The 100 Shot Zine Project #003

The third book in The 100 Shot Zine Project was titled Perfect. I recall writing this shortly before putting the booklet together. The inside is hand lettered, the front and back cover is drawn, and it comes with a red dust jacket. Similar to the previous zines, the cover is hand stamped along with the included stickers.

This zine was only made in very limited quantities, so I've decided to post the entire story here in this blog entry.

Perfect

The spring breeze slightly ruffled my hair as I walked through the school campus on my way to my first class for the day. I was not really looking forward to it because I knew it was just going to be another dry college lecture, but I just couldn't miss any more days.

Class was precisely as I had imagined it would be; boring and dry. The auditorium classroom was impressively large, but only about half of the seats were filled. I'm sure the other students had more important things to do, like sleeping in until noon. The semester was nearing an end, and attendance was no longer a deciding factor in the final grades.

"If it wasn't for all of the extra credit I have to do to bring up my grade, I could be doing better things." I thought as I glanced around the room. At that moment I saw her.

She appeared to be a thin, petite girl with short, jet-black hair. She was wearing a black knit top with elbow-length sleeves and a scooping neckline, a knee-length cream colored skirt with a small strip of lace at the hem, and classy knee-high boots that zipped up at the sides. Her outfit flowed over the contours of her body and only succeeded in further accentuating her sexy aura.

Although she was one row ahead of mine and a few seats over towards the right, she had turned around and was looking directly at me. I could not decipher any emotions as she held her gaze on me, oblivious to the fact that I had caught her staring and was now looking right back at her. We locked eyes for a split second. Was I imagining things? I could almost hear the ticking of the classroom clock. Everything had paused and it seemed like an eternity between the ticks of the third hand.

"You're beautiful" I thought as I nervously glanced down at my desk, feeling guilty that maybe somehow she would be able to read my thoughts. The rest of the class period passed by in a blur, but that's only because I didn't stick around. Halfway through the lecture, she stood up, grabbed her books and discreetly left out of one of the side doors. After giving the situation a brief thought, I got up two seconds later and followed her out. So much for the extra credit and not skipping anymore classes.

"Excuse me, but do I know you?" I asked her in an uncertain tone as we passed through the classroom doors.

"No." She said as she abruptly started walking towards the food court without even glancing my way. I could see the tiniest hint of a smile form on her lips. Was she flirting with me? What is the point in showing up to class only to leave halfway through? I had a feeling that there was something more.

"So what are you doing right now?" I asked her as I tried to keep up with her fast pace.

She turned her head and looked at me. "I was just about to grab some lunch. What about you? what are your plans right now?" She asked me. I think I detected some interest, but there was no way that I could be positive.

"Do something." I thought.

"Do something."

"DO SOMETHING!"

"I was just about to grab some lunch too......with you." I told her with a smile.

My window of opportunity was open a crack and I took the chance. I've passed up too many opportunities in the past just because I choked up at the last second, and it was not going to happen to me again. Life is a learning process, and you should learn from your mistakes. Otherwise history repeats itself and you end up with a lifetime of regrets.

She was definitely smiling now and I was glad that she was.

I ended up skipping my three other classes of the day. We drove together to the beach, where we stayed all afternoon. I learned a lot about her in that one day.

She was from out-of-state and was staying in California for college. She enjoyed cooking, photography, and poetry, among a multitude of other things. Poetry stimulated her mind, and music moved her soul. She was very kind-hearted and had a real weakness for kids and animals. She had a passion for shopping, and the clothes, hand bags, and shoes that accompanied the word, which did not surprise me in the least. She loved the feeling of being able to curl up in bed while it rained outside. Cheesecake was her favorite dessert, and she ordered it every chance she got. She cried when she was deeply moved. When it came to school and work, she was ambitious and determined, looking to the future with an exhilirating sense of confidence. There was a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her lips the whole time we were at the beach. She was perfect. She was everything I was not.

I was in love.

"I've got to get back." She told me.

"So soon? Do you have to be somewhere?" I curiously asked.

"Yeah, I have to meet my boyfriend for dinner in an hour." She replied with a flicker of uncertainty.

She wasn't looking into my eyes anymore. She was now staring at the ground.

As the Event Nears...

Hello Friends:

First off, I want to apologize to those of you that I have not spoken to in a while. I've been super busy! This will surely change once the show is over...

Secondly, I want to say sorry for the late notice, but I have been too swamped to sit down and write a decent invitation. So here I am, taking a breather with a cup of coffee, mere days away from opening night...

Anyway, I am just writing to invite YOU to my art show this Friday, February 12th at 7pm in Downtown Fullerton at the Hibbleton Gallery (Directions when you scroll down).

Please, please, please try to make it down. I know it's valentines day weekend. Have some dinner with your girl/boy and bring her/him to the show to enjoy some art and drink some wine (romantic!). I also know its lunar new years weekend. Come celebrate with some great art and a glass of wine! I know that the installations banquet is that day as well. I also happen to know it starts a little later...come by beforehand for some art, and pre-party with a glass of wine! Whatever your excuse is, it's just not going to be good enough.

The gallery exhibition will showcase 15 amazing artists, so please come by and check it out. I am expecting this to be the biggest show yet! There will be refreshments, a live band, a dj, and lots of other cool stuff that I can't think of at the moment. Free admission, free refreshments, free entertainment, and not-so-free artwork. How could you say no? Bring all your friends. Everyone is welcome! PLUS, there is an after party right next door afterwards. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk about ten steps to get there.

I've been pretty much a recluse these past few months, so come out and see me before I go back into hiding. It's been too long!

Thank you thank you thank you!!
Tuan Vu Tran

Ps: To see one of my pieces for the show, check the back of the postcard attached to this email. Mine is the scary man with the rifle. It was inspired by Notorious B.I.G.'s song "Juicy". Particularly the line: "Living life without fear, puttin' five carats in my baby girl ear." Awwww, Just in time for valentines day.

Here is more detailed information that I did not write:

Start Time:	Friday, February 12, 2010 at 7:00pm
Location:	Hibbleton Gallery
Street:	112 West Wilshire Avenue, Fullerton CA

Fullerton CA | Friday, February 12th 2010 | 7:00 PM! Come experience the opening reception for SHUFFLE held at the Hibbleton Gallery, one of Fullerton’s freshest hot spots for local art and culture. Located in the heart of downtown Fullerton, Hibbleton is the perfect place to start your weekend outings and experience an incredible night of art and music.

SHUFFLE showcases works by 15 extraordinary artists, in a wide range of mediums, with works set to display each piece in the format of traditional vinyl records and cd cover sizes ranging from 16” x 16”, 12” x 12”, 7” x 7”, to 5” x 5”. Each piece will be titled appropriately to the song of their choice with an image to reflect their own interpretation of how that song is seen by each artist.

This event promises to keep your feet shuffling, the perfect pre-valentines day kickoff, anyone will be sure to love. This FREE event offers a unique space for couples and singles alike to come and enjoy good art, music, refreshments and social networking. Because this event focus’ around art and music, the collection of the work’s song titles will be compiled and spun live at the show by DJ H.Breaker along with other live performances at the gallery.

SHUFFLE runs from February 12th 2010 to March 7th 2010. Artists include: Aaron Jasinski, Aaron Kraten, Aaron Little, Christopher Umana, Chrystal Chan, David Chung, Haubs, JAW Cooper, Jenikah, Julie Lee, Martine Johanna, Melissa Martyn, Tommii Lim, Tuan Vu Tran, and Wendy Peng.

If you would like more information please contact: Jenikah at jenikah@sooogood.com or mail@hibbleton.com. You may also visit www.hibbleton.com

for further details. Sponsored in part by Metromint Water, Megan Jade Music, and ISM: a community project.

PLEASE NOTE: Afterparty next door at Mulberry St. Ristorante, ALL welcome!!!

The 100 Shot Zine Project #002

The second book in The 100 Shot Zine Project was titled Dream. This was the first part of a short story that I had written a few years prior to making the book. The story is continued in The 100 Shot Zine Project #018 titled Dreams. The booklet is hand written and drawn. Like Pin, the cover is hand stamped along with the included stickers.

Since these zines were only made in limited quantities, I have decided to post the entire story here in this blog entry.

Dream

I should have known better than to look back.

The drive was a long one. It wasn’t unbearable, since the radio passed the time easily. I had stopped once for gas and a quick lunch in some hole-in-the-wall diner, and then I was on my way again. The drive was quite peaceful, actually. There was something about the ocean or just water in general that has always had a calming effect on me. I love streams and running water, and if I could live next to one, I would. The sky was just starting to get dark when I arrived.

I never thought I’d go back, but I did. There was no particular reason as to why I did it; I just did. Why I came back to the town that I had abandoned, the old friends I had left behind, the life I had once lived was truly a mystery to me.

John and I were the best of friends. At least we were at one point back in high school. I don’t exactly recall what happened to us. I guess we just stopped making an effort to keep in touch. Life is funny, and it has ways of doing things like that. I recall being over at his house all the time. We would just hang out and do the things that boys do. John had an older brother, Jim, who I vaguely remembered. He was there, but he just never made any impact in my life whatsoever. John was my childhood friend, and I decided to pay him a visit since I was in town.

As I pulled into the driveway I realized that John’s house looked exactly as it had looked the last time I had paid him a visit, which seemed ages ago. The brown leaves scattered everywhere served as a reminder of the impending winter. He came to the door after a few knocks and was pretty surprised to see me. It was as if he had seen a ghost. This was not very surprising since I left town without a word to anyone. He quickly invited me in and we talked in the halfway for a good ten minutes.

That was when I saw her. She had short dark hair, flipped out towards the bottom. The kind of hair that looks disheveled, but you still know it is clean and it smells good. She was wearing a yellow pastel summer dress that really accented her beautiful body. She had on summery sandals that matched the color of her dress. I had always thought she had a great sense of style.

I froze. My breath was lost. My mind was blank. My mouth was dry. Time stopped. I had been talking to John when I looked past his shoulder and saw her. The thought of why she was there did not even cross my mind. All that I cared about was that she was there. It was as if the floodgates had been raised and a torrent of emotions had rushed forth. Anything coming out of John’s mouth was now a distant chatter. I had to speak to her. Yes, I definitely had to speak to her.

"Hey, you remember Tony; don’t you?" said John. She nodded. I think she was as surprised to see me as I was to see her.

We walked down the neighborhood very slowly. John had gone inside the house to finish up some chores. Side by side we tried to catch up on each other’s life. How can anything make up for all those lost years? My hands swung closely to hers. They were almost touching, but not quite. It had been a long time, and being next to her felt really good. There was a tingly feeling inside my stomach.

"I love you. I always have, and I still do." I blurted out.

"I know," she said. She looked very sad.

She told me that she was slightly involved with someone. I didn’t know what she meant by that, but my heart still sank. She was the one for me. She always had been. Sure I’d been in and out of relationships, but none of them was important enough to mention. I had been too scared to let her know how I had felt in the past. Now that I did, it was too late. Life can be so cruel sometimes.

I wanted to die.

I wanted to hold her tightly. I wanted to talk to her about anything and everything. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to stare into her eyes. I wanted to run my fingers through her hair. It did not matter what I did as long as it was with her. I wanted all these things so badly that my heart ached. It ached badly because I knew none of these things would ever happen. I just needed another chance. Life is so full of regrets. If only I had done this. If only I had done that. How was I supposed to know such a simple mistake could haunt me for a lifetime?

I later found out that she was involved with John’s older brother Jim. Towards the end of high school, they became somewhat involved, and now she has his son. Why they were not together, I could not comprehend. Who would not want to be with her? I guess the grass really is greener on the other side. I wish for what I cannot have, and I am sure Jim would like someone else, too. I think of it as the curse of humanity. There are very few in this world that are truly happy with what they have. Most people always ask for more. They always hope for something better.

I had always believed I was quite simple. I appreciate some of the most common things, and it does not take much to make me happy. I feel that life is beautiful, and I don’t want to miss the tiniest detail. For a fleeting moment, I wondered how I would be if I was really with her. Would I move on and want someone else? "The grass is always greener on the other side," someone once said. I abruptly pushed the notion aside since I cannot imagine being with anyone but her.

We spent most of our short walk in silence.

After much persuasion, I was finally convinced to stay for dinner. The whole experience was very awkward. I now saw Jim in a different light. Not awkward in a bad way, just a really weird way, if that makes any sense. We all discussed life, friends, school, jobs, and the usual topics discussed with those you have not seen in a long time. It was all so fake to me. I just wanted to leave. I wanted to smoke a cigarette badly, although I’d quit for over a year. I wanted to drink my worries away. I just wanted to get away from this town. I wanted to get in my car and drive off. I wanted to get away from her.

But at the same time, I wanted to stay. Something had brought me back here. I wanted to see how the story unfolded. Deep down inside, there is always hope. I had hope. It may have been a tiny glimmer, but it was there. So I stayed. I sat through dinner the best I could. Then, I said my good byes. Before I left, I made plans to meet her for lunch the next day. There was something I saw in her eyes when I hugged her "goodbye". What it was exactly I could not tell. Was it a sense of sadness? Was she happy to see me? I guess I will find out soon enough…

Eye Candy

Here are two photos that I just found of a few various Phantom Friends in their packaging, along with random Zine Packs.

The 100 Shot Zine Project #001

According to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, the definition of a zine is: "a noncommercial often homemade or online publication usually devoted to specialized and often unconventional subject matter."

I made my first zine in my sequential storytelling class while in college. Shortly after, I started working on The 100 Shot Zine Project. I was going to make one hundred different zines, varying in size, content, print runs, etc. Some were to be strictly type, some with only illustrations, some a combination of the two, some hand drawn, some computer generated, some fiction, some non-fiction, etc. The whole purpose of the project was for me to experiment, to learn, and to grow from.

My first zine was titled Pin. It was an illustrated reinterpretation of Pinocchio set in a dark, post-apocalyptic future. Each cover was hand stamped. I included a pair of stickers with every copy. The stickers were hand stamped by a rubber stamp which I had carved.