MONTH FIVE! Thank you so much for your support! If you're enjoying getting an insight into my inspiration, would you forward my Patreon profile to a friend? Every little bit makes a BIG difference for me.
Word:
EXHAUSTED
June was hard, because everything in me told me to disconnect and just hide away. When you think that there is one thing EVERYONE can agree about -to keep children with their parents - when you think that THAT is something that's universal and just basic human sensibility...and then this happens. It makes me want to be apathetic when I hear Trump calls immigrants "animals". The list can go on and on. But things like thousands of people people marching for #familiesbelongtogether and pride parade reminds me that its worth being engaged, aware, mourning, speaking up, learning, and celebrating. It takes all of us to lean in - for everyone's dignity and humanity.
About immigration: This ARTICLE is helpful to clarify a couple things.
VISUAL:
"Everyday Dismantling #7" by kathy khang
Part two of "THIS IS MY COUNTRY"
MUSIC:
EVERYTHING IS LOVE by Beyonce + Jay Z
PODCAST:
I LOVE Jenna and Wes SO SO MUCH. They are two culture writers for The New York Times, and they cover pop culture and give their take on it - in a thoughtful and wise way. This podcast seriously gives me hope.
I love them even more because the just started a two part series called "Asian-Americans Talk About Racism, And We Listen." WOW. It is good. And you have to listen to it if you're not familiar with the Asian American experience in America.
visit:
I went to so many great art shows this month!
Art institute
The Charles White "A Retrospective" exhibit is amazing. You have to go see it if you haven't already.
Helen Frankenthaler at the Art Institute is EVERYTHING. I've seen it at least three times, because it is so inspiring and resonates with me.
Graham Foundation // Torkwase dyson
I went to a lecture that was a conversation with Torkwase Dyson and Christina Sharpe about art, writing, black lives, post-civil rights, and postcolonial landscapes. It really inspired me to think about what shape and space experiences take form in - especially traumatic ones, and to use imagination to make distant concepts and historical occurrences more personal and meaningful.
Monique Meloche Gallery // Jeff Sonhouse
Jeff Sonhouse's work is stunning. This collection is called "Entrapment" and addresses African American male identity and its representation in Western culture.
Eye eaters society // mca
Dinner with Eye Eaters Society was really memorable. The night was titled "Eating Rainbows" - we had a four-course meal in the clouds celebrating Pride - benefitting Center on Halsted. Dinner was by Marisol and dessert was by Lost Larson (which was my absolute favorite.)
Movie:
MEMORY MONDAYS:
Week 25 of #TWmemorymondays! This memory is yet another small depiction of a bigger systematic issue. Ok let's get into it.
I have a memory of going to a dim sum place with my family and a white family. I was probably ten or so. It was our friends' first time having dim sum, and it was exciting for them! Before meeting them at the restaurant, my family was talking about how the white family would like the food...what we order for them to try.
I remember that the white family were the only white people in the restaurant, and even though they were excited...they were a bit nervous. Everytime a dish would come, they would ask what would be in it, and decide if they would be brave enough to try it. Everything was such a novelty, and my family would try to convince how good everything was.
Then it all led to the chicken feet dish. Would they try it? Would they like it?? So some of them mustered enough courage to try it, and with a surprised face, they said it was actually pretty good! Everyone is relieved.
Bringing white people into our world always has this tone. We all are somewhat nervous how the white people will react to our culture and food. And there's this celebration that happens when they like it.
That initial suspicion and nervousness of the white people is just another byproduct of systematic white supremacy and xenophobia. White culture is what is "normal" and the standard. Anything outside of it is scary, threatening, and other. Whether it's authentic Chinese food or an accent, the first reaction is negative. Just because it doesn't match your definition of comfortable or delicious doesn't make the thing disgusting or ugly.
Let's all catch our gut reactions and question our assumptions - because it could either hurt people or embrace them.
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#TWmemorymondays: A painting inspired by a memory every Monday of 2018. Connecting abstract art to real life. Week 24/53. 'Dog' / 8x8 in / mixed media on paper
Thank you
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