Painting with Maggots

Painting with maggots
Art that crawls into your heart
Written by DINA MORCOS
Published September 30, 2009

When one thinks of maggots - the word "art" does not typically come to mind. But for Rebeccah O'Flaherty, a UC Davis Ph.D. candidate, maggots and art go hand in hand.

Started in the University of Hawaii in 2001 by O'Flaherty, maggot art has been exhibited three times since its conception, including at UC Davis' very own Picnic Day 2009.

Because maggots feed on decaying corpses, they are usually used in crime scenes. Forensic entomology is the study which, in part, uses insects to find out how long the person has been dead.

O'Flaherty, however, decided to use them in artwork.

Working with maggots throughout her masters program in Hawaii, she decided to combine her love for her work with the different children's outreach programs she was involved in at the time.

"I think people are often turned off by maggots, but if you take out the disgusting factor, it's interesting and goes a long way in educating [the children]," O' Flaherty said.

O'Flaherty travels to different schools throughout Northern California to teach preschool and elementary age children about maggots and use their love for art to overcome any negative misconceptions about maggots that they may have.

But children aren't the only ones learning about maggots.

O'Flaherty also teaches a homicide investigation class at a police academy where she shows officers how to use maggots in their work. She also goes to kids' and adults' birthday parties in order to better educate the public.

She said that the artwork produced by the creatures is generally kept for fun or decoration, although she has showcased her work in various art shows in the recent years.

"I had one at Mishka's [Café] in Davis and then one at the Capital Athletic Club where we actually sold some pieces," O'Flaherty said. "And the funds go right back to the maggots."

Before last year, O'Flaherty didn't charge any fees for attending birthday parties or school visits. She now charges a materials fee for events with her maggots because she could not afford to keep things free.

Charlotte Wacker, director of the UC Davis Body Donation Program, took a class at UCD and was introduced to O'Flaherty in 2003. Wacker volunteered for her at this year's Picnic Day and other teaching events.

"I thought the program was great; not only fun but engaging for the participants who would usually shy away from these things that are dirty and disgusting and feed on dead things," Wacker said. "I think the experience is much more fun than dumpster diving."

Currently, Wacker still actively sells artwork to fund the project and donates a painting or two to UCD that are then auctioned off every January. The proceeds help fund the nine medical clinics run by medical students, such as the Willow Project, and the Imani Clinic.

Forensic Anthropologist Turhon Murad from Chico State University said that he truly admires O'Flaherty's work as a researcher. He bought a piece of maggot art called "Sorority Rush" over two years ago at a show in Sacramento.

"My wife and I bought a piece, in support of Rebeccah [O'Flaherty], and these little drawings done appealed to us," Murad said. "'Sorority Rush' reminded us of college and what Rush was actually like; the maggots converged on one point, but in fact they're actually moving away. You just have to know how they move."

For more information on maggot art, visit maggotart.com.



DINA MORCOS can be reached at features@theaggie.org.



http://theaggie.org/article/4385 :D

Bronze Serpent

I'm speeding into oncoming traffic
the headlights ablaze, blinding me

I'm swimming upstream
the other fish in the sea snapping at me

I stand on the edge of the world
sand beneath my toes, water slowly fading in and out

And then the waves crash towards me
I duck, bowing down, and see the bronze serpent
A sense of warmth rushes over me

I'm home again, still out out of breath
winded from the constant influx of emotion

but the greatest emotion
the greatest virtue
Surrounds me
Takes care of me
Holds me

Cordless Radio

Stop the radio in my head
broken record repeating words
lines of love and loss and pain
echo throughout

Pause the sound for just a moment
I need to catch my breath
memories of the good and the bad invade
pulling me back into the cave

Shut it out, strike a match
the streetlights are dimming
watch the windy road become smaller
the candle is the only way out

And when one foot hits the ground
the other will follow
perfect symmetry, endless circles
lead me to colorful places

Hourglass shifts
the tune changes
don't stop the radio in my head
it's playing the right song.

Angels

For those of you that don't know, I've been asking a lot of questions about angels lately (don't ask me why) and so I decided to take those questions to H.G. Bishop Youssef (that guy is awesome!)

Q(s): Were there 8 archangels and one fell leaving 7, or did God replace Lucifer? Did angels and archangels have free will? Did they decide to follow Lucifer when he wanted to be like God? If they didn't have free will, then how is it that they could sin and fall?

If yes to the above questions, then can angels today continue to fall as they have a choice of following God versus not?


A: There are seven names of archangels of the highest ranks of the Cherubim that have been revealed to us: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Soriel, Sarathiel, Sedakiel, Ananiel. Satan was known as Sataniel, and was a Cherubim and an Archangel. The Holy Scriptures mentions that thousands of angels minister before God. However, these are the only names known to us. The angels were created as ministers of fire, full of knowledge, and a free will. The ranks of the Cherubim, Seraphim, and the Thrones are distinguished as ministers of God, directly before His Throne. Once some angels fell away from the graces of God, they could not return nor repent, nor was there any plan of salvation prepared for them because God foreknows that Satan and his angels will NEVER repent. The angels of wickedness fell with Satan, while the righteous angels remained with God. There were and still are no in-betweens. Those who remained were inherently good. His Grace, the Late Bishop Youannis, states that the angels are not with absolute knowledge but far exceed human knowledge and understanding. "As for the angels, knowing God Himself and the Holy Trinity, as well as His divine mysteries, is surely knowledge that surpasses human knowledge - due to their being so close to God and due to their spiritual nature." Man learned the ways of good and evil after he was deceived, whereas, Satan and his army, as well as the righteous angels, were created with the knowledge of good and evil, and were free to make a choice.

As we will not sin in eternity although we will have freewill, so the angles who did not follow Lucifer will not sin again.

For more in depth information about this and other related topics, read:

"Heaven" by His Grace Bishop Youannis, the Late Bishop of Gharbia

God bless you

Bishop Youssef

Stream of Unconsciousness

I've realized, after much time in my own head- a scary place to be most of the time- that we as humans think way too much. Every little thing is a distraction; the thought one moment transcends into something completely different the next moment. Stream of consciousness.

My English teachers used to have us do this all of the time. Just write whatever pops into your head and see what happens - you find out a lot of interesting things.

Here it goes. It's midnight, I'm tired but can't sleep. There's too much food in my stomach and God knows if the soccer ball is going to make me throw up tomorrow afternoon. Oh but just don't eat tomorrow and you'll be fine. Ew. Anorexia... those girls think being THAT skinny is pretty? Haha... silly people. Well, silly people have their moments...

Okay, so I can go on forever, but this is probably boring you to tears right now. The point is that focusing on something, whether it be a thought or person or action is so important in the real world: we can leave the streams to paper.

Be present. If I am talking to you, I don't want to see your phone come out unless your mom is calling to find out where you are before she calls the fuzz to come find you. If I am in school working or studying, I should be completely focused on that subject, not letting my mind wander to other trivial things like that green banana the kid next to me is eating in weird ways.

One of my Sunday school kids asked if the devil can come into church, saying that we get distracted in church and that must come from the devil. But does it really? Does the devil make us turn on the radio or think about something less meaningful in the morning on the way to church? Or is it just human nature to have too many things going on at the same time?

We don't know how to focus, and it's usually unconsciously, but affects our conscious day-to-day actions and behavior.

So my challenge for you this week is to find one thing (just one!) to focus on and not be distracted from - whether it be school or spiritual upheaval, work or family - let that one thing or person encompass your mind and heart when it should, without being distracted from it. And then switch it up.

This is my stream... what's yours?

As Printed in State Net Capitol Journal - Spotlight

Despite economy, states gear up greenhouse gas reduction efforts

It has been three years since CALIFORNIA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act. A host of other states and Congress have since followed suit with measures of their own. But now, with the economy in the most turmoil since the Great Depression, supporters and opponents alike are struggling to come to grips with how much these measures will cost.

On the surface, AB 32's directive is fairly straightforward: reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1995 levels by 2020 — about a 25 percent decrease. What it will take to achieve that, however, is much more complicated and, to many critics, far too expensive.

But to staunch supporters like CALIFORNIA Air Resources Board (CARB) Chairman Mary Nichols, the person tasked with ensuring AB 32's implementation, the issue of greenhouse gas reduction is about much more than just dollars and cents.

"Our coastline will be under water in 100 years; this is fact, not theory," Nichols said at a July Sacramento Press Club luncheon, adding that the changes currently going on in the atmosphere are "subtle, slow and complicated." Moving forward with AB 32 implementation, she contends, is a preemptive measure against disaster.

That implementation process involves a variety of methods, including direct regulations on many industries, monetary and non-monetary incentives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and a controversial "cap-and-trade" mechanism. CARB has also developed a Low Carbon Fuel Standard — issued in January of 2007 — which requires a 10 percent reduction in the carbon intensity of the Golden State's transportation fuels by 2020.

Other states have also developed their own plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, several of which mimic CALIFORNIA's efforts to decrease its carbon footprint.

According to the Center for Climate Strategies, a non-profit, non-partisan organization in Washington D.C. that helps governments develop comprehensive plans for dealing with climate change, at least 30 states have completed greenhouse gas reduction plans since 2006. Many others, including COLORADO, GEORGIA, and ILLINOIS, have plans under construction. More are likely to come on board, as State Net reports that lawmakers considered over 200 similar bills this year alone.

The whole process, however, is not without skeptics, particularly where it concerns the fiscal impact of putting such measures into action. With state budgets bleeding red ink everywhere, many observers contend these measures are simply too expensive.

The most controversial issue revolves around the proposed cap-and-trade programs, which limit the emissions a company may release while also permitting the most efficient companies or governments to sell their pollution "allowances" to others for a profit. Trying to meet those standards is expected to require many industries to make significant changes, including expensive equipment upgrades. Business groups say this could have a devastating impact on already-reeling state economies, particularly by driving much-needed jobs to cheaper and much less regulated labor markets overseas.

According to one recent study from the CALIFORNIA Chamber of Commerce, "The average annual loss in gross state output from small businesses alone would be $182.6 billion, approximately a 10 percent loss in total gross state output. This will translate into nearly 1.1 million lost jobs in CALIFORNIA." The report's authors say individuals will also feel the financial pinch, noting that "CALIFORNIA families will be facing increased annual costs of $3,857 and consumers will be forced to cut discretionary spending by 26.2 percent in order to cope with the increased costs generated" by AB 32 implementation.

But Glen Anderson, an alternative energy and fuel specialist with the National Conference of State Legislatures, disagrees, contending that many of the negative projections surrounding measures like AB 32 are based on bad information.

"There are huge assumptions being made about where energy comes from," Anderson says. "Obviously, burning coal is very cheap, but there are other efficient energy sources; they may be more expensive in the short term, but one would use less of it, decreasing the net amount spent."

Center for Climate Strategies President and CEO Tom Peterson also believes that the recession should not greatly affect the movement toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "I don't think we should say, 'Gosh, we've got a recession, let's think of this differently.' The stakeholders are very focused on low-cost, high-benefit plans and have seen the rollercoaster of economic times and changes among federal administrations."

While state governments are moving forward, Congress is attempting to implement its own clean energy measure, complete with a cap-and-trade component, authored by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CALIFORNIA) and Edward Markey (D-MASSACHUSETTS). The measure — HR 2454, dubbed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, or "ACES" — enlists a variety of clean energy mandates designed to reduce nationwide greenhouse gases 17 percent by 2020, 42 percent by 2030 and 83 percent by 2050. It cleared the House in June but is so far languishing in the Senate.

Although the bill's fate is unclear, Peterson believes "it is only matter of time before congressional action takes place and the role of the states is to gear up." The success or demise of the bill may depend on resolving or reforming President Obama's health care proposal, which Peterson notes has occupied the bulk of lawmakers' time and energy in recent weeks, and will likely continue to do so. But even with the health care bill dominating the scene at the moment, Peterson notes that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NEVADA) has indicated he is ready to make sure the cap-and-trade proposal is resolved by October.

Although most state leaders are loathe to see federal laws pre-empt what are usually much stronger state standards, CARB's Nichols says she is not overly concerned about the possibility of the Waxman-Markey bill taking precedence over AB 32. Nichols notes that while she does have "concerns about whether it's the most efficient, most cost effective way to do what they're trying to accomplish," the federal statute will simply push the states toward their initial goal.

"If the Senate includes the same provisions on cap-and-trade as contained in the Waxman-Markey House version, it's likely that there would be a moratorium on states enforcing their own programs for five years. States that already had a program would be able to turn in their allowances for federal allowances, so we would basically become part of the federal system," Nichols says.

States, however, are not waiting around for that to happen. Most are gearing up on their own, albeit with less money than usual, and supporters still think this is the best time to do it.

"State budgets are challenging," Peterson says. "However, building the capacity [for a greener environment] is important and essential."

— By Dina Morcos

Escaping the Darkness

Lying down, the ears are intentionally behind the eyes
My tears make me deaf and blind
And the world falls back, into my mind

I loved dreaming until I couldn't escape daybreak
Now I wish for a dreamless night
No thrashing and turning from the internal fight

And when I wake I stare ahead in sadness
There is no way to escape the madness
just a way to stand up to it and fight it

I started at the top of a mountain
curious, tempted, wandering
Ended up in a dreary valley
wounded, bruised and broken

And when the epic battle slows enough to breathe
My dreams will reflect the skirmish won
Beneath the stars and within the Son

I started at the top of a mountain
curious, tempted, wandering
Ended up in a dreary valley
wounded, bruised and broken
I'm climbing back up the steep side, step by step
holding Your hand, smiling, for dear life

The fog clears, the deafening sounds subside
and I wait, for his weapons will be stronger next time