Dear Conservatives, Trump is Letting my People Die

Donald Trump doesn't care for people of color (or any minority for that matter). He swindles a vote from those he can and tosses them aside like used Kleenex. This motherfucker is letting my/our people DIE. I'm equally enraged and heartbroken. And twice as disgusted at the fact that he's being allowed to carry on with his racist childish ways. This tide must turn.
I don't have to address Liberals. I know we agree. But to anyone who supported this man because you TRULY believed it was the right thing to do, if there is a shred of humanity in you there can (and must) be no denying what is playing out before our very eyes. I implore you to STAND UP, as you do for your flags and anthems. This is not your leader. I have faith that you must be better than this. Speak out and RESIST. Doing the right thing doesn't make you a traitor to your party, it makes you a respectable American. Please, don't let our people in Puerto Rico die.

Dreamers

In this uncertain sociopolitical climate we must stand for the things we believe in. Our voices must be clear and loud. I stand with our Dreamers and DACA. This piece was inspired by Trump's recent threat to the Dream Act.

Dreamers, acrylic, house paint and ink on canvas, 20"x 16"

This painting is available through Latin Pop Shop on Etsy.

Charlie's Joint

I've been wanting to "dirty up" my Latin pop work with painterly qualities and texture for a while now. While my love of flat color fields and bold lines remains, a desire to loosen things up without losing my identifiable signature look has been nagging at me for a while. I think that Charlie's Joint achieves this. I look forward to continued exploration of this approach. I named the painting Charlie's Joint because I listened to nothing but Charlie Parker during its creation. I painted the original piece using house paint, acrylics, ink and collage.
The original has sold but limited edition prints are available in sizes ranging from 11" x 11" to 44" x 44". You may purchase your very own through my online store, Latin Pop Shop on etsy or by visiting my studio.

My Love/Hate Relationship with Kodi and Why I Didn't Watch the Emmy's Tonight

Not so long ago we were given a Firestick for my birthday. The device wasn't given to us for the sole purpose of replacing our Apple TV (which we were perfectly happy with) but to expand our viewing pleasure with the magical gifts of the almighty Kodi. We were ready for our minds to be blown and so we embarked on our Kodi adventure. A few days in cancelled our cable subscription and pared down our Netflix to streaming only.
We were initially excited, I'll admit. The access to what seems like any movie or tv show you can think of seemed too good to be true. Am I really watching Alien Covenant before it's out on video??? The thrill of it almost made up for the disappointment. In space no one might hear you scream, but you can't escape how badly a movie can suck.

"If you've got Kodi, why do you still pay for cable?" they said.

"Kodi is amazing." they said.

"You'll never want for another tv service." they said.

They LIED.

Here's the thing, if you are a horror (or any genre, really) buff like me, you probably seek out articles and lists of films that might not make it to your local theater or even dvd. Through a Kodi search you will find countless of these to add to your "Favourites" list. What you don't realize, as you continue to fill your queue with nerdish delight is that actually viewing many of the titles is a total crapshoot.
Perhaps, although you were able to find that obscure movie you've been dying to watch, no stream is available. Perhaps there are many streams available, but none are 1080p (apparently the highest quality) or even HD so your only options are grainy or pixelated, or sadly, even a pirate version shot by someone with a handheld device.
Or maybe, SCORE! The movie IS available and at crisp quality, to boot, so you settle down with your favorite cocktail or snack to watch only to find out 30 minutes into it that 30 minutes worth is all the stream offered. You might find that foreign movie you've heard so much about and covered your bases...high definition stream, check...full movie, check. Now we're cooking! Wait, something isn't lining up here...the subtitles are to a completely different movie.

Almost all of the above also applies to tv shows. This week's Scientology and the Aftermath was a delight to watch. Next week everyone, including Leah Remini might be blurred or pixelated beyond recognition as if suddenly in the Witness Relocation Program. I don't know about you, but I like my RuPaul's Drag Race crisp and clear. I'll admit I've never felt fully at ease with the concept but gave in to peer pressure and the promise of having a world of horror and arthouse movies at my fingertips. I wouldn't want people to just download my paintings and decorate their homes with them without me reaping any benefits so I should know and be better. In a way it feels a bit like well-deserved karma.

Kodi is great if you don't mind sometimes spending upwards of 40 minutes before finding a movie you can actually watch or being frustrated to the point of watching a movie at a quality you would never consider acceptable were it a dvd or other legit streaming service. I look forward to ditching Kodi and going back to knowing I have direct access to what I want to watch when I want to watch it.

Call for Art: Artist's Choice

Artist's Choice

Pom Pom's Teahouse and Sandwicheria, St. Pete invites Tampa Bay artists to submit entries for its upcoming exhibit.  Artists may submit up to 5 quality images of their choice (at least 500x500 and no larger than 1000x1000 pixels) of available works. Each entry should measure no smaller than 8" x 8" and no larger than 30" x 40 ".  All work must be properly wired and ready to hang on a display system upon delivery (no sawtooth hangers, wire only, please).

This exhibit will run from October 8 through the month of December 2017. Commission split is 30%, with 70% to the artist. Please submit images along with Title/Medium/Size info for each to: jgascot@gascot.com

Submission deadline: Friday, September 30.

Acceptance emails will be sent by Monday, October 1. 

All accepted works must be delivered on Sunday, October 8, 5:00 pm.

If you wish to receive email notifications about future artist calls or if you are submitting for this one please join the Artist Call email list via the link below:

 http://eepurl.com/bIofsz

Making Art After Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma has come and gone. While we were left without power for 3 days (some remain without electricity) and sustained some damages locally, we are very fortunate in comparison to what could have been. Nonetheless, it has been a trying and unsettling experience and our Pinellas County/Tampa Bay community has shown its best side rallying together to rebuild.

Prior to Irma I'd been nagged by an urge to focus on works on paper for the next 3 months to a year. Specifically, I felt the need to create a butterfly image. Yesterday I returned to the studio and created this. Butterflies are a sign of rebirth, renewal and freedom. This is the first piece of art I've made since Hurricane Irma turned many Florida lives upside down.

Each one-of-a-kind block print is matted to 8" x 10" and priced at just $20.
You can order your own from my Latin Pop Shop Etsy store.

Call for Art: Creatives Helping Creatives

As we all know by now Hurricane Harvey has caused tremendous devastation to many in Texas. While no one can help everyone, we all can help someone. This art show is all about creatives helping other creatives in their time of need.
The staff of the Alley Theatre has suffered personally as possessions, automobiles, and homes have been damaged and destroyed. We are very concerned about and their recovery during this trying time.
A portion of the proceeds from this exhibit will benefit the Alley Theatre Employee Flood Assistance Fund.

The Cider Press Café and curator John Gascot invite Tampa Bay artists to submit entries for this upcoming exhibit. This will be a non-theme "Artist's Choice "exhibit. Artists may submit up to 5 quality images of available works. Each entry should measure no less than 6x6" and no larger than 24" x 30.
The show will run from September 12, 2017 through November 6, 2017.
Commission split: 50% artist/50% Flood Relief
Please submit images along with Title/Medium/Size information for each to jgascot@gascot.com

Due to the nature of this effort the submission period is shorter than usual.
Submission deadline: Thursday, September 7, 2017.
Acceptance emails will be sent by Friday, September 8, 2017.
All accepted works MUST be delivered on Saturday, September 9, Noon.

A fundraiser event/reception will be held at a soon TBA date.

If you wish to receive email notifications about future artist calls or if you are submitting for this one please join the Artist Call email list via the link below.

 http://eepurl.com/bIofsz