Recently I have come to a realization that most of what I do in life, and choices I make, are my subconscious ways to leave a legacy in this world. "Making a mark," as some might say. Political scientist Francis Fukuyama, in his book, The End of History and the Last Man, asserts that the reason for human history is our deep-seated needs for recognition.
For many times over, I have chosen a path that was seemingly insane. I left a life of affluence and privilege, went to schools learning subjects that did not necessarily led to money, and honestly, even when I thought I was a selfless servant of the world, I was trying to become a hero, in building an epic legend with my own life. No one today knows or understands the extent of this, and how this led me to a place in which I am living an extraordinary -- as in truly out of ordinary -- adventure that manifests many of my youthful dreams of the past. Quixotic, maybe.
In the end, what I am doing is leaving a mark in this world, and perhaps while at it, inspire and challenge this world.
A few days before the opening of the Siren Nation Art Festival, this idea came to me in my dream -- a tongue-in-cheek prank to install a "mixed-media conceptual 3D art," which is made of a purple pushpin and a blue string. In this big world, my legacy perhaps may be small, and outright silly at times to some, but I am leaving a mark.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
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My sixth show of this year: Siren Nation Art Festival opening this Thursday
I have indeed fulfilled my goal of six art shows this year, with the opening of the Siren Nation Art Festival this Thursday!
As you see, this time around, I have decidedly taken a somewhat different approach (what?! they are still cats!!). For the previous five shows, I was primarily using line-drawing illustrations that were tinted with a bit of watercolour. For this show, I have done more traditional watercolour paintings.
The art festival's theme this year is "Then and Now."
The Siren Nation Art Festival originally began in the early 2000s, inspired by LadyFest, Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, and Lilith Fair, with a purpose of showcasing women's music talent in a world that is dominated by men. A fine arts festival was later added as an adjunct event, as well as the craft fair.
This is my third time with Siren Nation, first time as part of the (now-defunct) Working Artists Network, LLC booth at the 2008 craft fair at the McMenamins Kennedy School (with Adrienne Fritze and Amy Luck!). In 2010, I made it into the juried fine arts show at Albina Press Hawthorne, and I am back this year after two years of absence.
When: Opening Thursday, November 7, 2013, 6 p.m. - Ending Tuesday, December 3, 2013.
http://www.sirennation.org/festival-art/
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| En retrospeta / In retrospect En prospeta / In prospect |
As you see, this time around, I have decidedly taken a somewhat different approach (what?! they are still cats!!). For the previous five shows, I was primarily using line-drawing illustrations that were tinted with a bit of watercolour. For this show, I have done more traditional watercolour paintings.
The art festival's theme this year is "Then and Now."
The Siren Nation Art Festival originally began in the early 2000s, inspired by LadyFest, Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, and Lilith Fair, with a purpose of showcasing women's music talent in a world that is dominated by men. A fine arts festival was later added as an adjunct event, as well as the craft fair.
This is my third time with Siren Nation, first time as part of the (now-defunct) Working Artists Network, LLC booth at the 2008 craft fair at the McMenamins Kennedy School (with Adrienne Fritze and Amy Luck!). In 2010, I made it into the juried fine arts show at Albina Press Hawthorne, and I am back this year after two years of absence.
Siren Nation Art Festival information:
Where: Albina Press on Hawthorne (not the one on Albina Avenue), 5012 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97215When: Opening Thursday, November 7, 2013, 6 p.m. - Ending Tuesday, December 3, 2013.
http://www.sirennation.org/festival-art/
The Tarot Show
First Friday opening reception on October 4, 7-9 p.m.Show dates: October 4-25, 2013
Splendorporium, 3421 SE 21st Ave, Portland, Oregon 97202
As part of cost-cutting and streamlining measure, this site is now found at http://art.alleycatmews.tk/ instead of http://creative.alleycatmews.info.
The following items are from my previous (recent) art shows and are for sale. (Note: all items are unframed originals.)
From the February solo show Purrsuit of Catness, "Catnip Dreaming" is one of the online favorites thus far. This ink and watercolor illustration is on a 9"x12" Strathmore paper.
$70.00
"Kitty is very, very sleepy" contemplates on end-of-life, death, and eternity. Ink and watercolor on a 12" x 9" Strathmore paper. From February 2013 Purrsuit of Catness show.
$50.00
From April 2013 The View from Here show. $50.00
From April 2013 The View from Here show. $50.00
From April 2013 The View from Here show. $50.00
Contact Sarah if you are interested in purchasing.
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| Catnip Dreaming (9" x 12") |
$70.00
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| Kitty is very very sleepy (12" x 9") |
$50.00
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| Found is lost and lost is found (8" x 8") |
From April 2013 The View from Here show. $50.00
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| Out of mud, brightness (8" x 8") |
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| Ingenuity (8" x 8") |
Contact Sarah if you are interested in purchasing.
First of all, thank you everyone who came to the Afru Gallery to see the just-concluded View from Here show! It was great to come back to that space, previously known as the Launchpad Gallery, since the last time I showed in a group show (The Fear Show, 2010).
As if this isn't a big thing for me enough, I have two juried shows that I got in, that are coming up for May and June 2013! These will be the third and fourth shows of the year, after two full years of break from my artistic career.
The ¡Muros Abajo! show is a very timely as the U.S. Congress is slated to begin hearings and debates on the comprehensive immigration reform bill. As an artist and an immigrant rights activist, this show will be my first attempt at a political art, or an art-as-activism. It is presented by the Portland Central America Solidarity Committee (PCASC), one of the long-time organizers of the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PARC) and a partner of the former Liberty Hall (aka Workers Educational Resources Center). It will open on the May First Friday.
The Portland Recycled Rain Project, opening June 1, is a brainchild of Sara Sjol. This challenge show is based on the idea of using collected local rainwater for various forms of art production.
Interestingly, all four of the shows I have had this year have been in Southeast Portland!
As if this isn't a big thing for me enough, I have two juried shows that I got in, that are coming up for May and June 2013! These will be the third and fourth shows of the year, after two full years of break from my artistic career.
The ¡Muros Abajo! show is a very timely as the U.S. Congress is slated to begin hearings and debates on the comprehensive immigration reform bill. As an artist and an immigrant rights activist, this show will be my first attempt at a political art, or an art-as-activism. It is presented by the Portland Central America Solidarity Committee (PCASC), one of the long-time organizers of the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PARC) and a partner of the former Liberty Hall (aka Workers Educational Resources Center). It will open on the May First Friday.
The Portland Recycled Rain Project, opening June 1, is a brainchild of Sara Sjol. This challenge show is based on the idea of using collected local rainwater for various forms of art production.
Interestingly, all four of the shows I have had this year have been in Southeast Portland!
Monday, April 15, 2013
1 comments
Free for all downloads: Scribus templates for postcards, Avery business cards, and more
http://db.tt/tc6Bx8XV
When I first began creating Scribus templates in 2009, they were mostly made for myself out of necessity. I posted them on my blog and soon many people from around the world started downloading them. You will find some of the all-time favourites and some new ones.
When I first began creating Scribus templates in 2009, they were mostly made for myself out of necessity. I posted them on my blog and soon many people from around the world started downloading them. You will find some of the all-time favourites and some new ones.
- Avery 8879
- Avery 8371
- VistaPrint business card
- Nitroprint business card
- USPS standard postcard template (very popular!)
- Scribus blank US letter-size template
Where: AFRU Gallery, 534 SE Oak St, Portland, OR
When: Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 2pm - 6pm
Until Saturday, April 27.
When: Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 2pm - 6pm
Until Saturday, April 27.
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Show information by artist: http://s.coop/view
General show information by curator: http://launchpadgallery.org/view
Gallery information: http://www.afrugallery.com
Afru Gallery, 534 SE Oak St, Portland, Oregon
Opening Friday, April 5, 6 p.m.-midnight
Gallery open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until April 27.
Original size 9 inches x 12 inches
“Against Nature” (2013) is a political commentary on the arbitrary, abstract and artificial nature of international borders and how political, military and economical interests of the remote powerful create a system that is both oppressive towards the ordinary living and breathing people and defiant of the laws of nature. Nationality laws, immigration laws, and any other means to control borders are product of modern human system, and wild plants and animals simply do not know their existence. Likewise, the idea of dividing the planet earth into various countries and exclude the “foreign” is against nature.
To allow the message to have a universal appeal, it depicts a fictional border between two fictitious countries, which can be any countries you can think of. The sleeve of a naval officer and that of an army officer represent the inherent systemic violence that borders generally represent, and how they are often drawn in a remote war room or national capital, or on an international negotiating table.
This work is dedicated to the immigration reform and immigrants’ rights movement, countless DREAMers, and multitude of undocumented immigrants.
This item is on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330900657811
Share this art. Immigrant rights activists and community organizations are welcome to reproduce it on their websites or in their publications provided that they observe the Copyright and Licensing policy.
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