Gentle Universe at "PlaySpace"

Hi! We'd like to invite you "PlaySpace" happening next week on April 29-30. Cris of Gentle Universe is going to speak about the group, our playthings, toy pianos, synths, gigs and more.  For more details and list of speakers, visit the lovely site by Vgrafix, http://www.acermobile.ph/playspace/ . Free registration. Please spread the word. Thanks! :-)

Gentle Universe at Rizal Park, Earth Hour 2013

Gentle Universe played at Rizal Park in Manila on March 23, 2013. The event was organized by the National Park Development Committee (NPDC) in joining Earth Hour 2013. Thanks to Gie Arnold and the staff of  NPDC. Thanks also to everyone who joined us during the event!  

 

Here are some photos taken by our good friend Joy Dela Victoria.

 

Thanks for visiting! Hope to see you at our next mini tour. :-)

Truly yours,

Cris Garcimo
For Gentle Universe

If you would like to book us for your event or sponsor a tour for Gentle Universe, just send a quick note to csgarcimo@gmail.com

Winner: Handmade Musical Instrument

A couple of months ago, my handmade instrument called "Mochikalimba" was announced as the winner for Mochiko Mochi's first handmade contest.  I joined the contest because I like Mochiko Mochi's handmade advocacy, and also because my wife Shey loves Mochi. In the Philippines, Mochiko Mochi sells creative cream and ice cream-filled mocha (Japanese creative dessert). Incidentally, Shey was also celebrating her birthday at that time. I thought it would be a nice gift for her if I win the contest.

By the way, I got to know the contest through Pergy, one of my favorite artists, who was commissioned to create the poster for Mochiko Mochi's "Handmade with Love" campaign. You can also check out her blog and Behance artist page - http://www.behance.net/pergyacuna.

For my entry, I made a mochiko-inspired handmade lamellaphone using recycled coconut shell and steel spring. Lamellophones are instruments which have little tines, or "lamellae", which are played by plucking like thumb piano, mbira, kalimba (Africa) and mbiraski (Japan). "It was thought in ancient times that the thumb piano was able to project its sound into the heavens (Wiki)."

I used a coconut shell because of its circular shape and texture. I also want to create a recyclable material which is abundant in our country. We have a lot of coconut trees here considering Philippines is a tropical country.

Mochiko Mochi said that my submission looks a bit like a mochi. Here are the photos when Mochiko announced via their facebook page that my handmade musical instrument won the contest. :-)   

            
                                              
Here is a photo of Dylan at the stall of Mochiko Mochi at Southmall when we received the prize from Mochiko.  He was pointing at the heart in Mochiko Mochi's logo. Handmade with love indeed! :-)

Here are the different flavors of Mochiko. Our current favorites are the Straberry and Mango Flavors.

(Photo from Mochiko Mochi's FB page)

Thanks again Mochiko Mochi! It was fun! I am inspired to make create more handmade musical instruments.

Truly yours,

Cris Garcimo
For Gentle Universe

www.twitter.com/gentleuniverse