GRATEFUL!
I'm filled with gratitude as I shut down the Renewed jewelry/talisman shop for the winter holidays period while I'm out of town.
The pieces have met with a warm welcome from many and its inspiring me to continue my practice. As I search for my artistic voice and discern what touches my whimsy or calls to my heart, I follow what I have fun doing. Its been frustrating at times feeling like I need to set goals and then achieve them (like building a body of work or figuring out where this is all going or choosing one medium and sticking to it). I unearth my assumptions about the art I "should" create versus the things that make me happy or help me live a fuller life.
This last round has helped me realize the more I listen, the more I just dance to the music. I forget about where I am dancing to or why I am dancing. Maybe I don't need a reason. Or maybe my body, my hands, and my spirit understand the reason... and I need to just defer to them.
The jewelry/talismans call to me. I'm going to stop questioning it and keep creating!
THANK YOU!
The pieces have met with a warm welcome from many and its inspiring me to continue my practice. As I search for my artistic voice and discern what touches my whimsy or calls to my heart, I follow what I have fun doing. Its been frustrating at times feeling like I need to set goals and then achieve them (like building a body of work or figuring out where this is all going or choosing one medium and sticking to it). I unearth my assumptions about the art I "should" create versus the things that make me happy or help me live a fuller life.
This last round has helped me realize the more I listen, the more I just dance to the music. I forget about where I am dancing to or why I am dancing. Maybe I don't need a reason. Or maybe my body, my hands, and my spirit understand the reason... and I need to just defer to them.
The jewelry/talismans call to me. I'm going to stop questioning it and keep creating!
THANK YOU!
SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING NEW
I've been on a jewelry making mission lately. I stumbled upon a street side vintage jewelry sale and went nuts buying stuff. Crystal strawberries, orchids, antique Thai silver pendants. A incredible festival of color and sparkle. For the last few months, I've been adding semi precious stones, smoothed drift wood, and beads to originals to make one of a kind pieces.
Combining something old and something new gives depth to the pieces. You can feel it - the sense of story and history that comes from a re-used, re-newed object.
Combining something old and something new gives depth to the pieces. You can feel it - the sense of story and history that comes from a re-used, re-newed object.
*CELEBRATING RICHARD AOKI & THE SPIRIT OF SELF DETERMINATION 4/09*
I am working with an incredible team of folks from Eastside Arts Alliance (Peps, Emory Douglas, Greg Morizumi, Susanne Takehara and more...), Black August, and Serve The People (Le and Hieu Nguyen, Nkaujiab Yang, Mike Tran, Somneng Chan, Rany Ath, Maurice Seaty, Tony Douangviseth, Anna Bach, all the Dragons and SEAFOOS), the UCB AAPA Alumns (Harvey and Bea Dong, Betty Kano, Floyd Huen, et al) to create a community altar in honor of Richard Aoki. The altar will be at the May 3rd memorial (see info below) and then reside at Eastside as a teaching tool. Everyone is welcome to bring an offering!
Richard was a member of the Asian Pacific American Alliance (AAPA) that led the struggle for ethnic studies as well as a field marshall and charter member of the Black Panther Party. Later in life, he worked in higher education with the Peralta Community Colleges and stayed involved in community happenings. In 2007, Richard sponsored and hosted a Secret Brunch where Serve the People, an all volunteer API social justice group, raised money for our first ever Week of Resistance summer program. We are grateful to an OG like him for blazing the way and connecting his legacy with the younger folks out here trying to evolve the struggles of our people into this next generation. For more about Richard check out: www.mercurynews.com/breakingne
Memorial Events for Richard Aoki
----------------------------------------------------------
May 2, 2009, Saturday 1:00-4:00 pm
Wheeler Auditorium, UC Berkeley Campus
Program to Celebrate the Life & Times of Richard Aoki
Featuring:
Bobby Seale, of the Black Panther Party & friend of Richards
Other speakers: AAPA, TWLF, friends & colleagues
Video: "Tribute to Richard Aoki" by TWF Films
Co-sponsored by Asian American Studies/Ethnic Studies Dept., UCB.
Public invited.
----------------------------------------------------------
May 3, 2009 Sunday 11am-1pm
Outdoor Community Remembrance & Celebration
at Lil' Bobby Hutton (DeFremery) Park
1651 Adeline St, (near 18th Street) Oakland
Community readings of short writings and poems dedicated to life of
Richard Aoki. Public invited.
Co-sponsored by EastSide Arts Alliance, Serve the People, Black August
Organizing Committee
----------------------------------------------------------
May 3, 2009 Sunday 2pm
Chapel of the Chimes, Memorial Service
4499 Piedmont Ave, Oakland.
Sponsored by family and friends
----------------------------------------------------------
Richard was a member of the Asian Pacific American Alliance (AAPA) that led the struggle for ethnic studies as well as a field marshall and charter member of the Black Panther Party. Later in life, he worked in higher education with the Peralta Community Colleges and stayed involved in community happenings. In 2007, Richard sponsored and hosted a Secret Brunch where Serve the People, an all volunteer API social justice group, raised money for our first ever Week of Resistance summer program. We are grateful to an OG like him for blazing the way and connecting his legacy with the younger folks out here trying to evolve the struggles of our people into this next generation. For more about Richard check out: www.mercurynews.com/breakingne
Memorial Events for Richard Aoki
----------------------------------------------------------
May 2, 2009, Saturday 1:00-4:00 pm
Wheeler Auditorium, UC Berkeley Campus
Program to Celebrate the Life & Times of Richard Aoki
Featuring:
Bobby Seale, of the Black Panther Party & friend of Richards
Other speakers: AAPA, TWLF, friends & colleagues
Video: "Tribute to Richard Aoki" by TWF Films
Co-sponsored by Asian American Studies/Ethnic Studies Dept., UCB.
Public invited.
----------------------------------------------------------
May 3, 2009 Sunday 11am-1pm
Outdoor Community Remembrance & Celebration
at Lil' Bobby Hutton (DeFremery) Park
1651 Adeline St, (near 18th Street) Oakland
Community readings of short writings and poems dedicated to life of
Richard Aoki. Public invited.
Co-sponsored by EastSide Arts Alliance, Serve the People, Black August
Organizing Committee
----------------------------------------------------------
May 3, 2009 Sunday 2pm
Chapel of the Chimes, Memorial Service
4499 Piedmont Ave, Oakland.
Sponsored by family and friends
----------------------------------------------------------
*COMMISSIONED PIECES 4/09*
Today I launched my artist website! I will be creating commissioned pieces in Fall of 2009, so please approach me with ideas you may have via this website contact page or my personal email (if you know it).
I am also beginning a Senior Fellowship at the Movement Strategy Center (Oakland, California) in August 2009 and my intentions are to integrate creativity, play, arts, spirit, organizational planning, and social justice movement building. We're going to start with feng shueing the office! Although my plate looks rather full, hit me up with ideas for projects.... I have nooks and crannies of time.
movementstrategy.org
I am also beginning a Senior Fellowship at the Movement Strategy Center (Oakland, California) in August 2009 and my intentions are to integrate creativity, play, arts, spirit, organizational planning, and social justice movement building. We're going to start with feng shueing the office! Although my plate looks rather full, hit me up with ideas for projects.... I have nooks and crannies of time.
movementstrategy.org
*PECHA KUCHA OAKLAND 3/09*
Pecha Kucha in Oakland, California is hosted by Estria Miyashiro, Maisha Quint, and Weyland Southon at the Eastside Arts Alliance every month. I presented my artwork publicly for the first time at Pecha Kucha in March as part of an all womyn's line up. I left buoyed by everyone's energy and through that momentum have launched this website.
I've been there for two PK's and each time, I leave inspired by the variety and depth of talent; photographers, organizers, assemblage, chefs, graff artists, gardeners.... it's eclectic!
www.eastsideartsalliance.com
hardknockradio.com
estria.net
I've been there for two PK's and each time, I leave inspired by the variety and depth of talent; photographers, organizers, assemblage, chefs, graff artists, gardeners.... it's eclectic!
www.eastsideartsalliance.com
hardknockradio.com
estria.net
