Jellyfish in Space

"Jellyfish in Space"
11"x14"

This is by far one of my favorite new pieces.  I have a thing for jellyfish and i just love the way this one turned out.  It's based on a photograph i took at an aquarium in San Francisco over a year ago.  It was my second time visiting SF completely by myself, which was terrifying for me.  I'm not one to do things alone, so to get on a plane and fly across the country completely on my own was one of the scariest and amazing things i've ever done.  I'm independent, but as a paraplegic, long story short, there's a lot of things to worry about and consider.  So on my last day there, i had the day to myself and decided to push myself across San Francisco, until i got to the Embarcadaro, where i pushed all the way down until i got to the aquarium.  I spent some time there alone quietly taking pretty pictures of peaceful sea creatures.  It was amazing and as silly as it is, i was proud and feeling accomplished to have gone that far by myself.  Luckily, it wasn't the dangerously hilly part of the city!  It was a good day.

This painting was painted for my show "Lemonade Stand" at Trenton Social.  To my excitement (and heartache!) she sold! 

This is the photo from the aquarium that the painting is based off.  I thought it looked like they were in space...

Lion and Lion Tamer Wheelchair Costumes

Every year i try to come up with an idea for a costume or character i can be that can involve transforming my wheelchair into something, anything.  In past years, i've done PeeWee Herman and Chairy, Roger Rabbit and Benny, Fred Flintstone and car, Captain Hook and ship, race car driver and racecar, etc.  Last year, for whatever reason i had it in my head that i wanted to get cat eye contact lenses and pretty much based my costume idea on that.  A lion! A caged lion. A caged circus lion. To my surprise i was able to gather a crew of circus freaks to join in. 

The lion and lion tamer costumes were hand sewn by my very talented mom, who put more work into this idea than anyone. Thank you, mama. 

How to make a circus lion cage!

I always come up with these crazy ideas for costumes that i can't actually physically do myself.  Luckily, my handy dandy dad came to the rescue to help out with the lion cage/wagon.  Cut out plain cardboard for the cage frame and spray paint it red. Two parts: top and bottom. Cut out cardboard accents spray paint gold.  The wheels were easy.  Take your wheel, trace the inside of it on cardboard, cut out and it should fit perfectly snug into the wheel.  Spray gold.  Usually anything spray painted on cardboard will need at least 2 coats.  The cage bars were made from pvc piping, which you can get at any hardware store.  We cut them to size, sprayed them gold.  My dad spaced the bars apart with little wooden dowels. Glued to each pipe, they created an even distance between each pvc pipe.  Dowels on both the top and the bottom of the pipes.  This way, the dowels don't show once the red frame was placed on.  The red bottom base is placed over my head to rest on my chair.  the gold bars are placed over my head to rest on the bottom base.  The top red frame is placed over the bars to rest gently on top.  Thank you papa bear, for construction and spray painting.

Not the greatest instructions without photos, but you get the idea if you ever want to give it a try!  I didn't reread those instructions above, so i'm just going to assume they made complete and perfect sense. 

Paint face. Put on costume. Put in contacts. Get in cage. Caged circus lion with lion tamer!

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!

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.  

jasper

ok, great news, but let's hurry it up already!

link to article: paralyzed dog walks again!