STAND
Here we stand at the intersection of art and politics, surrounded by challenges of injustice, inequities, neglect, movements, protest, and so much more. We take a stand on issues that we feel passionate about. When enough is enough, and the matter needs to be given a voice. Art recounts our past stories and allows us to look back and understand how our society evolved over time. And essentially, it is a way to know and understand ourselves better as a culture. STAND is an example of the broad range of issues that are happening in this extraordinary time.

New York, New York
fabric created from soluble material and then dissolved
This alternate American flag is a husk, a ghost of the past with hope for the future and the possibility to move forward.

Brooklyn, New York
oil
A portrait of a dear friend who is a bi-racial gay black man forced to exist in a world that projects their views on him because of the color of his skin and sexuality.

Renton, Washington
watercolor on paper
“Ghislain and Boris” is featured in my book, “When You Can’t Go Home: Portraits of Refugees in the Pacific Northwest”. It tells the story of 10 refugees and their families alongside 30 watercolor portraits. I give 50 percent of all my proceeds to help support refugees in my community.

Brooklyn, New York
oil on panel
Partisan is a series of portraits examining cultural and societal patterns reinforcing division and inequity, and signify a polarized national consciousness. They are rooted in the tension of an internal moment where individuals can choose to expand our worldview and empathic boundaries.

Montpellier, France
oil on canvas
First hand witness to the historical protest riots of 2020 in New York against inequality and injustice had a veracity and passion I felt had to be documented in this nocturnal scene. The catalytic moment it explodes into chaotic action.

Seattle, Washington
oil, ink and wax on wood panel

San Deigo, California
wood posts, recycled materials, acrylic
A collection of six “time capsules” detailing the current upheaval in America. The familiar phrases written on each waver between an ironic sadness at how far we've drifted from once inspiring words and a hopeful call to make them true once more. It's overwhelming, but remember; you have power.

Hopkinton, Massachusetts
mixed media mosaic
This multi-media mosaic incorporates stained glass and resin pieces. It uses the imagery of a torn American Flag to depict the divisiveness of our contemporary politics with a zipper embedded along the tear offering the hope of reuniting.

Chandler, Arizona
yarn, pins, United States map, cork board
Every pin shown represents an unarmed Black Indigenous person of color that has been killed by police from 2014 - 2018. In addition, there are hundreds of deaths caused by police that go undocumented or misrepresented.

Richmond, California
digital painting
I’m Ana, a first-generation Cuban-American artist born and raised in Miami, FL. Victorian Outlaw 2020—a self-portrait in many ways—depicts a woman armed with a roll of voting stickers and a medical face mask in the seemingly lawless dystopia of America in the year 2020.

McMinnville, Oregon
woodburning, mixed media

Tucson, Arizona
oil on canvas
This painting examines Mother Nature's reaction to decades of environmental neglect and in particular, the probable results of the current Wheeler-led EPA's oversight, or lack thereof. Remnants of Trump donors lie in the rubble.

Los Angeles, California
photography
Since the Coup in 2014, Thai people have been forced to live under the control of military dictatorship. The government has been an uncontested power to silence people: who have come forward to speak their voice against them have faced the consequences. Some were threatened, attacked, and disappeared.

South Gate, California
mixed media on linen

Puyallup, Washington
acrylic
June 2020. 11th & Pine, Seattle

Middleton, Wisconsin
acrylic and India ink on canvas
"The Situation (Outrage, Whitewash, Carry On)" is a modern, abstract expression created in response to the disgraceful Jan. 6th events at the US Capitol. Gestural, calligraphic lines and movement create a striking sense of depth and energy.

Bridgehampton, New York
mixed media, 18" x 24"
The American flag is reimagined in this collage which was created when it was reported that 100,000 deaths had occurred in the U.S. from the Coronavirus. The background consists of newsprint listing the names of all those that had perished up to that point. The blackened tips of the bamboo 'stripes' reference the lives snuffed out as a result of the pandemic.

Baltimore, Maryland
ribbon
Reflections in response to three works: White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, I'm Still here by August Channing Brown; and On Being White by James Baldwin. Journaling to earnestly reflect on and understand my role in the system of racial privilege and white supremacy.

Damascus, Syria
photography
Finding peace in Syria requires unity in diversity.

Brevard, North Carolina
oil on canvas
Carl died of aids many years ago. This is my posthumous portrait of him as an angel.

Jasper, Texas
mixed-media toner transfer print

Woodacre, California
plastic tarp, landscape fabric, newsprint, kraft paper, wool
I conceived this after reading an article about a SF street where owners placed large boulders in front of their homes to prevent people from sleeping there. I used materials found on the streets, including scraps of a SF newspaper which always has in it an article on those sleeping out in the cold.

Norman, Oklahoma
oil

Salt Lake City, Utah
oil on canvas
The title was said by my ex father inlaw when my then wife and I split up.An interracial couple being pushed out of the picture by white sheets which represents the KKK,one is upsidedown to the left of the couples legsThe couple along with the bed form a map of the US.

Ventura, California
oil on canvas
Abstract painting on the theme of biodiversity. Clear colors, organic shapes, and rhythmical lines express vibrant and diverse life forms that the artist ardently wishes to be sustained on our planet.

San Diego, California
digital pigment
From the House Divided series. A reaction to the corruption of Donald Trump's America.

Seattle, Washington
watercolor on paper
Even-aged stand of burnt timber near Harts Pass, Washington.

Conway, South Carolina
pewter, brass, copper

Healdsburg, California
Italian carrara marble
At the beginning of the Covid pandemic, people were hoarding toilet paper. Store shelves remained empty for weeks. I have created ULTRA STRONG as tribute to the “Great toilet paper shortage of 2020”. Carved from Italian Carrara Marble, it is a reminder to keep a roll on hand in case of emergency.

Medford, Massachusetts
clay for bronze
The concept for the piece stems from the mounting question about the meaning to life.The sculpture asks, "Who am I? What is my role as a human being? What am I doing on this planet?

Dallas, Texas
airbrushed acrylic on panel

Vashon, Washington
acrylic on canvas
Two canvas work where one has truth overwritten by lies and the other has lies overwritten by truth. Both were cut into identical diagonal strips and reassembled by trading every other diagonal. Its an overall metaphor for the new normal were heads or tails bares no meaning or consequence.

La Mesa, California
fabric, stitched painting
A pastor in Hawaii sent white carnation leis to the 1965 Selma march leaders to wear, symbolizing love and peace, outcomes many hoped would happen with continued peaceful protests against historic oppression, discrimination and inequality. This is a contemporary recreation of that moment.

Florence, Massachusetts
woodcut
Like many I am truly frustrated, and angered by the deaths of so many individuals of color by the police and the US government response to Covid and BLM protests. Folks are Dying is the first in a new series of prints created in a tent studio far from urban protest in Western Massachusetts .

Thibodaux, Louisiana
digital
This piece was heavily inspired by social unrest after the unlawful death by restraint of George Floyd while in police custody. Looking deeper into the image you can see a wave of people protesting with signs — one of which has George's full name in bold print (bottom left). The red stop light is artfully illuminated to indicate this injustice needs to STOP. The tearful, smokey eyes that appear beneath a torn page-like window represent the individuals in the crowd of people. Lastly, the overall layout is designed to mimic a Time magazine cover, hence the red border, text type/color, and the page tear. The overall theme is that PEOPLE of color are TIRED of being oppressed and/or killed which primarily occurs by means of excessive force from police officers.

Lansing, Michigan
photography

Peoria, Illinois
watercolor

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
oil on panel
From a series called TMTV (Too Much TV) - Modified Visions from the Tube. Using images from TV as source material for these new paintings that serve as personal psychotherapy during these times of pandemic, political turmoil, and civil unrest. Like the 60's all over again with a touch of Covid added.

Sycamore, Illinois
silkscreen print
"“What a Wonderful World”, 1967 by Louis Armstrong
Positive lyrics printed on obituary pages of the Chicago Tribune. Color divides the lyrics into multiple voices. These uplifting words shine a bright light on the darkest and most depressing news."

Garden Valley, California
oil
Created just after the 2016 election, this painting celebrates diversity and the strength it brings to the fabric of our country. It promotes tolerance, equality and the right to a safe environment for all Americans.

Pacific Palisades, California
oil
"Dalili the Doctor" homages Norman Rockwell's "Rosie the Riveter" in honor of frontline U.S. healthcare workers during the deadly 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

Jupiter, Florida
archival inkjet print

Los Angeles, California
FujiFlex light jet print-limited edition of 5 large archival prints

Norfolk, Virginia
oil on canvas
African Americans getting pulled over is the opposite of whats normal or expected. Other races see it as normal. Due to past trauma we fear getting pulled over by the police due to the reoccurring police brutality. Hints the title "the Looking Glass" meaning things aren't always what they seem.

Bellevue, Kentucky
oil on canvas
This piece is the ghost of a bountiful family gathering. We love the time we get to spend with our family, but sometimes that makes us blind to the amount of waste we're producing. We should be able to teach our families how to be more mindful and a family dinner is the perfect opportunity to do so.

Canton, Michigan
oil on canvas

Highland, Illinois
oil and materials on masonite
The second piece to a four part series of mine. I want to strive to paint not so beautiful things in a beautiful way. Plastic materials were included, which are currently causing serious problems in the earth's oceans, while utilizing traditional aspects of painting to depict the fish and composition.

Carlsbad, California
spray paint on wood
Mars in Roman Mythology is the god of war. Displayed are border wall models on native Kumeyaay land, disrupting sacred territory without legal right to do so.

Savannah, Georgia
oil on canvas

Oakland, California
mixed media collage: acrylic paint, spray paint, news print on Rives BFK 100 percent rag paper
Inspired by George Floyd. 100 percent of proceeds of sale will be donated to Youth Uprising in Oakland, CA.
SUPPORTING THE ARTS
A portion of the proceeds from STAND was donated to the Chicago Artists Coalition, an incredible non-profit based in Chicago, Illinois.
Chicago Artists Coalition is a non-profit organization that supports contemporary Chicago artists and curators by offering residency programs, exhibitions, professional development, and resources that enable them to live, work and thrive in the city. CAC is deeply committed to advancing the cause of art and its importance to Chicago’s culture and economy by cultivating a wide-reaching civic, philanthropic and public support network.
To learn more about their work, visit their website www.chicagoartistscoalition.org