Personal Narratives: Diaspora

Clover’s Fine Art Gallery presents
Personal Narratives: Diaspora
February 11th – March 7th 2010
338 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Francis Simeni, Sovereignty, Acrylic and Oil on Wood Panel, 48 x 60 in.

Featuring work from:
Johnnie Bess
Noel Copeland
Francis Simeni
Alexandria Smith
and myself, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh

Opening Reception – Saturday, February 13th, 4-6 pm

Closing Discussions – Sunday, March 7th, 2-4 pm

Omo Valley Self-Potrait

Omo Valley Self-Portrait, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Oil on canvas, 2010

The result from my inspiration post below.

For Haiti

Title is still being worked.
Oil on canvas, 2010.

The tragic earthquake that devastated Haiti almost two weeks ago has been unbelievable. I’ve watched videos of men, women, and children trapped for days under concrete rubble with broken limbs and unbroken spirits, finally rescued, but with nowhere to go.
I, like so many others, felt the need to do something. To try to help in some way.
So, I made this painting. The juxtaposition of ruins surrounded by beauty; walking away from devastation with nothing but hope.

I am selling prints of this painting HERE.
All profit from the sale will be donated to the Haiti relief effort, particularly Partners in Health, and Yele Haiti.

Donuts are Forever 4

This party is dope.
I had such a good time the first time I went, that I asked to be apart of it.
So, on February 6, I’ll be painting live at Donuts are Forever 4.
W/ ?uestlove, DJs Brainchild, Parler, Low Key, and Tara.

!
I’m excited.

Inspiration

photo by Hans Silvester

Interview at Woman of Colour

I recently answered interview questions from Patricia at Woman of Colour. Her blog is dedicated to issues and conversations surrounding African-American women, highlighting women in the arts.
Here is an excerpt from the interview, the full dialogue can be seen here.

Most of your work has a socio-political element. What are the topics/issues that drive you to paint.

I use paint as my voice. There are many socio-political topics that affect me directly – such as misogyny, race, health care. I try to make a statement, an argument, something about these topics and others. I try to focus on issues that I am passionate about. And issues and topics that interest me. The treatment of humans in history and the present interests me. Also, I work as a free lance editorial illustrator, so it’s a part of my job to stay current on today’s news and politics and to translate them to a visual image.

Congratulations on having your work featured in the Art for Obama book. How did it feel to have your work in that publication? (Editor’s note: This book is a collection of artists’ representations of Barack Obama)

It felt great. The book is a compilation of the artwork that was displayed at Manifest Hope, an exhibition held in DC during the inauguration. That entire experience was so amazing, definitely the most exciting moment of my career. The show was open for 3 days and for 3 days it was packed with people – celebrities, politicians, Obama supporters. To be in such a huge exhibit with highly profiled artists like Shepard Fairey and Ron English, was incredible. The energy in DC during that time was beautiful

I encourage you to visit her site and read the full interview.
Much appreciation to Patricia and her readers.

Update!

So, just an update on what I’ve been doing…
painting, searching, and sketching.

The past few weeks I worked on commissioned portraits.
They were simple, fun, and allowed me to pay my bills (which is always great).

I’ve also been searching for exhibition opportunities, grants, jobs, illustration gigs, etc. I have a couple of things coming up in the next month or so, including an Illustration Alumni exhibition at the University of the Arts in February.

I haven’t been creating as much art this past month or so as I would like. Well, I guess I should say, “I haven’t been creating as many final pieces of art as I would like.” I have been doing a lot of rough sketching.
I’m at the point where I have ideas in my head that seem impossible to get onto canvas. I’m also trying to focus on several things at once which doesn’t help the actual execution part.
But, I’ll get this stuff out somehow and, my next blog post will feature some new, lovely art.

Also, if I can find some batteries in this house, I’ll make a short video tonight of the painting I’m currently working on.

Peace!
Happy Holidays, if you’re into that sorta thing!

Beauty From the Unexpected

Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Beauty From the Unexpected, Oil on canvas, 2009.

Zora on Wall

Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Zora on Wall, Oil on canvas, 2009

At the “Dawning” opening.