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Elisa Hetmanski

@kitchushku

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Burner. Traveler. Maker. Yogi. Urban jungle connoisseur. Director + Curator @humanassistedart. Art mom @experienceone.art
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Since May, we’ve been working non-stop to turn our fantastical playa dream into something we can actually see, touch, and relate to. What started as a loose concept quickly took on a life of its own, and we’ve been breathing life into it, day in and day out. Inspired during a full moon gathering at the home of Alex and Allyson Grey, we lovingly named our project ONE. In numerology, one is the single point of origin, the monad, the only shape with no beginning and no end. Building something of this scale and significance, beside your closest person and a loving, supportive community, is a gift beyond explanation. As this beast comes to life, we’ll be pulling back the curtain to share more of the story, the process, and where we’re taking this project next. 
Thanks for supporting us as we are learn, helping us while we’ve been injured, and sharing our excitement! We love you! taken in Hoboken, New Jersey by @kitchushku
24
14 days ago
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After getting engaged, the discussion around what that means and how to honor this moment in our lives became our North Star. I wasn’t sold on the idea of a traditional wedding for a variety of reasons, but I wanted nonetheless to honor our eternal union in a way that felt inextricably ‘us’. After much back and forth, and after unapologetically abandoning the idea of keeping it simple, we came up with the only logical way to celebrate our love story. The invitation to our engagement party, held auspiciously on the evening of the New Moon, carried a hint that we had a surprise to share with everyone. Friends traveled from all across the country to join us as we honored this crazy moment that felt beyond what I ever believed possible. The energy of that hot May evening was, for lack of a better term, exceptional. As 75 people packed into one room, shoulder to shoulder, we shared our vision. Enter: ONE. The Burning Man community served as the catalyst for our connection, and after years of supporting art and co-creating various projects, ONE is the very first installation we are leading together as a team. With tears in our eyes (mostly mine), we shared our vision with the world, opening the door for a project that not only celebrates love and partnership, but honors the community that uplifts and supports it. ONE was inspired by, and will be built for, everyone in that room. These last few months have been insanely beautiful, busy, exciting, magical, and hopeful as we learn the ins and outs of making large-scale art that can withstand the absurd environmental conditions of Black Rock City, figuring out how the hell we are going to make it all happen. Our relationship began because we both believed that creativity, community, and love will always persevere. Our love will be honored in its truest form with an art piece that carries that exact message. We want nothing more than to share this journey with our nearest and dearest as we bring this crazy dream to life in Black Rock City. 

🛠️Follow our build at @experienceone.art and start packing. Weddingman begins in 341 days. 📸Huge thank you to @fifsterfil and @raypp2 for this amazing content taken in New York, New York by @kitchushku
26
a month ago
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While these look like giant perimeter walls, these are something called ‘graudation towers’. And they are actually massive, functional, 19th century machines, the largest in Europe, built entirely from thousands of bundles of twigs! In Ciechocinek, (and many other regions of Poland) towns are built atop natural, mineral-rich, underground springs. The (very salty) brine is pumped to the top of these towers, and then trickles slowly down through the branches. As the sun and wind hit the water as it cascades down, the water evaporates, creating a microclimate heavy with sodium chloride, iodine, bromine, and magnesium. Walking around the towers forces you to breathe in a natural, medicinal air full of these minerals. Spending just one hour walking near the towers allows your respiratory system to absorb as much iodine as spending three full days on the Baltic Sea! It is highly therapeutic for the lungs, thyroid, and immune system. Culturally, wellness isn’t looked at the same way in Poland as it is in the US. It’s a fundamental part of healthcare. Polish people have an immense faith in the healing properties of the earth, especially salt and mud! Many people take days (or weeks!) “taking in the waters” or spending time in sanatorium (medical spas) to reset their bodies and get back to a place of equilibrium. #poland #graduationtowers #ciechocinek taken in Ciechocinek - Tężnie Solankowe by @kitchushku
0
5 months ago
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In early April I flew to Poland to meet Blake, who had been traveling with family the two weeks prior. Experience through travel has been a profound part of my identity over the last decade, and despite being deeply tied to my family’s cultural roots, this was the first time I stepped foot in the motherland. My upbringing was filled with stories, bits and pieces of painful and beautiful history, and traditions that are so deeply tied to my identity that I wouldn’t know what to do without them. I don’t know why I waited so long to visit the homeland of my family, but after experiencing it in all of its beautiful, tragic, and inspiring glory, I think I can wholeheartedly say I simply wasn’t ready. I was not prepared for the deep emotional, cultural and personal ties I felt to this place. Blake and I traveled from Gdansk to Warsaw to Krakow, stopping in many towns along the way - including the small mountain village where my Babcia was born, and ultimately captured as a young girl during the Nazi occupation in WWII. If travel is meant to give color and context to the world, this experience did something even greater. It gave context to my own identity. I feel as if I found a piece of myself. #gdansk #sopot #malbork #torun #poland taken in Poland by @kitchushku
3
5 months ago
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Life has been so insane(ly good) that we never properly shared about our adventures in Saigon for Lunar New Year! Watching this amazing city (and country!) prepare for weeks, undergo major mental, emotional (and literal!) housekeeping, and getting to observe an entire culture erupt with joy at the opportunity to start again was unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced while traveling. The food, the people, the fashion, the pace, the music, the books, the traditions… I could go on and on! HCMC is big chaos energy and we soaked up every last drop of it. 🙌 #vietnam by @kitchushku
1
5 months ago
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That time we woke up at 4am to make fresh noodles for the village, ate the most spectacular dish on Earth for $1.25 (Cao lau), drank viper/iguana/seahorse infused rice wines, and learned how to weave traditional sleeping mats. #hoian #vietnam taken in Hoi An, Vietnam by @kitchushku
3
7 months ago
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Hoi An is a place that feels like it was painted into existence. Known for its hundreds of artisan shops, the village is full of vibrant yellow buildings, flowering trees and French colonial influence. By day, the streets are overflowing with tailors and makers crafting custom clothing and jewelry, but as the sun sets, the Old Quarter transforms. Thousands of silk lanterns flicker to life, lining every tiny alleyway and reflecting off the canal that winds through the center of town. There is a beautiful ritual here: you light a small paper lantern with a specific intention, make a wish, and release it into the water. As the boats travel by, the canal becomes a floating collection of hopes and dreams. We wandered through the village just as the last of the daylight turned the water into a shimmering rainbow. It felt like a perfect summer night, strolling hand-in-hand, listening and watching all of the sights and sounds as the night market opened for the evening. We boarded a small wooden boat, beautifully decorated with colorful flowers and lanterns, and drifted away from the shore. I lit my lantern and made the same wish I’ve made for the last four years: to live a long, happy, healthy life with Blake by my side. I watched my wish float away into the dark water, and just a few moments later, Blake (nervously, adorably) asked if I would spend forever beside him. 

It’s funny, after our first date, which turned into three inseparable days, a friend casually asked me how it went. I sighed and laughed and sighed again. I said, when this ends, it’s going to absolutely kill me. It was like seeing something that could no longer be unseen. My heart opened in a way I never knew it could. I couldn’t imagine a life without him then, and I certainly can’t imagine one without him now. 
 I love you, Blake Reeves. You are the light of my life. And I cannot wait to marry you. 💍 #engagedaf taken in Hoi An, Vietnam by @kitchushku
73
7 months ago
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We arrived in Central Vietnam and immediately felt the shift. Hue is a city haunted beautifully by its past. Exploring the Imperial Citadel and the expansive tombs of the Emperors, you start to understand the depth of Vietnamese superstition and spiritual beliefs. While Buddhism is practiced by ~40% of the population, there is no “official” religion in the country. However, it is widely believed that the spirits of the ancestors remain present after death and honoring them is deeply ingrained into every aspect of the culture. Every home, business, hotel, shop, cafe, etc has an altar of some kind to do just that. To many Vietnamese, the spirit world is not separate from the physical one, but an overlapping plane of reality that is present at all times. Hue is famous for immense, ornate tombs of past emperors (the scale is impossible to capture in a photo). These were built to ensure the spirit continues to prosper, once the soul of the deceased moves on to this alternate plane. Each is completely unique, can span hundreds of acres, and are meticulously cared to this day. #hue #vietnam taken in Hue, Vietnam by @kitchushku
2
7 months ago
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Two days after the dust settled from our road trip in the North, we headed about twelve hours south to Phong Nha to disappear into the Tu Lan cave system. Vietnam is home to the world’s largest caves, with more regions still being mapped and discovered to this day. Eight of us stepped off the grid and into a world very few people ever see. Because this prehistoric ecosystem is so fragile, access is strictly limited each year, and it’s easy to understand why. This wasn’t a casual hike, it was 22 miles of the most intense terrain we’ve ever faced. We climbed 4,600 feet over jagged rocks, through slippery mud, pulled ourselves up using vines and trees, waded through cold river crossings, and avoided countless steep, unforgiving drops in the terrain. Unlike the groomed trails and clear markers we’re used to in the US, these paths are invisible to the untrained eye. In the caves themselves, our trusty headlamps were all we had. Some of these 7 caves are miles(!!) long and the only other creatures inside of them were colonies of bats, hand-sized spiders, and strange, eyeless creatures that have evolved in total isolation over millions of years. The most surreal moments were the swims. Jumping into the subterranean rivers in our full hiking gear, and being held in this kind of natural sensory deprivation tank was beyond words. None of this would have been possible without our local guides. The villagers that have lived beside these mountains and caves for generations now serve as the bridge that connects curious travelers to this one-of-a-kind landscape. A million thanks to @oxalisadventure for an experience of a lifetime! taken in Tu Lan Caves System by @kitchushku
14
7 months ago
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We traded motorbikes for a vintage Russian military vehicle (UAZ or Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod for the curious) and spent 5 days navigating Ha Giang and Cao Bang in the northernmost regions of Vietnam. Beyond the incredible landscapes, caves, waterfalls, and (treacherous) roads, we spent time learning about the traditions of some of Vietnam’s 54 indigenous communities. Traversing the north was a welcome shift from the chaotic energy of where we started. And weaving through mountain roads in a vehicle with no windows or heat during a drastic cold snap certainly made the adventure a memorable one. 😂 #hagiang #hahiangloop #caobang #vietnam taken in Ha Giang Loop, Vietnam by @kitchushku
4
7 months ago
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Train Street is exactly as ridiculous as this video makes it look. It is not uncommon to see tiny streets and alleys in Hanoi, but this one has a commuter train track carved directly down the middle. IT IS LITERALLY INCHES AWAY FROM HUMANS with zero safety measures in place. Turn around at the wrong time? Oops, suddenly smashed by a moving train. Locals are selling coffee, hanging laundry, and going about their everyday lives, while tourists can’t resist the spectacle. I had no idea that this existed or what to expect from a place called “train street” but I think I can sum it up in three words: terrifying, surreal, unforgettable. #hanoi #trainstreet taken in Hanoi Train Street by @kitchushku
10
7 months ago
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///Blur\\\ Vietnam was a sensory overload in all of the best ways. The night we first arrived in Hanoi, we were dropped in the middle of a bustling night market with thousands of people swarming around us, scooters frantically rushing by, and the sounds of live music from every street corner. With nothing but our backpacks, we pushed through the crowds to get settled at our homestay - we had been awake for nearly 30hrs, and yet we knew we needed to dive in and explore. The energy of this city was palpable - no matter night or day, something was happening. At 4am markets were exploding with color and people excited to get the freshest produce. At 4pm crowds would begin rushing toward the night markets and thousands of scooters would zip by in packs. They say when you cross the streets, you just walk and the scooters will compensate and flow around you like fish in a stream... It's terrifyingly accurate. I was in love. Getting lost in alleys with my love while stumbling upon hidden storefronts in people's living rooms all while dodging scooters carrying far more than any scooter was meant to carry. It's all wild and free, and it feels so real. It was just the beginning of our trip and I already knew it would be one of the most special places I have ever been. Here's just a snapshot of the energy and alleys I could catch in our first week - shout out to the scooter hauling 2 vases that were as tall as me! ⚱️ #pixel9 #explorevietnam #wanderlust #hanoi #longexposure taken in Hanoi Old Quater by @kitchushku
2
8 months ago
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