OTHER INTERESTS
Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation
In 1998, Galen Garwood sold his home and studio and traveled to Thailand to work on an independent film project entitled Panom. This film was created to raise awareness of the plight of the Asian elephant. Its intent is to help support the elephant hospital in Lampang, Thailand. The elephant hospital and Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation was founded by Soraida Salwala . You can learn more about the current state of the Asian elephant population and the work at the hospital at their site: www.elephant.tnet.co.th
Jami Sieber
Jami Sieber, one of the finest contemporary cellists working in America, created the sound track for Galen Garwood's short film, Panom. She has recently released a new CD entitled ‘Hidden Sky', homage to her personal relationship with the elephant. Galen created the title video track for the recording. You can visit Jami at: www.jamisieber.com
Poets Against The War
Poets Against The War was founded by poet/translator/editor, Sam Hamill in 2003. Thousands of poets from around the world have contributed to this universal cause. The published anthology includes Galen Garwood's poem ‘At Wat Umong'. You can learn more about the foundation's beginning and can access thousands of poems dedicated to a single cause. Visit them at: www.poetsagainstthewar.org
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OTHER MEDIA
VIDEO/FILM:
Cadmium Red Light, L. Kesl, the Art of living Life as Art
by Galen Garwood
This hour long documentary is Garwood's homage to Lennie Kesl. Artist, Jazz singer, teacher, eccentric, disposaphobic and bookaphile, L. Kesl is one of the most unforgettable and endearing characters you'll meet anywhere. With a 78 rpm mind, Kesl is the irrepressible lover of women, of jazz and art, of arcane knowledge, irrefutable trivia and almost anything for free. He is the original ‘spiral groove'.
The year that gave us Mel brooks, Marilyn Monroe, Fidel Castro, Queen Elizabeth II and Sai Baba, gave us little Leonard Kesl and eighty years of overdrive. And he's still pedaling.
PANOM, A story of humans and Elephants
by Galen Garwood
This short video film chronicles the relationship between captive Asian elephants and their human captors. It focuses on the work of Soraida Salwala and Friends of the Asian Elephant, the organization and elephant hospital in Lampang , Thailand . Garwood began this project in 1998. This film was created to help support Elephant conservation and FAE Elephant Hospital in Lampang Thailand
LETTERS FROM JAMES
by Galen Garwood and Rowan James
This little film is an endearing homage to the late poet and filmmaker James Broughton. Garwood captured the very final interview with this great artist shortly before his death in 1999.
ED and ED, a work-in-progress video/film
by Galen Garwood
This film documents the life and art of Edward Cain. It is a short work told by the artist and his alter-ego, Edwin Cain. Edward talks about his passion for art and Edwin talks about his passion for raising chickens but Edwin reveals what Edward feels inwardly about how others perceive his work as a painter. Garwood was collaborating with Edward Cain on the script for this interesting profile when the artist took his own life on September 11 th , 2001.
EMPTY BOWL, a work-in-progress video/film
by Galen Garwood
Anne Hirondelle, one of America 's most innovative ceramist, quietly works in her studio in Port Townsend, Washington. This short piece documents that near sacred relationship between the hand of the artist and her medium.
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CHILDREN'S STORIES:
Panom and the Stone of Light
by Galen Garwood
This short story reveals the mythic tale of the elephant Panom and her spinning stone of Light. It is currently a work-in-progress publication and the final book will include illustrations and CD narration by Howard Graves. This project is being created to help support Elephant conservation and FAE Elephant Hospital in Lampang Thailand
Excerpt from Chapter Two:
One day, while the elephants frolicked in the waters at the edge of the sea, a small group of humans appeared from the dark forest. Three men had been watching the elephants for a long time, especially Panom and her dazzling sapphire. The men had never seen such creatures with legs like trees and ears as large as tents, a body like a small mountain. Nor could they understand the curious limb that curled out of those large heads. Was it truly an arm, they wondered, or a fifth leg? A second tail?
Now, jewels they had seen. And they were terribly fascinated with the blue splendor that floated, like a crown, above Panom's head.
THE FIRST ELEPHANTS
by Galen Garwood
This is the story of the very first elephants created by ‘Creator'.
It is an ancient tale re-invented with humor and, like ‘Panom and the Stone of Light' is deeply flavored with the teachings of Buddhism. This two will be illustrated and includes a narrated CD by Howard Graves. Currently a work-in-progress, this project is being created to help support Elephant conservation and FAE Elephant Hospital in lampang Thailand .
Excerpt from Chapter Two.
Creator also wanted New One to be smart. But how smart? Creator wondered. “There's danger there”, He said guardedly. “Look what happened to Human. He's tried his best to take advantage of my little gift of intelligence, even though he just won't stay smart.”
So He made New One very smart indeed and He gave him a mammoth memory. Everything seemed in place. Everything looked smashingly good, everything, except the voice. Creator had to think about this for a long spell. He Himself had a flawless voice. He could say,“ Please pass the peas.” or “Do you think It will rain this afternoon?” with incredible eloquence. He had given this complicated gift to Human but realized that Human was soon forgetting how to talk, when to talk and where to talk. With New One's gift of memory, this wouldn't be a problem at all, so Creator gave New One the same voice He had given Human and that was that. Well, almost…
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ESSAYS:
DO ELEPHANTS PAINT?
by Galen Garwood
MISS LUCY AND MR. BUSH, A case for de-evolution
by Galen Garwood
ANOTHER SLICE OF PI
by Galen Garwood
THE MAP MAKER, MORRIS GRAVES
by Galen Garwood
AT HOME WITH THE ELEPHANTS
by Galen Garwood
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