Beach Time

The sun shined brightly today, we decided to take a ride out to the beach. My cousin, Ikaika, came by to pick all of us up and we rode in the back of his pickup (this is something people always do in Hawaii). It has been quite awhile since I last rode in the back so I will admit I was a bit nervous. While riding alongside the beaches, my cousin Jonah continuously exclaimed, "Hooo...the waves are pumpin", he was right indeed, the waves were great and the water was nice and warm. The boys caught a lot of waves while body boarding and body surfing, while I walked around and searched for Portuguese Man-of-wars along the beach, these are tiny blue jellyfish that linger around the ocean on windy days. As we left Sherwood Forest beach for another beach along the Waimanalo coast, we stopped by the well-known Keneke's Grill for Teriyaki burgers and Mahimahi. I had a fab day!



Amir, Jonah, and Ikaika await the next big wave...



Ikaika and Jadie wait outside of Keneke's, we all ordered shaved ice.

Mele Kalikimaka!

Christmas Eve: The grandchildren smile during dinner (left), My Grandma and Papa smile for the camera (right)


Last night I went to a Christmas Party. We played tons of games; from grab bag trading to testing our knowledge of holiday music. Hawaiian hymns filled the party room as well as our favorite song, "Maka dang dang soyot billy goat bang gala gala boot boot..." the night was exciting and everyone seemed to have a great time. A basketball game was played, leaving everybody sweaty and commanding an immediate bath!



Sweaty basketball players at night.


Today was Christmas day, My brother was at the edge of his seat just waiting to open everything. My brother, Omar, delivered a multitude of movies for everyone. It seems as if the most popular gift of the year was the Nintendo DS gaming system which allows everyone to battle one and other, just as long as you have the handheld machine. Later that night 8 people proved the versatility of the DS by competing in an eight car race on Mario Kart.


Later in the evening the four of us headed out to my grandparent's house for dinner, we enjoyed leftovers from the night before and Hawaiian music filled the house. I have been playing Pictionary all night and I've really been having a great time. It's so nice to finally get a break from the cold weather and a busy semester, lounging around has been nothing short of wonderful!



Pictionary laughter...



...MELE KALIKIMAKA!

Taste of Hawaii

My family gets together every Sunday for dinner at my Grandparents home on the Eastern side of the Island. Our Christmas activities have just begun and it seems that everyone is constantly shopping for more and more Christmas gifts and planning games and activities for the holidays. I chose to tag along with my Mom and her sisters, and spent a girls day out visiting tons of stores and malls in Hawaii (this is something I never do in Chicago). The stores were packed of course, but I was not interested in the shopping, instead I was craving all the wonderful foods the island has to offer. From start to finish, I was spoiled by all members of my family who knew what I had been missing. My grandparents have already cooked some delicious Hawaiian food and my grandfather made sure to mix poi today! One can be assured that my taste buds are content, and remembering all the tastes of Hawaii.


I have so far enjoyed sushi, sashimi, Zippy's Saimin, L&L Plate Lunch (an island Classic) and my favorite dish: Korean bbq and bubble tea at Pearl's bbq in Kunia, Oahu!



Pearl's BBQ



My two cousins, Jadie and Sadie smile beside me after a long day of roaming Kahala Mall and still finding very little interest in anything.



After a delicious lunch at Assagios Italiano Ristorante, in Ala Moana Shopping Center, my two younger brothers and I smile for my dad behind the camera.



A view of the sunset from the ONLY monorail on the island.


Unlike Chicago, Hawaii has just one transit system on the island, and that is The Bus. The bus system in Hawaii seems to have declined in it's efficiency over the past two years and there has been much talk about building a monorail and/or train system on the island. This has brought about many mixed feelings as to how islanders are reacting in regards to the creation of a transit system that will further westernize the natural beauties and landscape of the island. There is however, one monorail that does exist on the island to connect two hemispheres of a gigantic mall in Pearl City, Oahu. My youngest brother, Amir, enjoys his visits to Chicago because he has the opportunity to travel in new ways by riding the Amtrak, Metra, or CTA. The Pearl City monorail is Amir's favorite thing to do while at that mall. In a way, that one monorail gives Islanders a peek into what the mainland has running throughout much of it's vast and spacious land, and the experience of riding the monorail gives a glimpse into a larger world of mass transit but at a much smaller and stress-free scale. It is almost an amusement ride rather than a transit system. Nonetheless it does make children smile.


Aloha Oe.

Bye Bye Chicago...Aloha Hawaii!

I am originally from Honolulu located on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. When I decided to attend SAIC I had to take into consideration the distance I would be from home as well as all the cultural and climate changes I would experience. Since being here I have returned home during the holidays just once, that was during my first year. I have however, visited during the summers. This is due to the expensive price of a plane ticket for someone flying from a freezer to paradise! Since moving to Chicago, I have always crossed my fingers for a Kama'aina rate to fly home. Kama'aina rates are often offered in Hawaii and are basically low rates for the people/residents of Hawaii and are available everywhere throughout the island since our high cost of living is due to the fact that our economy highly depends on tourism. I got lucky this year though, because despite the non-existing Kama'aina airfare rate, I still managed to make it home to see my family. It has been just under two years since I have returned home and I have been missing everything about my family and the beautiful island I am from.


The travel from Chicago to Honolulu took quite some time since I flew out at the start of a mini snowstorm our plane had to be de-iced before starting it's journey. Despite the bad weather and the bumpy ride, I crossed a number of different landscapes from white capped mountains, the Vegas desert, and then finally the blue Pacific Ocean of which I have missed for years now. When I finally arrived home, I was greeted as in the past, with a beautiful orchid lei, tropical Hawaiian music, and my youngest brother, Amir, who embraced me with the biggest hug and the brightest smile!



De-icing of the plane in Chicago, it was much like a car wash.



Approaching the island of Oahu after 9 hours of air time.


I am finally home!


I will keep you updated with all that I am doing on my two and a half week vacation before returning to Chicago for my winter semester course. Enjoy!

Wish List- An Exhibition

I just returned from the opening of a group exhibition that I am a part of at Koscielak Gallery Chicago . The exhibition entitled, Wish List, consists of work from artists in the Advanced Sculptural Practices Studio class at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Our final critique was scheduled for last tuesday and we had to install the show and THEN critique all the work in the show. Installation was frustrating because some people took up more space than others while some students didn't even show up for installation day! But I guess it was a good opportunity for me to work with such a large group and understand the good and the bad things about doing so.


My schedule has been so crazy though, because now I must pack for a loooong voyage back home to Hawaii. My flight is scheduled to leave tomorrow morning, I apologize if this entry is so short, I will write when I land!!!!


For more information in regards to Koscielak Gallery Chicago please visit the site below:
http://www.gosiakoscielak.com/upcomingExhibitions.php


or feel free to stop by the gallery located at:
1646 N. Bosworth Ave, Chicago IL 60622
773.252.9921



A sculpture by artist, Elizabeth Jaeger.



A sculpture by artist, Justin Swinburne.



A sculpture of mine entitled "Drop your legs and lay on me said the Meecha to the Macha"


A review of the show can be found at the following site: http://www.newcitychicago.com/chicago/7283.html

Alexander Ferrando "Lookin' for Love"

Last night I attended an opening reception of an artist and great friend of mine, Alexander Ferrando. After spending more than a year in the city of Berlin, Alex has returned to Chicago to finish up his last year of school here at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Ferrando's exhibition "Lookin' for Love" Photographs from Berlin was held at the Plaines Project, an alternative art space at 1822 South Des Plaines Street here in Chicago. The series of photographs captured Ferrando in the moment of an embrace with male strangers lingering throughout the streets of Berlin. The upstairs space contained six mounted photographs from this series, while in the basement of the gallery was a quiet projection. The video was slowed in time and the subject matter was of Ferrando and his partner, Clayton Flynn. The two expressed affection in their stance as they stood facing one another with their eyes gently closed and only allowing their noses to touch as they stood apart in bright sunlight. The opening was delightful and I look forward to seeing more of what Alex will be creating. He is recently working on several new projects at a business here in Chicago called "The Bijou". Exciting new work seems to be in the works at this venue that Alex has recently become acquainted with. Congrats Man!



Pilar Tena and Clay Flynn mingle around during the opening of Alexander Ferrando's show "Lookin' for Love" Photographs from Berlin.



A view of the upstairs exhibition.



The video projection downstairs of Flynn and Ferrando.

Museum of Contemporary Art

I recently attended the exhibition "Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967" at the MCA with my friends Tamia and Esteban. The show opened on September 29th and will go on till January 6, 2008.


As stated on the website, "Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967 examines the dynamic relationship between rock music and contemporary visual art, a relationship that crosses continents, generations, and cultures. Since the late 1950s this unlikely hybrid of rhythm-and-blues and country music has had an undeniable impact on society while drastically changing with the times. "


Some pieces in the exhibition include paintings by Mike Kelley that are based om a band formed by University of Michigan art students Jim Shaw, Niagara, filmmaker Cary Loren and Mike Kelley himself. Filling up a large portion of the exhibiton room in the lower floor of the MCA, is a piece by Rirkrit Tiravanija entitled "Untitled 1996 (Rehearsal Studio No. 6 Silent Version)" this piece offers visitors an hour of free rehearsal time in a makeshift recording studio filled with a number of musical instruments and recording tools.


In the upper part of the museum, one will find pieces from the MCA's permanent collection on view. Chris Burden's powerful piece entitled "The Other Monument" stands strong from floor to ceiling radiating light with a deep orange tone. Inscribed in fine print on the sculpture's panels are the names of all the Vietnamese killed during the Vietnam War.


After a looong time spent at the MCA we took a minute to lay in a sculpture by Vito Acconci that takes the form of a large seashell that has the sounds of an ocean humming in your ear. The exhibitions right now are great and I strongly recommend visiting the MCA before the show ends!



Esteban and Tamia begin to get comfy



Taking a nap in an Acconci sculpture...


For more information please visit http://www.mcachicago.org/

New York

I spent this weekend in New York City visiting many of my friends who live there now. Since it was my first time visiting the area I made sure to see as much as I could in the little time that I was there. Esteban accompanied me on my visit and together, we had a great time.


One of our first destinations while there was to the Whitney where we viewed the jam-packed Kara Walker exhibition entitled My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love. Having only had my experience of Walker's work limited to small paintings that I had seen at the MCA in Chicago and in private collections, I was not expecting the quality and power that the artist exhibited at the Whitney. It was quite a spectacular show. We also went to the Guggenheim where we saw Richard Prince's vast retrospective, the Metropolitan Museum of Art where we viewed the Museum's complete Rembrandt holdings as well as the many gorgeous Goya's, Zubaran's and the famous Vermeer that the museum purchased for only 800 dollars! And on the other end of the scale we also saw the 135 million dollar Klimt painting of Adele Bloch-Bauer that Ronald Lauder purchased last summer for the Neue Gallerie in Manhattan.



Esteban and the Vermeer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.



The 135 million dollar Gustav Klimt painting that Caroline, Esteban and I viewed at the Neue Gallerie.


In Chelsea, we visited the James Cohan Gallery to attend the opening of my friend, Folkert de Jong's first New York Solo Exhibition. His show was filled with extraordinary works that were unexpectedly quiet musings on war. He used Picasso's Les Saltimbanques as a point of departure from his traditionally bombastic and horrific sculptural installations to meditate more subtly on the horrors of war. The show was amazing!



Folkert De Jong's Les Saltimbanques exhibition at the James Cohan Gallery in Chelsea.


On our last day in New York we did a gallery spree, covering as many galleries as possible within the four hours before our departure. We enjoyed the ongoing installation by Alexandra Mir, at the Mary Boone Gallery, a Paul Noble exhibition at Gagosian and an immense installation by Ugo Rodinone at Matthew Marks Gallery.



The gigantic heads of Ugo Rodinone on exhibition at Matthew Marks Gallery.


As far as sight-seeing and tourism, Wall Street, Rockefeller Center, Ground Zero, and Times Square were on our list of visits. I was surprised to see that there was still an incredible amount of rubble where one of the towers stood at Ground Zero. What I found most uncanny was that all the views of the tower that still had signs of destruction were purposely obstructed by fencing and tarps while the tower where construction had begun was displayed as if up for exhibition.

At Wall Stree they were photographing....



This.


Aside from my visits to galleries, museums, and tourist sites, I spent a great amount of time in the company of my dear friends and recent graduates from SAIC Maximillian Schubert, Caroline Askew, Bless Tive, and Wyatt Kahn. Caroline made sure to show us the impressive Commes De Garcon boutique in Chelsea where we saw the coolest pair of pants. We also enjoyed a three-hour brunch with both Max and Caroline at a cozy eatery in Park Slope. With Wyatt we enjoyed a day in the park watching fashionable young parents negotiating the terrain between hipsterdom and parenthood. Bless, who was flying in from a vacation in Florida, ditched the Metropolitan Opera for a chance to eat burgers in a log cabin burger joint nestled within a ritzy New York hotel. The irony was that we were drinking pitchers of beer and eating greasy hamburgers while on other side of the wall were such contemporary eye grabbers like Damien Hirst's infamous spin paintings. As for our dear friend Seema, who flew in from the Bay area, joined us on our Chelsea outings, a fancy Chinese dinner and introduced us to the fashionable Yuko in the hidden boutique and studio of designer Tunji Dada. In the company of our friends, our visit to New York could not have been any better. And we wouldn't have had an ounce of fun had it not been for Caroline's amazing abilities as a tour guide and know-it-all of cool New York scenes! Thanks dude.



Coffee break in the park with Wyatt Kahn and Esteban Schimpf.



(From left to right) Maximillian Schubert, Esteban Schimpf, Myself, Caroline Askew and Bless Tive.



Seema and I standing outside of the Commes De Garcon boutique in Chelsea.



Tunji Dada, Caroline and Yuko conversing in Tunji's boutique/studio.


New York was wonderful---perfect weather (at the time), beautiful people, great places, and my most treasured friends. I had a blast!

Double X - Step Gallery, Arizona

Last night was the official opening of “Double X�?, an exhibition at Arizona State University’s Step Gallery that examines the network of mentorship. The exhibition features small works by women university sculpture professors from around the country. In addition, each invited professor has invited one female student who is either a current or recently graduated undergraduate senior to contribute one small work. A piece of mine entitled Deep Fry Your Soul was included in the exhibition and was shown alongside my instuctor, Frances Whitehead. Frances has been my professor for two semesters here at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Advanced Sculpture program. Creating her own courses outside from Adv. Sculpture, Frances has now constructed her own "K-lab" in the Sculpture department of the Columbus building where she will be teaching Avant-Gardening for the Spring 2008 semester. Frances contacted me early in the semester to see if I'd be interested in the show in Arizona.



Although neither of us had the opportunity to attend the opening, the website and images shared with us look great.



An outside view of the Double X exhibition in Tempe, AZ



Close-up image of sculpture by Allison Luoma, an assistant professor of art at Kansas University.



Above is a rear view of the piece in which i chose to include for the exhibition. Deep Fry Your Soul, consisted of a slumped over unicorn coated in deep fried egg, flour and cornmeal batter, it will last forever 8-)


For more information on the show please refer to the gallery website @ http://art.asu.edu/gallery/step/doublex/ and as always please refer to my website, http://www.samiamirza.com, for updates on new work and upcoming exhibitions. Thank You to all who were involved in making the Double X show a success!

"There Has Always Been Something Exasperating About My Gifts"

Roots and Culture held an exciting opening this past weekend on the evening of Saturday, October 6. The show entitled, "There Has Always Been Something Exasperating About My Gifts", exhibited the works of three artists and recent alumni from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Yevgeniya Baras, who received her MFA from SAIC last school year displayed about five of her abstract paintings with strong references to the Holocaust. Dana Deguilio exhibited a video piece paired down with a famous Sinead O'Connor tune in the background. BFA recipient of last year, arist, Ian Hokin, filled a project space with several of his small paintings consisting of a shitting heart, a snow plowing snowman, an underwater diver and a "whacked-out" yet joyously friendly Ronald McDonald.



Danny Zaretsky crosses the camera path of George and Ian Hokin as they discuss Ian's new paintings. (Ian is seen on the right side of this photo wearing a cool shirt with his hands on his hips.)



Artist's Esteban Schimpf, Jessica Moreno, and Tim Louis huddle together and speak about the work surrounding them.



Paintings by Ian Hokin, Roots and Culture, Chicago, Illinois


The show "There Has Always Been Something Exasperating About My Gifts" is on exhibition at Roots and Culture, from October 6-20, 2007. For more information please visit http://www.rootsandculturecac.org/

House Warming Widener, Ding, and Polera ra ra ra ra!!!!

Last night Esteban and I were invited to the home of Jonathon Widner, Luc Ding, and Justin Polera. A lovely housewarming party consisting of delicious Hors' Doeuvres, prepared by Luc himself had occurred that night. Many of our closest friends attended the delightful "get together" at their beautiful home.


The chicago weather has been fluctuating like crazy, that explains the need for all of us to squeeze together on the deck outside for some fresh air. Happy Esteban sits in front of Robbie MacNeil, Michael Murphy, Dan Berger, Justin Polera, Paul and Myself.



Luc Ding has finally relaxed after preparing such delicious food! He and Eric pose for a quick photo!



Jonathon poses for a photo embraced by a close and long-time friend.

Thank you Jon, Luc, and Justin!

Detroit

Esteban and I took a trip out to Detroit this week and we had an amazing time. It was a nice drive to Michigan which is only 5 hours away from the city of Chicago. For those of you wanting to plan a road trip to a nearby city, Detroit is always a great one to visit. While in Detroit we visited the General Motors Corporation, The Henry Ford Plant and the Chrysler Dealership, in an attempt to see as much as we could in just one day! We spent a lot of time looking for interesting buildings to photograph for a new series of work that Esteban is working on. To see his Used Buildings series visit his website http://www.estebanschimpf.com where you will also find Lush Gardens, White-Colored Sunglasses, and Jupiter's Storm!



We did it! Esteban and I after having arrived in Detroit.



A view outside of the GM building, Downtown Detroit, Michigan.



Esteban trying to find a good viewpoint of a building alongside the highway towards Detroit.


At one point while driving downtown we noticed a rather absurd site as we drove past the new MGM Grand Casino, with over 50 pumpkins weighing anywhere between 900-1300 lbs. Carrying these monstrosities were construction workers who arranged a wild installation of giant pumpkins and tree-trunk fences in front of the casino which will open up on October 2, 2007.



A close-up of the Halloween scene.



A building on the way out...


The drive back to Chicago was also enjoyable, we stopped at a local diner before leaving which probably wasn't a good idea because it made us full and sleepy, but we made it back nonetheless. It's always a great feeling as you re-enter Chicago after a road trip away...TGIF!

Matt and Matt Garage Sale After Party!!! woohoo....

Matthew Hilshorst and Matthew Brennan hosts of the G-sale.


My two dear friends, Matt and Matt, had a garage sale yesterday. They were selling everything from China to Blazers to Sunglass gazers! Because I was in the studio all day I missed out on their big sale, but with Matt and Matt the fun doesn't end when the sun goes down...In fact, the garage sale had only just begun. The second Esteban and I arrived at the Home of the Matt's we were greeted with a box of amazing sunglasses, which the Matt and Matt duo had purchased for us while at their summer home on a lake in Michigan. We were also greeted by an infinite rack of sports coats. There were so many things we wanted to buy and the buying was what made it, oh so fun. The price of any item was determined by a heads or tails game in which heads=50 cents and tails=$50.


We all left with our pockets empty and our stomachs full on hotdogs, Dr. Praeggers veggie burgers, and bananas. At one point we had a contest to see who could put on the most clothing at once and everyone forfeited as Amy Mayfield proved to be no competition at all.



Glintentica and Molly wearing their newly acquired coats.



Loren, Esteban, Amy, Glintentica, and Matt H. beginning the layering game and dancing to Chopin. ;)



Brian and Jenny help Amy into her 45th layer.

Exchequer: Happy Birthday Morgan

On Tuesday many of my friends headed over to Exchequer in celebration of our friend Morgan's 21st Birthday. Since we all had attended class that day it was nice to get together despite our busy schedules. One can always find a group of SAIC students and sometimes faculty lingering around Exchequer after school: conversing about art over cigarettes and beer. It was a wonderful birthday indeed......HAPPY BIRTHDAY MORGAN!



Morgan and Emily pose for Tina the camera.



Esteban and I converse over orange soda and pizza.



Harley, Emily, and George smile at one another.