Thursday, October 11, 2012

Medical Emergency in the Air

Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee

On a recent trip from Istanbul Turkey, I was able to witness how well equipped airplanes, the attendants and crew are to handle medical emergencies. When we fly we never know what will happen. One of the worst situation is when a passenger becomes sick during a flight. On my Turkish Air flight back to NYC a passenger was experiencing seizures across from where I was seated. The flight attendants immediately asked on the loudspeaker for medical assistance from any doctor on board. Incredibly, three doctors immediately went to the woman's seat to consult with the friend who she was traveling with and the flight attendants assisted the doctors any way they could.

Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Airplanes are equipped with metal suitcases filled with essential medical supplies. The flight attendants were able to provide the doctors with most of the things they need to treat a patient. As the sick passenger's friend, flight attendants, passengers, watched the doctor treat the patient I thought how lucky we were to have so many doctors on board this flight. I wouldn't want to imagine what would happen if there were no doctors on board the airplane, didn't have an oxygen tank and I.V. to treat the patient with. It brings to mind the question of how and what flight attendants and crew are trained to handle for medical emergencies should there be no doctors on board.

Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee

Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
It was interesting to observe firsthand how human kindness, ethics, and curiosity influence our behavior during an emergency situation. All the attendants, crew, passengers were first and foremost concerned for the sick passenger and gave any aid they could provide. Passengers changed seats so the sick passenger could be relocated to the center seats where she could lay down. Doctors immediately came to the call of duty. Flight attendants and crew immediately located supplies and alerted authorities to be ready once we land to take the sick passenger to a hospital should that be necessary. Although there were many who came to the sick passenger's aid, people are also curious and there were passengers who walked by and nearby ones who looked to see what was happening. Myself, I debated whether or not to document this event as it was happening. I came to the conclusion that as a reportage artist this is something important to report, what happens during a medical emergency on a flight.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Central Party School (CPS) 2012 Study Visit at the NYC Commission on Human Rights

Shulei Li, Vice President of Central Party School (CPS), leader of the study group listening to the translator.

When I think of China and human rights, those two things are not synonymous. Most people would even say that it does not exist in China. It is unimaginable to believe there would be a delegation of over 30 Chinese high ranking government leaders with its entourage of translators, guides and assistants visiting the NYC Commission on Human Rights. On Friday, August 17, 2012, I had the opportunity to reportage this incredible meeting. The Central Party School (CPS) 2012 Study Group is part of a learning program that travels annually to foreign government agencies to learn from their experience implementing policies and public administration. It consists of diverse members nominated by their government agencies and state-owned enterprises to attend this year long program.

Patricia L. Gatling,  Commissioner/Chair of  NYC Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) and Clifford Mulqueen, Deputy Commissioner, briefs Chinese delegation about CCHR.

The Commissioner of the NYC Commission on Human Rights, Patricia L. Gatling welcomes the visiting Chinese group and introduces the Commission's history and function. She explains how expansive NYC laws are against discrimination and the groups it protects. The importance of Commission's role in bettering the lives of the people who live and/or work in NYC. 


Jian Zhang, Director of Anhui Provincial Office of Foreign Affairs, first to ask questions.

The Chinese delegation asked questions about legislation, local vs. federal law, the process of investigation, prosecution, and education. For example one question that was asked (by Jian Zhang?) was how NYC Human Rights Laws affect the homeless population in NYC. What are their rights? How are they dealt with without violating their rights? How do you deal with them and enforce public safety without the law being abused and/or taken advantage of? These questions may reflect issues local Chinese agencies is currently facing with large numbers of people migrating to cities looking for work and creating a homeless population they need to manage.

Patricia L. Gatling quotes Malcolm X, "There is no human rights if there no civil rights laws in place to protect the citizens rights."

As a Chinese American born in NYC, I was taught to understand what my civil rights are at an early age. I live my life everyday enjoying the privileges I believe I am entitled to and that our government laws should provide and protect. This meeting was an incredible opportunity to share with Chinese governing officials our approach to and understanding of human rights/discriminatory laws. Chinese interest in learning from the Commission's example is an encouraging step towards the future direction of China's laws on human rights and discriminatory laws. Through questions the delegation asked I understood their desire to find a way to administer and enforce the law while respecting the individual's rights. A difficult task that requires dedication to upholding those ideals.

Continuing the discussion over lunch.

Prevention through education is one of the most important mission the Commission takes on. Its role is not just as an enforcer but also as an educator to bring awareness to the public of what their rights are. Most of their funding is used to provide education through workshops, awareness, publications, access to specialists and information online for the public.

Shulei Li asks Patricia L. Gatling whether the commissioner stays once NYC administration changes.

At the close of the meeting both parties were very happy with the chance to exchange ideas. For myself it was an incredible opportunity to document through drawing such an iconic event. Even though this may not be a highly publicized event, it was an important one in a positive direction. I am very happy I was allowed to be a part of it.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Worn Through


Hi! I recently did an interview with Arianna Funk from Worn Through for the art I contributed to the Restoring a Past, Charting a Future show in Mystic, CT. You can read the interview here by clicking on the link below. Enjoy!

http://www.wornthrough.com/2012/06/28/objektet-och-museet-restoring-a-past-charting-a-future/

Copyright Rosa Lee

Monday, May 14, 2012

Restoring a Past, Charting a Future, An Artistic Discovery of America's Whaling Legacy by the Dalvero Academy

Hi! The art exhibit Restoring a Past, Charting a Future, An Artistic Discovery of America's Whaling Legacy by the Dalvero Academy is officially open! I would like to invite everyone to come see the show at Mystic Seaport Museum. Below is a sample of my art for the show.


Copyright 2012 Rosa S. Lee
You can follow us on Twitter or Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DalveroMystic
our website: http://www.dalveromystic.com 
Mystic Seaport Museum: http://www.mysticseaport.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=360A0590-1E4F-379B-6086D51DBF693D98



Restoring the Morgan

Copyright 2012 Rosa S. Lee

The Morgan is the last wooden whaling ship of its kind in the world. It is currently being restored at Mystic Seaport Museum, its home now. Documenting the restoration process has been an inspiring and learning experience.

Copyright 2012 Rosa S. Lee
Copyright 2012 Rosa S. Lee

The curved structural support called, knees, of whaling ships need to be built from live oak, a long lived short growing tree with strong thick branches. Mystic Seaport has been very fortunate to receive donations of fallen live oak from hurricane Katrina to renew the life of the Morgan.

Copyright 2012 Rosa S. Lee
To cut a piece of the live oak the restoration crew needs a team of people to use a pulley and position the live oak on the giant saw to cut it.
Copyright 2012 Rosa S. Lee
After the live oak is cut, it is hand finished to fit where the knee was originally. The carpenters use the previous knee as a template and choose the piece that's closest in shape to it. Then it is hand finished to match the old knee and fitted into it's spot. The Morgan is an organic puzzle with individual pieces that forms the ship. The process of restoring the Morgan requires the skillful labor of incredible craftsmen who and intimate knowledge of every inch of the Morgan.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Sea Chanteys

Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee

On one occasion while I was drawing at Mystic Seaport with the Dalvero Academy, there was a sea chantey festival.  It was amazing to see these songs performed by what looked like everybody in the village of Mystic.  The young and old would join their voices in the chorus with the performers and the swells of their voices would resound from the wall reminding us of the sea.

Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
One of the songs I've always heard growing up, the Banana Boat song, was apparently sung by black dock workers who used to unload and load banana filled boats on the Mississippi.  There are so many sea chanteys that we've always listened to an never knew were maritime songs.  I hope that everyone will be able to share my wonderful experience with the music from the heart and soul of the people who ply the vast oceans for their livelihood.

Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee


Friday, April 6, 2012

Charles W. Morgan, the Last Wooden Whaling Ship


Hi! It's been a long time since I've last posted a blog. I'm happy to share this project I've been working on with the Dalvero Academy for the past two years. We've been documenting the restoration of the last wooden whaling ship in the world, the Charles W. Morgan, at Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut. Each artist from the Dalvero Academy has also developed individual projects that has lead to a collaborative gallery show with the museum. Here are some of my drawings from the many trips we made to the museum!


I am very excited to invite everyone to come see the show which will be opening the end of April at Mystic Seaport. The show is titled: Restoring a Past, Charting a Future, An Artistic Discovery of America's Whaling Legacy by the Dalvero Academy. You can follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DalveroMystic Twitter and our website: http://www.dalveromystic.com to get a preview of what the other artists are working on for the show.

It's been a wonderful experience! I hope you will enjoy the art as much as we've enjoyed working on it.

All art on this blog is copyrighted by Rosa Lee.