Wintertime in Chicago and promo postcards!

As one of my goals is to get better at self promoting, after starting a facebook page earlier in the month, I also had some postcards printed using artwork I made in spirit of the season and mailed a bunch out before holidays! Now I can go hibernate, right? :P

...and I'm off to the mailbox!

late night sketch of bao staring like a staring cat

2nd penpal drawing between Seoul // Chicago!

Heui and I both got each other's second assignments in the mail!

This theme was a portrait of our grandmothers. I think our relationship with our grandmother comes out through the way we approached the renditions.

Heui's grandma:

my grandma (I called her "婆婆" (po-po)):

She taught me how to fold origami and she used to make 饅頭 (mantou) or chinese steamed buns/bread a lot.

A Metra ride to see the Viper and His Famous Orchestra

and a bunch of sketches along the way! Last night's venture to a downtown show.

On the metra ride to downtown.. 

 at the venue:

these sketches began to become a little inebriated towards the end...looks like the start of an ink-only sketchbook. My friend's husband was playing in the band so I ended up making weird portraits of all the members. yei!

Michel Gondry's New film + New Facebook Page!

Last night my friend and I watched Michel Gondry's new film "Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy?", an animated documentary starring Noam Chomsky.
As I haven't been following the world of independent film/animation for a while, I actually first found out about this from Tuesday's edition of Democracy Now!

Trailer on youtube and Michel Gondry's website:

I find both Gondry and Chomsky equally mind-blowing inspirational figures and this film was especially a delight for me to watch since it's two geniuses from two fields I feel - in my personal experience ahem :) - are so alike and bridgeable though they are often perceived as polar opposites. Gondry vs. Chomsky or Art vs. Science. You have to see this one if you are a total art/science geek/nerd whatever. It's for everyone really. Ok if you're at least a human you must watch it! Even if you're a robot it's awesome too!!

Also new: You can find regular updates on my facebook page now!

Congrats to Hua Foundation on their LAUNCH + their new logo!!

[image from huafoundation.org]

Recently I helped design a logo for Hua Foundation, a Vancouver-based environmental and community geared non-profit. It was such a pleasure to work with these passionate and amazing peeps! I totally dig their values and really appreciate the opportunity to contribute to their group (and through their message- towards all our benefit, health and well-being!). Earlier this week, Co-Founder Claudia Li talked about Hua on CBC TV and Radio. You also get a sneak peek at Co-Founder Kevin's 皮蛋(1000 year old eggs)! They look so good - hope to try them in the future.

This was a really exciting project to work on since it melds a lot of my interests and own attempts to combine the experience of 2nd gen. immigrant, cultural heritage, health, environment and plus using the arts! what a winning combo! yay
I heard their launch event at BaoBei (mmm one of my favorite restaurants in Vancity..hum hum hum) was a great success, I wish I could have been there!!

{the approved design}

Check them out at:
www.huafoundation.org

Or on
Twitter
Facebook

For more about our collaboration on the Hua Foundation identity: check out their post

Edel Rodriguez at Curly Tale Fine Art "Dystopia" Opening

(I yoinked this photo from Mr. Rodriguez's fb post about the event)

Friday I had the honor of meeting Edel Rodriguez and friends at his "Dystopia" opening at Chicago's Curly Tale Fine Art gallery. Mr. Rodriguez is a Cuban American artist from New York who has garnered tons of awards and bling (I mean medals) and has been exhibited and collected by awesome and cool places like the Smithsonian Institute! If that's not enough to convince you to check out his work, then you should go just because I said so (because I am ruler of this blog post)!

I also found out he was in Vancouver at Emily Carr (!!), my old stomping grounds, to give a talk about his work for the Vancouver Opera. (For some of his own reporting on this visit you can read them at his blogpost.)

You can peep some of the artwork he has on display at the gallery in his blogpost . Or you can just go to the gallery in person and experience the brilliant pieces in 3D!!  The show runs through December 30th.