In a message dated 7/6/05 6:22:44 PM, lathoriel@mac.com writes:

I am embarrassed that you are thanking me. I feel so humble. I have not been able to thank you properly and in a timely way as I had to leave the city immediately following the ArtSlam on the night I was so privileged to have received such a blessing from you and your fine professional selves. I did not have access to a computer either. I cannot begin to express what you gave me other than to say a whole new confidence in the value of continuing to take risks, make mistakes and do it all again. Thank you for the opportunity you gave my work to be seen and criticized by young professional artists and educators and well-informed artists as yourselves.

I was terrified. Only a few people: a gallerist, a couple collectors and a critic have seen the work and friends primarily are friends. No one at the ArtSlam openly dismissed the work and so many gave USEFUL CRITICAL remarks. I was so worried that this work did not belong since I am not of Asian culture and that its significance in forming and driving the work would be lost. Nonetheless you and your other guests made me feel welcome and safe. Thank you. I am sending a check for $50. I wish I could contribute more. What your center is doing in community outreach is amazing. And where you are doing it is even more honorable--in Chinatown! How reasonable and rational—only makes sense but who does that? Yours is a RELEVANT community center. Also, everyone attending was planning to eat before or after the event; the ArtSlams brought a whole lot of folks who may not think Contemporary Art when they think Chinatown. WOW. THANK YOU. Also, thank you to Emily Cheng, Bovey Lee for being so generous with their time and genius.

Lathoriel Badenhausen