Dear Kickstarters,

Hello again. It's been a while — a long while, and I hope this note finds you well!

On my end, the years have passed fruitfully, and I'm writing to let you know that the endpoint of what was supported here in 2010 is upon us: The Season of Cambodia has finally come to New York City!

The Season is a citywide celebration of Cambodian arts and culture produced by our friends at Cambodian Living Arts, and the calendar of events is amazing: http://seasonofcambodia.org/events. Cambodian culture has never had a platform like this before.

To support the Season, I've architected a monthlong program to fill Gowanus Loft with everything I've come to know and love through these years of connection to Cambodia's beautiful story & culture — and finally present the photography that your support rescued. It's called THE FORWARD FESTIVAL [http://vanderbiltrepublic.com/fwd ], and it begins this Thursday in Brooklyn (with food!). Details below.

With a sincere hope to see you soon + so much love,

G.

CHAOS COOKING CAMBODIA — APRIL 11

Bring ingredients + utensils to create the dish of your choice (with drink to share) and enjoy an evening of spirited abundance, graciously hosted by the Gowanus Girls. Be inspired by Cambodian/international cultures when preparing your dish — think globally! Cook what you like and come prepared to experience a 100-course meal in an epic setting. Dive into a centuries-old cuisine; food is love, and the essence of culture. A spontaneous 100-course meal, rice wine, shuffleboard by the Royal Palms & tarot by Theda: $20. Advance registration here.

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE — APRIL 17

The “I Am Peace” Day of Remembrance will honor the departed with a candlelight vigil. Cambodians/all interested are invited to contribute names: fwdfest.remembrance@gmail.com. April 15 is the submission deadline; all names offered will be included. This powerful installation will encircle forgiveness dharma teachings by Venerable Thor Buntheoun and open mic performance hosted by Phatry Derek Pan, CEO and Co-Founder of Khmerican. Free, admission limited to 100. Registration here.

MODERN ARTS FESTIVAL — APRIL 20

Pete Pin, curator: There’s a growing movement of empowered young Cambodians who use media and art to explore their cultural identity, political/historical circumstances, and experience. We carry the dual responsibility of decoding complex personal histories while contributing to the narrative of a people just one generation from the horrors of genocide. I am convinced that justice and healing must emerge first and foremost from the collective will of the people. Admission & open bar at the Cambodian party of the year is $15, advance tickets here.

“MASTERS” — APRIL 27

Imagine 90% of your culture’s artists, exterminated... Then consider the significance of the 10% remaining. From 1975-1979 the Khmer Rouge enslaved and killed 1.7 million Cambodians in an all-out assault on culture. “Masters” are the professional artists who survived this persecution, and it is my profound honor to introduce them to you. Admission, open bar, BBQ and a few surprises: $25.

http://vanderbiltrepublic.com has the rest.

Once this is over, next Thursday, we'll resume our regularly scheduled Masters Pitch Book creation blog. I'm dying to sink my teeth into making that thing.

—g.

It is a unique honor to be able to say that I have authored the first comprehensive portrait library of Cambodia’s cultural icons. But the reality of that, and the experiences connected with it, feel like a mirage on the horizon behind me. Just about a year ago right now, we boarded a plane headed west, and my mind’s been wandering back to those moments, lately.

For Matthew, Dwayne, Jonathan and I, it was definitely a major experience, and not just for the novelty of the fundraising process. We were setting out to do work on a level beyond any other, and on our own terms. But as work itself, in the daily pieces of the experience, it wasn’t without precedent for us four. We’d all previously worked on assignment abroad, in leading roles.

Mauricio had not. He’s a skilled, experienced photographer and assistant, but he had never been asked to work on an international assignment before. And, in fact, he’d never left America since emigrating from Colombia as a small boy.

Our flight to Korea departed at midnight on a Sunday. Again: major as this shoot was in over-arching terms, in the moment all it boiled down to was a really crappy departure time. Dwayne, Matthew and I said goodbye to our families back at home. Jonathan was driven in by his wife, who dropped him off curbside.

Mauricio, however, had his entire family at JFK to send him off, his beautiful wife and young baby son included. The bitter cold, late hour, and impossible parking was absolutely no deterrent to them. This moment was the one they’d come to America for, and they were all aglow with profound appreciation of the fact.

It was beautiful. It made me proud to know him, and confirmed that he was the right man for the job. That the following six weeks were as successful as they were is in large part due to him.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

All of my days are devoted to taking the art we created to the far-off place that we’ve aimed it at. It's a constantly-shifting territory of unknowns, and it’s sometimes hard to pick the way forward. For Photographic Monuments to become reality, the Vanderbilt Republic needs to be strong, and self-sustaining. Balancing the demands of both objectives, and keeping both on track, is my job.

Every person that handles a Mechanical is brought in to why these individuals are relevant, and as they come to terms with the structure of the object that's communicating the content (either as book-sculpture or wall-sculpture), an awareness of the creative agency that invented the object dawns. I love the Mechanical for this; it does so much at once.

“Art From the Heart” is another product of ours that does the same. Our second edition is coming up, and we’re all super-excited about it (the first one was tied in to “Masters”). I’ve redefined the event’s purpose, separating it from any fundraising agendas. It’s a party that charges just enough money to pay for itself. And what it makes happen is pretty amazing, frankly.

We put out an open call to photographers worldwide to submit signed, unframed prints for consideration by our curator, Leslie Dela Vega. For the most part, our broadcast signal targets the top tiers of working creatives, but there’s a substantial enthusiast class that responds. We mount the work in dynamic spaces (DRIVEIN24, this time), and offer any one print to tag-holding attendees, first come, first served.

See the event’s site for the rest of the details, some image samples, and a partial list of artists involved. The energy at the show is absolutely incredible, with the artists and art collectors meeting, talking about art, and everybody loving every second of it. The value we offer our guests is like none I’ve ever seen. Check out this quick teaser to see what I mean.

Quite a few of you guys are in New York. If you're in town mid-December, consider reserving a tag now—they’ve been moving pretty rapidly, and this launched just yesterday. I’m lining up a few installations for the show that you guys, in particular, might enjoy, and beyond that I’d love to simply thank you in person.

—g.

For your support, trust, and patience: thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.

—g.

(wipes brow)