Illuminations 2011

As I lay in bed tonight after a long day’s work in holiday crazed retail-land, many times images of the day or, of things that inspire me, emerge from the darkness. My mind is on my installation at the SomArts. I like to dream about how nice it would be if I could be there right NOW visiting regularly with my altar which is dedicated to the memory of my maternal grandfather and to my younger brothers service. I admire the way people in Latin America hang out and have picnics in cemeteries.Holidays and rituals are a way of slowing down and being present, which is something I strive for. Some may call it praying or meditation. To art lovers, it can be about being in the presence of some awe inspiring work that whisks you out of your everyday dull-drums and brings you closer to your own animalistic need for communication and self-expression.

I had a great time at this opening for the Illuminations exhibit. I also met lots of energizing arts-folks that gave me good feed back on my own work and the San fran art scene. I am grateful for even being able to make time to go into the city let alone get my dedicate myself truly to art marketing business end of "making it" as an artist. I'm too much of an art hermit but I'm working on it! It helps me, and fills my little artistic heart with pride, that I believe in this organization and their commitment to the mission district not just as an arts hub but as a grassroots community.
I hope you all make it out to other cultural events at SomArts such as the Feast of Words literary potluck which the center hosts once a month.

The images in this post are from the opening of the Illuminations exhibit. Enjoy!

The calm before the ASUCAR!

It’s t-minus three hours before the start of the 13th annual SomArts Dead of the Dead festival! This year there are 80 artists from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of receiving my docent training for the event. Luckily, since it was the day before the opening, many artists were on site giving their installations, wall paintings, and altars some last minute loves.

Please note, I tried to credit each picture with the artist and a brief description but apparently, I do not blog enough to wade through the HTML to make it look right. If you have any questions about specific pictures feel free to ask.

I’d like to share with you some progress shots of the various embodiments of this year’s theme Illuminations. We are expecting quite the turn out this evening and this month of October with return patrons that have followed this event from infancy as well as, the fleet week crowd, all the new transplants to the bay area, (such as myself) and of course the cultured San Fransisco populous at large who knows a fine great community event when they see one.
Again, many thanks to the hardworking crew of SomArts such as father and son duo curators Rene Yañez & Rio Yañez, Debra, Jess, Sally, contributing Artists, and all the lighting, sound, tech, and volunteer help that make such a grand community event possible.

Illuminations

It’s hard to believe summer is almost gone especially while enjoying the consistently beautiful climate of Redwood City. This little village’s claim to fame is proudly displayed on its Caltrain platform “climate best by government test”.

Despite the agreeable weather a girl can not live by sunshine alone and so I try to wander into “the city” San Francisco, in order to get my cultural mojo going.
In October I am participating in Illuminations: Día de los Muertos 2011 Exhibition, which runs October 8–November 5, 2011. I will be showing an installation consisting of a traditional Mexican day of the dead altar, dedicated to the memory of my maternal grandfather Ulysses Ugalde Uglade as well as, a painting using my brother and I as archetypes exploring universal themes of societal and existential angst.
I am thrilled to participate as an artist and volunteer for this organization which upholds values of cultural belonging, LGBT awareness, and community outreach through the unifying powers of art. If you happen to be in the San Francisco don’t miss this event! For more details on the event and its history please visit the SOMArts website at www.somarts.org/dayofthedead

* flyer image by graphic artist and curator Rio Yañez

salty & sweet boys of the sea

4"x6"in watercolor drawing of two lovely gay mermen on arches watercolor paper. The development of this image has been influenced by the Japanese kuai cute pop culture style and western notions of mermaids and faeries.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the influence of environment on our perceptions of self and others. The visible and unseen effects of culture and a how a person's psychological development is guided by the familial, all seem to still be peculating since finishing my degree.
In the process of drawing, I seemed to be fighting a bit with the darker merman who's expression which came out more frightened and with a demur shyness than I had not expected. I like them and I was quite surprised by the end result. Clearly these two salty boys have colorful stories to tell my client in his dreams.

I'm currently practicing making smaller works. This miniaturization of my current work is being off set by being part of an illustration project in Portland and a artist portrait trade.

thinking about the fall of the house of Usher and sci-fi

Today I attended the local Saturday farmer’s market in Vista. The weather was hot and the sun energizing this is what became of some 8.5 x 11 cardboard stock.

Painting on a record...and it's a clock!

Hello there online art journal readers! It’s been a long while since I’ve updated my blogspot but I’m here to share with you my very first art project since moving to our new digs in the California bay area.
First I must say the daily exposure to sunshine and vitamin D has done wonders for my naturally gloomy artistic temperament. Also having a simple low stress job at an art and framing store is not too shabby either. It really does feel like summer and I hope to ride this refreshing wave of creativity into the fall.

The image was created with the invent to be donated to the Carlsbad ArtSplash which is an annual non-profit event who’s mission is to bring together the North County community to raise funds for arts, music and the North county schools. The cultural event hosts various artists with chalk art street paintings, live art, an art auction, musicians, street entertainers, and performing artists, and delectable food set in a spectacular venue overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The piece is a hand painted acrylic illustration of a mermaid listening to a seashell. In her magenta and purple environment she has a seahorse at 9 o’clock, anchor at 3 o’clock , and her trusted black fish-cat at 6 o’clock.

(this image is of the painting/record without the clock hands which I will be adding prior to shipping)

I wanted this image to evoke a feeling of calm and optimism which as one may feel when we realize that we have everything we need all ready. Now what to title this little art object? I think the title of "Mermaid blossoms in the moment" will suit it fine.

The banner to her right reads “Hear blessings dropping their blossoms all around you” which is an excerpt from a poem by the 12th century Sufi poet Rumi.

Since the art object is intended to be a functional and utilitarian item such as a clock, I couldn’t help it and added a touch of awareness of the present moment to the image’s overall mood.

New Acrylic Paintings at the Red Square Cafe in S.E. Portland