And a new cycle begins

June 2, 2020

What can I say? Life again brings me full circle, almost exactly to the date where I was ten years ago. Unknown future, national unrest, instability.
Deep moment of reflection, of questioning trajectory and purpose. Self doubt consuming my soul. Anger, sadness, a sense of betrayal, dissatisfaction, pain.
It's hard to be hopeful in this state of mind, it's extremely difficult to see beyond today when the future is so unclear, hostile and unkind.
The dehumanizing of black men in America, the racism, the health disparities on a spotlight due to the pandemic, the high unemployment levels.
Am I next? Am I going to die, lose my job, be a victim of abuse of power because of the way I look?
Escaping this reality is almost an impossibility.
What to do, where to go, what's really important now?
How do I reconcile with systems, status quo, my personal life?
How am I teaching my children to be better human beings?
Did I grow even an inch in a decade? It's all so similar, the emotions, the circumstances. Did I make this happen again? How can I break this cycle?
How can I achieve the things I expect from life?

Perceptions

Today, I have been inspired to write on this blog. It has been four years since my last post and I realized several things are different since then.
For one, I am definitely not the same person I was four years ago. So much has changed, so much has happened and so much has my perspective in life shifted.

During these four years, I have changed my habits, my kids have grown and I too have grown immensely. I have learned more in the last four years than I could possibly imagine, but this learning and growing did not come pain free.

An important lesson that I still have yet to master, is to be constantly be aware that what I say and do in this world has an impact, and it is not always the intended one. I have yet to figure out that middle ground where I am able to be myself and be mindful of how others can interpret my actions and words. I have yet to detach myself from my ethos and be in tune with my surroundings, even though I have tried really hard to develop mindfulness. Understanding the why, how, when and where to develop such mindfulness is a lifetime effort. I don't want to sound pessimistic, but the selfless love must be immense  in order to achieve mindfulness. Nonetheless I try. I try not to give up and love. Love as much as I can.

These last four years have taught me to forgive, forget, let go, move one, give second chances and hope. Both in my personal and professional lives, I have had to do this in order to survive, to not loose hope of a brighter future. In these four years, I have found myself and lost myself multiple times. I am in my inevitable roller coaster, full of ups and downs, turns and flips. Right now, I'm  feeling flipped. No idea if this will move up, down or turn, just holding tight so I don't fall and can keep on going.

Let's see where this coater takes me. For now, I will continue to contemplate the view every morning and try to make the best of each day.

I leave you with such view.

Conquering fear

I wrote the text below during a recent flight, as a way of coping with my fear of flying. This fear developed from a trip I took many years ago, in which we encountered such turbulance that left me traumatized.

Let go of the fear of dying. You are getting too old for this. Yes, your kids will miss you, but they will be fine. Him? He will remember you, but will move on and seek refuge in his art.
Let go of the fear of feeling pain, you have already experienced it and survived. It will not hurt, especially if it is sudden and short.
Let go of the fear of letting go. If you let go the weight is lifted and you can fly... Literally!
Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid to die, after all we all will eventually. That is certain.

Juried Art Show returns at the Staten Island Museum

I am happy to report that one of my one of my pieces (shown below) was selected for this year's Staten Island Museum's Juried Art Show. The opening was last night and I have to say that I was very pleased to see such a huge turn out.

The Product of Me

18" x 36"

2012

Here is a little background about the piece:

The search of self has always been one of my main sources of inspiration for my artwork.  I conceived the idea for The Product of Me when I started questioning myself about what made me who I am. So I started to write down the things I liked to do, to eat, to see, places I like to go; and as I wrote them down, I started to see names of things that represented or had a direct connection with what I like to do. 

The idea of a self-portrait created using logos of the things I like most became clear. The logos represent my preferences, my consumption, and in many ways my identity.  The piece is also a glimpse of my personality, my life style read through my choices of products. The logos also represent the duality and ambivalence of my nationality, being born in USA but raised in Dominican Republic; I have used logos from both countries.

I looked to connect to the viewer and let them into my world, using recognizable icons of mass consumption, reachable by many, but indisputably mine by the unique selection. Yet the audience can identify with them and even question their preferences.  The piece is an open invitation for the viewer to find,communality, or not.

I also think the piece is a reflection of the consumerist society we live in today; opening a whole other aspect of the conversation; this one less personal and more social. 

Technically speaking, I wanted to be as faithful as possible to the original logo designs,
I tried to achieve a smooth morphology of my first name and/or last name out of them. The transfer technique offered the advantage to do that as clean as possible. At the same time, I wanted to include my mark, my touch and that’s why the painted flowers were included. Besides, they helped to integrate the piece as a whole and to bring the care-free, handmade quality the logos did not provide.  

In doing so, I used and integrated different creative processes. The logos were digitally manipulated then transferred onto the canvas. Then I painted the flowers with acrylic paint. 

I invite you to come and see it in person and maybe visualize what your own logos would be.

Just for the heck of it, can you tell what are the names of the products for the 9 logos I used?

Now for more serious information, here are the winners and below the official press release for the Show:

1^st Place - $500

Loveseats

Michael Zelehoski

assemblage with found wood and deconstructed chairs, 2010

24” x 37”

2^nd Place - $200

Broken Dish & Light Pole

Mahtab Aslani

oil on panel, 2011

8” x 8”

3^rd Place - $100

Ground Plume

Daniel Rosenbaum

paper, pencil, ink, paper mache and

styrofoam on stretched canvas, 2011

41.5” x 37” x 11”

For immediate release

Juried Art Show returns at the Staten Island Museum
On view from June 28, 2012 – September 23, 2012

Opening Reception Event Date:  Thursday, June 28, 2012
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Staten Island Museum, 75 Stuyvesant Place, SI, NY 10301
Admission: $5/Free for Museum Members

(Staten Island, New York – June 2012) In late April, the Staten Island Museum called upon artists to submit their best works created in the last three years and they answered the call in droves. This year, the formerly “Staten Island only” competition was opened to practicing professional artists in the entire tri-state area. From over 125 entries, judges Bartholomew Bland, Director of Curatorial Affairs, Hudson River Museum and Rachael Lawe, Director, International Collage Center chose 38 artists to be honored at this year’s exhibition.

The opening reception will be held on Thursday, June 28^th from 6pm-8pm at the Staten Island Museum in St. George, 75 Stuyvesant Place. Join us in celebrating these talented tri-state artists. All 41 pieces chosen will be on display, three top prizes will be announced and awarded cash prizes at the reception! There will also be the opportunity to purchase these original works at the artist’s discretion. Tickets to the opening will be available at the door for $5, free for Museum members.

The honored artists are: Heidi Alamanda, Mahtab Aslani, Irma Bohorquez-Geisler, Nancy Bonior, Arlette Cepeda, Sue Collier, Everet, Laura Fantini, Beth Galton, Leo Garcia, Tony Geiger, Aimee Hertog, Holland Houdek, Vladimir Kezerashvili, Jamie M. Lee, Jeongeun Lee, Jean Marcellino, Sean Martin, Diane Miller, Pamela Montalbano, Rudolph Montanez, Randall W.L. Mooers, Denise Mumm, Bill Murphy, Rebecca Mushtare, Maureen O’Leary, Janice Patrignani, Andrea Phillips, Florence Poulain, Daniel Rosenbaum, Howard Springer, Audrey Stone, Nina Talbot, Shira Toren, Regina Walker, Sarah Yuster, Chizuco Sophia Yw, and Michael Zelehoski. 

“Our last Juried show was in 2009, and it was opened only to Staten Island-based artists. With our immanent expansion to Snug Harbor Cultural Center we wanted to broaden our audience to the region, which embraces the entire City and surrounding areas. We aspire to be a visual arts center in the truest sense, representing the best that our region has to offer, in conjunction with collections that are worthy of a great city like New York. We continue to have a commitment to local artists, and about half of the artists that were selected for this year’s show are from Staten Island. The selection of work is eclectic, reflecting the diversity of talents and interests of the artists represented,” said Staten Island Museum Curator of Art, Robert Bunkin.

Image: Cart in the Park, Aimee Hertog
                digital photograph, 2012

####

About the Staten Island Museum
Founded in 1881 and celebrating its 130th year, the Staten Island Museum, New York City’s only general interest museum, engages visitors with interdisciplinary exhibitions and educational programs that explore the dynamic connections between natural science, art and history based on its diverse collections. The Museum welcomes about 80,000 adults and school children to a comprehensive array of programs every year. Located two blocks from the Ferry Terminal, visitors can embark on a voyage through time in the Staten Island Ferry exhibit; see rocks glow in the dark in the Hall of Natural Sciences; and experience the lives of Staten Island's first inhabitants. In Building H on the Snug Harbor Campus, visitors can explore the latest exhibitions in the History Center Gallery, or make a research appointment for the History Archives & Library. Staten Island Museum is owned by the City of New York and benefits from public funds provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. For current exhibitions, visit Statenislandmuseum.org

VISITOR INFORMATION

Staten Island Museum (St. George)
75 Stuyvesant Pl., SI, NY 10301
Hours:
Monday - Friday: 11am– 5pm
Saturday: 10am–5pm
Sunday: 12pm-5pm

Universal Accessibility

Recommended Admission
Adults $3.
Students and Seniors: $2.
FREE to members and children under 12.

History Center & Archives *New Location*
1000 Richmond Terrace, Snug Harbor Campus, Building H, Staten Island, NY 10301
Hours:
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 10am – 4pm by appointment only.
Contact Cara Dellatte at 718.483.7122.

History Gallery Hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 1pm – 4pm
Free

Interview for Libélula (Dragonfly) Revisblog

I have been flattered by my friend Sarah Valerio, with an interview about my work on her cool Spanish blog Libélula RevisBlog. I took the liberty to translate it so those of you who do not speak Spanish can read it. I thought it was great and wanted to share it with you.  I also want to thank her for including me in her blog and would like to invite you to follow her. 

I have to say that this interview caused me to think a great deal about myself and my artwork. 

Please comment.

Thank you............

A rare woman in the everyday ...


Arlette Cepeda gets up every day and drinks her coffee in the morning while smoking a cigarette with her husband. She gets her three children ready for school and then takes the ferry from Staten Island to New York to work. Her laughter is infectious and melodious as only jingles the laughter of a Caribbean women. From looking at her, no one would imagine the seething sea of ​​ideas under her calm appearance.
This artist is a wonderful human being who makes music, photography, painting and ceramics, among other things. She describes her art as "direct, emotional and questioning."


She has participated in various group exhibitions and won an honorable mention in the XXIII Biennial of Visual Arts of the Museum of Modern Art in Santo Domingo, DR. She taught digital photography for the Brooklyn Arts Council, Public Schools 111 and Kingsborough Early College School and was a visual arts instructor for The Children's Aid Society. She was the Administrative Director for CAS / AileyCamp Staten Island and a Public Relations Assistant Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
After all the years she has been my friend, I can not but feel fortunate to have someone  special close to me. I invite you to get to know her in this short interview.

Libélula (Dragonfly) RevisBlog . Where are you from? What makes you who you are?

Arlette Cepeda. I was born in New York and raised in Santiago. I am the only child of single mother. I grew up in a bubble where I was the center of the universe; thinking I could do and deserved everything. I grew up believing I was special, unique, and different and with an incredible need to express my feelings. It goes without saying that the bubble has long burst. I come from a matriarchal family, from much love and sacrifice. I come from a Third World country where the power goes out and you can still find Mabi in glass soda bottles  I come from the constant struggle to be better. I am the product of a mother completely dedicated to me and a grandmother who was and still is the protector and provider. The falls and rises are what made me who I am today. I was always in contact with art, it was my childhood companion, my guide as an adult and my goal in maturity.

LRB. Tell our readers about the things you love.
AC. I fully enjoy the magic of discovering something done right, no matter what it is. I love food, flowers, Jazz, Bosanova, independent music (underground) and sharing with friends. I am passionate about finding the details that go unnoticed in everyday things, and somehow give them justice and the importance they deserve through photography.
Ceramics is so relaxing for me. I love the touch with the clay, making something from nothing. What I feel is comparable to what happens to the photo paper when I'm in the darkroom, magic.
Painting is what really fulfills me. The fabric and the brush allows me to invest my feelings in the most physical and intense way.

LRB. What kind of artwork you do and how does art become part of your life?
AC. As a child I was always inclined to the arts. I studied theater, music theory and played the violin for several years. I was a very busy girl! The emphasis on the arts came in the adolescence, when I started taking painting classes at the Instituto Dominico Americano. In college, I had the opportunity to experiment with different media. Photography became my preferred medium, being it practical and immediate, but I also enjoy painting and ceramics.

LRB. What do you think about the emerging generation’s artwork in general? How do you see contemporary art?
AC. I must admit that my knowledge of contemporary art is limited, but from what I can see around me, there is much young talent with big ideas. However I feel they rely too much on what has already been created. Thanks to the many tools available today to duplicate and manipulate images, I get the impression that the execution of ideas is done very lightly, I feel that they lack more process, a more polished end result. Consequently, I find that many artists feel the need of having to explain their work to communicate the idea generating it.

LRB. How is being married to artist Homero Herrera-Chez, being both so talented?
AC. It's fascinating! I admire his dedication and versatility. I am the biggest fan of his work and his harshest critic. I respect the professionalism and consistency in his work. To witness the creative process of an artist is a unique experience. I have the privilege of seeing the birth of works and witness how they evolve and become great pieces. There is a feedback during the creative process that allows us to both to see and make adjustments that maybe we would not have done if we were not together.

LRB. You are a mother of three children, a wife and you also work. In other words, you have your hands full. Where does the artwork fit into your day?
AC. The truth is that it has been difficult to find a space to create, but I think without art my life would not have any sense. The small moments in which I can think and create happen when I go to and come from work, either on the train, ferry, bus or walking down the streets. And very late at night, when everyone is asleep and I have a little energy left.


LRB. What are the challenges facing women as artists in New York City and the society in which we live?
AC. From my point of view, the challenges are the same ones they faced a few decades ago, but on a smaller scale. The artistic circle is still dominated by men. I think the recognition of their work is their greatest challenge.


LRB. What is Arlette Cepeda, the artist, trying to reach ? What can we expect from your work in the future?
AC. I plan to continue capturing images and would like to have an exhibition of them in the near future. Life itself will mark the steps of my artwork, as it has always been the result of my experiences. In the mean time, my priority is my family. Art will always be in my life, that I'm sure.

A sample of her work...

To read this interview in Spanish,  please visit:

Libélula RevisBlog

http://azulibelula.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/arte-arlette-cepeda-arte-y-fuerza/ 

Time for change

Dear friends,

It has been a long time since my last post. I mentioned on the last one that this year was about change. Well, change has knocked on my door. I will be without a job by the end of August and this news has caused me to think about my life: my past, present and future (even more than before).

When one is let go from a job, one questions oneself. Was I not good enough? Do I fit the job description on this post, or this one or that one? “I could be a dog walker… Why not? Right…, that job does not pay the rent.” “I could drive trucks; I’ll get a CDL license. The pay is very good according to this post.”
I started to consider options I had discarded in the past and new ones I never though of considering.

I am worried.

The quest for survival has been the main drive of both my professional and personal life, with little room to pursue my real interests or indulge in the pleasures life has to offer.
I know this does not make any sense, my sentences are incoherent. Bear with me; it will make sense with the help of the illustrations.

I am hopeful.

I hope that something fabulous will happen and everything will be fine. I’ll find a nice job, we won’t have to move and everything will be alright.

I am scared.

When bad times come, most people go away. It feels as if I have a contagious disease that no one wants to catch.

I am strong.

I’ll get through this. I have been here before not too long ago. The load is bigger and heavier now, but I think I can.

Until next time.

Arlette

I've been busy these days!

My dear friends, I broke my promise of not taking so long to post again.  It has been more than a month since my last post, and if I am writing right now, it is due to the words of encouragement from Mr. F. and a good dosage of will power.

I have been so busy it is unbelievable.
My son had his school's spring concert last Thursday. It was wonderful to hear him play the sax in his school band. My favorite piece was Antiquitus by Joseph Compello.

On Friday, my daughter performed at her school in "High School Musical 2", as Kelsi, the pianist. She had a small solo part singing "You are the music in me", she was awesome!

We went to see Banana Shpee in the city on Saturday.  It was great, I highly recommend it; and on Sunday, went to a baby shower in Jersey. And this was only last week.

Work has been quite busy as well.  Many changes are happening, people leaving and coming.  2010 is definitely a year of change.

Emotionally, my roller coaster went turbo this month. I am convinced I must have some hormonal problems or something.
Again, I went from happy, I am getting things done, I am content with my life, to complete dissatisfaction, questioning every aspect of my life.

This questioning, aided by a wonderful book I got for mother's day titled "Me: five years from now" by Sheree Bykofsky (which by the way, I am not ready to tackle) prompted many, many questions.  Here is a small (very, very small) sample:
Who the f---- am I?
Where am I going?
What am I good at?
What makes me happy?
Why am I so angry?

Sounds like philosophy, right?  These are the kind of questions you find on subway ads for The Philosophy Institute (I think is called), have you seen them?

Then, I asked myself, Am I going crazy?

Here is a little drawing I think illustrates what I was feeling a couple of days ago.

A.  Cepeda 5/2010

I will ask for your assistance to help me climb a few steps of the mountain called The Infinite Search of Finding Out Who I Am.  I f you have a moment, please answer the question below, (paraphrased from the aforementioned book). I ask that you be as sincere as you can. It can be as trivial or as deep as you like, but parting from your own experience with me. You can comment anonymously if you don't want me to know who you are, or if it makes you feel more comfortable.  Remember it is for the good of the cause, which is to help me figure out some parts of who I am or at least know how others perceive me. Here it goes:

"If you were describing me as a character in a novel, this is what you would say" ...

I will leave you with that thought/homework and another drawing.

A.  Cepeda 5/2010

Your comments are always welcome and I looking forward to reading them. Thanks for your time.

Arlette