Mark Miller

Writing Samples

Ancestral Voices in an Age of Data Overload (Blog post for Indian River Gallery)

Alvin John came in the other day to drop off some new artwork while he was visiting Las Vegas. He took
time to share some background on one of his pieces, entitled “Hasteen”. It’s a beautiful bronze bust of a
Navajo elder or medicine man, circa 1900. He said that he wanted to depict that generation of wise men
who would share their stories when they thought they were with someone who truly cared to hear
them.

Alvin went on to share what goes through his mind when he creates one of his many stunning paintings
or bronze sculptures. He said that he relies on the memories of the stories and songs his elders shared
with him as a boy; particularly those told by his mother and grandmother. Many times it wouldn’t be a
specific story, just an idea that grows from his subconscious memories.

As I pondered his words that night, I thought about how people today are constantly bombarded by
information. Between the media barrage and the flood of online data that we have to wade through
each day, not much time is left for quiet contemplation. I truly believe that it is in those silent spaces
that we are most open to the voices of those who have gone before us.

Since the first Gutenberg bible was printed in the 1450s, the distribution of information has grown
exponentially. In the digital age, Moore’s Law (which says that the amount of transistors on a computer
chip will double approximately every two years) suggests that our computers and networks will continue
to store and deliver ever more data as time goes by. In this glut of data it is often difficult, if sometimes
impossible, to sift out the truly important messages that we want to receive.

And what of the wisdom of those that have gone before us? We have archives full of the great writings
of individuals from throughout history, but often the voices of our elders get drowned out in the din.
The wise grandmother or aunt who shared their tales with us when we were children; the stoic
grandfather who taught us by example what it meant to live honorably; these are the voices that have
made us who we are.

We now have Facebook, email, Twitter and numerous other ways to keep in touch with those we care
for – but for those who touched our lives and have left this world, only ephemeral memories remain.
Alvin’s words really moved me to make an effort to create more room in my life for those quiet
moments. To open myself to the voices of my own ancestors, whose wisdom still touches and guides my
actions to this day.

Here’s hoping that we all take time to listen to those who have gone before us.
Ansel Elgort and Violetta Celebrate Her 21st Birthday (Blog post for Sugar Factory)

Tonight Ansel Elgort and Violetta joined us at Sugar Factory NYC to celebrate Violetta’s 21st birthday.
The couple was joined by two dozen of their closest friends.

Violetta was visibly excited to have her 21st birthday party at Sugar Factory, she was overheard telling
her friends, “there’s no better place to celebrate, it’s so amazing!”.

By the looks of things, their friends appeared to agree. The group added another level to the already
electric atmosphere in the buzzing restaurant that was filled to capacity. Guests were thrilled to see the
celebrity couple, and Ansel and Violetta were gracious in their conversations and posed for photos with
several fans.

Cocktail toasts included the Ocean Blue, Lollipop Passion and Raspberry Watermelon Mojito goblets.
Martinis included the S’mores, Watermelon Burst, and the Blueberry Bikini.

The group started out sharing several appetizers, including the Sampler Platter, Baked Brie wrapped in
Puff Pastry, Grilled Mini Burgers, Macaroni and Cheese Pops, and Chinese Chicken Salad.

Entrees included The Big Cheesy Mac and Cheese Burger, Steak Frites Classique, Branzino Provencal,
Country Fried Chicken, and our savory New York Strip.

For dessert the group celebrated with the King Kong Sundae, and were wowed by several of Sugar
Factories Insane Milkshakes including the Tie Dye, Twinkie Dinkie, and Caramel Sugar Daddy.

The culinary team also surprised Violetta with specialty Princess Cake adorned with cotton candy.

Shopping on the way out the group picked up a few candy bags of Energy Bear Gummies, Chocolate
Covered Almonds, and White Chocolate Pretzels. Their purchases also included a few couture pops
including the Baby Pink Couture Pop, Birthday Couture Pop and Rainbow of Sugar Couture Pop.

About Sugar Factory:

With locations in some of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, including Las Vegas, New York City,
Bahrain, Chicago, Miami, Dubai, Orlando and Manila, Sugar Factory is known the world over for its
celebrity-endorsed Couture Pops, which have turned sweets into the latest designer accessory. Iconic
superstars including Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Britney Spears, Drake, Nicole Scherzinger, Kim
Kardashian, Eva Longoria and Rupert Grint are just a few of the celebrities who have either endorsed or
have been spotted with the sparkly lollipops. Sugar Factory’s loyal celebrity following has received
widespread media attention from People Magazine, the Daily Mail, US Weekly, Entertainment Tonight,
Extra and more.

Look for new Sugar Factory locations in New York City (1991 Broadway), Chicago (The Shops at North
Bridge), Bellevue, Washington (The Bravern), Foxwoods Resort (Connecticut) and San Francisco.
Time Travel (Blog post for Indian River Gallery)

When I hold one of our magnificent antiques in my hands, I get the sense of traversing the years. Going
back to a time when hand-crafted items played an important role in daily life. I contemplate the hours
that went into creating one of our majestic Navajo weavings, or one of the stunning beadwork pieces on
display in our gallery. The years of training, the wisdom of generations, and centuries of tradition are
right there in each artifact. All we have to do is appreciate the history within each piece and cherish the
opportunity to touch the past.

A perfect example of this is a Sioux beaded game ball that dates back to the 1890s. This rare & beautiful
authentic antique beaded game ball was most likely used at the start of a game of shinney (an extremely
athletic game, resembling hockey, that often left players severely injured). This ball would be used at the
beginning of a game in a ceremonial fashion before the actual game ball (which was made of simple
leather) was thrown onto the field. About the size of a tennis ball, it features beading on a brain-tanned
hide in lazy stitch form with all of the beads intact.

One can visualize the spectacle of dozens to hundreds of Native American athletes passing, dodging, and
running across a huge field in the prairielands – all being cheered on by thousands more on the
sidelines. Something like Monday night football comes to mind with more blood and less corporate
sponsorship. It’s all there when you hold this small artifact in the palm of your hand.

This rare gem, along with many other antiques, is available at Indian River Gallery. Go to our web site to
discover them all.

The Importance of “American Made” (Blog post for Indian River Gallery)

We here at Indian River Gallery pride ourselves on carrying nothing but American Made items. From the
beautiful, handmade jewelry, pottery, Navajo weavings and Zuni carvings to the majestic bronzes of
Michael Curtis and Elie Hazak, all of our pieces were crafted right here in the U.S.A. There is a special
sense of place that permeates the gallery and impresses every person that walks through our doors.

According to the American Made Alliance (www.FindAmericanMade.com), if all of us spent an additional

$65.00 this year on American Made as opposed to imported goods we could create about 100,000 new
jobs. In this ever-challenging economy we find ourselves in, the buying decisions we make and their
impact on the fiscal security of our country are becoming more apparent. When we can walk into any
store, large or small, and find goods produced a half a globe away that are competitively priced, we
need to focus on something besides price: authenticity.

Ask anyone who’s visited the Southwest recently and you’ll hear tales of purchases made at a stand
along the road where the prices were too good to be true. Unfortunately, the stories often end with the
discovery that these so-called “Native American” items were made in China. We have heard these
stories at the gallery and urge our clients to be cautious when they make their purchases. Reputable
galleries are often confronted with price-conscious consumers who are looking for the best deals, but
we need to remain steadfast and remind folks that they are getting pieces that are authentic and are
also among some of the finest examples of Native American art and jewelry available.

In celebration of all things American, Indian River Gallery will donate 5% of all online purchases made in
the month of July to charities such as the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org)
that honor our returning veterans.

On behalf of everyone here at Indian River Gallery, we wish you a safe and happy Fourth of July
weekend.

Birthday Promo (Promotional blurb for Sugar Factory web page)

There is no better place to celebrate your special day than one of our fabulous hot spots in New York,
Las Vegas or Hollywood! They all feature walls brimming with an endless assortment of your favorite
candies!

You and your guests will definitely enjoy yourselves in our Hollywood store. With three floors of
delicious goodies to amaze your guests with, everyone can’t help but have a blast! There is even candy
carousels and a DJ booth on the third floor, which has been built for partying! Your guests will follow the
dotted wall through our whimsical décor to the candy wonderland that awaits them!

Our Town Square restaurant offers a scrumptious menu filled with all the delights you’ve come to
expect from Sugar Factory, including our legendary goblets and desserts. There’s ample seating both
inside and out. Our extensive offerings include the mouth-watering King Kong Sundae, which feeds up to
12 people! There’s also a delectable assortment of sundaes, shakes, crepes and chocolate treats to
choose from!

The New York Sugar Factory has already become a fixture on everybody’s must-visit list. Located in the
heart of NYC’s Meatpacking District, our brasserie is one of the hottest spots in town. Celebrate in style
with our unique, one-of-a-kind menu items and drinks that are out of this world. A dizzying array of
goodies is waiting for you and your guest to dig in to.

So when it’s time to celebrate, remember that birthdays are always better at Sugar Factory!