ARTIVISM
Gigi
This is my hopeful vision and portrait of a beautiful 21 year old Gianna ‘Gigi’ Floyd, about 15 years after the passing of her father George Floyd. She was only 6 years old when Floyd was murdered by members of the Minneapolis police. The words in Gianna’s head
wrap represent what I hope the future has in store for her, and for other little girls like her:
FAITH LOVE JOY
WE ARE EQUAL
LIBERATED
CHANGE HAS COME
A NATION UNIFIED
DADDY CHANGED THE WORLD
PEACE WITHIN ME
RBG
2021 Commission. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg shares a sly smile while she proudly displays her custom two finger gold bar ring that reads ‘I dissent.’ Posed and appearing larger than life, she becomes the actual size of her big-little personality. Ruth’s iconic white collar stands out against the dark folds of her robe, while one of the fashion-forward monument shaped earrings and iconic glasses accent her feminine features. A subtle blue and gold wallpaper backdrop shimmers in the light, forming a gilded aura about her.
Ruth once said, ‘Dissents speak to a future age.” My friend and client, Annette of Lanteri Legal, is placing her commissioned piece directly across from her office desk to remind her that her own work, like Ruth, is to set a positive example for her own girls and for all generations of women going forward.
Annette plans on keeping the artwork in the family and passing it on for generations to come. It was very important for me to do Ruth justice, make her feel celebrated, while depicting her through my artistic interpretive eyes. RBG is the largest, most involved piece I’ve done to date and I’m honored to depict such an incredible woman.
Sedition
This 24×16″ mixed media piece is an artist’s interpretation of the January 6th, 2021 attempted insurrection carried out on the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C. It was inspired by Francis Chung’s photo of U.S. Senator Josh Hawley taken on the morning of January 6th, 2021.
This event was so shocking to the world, as the U.S. has been viewed as the example of a democratic republic ruled by a free population.
Depicted large, front and center is Republican U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, walking into ‘work’ on the east side of the Capitol before the riots began.
With an encouraging fist-pump to the would-be insurrectionists, soon the entire U.S. Senate and more would be fearing for their lives while the mass of dangerous rioters stormed and trespassed onto federal property.
Hawley is pictured as a larger-than-life loyalist of Donald Trump. His clenched fist is in a tight treasonous salute while squeezing the flag for America’s blood. Hawley was the first U.S. Senator who said that on this day, he would join a group of House Republicans to object to Electoral College results in key swing states—a process that had commenced when rioters broke into and ransacked the Capitol for several hours. Objecting a decision that was deemed true and fact by the rules and processes of our democracy is UN-democratic, yet Hawley, even AFTER all that had happened, stuck to his guns in his own warped reality.
Pieces of worded paper line Hawley’s navy suit jacket that reveal facts about him and show his true nature. As a U.S. Senator – he is supposed to be for the people, for America. Instead he is for white supremacy, white nationalism and a is a traitor. Sadly, even Hawley’s own GOP mentor who backed him has been quoted saying it was the ‘worst mistake he ever made’. What a disgrace to the Republican Party, and many have distanced themselves from Hawley already.
Behind Hawley, the Capitol building is being desecrated and appears to be falling. Its walls are being scaled by white nationalists and Trump loyalists who dare not drop the banners of their liege. Sadly a Trump supporter carried the Confederate flag into the Capitol, in front of two Civil-era painted portraits, one of them being John C. Calhoun, a defender of slavery.
The Confederate flag is a symbol of racism and the exclusion of non-white people, with a heritage of enslavement, inequality, violence and gross injustice. Many more flags fly as symbols of hate, raised high for all to see. Hate groups have existed for some time, but it was only until Trump incited unlawful behavior on this day to commit violent uprising against the U.S. government.
The no longer hallowed ground is treated like an obstacle course, a place where former and active military, police, firemen and more could put their gear and skills to the test.Except this is not ‘training ground’, this is Washington D. C. — a symbol of democracy, our nation’s beloved Capitol.
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This piece is an artist’s expression to the recent national crisis. It was important that this and pieces like it are created. Historical documentation through art, photography, the written word and freedom to create and express oneself is one of the base foundations of our great country.
THIS IS ART.
*some inspiration and information drawn from:
Photo of Josh Hawley, January 6, 2021
https://www.amazon.com/Political-Colours-American-History-Patriotism/dp/B07DNHB37L
https://qz.com/1953366/decoding-the-pro-trump-insurrectionist-flags-and-banners/
https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-confederate-flag-so-offensive-143256
Safe Space
In this piece, wanted to express how everyone has an identity, that although different – everyone is equal. Here I swap in the letters LGBTQ where BINGO typically appears. Bingo cards also contain many different letter & number combinations. You can’t really pick your BINGO cards… what you get is what you get and you take
ownership of them and hope for the best.
Each Bingo card always contains the same sized white square spaces. I hand drew in LGBTQ symbols showing just some of the identities that humans identify with. Note that the center square says SAFE SPACE. This translates that all have equal access to a ‘safe’ & free space to be themselves.
Birdcage
The Birdcage is a pickup technique where two straight males devise a plan to pickup girls. One of them portrays a straight male and the other portrays a gay male. The ‘gay’ male befriends and gains the trust of women they meet so that the other male is able to form introductions with these potential women. Unfortunately the male pretending to be gay loses out on gaining women’s interest for himself while his friend succeeds. This piece depicts that trapped male – as if by barbed wire.
N95
“Let this grisly beginning be none other to you than is to wayfarers a rugged and steep mountain.” -Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron
With a long cloak and grotesque bird-like mask, the European ‘plague doctor’ was a disconcerting sight. The eccentric headpiece served as a kind of primitive ‘gas mask’ for medical practitioners in 17th-century Europe, designed to protect its wearer from the foul
odours associated with the plague. Physicians completed the look with a wide-brimmed hat, long coat, and wooden cane (which enabled them to examine patients without getting too close).
The first description of such a get-up dates to 1619, from Charles de Lorme, a physician to the Medici family: “The nose [is] half a foot long, shaped like a beak, filled with perfume”. The hooked snout contained substances including lavender, camphor, vinegar sponge or laudanum, which were thought to ward off the ‘pestilence’ in the bad air.
Authentic Woman
As a woman working through unhealthy and crippling codependency traits, I relate wholly to this piece. This woman symbolizes any woman… she has her head held high, nose pierced as a form of her individual expression, and throat exposed. On her throat are powerful declarations, showing how she has worked through her insecurities and has found her inner strength. The wording from my piece ‘The Authentic Woman’ is derived from the Recovery Tree as seen on the back of the ACA ‘Twelve Steps of Adult Children’ workbook. ACA stands for Adult Children of Alcoholics, and was formed to serve children of alcoholics, children who’s childhood was altered because of any form of addiction. Over time this organization has expanded to children of all forms of abuse or neglect since they all relate and share the same solutions. Weekly anonymous ACA/codependency meetings help adults that are still affected by their childhood and need encouragement, guidance and support. The no judgement atmosphere allows them to work through difficult life experiences and live happier. I personally believe that every living person would benefit from this type of group therapy. Be vulnerable, be open… and take from therapy what you need, there is no rule book, only help and a more positive future.
Kasra
In honor of LGBTQ 
PRIDE MONTH #sharewithpride
This piece represents my trans brother Kasra, looking determined with a face of stone, reminiscent of bas-relief walls of the ancient Persian empire. Tucked in his ear is a wing of gold borrowed from a winged lion, the symbol of Persian nationality.
Kasra was born female, never comfortable in their skin… and is now mid-transition and so much happier. At almost 25 years old, Kasra is one of the most intelligent, caring persons I know. I hope this piece honors him and others facing LGBTQ obstacles due to their culture. I personally believe my brother is still alive today because we as a family rejected hateful stigma and consistently showed our support.
Imagine coming out as gay in a Persian family, then add to that brave choice a huge Mount Everest of Iranian homophobic culture, compounded with Iran’s bad rap in America, and America’s homophobic parts of society. Kasra has been to Iran many times and like me loves the food, loves the closeness of family, and appreciates Iranian art and music. However, he will never be able to visit Iran again for he would be put to death.
How can Iran’s government say they fight racism and say they are practicing the peaceful religion of Islam? Iran’s government is perpetuating hate and not truly living Islam. I desperately hope for an Iran where all races, religions and genders are equal, accepted and welcome.
Underneath
This abstract mental health focused piece started out as pencil scribbles, then an underpainting of defined spaces, overlaying a color palette of bruised skin and finishing with acrylic marker. This canvas incorporates image, text, intention, background, lines and color. All of these combined formed an image with deep meaning for May – which is Mental Health month. Pictured is a neighborhood where the bottom third contains an underground of various types of issues and feelings that simmer below the surface and accompany mental health situations.
Smart City
City buildings account for up to 70% of energy consumption in major cities and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions globally. SMART BUILDINGS can reduce the carbon footprint.
Beenade
Acrylic & modeling paste on 8×8 canvas. Save the bees! Keep them intact… or we all will be gone, like taken out by a grenade. This piece was part of Creative February where I pledged to be creative every day in February of 2020.
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