Miguel-Angel Barrios
"For a year and a half, I have endeavored to write a novel exploring the political complexity of San Francisco, a vibrant scene of progressive social movements, against the attitude of Reaganomics in 1980’s America. My only problem: I have never set foot in San Francisco. With the Appel Fellowship, I will finally travel, as well as to Mexico City, where I’ll develop the novel’s main character, a Mexican progressive activist with big ambitions to change the country. These trips will be transformative for my writing process, giving me experiences of place to build on the worlds I have imagined."
Asia Best
"During the pivotal period before he became one of America’s renowned authors, James Baldwin experienced a sense of pessimism as he observed and suffered from injustices in America. It was in Paris, France that Baldwin gained the critical distance he needed to sit, self-reflect, and write with a resurrected spirit and love towards humanity. As a scholar of Baldwin’s work and a spectator of continued injustice in America, I will follow in Baldwin’s footsteps to Paris. Exploring two of his core themes—the will to critique and the role of the artist in civilization—I will engage with Baldwin’s work as someone fully grounded in his artistic perspective."
Kevin Chen
"For my Appel Fellowship, I will be taking a road trip through my home state of Alaska, from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Inspired by the Dear Data drawing project, I will be documenting the uniqueness of Alaska’s smallest towns, coldest glaciers, and greenest hikes on postcards with data on one side and an explanation on the other. My writing and photos will accompany each postcard, providing context from my travels. At the end of my expedition, I will compile all this data into a visual experience book. This is my chance to capture and record what life in Alaska can be."
Ana Federico
"My project is a collection of short stories based on the experiences of my family and their community in the border town of Nogales, Arizona. I want to portray the complex experience of growing up and living in the bicultural, multilingual community of Nogales. I also want to investigate class and economic difference and to better understand the dynamics behind who stays and who leaves. Along with spending time in Nogales this summer, I plan to conduct a series of interviews with my extended family, all of whom have grown up, lived and worked in and around this unique place."
Henry Garcia
"From an early age I was taught that sharing a meal with someone is sacred. Furthermore, there are fascinating stories behind each dish. Politics, history, geography, economics, and religion all shape cuisines and food cultures. For my Appel Project, I will travel to Mexico City, Marrakesh, Morocco, and Singapore, all of which are home to globally recognized street food scenes. In each city I will explore the social, cultural, and historical contexts behind street food in these unique corners of the world. Through journaling, photography, and short stories, I will capture my experiences and thoughts in real-time throughout my travels."
Magdalena Gavahan
"For my Appel project, I will attempt to discover why running clubs are increasing in popularity among young people. There are many differences within the sport – individuals’ race preferences, speed, distance capabilities, goals, and backgrounds – but somehow, running draws in different types of people and ties us all together. I want to learn what draws people to running and connect with people through our shared love for the sport all around the world. I will run with running clubs in four major running cities, Boston, NYC, London and Amsterdam, interviewing runners and writing blog posts about my experiences along with a research paper."
Abboskhon Ilyasov
"My project is based on my love for food and cultures around the world! I will be traveling back to my home country of Uzbekistan, and then making my way through Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, learning about their different cultures and cuisines. These countries were once part of the ancient trade route known as the Silk Road, and I will explore similarities within their cuisines while gaining a more meaningful understanding of my own Uzbek heritage. I will share my journey through a website and blog, so that others can be inspired to go on their own adventures!"
Kahani Malhotra
"For my Appel Fellowship I will travel to the U.K. to investigate intersections between British theater and Indian colonization. I will watch shows at renowned playhouses, visit Shakespeare's birthplace, and learn through museum visits and walking tours. At the end of my trip, I will write a series of reviews based on my experiences, inspired by John Green’s The Anthropocene Reviewed. Commenting on everything from Richard III to the birth of the British East India Company to the stealing of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, uncovering the good, the bad, and the ugly in the process."
Srey On Peuy
"This summer I will travel back to my home country of Cambodia, as well as to Thailand, visiting temples and historic sites. Drawing on my travel experiences and background research, and incorporating stories and experiences from tour guides, locals, and tourists, I want to write short stories that bring history and modern experience together. I will be writing on-site as much as possible, and at the end of my travels I hope to pair my writings with photos to make a literary travel guide that takes the reader through landmarks and temples, conveying history as well as timeless architectural beauty."
Nico Riley
"For my Appel Fellowship I will immerse myself in Berlin’s avant-garde art and dance scenes and explore the history that led to its evolution into a creative hub. The city's trailblazing spirit resonates deeply with me, and during my time there, I will strengthen my dance technique, develop my photography and writing skills, and experiment with filmmaking. I will then create a visual journal of poems, sketches, photos and short essays. This project will allow me to hone my craft, explore new artistic avenues, and reflect on the differences between self-expression in Berlin and in my hometown of Kingston, Jamaica."
Myla Soliz
"Like most car enthusiasts, for as long as I can remember attending a car meet in Japan has been a dream of mine. I have explored the car scene back home in Houston, which has an aggressive meet style that walks a fine line between celebration and being disruptive. Japan, on the other hand, is known for hosting more respectful meets. For my Appel project I will be traveling to Tokyo to explore how the car scene in Japan differs from Houston. I will then gather photos, interviews, and personal anecdotes in a zine about these two vibrant car cultures."
Phoebe Wolfe Lyons
"For my Appel Project, I will travel to Astypalea, Greece to observe the effects of the Volkswagen Group’s revolutionary electric vehicle transportation system on the small, secluded island. Volkswagen has described Astypalea as “a future lab for decarbonization in Europe.” For centuries, the livelihood of island residents lay in fishing and agriculture, but since VW’s changes, the island has seen increased tourism. Through interviewing the local people and those involved in the project, I plan to produce a fictional story about a secluded island that becomes the blueprint for green transportation devised by an international corporation with a complicated past."