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Monday, April 29, 2013

Ninja Pez

"Ninja Pez"
11"x14"
I painted this for my good friend Bill Hewitt who has a collection of artwork with ninjas holding pez dispensers.  Of course i went in the direction of the 1EG's and went with a skunk head after making Billiam Stinkerstench for this same friend.  Because he stinks, like a skunk.



Thursday, April 25, 2013

Somber Breath

"Somber Breath"
24" x 36"
Here is one of my latest commissions, which turned out to be one of my new favorites.  Somber Breath is one of the largest 1EG paintings i've done, and i really LOVE working on a larger scale.  I always have.  For this one, i used lace around the edges, and accented my girl throughout her dress and hat. 

I don't feel like the photos do this piece justice, but i hope you enjoy as much as i do!  I am happy to know she has a good home.




Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Fellow Robotipus


Meet Fellow Robotipus!  Fellow Robotipus is the sweetest little old man robot.  A customized Lego Torch Flashlight, he stand about 8" tall.  Fellow Robotpus is a content and happy little gentleman just looking for his sweetheart fembot to shower with love and gifts!  I jumped out of my comfort zone for this one, robots aren't really my thing.  I tried to just stick with my style rather than focusing on how to make him too robotic.  I like him :)

My cute little old man will be on display at "Designing Outside The Lines", a lego-inspired show curated by James Brown at 1AM Gallery in San Francisco.  

About the show:
"Most of us played with Legos as children, but some of us never stopped. The artists in “Designing Outside The Lines” are some of the most prominent Lego and toy designers around the world, spanning from the US to the Netherlands. Whether they are using record breaking amounts of Lego pieces, introducing new materials to Lego customization, combining simple minifigs with complex machinery, or anonymously installing ginormous Lego men on public beaches- they are definitely some of the most imaginative artists out there."

The show opens this Friday, April 26, 2013!  







Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Running to Rise Up

On Saturday, i finished my very first 5 mile race in my chair!  My team, Team Rise Up walked, ran, and pushed to benefit Rise Up Gallery, and we raised over $5700 exceeded our target goal!  It was a cold and very windy morning that we participated in the 5 mile walk/run and half marathon in Asbury Park.  I was determined to push myself with no help throughout the entire 5 miles, and i succeeded.  The few inclines and slanted streets were rough at times.  Thanks to the slanted roads, my left arm pushed far more than my right just to keep myself moving straight, which was the only real problem i had. We were one of the lasts to finish (by far!), but i'm just excited to have done this.  Until the next one! 

Thank you so much to everyone who supported us!  It means the world to us!


Team Rise Up!









Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Running To Rise Up and Benefit Concert for Rise Up Gallery!


I mentioned back in February that my sister built a team to run a half marathon to raise money for Rise Up Gallery...

It's coming up!  Join us this SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2013 at the Berkley Hotel in Asbury Park for a benefit concert to support Rise Up Gallery, following the Asbury Park Half Marathon.  There will be live music featuring one of Team Rise Up's runners, Maria Riggi, as well as an art auction.  All profits benefit Rise Up Gallery.

We've reached our goal but there is still time to donate!  Check out our site to read about our mission and donate if you so please:  http://www.razoo.com/story/Running-To-Rise-Up

Thank you everyone for all the support!  The organization, gallery, and people involved at Rise Up Gallery are all truly amazing.  

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Upcoming Lego Art Show


Here's a sneak peek of the upcoming Lego art show i'll be in later this month!  This is the super early stages of the 8" Lego Torch i am customizing. The show is called "Designing Outside the Lines" and it takes place April 26 - May 25, 2013 at 1AM Gallery in San Francisco! 


DESIGNING OUTSIDE THE LINES

SAN FRANCISCO, CA- 1AM is pleased to present, “Designing Outside The Lines”, opening April 26th, from 6:30-9:30pm, featuring custom works that explore and reinvent the classic Lego platform. Expect to see customizations of Lego pieces, the Lego Torch lamp and Lego Men, digital prints, original paintings and more. The exhibition will feature 1920s silent movie characters, lit Lego Men, mini mecha, maps, guns and wasps- to name a few!
Most of us played with Legos as children, but some of us never stopped. The artists in “Designing Outside The Lines” are some of the most prominent Lego and toy designers around the world, spanning from the US to the Netherlands. Whether they are using record breaking amounts of Lego pieces, introducing new materials to Lego customization, combining simple minifigs with complex machinery, or anonymously installing ginormous Lego men on public beaches- they are definitely some of the most imaginative artists out there.
For our premier Lego-inspired show at 1AM Gallery, curator James Brown invited the styles and imaginations of Ego Leonard, Legolize It Man, Bart de Dobbelaer, Brickthing, Bill Hewitt, Carson Catlin, Ian Ziobrowski, Josh Mayhem, Crestone, Dee Ten, One-Eyed-Girl, Michael Napolitan, MeSmithy, Citizen Brick and Mike Mendez. Join us in a land of Legos on April 26th, to see all the ingenious creations!
For more information, visit www.1AMGallery.com. If you have any questions or would like to request media related material, please email maya@1AMSF.com.








Monday, April 15, 2013

Munny Makers Show !

Back in December - January, i had a bunch of my customs in the Munny Makers show at Speakeasy Art Gallery.  As i sadly was unable to attend, i feel even more regret of not being able to get to the show after seeing these amazing pictures.  I absolutely love the colorful display of this show and i'm so happy to have been a part such a great show.  Here are a few photos of the show and my pieces in the the show, borrowed from Speakeasy Art Gallery (and you can see the full album here).


















Friday, April 12, 2013

TWSA round IV

i've written several times about the Life Rolls On life-changing event They Will Surf Again.  i wanted to share my last event back in august.  better late than never!  i love to look back and remember each individual and unique experience, and to give outsiders insight on the kinds of things someone with a disability can still accomplish, and also to acknowledge the people out there taking the time and effort to present us with these amazing opportunities to enrich our lives.  

(sadly, this time, my most exciting time has no decent photos.  we put all of our belongings and cameras in the car because of the storm.  all we got are some camera phone photos from my boy toy, which are better than none!)


i called it a life-changing event because it really is. as someone who thought i'd never get in the ocean again, i still remember and will never forget the first time i was carried on a surfboard like a princess into the ocean. since then, i've been to four events total and each time was as amazing as the last.  most recently in august, i drove down to virginia beach for my 4th and most absolute fun venture into the deep blue. a bit more stressful than previous times  (we had some issues last year with a certain volunteer trying to cut my time in the water short, which sadly happened again this year.. advice to any interested surfers, keep your eye on the time and don't take a second less than 30 minutes!!), but amazing nonetheless. early on in the day, i was asked to switch my surfing time slot with someone who supposedly had to leave early.  i'd hate for someone to miss out on such a fulfilling experience, so i agreed.... not knowing a storm was headed our way.  the sky increasingly got darker and darker as the knot in my stomach grew larger and larger, worried that i drove 6 hours to miss out on one of the things i look forward to most all year. it was about 15 minutes until my time slot when that dark, angry sky started to rain.  

finally, it was my time and literally before i could even blink, i was in the water and out at sea. the water was cold, the waves were huge, and i was in my glory. despite all the stress of the day and the storm coming in, i had the greatest time. sometimes you get good waves and sometimes you don't.  in my 3 previous surfing experiences, i had a variation of good and not so good.  due to the storm, the waves were large and rough and it was a blast to ride them to shore, to crash and flip into the water.  i hadn't even noticed halfway through that the skies started to clear and turn back to that normal pretty pale blue.  whereas the waves were an absolute blast, it was also the most terrified i've ever been.  


.




i rode the waves all the way back to shore, where the head of my board crashed into the wet sand and i went flying off.  every time. i'm pretty sure that shouldn't have been allowed and may have even been dangerous. next time i'll be sure to let the volunteers know not to let me go that far on my own. i don't need an even more screwed up spinal cord! so, every time i'd fall off, i'd lay in the sand waiting for help back on the board, which sometimes resulted in more waves crashing onto me and more terror filling my soul. 


you wouldn't believe the amount of sand gathered in my bathing suit. handfuls and handfuls of it.  in my bikini, on my back, in my shorts, in my hair, my ears, everywhere!


HUGE, huge thanks to LRO and the volunteers that stayed throughout this mess.  i'm forever grateful to them and their dedication to helping me and others like me. it, of course, wouldn't be possible without them. 


take a look at the posts and photos from all my surfing experiences HERE!