Art Needs Our Love and Support to Thrive and Survive!

Art Day (which is every day) was Friday, September 15th in my lovely city. Well, you have heard of bar hopping I am sure, this was Art Hopping. I had the pleasure of attending 2 shows featuring local artists. The first stop was the opening of Growing Up Phoenix featuring the inspiring artwork of Veronica Verdugo Lomeli at the Xico Gallery 1008 E Buckeye Rd Suite 220 Phoenix 85034. Her artwork is inspiring, positive and rich with culture. Her pieces are bright, bold, warm and full of life. Shedding light on the vibrant life and culture of what it is Growing Up Phoenix. Check out the show, you will not be disappointed.
The next show moved me to downtown in the Roosevelt Art district. This was the Rise and Grind show opening at Grand ArtHaus 1501 NW Grand Ave Phoenix 85007. This showing is showcasing many talented artist which kicked off celebrating 1 year open for this lovely gallery. There were abstract pieces, pop culture pieces, street art and much more!
I have followed the arts and all of its many faces for years now, I always enjoy coming across new and exciting talent. The artists who put together and participate in these shows put 150 percent of themselves into it. It is inspiring to see so much passion being put into visuals for others to enjoy.
I love the arts, I love supporting artists and by having support the arts will stay alive for generations to come.
Do yourself a favor and check out these 2 fantastic shows. They are showing into October. Weather is great, take a breather and go show some local artists your love and respect for doing something with their passion and not letting fear drive them!

Fresh Friday- A Lesson In Inspiration

This week I want to share with you a wonderful event that ALMOST did not happen. For weeks, a group of South Phoenix residents (born and raised) and amazing artists and a wonderful support crew planned an event that was to promote PRIDE IN COMMUNITY and UNITY and FUN. On the 11th hour the whole event was almost axed due to bureaucratic red tape! But thanks to Franco with quick thinking, the power of persuasion and the ability to compromise, the event was able to go on! And thanks to a wonderful community organization ( Black Wall Street) who put up the insurance coverage for us! The event could go on after all, albeit on a smaller scale with time restrictions. But, it still happened and that my friends is the MOST important part. The community STILL came to the show and showed the support and love that we all needed. We had our friend Blockhead who hung all of the art on the walls to make the gallery look amazing. The artists came through and brought their stuff to show off. Central Car Club brought over some wicked low riders (thanks Tony for setting it up). We had great live music by The Color 8, The Drunken Indian and Angels/Aliens. Rattle Can Man and Complete The Streets brought out their framed photography which really shows us the impact of city life, graffiti and trains in the culture. Mr Gallo Arte was in the art room doing live sketches. And the gallery was a wonderful meeting place for artists to share tips and admire each others work. We had works by many talented artists including but not limited to Armondo Williams, Cierra Sol, Brian Garcia, SIEK, CAB, DUROK, Mr Mimek, Kancr, TAME, Cre8, Mr Gallo Arte, Cesar Ramirez, Rey Ramirez, Marco Acosta, Therosia Reynolds and Aline Hernandez...if I missed anyone of you my apologies. This event was a true inspiration. I pulled such a positive force out of it. I am honored to have been invited in and welcomed to join up with an amazing group of people to put common beliefs and visions into play for a wonderful event to come to fruition. I want to say how much I thank you and am truly amazed at the outpouring of support that came about during this event. Long live FRESH FRIDAY and the vision that it holds. It pays to band together and bring good things to our communities. Be on the lookout for more possibilities with this group and keep an eye and ear out there to the pavement because word on the streets is something else could come out of this! Thank you again to the community and thank you again to all who stood up for us in the time of need, thank you to the school district for giving the forum for the event. Again, if I missed anyone my apologies...information overload when I get all excited over positive things happening in a community! If you like what you read please feel free to leave a comment or a high five or feel free to give a follow to the blog. Thanks for reading!
Peace, Love and Happiness!

Fresh Friday Visual!

This is a small run of the pictures from Fresh Friday! My next post tells you the groovy details!

This weeks entry is regarding fear. I have lived in fear for a large chunk of my life.... both real and imagined. I have let fear drive me away from my passion and pursuing growth and change. Who out there can relate to this? We all at one point or another have experienced the familiar ting in the pit of our stomach that crept up and shook some of us to the core...at least for me it has.
So in regards to my fears. Until most recently (within 6 years) I wrote my heart and soul and hid it from the world...hid it from myself. I was afraid to come forward and let the transparency happen.I was so terrified that someone would read my writings and judge me, throw it in my face, use it against me, laugh at it, shrug it off as nonsense. Now, I am sure that I am not the only one who has been gripped with this. What I started to do was share it with friends, family, my children. It then led to social media outlets. It progressed to pop up art shows. I have experienced the standard outlets...all except one. My soul shattering fear of standing before my peers and reading one out loud. Takes me back to school daze when I was so uncertain of myself, uncertain of my voice. So, this week I had a lovely invitation from my friend (and supporter) Angelica who gave me an outlet on live radio to recite one of my poems. It was so amazing! What a full circle of emotions! I experienced a high like none other. Fear, excitement, giddiness and so much more! It was a great moment for me to be able to speak my prose out loud. All while being silently cheered on by my daughter, my friend and my friend Franco who without him none of this would be possible. Shout out to KDIF.org, 102.9 FM South Phoenix, Arizona! Amazing organization, amazing people. I am humbled and full of gratitude.
This now leads up to my next forum again thanks to Franco and a whole slew of other great and inspiring people who have put together a pop up community event that will feature a magnitude of talent. I am proud to say that I have been honored to be a part of helping to organize this event which will bring great positive influence to the community of South Phoenix. Featured at this event will be Live art, Live music, Dj's, BBoys, Food trucks, Car clubs, an Open Mic, vendors selling DIY goodies (no store bought stuff here) and so much more! It is a wonderful vision that has now been brought to a reality to bring a positive look into a wonderful community. Shout out to South Phoenix!! Much love to KDIF.org, Rosewax Vinyl Club and all of the amazing
ly talented people who are supporting others and giving them a forum to rise themselves up and become empowered and bring positive light to the community! Come by and let us bond together as a community and promote the positive! Thanks for reading!

P.S. The event is called Fresh Friday and will take place on Friday, September 8th 2017. It starts at 6pm through midnight. Where you ask? Here ya go:
Sierra Vista Community School
6401 S 16th Street
Phoenix, Az 85042