Tag: art

Portugyal

I’ve grown so fond of Lisbon, Portugal and I cannot wait until I return! Such a colorful and lively city! And the graffiti! I can only think of Barcelona, off the top of my head, coming close to having such an abundance of graffiti! I would’ve loved to stage a photoshoot with unlimited clothing options. A city blended with old world accents mixed with a new version, a younger versions of what it means to be a creative. I would also like to believe just by being in the city, my perception of what it means to be fashionable has grown as well. I was able to mix colors, patterns and prints, to however I saw fit!

Please as soon as you can, get yourself to Lisbon! I look forward to your transformation as a product of your visit. Have you already been? Please let me know all about your visit!

Tristan J.

New New Mexico

Its been quite a while since I’ve been able to get to a museum, and the government shut down is NOT helping! So when I am able to get my ‘art fix’ I’ll do it anyway I can, even if that means arriving at the airport twenty minutes early! SideNote: For a flight attendant, twenty minutes early is a very big deal. This was my second time in Albuquerque, so I had scoped out some of the art work that is on display at the airport. Unfortunately It was late, after a long flight so I was ready to knock out but I was determined to see and capture some of the works on display.

Fast forward to the next afternoon, and success! All the art work displayed is from students in New Mexico!

Tristan Jonez

Love Angeles.

I’ve been to Los Angeles more times than I can count, and I’ve only recently stumbled upon Venice Beach. I know, I know how does one ‘stumble’ but I did just that. Usually whenever I am passing thru LA, I go straight to Santa Monica Pier to partake in either Mexican food or hotdog on a stick, then make my way back to the hotel/airport. However it was such a beautiful day that I couldn’t stop myself when I kept walking towards Venice beach. I see now why everyone either bikes or skates because that forty minute walk was nothing to play with. FYI, While walking I lost my damn glasses!

Venice Beach isn’t what I was expecting, although I wasn’t really expecting anything. It reminded me of soho in NYC, with a bit of market street in San Francisco, and a double dose of free spirit galore. Since I was on a tight schedule I didn’t stop and look at all the art work that was displayed up and down the side of the boardwalk. But if you have the opportunity to visit, check out all the gems I missed out on. If you’re into street art, then Venice Beach is definitely the place for you. Any type of art really, there were ‘show time’ folks performing and an amazing skate (?) park, with plenty of bikers/skaters to catch the best tricks!

Tristan Jonez

Note: Seems as the airport is close enough that you are able to see aircrafts take off frequently, while enjoying the views of the beach.

Poem Reader.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the pop up art show at AMFM gallery, remember? Well I semi documented my time at the event, but I left out a minor detail. I met someone, and actually gave him my real number; shocking I know. Although he’s not someone I would go for, I figured why not? I’m in a new city, and my ‘type’ could be whats holding me back from finding the love of my life. Lets call him, Tyrone. Tyrone is a few years younger than me but he’s educated, passionate about his beliefs, and OD hella funny. Like have me in tears, gotta pee funny.

I warned him about me being a flight attendant, that I really have poor time management plus I’m still trying to navigate around being a flight attendant, being away from home in a new city, etc etc etc. It seems like we are still able to interact over the phone, via text and voice calls. Sidenote: The first night we actually chitchatted on the phone, before we ended the call, he read me a poem. So y’all already know I was ready to marry the kid. I just thought that was such an original, dope thing to do, very out of the ordinary, and seemed genuine. Plus for the duration we talked, he would read me a poem before hanging up.

Fast forward to now, we no longer communicate. I’m a bit sad about that but I am not going to hound someone down to be there. It went left as the day we had planned to go on an ‘official’ date he kinda just left me on read, (iPhone). Earlier in the day we were to meet, a classmate flew in, and I gave her an impromptu tour of Chicago. I got back home with enough time to nap, shower and make it to our date, but I didn’t hear anything from him for the rest of the day. I even, double texted and called a few times but no response. And before you jump to take his defense, he’s alive and thriving. So the search continues, but I wanted to let you guys know, its amazing how open you can have a female just by being original.

Happy Dating.

Tristan Jonez

Ebony G Patterson

Since I caught the Nick Cave exhibit in Nashville, I’ve been slightly obsessed with him but more importantly, artist that bring to light racial injustices and social culture using sequins. Introducing Ebony G Patterson, her style, to me, was so similar to Nick Cave, I almost confused her work for his. As a Jamaican born artist, her work “explores the constructions of the masculine within popular culture, using dance hall culture as a platform for this discourse.” Although I’ve been to countless dancehall parties in the Bronx and Brooklyn, it’s really easy to understand the comparison between the sometimes flamboyant lifestyle of gay male and a heterosexual Jamaican man.

IF you knew nothing of the story of the artist, what message she was trying to convey, honestly what would you think the story of the art piece would be? For me, it’s very easy to see what it could possibly represent. If you look closely at the shoes/sneakers that are bedazzled, couldn’t it be mistaken for drag apparel? Could you identify the subects sexual orientation, and if you say yes, how? I’ve very interested in your answer.

Tristan J.

The Decaying.

The morbid part of me loves Ivan Albright! I was fortunate enough to see a few of his pieces at the Art Institute or Chicago when I took advantage of Bank Of America’s free museum weekend two years ago. SideNote: Bank Of America offers free entrance to several museums in America (Obv) the very first weekend, Sat & Sun, of every month if you are a card holder. I was delighted to see the museum dedicate a section of the museum to Albright.

Albright was obsessed with the decaying human body. I admire his obsession as I believe sometimes we, humans, see ourselves as invincible. I appreciate his vision, a lot of his subjects were young, beautiful, healthy, but he drew what the ‘flesh’ would become. I’m so interested to know what became of the people who he drew inspiration from. As they got older, did they resemble what he paint them as?

Tristan Jonez

AiseLife X Skoli

What a pleasure, to go from seeing Charles White (I’m Super Obsessed) at the Art Institute of Chicago, to seeing up & coming artists in the Chicago art and creative scene at AMFM Gallery. As all of you know, I’m a recent transplant in Chicago, so I had no real clue as to what to expect when I arrived at the venue. Some would say no expectations equals no disappointments, but I was pleasantly surrounded by an outward display of love. AiseLife’s art was captivating, I throughly enjoyed being transported back to the “rink”. Just looking at his depiction of a skating rink, the focus being on the skates, I created a whole narrative in my mind, I could even hear the music and feel the energy. Ultimately isn’t that what art is supposed to do? Create a story for you?

I also was treated to a live performance by @Nomezflute and @loony.is.normal It started off as beat bop meets flute meets soul meets jazz, which I know sounds hard to imagine but it works. Somehow the duo, they’re able to pair the different genres of music and release a vibe that transcends what you believe you’re into musically. As Nomezflute eloquently stated, [Paraphrasing] “this is enchanting music, so let the music move you. Do whatever the fuck You want. Dance to it, move an arm or a leg to it.”

We all vibed and rocked out to the sounds of DJ Skoli. I play the wall, especially when sober, hell even when intoxicated and guess what? I was dancing! So that can only be contributed to Red Line Shorty himself. Extremely focused while ‘spinning’ but amazingly humbled outside of the turn tables. The energy he puts into ensuring you feel him, is exactly why I had to return that same energy to him.

Tristan Jonez

Jonezy Note: I always feel as an intruder to this type of events where creatives show their creativeness. Although I am a creative in my own right, not being a performer, I am slow to open up in these spaces at times. However I am always excited to be in the vicinity of such spaces, the Love was present in abundance. Thank you AMFM Gallery, as well as Aiselife and DJ Skoli.