May and June shows!

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!

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.

• Avery 8879
• Avery 8371
• VistaPrint business card
• Nitroprint business card
• USPS standard postcard template (very popular!)
• Scribus blank US letter-size template

Bid on my art - ending this weekend!

 http://www.ebay.com/sch/alleycatmews/m.html

Current Show: "The View from Here"

Where: AFRU Gallery, 534 SE Oak St, Portland, OR
When: Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 2pm - 6pm
Until Saturday, April 27.

Art show announcement on QQ weibo, just in case.

http://t.qq.com/p/t/199629015061694

Getting ready for the show!

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.

Art sale on eBay this week!

All items starting at 99 cents plus S&H, or "Buy It Now" for $100 each.
Art on eBay this week 

Against Nature (political art for immigrant rights)

Ink and watercolour on Strathmore paper
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.

April show: The View from Here

The View from Here

April 5-27, 2013

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