A4E is a catalyst for existing successful programs that are making a positive impact in our communities. By providing the resources and support, A4E guides them onto the global stage to scale up their proven models of success. Following a very impactful Inaugural Global Empowerment Summit last fall, the inspiring co-chair and founder, Miss Naila Chowdhury, returns. And this time she brings with her from DC Mr. Chris King, aka “Conscious King.” Join in the conversation and learn about micro credit and social credit loans that change lives. Oh, and the person who brokered the deal to get Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to UC San Diego’s all campus-wide commencement? Yep. That was Naila. Don’t be fooled. This sweet, gentle, global leader is bad ass. Thursday. Don’t be late.
  March 17, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Bella Vista Social Club & Caffè

Food for thought…

Did I miss the memo? When did it become okay for people to snap photos inside art museums? I’m not saying I have a perfect record when it comes to “appropriateness,” but it made me think. How do we develop pet peeves? More importantly, is our obsession with selfies and our preoccupation with documenting every internal thought and/or excursion ironically taking away from our experience? Have we lost the ability to live in the moment?

When I escaped the café last week and headed to the Art Institute of Chicago, I was so excited to unplug and take in a bit of culture. At coat check I made the conscious decision to leave my purse and phone behind. In my days of museum and theater hopping, security would clothesline you if they saw a sudden gesture that looked like you might take out a camera. Last week, I witnessed a security guard waiting for a young girl to pose in front of a wall of Monet’s Water Lilies and encouraging her to “say cheese!” Are you kidding me? Perhaps it was all those trips with my art history class to El Prado and the Reina Sofia that taught me the proper museum etiquette. Now, I know you are all probably laughing right now as I write about “proper” behavior. But as a parent, I am always looking for ways to expand my child’s horizons (Stuart art collection on campus, music series on the Mesa, theater and festivals at the LJP), and the thought of bringing him to a museum where it is okay to snap shots and pose in front of the greatest works of art just doesn’t seem… well, appropriate. My god, is this what it means when they say we turn into our parents?

Every time the tourist snapped a photo or people blocked my view to take a selfie, I had visions from Chicago’s best number, go figure, Murderess Row: “You pop that gum one more time…”  There I am trying to take in El Greco’s The Assumption of the Virgin and this tourist’s phone is making the loudest snapshot sound in the universe. Wanted to scratch my eyes out when a couple pulled a selfie in front of a Van Gogh self portrait. Was I being totally unreasonable?

Where do we draw the line to just enjoy the moment, to absorb and experience arts and culture, without the worry of getting the perfect photo op to post on Facebook? A framed poster from the Art Institute of Chicago’s exhibit Van Gogh's Bedrooms now hangs above my son’s bed. There it will serve as a constant reminder to just be in the moment.

Tags: Blogs, Life on the Mesa