Steel and String: dynamic duo at the market

steel and string
MJ Lee and Kevin Kihara take a break after a morning of performing at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market.

Typically customers at a farmers’ market are grasping for their favorite organic produce. The fruits and vegetables excite the sense of smell and sight, but rarely does anything at the market capture the sense of sound like the musical duo of Steel and String. The unique, shield-like instrument and melodic violin create a harmonious blend of sound.

The combination of the rare Hang instrument and classical violin contribute to the couple’s distinct musical style. Comprised of Kevin Kihara and MJ Lee, Steel and String has been together since Spring 2014 and have been performing as street entertainers at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market for three weeks.

Hang instrumentalist and vocalist Kihara has been playing the unusual instrument for one and a half years. He describes the instrument as the “evolution of the steel drum.” It was invented by Swiss company PanArt in 2001 and 100 to 200 were produced annually. Today, however, production has ceased, which contributes to the Hang’s rarity.

Singer-songwriter and violinist Lee has been playing been playing violin since she was 4 years old. She plays both independently and collaboratively with other artists in the San Francisco area, according to her website,

Referring to the creation of Steel and String, Lee said, “I saw him playing and was impressed with his skills an musicality, so I asked him whether he might be open to playing with a violinist. The rest is history!”

Lee describes the duo’s style as a type of “free-flowing improvisation.” This makes every performance special to those who view their performances. She emphasizes that it is “quality over quantity in terms of audience.” Although massive crowds may not form, to hear feedback from those who do view the duo’s performances makes performing so rewarding for the pair. They are looking to expand their venues where they can play to include schools, restaurants, outdoor festivals and others.

Lee said, “This is a new and exciting venture for us both, and we’re excited to see where it goes!”

 

Food bank on a mission

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Volunteers bag carrots on a recent weekday at the main warehouse. Photo by Cassidy Hopkins

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Alameda County Community Food Bank is a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding those who are hungry. The 80 staffers and thousands of volunteers send food to more than 240 different agencies that distribute it to those in need. Soup kitchens, Salvation Army centers, schools and churches are just a few examples of the places the hungry go for a free meal or groceries. However, it’s not just about feeding the hungry. According to Communications Coordinator Tiffany Kang, the food bank’s mission also includes nutritional education. Kang said many people with tight budgets can’t afford the most nutritional food. Food with little to no nutritional value, like candy or cookies, are often cheaper than apples or oranges, she said. The food bank knows how important nutrition is. Especially for their primary clients, children. Even though students will often receive a free or reduced breakfasts and lunches during the school year, but when school is out, such as during holidays or the summer, kids can go hungry. The food bank fills that gap by collecting donations that go to purchasing wholesome food. Every $1 they receive of donations equals $4 of food they can distribute. The donated food is bagged by staff and volunteers from across Alameda County. Once bagged, it is trucked out to one of the agencies or shelved in their shopping center for representatives from smaller agencies to pick up. In one morning, the food bank is capable of sorting and packaging more than 9,000 pounds of food. That is the equivalent of 8,251 meals for those in need. She said working at the food bank, which she joined in June, is motivating. “My own family grew up on food stamps, so this is an area that’s very close to my heart,” she said. “And I’m fortunate enough to be able to buy what I need now.”