C
TheCampanileA&EMagazine
ILLUMINATING
INDONESIA 13
Palo Alto High School 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto High School, CA 94303
SEPTEMBER 2013
CONTENTS 20
COVER STORY
ILLUMINATING INDONESIA
13
The C Magazine’s very own Nikki Freyermuth takes a trip of a lifetime to Indonesia, distributing lights to a village in need of electricity. CULTURE
PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL AP PHOTO SUMMER COLLAGE
20
Check out some great shots taken by Paly AP Photo students over Summer break!
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE EDITORS’ LETTER 04 GOAT MILK? 06 Take a dabble in Pescedaro’s finest goat cheese store, Harley Farms.
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EVOLUTION OF FROZEN DESSERTS IN PALO ALTO 07 Ice Cream, the ever changing dessert.
CONCERT CALENDER 09 Save the date! See what concerts are coming up.
AoM: MOSTYN GRIFFITH 22 Find out more about Paly artist, Mostyn Griffith.
FALL ALBUMS 08 Find out more about the most anticipated Fall albums.
SCI-FI FILMS 10 Need a rainy day idea? Check out our favorite Sci-Fi movies.
VOGUE 18 Ever wondered what Vogue is like? Wonder no more!
03
The C Magazine
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EDITORS’ LETTER
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STAFF LIST EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Dear Readers, We are incredibly excited to bring you the first edition of The C Magazine for the 20132014 school year. We at The C Magazine strive to bring our readers the latest in Arts and Entertainment. This year, we have narrowed down our sections to Entertainment, Culture and Food. In this edition of The C Magazine, our cover story will transport readers to Indonesia where our staff writer, Nikki Freyermuth, visited to distribute solar flashlights and lanterns (Illuminating Indonesia). Along with Illuminating Indonesia, this edition features articles about Harley Farms, a Vogue Internship and a look inside the evolution of Sci-Fi movies. With our state-of-the-art graphics and glossy paper we are fortunate enough to assure our readers the best quality of design. This year, The C Magazine would like to welcome our new/guest writers and designers; Talia Brown, Olivia Vort, Parker Devine and Cathy Rong. We would like to give a big thanks to our advisor, Esther Wojcicki, who has given The C Magazine the opportunity to begin its second year as a Paly publication. This year we will continue to work hard in order to guarantee our readers a great Arts and Entertainment magazine, that is both interesting regarding text and design features. We hope you all enjoy our first edition of The C Magazine and we look forward to bringing you the bests in Arts and Entertainment for the 2013-14 school year.
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High St.
The Insta
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
“Bada Bing”
“Philly Cheese”
“Chicken Teriyaki”
Grilled Roast Beef, Provolone Cheese, Baby Greens, Tomato, Italian Dressing and Onions on Sourdough Bread. (Did you see my Bada Bing ad? Classic.)
Grilled Roast Beef, Onions, Bell Peppers, Jack cheese and Mayo on a French Roll. (OK, it’s kinda like the Bada Bing but maybe you missed us on Monday!)
Grilled Roast Beef, Provolone Cheese, Baby Greens, Tomato, Italian Dressing and Onions on Sourdough Bread. (Pineapple is good on a sandwich. We’re silly like that.)
Thursday
Friday
Peninsula Creamery
“Muelly”
“Baby Boomer”
Grilled Pastrami, Swiss cheese, Mustard, Mayo and Onion on Light Rye. (One time I heard Andrew Dice Clay say Muelly on TV, then my Daddy turned it off)
Tuna Melt with Jalapenos. (No, don’t call me baby. My Daddy doesn’t even call me baby anymore.)
(650) 323-3175 900 High Street Palo Alto
FOOD
Evolution of Frozen Desserts in Palo Alto
Goat Milk?
Text by Olivia Vort Photos by Nikki Freyermuth & Emma Low
The churned, sweetened, creamy frozen treat that we all know and love, ice cream, is evolving into a large industry that is forcing many businesses to create ideas that are unique and creative. Today, if you walk around downtown Palo Alto you will find it difficult to locate an ice cream shop that serves the traditional scoop in a cup or cone. From Fraiche’s organic frozen yogurt to Cream’s warm ice cream sandwiches, businesses are taking a simple concept like ice cream to a whole new level. The ice cream and frozen dessert category has become a billion dollar industry that is constantly reinventing itself and raising the stakes for a generation that is always looking for the “next big thing.” Fraiche, Cream and Tin Pot Creamery are three shops in Palo Alto that have put a spin on America’s favorite dessert. Even though they compete for popularity and business, they each maintain their own loyal core of followers due to each shops take on ice cream.
Fraiche
Text by Bella Graves “Farming is a way of life, on the scale that we are doing it,” said Harley. Every morning the milking staff arrives at five-thirty A.M. for the first round of milking. The warm milk is then pasteurized in the farm’s dairy by the staff who makes the cheese. They then add culture and other organic ingredients. After, the staff leaves the milk to curdle overnight. The curds are then drained and prepared to be transferred into cheese molds, in order to hold the shape of the cheese. Then delicious herbs, spices, and edible flowers are added by hand for a decadent finish. The hard work and dedication from Harley and the staff pays off. Harley Farms has been the recipient of more than thirty national ribbons for their delicious goat milk cheese. The most consistent winners at the American Cheese Society awards are chevre, fromage blanc, ricotta and feta cheese. To experience Harley farms for yourself, check out one of the many events they host, such as goat tours, luncheons, weddings and private parties. Photo provided by Harley Farms
The owner, Dee Harley, of Harley Farms Goat Dairy located in Pescadero, transformed a restored 1910 dairy farm that began with only six pet Alpine goats, into a successful and efficient business that produces mouth watering goat milk cheese from a herd of over 200 Alpine goats. Harley comments on her success and believes that, “the key to any small business, which is what we are, is the people that work here”. Each goat is milked twice a day and then is herded back out to the nine acre field in the sun. For the workers this is never as easy as it seems because the goats are always looking for a way to play. As a result, there is always one who strays from the herd. “The farm relies on the integrity and the consistency of the staff, because [workers] truly need to want to come to work and be involved in something like this.” Harley said.
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FOOD
Fraiche is an organic, fresh yogurt café. Every batch is made from scratch, using local Clover organic milk. Fraiche believes that you shouldn’t have to choose between “great tasting” and “good for you.” Fraiche has thrived in Palo Alto for many years, because it offers a healthier alternative to ice cream, combined with a unique atmosphere that sets it apart from its competitors.
Cream
Cream, the new ice cream sandwich shop in downtown on University Avenue has perfectly executed the classic idea of two warm cookies filled with ice cream. Cream is much more than just purchasing an ice cream sandwich, it is an experience that allows customers to embrace their inner child and enjoy a delicious, yet luxurious treat. Since its opening this summer, it’s not uncommon to see a line of over 100 people, waiting patiently to try Cream’s famous ice cream sandwich.
Tin Pot
Tin Pot Creamery is a new specialty ice cream store in Town and Country Village that is made using only the finest ingredients. Tin Pot Creamery sets itself apart from other ice cream shops with its many original flavors and the attention it gives to the quality of its ingredients. Loyal customers are willing to pay for these treats at over $8 per cone, verifying the quality and great taste of Tin Pot Creamery ice cream.
FOOD
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ENTERTAINMENT
UPCOMING CONCERTS
STYLE
Text by Pauline Na
OCTOBER Noah and the Whale Oct. 1, 2013 The Fillmore
Jack Johnson Oct. 12, 2013 Fox Theater
City and Colour Oct. 18, 2013 Fox Theater
The Naked and Famous Oct. 25, 2013 Fox Theater
Maroon 5 Oct. 2, 2013 Shoreline Amphitheater
Jason Aldean Oct. 12, 2013 Shoreline Amphitheater
Paramore Oct. 18, 2013 SAP Center
Spookfest Oct. 25, 2013 Oracle Arena
Matt Nathanson Oct. 4, 2013 Fox Theater
P!nk Oct. 15, 2013 SAP Center
Treasure Island MF Oct. 19 and 20, 2013 Treasure Island
J. Cole ft. Wale October 28, 2013 The Warfield
Daughter Oct. 7, 2013 The Fillmore
Kendrick Lamar with Ab-Soul and Jay Rock Oct. 16, 2013 The Warfield
Passion Pit Oct. 21, 2013 Fox Theater
Two Door Cinema Club Oct. 29, 2013 Fox Theater
Zion I Oct. 18, 2013 The Catalyst
Kanye West with Kendrick Lamar Oct. 22, 2013 SAP Center
The Flaming Lips Oct. 31, 2013 Bill Graham Civic Center
Hoodie Allen Nov. 2, 2013 The Warfield
Steve Aoki Nov. 16, 2013 Bill Graham Civic Center
Pearl Jam Nov. 26, 2013 Oracle Arena
Andre Nickatina Nov. 2, 2013 The Catalyst
Zac Brown Band Nov. 16, 2013 SAP Center at San Jose
John Legend Nov. 27, 2013 Paramount Theater
Selena Gomez Nov. 10, 2013 SAP Center at San Jose
Drake with Miguel Nov. 19, 2013 Oracle Arena
Michael Buble Nov. 30, 2013 Oracle Arena
Zedd Oct. 9, 2013 Fox Theater
R
ock, pop, hip-hop, EDM, rap and indie. This autumn, more new albums are falling than leaves. Already, many artists including MGMT, 2 Chainz, Drake, Kings of Leon, Avicii, Icona Pop and Justin Timberlake have released new albums. MGMT released perhaps their most experimental self-titled album “MGMT” on Sept. 17. Avicii released his first full-album, “True” on the same day, and Drake released his sixth studio album, “Nothing was the Same” a week later. 2 Chainz’ new album features both his usual, “late-night-fun” records like “Feds Watching”, but the new album isn’t just spin-offs of “I’m different”. Instead, it features songs such as “Live and Learn”, which he wrote following the death of a close friend. “You’re not going to hear [that song] in the strip club,” 2 Chainz said, according to an interview with Rolling Stone. If you haven’t heard “I Love It” enough, Swedish pop-group Icona Pop released their first full album “This is… Icona Pop” on Sept. 24.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Creative Commons
Quebec band Arcade Fire will release “Reflektor”, the group’s first studio album since 2010. The new album will include help from LCD Sound system’s James Murphy, and is highly anticipated, especially within their cult-fan base. According to Murphy, “the results are pretty f**king epic”. The “epic” album is set to be released Oct. 29. Katy Perry and Lady Gaga continue the onslaught of new fall albums, releasing “Prism” and “ARTPOP” respectively. Unlike her other music, Katy Perry’s new album is “more grown-up,” producer Bonnie McKee said. “It doesn’t sound like the ‘California Gurls’ of yesterday”. “Prism” is set to be released Oct. 22. Lady Gaga’s “ARTPOP” features collaboration from German EDM producer Zedd, and is set to be released three weeks later on Nov. 11. If you remember “Paper Planes”, M.I.A. will release her first full-album since 2010 on Nov. 11, “Matangi”, which will feature singles such as “Bad Girls” and “Bring the Noise”.
After her quick transition from country to pop to twerking, Miley Cyrus is set to release her new album “Bangerz” sometime this fall. The new album features samples from Will.I.Am, Pharrell and The Future. “This is the first time people have heard my new sound,” Cyrus said, according to Rolling Stone. “I’m not just trying to make music for teenagers”. After experimenting with slow jazz in his previous album, music legend Paul McCartney is once again returning to the classic Paul McCartney sound. “The new sound would be something like ‘Why Don’t We Do It in the Road?’ right next to ‘Blackbird,’ or ‘Something’ right next to ‘She’s So Heavy’,” McCartney said. “The continuing thing throughout that pulls it all together, I think, is the fact that it’s me.” The new album truly returns the former Beatle to his original sound, and the album is highly anticipated, especially by McCartney himself, “I always loath to say, ‘It’s a f**king great album, man!’” -Parker Devine
NOVEMBER
Janelle Monae Nov. 1, 2013 The Warfield
Photo by Cathy Rong
ENTERTAINMENT
09
The ultimate
I
n 1969, Neil Armstrong was the first human to set foot on the moon, since that phenomenon, our American culture has been intrigued by what else could be in that massive black matter we call outer space. As a result, the film industry boomed with science fiction films, which have permanently left their mark in our culture. These particularly brilliant movies are perfect to watch during a chilly, lazy weekend this Autumn.
Sci-fi Time line
From one storm trooper to another Text by Riya Varma
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
From its epic theme song, to its final credits, this is by far, one of the greatest sci-fi movies of its time. Considering it was made in the late sixties, A Space Odyssey: 2001 is remembered as a science fiction masterpiece, due to its amazing graphics and computerization. Though many parts of the movie consist of minimal talking and are very serious, the movie is full of philosophical metaphors and contains some of the most relatable characters found in a sci-fi movie. If you are someone who enjoys philosophical and intelligent films, A Space Odyssey :2001 is an absolute must-see.
60s
70s Star Wars IV (1977)
Although it was made in the 70s, the first of the Star Wars saga will always be referred to as a frequently watched classic. Star Wars IV introduced us to some of the most lovable robots: C-P30 and R2-D2, not to mention the ultimate, bad ass villain, Darth Vader (his voice is so cool). Through adventure, friendship and epic light saber fights, this movie accomplishes more than your average sci-fi movie: it introduces us to a new lifestyle, language and culture. We witness friendship, love and companionship as we follow Luke Skywalker on his mission to defeat the evil lord Darth Vader. While rooting for Skywalker throughout the film, viewers wind up feeling sympathy for the bad guy, Darth Vader (plot twist!). If you haven’t seen this movie yet, what are you waiting for?
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ENTERTAINMENT
Back to the Future (1985)
First off, the 1980s was the best decade for the film industry. Even today, watching classics from the 80s is a rite of passage. Better technology created new impressive effects for sci-fi action films, leaving everyone wanting more. Due to these fast paced changes, Back to the Future won an Oscar for “Best Effects”. In the film, we follow Marty McFly, an average teenager who is accidentally sent back in time to when his parents were in high school. Through a series of comedic events, Marty tries to get the younger versions of his parents together in order to ensure that he will be born. Back to the Future is a fun, comedic classic with a different take on science fiction.
80s 90s
The Matrix (1999) The Matrix is a very sensitive topic for most
people… you either love it or you hate it. So to all the haters: bear with me while I play Devil’s advocate. If you haven’t seen The Matrix, its something you should watch at least once. This movie sparks a period of sci-fi without aliens and outer space. Instead, it revolves around computerization. But above all, what makes The Matrix so trippy is how philosophical it is. It makes you take minute and think about your existence, something other sci-fi films fail to do. It steers from flying cars and six-eyed aliens and gives the viewer an extremely intelligently written script. You may love it, you may hate it, but you should definitely watch it at least once.
ENTERTAINMENT
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COVER STORY
illuminating indonesia
Photos and text by Nikki Freyermuth
COVER
13
I
step out of the car into a blanket of heat. I am wearing a t-shirt and jeans that are fairly uncomfortable considering the 90 degree weather. This attire is the respectable choice, other than the traditional burqa that is custom in the city of Jakarta, Indonesia. I grab my camera and notebook and look out into the endless fields. Banana trees line the road as motorcyclists zoom by, nearly skimming my body. Sierra Fan, a sophomore at Harvard University, and Edward Tan Yu Fan, a 20-year-old young man from Singapore, step out of the car and gesture for me to follow them. We make our way through a gate decorated with strips of fabric in an assortment of colors. Walking into a small courtyard, we are welcomed by the village mayor and a few of his co-workers. We are greeted with excitement that mirrors our own. I look out into the courtyard and see a number of men setting up tents for the first distribution to begin. Just 24 hours earlier I was nervously boarding a plane alone: this was the first time I had traveled overseas completely unaccompanied. As a senior at Palo Alto High School, missing the first week of school was not an ideal beginning to the year, but this was a once in a lifetime chance for a unique adventure. I departed from San Francisco In-
ternational Airport and took a 13-hour flight to Hong Kong. It was six o’clock in the morning when I arrived in Hong Kong and I was one of the few people waiting for a transfer flight. I used the time during the 2-hour layover to mentally prepare for my trip. I found it difficult yet exciting grasping the idea of going on a journey like the one I was about to embark upon. Eventually I boarded the Cathay Pacific plane to Jakarta, Indonesia. After another seven hours, I landed at Jakarta International Airport, excited to begin an expedition that could potentially change my life forever. After making my way through immigration and baggage claim, I was met by Sierra and Edward in front of my terminal. We made our way to lunch and discussed what the plan was for the next four days. I’ve played a role in this non-profit, One Million Lights, since it’s beginning when my mother, Anna Sidana, founded it in 2008. Her non-profit has a very specific and demanding goal. Their mission is to distribute one million solar paneled flashlights and lanterns to villages around the world where adults and children live without electricity and instead use toxic kerosene lamps for their lighting needs. Throughout the past four years, we have travelled to many
different countries. Jakarta was the first project I was a part of without my brother or mom. After a day of training in the project sponsor, Energizer’s Headquarters- a two hour drive from our hotel; we were off to our first distribution in Suka Bakti, which is part of the Bekasi district. It’s nearly impossible to explain the expressions on the villagers’ faces when we arrived. We individually called out the names of people who qualified for a light. To qualify, one has to have access to minimal or no electricity. Therefore, the people we were giving flashlights and lanterns to had almost never seen lights like the ones we were providing. After handing the lights out, groups of ten made their way over to a training table to learn about solar panels and how to use them effectively. The distributions took the majority of the next two days. We dealt with about 300 people on the first day and around 500 on the second. We visited about four villages and gave out nearly 1,000 lights in total. Although millions of families live without electricity, we were fortunate enough to make a positive impact on the lives of the people of Jakarta. Not only does doing this type of work help thousands of people around the world, it also has an incredibly
spotlight: shana's
story
heartwarming impact on me and the others I was partnered with. The gratification I receive is truly priceless. Since the beginning, it has created an array of cultures for me to appreciate. I was given opportunities to experience how people live outside of a materialistic and unfortunately oblivious community such as Palo Alto. Living in such a privileged town like Palo Alto has its advantages and its flaws. Most residents are not aware of the dangers and difficulties millions of people have to deal with daily. We have running water, working electricity and countless amounts of benefits to be grateful for. Learning about different cultures and the way other people live, without the privileges that we take for granted, is important and fascinating. It is key for people to be aware of the hardships people endure outside of our nation, regardless of their social status. Although I came home to electricity accessible with the flick of a finger and a lifestyle that I am infinitely grateful for, I feel honored to have been given this opportunity to meet and connect with the people of Jakarta who have so little yet are able give so much.
This is Shana; Shana lives with her family of four in a home typically illuminated by candles in the evening. They can’t afford oil lamps so they are forced to use candles after sunset. Although they are cheap and easily accessible, the cost adds up. Shana was overjoyed when we gave her this light because the household tends to burn four candles a night (at approximately. 4000 rupees per candle) and with this new light they will be saving a lot of money through-
out the next few years. The family typically goes to bed at around 8 PM shortly after the sun sets. Shana expresses how hard it is for the children to study by candlelight and how she feels like it serves as a barrier of how much they can study in the evening. These solar powered lamps are a brighter, safer, and healthier alternative resulting in a more comfortable and simple lifestyle for Shana, her family and other families without electricity.
CULTURE
Lost in
Translation What is it like to intern at one of the world’ s largest magazine publications? Maggie Zheng tells us about her experience.
I
f anyone has watched The Devil Wears Prada, they would on some level understand what it is like to be an intern at what is presumably Vogue magazine. In the film, based off of the novel by Lauren Weisberger, actress Anne Hathaway plays a young aspiring writer working under the wing of Miranda Priestly (widely believed to portray
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CULTURE
Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour). From sunrise to sunset, the newly-employed personal assistant is assigned impossible tasks by Priestly. Ultimately, Hathaway’s character quits the job in pursuit of one less tiring. Though no one really knows whether or not The Devil Wears Prada directly correlates with Vogue magazine, it is definitely a close duplicate given that Weisberger once worked as Anna Wintour’s assistant. Vogue, along with various other well-known publications such as Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, W and GQ, are all sub-units of their parent company, Conde Nast publications. The Americanbased Conde Nast also has another division, Conde Nast International. Today, Conde Nast Intl. holds a
homosapien to a slumpy australopithecus. Evidently, the initial overflowing gaiety I felt for being able to work—mind that it was during the summer—wasn’t typical. But the reason for my excitement lies in my deeply rooted love for fashion journalism. And if that reason isn’t good enough to choose work over vacation, I can only tell you this: I have always been the black sheep. As friendly as my coworkers were, they certainly didn’t go easy on me when it came to assigning me work. I was not fully-prepared for the workload I would soon experience. Beginning on the second day of work, I was bombarded with shiploads of files to be translated. Sighing, I tied total of 126 magazines in 24 markets worldwide. This summer I acquired a coveted internship as a translator at Conde Nast International’s China headquarters in Beijing. Although I earned less than minimum wage, I nevertheless bathed in all my glory on a daily basis throughout my two-week internship. I’ve watched The Devil Wears Prada several times, and going into the internship, I wasn’t sure I’d make it out alive. But hear ye, hear ye: I walked out as poised as a ballerina. It could’ve been due to my endurance and stamina, but something tells me that the real experience lies beyond the tales of Weisberger. I discovered that underneath my laid-back lifestyle, I was in essence,
a workaholic. I felt a rush of euphoria whenever I zipped through the crowded subway traffic, letting the polluted air of Beijing comb through my hair, tainting it in the process. Now that I reflect back, it must’ve looked something like a commercial: a sophisticated girl speed-walking with small yet nimble steps across the cityscape with a pouty smile plastered across a good three-quarters of her face. With swift grace, she flashes her golden employee card to get into the high-class office building. Upon hearing the *ding* indicating her permission to enter the exclusive world of Conde Nast offices, she would step inside. That described me on my first day. But as the weeks progressed, I went from a
be waiting in line: it was a neverending cycle. The translation work quickly became tedious and tiresome, for it was always the same kinds of files. During the second week I lost the spark and zealous interest I had at the beginning, and I began slump-
Prior to the internship, I was clueless about dressing properly for work. I thought that I would need to wear old-ladyish pinstripe work pants and a gaudy blouse borrowed from a great-aunt’s closet. Boy, was I wrong. There was no dress code, so I could dress
ries” and “experience” which will “enrich my intellectual abilities” and “add depth to my identity”. Yet, the blunt side of me wants to blurt out the reason I applied for the internship in the first place: college applications. Ultimately, the pretentious talk really takes the stage. I honestly felt more mature by the end of the two weeks spent interning. As much as I hate to say this, I really hadn’t expected the internship to be such an influential milestone in my life. Degrading tasks such as fetching coffee and paper-copying were all I ever expected to do as an amateur high school intern. I guess the joke was on me when, to my surprise, they put trust in my abilities and gave me the permission to
DEGRADING TASKS SUCH AS FETCHING COFFEE AND PAPER-COPYING WAS ALL I EVER EXPECTED TO DO AS AN AMATEUR HIGH SCHOOL INTERN. my hair back into a tight ponytail—signaling battlemode—and buried my face into the paperwork. Amongst the documents were speeches that were going to be made by Mr. Newhouse (chairman of Conde Nast) in front of Chinese political leaders. The pile also included contracts dealing with advertisement, reports made by businessmen and even articles extracted directly from English versions of the magazines. And so, I translated from Chinese to English and vice versa. The clocks ticked by and everytime I lifted my head up from my cubicle after finishing one document, another pending file would
ing on my way to work. In order to take a breather in between work, and to ameliorate my butt cramp from sitting in the same position for too many hours, I would find refuge in the shopping mall adjacent to our office building. The best part of working at Conde Nast were the work hours and dress code. Employees could arrive and leave work at any time they pleased. This allowed them all the freedom to do late night activities without having to worry about arriving late to work in the morning. Though the norm for work hours were 10 AM to 6 PM, nobody gave me sour looks when I was tardy.
casually as long as I was not revealing too much skin. Casual, I did: I strolled into the office wearing some outrageously avant-garde fashion pieces while my coworkers gawked at me in unison. That was me, the wannabe fashionista. All in all, my internship was enjoyable thanks to my co-workers who babied me like my godparents, and the shopping mall which I took refuge in after long hours of translating documents and files. Besides the shriveled cash I managed to roll in, another perk lay in the experience. Of course, I could go on and give a bombast speech about the “valuable memo-
translate confidential files that I’d probably only see once in my life. I felt honored to translate the law and business documents: a hypocritical thought given that I previously mentioned all the suffering I went through because of the “tedious” work. To all you students out there, don’t ever pass up the opportunity to intern at a company. Whether it is a tech gadget company here in Silicon Valley, a research internship at Stanford, or a law firm in Manhattan, the level of fulfillment is the same for everyone. That breath of fresh air after you complete the internship is well worth it.
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Text by Talia Brown
Palo Alto HigH School
AP Photo Summer Collage Conner Harden
Vivian Laurence Karina Dutra
“Photography is a way for me to visually express feelings or ideas through color and lighting.” –AP Photo student Vivian Laurence ‘14
Vivian Laurence Vivian Laurence
Karina Dutra
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Alice Read
Conner Harden
Karina Dutra
Alice Read
CULTURE
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ARTIST OF THE MONTH
MOSTYN GRIFFITH
Palpitare, along with senior classmates Shyon Lewis, Jack Krasnow, and Julien Morgan. The band’s music is influenced by The Velvet Underground, Led Zepplin, Sublime and The Grateful Dead. Palpitare performs mostly original songs but has also done covers of bands that have influenced their music, such as Pink Floyd. They have performed at school festivals, as well as several small venues in the Bay Area. When asked about balancing his musical and artistic passions, Griffith explained that the choice is clear. “Although I enjoy music immensely, being the guitarist in the band Palpitare with my friends is more of a fun side thing for me,” Griffith said. “ I take my art more seriously and although I have fun with it like I do with music, I will always value [art] more”. As for his future endeavors in art, Griffith isn’t sure where that road will take him. However, he is considering applying to RISD. “I definitely want to experiment with graphic or industrial design in college,” he says. “But painting and music will always be in my life”.
Text and photos Cathy Rong
C
harcoal smudged hands rub at blurred lines on crisp paper as streaks slowly begin to form into a drawing of a room. Bent over the drawing, Palo Alto High School senior, Mostyn Griffith, surveys the art room, bustling with people during a typical late afternoon at Palo Alto High School. After examining the commotion caused by his classmates, Griffith redirects his attention back to sketching and begins to add more detail. Griffith has been drawing ever since he was old enough to hold a pencil, and since then has continued developing his list of passions. One of which is music. Griffith describes his style of art as being similar to artist Gerhard Richter’s. “[Richter] doesn’t have a distinct style to his artwork,” Griffith says. “I’m similar to him in the way that my art is just a representation of what pops into my head”. This past summer, Griffith attended a program at the Rhode Island School of Design. There, he took painting classes taught by the school’s professors. “It was a great experience,” Griffith said. “Not only did it help me grow a lot as an artist but I also learned
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new techniques from some of the best people in the industry, such as Peter Nulton [a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design]”. Nulton is a historian who specializes in classical and ancient art. He currently teaches archaeology and art at RISD. “I also met other student artists, mainly from California, New York and China, who exposed me to other cultures and art techniques,” Griffith said. Although the focus of his art has mainly been on still life and self-portraiture, Griffith has started to evolve towards working on paintings that include more modern influences. Learning from Jeremy Mann, an artist who creates architecturally based paintings, Griffith has incorporated similar techniques in his own artwork. “Recently I’ve been more interested in design and architecture,” Griffith said. “Drawing with a more modern kind of style, inspired by flat planes and geometric shapes”. As mentioned before, Griffith is also passionate about music. He is the vocalist and guitar player for the band CULTURE
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