Arts & Letters
No. 239: Daily Art Cycle, Mariton Villanueva, Colette Fu, Frank Romero, Kavin Yaun, Giovanni Aloi, Jasmine Dukes, Jemma Chapman, Dept. of Homeland Inspiration, TitoM & Yuppe, & Priyanka.
Three from the Daily Art Cycle:
I guess I was in “a mood” when I drew this one:
RABBIT HOLE
Mariton Villanueva’s textile art studio:
Colette Fu’s beautiful pop-up books celebrate Chinese indigenous culture in China, and Chinese immigrants in the US. Along the way, she became a “paper engineer.”
Frank Romero and the Chicano Art Movement in L.A.:
Kevin Yaun’s article “Quiet Moments of Protest” and art, in his Substack Staring at the Sun.
Lawns, Colonialism, & Art: an interview with author, educator, and curator Giovanni Aloi:
That is the slap in the face to those who have next to nothing: ‘I have so much land’ the lawn says, ‘that I can afford for it to be unproductive, and still I am filthy rich.’ That’s also the moment in which artists are commissioned by very rich landowners to make paintings to immortalize the beauty of their mansions which appear surrounded by the beautiful lawns. And before you know it these paintings travel to the United States and other parts of Europe, and so the lawn is popularized. It becomes a virtue-signaling icon--it’s a status symbol... -- Giovanni Aloi
Jasmine Dukes’ Cerulean art studio and gallery is in her van:
Art in Vending Machines: Architect and illustrator Jemma Chapman puts her “stamp“ art in vending machines (Toronto Star):
SOUNDINGS:
Dept. of Homeland Inspiration’s bonus episode, “Dear Jack,” wherein Melissa Smedley shows us why poetry is her favorite word-delivery system. Recorded on the last day of National Poetry Month.
In “Tshwala Bam,” Amapiano1 producer/DJ TitoM & Yuppe sing about the pitfalls of alcohol.2 Nevertheless, the song makes me want to dance:
English translation of the chorus:
[Chorus: S.N.E]
Forgive me alcohol
I spent all my money
My burdens were heavy
I confessed my sin
Alcohol you’re playing with me
At home they’re complaining about me
You made a fool of me, my liquor
Forgive me alcohol
I spent all my money
My burdens were heavy
I confessed my sin
Alcohol you’re playing with me
At home they’re complaining about me
You made a fool of me, my liquor
Priyanka plays a soulful Amapiano mix in Cape Town, South Africa:
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Notes:
Amapiano is “characterized by synths and wide, percussive basslines. The word “amapiano” derives from the IsiZulu word for “pianos” (Wikipedia).
According to a Wikipedia post, “The lyrics depict struggles with financial issues, peer pressure, and the temptation to use drinking as a coping mechanism. ‘Tshwala bam’ loosely translates to ‘my liquor’ in English.” The lyrics briefly mention “The President” in relation to alcohol. I had to look that up. A July 3, 2020 article in AfricaCheck reports: “Following the lifting of a two-month ban on the sale of alcohol in South Africa, “excessive abuse of alcohol” has led to many social ills. These were the words of President Cyril Ramaphosa during a virtual engagement with the public on 1 July 2020.”