Jian

I feel super weird about the whole Jian thing. I was interviewed by him once, and he came off as super warm and calming (needed, because I was a terrified 18-year-old about to go on national radio). He asked me questions that actually got to the root of what I was trying to say and made me sound intelligent (as opposed to the other news anchors I spoke to, who spent most of their time questioning how an 18-year-old girl can be "so articulate" or asking me how long the skirts I wear are).

This has absolutely nothing to do with sexual assault. Just because I had a direct positive interaction with him (certainly more intimate than most of the people defending him on the internet) doesn't mean he's not a total shitbag who violates consent.

I feel like a lot of folks have trouble separating charming, personable people from the things they are capable of. They know this, and use it. The "but he's a good guy!" defence means nothing when someone (or, ehem, four separate people) say that he hurt them.

/feelingsrant

Weight.

Seen on a bus in Seattle. 

1st year university as an attempt at constructivist poster.

My Choice, Not Yours

Remember back in January, when my photo, Judgments, went viral?

So, a couple weeks ago, a Belgian political party stole my work, and used it for their own purposes. They twisted into something completely against my morals – and called it “Freedom or Islam”. 

So, naturally, I flew to Belgium to stand up for myself – with help from the amazing organization My Choice Not Yours. (So yes – I’M IN BELGIUM! It’s amazing, but that’s another post.)

It bothers me that they stole my work, but it bothers me even more that the message they’re putting out is just wrong. It’s wrong to condemn people based on the clothes they wear, their religion, race, or sexual orientation. Everybody has a right to make their own choices. No person, or especially government should be able to interfere with that. It my choice, not yours.

So, to make it absolutely clear what my work is about, and to show wannabe-fascists everywhere that we will not be coerced into blind hatred – I need a little bit of your help. 

We thought up a crazy idea to extend the message of my original work: this Saturday, October 12th, my friends and I here in Brussels are going to print out a life-size version of Judgments. We’re going to go downtown, ask women of all colors and religions to take their picture next to it and post it on their Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr with the hashtag #mychoicenotyours.

Want to help? Here’s what you do: click here to download the poster, which prints in black-and-white on A4 paper – and take a photo next to it. Take a photo of your friends next to it. Take a photo of your grandmother next to it – and post it with the hashtag #mychoicenotyours.

Do you have an odd haircut, non-traditional style of dress, or interesting tattoo? Write “it’s my choice, not yours” on a piece of paper or your skin, take a picture and hashtag #mychoicenotyours in the name of diversity.

If you really want to be heard, join us in taking it to the street this Saturday. Print out our poster and ask people to take their picture next to it using the hashtag #mychoicenotyours. 

Let’s make it a big global statement: it’s my choice, not yours.

Being Ripped Off

So, normally I would never ask anyone to "please like my page", but I feel like this is very important. A (far right, historically xenophobic, and apparently neo-fascist) politial party from Belgium has stolen my art and turned it into anti-Islamist propaganda.  "On 19 september 2013 the Flemish far right senator Anke Van der Meersch started her campaign "Freedom of Islam" in which she lends her legs for an image that - according to herself -suggests the consequences and reactions that women face regarding the length of their skirts in what she calls the "threat of Islamification of European cities"." (quote from bad English translation of Belgian article) This, for various reasons, is really not okay with me. A few activists in Belgium have set up a Facebook page for me to raise awareness and garner sympathy, and likely get more media attention, considering my history. I'm going to do everything I can to support this.

Please consider liking this page, in support of me, and artists who have been ripped off everywhere. 

Some stuff I did over the summer: 

My friend Arnt Arntzen, one half of the hot jazz duo The Brothers Arntzen, was in dire need of some swanky business cards, so he called me up and we came up with these. The drawings are based off of his actual banjo and guitar and all the lettering is hand-done by me. These cards scream "Arnt" to anyone that's ever met this amazing jazz musician. 

Hiatus

Hiatus! For the next month or so, I am working really hard for the amazing In The House Festival – and then I'm running away and taking a train to Boston for a dance camp (Beantown, for all you Tumblrhoppers). From there I will hitch a ride to Montreal and then be a professional bum for a month, wherein I will have lots of time and angst for more art.

Until July!

My first appearance in print! It's in "Agora", a Dutch counter-culture magazine. Kind of a smaller, European Adbusters (which I will be appearing in later this year!).

Experimenting with pastel. (My red hair-lust is starting to manifest itself in my art.)

Curvy Kate

Yes, I've seen the atrocity that is Curvy Kate's ad. Yes, that was taking my art and twisting the message to the exact opposite of the orignal message. They took it down, and I'm happy. But I'm not happy because I somehow vanquished some company that was looking to steal my idea – I'm happy because the internet is looking out for me. 

I've somehow managed to get a lot of thoughtful, intelligent people on my side – to encourage me to be the best artist I can be and stick up for me when my work is being taken advantage of (to the extent that I found out about this whole ordeal via. Curvy Kate apologizing to me on Twitter). It does a lot to restore/spark one's faith in the human race.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

I don't know how, but the internet gods have blessed me with you, and I'm going to try and give you the best of me.

Random vintage tins, matchboxes and toy cars just seem to gravitate towards me at this point.

Butts are probably one of my favourite things to draw. 

Dec 2012

Mediasplosion!

I've done interviews with The Province (big deal where I'm from up in 'lil old Canada) and The Art Market. Then Jezebel got wind of it via some rando facebook group, and then Huffpost picked it up. You so crazy, Tumblr.