Obamaissance

By Mr. Brainwash

Jan 22, 2009
Los Angeles, CA

Finally, we have entered a new era...(phew...I was afraid that this day would never come. As I was watching the inauguration, I had the freighting thought of "what if this was inauguration for McCann / Palin instead? thank god its not!) Now with our new President comfortably seated in the White House, I started to think about the iconic image of Obama by Shepard Fairy that was an essential part of the campaign. I don't recall any other election where art, especially street art, was such an integral part to the mythology of the man. The art branded Obama's face into our minds, and made us believe that he is hope, and with that, there can be hope. I hope this will be a renaissance for art, culture, faith, responsibility and basic human decency. I don't ever want to hear another argument about how art is not essential, that is not as powerful as policy. Art helped changed the world. The proof is in the White House.

Apeture Portfolio Prize, Almost

December 18, 2008
Taipei, Taiwan

I got an email a few days ago to notify me the winner of the Aperture Portfolio Prize and the list of 5 runners up. Sadly, my name was not amongst the 6. Aperture had reviewed over 1000 portfolios for the prize this year and I had made it to the final round of reviews, but at last, my name did not make it to the top six. Sad, so sad.

I hope all of my other grant / fellowship submission will be greeted with kinder fate.

The first course they should teach you in art school should be how to deal with disappointment and how to armor yourself with an iron will. Without it, your fate as an artist of any discipline is doomed.

I also caught a glimpse of my fellow artist friend Kesha Bruce's recent blog entry and it was a list of her accomplishments for 2008, the list was extensive and I am proud of her for having accomplished to much.

But between not having made it to the final round (there is no prize for almost, it is not a subcategory on your CV) but not onto the top 6 names for Aperture and looking over Kesha's accomplishments, I can't help but feel a little bit like a loser today.

So it goes, here comes the end of the year blues....