LiveBliss

Bushwick Is...2009

I was wandering around Bushwick today with a canvas, Sharpies, crayons, and a desire to see how folks would respond to "Bushwick Is..." Thomas Bell and I left Spread Art around 1pm with the canvas showing the boundaries of Bushwick way back when (1800s) and the boundaries of Bushwick today. We made a few stops (a pharmacy, a laundromat, a bodega) and received great input on our journey to Maria Hernandez Park (named after a woman who was shot and killed in 1989 for fighting to rid her block of drug dealers).

In the park we were overwhelmed with kids 
and also a lot of adults wanting to participate. Among them was a veteran (Iraq and Afghanistan), whose reflections on his experience returning to Bushwick, and the words he added to the canvas ("god forgive me can you") are unlikely to leave my mind anytime soon.

After the park we made our way to Brooklyn Fireproof to share the community dialogue that had happened so far and invite further participation. Brooklyn Fireproof was a location of today's BETA spaces event, described as "a one-day festival of independently curated, collaborative group exhibitions."

The "Bushwick Is..." canvas is part of an ongoing project begun in 2006 by Erin Partridge, Thomas Bell and myself. The project aims to facilitate community dialogue and self-reflection and to document moments in time as Bushwick experiences rapid gentrification.

I will add more to this post soon, but for the photos are going to have to speak for themselves as I'm in desperate need of a good night's sleep. See gobs of photos from today here.

 

Electro-Music 2009

Just before Halloween I found myself in a van heading to New Jersey for Electro-Music Fest. The destination - Bloomingdale, NJ - was as middle of nowhere as I've been in quite a long time (and that's saying something given where I've been time the last couple years)...but who cares about location when there's mind-blowing music and video? Plus the creepy deserted campsite location made for some interesting evening landscapes.

See more photos here.

Watch video of The Tronic (Gregg Jarvis & Thomas Bell) here.

HK:ArtiST

I've been providing some behind the scenes guidance to the founder of this weekend's Hell's Kitchen Artist Studio Tour. It is shaping up to be a great weekend. Check out the map of participating artists below, & learn more on the website.

"Numbers" Installation @ Chashama Film Festival

Today I finished the Numbers installation for the Chashama Film Festival. A collaboration with Thomas Bell, Numbers highlights human costs of the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan that are rarely reported in mainstream media. See photos of the process of installation as well as the final result here.

The installation consists of flag draped coffins and numbers stenciled on paper then covered with bubble wrap. The width and placement give viewers a choice between walking across and popping bubbles or making a small but extra effort to jump across and avoid interacting. This parallels the ability those of us in the United States have to avoid witnessing the impact of the government policies carried out in our name. It requires a bit of effort, although not much, to avoid the messy reality of our ongoing policies in Iraq and Afghanistan.

*****

Numbers used include:

32,907 Weight in tons of bombs dropped by the U.S. Air force in Iraq & Afghanistan through 2007

6129 American and coalition military casualties in Iraq & Afghanistan

120  American military casualties since Obama was inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2009

46% The percentage of air raid casualties that are women are girls

766 The number of journalists and academics that have been killed in Iraq

1395 The number of contractor employee deaths in Iraq

102,083 Documented civilian deaths from violence in Iraq (Estimate is 93,552-102,083)

39% The percentage of air raid casualties that are children

>100 thousand The number of American military wounded

$7500 The amount the U.S. Army paid to two children whose mother was killed inside a taxi that ran a checkpoint. Both children were also in the taxi, and were shot and injured.

Thank you to Iraq Body Count, AntiWar, and iCasualties for maintaining databases that make these and many more numbers readily available.

*****

Popping bubble wrap generally evokes enthusiasm from people regardless of age. With Numbers, the excitement of walking, jumping, or otherwise popping bubbles is tempered by the reality of stepping on representations of victims of violence.

Numbers also presents an opportunity for participants to reflect upon the myriad impacts of war, including responses to loud or surprising sounds, such as the pops of bubble wrap. For child and adult survivors of war, loud noises can trigger intrusive memories, nightmares, hallucinations or flashbacks, sometimes resulting in exaggerated responses. As one Iraq veteran explains, "any little noise and I'd jump out of bed and run around the house with a gun." In the same way, the sound of an airplane flying overhead can cause stress for survivors of aerial bombings, while it is of no consequence to others. 

Lastly, Numbers is provides a visual reference point for the ongoing violence as the total number of bubbles in the installation is approximately the same as the total number of tons of bombs that have been dropped on Iraq and Afghanistan to date.

Numbers
On view Thursday, October 22 - Monday, October 26 
Part of the Chashama Film Festival
Final Cut Lounge
679 Third Avenue (at 43rd St.)
One block from Grand Central
Subway: 4,5,6,7

Spread Art @ Brooklyn Artillery

Last night was the opening of the Brooklyn Artillery show at Castle Braid. There were gobs of people, interesting art in a wide variety of mediums (video, installation, painting, photography, movement...), a lot of music, and I even managed to get my hands on a few pretzels (though to be fair I arrived 5 hours after the opening began, so presumably the bowl was filled many times before I came through).

I have collages, paintings, photography and mixed media work in Spread Art's exhibition space. The current show will be up for at least the next two weeks. Spread Art will have rotating exhibitions at Castle Braid through October 31st. Watch for a politically-infused "What Haunts Us?" Halloween show to close the space.

See photos of the current Spread Art exhibition here (more coming soon). Visit in person, weekends through October 31st: Castle Braid; 114 Troutman (between Central & Bushwick).

Above (Left to Right):

1) Cessation of Suffering, 48"x48", Acrylic & collage on panel, Thomas Bell, $1000
2) Waiting, 48"x48", Acrylic & collage on panel, Thomas Bell, $1000
3) Pain, 48"x48", Acrylic & collage on panel, Thomas Bell, $1000
4) Hope Remains, 30"x30", Acrylic, fabric, metal on canvas, Christina deRoos, $1200

September Concert @ Spread Art: 9/11/09

Friday night I participated in the September Concert at Spread Art. Responding to the theme and atmosphere of the the evening I made a mixed media piece out of dollar bills, thread and found  metal. Click the photo to see a larger version.

The September Concert is a series of free concerts, organized by individuals, schools, businesses, and associations to bring communities together, to reaffirm our hope for peace and to celebrate life and our universal humanity. Concerts are held in all areas of our city, our nation, and our world. It is a global day of music for peace, every September 11th.

The September Concert at Spread Art included live music by The Tronic (Thomas Bell and Gregg Jarvis), an ice sculpture by Thomas Bell...and me cutting up United States currency. 

See more photos from 9/11/09 at Spread Art here.

Friday, Sept 18th - Fundraiser for Rwandan Kids

Friday, September 18th Spread Art is hosting a fundraiser for Through the Eyes of Hope. I hope you to see you!

Through the Eyes of Hope:

"Encouraging children to photograph the world through their eyes"

VISION

• to provide photography classes as a means of art therapy to children around the world
• to allow children to tell their own stories through their photographs
• to provide a local trade to help children pay for school fees and food
• to celebrate and affirm children’s creativity by exhibiting their photographs in different venues throughout the world
• to bring awareness of different cultures to communities through the children’s photographs

July Newsletter - Summer of Art in NY

Below is the email newsletter that I sent a few days ago. Put your email in the cute little box if you would like to receive my future email updates (about art, yoga, Mexico, NY, and more) direct to your inbox.

 

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Saludos!

So the rain has (mostly) stopped in NY and it finally feels like summer around here. I'm grateful for the full creative plate that life served me in June and am excited about the artistic goodness in July & beyond.


The fun begins tonight with The Love Show at Spread Art in Bushwick / East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 

Friday, July 17th - Sunday, July 29th

Spread Art & iloveyou present:

The Love Show

Love as a force of good, bad, movement, height, hate, God,
passion, destruction, construction, and oppression.

Over 20 artists working in a variety of mediums, including oil,
acrylic, wood, photography, video and more.




Opening Night: Friday, July 17th 7pm - 11pm
With music by Knight & Gale and Eastern Sweats

On View: Sat, July 18th & Sun, July  19th; 12pm - 6pm

Several pieces invite your participation, and of course there will be beer, wine, and live music to make your night complete.

Here is where you will find the love...

Spread Art
104 Meserole Street
(b/w Manhattan & Leonard)
Subway: L to Montrose or J/M/Z to Lorimer

***

For those of you excited to show & sell your latest creations, check out the Call for Participants
below for the McKibbin Street Fair on Saturday, July 25th.

The street fair is presented by AKA Potion, a great cafe in Bushwick / East Williamsburg that is known for its strong support of local artists. The fair is coming up soon, but there are still opportunities to get involved.

***

Beginning in August, Thomas Bell and I will be curating the walls of the walls of Mojito Loco,, a fabulous restaurant and bar with inspirational mojitos and a mouth-watering latin fusion menu (including lots of vegetarian options). Watch for upcoming information about the first show: Spread Small Works.

***

Looking ahead to September, I'm working with Spread Art to host an exhibition / fundraiser for Through the Eyes of Hope, a nonprofit founded in 2006 by photojournalist Linda Smith to provide photography classes to kids in Rwanda. Click here for a sneak peak at the children's beautiful images.

Through the Eyes of Hope continues its program in Rwanda and has expanded to additional locations, including the Bronx. As Through the Eyes of Hope grows, they remain true to their mission to encourage children to photograph the world through their eyes.



***

Yep, a lot is on the horizon...and it comes on the heels of many fabulous things that just happened, including two days of Creative Kids on Bedford, as part of Willilamsburg Walks.

On Saturday, June 27th and Saturday, July 11th I was on Bedford Avenue with tons of art supplies to facilitate kids and adults letting their creativity flow. Both afternoons were incredibly inspiring and liberating in the way that only making art with kids can be...as they have yet to form rules or judgments about what art is.

Read more & see additional photos of Creative Kids on Bedford here.


***

Also in the just finished stage is the Summer Group Show at Spread Art. A group of artists representing a wide range of mediums displayed their take on "Improvisation." The Tronic provided live sonic variations on the theme.





















All in all summer in NY continues to unfold in ways that inspire and surprise me. There is a lot more to share, including overdue stories from spring in Mexico. Keep an eye on the Live Bliss blog for upcoming posts on the Primavera Parade in La Manzanilla (lots of kids in butterfly & Tiger costumes), plus observations about my transition from Mexico's Pacific Coast to New York's hippest borough (Brooklyn).

Hasta pronto,   
Christina

P.S. As always, please let me know what's new in your world and feel free to forward this email along to others who might be interested.

A whole lotta love at The Love Show last night

The Love Show last night was packed. It was hot, humid, and eventually rainy, yet people continued to arrive and stayed until the end to enjoy great music, good company, and most importantly to absorb over 20 different artists' take on "Love." Below are photos from the evening.

If you didn't have a chance to stop by last night, you still have time to catch some love. The Love Show is on view for one more day - tomorrow (Sunday 7/19) from 12pm - 6pm.

Many thanks to Jethro of iloveyou for curating such a fabulous show.

The Village Voice and I say Spread Art is the place to be this Friday

This week's Village Voice highlights The Love Show, opening this Friday at Spread Art, among its picks for the weekend. How sweet is that? 

Mark your calendar to help Spread the Love this Friday at 7pm by enjoying (and...hint, hint...buying) art, meeting the 20+ included artists, giving props to Jethro of iloveyou who curated the show, plus (of course) enjoying cold beer and hot music.

Here is what the Voice has to say...

The Love Show

Date/Time:Fri., July 17, 7:00pm

Price: free

I HEART LOVE

Group show displays affection, in general.

BY ARACELI CRUZ

What is love, and what does it look like? Spread Art Gallery asked artists throughout the country to submit their ideas of this complex sentiment, whether it be "love as a force of good, force of malice, force of height, of hate, a force of God, creation, destruction, oppression" and on and on. Twenty artists and designers were chosen to be a part of The Love Show—including our very own art director, Ivylise Simones—which includes a variety of mediums such as oil, acrylic, wood, photography, and more. Tonight's opening party includes a set by Knight & Gale and Eastern Sweats.

More Art with Kids = More Fun

I was back on Bedford Avenue today making art with kids as part of Williamsburg Walks. Thomas Bell and I packed gobs of art supplies onto the Spread Art & Live Bliss art cart and wheeled it through Brooklyn, from Bushwick to Williasmburg.

As soon as we were set up we had lots of art partners, some of whom were return collaborators from a couple weeks ago when we were on Bedford. With stickers, markers, colored pencils, glue sticks, glitter, pattern scissors, shells, string, and ribbon, we created a variety of colorful (and sometimes messy) wearable art.

Most of the kids that visited the Spread Art & Live Bliss booth have lived less years on the planet than they have fingers on their hands, which means they aren't concerned with questions like: "Is this art or craft?" and/or "Should I price my work based on time spent or materials cost?" It is pure fun for fun's sake, and the enthsusiasm the kid's bring to: 1) drawing on a sticker, 2) putting it on their shirt, and 3) showing the world, is absolutely contageous.

If you know of an upcoming private or public event that could benefit from a kid's art setup like this send me an email. Adding yoga and/or music to the art projects is also an option.

Below are photos from the day. Enjoy!

Above: The cart is packed & ready to leave Spread Art in Bushwick

Above: En route...

Above: As soon as we got set up we were greeted by the familiar smiling face of a girl who made art with us when we were on Bedford a couple weeks ago.

Above: A new face who assured me she is 7, although her sister was convinced she is actually only 4.

Above: Thom helping a girl put on the wearable art she created.

Above: This is the moment the top was taken off a glue stick and things got consequently got very messy and glittery.

Above: Thom adding some color to the street.

Above: Packed up and ready to roll back to Spread Art.

New Schedule & Location for Brooklyn Yoga Classes

See below for the new schedule & location for weekly drop-in classes in Bushwick / East Williasmburg. Email me if you have any questions or to be added to the list for yoga and art updates.

Click the image to see a larger version.

Click here to read more about my yoga training and teaching style.

Call for Participants! McKibbin Street Fair! Saturday, July 25th!

Collaging on Bedford: Join me this Saturday!

This Saturday from 12pm - 6pm I'll be on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (said to currently hold the title to "world's neighborhood most densely populated with artists") with collage materials and a whole lot more. Why? Because it will be fun!

I hope to see you on Saturday. If you can't make it but are interested in learning about future events like this (or booking you own), send me an email.

Creative Kids on Bedford!

Saturday, June 27th
12pm - 6pm
Bedford Avenue, between North 6th & North 7th
L train to Bedford

Facilitated by Christina deRoos / Live Bliss & Spread Art

Join us for a playful, creative afternoon of collage and bookmaking outside on Bedford Avenue, in the heart of one of the world's most inspiring neighborhoods!

Kids of all ages will enjoy mixing and matching images, adding color and text, and ultimately exploring the stories to be found their creations. Participants will be invited to display their work for the afternoon as part of an on-site exhibition that will develop and evolve throughout the day.

All necessary supplies provided, but feel free to bring along your favorite art and craft materials.

Whether you are a kid, have kids, or are a child-less adult who wants to collage in a collaborative atmosphere where age is irrelevant, I hope to see you on Saturday!

Email for more information, or call Christina: 347-526-2737

Part of Williamsburg Walks (follow the link to the left to see more of the day's activities).

June 7th, 11th & Beyond...Collaborations w/ Spread Art

I've been back in NY a few weeks now and am beginning to find my art groove along with my yoga bliss. Thanks in large part to Thomas Bell, founder of SPREAD ART, I've got a ton of projects on my creative calendar (its called a creative calendar not because it tracks art stuff, but because I usually need to be really creative to get everything done on time).

Below are details about happenings at SPREAD ART in June, beginning with "Improvisation," the '09 Summer Group Show that I'm a part of along with photographer's Irina Adam and Phil Petrocelli and 7 other artists.

"Improvisation" opens Thursday, June 11th at 6pm.

If you are around NY I hope to see you so we can improvise conversation over a glass of wine or a latte while looking at a fabulous selection of painting, collage, photography, mixed-media work, and more.

SPREAD ART is located in Bushwick/East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, at 104 Meserole Street (b/w Manhattan & Leonard). Take the L to Montrose or the J/M/Z to Lorimer.

More details about "Improvisation" are on the flyer below, which features one of my photographs (left) and an image of Phil Petrocelli's (right). Click the image for a larger view.

Prior to June 11th, how about coming to aka Potion on Sunday, June 7th at 4pm for the simultaneous opening/closing event for "The Art of Letting Go" during Bushwick Open Studios?

"The Art of Letting Go" is a collaborative mural performance led by Thomas Bell that includes myself as well as Katharine Ng, Avoid Pi, Heather Garland, and more. The image at left is a "work in progress" view from very early on. Artists have continued to add, subtract, and layer over one another's work.

Note: Don't be late for the opening/closing or you just might miss it.

In addition to the Sunday, June 7th  simultaneous opening/closing event at aka Potion (248 McKibbin Street; L to Morgan) at 4pm, "The Art of Letting Go" will be on view:

Thurs June 4th: 7am-11pm
Fri June 5th: 7am-11pm
Sat June 6th: 8am-11pm
Sun June 7th: 8am-5pm+/-

The full announcement for SPREAD ART events in June is below, and as you will see there are a ton of things happening, including music, art, and - beginning next week - I'm teaching yoga Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays at 6:30pm.

Click the images below to view them larger size.

A lot of work is going into SPREAD ART to get it ready for a summer of creative fun. I'm doing what I can to help out, and at the moment that means less time updating blogs and websites and more time painting walls and laying floors. I have many posts I'm itching to add from my last couple months in Mexico, including photos from the kid's Spring Parade and an adventure to milk cows.

Please check back periodically for updates and don't get confused when there are NY stories mixed with Mexico stories. Posts are likely to be as jumbled as a lot of my thoughts these days. Thankfully a few things remain constant whether I'm in La Manzanilla or Bushwick, such as my ongoing desire to learn to dance.

This morning I met a neighbor who offered to take me with her for a night of salsa just down the block from SPREAD ART., That, along with her immediately teaching me the basic step for Bachata, made my morning. I've got plans to recruit her to teach salsa at SPREAD, but I'll save that idea for a future post. For now its back to work on preparing for everything that's already on the creative calendar... 

"Violence Breeds Violence, But Hope Remains" @ Bridge Art Fair in Miami

I'm very excited that the painting below, "Violence Breeds Violence, But Hope Remains" is on its way to Miami to be exhibited during Bridge Art Fair. It is probably my favorite of all the paintings I have done so far.

***Huge thanks to musician/artist Thomas Bell & his NY gallery, SPREAD Art, for supporting my work and making this happen.***

“Violence Breeds Violence, But Hope Remains”
Christina deRoos
Mixed Media on Canvas
30" x 30"

Artist Statement:

“Violence Breeds Violence, But Hope Remains” was done as a meditation on the United States government’s reaction to 9/11. The texture and colors mirror the violence, struggle, and desire for power that are a part of the long history of this story, while subtle curves reflect the opportunity that is present in every moment to make a different choice, to begin a new story.  

Christina deRoos is a mixed media artist and photographer, who for the past year has split her time between New York and Mexico. The majority of her work is abstract, and has become increasingly personal over the past three years, presenting a view of the thoughts, emotions, sights, and sensations that make up her existence.

Convinced that within the individual dwells the universal, Christina explores her internal experience as a step toward understanding the world around her, and by presenting the results she hopes others may find a mirror to explore their experience as well. 

In addition to her personal work, Christina frequently facilitates creative projects that invite public participation and encourage community dialogue and individual self-reflection. This winter Christina will open LiveBliss, an art and community space in La Manzanilla, Jalisco, Mexico. 

***
Here is one of Thomas' paintings that is also traveling to Miami...

“Yellow Matter”
Thomas Bell
Acrylic and Oil Pastel on Wood
48" x 48"

Artist Statement:

In “Yellow Matter” bold fragments initially seem to be flying through a mysterious universe as if they were once part of a whole and had been shattered in space and left to drift apart.  The arrangement and interconnectedness of each fragmented particle however, leaves one to wonder if they are drifting apart or if they are coming together to form something new.  As with the universe itself, matter is transforming into and out of everything at every moment everywhere.

Most of Thomas' paintings are improvisations done to music, and are generally abstract and texture based. His painting style developed out of his understanding of jazz improvisation. Listening to mostly John Coltrane or Miles Davis, Thomas tries to capture the energy of the music and improvise the paintings to transfer the the music to canvas.

The flow of the music dictates the flow of each painting. The process is much like a free-jazz improvisation where the energy of each person performing is bound by the energy of all the others.  Each successive stroke put down on the canvas is bound by and tied to the previous, and is a reaction to what came before it. The end result is a true improvisation that expresses individual freedom, personal struggle, internal and external conflict, and that presents a highly personal view of the world, surrounding situations and a moment of existence.

Art Gotham: We Are Not Our Governments / No Somos Nuestros Gobiernos

I submitted a piece for Art Gotham's Square Foot Show. The theme Election 2008 was too much for me to pass up. Before I go any further I need to give a HUGE thank you to Rachel Seys for collaborating with me. 

The show opened last night (Saturday, 10/25) and will remain on view through November 8th. If you are in NY, I hope you will check it out. Directions & gallery hours are here. 

The piece Rachel and I created is called "We Are Not Our Governments / No Somos Nuestros Gobiernos." It is interactive, which means your participation is invited and encouraged.

You can participate in person at Art Gotham, and/or you can participate electronically. In red is the information you need to know to participate electronically.

For those of you in Mexico, you will be also be able to participate in "We Are Not Our Governments / No Somos Nuestros Gobiernos" in La Manzanilla at LiveBliss (a yoga, art and community space that I plan to open in December).

We Are Not Our Governments / No Somos Nuestros Gobiernos
Christina deRoos & Rachel Seys
Mixed Media
$450

Take One / Toma Uno

Please take a peso from the hook on the left. It is yours to keep. On the peso is either a note to you from an individual Mexican citizen, or a quote from a former Mexican president or other well-known individual. [To participate electronically, email me with the subject line "Take One / Toma Uno"]

Leave One / Deja Uno

Please write a note to on a dollar bill or a piece of paper and leave it on the hook to the right. Your note will be translated into Spanish on the reverse side and copies will be given to Mexican citizens. You are invited to leave as many dollars and/or notes as you wish. [To participate electronically, email your note to me with the subject line "Leave One / Deja Uno." Note: All participation is anonymous. Your name will not be used.]

Why Participate?

Direct communication between individuals, as opposed to government propaganda and media sensationalism, will guide us to respectful relationships and fair solutions to mutual challenges.

When governments fail to fairly represent individuals, the social contract is broken and there is no democracy. It falls to individuals to represent themselves and communicate directly from one to another.

Need another reason? Art is fun.

History

This piece was created for Art Gotham’s Election 2008 show. It was started by Christina deRoos in Jalisco, Mexico, and enhanced and assembled by Rachel Seys in Brooklyn, NY.

Participants from Mexico include individuals of diverse age ranges and backgrounds. Many have visited the United States and most have relatives living and working there. All participants agree that the outcome of the US election will have a major impact on individual Mexican citizens and the rest of the world.

Future

“We Are Not Our Governments / No Somos Nuestros Gobiernos” will remain in NY through November, at which point it will travel to Mexico and remain open for participation through May, 2009. It will return to NY in June, 2009.

Sample Notes & Quotes

The following are samples of the notes and quotes included on the pesos. The name of the person is included with the quotes. All notes were submitted anonymously.

• How long will you be a slave to money?

• It is necessary to plant good thoughts to improve what we have.

• Poor Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States. – Porfirio Diaz

• This paper is made of trees that are slowly disappearing. I hope that the emperor of dollars also disappears.

• The dividing line between Mexico and the United States will be paid attention to at the point of my gun. – Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

• Barak Obama: Mr. Candidate, I wish you much luck with your campaign and hope that you work hard for your country so that your country and Mexico will succeed.

• Between individuals as between nations, respecting the rights of others is peace. – Benito Juarez
• You do not find true spiritual happiness with your dollar$$$.

• I ask the president and the American people not to use and discriminate against immigrants who are essentially blind and mute in the United States.

• The brave don’t assassinate. – Guillermo Prieto

Photos from Art Gotham's Election 2008 show

"We Are Not Our Governments / No Somos Nuestros Gobiernos" is in the 2nd row from the bottom and is the 2nd piece from the left.

 

 

 

Special thanks to Erin Partridge for providing these photos. Erin also participated in Art Gotham's Election 2008 show. Her piece can be seen in the photo above...look for the white eagle on a blue background.

November 16th: Yoga & Art Workshop in NY

Scorpions & Freak Outs

After a great yoga session, I came inside and found a scorpion right in the middle of my couch. I wasn't thrilled. This is day 4 in the new place and it is the 2nd scorpion I've seen. The 1st one was outside, so I'm also not liking the trend of proximity.

I caught the scorpion with a plastic container and checked to see how it was the same as or different than the others I've seen. I'm somewhere between 5 and 10 in terms of how many scorpions I've seen this summer.

Closer inspection revealed a spotted scorpion, which I'd never seen. Very odd, so I kept checking it out. After a few more moments of looking I realized, with the wave of nausea that accompanies all creepy and dangerous discoveries, that the spots were baby scorpions. Lots of them.

My understanding is that it is bad to be stung by a scorpion, and potentially life-threatening, but that being stung by a baby scorpion is worse.

Here is someone else's picture, that looks exactly like what I saw. Click it if you want to get closer.

Sometimes I wonder what the hell I'm thinking living in a rural, jungle environment. First, there are crocodiles in the mangrove at the end of Maria Asuncion (the main street in town). The crocs are huge and are known to swim in the ocean on occasion. Earlier this summer a well-loved local dog was eaten by one of the crocodiles, and I've been told this is what at least some locals do with nuisance animals - toss them to the crocodiles.

A few weeks ago I had a 3 foot snake in my house. I was working on a grant proposal, caught a movement out of the corner of my eye, chalked it up as nothing, noticed it again, looked, and saw a snake looking back at me. Yep, another summer evening in Mexico.

Thankfully, it was to my knowledge completely harmless, unlike the coral snake that was in my friends' house at the beginning of the summer and the boa that arrived at another friends' picnic. My indoor snake was the 1st one that I have seen inside, but the 4th snake that I've encountered just outside the house.

I could write a book on the spiders I've seen, of all shapes, sizes, web-building types, etc. and I've nearly become immune to the discomfort I used to feel from taking spiders webs in the face. I have yet to see a tarantula, which I understand are common. I think I'm probably just not recognizing them. I have seen a few canclos now, which are pretty freaky to me. They have front claws like scorpions and look like this (why this kid is holding one I have no clue...I grabbed the photo off the internet).

Then there are the other more-routine animals that just come in unbelievably large sizes: millipedes, praying mantuses, ants, bees, hornets, frogs...of which the brown ones are poisonous, I'm told, and should be guided from the house with a broom.

The list of new (to me) and potentially dangerous animals goes on and on. Of course the beauty of this rural, jungle, beach life is just as outsized as the animals. I've seen more variety of butterflies than I would have believed possible. The flowers and trees are ridiculous. Sunsets and moonrises are insane.

The list of incredible sights, sounds and experiences I've had is much, much longer than the "wtf!" moments. However, in the instant that I realized I was looking at a scorpion with a back full of babies, I shifted from post-yoga glow to nausea and wondered what the hell I was doing here...and if the cockroaches in NY would ever again seem freaky.

Yoga News: Winter classes in La Manzanilla, Jalisco, Mexico

I'm excited to confirm that I'll be teaching yoga in La Manzanilla this winter in a gorgeous rooftop palapa.

Starting December 1st and continuing through May or June I'll have weekly classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. I will also offer a few evening classes throughout the winter (sunset restorative yoga and other special goodness).

As if that weren't enough, I may soon have news about a Spanish Plus Yoga weeklong retreat in March.

For now, email me if you would like to be added to the list for yoga updates, or if you are in La Manzanilla and would like to attend Monday and Wednesday 10am yoga classes which will continue through the end of October.

I won't be teaching weekly yoga classes in November. Instead I am going to Patzcuaro and Janitzio for Day of the Dead and then will spend a bit of time in NY. On November 16th in NY I'll lead an art and yoga workshop exploring the theme of Balance with Erin Partridge, an artist and art therapist and constant source of creative inspiration for me both personally and through our collaboration as The Orange Matter. More details about that soon.

More Polaroids...Small enough to hang on the wall of a NY apartment

I've been spending some time with a scanner lately so the Polaroids will continue to show up here bit by bit. Its exciting to actually do something with them other than stick 'em in a portfolio and wonder if they will mold in the humidity of summer in Mexico.

See one you like? Prints are $50. Originals $150. Email with questions or to purchase.

Original image above $old. Prints available for $50.

Images from "Motion" Exhibition at NY Open Center

Finally I have those images uploaded. Wow! That took forever. One of those projects that I just kept coming back to and not quite completing. Go figure. Images are in the gallery called Motion, and I'm including them in this post because I'm on a roll!

Are prints for sale, you ask? Of course! An artist needs to sell to eat...

So how much are they? 11"x17" archival prints (meaning they last a long time) are $150. You can buy prints of anything I post on the blog and also of images that are on my website.

Email when you are ready to buy or if you have any questions (yes, other sizes are available...yes, I give discounts if you buy 3 or more prints).

Happy shopping!

Nov. 16th: Save the Date for Yoga & Art

If you are in NY, mark your calendars for Sunday, November 16th. The Orange Matter (myself and fellow artist / yogi Erin Partridge) will facilitate a yoga and art workshop exploring balance. It will be at Think Coffee, 248 Mercer Street, from 4pm - 7pm. More details to follow soon.

Motion: Summer 2008 show at NY Open Center

In July I returned to NY for the opening of a show photographs I took this past year. If you haven't seen it yet, you can still catch the show at the NY Open Center, 83 Spring Street, until July 31st.

If you can't make it to the Open Center, click on the album to the right titled "Motion" to see the photos I included. Please have a look and let me know what you think. There are 14 images total and it will take me a bit to upload them. If you don't see 14, check back soon. Asap they will all be there. Below I've posted the artist statement and the email announcement for the show.

Email me if you fall in love with an image and would like to buy a print. This is, of course, exactly what I hope will happen! ;-)

Matted and framed 16”x20” prints are $375. Unframed 16"x20" prints are $150. Other sizes are available with various prices, so the easiest thing is just to email and we can figure details out from there.

In all cases, I donate 25% to charity, so when you buy something you not only help sustain my creativity, you also help folks in Mexico or in NY, depending on which charity you choose to receive a gift. See below for more details about that.

Artist Statement

Motion

Photography by Christina deRoos

I took these photographs during a time of many planned adventures and many surprising plot twists. The main transition was my move from living in Brooklyn to living in La Manzanilla (Jalisco, Mexico). I see a wide range of emotions reflected in the series, from excitement to fear, disappointment to contentment, confusion to calm.

Living in Mexico I often hear people say “asi es la vida” (“that's life”). I love hearing this because to me it honors the roller coaster aspect of our lives without making too big a deal of it. Motion is an asi es la vida series of photographs. Rather than a tidy package, it is a more spontaneous grouping that honestly reflects my recent experiences.

While taking these photos, I spent a lot of time noticing how my life is always in motion and contemplating my different experiences of that. Sometimes the pace felt quick, with whole days or months going by in a blur. Other times life seemed to move more slowly, and occasionally a day or an hour seemed an eternity.

How I experience life is a result of my inner landscape and circumstances as much as, or perhaps more than, my external surroundings. Photography and art facilitate my exploration of internal and external landscapes and how they interact and influence one another.

Details:
All photos are printed on 11”x17” archival paper by Ken Allen Studios. Finished size (matted and framed) is 16”x20.” Matted and framed photos at this size are $375. Unframed prints are $150. Other sizes are available.

More Info:
To see more photography: www.christinaderoos.com
To see other creative endeavors & collaborations: www.theorangematter.org
Questions or comments (always welcome): chris@christinaderoos.com

25% Donated to Charity
I am pleased to donate 25% of sales to two nonprofits that provide life-changing programs to children and adults.

Creative Alternatives of New York (CANY) provides drama therapy groups to traumatized and socially underserved individuals in NY. La Catalina Educational Foundation (LCEF) provides critical educational and economic opportunities in La Manzanilla, Jalisco, Mexico. I am honored to have worked with CANY and LCEF and to have witnessed the impact of their work.

You can choose to have 25% of the purchase price donated to CANY, donated to LCEF, or shared between them.

Email Announcement

Hola!

I'm writing to invite you to the opening of Motion, an exhibition of recent photographs I took during a time of many planned adventures (including moving from Brooklyn to the Pacific Coast of Mexico) plus a number of surprising plots twists.

Living in Mexico I often hear "asi es la vida" (that's life). I love hearing this because to me it honors the roller coaster aspect of our lives without making too big a deal of it.

Motion is an asi es la vida series of photographs. Rather than a tidy package, I invite you to see a more spontaneous grouping that honestly reflects my recent experiences.

I am pleased to donate 25% of sales to two nonprofits that provide life-changing programs to children and adults. Creative Alternatives of New York (CANY) provides drama therapy groups to traumatized and socially underserved individuals in NY. La Catalina Educational Foundation (LCEF) provides critical educational and economic opportunities in La Manzanilla, Jalisco, Mexico.

I am honored to have worked with CANY and LCEF and to have witnessed the impact of their work. Below are details about the specific programs that will benefit from sales of work included in Motion.

Bonus! Irina Adam, one of my friends & favorite photographers, is also having a show at the Open Center. The opening of "Community Gardens, NYC" is also June 14th, so with one trip to you can enjoy both shows. www.irinaadam.com

Creative Alternatives of New York (CANY) is beginning two new drama therapy groups to help children traumatized by war. The first provides drama therapy groups to refugee children recently arrived in New York from war torn countries, helping the children through the challenges of relocating and  beginning new lives in New York City. The second program provides drama therapy groups to children of veterans returning from the Iraq and Afgan wars.

To learn more about these and other CANY programs, please visit www.cany.org or contact Jonathan Hilton, Executive Director, at jhilton at cany.org or 212.222.1969.

La Catalina Educational Foundation (LCEF), responding to the 40-50% drop out rate in La Manzanilla, provides an educational scholarship to an underpriviledged middle school student who excels in academics, but whose family does not have the financial means to pay for the student to continue on to high school.

In addition to tuition, the scholarship covers related expenses such as transportation (there is no local high school).

To learn more about this and other LCEF programs, please visit www.lacatalinafoundation.com or contact Dean Klompas, Program Director, at la_catalina.dean at hotmail.com.