Panel discussion w/ Janine Macbeth, Maya Gonzalez, and Carole Davidson

Yo, I got a chance to speak with Maya, Janine, and librarian Carole Davidson at the central San Francisco librarian. We had a tiny audience but those who were there showed much attentiveness and respect and I had fun talking with everyone because Janine and Maya inspire me to keep going. In this talk we speak about what it takes to make books and what diversity means to us. Please listen.

Test

photos from a Tahoe trip years ago

When a bully is president-Maya Gonzalez

When a Bully is President (book reading) from RP & School of the Free Mind on Vimeo.
A new book coming from artist, activist, and children's book creator Maya Gonzalez of Reflection Press and the School of the Free Mind which teaches new writers and authors how to create their own children's books.

One of a kind, like me 5- New American Media

Yo! We got a nice write up in New American Media yesterday. Please GO READ IT, comment and let them know you dug it. And while you're at it, please request the book at your local library, bookstore, or school!

San Francisco Public Library-We love diverse books

So I just read at the San Francisco Public library last week and Im thrilled to be a part of this amazing first year of "We love diverse books" program that is bringing in lots of cool books and authors. Please check out the image originally painted by Blood Orange Press founder Janine Macbeth.

 

To see some of the other authors or to find out more information go here.

Also, check out the article the SF Chronicle did about it so far. BIG shout out to Cristina Mitra who invited me to come read my book to the kids.

SF Chronicle article

Speaking at Burlingame library

If you're in the south bay come through!

Muphoric Sounds 43- Grand Puba

As I mentioned last year I started a new section of music posts on Muphoric about beats!! This one is produced by Grand Puba who rhymes and produces. Please follow the link to Muphoric sounds.

Character 117- Trans Boy (Cjny)

This is a transgender boy I painted and drew for the Burns Institute's program called CJNY. I can't spill the beans about the entire project but I can share this small piece of character design for something they are working on. I did a side by side comparison of one of the characters digital and traditional media. I'm trying to learn how to add more flavor to my digital drawings. Stay tuned and follow them for updates on the extremely important work they do for young people stuck in the juvenile (in) justice system nationwide.

Chapter 510 poet- Azariah

This is the 7th portrait that I've done for Chapter 510 , an Oakland based organization that works with young people to foster love for writing, reading, and literacy. Each year for the past 3-4 years they have asked me to paint one or more of Oakland youth who have become Oakland's poet laureate and this project is in collaboration with the Oakland Public Library and Youth Speaks in San Francisco. Check out the original below. And this Friday if you're in Oakland please go to Chapter 510 to see this young lady read among others, and Ch 510 will be releasing a new book!

Dig this: Check out these drawings/paintings for Art Vs Artist 2018

Stuff i've been listening to: 10 (Podcasts )

I have been listening to a lot of interviews and podcasts of people, creatives, tech folks, activists, and more. Please check out some of these podcasts and support them.
I love listening to Latino USA, in fact me and my son listen to it all the time and have learned many things. More than that, many aspects of our culture and others have been affirmed by listening whether it be hip hop, soccer, racism, machismo, so much.


I love listening to Code switch because they tackle race and stories that so many other podcasts do not give AF about. One of the most infuriating things is to be ignored or rendered invisible. Code switch talks about a lot of these things: micro-aggressions, films, historical and current events and their contributors are Asian, African, Arab, European, and Latinx American and its dope to hear so many different view points.

Listen here I just got put on to this podcast by another writer named BAM from the TDK crew. This podcasts interviews graff writers from the Bay Area and all over about their history as writers and their first interactions with lettering. Its really fresh and is documenting a decaying history of art and Graffiti.

So in order to keep up with the times I am learning about what tech companies have been doing for decades, whether it be the way they develop ideas and products to the way they work together or fundraise and this is a great blog if you are an independent or collaborative business owner. People pay 30-40k a year to take classes with speakers like these yall. Peep game.


This is a series of podcasts that allow creatives of various fields to talk about what they do and how they do it. In this particular episode you get to hear from an OG in the game of political art, Favianna Rodriguez from my hometown, Oakland. Yall, so much game to be soaked up by listening to other artists describe their lives and there are countless other folks who have been on the series nationwide I believe. Another favorite is Mike Monteiro and Tajai from Souls of Mischief.

Here's the previous "Stuff I've been listening to" 

Inspiration board 26

Inspiration from last year , happy new year everyone. These are just some of the things i see, listen to, or read, or experience downloading what is happening or what is interesting to me.  From left to right, top to bottom: 1. My life in letter podcast by Adam Fu 2. Character design by Kiki Hughes 3. A comic for early readers in spanish Mariela 4. Bat Country by Chynna, Dash, suicide year 5. Chris Schweizer- comics/illustrator 6. Moonlight movie!! 7. Flying Eye Books-comics 8. Solange Knowles-A seat at the table 9. Eleanor Davis-Comics artist 10. Daniel Ceasar-Get you feat Kali Uchis 11. The Water protectors!! No DAPL! 12. Miriam Klein Stahl illustration 13. Yuna- Chapters > Best Love 14. Morgan DeBaun-, founder of Blavity 15. Stanford University's Innovation Lab podcast 16. Blood at the root-Patrick Phillips

Here is the previous inspiration board 25