my love for you is a stampede of horses.

monica canilao.

saved detail.

i've admired the work of oakland based artist monica canilao for quite some time.  my friend katie first introduced me to her work.  one of the first things i noticed about monica's work is the influence of folk art in her work.  i really appreciate how she combines craft such as sewing, embroidery, lace, etc w/in her pieces.  her work takes many different forms; drawing, printing, sculpture and installation.  monica's materials vary from piece to piece from tea bags, wax paper, thread, hair, recycled envelopes, feathers to basic pen, paper and painting.  it seems as though no item can not be turned into goodness w/ in her work.  it's impressive.

before mountains.

monica is talented, driven and above all passionate.  just by looking at her work you can catch glimpses into her own personal life and her convictions...you can tell she rides the rails, is against prisons, is pro- worker's rights, loves nature but is a city kid and is kind hearted and thoughtful.  of course these are all guess of mine.  but regardless, i love how passionately her work speaks w/ out really saying anything at all.  i don't know, perhaps it's because i just walked in from an iron & wine show and am lovey and connected.  but it's just refreshing to see an artist keeping it real. 

looking at monica's work on her website alone, the devotion is clear.  there is an enormous amount of feeling and dedication generating through her hands.  take the impressive piece "owned worker" w/ the smoke stacks in the background, the assembly lines of workers, the small infinity symbol/circle of life that adorns the house of the headless body it's perched on.  or "correctional institutions" w/ the looming electric chair, the words "i care for nothing" at the bottom and the large S.O.S imprinted on the building.  so much is said in both of these pieces.

correction institutions.

the titles of the pieces also really resonate w/ me.  maybe it's because i am going through serious changes w/ moving and leaving such loved friends behind in san francisco that titles like "tender again", "when this smog clears from our throats we will still be in love w/ the same things" and "the distance makes no difference" all really strike a chord for me.

monica's work is vibrant, dynamic and speaks to not only my sentimental heart but also to my brain as just a person existing amongst many, many others.  it tends to make me think a bit more about the bigger picture.  w/ subjects such as capital punishment, workers rights, creating community and family it's hard not to think about w/ such powerful images.

her work also makes me want to lock myslef in my room and snap to it.  her art instills an electricity in me that makes me want to create.

worker owned.

monica is showing in march w/ another one of my all time favorite artists; swoon at the luggage store.  i've specifically planned my trip back to san francisco just in time for that show.  i can barely wait.

p.s.  you can also check out monica's most recent show w/ mike "the polaroid kid" brody on paper boat gallery's flickr page.

** all photos gleaned from monica's website w/the artists sweet permission.

owned worker.

benefit for kime buzzelli owner of showpony.

on october 18th, at the echo in los angeles there will be a benefit for kime buzzelli.  proceeds go to help kime cover costs of an upcoming surgery to have a tumor removed.  unfortunately, her insurance company will only cover half of the costs.  FORTUNATELY, kime has some amazing people in her corner who are throwing this benefit for her.  lavender diamond and becky stark will be performing along w/ a whole slew of other people.  there is also promise of special surprise guests.  along w/ an art auction, through out the night hit + run will be silk screening kime's art on to t-shirts for guests.  sounds like an amazing night for a real worthy cause.

kime buzzelli is the proprietor of show pony in echo park, an amazing illustrator and has a great blog to boot.  i personally check kime's blog on a daily basis, perhaps like an addiction or perhaps as someone who is just enamored by a true doyenne.  kime, in my opinion embodies true visionary.  she's always pulling out great stuff to put up on her blog.  she has an amazing eye and is a clear trail blazer.  i've never visited her store, but i've been hearing about it for yrs.  her illustrations are something else.  i wrote a blog post on her a while back and it pretty much sums up how i feel.

you can read more about kime's benefit here.  also, there is word on the post that there will be an online auction for those of us who won't be able to make it, but want to help.  i will post here on my love for you... as soon as i find out anymore.

i wish kime all the best, and i am grateful that we have this world of blogging to help get the word out.  spread the word if you know of kime or if you just want to do good.

"pretty eyed, pirate smile."*

i spend more and more time on the web.  at times too much.  i have to plan my time on the computer, or i can sit there for hours.  being unemployed sitting for hours becomes sport if you're not careful.  i'm not complaining, i just worry about my muscle mass.  w/ online art magazines like ruby mag, i'm gonna need to deal-a-meal if i'm not careful.  there are always super diverse artists on there.  ultimately, i get lost on their sites which link to other artists which link to other artists and so on and sooner or later it's four hours later and i can't feel my butt.  ahh. life is good no?

irana douer is the lovely behind this wonderful creation.  i noticed her illustrations awhile back on ruby, and liked them but had never checked out her website, simply due to my a.d.d. and sensory overload when it comes to art and the internet.  when ert over at juxtapoz wrote a post about her amazing little tea cups, (which were all sold out in a heart beat) which linked her website, i was reminded of how much i liked her work.  i love her clean lines and colorful compositions w/ the raccoon eyed girls w/ bloody noses.  irana's work is smooth and simple, but not necessarily straightforward due to the way she places her subjects; bright colors and sweet girls in their state of unrest.   clever and bittersweet.  i'm a sucker for color and emotion.  you can purchase irana's  prints here.  also check out her flickr too!

* tiny dancer by elton john
** all art work images used by permission from the lovely irana herself.

"there's something in the gold that we're digging."*

i've always been a huge fan of music. i am constantly listening, buying, burning, reading about new stuff all the time.  i'm pretty clear on what i like, and i tend to be way more visceral when it comes to tunes.  music has to move me to keep it on heavy rotation.  on a whole i am not a fan of noise, as in noise bands.  they make me feel like a trapped chipmunk...like i need to scale the walls to get away.  it's not a dislike per se, i'm just not inclined to listen.  i was punk rock as a teenager.  i started w/ just plain junk then ended up moving more into hardcore bands like dag nasty, minor threat, 7 seconds...sort of a softer version of hardcore.  i've gotten that noisey angtsy bit out of my system.

however that may be changing.  as i soon realized when i stumbled upon the brooklyn based band parts & labor.  i was looking through photos on my contact page on flickr and i always check out sucka pantses photos (is that even correct? oh the joy of being a blogger you can write what ever you frickin' well feel like.).  his photography is pretty magical in the sense that he captures  the mood so well.  i know that may sound sort of cliche, but it's true.  when ever i look at  his blog or his photos i always leave feeling like i want to hop on a bus and go find him in brooklyn and hang out w/ him.  he just seems to lead a charmed life.  anyway, off track...i spotted the colorful photo of parts & labor.  i was really captured by it.  i always like sucka's music so i looked them up.  i'm sold.

parts & labor are a bit noisy for my taste normally, but as i stated above my tastes seem to be shifting.  i love them.  parts & labor just pull off all of their sounds.  it just works, and i love them.  in fact i may heart them.  they are moving and intense and just pretty awesome.  all traits i look for in a band.  i hate to make the comparison but they remind me a bit of husker du way back when i was 14.  which just makes me happy.  a way better husker du, actually.  way more melodic.  the drumming is so amazing on fractured skies.  i've probably listend to it 17 times or so.  i wish i had it on my ipod cause it makes me want to get on the old cruiser i just found in the trash and ride for miles!  i've been listening to their 4 songs on myspace excessively and any prolonged stay on myspace and i want to die.  i just ordered their latest album, mapmaker from their website.  i can't wait til it comes in the mail, til then my bike ride will have to wait.

also, bj warshaw the total cutie w/ the beard, does the art work for the band and has a side project called shooting spires which i was equally taken w/ if not more.  this has nothing to do w/ him having a beard, i swear.

check out their latest video.  it's so colorful, frenetic and just pretty all around great. 

* the gold we're digging by parts & labor.
** all photos taken by tod seelie and used w/ permission.

broke time aka creative time!

i'm unemployed.  and totally broke.  but a girl still has dreams no matter what the circumstance.  because i'm broke, i have no money to shop like i normally would.  everything i buy i have to be really honest w/ myself.  no impulse buy's.  (well, almost none.)  this past weekend i went shopping w/ my sister at h&m.  i justified it by the prices, and thought i could at least get some earrings.  but of course there seemed to be so much stuff i had to have.  why is that?  when one has no money it seems as though the list of wants never end, yet when i actually have some cash i can't find a thing?  what a sad life.

i found a white tunic in the sale rack that some pretty had wiped her face all over then decided to dance on top of it.  it was marked at $14.98 and the manager gave me an extra discount.  i really loved the way it fit, but i have to be honest w/ you white is not a great color for me it washes me out and well...i tend to get it kind of yucky after a while under the pits.  sorry if that was tmi!  but it's true.  so my next stop, ac moore for rit dye in navy blue and some jewelry making supplies (more on that in a few days.)  i got home and broke out my sister's biggest soup making pot and dyed the dress.  it came out a periwinkle blue, so i dyed it a second time tonight.  i am so delighted w/ it!  i can't wait to sport it tomorrow.  it is the perfect navy blue.  my absolute favorite color.  there is NEVER enough navy in the stores.