RISING SUN TRIBES by Tak & jaime

ALTAR FOR RISING SUN TRIBES

scrap wood and thread

The power of nature is the source of all.

Waves bring life to the Island, but on this occasion,

they took likfe away.  The repetitive cycle of life.

The sun continues to shine.

We pray for healing and hope.

One day soon, those affected will wake up

to the beautiful sun, rested.

--

About the artists:

Seitaku "TAK" Aoyama

STUDIO AIUTO, design & marketing, Encinitas

Owner & Artist

Jaime Di Dio Aoyama

STUDIO AIUTO, design & marketing, Encinitas

Owner & Principal Designer

Tak has upcoming shows at Green Flash Gallery in Cardiff & Surface Art+Culture Gallery in Oceanside.

Visit www.studioaiuto.com for details.

Program for Nostalgia by Vanessa Lemen, Ron Lemen, and Keith Shillington

<title>Program for Nostalgia</title>

<portrayal>
  <feeling>
   mood="happiness"
    mood=”carefree”
  </feeling>
  <concept>
    imprint=”past”
    memory=”cherished”
    memory=”fond”
    memory=”cool breeze on face”
    memory=”sunlight through leaves”
    memory=”feet in air”
  </concept>
  <concept>
    overall feeling=”free”
   worries="forgotten"
  </concept>
<portrayal>
<characters>
  artist_and_construction="Vanessa Lemen"
  construction_assistant="Keith Shillington"
  oil_application_artist="Ron Lemen"
</characters>
 

Geromolina by Catherine Saxton

Geromolina

I have always loved Volkswagens. Ran away from home a few times in them. I especially love the bus. People can't help but smile at you when you drive a bus. I credit my last bus, Geromolina with getting me, Robert, and various kids and friends to the beach with our surfboards and all our toys for a day at the beach, or an evening "bus date". I loved how she sounded driving up the road, her smell, the view from the steering wheel, her bumper stickers, I loved it all. I made the decision to sell her when we didn't have the time, money, or dedication to keep her running. My altar is some of the trinketry that had made their home within her walls of steel. I like that this little box of "stuff" I kept in my sewing room, can now be shared with you. It somehow lessens the ache of Geri no longer being at my house or driving to Beacons. For a longer version of the story of Geromolina, please visit my August 5,2010 entry at www.bigyellowbowl.blogspot.com.

Catherine Saxton is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, nurse, athlete, occasional surfer-fiddler-blogger, art and mess maker, that loves that she got stuck in Leucadia. Most likely she'll begin therapy soon to recover from the loss of her beloved Geromolina.

Old Glory By Tamara Kapan

Old Glory

48 x 57inches

By Tamara Kapan – mixed media

The elements of my piece are a simple nod to the American flag. Symbolizing the sacred freedoms afforded to us by the U.S. Constitution.

Our flag has endured a lot over the 235 years we have been a country. It has been carried to battle, waved proudly, hung at half mast, burned and pledged to. To me this flag represents all that is honorable with America. It is a simple and beautiful symbol of our strength, courage, toughness, creativity and resourcefulness.

The United States Constitution that states in part:

, “…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…”

It seems like our world is getting more agitated and the pursuit of happiness is more difficult than ever. We turn on the news and see countries where life and liberties are taken. In my sacred altar I have used old play structure parts to symbolize the freedom to grow up without fear and oppression and to be able to have an education no matter what your gender. I have used an old wooden pallet and tractor wheel part to symbolize free commerce and good old fashioned capitalism. The wheel is also a nod to our own American Revolution over two centuries ago. Back then one of the first American flags had thirteen stars arranged in a circle and our forefathers had the foresight to draft a constitution which is still relevant and governing our lands today. After watching many Middle East countries in various states of revolution during the past months I am reminded how tenuous freedom can be. If we don’t protect it, nurture it, treat it as sacred we could lose it.

Lastly, the horse shoe is for luck because I think as a country we could use some right now.

Healing Place by Kirk Fagergren

HEALING PLACE


I am so honored and grateful to be a part of this sacred altar show. I have always loved to build, create andtinker and to be recognized as an artist for this I am honored. Having lost the last of my grandparents thisyear I am grateful for this timely project as it has become a great tool forprocessing my grief and healing.

After getting the news my grandmother (my last living grandparent) haddied, I was left with that returning numb sickening feeling and thought “Idon’t know what to do”. Like a wound sodeep it does not even bleed or hurt yet, I cannot even cry and “don’t know whatto do”. When the numbness ends, I amleft with an intangible pain that there is no medicine for and an “everybody isdifferent” recipe for healing. Memorials, family, time, good memories and loving life have been greathealers. Maybe I like to surf so much because instead of getting beat up or tossed around, I ride the waves and amstoked – kind of like life.

As time passes, I feel my loved ones in my heart and have more smiles thanpain. I also treasure certain earthlymementos my loved ones left behind and always have them close by for comfort.Until this opportunity to create an altar arose these items were in drawers,boxes and night stands. The process ofcreating a sacred alter, building something with my hands, and having all theseitems in one place has been unbelievably healing. I figured out “what to do” and it reallyfeels good – I am stoked.

I built my altar in honor of my Grandparents Alvin and Madelyn Fagergren who transitioned from earth in 2002 within 3 months of each other and James and Charlotte Smith who transitioned from earth 2010 within 3 months of each other and my step father Don who fell from earth from the near summit of El Capitanin Yosemite during his most passionate sport of climbing in 1983.

David Lecours' Sacred Altar

Artist Statement:
I was born on August 13, 1968. Just eleven days after my birth, on August 24, 1968, my father was killed when his Navy F-4 Phantom jet crashed into the sea as a result of a blown tire/catapult accident off the USS Constellation aircraft carrier. Prior to impact, he was able to pull the ejection lever which ejected the rear pilot to safety. After an exhaustive search, both the plane and my father's body were never recovered.

I never got to meet my father, Bill Heep, so creating this altar was a way for me to connect with him. Fortunately, Bill's mom, my grandmother, saved nearly all of Bill's memorabilia. In preparing this altar, I discovered a reel-to-reel audio tape Bill created in June of 1968. He made the recording in his room aboard the USS Constellation off the coast of Vietnam. I am grateful that the content from the tape was easily transferred to CD at a local lab. This recording gave me the opportunity to hear my father's voice for the first time. Reusing the old door allows a series of windows into different eras of Bill's life. Since his body was never recovered from the accident, the altar serves as a physical reminder of his life.

My name was originally David William Heep. After my father's death, my mother married Tom Lecours. When I was 3 1/2, Tom Lecours adopted me and I became David William Lecours.

Bio:
David Lecours is Creative Director at LecoursDesign, a marketing and brand agency helping professional service firms to attract great clients and talent. David uses LecoursDesign as a laboratory to monitor creative process and the art of presenting ideas. He then generously shares this knowledge through coaching <http://www.davidlecours.com/coaching/> , speaking <http://www.davidlecours.com/speaking/>  and training seminars <http://www.davidlecours.com/training/> . David is married and also loves surfing, gardening and practicing yoga in his hometown of Encinitas, California.

Scott Saw

Road Trip by Robert Saxton

When I was approached by Rodney to do the Sacred Altars show, I thought to
myself, "everything is sacred and at the same time nothing is". The
challenge was to find some things more sacred than the rest. As I was
growing up and all through my life it seems that the some of the best times
I¹ve had were on family vacations. I have my mother and father to thank for
creating this legacy in my life, for they loved the road. When you travel,
especially by road, time and space capture your world. If you¹re in the
company of family and friends it allows for a unique interaction not present
in everyday life. It is in these special times that we get to know each
other on an entirely deeper level than in other places. I cherish the times
I¹ve had and look forward to more road trips in the future. I am grateful
for the people in my ancestry for starting such a grand tradition

"Suenos De Los Pangueros" by Dave Buchanan

I grew up in San Diego and have lived in Encinitas for 31 years. In a continuing quest to find a buffer from the increasing humanity stressing our region, I consistently set out to remote areas to relieve myself of traffic, noise and PEOPLE and to derive inspiration for my California(and Baja) Native Plant landscape designs. Normally utilizing a slow-speed walk and staring at the dirt, rocks, sand and plants, I've collected various seaside treasures and will attempt to assemble them into a tribute to the Pangueros de Baja. These "Vaqueros of the Sea" whose ingenuity and determination in a most hostile environment, have reserved a place of respect in my Baja Heart and Soul. My altar: "Suenos de los Pangueros" (Dreams of the Fishermen) represents the realities, and the nightmares of a hardy breed plying their trade along a dangerous, remote stretch of wilderness. Dave Buchanan was born in Tokyo, Japan to Buck, a Navy Commander and his wife Judy, a Navy Lieutenant. Unfortunently, Dave's discipline and work ethic started to rapidly deteriorate upon returning to San Diego at the age of two. Dave attended the University of San Diego, majoring in "Baseball" and came six Business classes shy of a degree. Over the following twelve years he worked as a Union Lather in numerous commercial construction projects throughout San Diego County. And held a dedicated position with the Jerry Brown and Pete Wilson Surf and Discovery Team(unemployment) which led to numerous explorations of Baja California and the remote Southwestern U.S. Treasuring our regions natural landscapes led to the planting of Dave's yard near Stonesteps with California native plants 26 years ago and led to the establishment of Ocean Sage Landscaping in 1989.(760-942-9254) Dave's been creating landscapes evoking the sights, smells and wildlife associated with our last remaining natural areas on a referral basis for the past 22 years. And traveling.....

Nena Anderson : Sacred Alter : Photographic Memories

Nena Anderson : Sacred Alter : Photographic Memories Several years back I was faced with the possibility of evacuating my home due to a nearby fire. At the time, it became very clear what was sacred to me there: family, pets, photographs, and guitars, pretty much in that order! Styled as a 'nicho', my alter is a shrine to photography, the camera, and the precious images and memories we are able to capture and share. Photographs are our connection to the past and details that our own memories can't always remember. • Free-standing or Velvet Ribbon for Wall Hanging • Vintage Wooden Box • Found Vintage Film Camera • Bottle Caps, Silk Flowers, Gold Paper • Vintage Fabric Scrap http://www.dungbeetlecreative.com

AFTER THE ELECTION by Janell Cannon

AFTER THE ELECTION by Janell Cannon

Wire frame of a campaign sign, and other scraps.
Born and raised in Minnesota, and a Southern California resident for 35
years. Have been a graphic artist, children's book author and illustrator
for the past few decades. Before that, cleaned motel rooms, did auto body
work, green house labor and was a janitor. I like drawing better than
knucklebusting or cleaning up after messy people.

Each time an election year comes around, thousands of campaign signs sprout up alongside roads and on medians in busy avenues. They shout YES on this and NO on that, and declare who is right for the job for some level of community governance.

This altar is made from the wire frame of one of the many campaign signs that get left behind after the election. A piece of drywall scrap serves as a tablet on which I stamped words and sentences that represent things that I believe all humans want in their lives--and those things which politicians promise time and again throughout human history in their desire to rise to power.

The vertical stream of red words describe attributes of humans that have a way of eroding all of the things that we want from life and which seem to keep most political promises from ever being kept, and human society from transcending poverty, injustice, corruption, war and other maladies that have always seemed to plague every nation to varying degrees from time immemorial. The stamped-in words and sentences ultimately blur into nonsensical patterns, but the dynamics behind them are always the same, regardless of language or era.

This altar was built as a place to contemplate and call for the ability to transcend the barriers to peace, respect, integrity, honesty and sanity among all people.

Woody's Piece

Palm Tree
 Sitting under a palm the warm sand between your toes,
the cool breeze blowing over your skin.
You look out onto the surf and wondering,
should I go out for a quick dip or sit a while longer?


Bio
I came into woodworking through my father.  He was very good working with his hands, from restoring old cars to building and repairing furniture as a hobby.  One of the most impressive things I would see my father create, wooded chain links whittled from a single piece of wood.  (A goal for me to shoot for.)  I was born and raised in Del Mar, spent my youth with sand in my ears and saltwater on the skin. I moved back to coastal north county several years ago after spending 30 years in the east county pretending I liked it out there.  Nice to be home again.

Woody

Pushing the Ocean Down the Road - Roy Jenuine

Photo by Roy Jenuine

Pushing the Ocean Down the Road
Artist: Roy Jenuine
Materials: salvaged plywood and wood, cardboard, wire, clay, decoupage and paint.

The ritual of surfers using their boards to walk over the rocky shallows and the sticker-graffiti bridge at San Onofre inspired this one. Also an inspiration is what we put in and take out of the ocean to get down the road. It always seems like I am pushing the ocean somewhere when I do this. It's a moment of pause and contemplation. The weight of the world may be on your shoulders but the seagrass is always beautiful between your feet.

I use wood, found objects, and some paper mache when wood gets too heavy for the wall. Whatever it takes. I like serious emotions but to stay with them I need some humor and play. I like to read as long as it doesn't interfere with daydreaming. Things that interest me are the ocean environment, Santa Ana winds blowing through lonely campgrounds, people camping, people camping with dogs, hiking in our coastal canyons, living in southern California, and, of course, woodworking.


Bio:
Roy Jenuine was born in 1953 in San Gabriel, Ca. and grew up in southern California. In 1977, he worked and lived at Arcosanti, an experimental green-designed city in the Arizona desert. He attended Humboldt State University before graduating San Diego State University with a B.A. degree in Fine Arts- Furniture Design in 1979. In addition to working for private clients, he worked in Japan building furniture for a wedding chapel in Karuizawa, Japan in 1988. He has taught woodworking and furniture design at Mira Costa College. His work has been exhibited at the Boehm Gallery, Palomar College; Mesa Art Center, Mesa Arizona; Simayspace, San Diego; San Diego Museum of Art; and the Cannon Art Gallery, Carlsbad. Roy has resided in Leucadia, Ca. since 1983 where he continues to work.

Jane Johns - Sacred Hearts

Sacred Hearts : The idea for my altar came from my experiences with the birth process and my connections with people.

We are all connected in many ways and I tried to show that with this piece.

Fabric, safety pins, babies, spirituality, flowers, and birds all remind me of these interwoven connections.

Life isn't separate or clean cut but always overlapping and crossing over one another. I wanted all those pieces to be visible and obvious.

Bio: Jane Johns: the 4 B's birth, babies, breasts, and bouquets these are some of favorite mediums I work with. I love helping women with their birth process and I love doing flowers and cooking especially when I see people enjoying what I have created.

Karen Kozlow

Photos by Karen Kozlow 

At the car wash I met a little girl with the cowgirl and cowboy dolls from Toy Story. I said, “Are they new?” (As she had them kissing each other). Her mother said, “Not so new.”

I had just finished viewing Toy Story 2 and 3, and had tears in my eyes at the end when the old toys were united with a new playmate who would take good care of them. What a good message to children in our throw-away society.

My shrine pays homage to old toys. Recycle and love again. My father made this altar for my mother who had an angel in it that disintegrated many years ago. It gets to live again with some of my broken pottery and a found wood toy – cemented and painted into new life! This piece is now one of my latest pieces in my Disaster Works series.

Karen Kozlow

Veteran of the arts and craft movement, Karen has discovered her niche in life is designing ceramics professionally. Kozlow has created whimsical pieces in clay since 1976, coming from a fine art background in painting. She has shown at the A.C.C. craft fairs, which are the marketing arm of the American Crafts Council. Also, she has shown at the Contemporary Crafts Markets, and Buyers Market of American Crafts, among others.

One person shows include Nieman Marcus Traveling Show, Tiffany's windows Beverly Hills, the La Jolla Art Center - now La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art, UCSD and San Diego State.

Rodney "Rodrigo" McCoubrey - "Amor Y Luz"

Bio

Rodney "Rodrigo" McCoubrey

Somewhere around 12:51 AM, the 7th of February 1954, in the Southern California town of Whittier, I checked in. Ever since then, it's been an up, down, and all around adventurous journey of passion, rhythm, learning and living all of life's textures. The nature of my work is "FUN". The materials I incorporate in my pieces are primarily recycled and found objects. My resources remain readily available, from dumpster's to roadsides, empty lots, shorelines, to my most favorite of all, Baja California dumpsites (every town has at least one!). The direction of my work depends upon life's inspirations and those emotions that dwell within me, ever changing and constantly evolving.

I titled this piece "Amor Y Luz" love and light...what is symbolically sacred to me about this altar is my deep gratitude and eternal love of my mother and thus i used many icons of the madonna and child to somehow portray the essence and heartfelt sentiment i regard so dearly.having grown up in a predominately chicano neighborhood most of my neighbors usually had some kind of an altar displayed as a centerpiece on a wall or a designated tabletop. it seems that many of thes images somehow still reside within the creative fibers of my inner being,and every now and then work their way through me in one form or another.and the angels seem to represent hope,unwaivering faith,and a direct connection to those omnipotent resources that help us along this journey.hands in the prayer pose represent our ability to find resolution amidst the craziness.as you look closely all the childs images are nustled close in the mothers embrace again representing a sacred place of security and nurturing.almost all the pieces were either recycled,reclaimed or just stumbled upon and somehow given a bit longer shelf life.ingredients are metal wire lathe, carved and plastic angels,the wooden frame came from mexico,the earings/jewelry are from a good friend,steamer parts,rusted nails,metal candle holders are from the san diego 2007 fires via another good bro,and all the other goodies just showed up and wiggled themselves onto their new home...

enjoy and please do recycle...