Here is a stencil painting mini series I created to jump off showcasing my new style of work online which derives from the type of work I was running wit when I first moved to The Bay and before I became involved in activism. I made it a goal this year to finally reactivate this style of work as I continue to finally close out my Justice For Our Lives 💯 project. I plan to be back on the gallery circuit again by the end of the year. I dont know how many years its been since ive exhibited a new painting. It feels really good to take a new direction with my work. : )
New Shapes 1-9
Stencil on canvas
​9x12in
​2019

One year ago, #ClaudiaPatriciaGomezGonzalez a 19 year old indigenous woman from Guatemala was shot in the head by a border patrol agent in Rio Bravo, Texas after she crossed the border with a group of people. She left her hometown of San Juan Ostuncalco and travelled 1500 miles to the US in hopes of finding work and reunite with her boyfriend who made it to Virgina a year earlier. CBP claimed the agent attempted to apprehend a group of migrants but came under attack with the use of “blunt objects” but they later changed their story using terms like “allegedly assaulted” and “rushed” the agent without the mention of any blunt objects. The initial statement described her as “one of the assailants” and then was changed as just a member of the group. A resident who lives next door to the location of the shooting filmed the aftermath on Facebook live. She claimed she never heard any verbal commands from the agent before she heard the fatal gun shot. In the video she is seen yelling at the agent asking why he shot the woman who was hiding behind bushes near her fence. Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzalez came to this country to find economic refuge. This is not what should happen to a young woman who was in pursuit of her dreams and aspirations. The agent should be criminally charged and convicted for this crime. End impunity within CBP! #justiceforourlives

I started going to Laney college and finally learned how to use illustrator. For a long time now I have only been using Photoshop and I realize how much easier it is it work out my ideas using different applications. One of my first projects that I took on aside from school projects has been this mini series of 8 animal designs. This was just to get my gears rolling in coming up with ideas using my shapes. All of this will start to materialize more and more this year. Look out for more designs and paintings of this style of work.

​This year I decided to go to college for the first time in my life. My focus in my first semester has been graphic art. Up until I started college, I have been a self taught in design with limited knowledge of Adobe applications. One of the main projects last semester for all my graphic art classes was to create and submit a piece for the #inspireoakland campaign organized by Oakland Digital, a non-profit design studio bridging the gaps between low income students and the tech industry. I was motivated to complete this project because it was an opportunity to not only turn in an assignment for my grades but also be able to showcase my work in public throughout the town. The theme of this project was on what it is about Oakland that inspires you? I chose to depict an image of the Warriors in their championship glory right after their 2017 win over the Cavaliers. In this image you see the players huddled together with their arms extended out reaching towards the trophy in a symbolic gesture of people coming together reaching for success. I thought this to be very representative of how Oakland comes together to develop and sustain community and culture. I also wanted to do something that both old and new Oakland would appreciate on a mere sports entertainment level. I think this is a piece that everyone in The Town who is a Warriors fan will vibe with especially for the fact that we are now back to back champions having recently won the 2018 championship once again. Go Warriors! Go Oakland! For more information about the Inspire Oakland campaign visit www.oaklanddigital.org

Last week I had the pleasure of being featured in the East Bay Express's first "Best Of The EastBay : People Issue" edition for 2016. I was contacted by EBX writer, Sarah Burke, who wanted to do a feature on me for the following issue of the East Bay Express. It wasnt until she explained to me that I realized it was for the "Best Of The East Bay: The People Issue" edition which was unexpected.  Every time I do an interview describing the history of my project, I realize so much has happened in regards to my project and also the overall matter of police terrorism on black and brown bodies since I began this work at the beginning of 2014. It amazes me how far and wide these images have been shown around the world starting from the production of every single portrait on my computer.  "Justice For Our Live"s is a project that has had minimal financial support but given the accessibility of these designs online has allowed members of the community to freely use these images as a tool to push these conversations and to shape  our ideas towards racism and prejudice in the justice system. There are so many other movers and shakers out here in The East Bay that deserve recognition like this but its an honor to be  considered "Best Of the East Bay" by EBX. Thank You!