tbt- New Frontiers Comics Anthology

 

Yo, several years ago I got to work on my first comics anthology for Jeff Yang and Keith Chow who were putting together "NEW FRONTIERS" -The Many Worlds of George Takei! I was recently reminded of it somehow and I forgot to post it. Jeff and Keith did the Secret Identities anthology which is a ground breaking book of Asian American comics artists. Check out some process art.

Looking at my piece now although I feel like I can do so much better, I'm glad for the opportunity to contribute to the book and to talk about being taken and forcefully separated from ones family as George Takei experienced during world war 2. This book came at a time when the forced separations of families was being expanded by both the Obama and the Trump administration. And I hope it serves as a way for young readers to understand the horrors and triumphs of it. Props to all the Japanese Americans who stood with Muslim and Latinx immigrants. Here's my piece.

There are so many great artists in the book such as Ming Dolye, David Walker, Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, Cory Thomas, Ron Chan, Chris Visions, and so many more. Real talk, when this first dropped there were some accusations of sexual assault against George, so I paused as a lot of folks did. But I believe those charges have been proven to be false. I'm not a trekkie, but I've always appreciated George's stance on family separations, using his platform to speak out against injustice, and for being a proud gay Asian man. And shout out to Keith and Jeff for giving me chance.

You can get a copy here: Japanese American National Museum

And you can read more about the book via Nerds of Color

Digs this? Check out my mini comics Time and Ride Again

Love and Protect: Mural Series in Oakland Chinatown

 

This past weekend I had the distinct pleasure of painting alongside some OGs and young artists of both African American and Asian descent. We were organized by Cece Carpio (TYS Collective) , Tommy Wong (Civic Design Studios), and w/ the help of hella folks like Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). We got down to show solidarity and to demonstrate to our local community that we cannot be divided by white supremacy. We have long had each others backs, and we will continue to. Both Black folks, Asian Americans, and the organizing or artists community all need a reminder sometimes and this was therapeutic to make some dope art around the idea of solidarity.

Here's the official statement from the flyer. 

Love and Protect: Mural Series in Oakland Chinatown

Bay Area visual artists of Asian and Black descent are producing a series of mobile public art murals in Oakland Chinatown for those impacted by Asian hate crimes. On Saturday, April 10th local artists will gather at Madison Park starting at 10 am to paint large canvas works that can travel for community events and public display. This project is in collaboration with Chinatown Coalition and we are outreaching to seniors and community members in the neighborhood. We acknowledge that the global health and economic pandemic are amplified by systemic injustices that disproportionately hurt immigrants and communities of color.  Love and Protect is a condemnation of violence and a commitment to uplift, nourish, fortify and pay homage to our communities so that when we rise, we rise up together. 

Artists Cece Carpio of Trust Your Struggle Collective and Tommy Wong of Civic Design Studio and Good Good Eatz have brought together local artists who are deeply rooted in the fight for racial and environmental justice. Emory Douglas and Joan Tarika Lewis, who are revolutionary artists and historical members of the Black Panther Party, bring visibility to the long history of Black and Asian unity.  Robert Liu-Trujillo, Elaine Chu, Miguel “Bounce” Perez, Eric Norberg, and Karen Seneferu & Malik Seneferu are contributing their art and deep ties to social justice work. Ming Mur-Ray and Elokin Orton Cheung who are art teachers in Oakland’s Chinatown are bringing their students to help paint. Youth artists Deanna Brownfield and Lauryn Marshall from from the Black Cultural Zone are also bringing their vision and perspective. 

Check out these photos from Barni Qaasim of Curyj

Emory Douglas & Cece Carpio

Karen Seneferu

Elaine (Twin Walls Mural Company)

Lauryn Marshall

Pieces by Cece Carpio & Elaine Chu

Harrison Street Senior Art Workshop

We couldn't make it happen w/o the help of homies volunteering time & support. Here are folks from Curyj, Oakland Chinatown Coalition

Follow Civic Design Studio , Cece Carpio, or myself for more fotos!

Here are a few more from Joe Keefe

Night time packing up the canvases

Close up of the two women (Asian & Black standing together)

Madison park was poppin w/ a bunch of artists

Here's the crew of artists and homies helping to document and take down the art. Shout out to Han and his crew, Kerri, etc.

Dig this? Check out Asians for Black Lives

Podcast w/ Afriware owner Nzingha Nommo

PLM presents an Interludes interview with the owner of AfriWare Books, Nzingha Nommo, Black bookstores like AfriWare Books, especially need our support to survive in a post Covid-19 world. Download the current podcast now!
https://buff.ly/3s0rer9

Afriware is one of the first stores to carry my picture book Furqan's First. So lovely to hear this interview with the owner out there in Chicago!

Reading! - NHCC

 

Fam, I will be presenting at the 2021 @NHCCNM bilingual book festival this week on Thursday on April 15th, 2021. I'll be reading in Spanish and English so tune in w/ your bilingual learners. Check out the schedule and more here nhccbookfest.com

Children's Portrait 64 - Belen's Fam

 

Here's a recent painting I finished for Belen, daughter and sister to this family. This was a fun challenge, taking several poses and making them into one painting. 

If you would like to commission a painting of a child or a family go HERE. If you missed the previous portrait of Jahbreel, Kubwa, and Jahlyl, check it out.

Check out some of the process below:

Jazz is Dead + Gary Bartz

Love how they're doing this. And I need to go listen. Jazz is Dead is a collab btwn Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge and various musicians such as Gary Bartz, Doug Carn, Azymuth, Marcos Valle, and Roy Ayers.

Heres a bunch of recent Jazz I've been listening to.

 

Independent Sector

 

I was commissioned to paint a portrait of 12 fellows of the 2020 NGEN Fellows from Independent Sector. Here's a bit of process of how I did it, minus the reference photos of the individuals and the seated poses.

LINK to the program

Here's the final.

Merch Feature - Good Housekeeping

 

Yo! One of my products got featured in Good Housekeeping. One of the hardest things to get is press when creating products for consumers, family, friends, etc. My sticker sheet on "self care" was featured along with several other items for teens. Check out the piece here.

You can cop the sticker sheet from my shop! Get one for you, or a bunch to send to friends. 

Previously, the sticker sheet got featured in Buzzfeed too. 

Thanks for your support as always!

FOCUS Sticker

 

Here's a new sticker! Part of a series of stickers that are reminders or affirmations. This could be for yourself or as a gift to send to a friend. Cop one here!

If you missed the previous sticker "GROW" check that out too.

TCAF 2021

 

Check out the poster for the 2021 Toronto Comics Arts Festival. The fest poster is by Cole Pauls. You can follow TCAF on Instagram or find out more info on their site. I'm excited to be a vendor for this year's virtual event. Stay tuned...