Oakland Museum Update
This is part 1 of 2 walls I am painting for the Oakland Museum of California. The walls are for their annual Dia De Los Muertos exhibit which opens this fall. I had to get an early start on it because they requested to use it to promote the show. The title of this piece is Tree of Life and Death. It's inspired by Life Cycles as defined in science and a modern interpretation of pre-conquest, Dia De Los Muertos and buddhist images. Life Cycles basically apply to all things living and are characterized by change, life itself, growth and death. The tree motif is a reference to the civic logo of Oakland. Together with the curator of the exhibit Eduardo Pineda, I wanted to connect natural sciences to Dia De Los Muertos, and I feel we accomplished that in this piece. I will post more updates as soon as the piece is installed at OMCA. Thanks for viewing!
Quotes On Humility
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.
C. S. Lewis
Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.
Thomas Merton
A sarcastic person has a superiority complex that can be cured only by the honesty of humility.
Lawrence G. Lovasik
Humility and knowledge in poor clothes excel pride and ignorance in costly attire.
William Penn
There is no respect for others without humility in one's self.
Henri Frederic Amiel
Humility is truth.
Desiderius Erasmus
Truth
Quotes On Identity
The value of identity of course is that so often with it comes purpose.
-Richard Grant
I'm not a big fan of identity politics and sort of picking one thing and defining yourself with it.
-Andrej Pejic
I come from a country and also a continent whose identity is in the making. We're a very young culture, and I think that things are not yet crystallised.
-Walter Salles
An un-named song is like an un-named child, it has no identity.
-Robyn Hitchcock
You have to be able to risk your identity for a bigger future than the present you are living.
-Fernando Flores
We don't need a melting pot in this country, folks. We need a salad bowl. In a salad bowl, you put in the different things. You want the vegetables - the lettuce, the cucumbers, the onions, the green peppers - to maintain their identity. You appreciate differences.
-Jane Elliot
Materialism is an identity crisis.
-Bryant H. McGill
My potential is more than can be expressed within the bounds of my race or ethnic identity.
-Arthur Ashe
You're an island no matter what you do. I think it's very dangerous to use popularity as your identity in life. So you have to really know who you are inside, the core person, and follow what is true rather than follow what is hype.
-Donny Osmond
Oakland Museum of California
I am very honored to announce that I have been invited to paint a couple of walls at the Oakland Museum of California as part of their upcoming Dia de Los Muertos exhibit. The exhibit will focus on both Dia de Los Muertos, and natural sciences, especially in regards to our state of California. Above are my concept sketches for the walls. A little info on the bear drawing: I learned that in some Mexican traditions, everyone is born with a spirit of an animal who is responsible for protecting and guiding us. These are called Nahuales. The Grizzly Bear can be thought in this way about our state, which may be the reason it is pictured on California's flag. That's why I decided to make a dedication to the animal which unfortunately and ironically is now extinct in our state. I will post more information about the other image pictured here, and some of the visual ingredients I chose as the work developes. Stay tuned!
Mario Vs. Luigi Print
Recently I released a print with 1XRun, the premier site for exclusive one of a kind art prints. I've just finished signing the edition of 75, including certificates of authenticity. The prints were of a piece I did some months ago based on Nintendo's Mario Bros. The run was a 15 x 20 inch archival pigment print on 300gsm fine art paper. I have to say, i'm very happy with the results and also the fine treatment I received from the folks at 1XRun. Thanks for those who supported by collecting the print, and for those who missed out, don't sleep next time!
Quotes On Style
Fashions fade, only style is eternal.
- Yves Saint Laurent
Don't settle for style. Succeed in substance.
- Winton Marsalis
The difference between style and fashion is quality.
- Giorgio Armani
Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.
- Gore Vidal
Limited Edition Print Release
NEW!
PRINT RELEASE
FRACTIONS
Limited edition fine art giclee print on 100% archival velvet fine art paper.
Edition of 50
Signed and numbered
13" x 13"
Unframed
Price: $40.00 + Shipping & Handling
"Assembling The Pieces: Memory & Hybrid Identity" @MACLA
Words by Graffuturism: Samuel Rodriguez recently exhibited new work in a 2 person installation titled “Assembling the Pieces: Memory & Hybrid Identity” at MACLA in San Jose. This new body of work was an extension of his hybrid identity portraits that deconstruct and bring into question the idea of identity. He has taken the work into a new level of deconstruction and added layers of dimensions. By creating an installation of one of his portraits with a hanging grid system Samuel Rodriguez pushed his portraits into new territory. The scale and detail of the new pieces bring an added edge to the work. This move into intricate systems of installation and assemblage show the artists talent not only as a painter but also as a conceptual contemporary. Very strong work.
GF
NEW WORK: Contribution to the West Coast Graffuturism Show
I recently had the opportunity to contribute to Graffuturism's group show at Soze Gallery in Los Angeles. It was an honor to exhibit along side many great artists who I admire. Thanks again Graffuturism and Poesia. Peep out Graffuturism.com to learn more.
