Friday, January 29, 2010

EMBRACING AMBIGUITY: FACES OF THE FUTURE

Embracing Ambiguity Opening Reception
WHO: Cal State Fullerton Main Art Gallery
WHAT: EMBRACING AMBIGUITY: FACES OF THE FUTURE
WHEN: January 30 through March 5, 2010
Opening Reception, Saturday, January 30, 5-8 p.m.
Art Alliance Preview: 4:30pm
Hours: 12 - 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday & 12-2 p.m. Saturdays
Closed Monday, February 15
WHERE: Visual Arts Center · California State University, Fullerton
800 North State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA
CURATORS: Jillian Nakornthap and Lynn Stromick

BACKGROUND: Embracing Ambiguity: Faces of the Future features artworks by ten multicultural artists living and working in the Untied States who, in a world where labels are often forced upon them, are searching for new ways to define identity. In today's cosmopolitan and increasingly global culture an individuals may describe themselves by gender, race, nationality, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or any combination of these categories. The artists in this exhibition include: Nzuji De Magalhães, Kip Fulbeck, Nathan Gibbs, Loren Holland, Bryce Hudson, Laura Kina, McCallum and Tarry, Delilah Montoya and Toni Scott. Through painting, sculpture, video and mixed media, these artists attempt to answer the question, "What are you?"

Nzuji De Magalhães combines African and American art forms to depict issues of stereotype, myth, ethnicity and politics. The works of Kip Fulbeck, artist, photographer, filmmaker and slam poet have been exhibited in over 20 countries, and featured on CNN, MTV and PBS. Nathan Gibbs' internationally recognized mixed media and web productions explore race and culture issues in the U.S. Loren Holland's symbolically rich oil paintings of Latino and African-American women challenge perceptions of class, race and minority groups. Bryce Hudson's wall sculptures use bold color and shape to represent domination, conflict, separation and harmony among races and cultures. Charcoal portraits from The Loving Series by artist, curator and scholar Laura Kina explore the results of the 1967 Supreme Court case that overturned our nation's last anti-miscegenation law. Artist team Bradley McCallum and Jacqueline Tarry produce large-scale public projects, performance/sculptures, paintings, photography, video and self-portraiture, exploring issues of race and social justice. Chicana artist Delilah Montoya articulates the experience of minority woman in her photographs and prints. Toni Scott draws upon her African, Native American and European heritage and world travels to produce sculpture, paintings and mixed media installations that represent the beauty and dignity of African-American people.

Scheduled for release in late spring, the Main Art Gallery will publish an illustrated exhibition catalog that includes scholarly essays by Laura Kina and Nicole Woods.

Admission: FREE
Internet sites: http://www.fullerton.edu/arts/events
Media Contact: Marilyn Moore, Art Gallery Office at (657) 278-7750
Julie Bussell, College of the Arts at (657) 278-2434

Related Activities:


Art & Identity in Multicultural America: A Panel Discussion
February 2, 2010 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Titan Student Union Pavilion A

"Chasing Daybreak" Movie Screening
Date and Time TBA

Three of my works from my 2006 Loving series will be in the show.
Pictured above is: Loving Series: Shoshanna Weinberger, Charcoal on paper, 42.5 x 34 in., 2006

To see the whole series visit:
http://www.laurakina.com/loving.html

The essay that I wrote is called "HALF YELLA: Embracing Ethno-Racial Ambiguity." The catalog is forthcoming.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

ART and AAS Events I'm organizing or co-sponsoring for DePaul

One of the best things about my job as a professor at DePaul is coordinating visiting speakers for DePaul's Department of Art, Media, & Design and Asian American Studies.

Tonight we are featuring photographer Jason Lazarus.

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY
ART, MEDIA, + DESIGN 2009-2010
VISITING ARTIST LECTURE SERIES
JASON LAZARUS
JANUARY 28, 2010 6pm

Since receiving his MFA in Photography (2003), Jason has actively exhibited around the country and abroad while teaching photography part-time at Columbia College and the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. Recent exhibition highlights include “Black Is, Black Aint” at the Renaissance Society in Chicago, Image Search at PPOW Gallery in NYC, “On the Scene”at the Art Institute of Chicago, and solo exhibitions at Andrew Rafacz Gallery in Chicago, Kaune, Sudendorf in Cologne, Germany, and the Spertus Institute in Chicago.

Notable honors include an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship award, 2009; the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award, Emerging Artist, 2008; and the Emerging Artist Artadia Grant in 2006. Jason’s work can be found in the collections of the Art Institute of
Chicago, the Milwaukee Museum of Art, and the Bank of America LaSalle Photography collection among many others.

DePaul Art Museum
2350 N. Kenmore
Chicago, IL

Free and Open to the Public
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Last week, on behalf of Asian American Studies I worked with the Japanese Media Appreciation Club to bring in Ann Marie Chua Lee to talk about the cosplay subculture.
You can learn more about her work at:
http://www.redstarcostumes.com/
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Looking ahead, Asian American Studies is also co-sponsoring a Chinese New Years Celebration Feb 15th 7-9pm Lincoln Park Campus Cortelyou Commons Main Hall. Asian Cultural Exchange is planning a Lion Dance so it's going to be fun. This event is being organized by Prof. Li Jin from Modern Languages/Chinese Studies.
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On Feb 21st, Asian American Studies is co-sponsoring a screening of "Inside Hana's Suitcase" organized by Prof. Nobuko Chikamatsu Chandler from Modern Languages/Japanese Studies:

Inside Hana’s Suitcase
Saturday, February 20
5:00–7:30 p.m.
Arthur J. Schmitt Academic Center (SAC) #154
2320 N. Kenmore Ave. Chicago, IL 60614
DePaul University, Lincoln Park Campus
Free Admission, No RSVP required

Synopsis:
The delivery of a battered suitcase to Fumiko Ishioka at the Tokyo Holocaust Museum begins the true-life mystery that became the subject of Karen Levine’s best-selling book Hana’s Suitcase. The suitcase came from the Auschwitz Museum and had Hana Brady’s name painted on it. Larry Weinstein’s masterful film follows Fumiko’s search to discover the details of Hana’s life, which leads to the discovery of her brother George in Toronto. As small children they had been sent to Thereisenstadt for being Jewish after the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939. The voices of children from Japan, Canada, and the Czech Republic telling Hana’s story are woven around the drama, along with George’s memories and Fumiko’s quest, to create a film of astonishing power and hope.

Film Details:
Country of Origin: Canada/Japan/Czech Republic
Original Languages: English /Japanese/Czech
Running Time: 90 minutes
Cast: George Brady, Laura Brady, Fumiko Ishioka
Directors: Larry Weinstein

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Prof. Yvonne Lau, Modern Languages/Chinese Studies/Asian American Studies, along with the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity is organizing a screening of Curtis Chin's "Vincent Who" on Feb 26th (details TBA) at DePaul. Curtis Chin will be present.
Watch the trailers here (one is short and one is longer):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QtdFeDx48Q&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQivEXrnjNM&feature=related
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Asian American Studies is hosting a screening
"Second Moon" a film by Masahiro Sugano
Masahiro will be present.
Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 6:00pm
John T. Richardson Library
Room 400
2350 N. Kenmore Ave.
http://www.secondmoonmovie.com/
Chicago, IL 60660
Second Moon is a Neo-Yakuza Romantic Farce

Q is an agent of an underground organization called "Art of Love." Art of Love generates revenue by helping suburban housewives cheat on their husbands under the guise of free love. One day, Q runs into M, a transient Korean girl. M develops a fever, and Q shelters her for a week. Q senses a peculiar compassion developing for M. Don Jim, the leader of Art of Love, strictly forbids his agents from involvement in monogamous intimate relationships. Q decides to severe his relationship with M. But after M recovers, she starts cooking gourmet dishes. The seductive force of her food cripples Q's aspiration for freedom and jeopardizes his loyalty to Don Jim. Q has to choose between free love and one love--lightness and heaviness--in his quest for ultimate happiness.

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Asian American Studies is co-sponsoring the Women's History Month Luncheon organized by the Women's Center. The luncheon will feature a performance/talk by Andia Yoeu Ali!

Thursday, March 4, 2010 noon-2pm
DePaul University Student Center/Room 120
For additional info contact the Women's Center at 773-325-7558

Bio:
Performance artist, writer and global agitator, Anida Yoeu Ali is a
first generation Muslim Khmer woman born in Cambodia and raised in
Chicago. Anida is an interdisciplinary artist working in video,
installation, sound, and performance. In May 2010, she will graduate
with an MFA degree in Performance from the School of the Art Institute
in Chicago. Her current study of Butoh examines the poetic potential
of the body and collective healing. Her performance work is a means to
transform loss into conversations about reconciliation. Since 1998,
Anida has toured over 300 colleges and venues with the spoken word
ensemble, I Was Born With Two Tongues, and the theatrical collective
Mango Tribe. The Tongues' pioneering performance work and
critically-acclaimed debut CD, "Broken Speak", ignited a new
generation of Asian American voices. She is also a founding member of
Young Asians With Power!, Asian American Artists Collective-Chicago,
the National APIA Spoken Word & Poetry Summit, and MONSOON fine arts
journal. Her artistic work has been the recipient of grants from the
Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, National Endowment of the
Arts and Illinois Arts Council. Her writings are published in
"Screaming Monkeys: Critiques of Asian American Images" (Coffeehouse
Press 2002), "Voices of Resistance: Muslim Women on War, Faith and
Sexuality" (Seal Press 2006), and "Shout Out: Women of Color Respond
to Violence" (Seal Press 2007). From Copenhagen to Ho Chi Minh City,
Anida lectures, exhibits and performs internationally.
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Asian American Studies will host Professor Susan Koshy from the University of Illinois

She will give a talk on the Midwest vs. West Coast Asian American culture. This event is organized by Prof. Shailja Sharma - International Studies/Asian American Studies
Friday, April 23, 2010 at 6:00 pm
John T. Richardson Library
Room 400
2350 N. Kenmore Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
Susan Koshy (Ph.D., University of California at Los Angeles, 1992) is an interdisciplinary scholar whose work draws on the insights of literature, anthropology, legal studies, and history. Her work on race, ethnicity and diaspora is part of a larger theoretical interest in modernity, neocolonialism, and the processes of globalization. Her research is situated at the conjuncture of globalization theory, postcolonial studies, and ethnic studies and interrogates the boundaries of these disciplinary formations. Her book, Sexual Naturalization (Stanford University Press, 2004) locates narratives of white-Asian miscegenation in the context of anti-miscegenation laws, Asian immigration to the US, and US expansionism in Asia. Her articles have appeared in the Yale Journal of Criticism, Boundary 2, Differences, Diaspora, Social Text, and in several anthologies. She received her B.A. and M.A. from Delhi University.

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In Spring 2010, I'm organizing a lecture for Adam Kallish on behalf of the Department of Art, Media, & Design.
Adam Kallish Thursday, April 22, 2010, 6:00 pm
DePaul Art Museum 2350 N. Kenmore
Adam Kallish will discuss future technology trends and how design can be
at the table to shape the development of user interaction models.
Kallish is the Delivery Director at Tanagram Partners in Chicago where he
integrates information architecture, user experience, development and
project management. He is also the Principle at Trope: Communication
by Design, a design consultancy offering a variety of strategic and tactical
design services to clarify organizational ideas and integrate media.
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I also have to plug a showcase my University is putting on that is being organized by a lot of folks but mainly by my colleague Prof. Matthew Girson.
"I am I"
A showcase of DePaul's Creative Student Work
February 8, 2010 7-9pm
DePaul Student Center 120 a/b
2250 N. Sheffield
Chicago, IL 60614

Organized by DePaul's Integrated Arts Initiative, this one night event will showcase the work of students from SEVEN DePaul Schools and Colleges (CDM, Communications, Education, LA&S, Music, SNL and Theatre). Artworks, soundworks, multimedia,live performances and numerous other events and media will be showcased for the entire DePaul Community. Don't miss this great opportunity to see feel and hear great creative work from all across the DePaul Community.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Many Thanks/Meet the artisans from MarketPlace: Handwork of India

Indigo: New works by Shelly Jyoti and Laura Kina closed on January 18, 2010
There are so many folks that I would like to thank for making this show possible.

First, I would like to thank Shelly Jyoti for inviting me to show with her in India and for the wonderful experience of collaborating with her this past year. She is a true friend. Thanks also to her family in Baroda and her parents in Delhi, Mr. and Mrs. Pundit, for hosting me, feeding me amazing food and making me feel like a Jyoti minus the MBA. To their son Pranav, I am forever indebted to you for spending 16 hours on a crazy car trip to the Taj Mahal. I'll let you know when I finish the Bhagavad-Gita. Mr. Rajeev Jyoti, "portion control" in eating and management tips from a captain of industry are things I hope to take forward in my life. Vas, I'm so glad I was able to witness (and photograph) your parents and Pranav's meeting for the first time. Congratulations on your engagement.

Shelly and I both want to thank Mr. Agrawal, of ABS Red Earth Gallery, for inviting us to preview our exhibition in Baroda, India. What an amazing space! We honored to have Maharaja Ranjitsinh Gaekwad and Maharani Shubhangini Gaekwad inaugurate the exhibition. In Delhi at India Habitat Centre, Mrs Vilasini Ramchandran Additional Secretary Expenditure
Ministry of Finance, Government of India, New Delhi, was our chief guest.
In Mumbai at the Nehru Art Centre, our chief guest was India’s Member of Parliament Mrs. Supriya Sule.

Most of all, I want to thank the artisans at MarketPlace: Handwork of India for helping me make my work for the Devon Avenue Sampler series. Walsh Gallery artist Indira Freitas Johnson introduced me to MarketPlace. Her sisters, Lalita Monteiro and Pushpika Freitas, founded MarketPlace. Thank you Lalita and Shaily Agrawal for your patience in working with me and for overseeing the work in Mumbai. Shelly Jyoti took the snap shots below in Mumbai at the Nehru Art Centre.
The women artisans that embroidered for artist Laura Kina's Devon Avenue Sampler series:
Rabia- Nirmaan Cooperative
Jabina- Sahara Cooperative
Rekha- Ware Cooperative
Meera- Sahara Cooperative













Shaily Agrawal with Shelly Jyoti
To learn more about MarketPlace: Handwork of India visit:
http://marketplacehandworkofindia.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/artisans-collaborate-with-artist-laura-kina/

http://www.marketplaceindia.org/MPI/


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Press and pictures from the Indigo show in Mumbai

Indigo: New works by Shelly Jyoti and Laura Kina
Nehru Art Centre 12-18 January, 2010
On view: 12-18 January Time 11:00am-7:00pm
Nehru Centre, Dr. Annie Besant Road,
Worli, Mumbai, 400018 India
Tel : 022 24964676-80
January 12, 2010 Inauguration by Mrs. Supriya Sule, Member of Parliament
Chief guest Mrs. Supriya Sule looking at my artwork. She's probably wondering why "Bihari" is written amongst a list of food groups. I swear this is exactly what the sign I copied said.
Installation shots of the Nehru Centre gallery

Chief guest Mrs. Supriya Sule with artist Shelly Jyoti. Not pictured - Me! because I'm back in the sub-zero land of Chicago teaching a class on "Asian American Arts & Culture" at DePaul University. Soon I'll zoom off to California for a chance to thaw out and for an art show at Cal State Fullerton called Embracing Ambiguities.

Below is the press that has come out so far for the Indigo show in Mumbai.

Gupta, Gargi. “A Common Thread.” Business Standard. 16, January, 2010: Weekend Edition V.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/a-common-thread/382766/
Doshi, Riddhi. "A Creative Struggle." DNA After Hrs, Mumbai. 13, January 2010.
http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_a-creative-struggle_1333944
HT Cafe 13 January, 2010. 23.
Divya Bhaskar 11 January, 2010. 2

"Indigo Blues." Deccan Herald. 3 January 2010: 4
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/44486/indigo-blues.html

Online Buzz:
http://thisishowitshouldbe.blogspot.com/2010/01/article-1202-creative-struggle.html

http://www.bharatstudent.com/events/events_page.php?event=6840

http://www.buzzintown.com/mumbai/event_indigo-art-exhibition-shelly-jyoti-laura-kina--id_168021.html

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Emracing Ambiguities: Faces of the Future

Embracing Ambiguity: Faces of the Future

Curated by Lynn Stromick and Jillian Nakornthap
Cal State Fullerton Main Gallery
This group exhibition will feature selections from my Loving Series as well as an essay that I wrote, "Half Yella: Embracing Ethno-Racial Ambiguity”, for the exhibition catalog. I'll also participate in a panel discussion on Feb 2nd from 6-8pm.

WHO: Cal State Fullerton Main Art Gallery
WHAT: EMBRACING AMBIGUITY: FACES OF THE FUTURE
WHEN: January 30 through March 5, 2010
Opening Reception, Saturday, January 30, 5-8 p.m.
HOURS: 12 - 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday & 12-2 p.m. Saturdays
CLOSED MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15
WHERE: Visual Arts Center • California State University, Fullerton
800 North State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA
CURATORS: Jillian Nakornthap and Lynn Stromick

BACKGROUND:
Embracing Ambiguity: Faces of the Future features artworks by ten multicultural artists living and working in the Untied States who, in a world where labels are often forced upon them, are searching for new ways to define identity. In today’s cosmopolitan and increasingly global culture an individuals may describe themselves by gender, race, nationality, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or any combination of these categories. The artists in this exhibition include: Nzuji De Magalhães, Kip Fulbeck, Nathan Gibbs, Loren Holland, Bryce Hudson, Laura Kina, McCallum and Tarry, Delilah Montoya and Toni Scott. Through painting, sculpture, video and mixed media, these artists attempt to answer the question, “What are you?”

Nzuji De Magalhães combines African and American art forms to depict issues of stereotype, myth, ethnicity and politics. The works of Kip Fulbeck, artist, photographer, filmmaker and slam poet have been exhibited in over 20 countries, and featured on CNN, MTV and PBS. Nathan Gibbs’ internationally recognized mixed media and web productions explore race and culture issues in the U.S. Loren Holland’s symbolically rich oil paintings of Latino and African-American women challenge perceptions of class, race and minority groups. Bryce Hudson’s wall sculptures use bold color and shape to represent domination, conflict, separation and harmony among races and cultures. Charcoal portraits from The Loving Series by artist, curator and scholar Laura Kina explore the results of the 1967 Supreme Court case that overturned our nation’s last anti-miscegenation law. Artist team Bradley McCallum and Jacqueline Tarry have produced large-scale public projects, performance/sculptures, paintings, photography, video and self-portraiture, exploring issues of race and social justice. Chicana artist Delilah Montoya articulates the experience of minority woman in her photographs and prints. Toni Scott draws upon her African, Native American and European heritage and world travels to produce sculpture, paintings and mixed media installations that represent the beauty and dignity of African-American people.

Scheduled for release in late spring, the Main Art Gallery will publish an illustrated exhibition catalog that includes scholarly essays by Laura Kina and Nicole Woods Beckton.

ADMISSION: FREE
INTERNET SITES: http://www.fullerton.edu/arts/events
MEDIA CONTACT: Marilyn Moore, Art Gallery Office at (657) 278-7750

http://calstate.fullerton.edu/news/inside/2010/embracing-ambiguity.html

Facebook Cal State Fullerton Mail Art Gallery

Facebook page for Embracing Ambiguities

Thursday, January 7, 2010

I'm back in Chi-town but Indigo's next stop is Mumbai

After 3.5 weeks in India, I've returned from India to the freezing, snow covered land of Chicago. Indigo: New works by Shelly Jyoti and Laura Kina is traveling on though. If you or any of your friends are in Mumbai this next week, please stop by the Nehru Art Centre to see our show. Shelly will be there!
Indigo: New works by Shelly Jyoti and Laura Kina
Nehru Art Centre 12-18 January, 2010
Opening Reception: 12 January, 5:30pm-8pm
Inauguration by Mrs. Supriya Sule Member of Parliament
On view: 12-18 January Time 11:00am-7:00pm
Nehru Centre, Dr. Annie Besant Road,
Worli, Mumbai, 400018 India
Tel : 022 24964676-80
http://www.nehru-centre.org/artgallery.html

Employing fair trade embroidery artisans from women’s collectives in India and executing their works in indigo blue, Indian artist Shelly Jyoti and US artist Laura Kina’s new works draw upon India’s history, narratives of immigration and transnational economic interchanges.

To view our works visit:
http://www.laurakina.com
http://www.shellyjyoti.com

Monday, January 4, 2010

Video link to Indigo: New works by Shelly Jyoti and Laura Kina

Informational video on my current two person exhibition Indigo: New works by Shelly Jyoti and Laura Kina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-cRlQjBowQ