New art: "Was It Something I Said?"

Hey, I'm back! And I brought some new artwork with me.

This collage put me through the emotional wringer, even though the concept came fairly quickly. Remember the inspiration for this collage? 

Looking at this picture is like trying to watch three TV screens at once. Remembering that moment, I'm pretty sure my mom was just chilly and impatient to get back into the warm car. But now I also see uncertainty in her face.

She grew up surrounded by other African Americans in the (segregated) South. You could tell because when she said the letter R, it had two syllables.

I grew up in a southern California neighborhood that had only three other black families. All of them lived on the other side of the street -- the side without a view of the city. (I later learned this was a discriminatory realtor trick my mom recognized, and she insisted on the view.)

When I moved to Seattle, my accent didn't set me apart, but I did feel an isolation similar to hers. It's called "the Seattle Freeze," and I couldn't find a way into a social circle until another California transplant made it her mission to bring me in from the cold.

My friend reassured me I wasn't coming on too strong when trying to meet new people. It was just... Seattle.  That's why I titled this piece "Was It Something I Said?"

This collage is for those who've faced a frosty group and struggled to find a place for themselves.

New art: St. Felicia, complete

Aaand... she's done! Here's your first full glimpses of St. Felicia, patron saint of farewells.

Behold, the glow of holiness emanates from her being.

St. Felicia's shrine will open to her followers and devotees at the debut of the Great Mystery Project. I'll also have her holy backstory posted nearby. For now, though, enjoy the slideshow of St. Felicia's evolution on my studio table.

Kent Summer Arts Exhibit: live, and on video too

City of Kent videographer: Hey, would you be willing to be interviewed about your work that's in the Kent Summer Arts Exhibit?

Me: Sure, why not?

This video is a lovely introduction to my work and why I do it. You can also see the works of Vikram Madan, Barbara Noonan, SIEGE and many others live and in person at Kent's Centennial Center Gallery. The video is now airing on the city of Kent's TV station and on Vimeo. So even if you can't see it in person -- and you really should, because the variety of art is AMAZING -- you can see it at home or online until the exhibit closes August 29th. (And yes, all the artworks are for sale.)

So many thanks to Steve Vaught, Edgar Riebe and Ronda Billerbeck at the City of Kent for this opportunity. And extra special thanks to jurors Humaira Abid and Joseph Steininger, who chose four of my pieces for this show!