Deep Breath: Goal Talking

Oh, I have a rule about this.

"Don't share what you're working or, gonna do, or what your goals are so that no one will put into the atmosphere negativity..."

This I say to myself, as I type this. So I'm gonna be short and share just a teeny tiny bit of what I am up to/will be up to/want to be up to.

1. Re-buy a domain site and sell some damn art.

2. Make something. Anything. On. Canvas. (I haven't painted in months)

3. Do TWO exhibits in 2016.

4. Stop beating myself up about my 2015 artgoals.

Simple. Wish me well.

Intersectionality in Art

I've been thinking a lot about the recent hashtag #OscarsStillSoWhite and the lack of diversity in this particular vein of The Arts. Jada Pinkett, Will Smith, and a few other celebrities have decided to sit out this year in protest to Hollywood's lack of diversity although the head of the Oscar's committee is a Black woman...I find that more than problematic.

For a long time, Jada & Will have more-or-less downplayed the racism in Hollywood as this sometime phenomenom . so it's hard for me to not shoot the messenger, although I very much applaud and agree with the message. My suspicion is that because we, Black people, tend to dominate the entertainment fields (sports, dance, singing, athletics, various visual arts, etc.)--there is a fear from White Hollywood "the establishment" that if the Academy Awards are opened up and they become as Blind about judgement as Justice is supposed to be that we'll dominate.

The thing is, every field of work--from plummers, teachers, architects, and actors--have their respected award that is coveted and repected by that recipient because it is a GOOD thing to acknowledge and show respect to the best and brightest from those in your field. I shudder to think of every artist that did get their due, and were robbed of their acknowledgement because they were disabled, too old/young, too fat or thin, a woman, trans, or a person of color. And yet, I know that this happens. Cis, white male seems to be the standard and we have to STOP this. The only way to be heard, to make them hear us is with our dollars. Don't support art that is obviously shutting certain groups of people out. Don't watch, buy, listen to or attend events, films, exhibits that cater to unfairness. It starts with us. Support artist, good artist mind you, but artist and art that is good quality and send out vibes of Love. It starts with us. Appreciate diversity. Monochromatism is so boring!

Artist Spotlight: Tomás Saraceno

Let's get into conceptual artist, Tomas Saraceno. This man's art took my breath away!!!

What he does with foil is so beautifule. He scales up these large sheets of multicolored foil, thus creating these vibrant wonderlands that visitors can literally walk through. They, themselves, become apart of the work.

Some of his other creations, such as 'Arachnid Orchestra' are a bit of a head scratcher, but the point of ALL art is to FEEEEEEEL something. Let me tell you his stuff just hits me in the chest and sends me spiraling into the cosmos of thought, visual conceptions of energy, rhythm and the possibilities of what could be. Please do yourself a service, and visit his facebook page. You'll be studying him for hours.

Be Yourself? Why?

Why is it so important to be who you are? Why is it so easy to dole out this advice here, and both on social media (I mean, instagram is swimming in motivational quotes) but so few people are true to themselves?

Or, are the people that we conjecture to be "fake" are actually being real? What's being real?

They only power you can truly control is self, and wanting someone or something to shift in a direction that is opposite to them is not staying true to this principal.

If you find yourself frustrated by phoniness and fake people, ask yourself, why am I trying to exert control over this person? Maybe, just maybe we should be more focused on our own conditions and growth instead of being upset by the nature of how someone else is living. I accept people as they present themselves to me. I have no wish for someone to believe the way that i do, or improve or "humble" themselves to my standards. Anyone is free to speak their mind or feel their feelings; however the consequence may be other's removing themselves from you because they oppose it. So before you turn a nose up at someone's way of life, educational level, or stance in life--know that your judgement is a reflective mirror. Love comes back as equally as hate.

I think that artist know this, it's why we are so sensitive. It is why painting is so maddening, because we are baring our souls and baring to the world what has been absorbed. We want you to see, but not judge.

Most Assureldy

Most assuredly, in life, I just want to be held.
I just wanted him to hold me and it be tangible,
pressure but no force behind the hugs and wet eyes.

Most assuredly, one day
I may look on the road I've been traveling
See my dusty pants and sweaty palms,
and decide that i'd rather be on the grass
than in the field.

Paintings by Me, #GraceKenyata!

Some of my past and sold artwork. My 2016 goal is to DO MORE ART. Creatione is key.

Dreams

Last night I dreamed that myself and a guerrilla group of my minions and I were trapped in an abandoned building with a horde of zombies just outside, waiting for the slightest scent of aliveness sot they could bumrush our spot.

I've been watching a lot of Doctor Who lately (I still miss David Tennett).

Bare with me, I do have a point.

For me, I see my paintings in my head long before I put them down on a canvas for you to see. I'll paint, or repaint something in my mind for weeks or months before it's done enough to put brush to paper. I have a painting I've been working on in my mind since 2010. It's my baby. I've gleamed some purely amazing, and equally awful creations oftentimes from my imagination, and DREAMS.

Like that block painting above; I dreamed it one night. I was walking around in my dream when I suddenly looked up and noticed the spectacular block shaped prisms the sky had turned into! I realized then that I was dreaming! It is the only other time I knew I was dreaming, while dreaming, and it was a feeling you could only understand if you've ever had a lucid dream. Anyway, with my mind I started moving these square matrices. Some glowed, others vibrated, some skittered around but it was all under my own control...unlike the zombie apocalyse nightmare I was in the other night. At the time of this lucid dream, I got plenty of rest at night, drank a good amound of water, exercised, and had a healthy relationship with M & Ms.
Presently, I spend most nights with my nocturnal 5 month old and depend on Maxwell House to keep me going with my other two kids. But I'm AWARE of the problem. See, I know that there is a block and that it is these physical things hindering my metaphhysical, electromagnetic mind. Awareness needs to be recharged, so with awareness i will fix it and live to slay another day.
Mind the things that go in, lest bad things come out.