Ghost in the Machine, 2016

PORTRAIT FOR KEVIN KLOPP, 2016

Certain people come into and out of our lives at different time to change us in some way. The universe puts these people into our path to help us navigate through life better. The change could be as minimal as a creative idea or as large as the connection with a spouse. Kevin is a friend I met through my wife’s collection of dance friends. His focus on success and his social abilities were something I have been challenged with for years. I’m not a very social person and my path to success in a career has been a bumpy road. Kevin and I’s conversation one night got me really thinking. He was talking about certifications in his business and how he gets certified in everything he can, just as a reference on his resume. This got me thinking. I have always been the type of person to not care and even think about what anyone thinks of me. This is a good trait in some ways but can also be prohibitive. I never thought of resume as that important. Not necessarily just career resumes, but life resumes, relationship resumes, parenting resumes, etc etc. He defiantly gave me an idea that is currently changing my perspective, on who I am, and what I need to work on in life, even if he doesn’t know it.

The title of this piece, “Ghost in the Machine” has duel meaning, no pun intended if you are aware of the book. One is the concepts of this is that the intelligence of computers will allow them to take over the world in the future, this concept movies are made from. Kevin is in the computer field so I thought this would be an interesting title, But secondly and probably more profound is the theory behind the 1949 book “Ghost in the Machine”, this basically expanded on the concept of physical self and mental self. The universe, an ever changing circuit board of life & energy, and that people put in your path to empower your life. This of course is simplified, the book is more complex. But it has defiantly got me thinking and keeps me pondering what is next for me, my wife, my kids and my friendships. Thanks Kev…..5…..

 

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The Summer's Residence

The Summer’s Family want two separate custom built projects completed. One was a built in entertainment center, they wanted built into a niche they had in their family room. My Summer’s requested two extra flat screens, so he could watch multiple sport games at once, and frontal surround sound built in.

They also wanted a built in office in another room. This office desk was built wall to wall with adequate storage for a printer and filing.

The Perkins Family has a beautiful home in West Broward that was just purchased. They had a coat closet that they never used and wanted to turn it into something unique. I suggested going through the back wall of the closet and creating a wine cellar out of the space.

The only thing missing is an oak and glass paneled door to replace the current door. So when you enter the residence you can see right through to the cellar.

The Elephant Exhibit, 2015

Opening night: Saturday July 18, 2015
Location: 1310 Gallery, Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts

Produced: Niki Lopez of Niki Art Studio, Alana DaCosta & at 1310 Gallery

The Elephant  – art exhibition is a group arts exhibition featuring work that challenges both artist and viewer to consider their choices about what in our lives, should be revealed and what should be hidden.    We want the elephant out in the open so we can find release…

“The Elephant” as in ‘the elephant in the room’ is metaphorical idiom for an obvious truth that is either being ignored or going unaddressed. The idiomatic expression also applies to an obvious problem or risk no one wants to discuss, It is based on the idea that an elephant in a room would be impossible to overlook; thus, people in the room who pretend the elephant is not there have chosen to avoid dealing with the looming big issue.

My entree for this show was a piece of mine called “ As I See It.” The elephant in the room is addiction and the impact it has on a family. Below is my description of the piece.

During the course of my betterment I decided to quit drinking alcohol. It was terrible for my health as well as my relationships with my wife, my kids, and my friends. What I did find is that it was extremely difficult to change my habitual patterns considering I had been doing it for 20 years or so. I thought o’crap I’m an alcoholic, what do I do from here. I started an outpatient program for alcoholism, where I learned some tools in dealing with my habitual self. A lot of this training was through the alcoholics anonymous book, but in general it was thoughts and concepts on managing your mind, and they work in other areas of life as well. Being the philosophy focused person I am, I really appreciated this way of thinking and still do to a point, minus any god implications. I rook this journey as a betterment of my mind and body it allowed me to focus in areas I hadn’t been able to focus before. So I added Bill W. to my list of admired philosopher and thinkers. He might not be of philosophic pedigree, but his did expand on a great way to gain control; of your mind and focus on your personal development....5.....

About the producer: Niki Lopez is a multi-media artist.  Known for her vibrant color palate, Lopez’s often ‘other-worldly’ art has been exhibited across South Florida, New York, and California.  Lopez is also a Graphic Designer known for her community spirit and avant-garde art shows.  Niki is passionate about community & outreach.  Lopez has been an integral  part of the creation of the 1310 Gallery space located within the Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts, where residents create monthly art programs.  As Web Master, Niki created the community’s on-line presence, and is a contributor to the 1310 Gallery brand via Social Media.

AS I SEE IT.....2015

During the course of my betterment I decided to quit drinking alcohol. It was terrible for my health as well as my relationships with my wife, my kids, and my friends. What I did find is that it was extremely difficult to change my habitual patterns considering I had been doing it for 20 years or so. I thought o’crap I’m an alcoholic, what do I do from here. I started an outpatient program for alcoholism, where I learned some tools in dealing with my habitual self. A lot of this training was through the alcoholics anonymous book, but in general it was thoughts and concepts on managing your mind, and they work in other areas of life as well. Being the philosophy focused person I am, I really appreciated this way of thinking and still do to a point, minus any god implications. I rook this journey as a betterment of my mind and body it allowed me to focus in areas I hadn’t been able to focus before. So I added Bill W. to my list of admired philosopher and thinkers. He might not be of philosophic pedigree, but his did expand on a great way to gain control; of your mind and focus on your personal development....5.....

Curriculum Vitae

Last updated Jan 22nd, 2016

Group Exhibitions:

2016 - Ice18 - The Verbeke Foundation in Belgium
2016 - The International Collage Exchange, online, New Plymouth, New Zealand
2016 - 18th International Collage Exhibition: Percy Thomas Gallery, Stratford, New Zealand
2015 - The Elephant, Nike art studio, Alana Dacosta, & 1310 Gallery, Fort Lauderdale Florida
2012 - Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco, California
2011 - 5 in retrospect(Solo Show) Rolling Stock Gallery, FAT Village Fort Lauderdale Florida
2010 - Love Dub, Sea Monster Night Club, Fort Lauderdale Florida
2009 - Muiltiversal @ Art Basel, Miami Beach Florida
2009 Though the eyes of Love, Art Center, Miami Beach, Florida
2008Group Exhibit, Gallery 101, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Online Exhibitions:

2016 - Virtual Tart online collage exhibition, http://virtual.tart.co.nz
2016 - Out of Sight online collage exhibition, www.outofsight.co.nz

Solo Exhibition:

2011 - 5 in retrospect(Solo Show) Rolling Stock Gallery, FAT Village Fort Lauderdale Florida

Commissions:

2015 - "Family" in Greek, Jason Tjovaras family, Sebastian, Florida

Public Space Projects:

2012 - Bombing the Park, Esplanade Park, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2011 - 213AOE pillar murals, NewEra Graf Expo, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2011 - Be Found 5, Wall mural FAT Village, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2010 - Death to Finance Panel, FAT Village, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2009 - Will work for healthcare installation, Art institute of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2008 (began) - Think Pozitive Campaign, Various locations around Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2004 - donor wall (design) Ronald McDonald House, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2001 (began) - Blue Flag Campaign, various locations around Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Donations

2012 - 4lb Bag, to the Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco, California
2008-2015 - Art Scavenger hunt, Donated art to various art collectors, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2011 - Timeline wall, donated to Andrews Living Arts Studio, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2010 - Time-lapse Misc. Donated to F.U.N. @ South Florida Ukulele Fest, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2010 - Scream Collage, FAT Village Art District charity auction, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2010 - 5G donated to BSO Pals clubhouse, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2009 - 109472 donated to Miami Beach Health Center, Miami Beach, Florida

Print Media:

Home Magazine Fort Lauderdale, "Scott Roman Residence" cladding design, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Radio/Television:

"Urban Murals Decorate Fort Lauderdale" (interview), Channel 10 News WPLG, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Online Periodicals:

Artist profile @ Catapult Magazine 2011, http://catapult-mag.com
Artist profile @ Artistocats Magazine 2010, http://animoto.com/play/XUpliPU1KikNscnnocfhKg

Achievements:

2007 - American Society of Interior Design Professional Chapter, student Liaison, Fort Lauderdale Florida
2006 - American Society of Interior Design Student Chapter, President, Fort Lauderdale Florida
2005 - American Society of Interior Design Student Chapter, Vice President, Fort Lauderdale Florida
2994 - American Society of Interior Design Student Chapter, newsletter editor, Fort Lauderdale Florida

Education:

2004-2007 - BA Interior Design (incomplete), Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Florida

New Zealand collage art exchange 2016

An artist out of Taranaki, New Zealand, Dale Devereux Copeland, holds a unique art exchange every year. Where artist from around the world send her artwork that is then sorted and used for a exhibit in New Zealand, as well as on two different websites www.outofsight.co.nz and http://virtual.tart.co.nz . After the exhibit is over the best pieces from each artist makes their way to Verbeke Foundation in Belgium where the collection will be donated as a public collection for the year.

ENGLAND THE BEAUTIFUL

 

The first mural is also a full large scale collage cut into 12 smaller collages. This mural was titles "England the Beautiful" and features a beautiful young lady who passed away during child birth. She is passionately missed by her family and her daughter who survived. It represents the beautiful thing that come out of England. 3 of the 12 collages were given to the family as a memorial. The other 9 went to the exchange.

WORKING CLASS

The second mural is also a fulle large scale collage cut into 9 smaller collages. This mural was titled "Working Class" and features a different aspect of English life. There is no running image in these collages. The over all imagery is working class life, gane life, sex, and poverty. This is the opposite of England the Beautiful, the underbelly. Random images scoring the page like graffiti on a wall.

Bath pieces starte with a combination Applica of 4 pound bags, and drywall compound. From there hand cut stencils are applied with spray paint in a collage format. Once that process is complete the flags were added and the pieces were cut into smaller sections for the exchange.....5.....