New Bloggie Blog

Yes. It's true.
As the previous post was foreshadowing, there will be a switch up of me blog.

Please find current postings of my work here:

http://theduskofdawn.blogspot.com

Cheers!

Switch

Rupert Murdoch is the Shitpile

Coincidentally, as I am listening to this whole fiasco happening in the UK where the MPs are going apeshit up Murdoch's and Prime Minister Cameron's asses on phone hacking and complete fuckery of moral decency, all in the name of world domination, hubris and profit, I am re-reading Valerie Solanas' "SCUM Manifesto."

SCUM Manifesto is a nice cold lemonade with a couple of blades splashed in,  invigorating  my senses and thoughts on how patriarchical oppression is still with us in this society (via media, education, economics, laws ) as women are losing rights to abortion, our future generations' independent critical thinking skills are being dulled by over-testing and a profit-driven education system, and how complicit politicians are with the Murdoch empire in disempowering the people with their fear-mongering, bullying propaganda.

During this time, Solanas' words wake up me from the stupor of silence, of not taking the risk to speak out against 'conventional' oppressive behaviors/norms people do all in the name of imperialism and maintaining the status-quo. As I have the freedom to, I must speak what's really on my mind.  Her sharp insights, wit, humor and lots of angry passion validate we still live in a world where self-annointed godmonsters of the media and politics want critical thinking, honest citizens of all backgrounds to shut the fuck up about the truth on misogyny, racism, classism, etc. in both the public and private realms of our lives. I take her arguments, however,  of tearing down "the Man" or patriarchy, metaphorically since I do not want to actually kill anyone to create a peaceful society. But I do understand and identify with her violent energies and passion that fuels her writing - I, too, have the real urge to use my creativity to further independence and compassion in myself and in others.

So, anyway, back to Murdoch. He is the shitpile Solanas talks about in the manifesto. The shitpile is a system of work that is meaningless,  that dehumanizes and coerces people to forfeit ethics, love, creativity and compassion, to instead become mindless drones and machines that feed the System everyone is afraid of turning against. Murdoch embodies the Shitpile.

Lastly, I found this passage of the manifesto enlightening in its explanation of Murdoch's tabloid empire and of perhaps why he gained so much power from it:

"3. Exposés. The male's chief delight in life -  insofar as the tense,  grim male* can ever be said to delight in anything - is exposing others. It doesn't much matter what they're exposed as, so long as they're exposed; it distracts attention from himself. Exposing others as enemy agents (Communists and Socialists) is one of his favorite pastimes, as it removes the source of the threat to him not only from himself, but from the country and the Western world. The bugs up his aren't in him, they're in Russia"(Solanas 63).

*Personally, I'd use the term "misogynist" who can of course be a male, female, hermaphrodite, etc.
as anyone, if self-hating enough, is capable of doing this.

Photo Zines @ CCNY Zine Fair, 7/16-7/17

So, I was bad about telling people to check out this cool show of photo zines at CCNY last weekend.
I also did a bad job taking photos of the event, and of my submissions. My friend, Kat, is the only witness who can testify I actually submitted and went to this shindig. Making copies of photos at Staples was not fun, and certainly not cheap... which sucks. Because I'd like to make more copies to sell at other events. On a positive note, I enjoyed looking at all types of photo zines of cityscapes to conceptual narratives.

Anyway, here is my first photo zine, or rather parts of it. It's about my grandma and the house she had to leave behind because of Alzheimer's disease. Of course, I included a Susan Sontag quotation in the introduction to add dramatic effect and context. Susan Sontag is good for such things and putting photography into a sociological perspective.

This is the quotation I included:
"To take a photograph is to participate in another person's mortality, vulnerability, mutability. Precisely by slicing out this moment and freezing it, all photographs testify to time's relentless melt."

Awesome Puppets! Awesome Festival! Watch this video!

Hi friends,

So, you might be wondering: What's this Rootstalk Festival happening in Oregon this summer?

Well, I says, check it out this video, starring Chives the Mouse, co-directed by puppet master Catherine Wing and editor extraordinaire  Bill Buckendorf. And I had the honor of handmaking these little animal instruments that get 'played' in the clip. It's all just SPECTACULAR!

But you don't have to take my word for it...

Union Rally - June 14th

It was raining yesterday, but I managed to do some 'guerilla' postings on the way and during the march against Bloomberg's budget cuts.

Here are some images from of me posties and stickies on our way to the rally:

On the train-

 At the Brooklyn Bridge-

 People really like this one with the I Heart NY logo and a few people asked me for one. I like this one, too. Because for reals, where is the love, Bloomberg?! Don't kill the city by hating on the city workers and taking away much-needed jobs for the city's survival!

Hope to post more photos chronicling a continuation of "Operation Where's the Love?" street art at other locations.

NYC Teacher Protest Propaganda

No. Not protesting against teachers. Me (a teacher) and other city workers will be protesting in support of teachers, librarians, and firefighters against our city's dishonorable Mayor Bloomberg's proposed multi-mullion dollar budget cuts: laying off 6000 teachers, closing 20 firehouses and cutting much needed public library services!

 Come out to support if you wish TODAY, June 14th.

Time: 4:30pm
Where: Starting at the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall.
Why: Think about it. Less teachers. Less firefighters. Less libraries. WTF?
Think about how that's a slap in the face of our democracy or what's left of it.
Think about the future of our country and how new, creative innovations for a better, freer world CANNOT happen without well-supported public institutions!

Twill be my first time participating in a teacher protest. Carrying signs and such. And hopefully doing some guerilla postings in public spaces with these babies I made:

This scares my colleagues...

I suppose it's a menacing concept. Hugging a teacher? We're people? We have feelings? That was my idea. To have people humanize teachers since we've been dehumanized and demonized by the media for far too long. I suppose I am allowing myself to connect with my inner hippie. All I'm missing are some wild flowers. Anyone?

Final NYC budget won't be out until July 1st (was supposed to be announced this month...).
Hold onto your seats...it'll be an interesting ride even if you're not from the NYC area; this absurdity is happening nationwide unfortunately. And it's time to stand up against it, somehow, together.

"Side by Side" for Trade/Sale!

"Side by Side,"

a new double-sided mini-zine of visual observations and

projections of social isolation.

It's waiting to be read at the palm of your hand!

Get your copy now!

For trade, contact:

sassy.spinster (at) gmail.com

or

for sale ($1) here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75555550/side-by-side

Beeeeelated Shout Outs!

Thank you, Marc T. of Barcelona, for including me and publishing "Pandatron on Patrol"! I

Thanks Jen and MC  of  Austin, TX for adding "Zines are Grreat" to this awesome DIY Buttersword Edition.

 Mad innovative and fun!

Buy Buttersword comics here.

Thanks, Olaf of Madrid for printing "Mariposa de la Muerte." Purchase Que Suerte here.

Super humble thanks to the zine publishers mentioned above  who've invited me to submit my comics to their anthologies/zine editions. This support means a lot to me! THANKS!

Left-Handed Comix

Now that I am limiting my used of my bum right hand (see previous post), Leftie needs to finally take some responsibility for its survival in the world. But, I have a feeling it's not too happy about the situation.

Power to the People!

Aww yeah. An x-ray of my bum right hand making a fist FOR THE PEOPLE!

You can't see it, but I found out later from an MRI (the procedure SUCKS!) that
I have a slight ligament tear in my wrist which by the way looks like a Cert candy.

When the doctor used the Cert analogy, I had no idea he was referring to the candy
which I don't eat ever. So I kept nodding and feigning understanding until an inevitable confused look flooded my face and he sighed deeply in pain of my ignorance of medical
expertise.

Anyway, my bum wrist never looked so good. Don't you think?

Pandatron Returns!

A continuation of the previous "Pandatron on Patrol."

Mm, hmm. Yup.

See the Sermon here!

FruitYoga Comics - Available on Etsy!

Fresh off the press: It's FruitYoga!

It's 20 pages of the total fun with fruits demonstrating yoga asanas or poses.
All illustrations were done by moi, in watercolor, with English and Sanskrit yoga asana terms.
Pages/cover were hand-sewn together.

$4 each.

Limited edition of 50 copies.

Order one (or more!) now on my Etsy.

Here are some previews! Enjoy!

Yes, more Moon Sky again.

Hi! So nice to connect with you again! Click on the link below to:

Surprise yourself!

Another Message from Moon Sky...

 "Let's be air today!"

"Happy Sunny Saturday to you!

Just wanted to connect with you again.

Today, let's practice being AIR! Together!   -Peace, Moon Sky!"

Introducing Moon Sky!

Hey! I hope you're having a great day.
If not, that's ok. It happens.
But, my special friend, Moon Sky might be able to offer you some karmic boost.
Moon Sky  is an awesome spiritual creature who wants to connect and share some positive vibes with everyone in the world. Especially with you!
Well, why don't I let you take this moment to connect with Moon Sky yourself!
Right here, right now!

Ladies and germs, I present to you Moon Sky...who also has a blog
of spiritual happenings and visual guides you can experience here:
http://mynameismoonsky.blogspot.com

Cabbage Innards

Domestic bliss on Friday night. In the kitchen, preparing my meal.
Unexpected surprises after the first unsuspecting slice of red cabbage, the pleasures of Mother Nature's genius patterns revealed.
Take a look for yourself:  below, the cross sections of the cabbage. Here, they are about to be boiled in borscht soup.

And now, as I write this, they are processing in my intestines...on its way out as a form far from its beautiful origins. But I don't need to paint you a picture of what that looks like, do I?

Watercolor Drawing inspired by the above mentioned Cabbage Cross Sections.  The corners are close-up details of those lush layers of skin. Reminds me of brains and intestines. Innards!

Belated Birthday Comic!

Finally done it! Burfday bash comic, 2 months behind. But hey, better late than never.

"Day Job" Exhibition @ the Drawing Center

Pasquale Cortese, "Untitled" 2009

This past weekend, I visited the Drawing Center in Manhattan to check out their show "Day Jobs" which closes on Feb.3rd. I had the refreshing pleasure of seeing art done by working folk who do all sorts of jobs, some related to the art world, others not. My favorite artist (self-taught) of the exhibition is Pasquale Cortese who is also the oldest artist of the show (he's about 60). The ink drawings of patterns are so gorgeous; I just want to reach out and touch those lush textures!

See more of his work here.

It was great to see that the curator included works from a diversity of working people like an air pilot and an electrician (the occupation of the guy I just mentioned) among other types of jobs. And it was also interesting to read about how people consciously or unconsciously connected their personal art with the process, products, people and materials are related to their day jobs. There was definitely a pattern of repetition, meditation, discipline, skepticism, escapism, wonderment, exploration, collection as themes/processes in a lot of the work. I wonder if these were conscious themes on the part of the curator.

It made me realize how I don't refer to my job in my own work, mostly on a conscious level. Though I have been seriously thinking about doing a longer-length narrative comic about it in the near future...but that's another story.

Mostly, I draw during and after work hours as a way to meditate and deal with all the waiting (for meetings to end, for phone calls to finish, or for phone calls to come). Yet drawing is also a way of keeping mental notes as I'm listening to other people. Or I'm just super fidgety and need to keep my pen moving on paper.

This drawing was not done during a day job. However, it was completed over a period of time when I was on the phone with various potential employers  when I was looking for a full-time job five years ago. Funnily enough, it was drawn on the back of an acceptance envelope to the teaching job I'm still doing today. On another note, one benefit of doodling during meetings at work was getting a sketchbook as a gift from an observant 'secret Santa' at my job! Sweet! I totally needed one at the time.