We're about to start a 9 month artist residency in August at the McColl center for art and innovation. It's one of the largest community engagement residencies in the country. Our residency will be based around the intergalactic soul exhibit and will be heavily inspired by graphic design, coding & digital illustration. It's a great opportunity and I'm very excited. We just got our assigned studio photos and have already worked out some program engagements for the community. New artwork coming soon. It means a lot to be doing this in the home town. for the hometown, on a national level.
So this is what its like...
We are preparing for an interview with NPR next week about the art exhibit. This has been quite the adventure up to this point. We just finished up a magazine interview yesterday as well. We bought this from the ground up. I stand proud. In my thoughts, I now have a new understanding of patience, confidence, trust and selflessness. I can even draw a conclusion to how these things can be the true recipe of love. There's something to be said about facing your biggest fears head on. I've face down my fear many times. I've even faced my own mortality. In bringing you guys this show, its not about fame. This is about something much larger than myself. This art and design is a platform, a voice to those who lack certain understanding. Love is the true demonstration to exhibit patience in the time it took to put this together. Love is the confidence to be solid in my ideas and skills to aid my message. Love is the courage to chase and capture the dream and turning it into reality. Love is trusting myself to stay focused and letting go and keeping my faith, even when times are at their toughest. Love is the selflessness of not doing it for myself, but making sure this message goes far & beyond to reach others. This is progression. Progression in my journey to become eternal. Intergalactic Soul yall.
Almost home
The past year has been one of my toughest but they say either you're going into a storm, you're in it or you're coming out of one.. a year ago we put these intergalactic soul plans into action for the year 2015 and in another month the show opens. It's good to put your ideas into motion and see them actually come together. I had a bunch of critics, a bunch naysayers and just people thinking it couldn't be done the kiser corp way, even people that are suppose to be in your corner, but its done. I rely on my experience. It hasn't been easy and there have been so many outside obstacles a brother had to go through to get here, but I'm here... still standing. I'm a bit more broken yet still the most complete I've ever been. I'm going into new career directions now, taking on more consulting & teaching rolls. I'm more accepting of the changes that are happening around me and in my life. I'm becoming alot better at seeing these upcoming road bumps in my journey to liberation. So once this show goes up, I'll be able to breathe easy. I may even shed a tear or two, because this journey to get to this point has been insane. The people only know the finished product they don't know about what you go through or what it costs you. Our first major exhibit.. and better yet its all graphic design based. I always wanted to be one of those fancy graphic designers who's work could simply be viewed as visual art. Instead of selling some pointless product, lets sell the idea of equality and peace and make the world a better place. I fall back on our old god city slogan: educate, assist and entertain the people through artistic expression. Pops I made it and I know mom would be proud.
Intergalactic soul poster official
Last week we had the opportunity to present Intergalactic Soul at Pecha Kucha. Here's the offical show poster.. I just finished designing it and would like print to sign a few limited editions. I wanted to design a retro style one as well to go with the color version. An actual poster set of 3 -5 designs. It was very important to me that we bought these ideas from the ground up, ourselves. Everything from branding, to marketing, to the actual artwork that's on display... Its was important that we showcase a variety of skills to get our messages across.. so that we leave no one wondering what it is that we are talking about. I know in the art world it often seems that we as artist (especially us conscious ones) try so hard to be as weird as possible that the message that we are sending to the people that need it gets lost. Here are the first 2 posters of the set. Intergalactic Soul. Imagination x consciousness.
Bars & stars
Here's the follow-up to a piece I posted earlier.. these things are always a work in progress. The space race. I finally got the type treatment the way I wanted it. We're getting ready to present intergalactic soul at Pecha Kucha 13 this week. In my up-bringing, I was always taught to know history, to have that solid understanding and base of history is always important. The importance to go beyond George Washington chopping down a cherry tree or what was lightly taught in school. History is very important in any subject. Without that foundation history you're just doomed to keep repeating it over and over. Its a key element to a positive future. Intergalcatic Soul ya'll, the show opens in July. I'll explain these concepts Thursday night.. stay tuned.
It doesnt affect me, so it's not my problem, problems.
2 conversations I had this week made me ask this question. Why do certain people choose to be silent about injustices or certain issues that plague us as society? ( I know that's a loaded question, because people have different ideas of rights & wrongs) When did it become ok to NOT know whats going on & to never know what always has been going on? How many people have to die before we step up & say "that's not right"? Why is it cool to follow religion but not have any consciousness about your surroundings or history, better yet, to have no knowledge of the most high that you follow & even worse, no knowledge of self. What have these people been fed? When has it ever been ok to be selfish enough to only worry about yourself while others suffer? It's never been in my nature to rock with these ideas, (its hard not to have compassion or empathy for fellow man, especially when those people suffering look just like me, I don't have to know them personally) but it's in my nature to let these people know.
The idea of a most high doesn't come in the form of pointless materialistic offerings, but in the gift of your third eye, your mind, the gift of knowledge & the gift of unconditional love. I thought love was universal. I just wrapped up the astronaut food packaging designs for the show... for those that like to be fed nonsense free of independent thought. Have another bowl & take another sip.
We have a Q & A lecture session that will accompany this art show. I say again, my 25 pieces are all based off of real life conversations and situations I've been in... I could do 50 more.. easy.
Why so angry, they're always angry
Here's a sneak peek at one of the space race pieces, there's a few directions I'm thinking about taking this in. All of these pieces are based off of real life situations I've been involved in. Yes, they come from a true place. Some of the conversations I've found myself involved in have been quite magnificent. I hope people get it. event though we have to wrap these things up in an imaginary package to get our voices to be heard... I'd like to think of myself as a chef, feeding society my perspective of things, what its like to "be". So I'll take these vegetables and hide them in the triple strawberry cheesecake. Now, eat your breakfast, its important.
Imagination x consciousness
First and foremost, I'm extremely proud of how we've put this idea together (thanks to Jason Woodberry & Quentin Talley). The upcoming intergalactic soul art exhibit, I've created a series of posters to assist with the story telling of the show... another form of visual communication using some graphic design skill. Here's one of those poster designs that will also translate into t-shirt design with the tagline to the show, imagination x consciousness. I think we're onto something here, from the work, to the brand, to the musical score and we have already captured the ears & eyes of some heavy hitter international art buyers. Im no artist, just a designer that can illustrate. We've finished up all the art and we're wrapping up the performance piece now. I'm really thinking of turning this into a graphic novel.
