Blue Pickup - Short Story by Niki Lopez

Blue Pickup - by Niki Lopez

This was it.  

My stomach fluttered like the birth of a thousand seahorses.  Is this really it? My mind went through my small library of doubts, hates, longing, tears, and a few old photographs that I had preserved. My palms started to feel warm and damp.  The airport hummed with hundreds of voices.  Everyone seems to move past me as I stood still.  Time stood still.  As I peered out the terminal window, I saw a blue pickup truck drive by.  What if that’s him?  My mind immediately ran through a possible story as I chuckled to myself for thinking I was a bewitched clairvoyant.  Silly me.  As my mind drifted back to the current anxiousness and wonder, I heard him.  Niki,  I turned around.  Yes. We stood still.  Or was it time?  I don’t know but it was surreal.  I smiled as I looked back at eyes like mine.  I chuckled to myself that he didn’t look the pictures I held dear to my heart through the many storms of my life thus far.  No big afro.  The few pictures I had of him reflected the 70’s era in time.  One where he was with mom, big grin, shiny shoes and a disco ball.  Yet, here he was. This was it.  He hugged me and chuckled ‘I would notice that fucked up hairline from a mile away.  That’s my hairline.’ We laughed, smiled, took another glimpse and walked out of the terminal.   He throws my bag to the back of his old blue pickup truck and we drove away.   My heart swelled with love and amazement as we drove off into the sunny Atlanta skyline. After all these years, I’ve found him.  

This is it.

©2017 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  

A short story I wrote September 17, 2017, while working on a few exercises and revisiting my love of writing.  Dedicated to my dad, Ronnie Lopez.  I have a few pieces written and more in the works, that I will share at a later time. 

Leave a comment and let me know what you think.  

1310 Bandits Filmmakers representing Miami at 2017 Filmapalooza!

1310 Bandits WINNERS of the 2016 Miami 48 Hour Film Project - Filmapalooza 2017

Onward & upward! 1310 Bandits female-led film crew will be representing Miami/Fort Lauderdale at 2017 Filmapalooza in Seattle, Washington as WINNERS of the Miami 48 Hour Film Project. SECOND YEAR IN A ROW!!! Now we compete internationally, everyone will view our winning short film Deep Within, as well as our first feature film 'Kali Mah Tina' will premiere!

I am SUPER proud to be a part of this team. As a producer, Pre-viz Artist, core team member & SMM (I even have a couple of acting cameos).

1310 Bandits Demo Reel

1310 Bandits mission is creating stories that advocate consciousness and social responsibility.

Right up my alley.

If you would like to see our first feature film and support a 'Made in Broward' film 'Kali Mah Tina' I hope you will join us when we get back March 18th at Artserve. For tickets click below:

(Click the image to get a ticket)

Please support us, prayer warriors - I need those positive vibes & keep your fingers crossed as we compete INTERNATIONALLY against all other 48 Hour Film Project winners! Looking forward to the experience, not looking forward to the Seattle weather (heat warriors - send in the sun!) Either way, we come home with an award, an experience and amazement that we made it this far, again!

(click for more info on nikilopez.com)

#darkcomedy #filmchallenge #48dayfilm #reelrepsect #womeninfilm #nikilopez #nikilopezcreative #filmcrew #browardarts #qpoc #filmedinbroward #kalimahtina #artactivists #artwithapurpose #creativeplay #tabathamudra #filmproducer #previz #graphicdesign #48hfp #1310gallery #artistsof1310gallery #artcommunity #indiefilm #tribe #movieswithmessages #filmawards #madeinmiami #howmanyhashtags #proud #48hfp #madeinbroward #filmapalooza2017 #seattle #ohnoitscoldoutthere

Trailer to our winning short film: Deep Within:

"DeepWithin" 1310Bandits Trailer 48HFP

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.

Creative Circle Tuesdays: Louis Davis

Self portrait of Artist & Photographer Louis Davis

Name:  Louis Davis

Website: louisdavisart.com

Facebook Page: facebook.com/louisdavisart

What is your medium:  Photography is my base medium

What type of art do you do?  I construct new stories from my photographs to represent something usually totally different, in the tradition of collages, photomontages, digital art, activist art and storytelling.

The Encroaching Wilderness - by Louis Davis

What inspires you?  Almost everything, but mainly books and other visual images.  However, quite often i might be walking or even driving when I see an image and it triggers a memory or an idea.

What pieces did you include in the exhibit "L’éléphant dans la Salle" and why? I showed 3 images in that show. One was a cutdown from a larger piece called "maintaining our way of life", which deals with fast food and obesity and how it is exported throughout the world. The cutdown, which is a small section, is a remake of a very iconic image, and was used to illustrate the real role of the united states army. another image, still untitled after many years, is an image that just falls together visually, but which i have yet to find a reason behind. yet, it turns out that many people react emotionally to the work. the third image, "who is the terrorist?", is in response to how easy we label people and groups terrorists, while the word is simply based on perspectives.

Louis Davis - Who is the Terrorist

Louis Davis - Untitled

Louis Davis - Maintaining our way of Life

Self taught or traditionally trained?  I am not sure what traditionally trained is, but I am self-taught.

Abandon Hope by Louis Davis

Share one thing that has impacted your work?  My activism is central to my work.  So anything that affects the plight of the poor or the environment is likely to be seen in my work.  The computer surely impacts my work because without it, much of my work would take a different form and direction.  

Name one thing we may not know about you or your work?  That its not as easy as it seems.  Many people can create images but often, many images don't have a 'soul', a sense of being.  Achieving palpable meaning is not easy.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? Aaah,could we delete man?  Ok,that's apparently not going to work for the purpose of this.  Remove greed.

If you had access to a time machine, where would you go?  Hm. Not sure I want to go forward because seeing the future might not be a healthy thing.  So it has to be the past.  Have to think about when, where and why.

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring creative, what would it be?   If the person is visual, then I would asy, look at images constantly.  If the person wants to be a writer, I would say 'read voraciously'.  If the person want in on music, then listen.

If you could have one super power,what would it be?  Mass hypnosis, ala Mandrake the magician.  If you can influence people's minds, then you don't need a weapon.

Social Media drug of choice?  Facebook is the only social media I use though at times, I'm often loathe to use it.  Most of the others are too smart for me and twits shouldn't use twitter.

Creative Circle Tuesdays: Judy Polstra

Artist Judy Polstra

Name: Judy Polstra

Website: judypolstra.com

What is your medium(s): primarily mixed media/found objects

What type of art do you do? Visual: mixed media 3-d

What inspires you? Beautiful music, especially classical. I’m a wanna-be pianist. Classical, jazz, and the blues never fail to inspire me.

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)

The System by Judy Polstra

1.   “The System” miced media installation- Inspired by stories about DCF (Dept. of Children and Families) and CPS (Child Protective Serives); children were identified as being in troubled or dangerous homes. They were then lost in bureaucracy and ended dead- since no one followed up after the initial report. Additional stories about the VA ((Dept.) of Veterans Affairs) where our Veterans are denied or severly delayed medical treatment; big banks and “corporations as people” are more Systems that leave carnage in their wake.
2. “Put Your Fingers in my Hole’ –neon sign- I came up with these words after I was car-jacked by two criminals at gunpoint. While I was not hurt physically, the aftermath left me traumatized and afraid. I spiraled into a deep depression and I just wanted the pain to stop. I felt like I had a giant hole in my gut and psyche. When the words popped into my head, the double entendre made me smile. Most everyone who sees it smiles or giggles, thinking it’s a sexual innuendo. The smiles and comments of watching others helped the healing from the ordeal to begin.
3.  “We Do”- plaster wedding cake- a tribute to gay marriage, showing 2 grooms and 2 groomsmen. Why this is still a taboo to ANYONE baffles me.

Dying to be Beautiful by Judy Polstra

Self taught or traditionally trained? Self taught. My mother was an oil painter, so I grew up surrounded by art. I’ve been drawing and painting since before I could walk.

Share one thing that has impacted your work?  Volunteering for Hospice, the murder of a family member and my car-jacking experiences have given me the clarity to embrace my mortality. It’s also given me the courage and strength to be more fearless in my art and life in general.

Support to Halt Aging Process by Judy Polstr

Name one thing we may not know about you or your work? I am a wanna be Buddhist and Vegan. Both are lifelong works in progress.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? That all living beings be free from suffering.

If you had access to a time machine, where would you go?  Vienna, Austria in the late 1700's early 1800's to meet and know Beethoven.

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring creative, what would it be? Never give up on your passion, because you WILL want to. And follow your inner voice. It’s wiser than you realize.

If you could have one super power, what would it be? Flawless intuition

Social Media drug of choice?: Facebook. I don’t tweet and have never tried Instagram

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