John DeVeaux is a second year Film, Video and Integrated Media student at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Classifying himself as a Digital Artist with future aspirations to work in either the film or video game industry, his work focuses on combining a wide range of media including crowd sourcing, data capture, film/video, installation, storytelling and web based material.
My Personal Journey tells the story of the day John’s mother died from ovarian cancer in 1994 and features the artist providing a solitary monologue over a black screen with white text providing an ongoing narrative, as he describes the mental images that haunt him to this day.
Inspiration for this video comes from Derek Jarman’s film, Blue, which showcases the director looking back on his life as he was losing his sight and dying from AIDS. The film is 79 minutes in length and features a single shot of saturated blue covering the entire frame of the screen.
I was 16 years old when someone very close to me was arrested, my mother picked me up from school to take me home. The destination isn’t the exact address, but I lived in Cherry Hills at the time.
—
In love & light,
Jean
Driving directions to Cherry Hills, Colorado
4.3 mi – about 11 mins
9300 E Union Ave
Englewood, CO 80111
1.
Head west on E Union Ave toward S Yosemite St
0.2 mi
2.
Turn right at S Yosemite St
0.6 mi
3.
Turn left toward S Tamarac Pkwy
0.5 mi
4.
Turn right at S Tamarac Pkwy (signs for Tamarac St)
April 2005, I start group counseling to help me heal from childhood sexual abuse. The meetings were every Wednesday, and every Wednesday I would feel renewed and vulnerable at the same time, to escape my overwhelming feelings I would log onto an online game I had started playing a few months earlier. I had met a few online friends, and even though kept my personal life very private one friend, whose online name was Cargoth, would ask me every Wednesday “Arual, are you okay?” At first I was shocked and wanted to start balling my eyes out thinking how could this person know I was hurting, but I would reply “yes I’m fine, let’s just get this quest done”. Finally, one Wednesday when Cargoth asked me if I was feeling okay, I asked him why he kept asking me that, he simply replied, because you don’t seem as happy or interested on these days. I then asked him why he cared, and then he again simply answered because he liked me, and I seemed like a good person. I was taken by surprise by this, I had spent so many years thinking I was a bad person. So that Wednesday I decided to tell Cargoth the truth about what I was going through, he then in turn declared every Wednesday A.I.C.F.D.W.H.P.D Day, which means Arual is Cool for Dealing with Her Past Day. And from that day forward I would log onto the game every Wednesday after my counseling session to talk to Cargoth about what I had learned about myself and what had happened to me, and even though we only communicated though typing to each other on a game, I felt like he was right there with me, he would lift my up when I fell, he gave me strength and encouragement even after my group sessions ended he still inspired me, I began to refer to him as my unexpected angel.
Fast forward to June 2006 I bored a train for one of the most exciting and terrifying adventures of my life; I was on my way to Manhattan to meet Cargoth. It was an 11 hour train ride, so I had a lot of time to think about how nervous I was. I mean here I was on my way to a strange city to meet someone I’ve only talked to online and maybe on the phone once or twice. What if he was a psycho internet stalker serial killer? But something inside me told me I had to meet my unexpected angel no matter what. I arrive in Manhattan full of nerves especially when I realize I don’t know where to meet Cargoth! I start heading to the pay phones when I hear my name over the loud speaker, telling me to meet him at gate 9. We see each other and share one of the most warm and comforting hugs I’ve ever had, it was like he was saving all those hugs he wanted to give me every Wednesday the year before. I had the most amazing weekend with him; I saw Central Park by rickshaw, we went to the Brooklyn Zoo, saw a Musical on Broadway, and a fine dinning restaurant, yeah I was very nervous there. But the most amazing thing about my trip was finding out that Cargoth was exactly the person he portrayed online and I felt amazed in knowing that I had gotten to know the real “Cargoth”.
At the end of the weekend we rush to the train station, because we lost track of time at breakfast. We say our goodbyes, and I watch him as I go down the escalator until he is out of my sight, at that moment I am overcome with a deep sadness that I had to leave him and I start to cry, I cried all the way to Syracuse, NY.
When I boarded the train at the beginning of my journey I was excited about going to meet a friend, and when I boarded the train to end my journey I was sad because I was leaving the person I was falling in love with. We dated briefly and I went to see him every two months while we dated, but our relationship ended because I needed to do some more emotional healing. But our friendship lives on, and he still refers to me as his princess and treats me like one.
(The following directions below are for driving, not by train.)
Driving directions to Manhattan, New York
663 km – about 7 hours 3 mins
Saint Catharines, ON
Canada
1.
Head northwest on James St toward Market St
0.5 km
2.
Turn right at Lake St
1.5 km
3.
Turn right at Dunlop Dr (signs for Qew/Niagara)
0.1 km
4.
Turn left onto the ramp
0.2 km
5.
Continue straight
45.1 km
6.
Continue straight onto Peace Bridge
Entering United States (New York)
0.4 km
7.
Continue on Peace Bridge Connector
0.5 km
8.
Slight right
0.3 km
9.
Merge onto I-190 S via the ramp to New York State Thruway/I-90
10.7 km
10.
Take exit 54 – 61 to merge onto I-90 W toward Erie
Partial toll road
2.5 km
11.
Take exit 54 for State Hwy 400 toward W Seneca/E Aurora/State Hwy 16
1.0 km
12.
Merge onto RT-400 S
20.0 km
13.
Take the US 20A/State Hwy 78 exit toward E Aurora
0.4 km
14.
Keep left at the fork, follow signs for WARSAW
81 m
15.
Slight left at Big Tree Rd/E Main St/RT-78/US-20A
Continue to follow US-20A
29.6 km
16.
Continue on RT-20A/US Route 20A/Varysburg Rd
Continue to follow US Route 20A
24.7 km
17.
Continue on Leicester Rd/Perry Center Rd/RT-20A
Continue to follow Leicester Rd
5.2 km
18.
Continue on Main St/RT-39/US-20A
Continue to follow RT-39/US-20A
6.9 km
19.
Turn right at Geneseo Mount Morris Rd/Mount Morris Rd/RT-63
1.9 km
20.
Turn right at I-390 S
65.3 km
21.
Merge onto I-86 E
66.0 km
22.
Continue on RT-17 E/Southern Tier Expy E
Entering Pennsylvania
30.8 km
23.
Continue on PA-17 E
Entering New York
1.8 km
24.
Continue on RT-17 E
62.5 km
25.
Merge onto I-81 S
Entering Pennsylvania
92.8 km
26.
Slight right at I-380 S
46.8 km
27.
Merge onto I-80 E
Entering New Jersey
102 km
28.
Take exit 47A to merge onto I-280 E toward Newark
Partial toll road
27.9 km
29.
Take exit 16E toward Lincoln Tunnel
Toll road
1.2 km
30.
Merge onto I-95 N
Toll road
5.6 km
31.
Slight right at RT-495 E (signs for Lincoln Tunnel)
Partial toll road
Entering New York
7.2 km
32.
Slight left at Dyer Ave (signs for 42 St/Hwy 9A/34 St/I-495 E)
I grew up in South East Vancouver and have lived in my childhood home with my family since I was 2 years old. In the Asian culture, one usually lives in the family home until he/she is married. By the time I was 25 years old, I had completed my university degree and my professional studies. At that point in my life I felt free and ready to embark on the world. I figured I needed to find out who I really was as a person and to branch out from all of the comforts of the family nest. So, at 25 years of age I decided to do a short term work term in Sydney, Australia during the summer of 2000. My choice to do this work term in Sydney was by no means random. Most of my extended family live in Australia, but I didn’t really get to know them growing up. The best way for me to find me was to find out where I came from and to see my parents through the eyes of their siblings. This journey afforded me personal growth and understanding.
Childhood Home
I left my childhood home at age 25 for Sydney, Australia to find me. I flew from Vancouver through Los Angeles to Sydney in July 2000.
100 Parramatta Road, Stanmore, Sydney, NSW
I was picked up at the Sydney International Airport by my employer in a teeny weeny MG convertible (2 seater). I was wondering what he was thinking….I was a girl who was staying for 4 months and had 4 big suitcases. Somehow we managed to fit it all in. July is winter for Australia and the apartment was freezing cold with the hardwood/tiled floors, cement walls and high ceiling. I looked for the thermostat…could not find one…no central heating! My roommate, who I never met before I arrived in Sydney, and I used space heaters the entire time we were in that apartment…hovering over 2 dinky space heaters in our living room everynight.
Ayers Rock
After living and working in Sydney for 3 months and travelling around Sydney and neighbouring areas on weekends, my newly found friends and I embarked on a journey around Australia. Our first destination was Ayers Rock (Uluru) in the Northern Terriority, centre of Australia. It is an amazing red rock in the middle of the Australian desert. Sunrises at dawn are amazing, the sky can be a brilliant hue of purple. We camped on the Ayers Rock Resort for a couple of days before I headed off to Alice Springs on my own while the guys went on their outback adventure. Camping here was like camping in your backyard. The bar on this resort was only a few hundred meters from our campsite!
Alice Springs
Since the boys were on their outback adventure and we had to fly out of Alice Springs, I rented a car and courageously drove through the Australian desert on the Stuart Hwy, without any radio or cell phone signals. Fortunately my car had 2 gas tanks and I had a map of all of the gas stations from Ayers Rock to Alice Springs. The only things I was told I should worry about on this stretch of road is racism and the charging of the kangaroos at dusk. Luckily for me I did not encounter either of those on my 5 hour journey to Alice Springs. The only thing that kept me company was the tumble weeds that rolled alongside my car. In Alice Springs I stayed at a relatively nice motel. I got a surprise knock at my door. It was one of the boys on the outback adventure. He could not take the chance of another flat tire and missing his flight to Brisbane to meet his GF. I saw a lifetime worth of moutnain ranges and nocturnal zoos while in Alice Springs.
Cairns
I met up with the boys in the Alice Springs airport and flew to Cairns. We had yet to detemine where we would stay when we arrived. We lucked out and were able to stay at a brand new apartment complex in a 2 bedroom apt for only $100 a night. While in Cairns, I went white water rafting down the Tully River for the very first time. I also got bitten by the gigantic marsh flies habitating in the Tully River. The only way to have a peaceful lunch was to eat it while submerged in the river. I was amazed that I did this as I am not a swimmer and am intimidated by big bodies of water.
Brisbane
We left Cairns and met up with some of our friends in Brisbane. From Brisbane, we rented a large SUV and drove to Hervey Bay. We spent 1 night in Hervey Bay in a 5 or 6 bedroom house before boarding a car ferry to Fraser Island.
Hervey Bay
We stayed in Hervey Bay before boarding the car ferry to Fraser Island.
Fraser Island
We took the car ferry from Hervey Bay over to Fraser Island and drove through the bumpy terrain of Fraser Island to our campsite on the beach. We camped for a few nights without any toilet or shower facilities. Anyone who knows me, knows that this was a difficult feat for me. Lake MacKenzie on this island was so beautiful and pristine. I tanned so much while I was here that I swear I left brown/black. We, actually my friends who decided to sleep outside of the tent, were rudely interrupted one night by a dingo. They were fortunately unharmed but the dingo ran off with the shoe that had our car keys in them. One brave soul from our group went on the hunt for our only means off this island….and luckily found the shoe along with the air mattress that the dingo stole from us.
Noosa
After our adventure on Fraser Island, we drove to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast and rented a big apartment for a few nights. This little town was very trendy and quaint. We sat at the cafes reminiscing about our adventure to that point.
Brisbane International Airport
We drove to the Brisbane International Airport from Noosa to catch our flight back to Sydney.
Sydney International Airport
I flew from Sydney back to my home in Vancouver late October 2000, feeling like I had gained so much from this life enhancing experience.
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu
Before heading home to Vancouver, I spent 4 wonderful days on Waikiki Beach.
On the first trip listed above, we drove from one coast to the other. I had seen Howard Hawks’ Red River a few days before the trip, and experienced the vast expanse of the USA especially in Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona. Life out of balance on either end of the coast.
But I discovered that Canada was this great exotic country on a documentary shoot. We followed comedians on the small town bar circuit and went to Rocanville (pop 2000) and Virden (pop 4000) amongst many other places. Moosamin, on Highway 1, was an amazing stop. The town was covered in snow, and near the centre was a statue to commemorate the fallen townsfolk in WW1. There were many many names, many were related, and reminded me of the sacrifices that Canadians made at this threshold time in our nationhood. The impact of the sacrifice on a town like Moosamin must have greater than on the big cities.
And that day brought this and more home to me. Unforgettable.
Driving directions to Heliotrope Dr, Los Angeles, CA
2,797 mi – about 1 day 17 hours
Haven Ave
New York, NY
1.
Head southwest on Haven Ave toward W 173rd St
0.3 mi
2.
Turn right at Fort Washington Ave
0.1 mi
3.
Turn right at W 165th St
0.1 mi
4.
Turn right at W 165th St/Riverside Dr
161 ft
5.
Take the ramp onto I-95 S
Entering New Jersey
5.2 mi
6.
Continue on I-80 W (signs for I-80 W/Garden State Pkwy/Paterson)
Partial toll road
Passing through Pennsylvania
Entering Ohio
392 mi
7.
Take the exit onto I-80 W
4.5 mi
8.
Take the US-80 W exit toward Cleveland
Toll road
0.4 mi
9.
Keep right at the fork to continue toward I-80 W and merge onto I-80 W
Partial toll road
Entering Indiana
354 mi
10.
Take exit 21 to merge onto I-80 W/I-94 W toward State Hwy 51 S
Continue to follow I-80 W
Partial toll road
Entering Illinois
169 mi
11.
Take the exit onto I-80 W toward Davenport
Entering Iowa
193 mi
12.
Take the exit onto I-80 W toward Council Bluffs/Omaha
Entering Nebraska
475 mi
13.
Continue on I-76 W (signs for Denver/I-76)
Entering Colorado
187 mi
14.
Merge onto I-70 W
Entering Utah
501 mi
15.
Take exit 0 to merge onto I-15 S toward Las Vegas
Passing through Arizona, Nevada
Entering California
456 mi
16.
Take the exit onto I-15 S toward Los Angeles/San Diego
14.0 mi
17.
Take the exit onto I-10 W/San Bernardino Fwy W toward LOS ANGELES
1997 — I picked up a Ford Aerostar for $1500. That van had nothing — pair of seats in the front, driver’s side airbag and no spare tire. I loved that car, though — I worked on it every weekend. Added decals and seats, boosted the engine to 250 hp and added a home stereo to the back.
1999 — I decided to stop dicking around and propose to my long tim girlfriend. Doing it right, I drove out to her grad school and proposed at a rib fest in St. Paul.
On the way home, driving through Canada, my transmission started leaking fluid. Smoke billowing out behind me as I traverse queen’s route 14, I lost fourth gear, then third, then reverse…and eventually, could only move forward at a crawl.
She was buried in Blind River, CA — population 300, nice pub there. I hitchhiked to Sudbury with everything I owned in cardboard boxes and an aluminum framed backpack, and from there by bus to Albany.
We were looking for the guy who knocked me up. We never found him, but we found each other. We became friends. I dont know how to do the google part, John. I hope this is a good enough story. I am real good friends with my son, now. he is 31. my mom has been dead for over 20 years. its her birthday on valentines day, she would have been 92. bye for now, see you at the salt mines, arlette
Driving directions to Penticton, BC, Canada
293 km – about 3 hours 42 mins
Trail, BC
Canada
1.
Head north on Old Trail Bridge toward Columbia Ave
16 m
2.
Turn left at Columbia Ave
0.5 km
3.
Turn right at Robertson St
87 m
4.
Turn left at Second Ave
0.2 km
5.
Turn left at Bailey St
0.4 km
6.
Continue on Victoria St
0.6 km
7.
Turn left at Rossland Ave
1.5 km
8.
Continue on Schofield Hwy
3.4 km
9.
Continue on HWY-3B
3.4 km
10.
Turn left at Columbia Ave
0.8 km
11.
Continue on HWY-3B
0.7 km
12.
Turn right at Rossland Nancy Greene Lake Hwy
2.4 km
13.
Continue on HWY-3B
25.7 km
14.
Turn left at HWY-3
108 km
15.
Slight right to stay on HWY-3
84.1 km
16.
Turn left at Main St
1.1 km
17.
Turn right at 97th St
15.3 km
18.
Continue on HWY-97
25.7 km
19.
Turn left to stay on HWY-97
14.8 km
20.
Turn left at Channel Pkwy
2.9 km
21.
Turn right at Fairview Rd
67 m
22.
Turn right at Industrial Ave W
0.9 km
Penticton, BC
Canada
***Added by the project author John DeVeaux***
Please keep in mind the fact that Arlette WALKED this entire distance, so for reference, please go compare the road map shown above with the WALKING map that I created below which provides a more direct route, but which would also go through trailheads and open bush areas and would also dip down into the United States:
I can’t get google maps to calculate Vancouver BC to Manila City, Philippines.
I remember being overwhelmed by the distance we’re travelling, though now I believe that was simply abstract. Being on the plane made that distance in km irrelevant, since I kept having thoughts of what it was like in the Philippines, or my worries about school and life and family. Or in the situation, the crying children and the surprisingly tasty plane food and endless supply of pop, or being wound up in a plane movie with no story at 3am in the morning.
This line of distance besides delivering me to the Philippines, delivered me to a new level of maturity and patience. Being stuck in a hotel room with your family for two weeks makes it unavoidable to see the problems in the family dynamic or the complexities of the character behind it. You cannot simplify or generalize.
And the plane ride home was much different than the first, even though it was the same distance. I came back more aware of my family issues and also more patient and tolerant, since I could see the psychological drives behind them. Now when I look at a map with the distance between the Philippines and Canada, that line seems abstract and half-imagined. The reality is really a matter of time and not measurement.
Start address: 3312 Tibbets Dr Traverse City, MI 49686 End address: 816 20th St Bellingham, WA 98225
Having come to realize that I was needed more elsewhere, I sold and gave away everything that would’nt fit in or ON my 89 Volvo, and decided to drive out to B’ham and to get involved in the Sustainability effort.
I got here, was soon offered a $5K /wk job which never materialized, changed goals 3 times, and am back in the Restoration business working far too hard for a 48 yrs old guy. Michigan’s economic situation has caused my Daughters ‘marriage’ to break up, and left her and I 3000 miles apart, and each wishing we had thought things through better.
Driving directions to 816 20th St, Bellingham, WA 98225
On July 7th 2008 I took this journey twice with my husband. The trip was one that was filled with many emotions. It was the day that I went into labour with our son. When we went to the hospital the first time and I was checked out and told to go home. Well we got home and stayed for a few hours where I got sick and had stronger contractions. I couldn’t take it any more and we went back to the hospital a few hours later. The second drive there was a little harder on me than the first one. They kept me in the second time we arrived and 30 hours plus a lot of pushing later we had a healthy baby boy. The journey back had 3 people and a new happy family.
hope your art project goes well and this helps
Tracey
Driving directions to White Rock Veterinary Hospital Ltd
Posted by flashaddict 
Posted by flashaddict 
Posted by flashaddict 
