Meditation for Creatives

Something I've been working towards: incorporating meditation when ever possible. My goals is to make it a daily ritual for myself and my son.  This morning,  I need to take 10... Came across this really wonderful #Youtube "10 Minute Guided Meditation On Unblocking and Expanding Creativity | Epic - Uplifting - Healing". It was exactly what I was looking for! It was a guided mediation and a journey into the desert to play in this magical box.   Got so inspired, I had to take 10 more minutes for some creative play with a line I got from the meditation: "This is our box to decorate as if we never grew up."

 Digital art doodle by Niki Lopez - Original desert image appropriated from messynessychic.com

I wanted to find a desert image on the web to mediate to and came across this one.  I enjoyed taking a few moments for some creative play of my own to set the tone for the day.  Feel free to use, share & re-post.  Whether you are looking for a general 10 minute meditation, having a creative block, or having a moment where creative play would be a great impact to your day, I highly recommend checking out this video and adding it to your mediation play list.  (I have).

It just keeps getting better. Logging on to my Facebook today, an Artist & DJ - dj ffloodi posted a 'Happy Birthday Grace Jones - Love You to Life' redub tribute he made in honor of Grace Jones turning 67. Jones also shares her born day with Malcolm & Yuri Kochiyama.

Some updates with me & this personal art blog: I've been experiencing a wonderful metamorphosis of sorts over the past year.  It's great to feel that so many around me are also on this path of awakening, realizations, creative growth & progress in what ever journeys they are up to in life.

As a Mom, Creative & Social Media manager - I'm juggling may things, but love it.  I'm prepping for my annual month long exhibit, and assisting in a few passion project including poetry, art, design & social media.  Co-working with creative co-conspirator & artist Alana DaCosta on a couple of community engagement & public art project that I will be sharing later on in the year.  We are still in incubation mode with "What's Your Elephant", so much in store, I can't wait to share!  As for this blog, check back next week as I have a few new "Creative Circle Tuesday's" scheduled to post.

So stay tuned family!


- Niki Lopez
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Art Exhibit: Unspoken: Demystifying Africa and the African Diaspora



Presented by artists Alana DaCosta, Niki Lopez & Nzingah Oniwosan.

It's an honor and a pleasure to announce my next event at the City of Sunrise.  I will be one of 3 artist featured in a month long exhibit in honor of Black History month.  If you are local, I'd love for you to join us.  I have a couple of new pieces created specifically for this exhibit.  Opening night will have performances by Alana DaCosta, & Nzingah Oniwosan.

 

Unspoken: Demystifying Africa and the African Diaspora

 

The "Unspoken" exhibit uses visual and performance art to explore the African Diasporic experience. It seeks to address stereotypes and present unknown facts associated with Africa and the diaspora; in order to shift and engage its audiences in a new dialogue about this diverse global community.

Presented by artists Alana DaCosta, Niki Lopez & Nzingah Oniwosan.

Exhibition Dates: February 5 through March 14, 2015
Opening Reception: Thursday, February 5; 6:30pm
Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery

Meet artists Alana DaCosta, Niki Lopez and Nzingah Oniwosan at the Opening Reception and enjoy light refreshments. "Unspoken" will be on display from February 5 through March 14.

The Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery is open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Admission is free. Call (954) 747-4641 for more information.

 

City of Sunrise Art Gallery

10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard,

Sunrise, FL 33351

(for directions, click here)

 

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Creative Circle Tuesdays: Alana DaCosta

Alana DaCosta at A Swing Thing - The Social Lubricant Photo Credit: Alessandro Abate

Name: Alana DaCosta

Facebook Page: facebook.com/pages/Alana-DaCosta-Singer-Songwriter/129462090439799

What is your medium(s): Music, Poetry, Multi-disciplinary

What type of art do you do? Experiential World Music

What inspires you? LIFE, all the experiences in life influence my creative outlets. Oftentimes, forcing me to step out of my comfort zone and simply create without bounds and without regret. All is Divine Order and

What pieces did you include in the exhibit "L’éléphant dans la Salle" and why? (please share some of the story behind some of the work) One day while throwing out the trash, I found a large and heavy table top . I had to have it. Not knowing that it would become my first painting “Lady Blues”  a depiction of the labels that are often branded on women and internalized. Yet, this lady chooses to expose all these labels and not allow them to define who she is. She realizes that she is beyond what she sees, hears and speaks....She goes within and sees her freedom and is no longer defined by limited standards of society...

Lady Blues by Alana DaCosta

Alana DaCosta performing & co-host at L’éléphant dans la Salle art exhibit at the 1310 Gallery

Self taught or traditionally trained? Traditionally trained in  music and voice. Self taught visual artist

Share one thing that has impacted your work? In 2007 my father passed away. This was a major life-changing event for me. After his passing, it was like my creative flood gates opened and my music, sketches and poems changed drastically. I began to create and explore whatever my heart desired with no apologies and no regret. I challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone and became a creative rebel. Now, if I have the desire to create something be it a song, poem, drawing, dance, etc., , I just do it, unapologetically.

Cant view the link?  Click here: http://youtu.be/Cw7w5tizFmE

Name one thing we may not know about you or your work? This was my first “official” painting.  I have always loved to find discarded objects that are no longer wanted and change them into something beautiful. However, because I have no training in visual arts and I would never share any of these works or any of my sketches because I was afraid of rejection. Also, I have always been very selective with what music or poems I share. During this exhibit, I decided to let the “vibes” and energy of the attendees to determine what songs and poems I shared. As a result I shared “VICTIM”, “QuickSwitch” and other pieces that I rarely share with others.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? That people can live life freely and responsibly in their truth.

If you had access to a time machine, where would you go? I would go to a time when we never needed a time machine to travel through time. A time when we as a collective understood who we truly are and our place in the universe

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring creative, what would it be? Do not allow fear or doubt to stifle your potential...

If you could have one super power, what would it be? To fly....

Social Media drug of choice? At this time, Facebook....

Side note from Niki Art Studio: Not only is Alana DaCosta a talented artist, I have had the pleasure of working with her on numerous projects and collaborations.   From photographing and designing her album cover to co-producing a couple of art exhibits at the Sailboat Bend Artists Lofts aka 1310 Gallery.   Besides being the co-producer and host for the L’éléphant dans la Salle art exhibit, Dacosta is also the co-creator of the movement #WhatsYourElephant - A human experience project using the arts to create provocative conversations around the unspoken.  To find out more about that project, click here.

Six times a charm - L’éléphant dans la Salle (The elephant in the room) art exhibit.

In the midst of my self inflicted whirlwind, I realized the only place I haven't covered my 6th annual art exhibit is on my own blog.  Within the art community that I have had the pleasure of residing since 2008, each month we have a month long art exhibit - curated and produced by various resident artists. A different artist is able to take charge of our 3 floor, 2500 square feet gallery space and create an art exhibit that can explore various art forms, local and national artists, themes, and partnerships.  We have also have non-themed community group shows that showcases all of the talent within out building.  

This year is my 6th year creating a month long exhibit and my second time teaming up with singer/songwriter Alana DaCosta.  We have worked on various projects and workshops together and it was just a beautiful experience when you have a kindred spirit with similar passions to create something magical with.

Photo courtesy Patricia Zapata
Co-creators of the L’éléphant dans la Salle art exhibit & #WhatsYourElephant movement
Niki Lopez and Alana DaCosta

As with previous exhibits, L’éléphant dans la Salle (the elephant in the room) is a month long art exhibit that combines local art, performance, & outreach.

Flyer for  L’éléphant dans la Salle art exhibit.

L'éléphant dans la Salle- (The Elephant in the Room) is an idiom for an obvious truth that is either being ignored, or otherwise unaddressed. The purpose of this exhibit is to provide a safe  place for issues and topics that are normally hidden from public view. Through visual and performance art, the artists participating in this event  will share secrets and taboos, discussing openly to find solutions for our own individual and collective emancipation. Viewers are invited to enter the 'Confessional', an interactive safe space installation to share their ‘elephant’.

Featured artists include: 

• Louis Davis
• Judy Leeson Polstra
• Allison Kotzig
• Kimberly Heise
• Sonia Baez-Hernandez
• T.J. Brow
• Niki Lopez
• Alana DaCosta
• Omilani
• Klodi Lemoine
• Gregory Dirr
• Corbett Fogue
• Michael D. Colanero (of Uncommon Gallery with photo series .. Breast Cancer Awareness Body Painting Project.

Community partners include: Community Partners: Drag It Out-(501c3), 2014 DaDa National Poetry Slam Team , Boys & Girls Club, local lawyers Ghenete Wright Muir, PJ Hitchins and Shenika "Nik" Harris, Dr. Sketchy's South Florida, Flagler Village Art Walk, and private donors.

Photo from the opening night of L’éléphant dans la Salle.
Performance by poet Maru

For more information on the exhibit as well as opening dates, click here

Included in this month long art exhibit was an opening night with performances by: Chaos Theory, DJ Onestar, Alana DaCosta, Maru, DaDa National Poetry Slam Team, Omilani and Melissa 'Moonchild' Stokes.  As well as five totally different openings:

• Opening night with performance, song & Poetry
• Thou Art Woman LGBT & friends poetry night 
• Dr. Sketchy South Florida (drink & draw) that was a part of the Flagler Village Art Walk
• What's Your Elephant Community Outreach Workshop & panel discussion
• Closing: Performance, Open Mic & Live art, hosted by Alana DaCosta.

Some of the things we are doing with this exhibit or have in store for you:

#whatsyourelephant movement.  Creating provocative conversations around the unspoken.  A human experience project by Niki Lopez & Alana DaCosta. What’s Your Elephant? Community Outreach Project.  This community outreach project will provide a safe place for participants to share and heal as a community around issues that are normally hidden or uncomfortable. Participants will create a mixed media collage during this hands-on art experience. Workshop will demonstrate how expressive creative arts can not only help to heal self, it can also reconnect and strengthen communities. Through visual arts, poetry and dialogue, this community outreach project will be a safe platform for participants to explore uncomfortable issues that are oftentimes overlooked yet easier to received when revealed through the arts.

What’s Your Elephant? Panel Discussion- Professional artists and therapists will discuss the following focus topics: How can the creative arts help to heal self and reconnect and strengthen communities?

To participate in the #whatsyourelephant project, submit via: whatsyourelephant.tumblr.com or instagram.com/whatsyourelephant.  You can submit under your name or anonymously.  You can also send a direct message or email for us to post.

During the closing event, we will have some of the creations from the "What's Your Elephant Workshop" on display.  Stay tuned as we take the panel discussions online with periodic online panel discussions as well as pop-up on location workshops.

Creative Circle Tuesday's - starting with the artist and performers for L’éléphant dans la Salle art exhibit, I will be posting short artist interviews.  Sharing links, personal responses to the call "Elephant in the Room" as well as shearing some of the artwork on display.

Event video & photos.  We have a ton of images people have shared with us during one of the many events as well as the opening.

Are you on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram?  Look up the hastags: #lelephantartexhibit #whatsyourelephant for some images & sentiments behind the exhibit.

Photos and details on my new piece titled "Home Grown" a mixed media sculpture and installation dealing with child molestation within religious groups, organizations & cults.   One of my more personal 'elephants'.

One of the beauties of this exhibit in particular, is that we are being drawn in the path of many kindred spirits.  People wanting to share their 'elephants', acknowledging the importance and impact of this movement, and simply lots of smiles, tears & hugs.

I'm reminded of two of my favorite quotes"

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." -Kahlil Gibran

We welcome you to join us in this journey.

#staytuned

One Love
Niki