mary and rob

Unbecoming A Man

2010-05-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

Unbecoming A Man:

In 1918 the great influenza pandemic called the "Spanish Flu" brought the world to great danger. In a short amount of time close to 1 million people would lose there lives worldwide from what would later be recognized as the H1N1 or swine flu. To halt the spreading and death toll from rising, a team of scientist and doctors were brought together in hopes of understanding and curing the deadly virus.

Researching this event in history pushed us to learn more about the beginning of science, those involved and the experiments and discoveries they uncovered.

The advancements of science have diminished man's natural life force and the more we dissect the earth, the faster we severe our connection to it.

Grappling with our new found love for this information we have created works of the same dissection and discovery between man and animal, man and earth, & man and man.

Multimedia Collage (ink, charcoal, paper, paint, pencil)

The three panels are reversible. You can flip them over vertically. What seems like a necklace becomes a cross. Are the particles in the tubes being emptied or escaping.

Works of The Mind

The World of The Dead

The War Machine

Unbecoming a Man

Survival Struggle

Hunters Large and Small

The Fastest Fish On Land

The Death of a Red "Goddess"

The Way Back to The Wild

......The release.......The celebration......

One glorious night of art, planks of wood, booze and digging.

2009-12-27T01:18:00.000-08:00

What is Dug?
Combined with the Lofi, it is THE BEST night in Seattle, It is...

"A night dedicated to exposing the people of Seattle to the best obscure records from our collections. "Dug" as in we dug them up. Lost diamonds in a sea of schlocky crap. It is our mission to hunt them down and bring them to you for your dancing pleasure... HEAVY FUNK, JAZZ BREAKS, RARE BOOGIE, BOOGALOO, DEEP DISCO, EARLY HIP HOP, REGGAE, FUNKY ROCK, ELECTRO, ETC........If it's good then it's good....You don't stand a chance if you can't dance."

My first night at Dug happened to be as their door girl. And while I collected money from folks dressed to the teeth, I sketched the picture below on the guest list.

Rob found my sketch and made a copy. Here he is below working on his rendition.
The walls at Lo-fi were looking bare at the time. We decided to decorate the walls at Dug for one night only. There was no opening, no flyer, no show, no titles, no prices....just our sketches and final works hanging on the walls.

A taste of Dug:
Things We Like Vol_ III.mp3

This pretty much sums up Dug....Ladies sitting on planks of wood floating on a river of booze and other craziness. The colors Rob chose really bring out the alcohol induced haze.

sketch and finished piece of hot dog dogs. I gave this to my sister who owned one named Lady when we were children.

Sketch and finished piece. I enjoy a good crowded dance floor filled with character.

Things We Like Vol_ III.mp3

Handmade for the Holidays

2009-12-08T18:21:00.000-08:00

My fascination with beaded sequin ornaments started a few years back while shopping for vintage christmas ornaments. The thought of all the intricate designs and precise needle positioning was inspiring. So I started making my own satin modern versions. Here are my creations.

Support handmade crafts and buy onehere. Prices range from $4.99-$14.50

Claar
Radjan Spudnik
Koop Jingle
Henrick Butterfly
Evertje Best Friend
Bastiaan's Dutch Garden
Quinty
Wietze Dessert
Skyler Stars
Oetje
Laila

All my hand-made ornaments have Dutch names in honor of the antique sequins from Belgium used to create all of them. They are the most beautiful flat shades of mint green, hot pink, chocolate brown, and steel blue.

Pics of our Loft

2009-12-05T23:51:00.000-08:00

Once A Day

2009-11-13T09:43:00.000-08:00

Our attempt at making something in the duration of a day. It's challenging to put a painting down or looking at it the next day and want to change something. But this process pushes us to be fast and raw.

Secrets Secrets

2009-08-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

A gift for love from love.
"I need no witness, just the stars, the moon, the love before me."

Desmadre: Fresh Latino Perspectives in America

2009-08-09T19:23:00.000-07:00

Desmadre: Fresh Latino Perspectives in America
May 14 – June 6, 2009
Vermillion Gallery and Desmadre Arte

Rob's older sister was ending her battle with cancer as he painted these. She had passed when the show opened.

Watch a video clip of the opening here. Rob's paintings come into view around 00:24.

Interview with Robert Santiago

Where are you from?
Santa Barbara California

What is your heritage?
I am Chumash Yaki and Apache Indian on my fathers side, and Spanish on my mothers side.

What is the medium that you most commonly work in?
It has been acrylic and found materials.

What tends to inspire you and your work?
Time is upon me in this life and the work I create are my survivors. They have the possibility to live longer than I will, say more and express the time that a was given here.
If it was not for art I would be………..?
Lost

Do you have any artistic relatives? if so what do they do?
My father is involved in Indian culture so a lot of crafts, my sister Nicole is a writer, my other sister Yvette is a great doodler, and her kids are following in her footsteps. My wife is one of the most rare, her art is connected to a greater consequence than your common artist.

Is music part of your creative process?
Yes
What do you listen to most?
People
What food most reminds you of home?
chorizo and eggs, bacon, tortillas, coffee, gossip.

When you are with family do speak mostly in english or espanol?
English, only a few people in my family are fluent in Spanish.

What do you think could help raise the profile of young Latino artists here in America?
Step out of your comfort zone and take a part in subjects that have nothing to do with you, learn and express your feelings ideas emotions whatever. If even one person understands the work than your on your way.

Is there a connection between Latino artists here in the US and those throughout the hemisphere?
Rice and beans, hot sauce.

Anybody you would like to thank or acknowledge?
My father for ruining my life and my mother for trying to make it better. I would like to thank all those who did it wrong so I didn’t have to, and minha esposa bonita she is my sunshine that breaks through this everlasting rain shadow.

Pagan Beginnings

2009-08-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

Solo Show
January 16, 2009
Moksha, Seattle
In honor of Valentine's Day and it's pagan origins:

Pagan Beginnings was based around a painting entitled, Romantic Misunderstandings, that we collaborated on several years ago (pictured below). The painting began with just a head floating in outer space. We researched beheadings and found many legends about St. Valentine.

During Emperor Claudius II's reign, pagan rituals were ripe and marriage was outlawed to keep soldiers focused on war. Bishop Valentine held secret marriage ceremonies of soldiers in opposition to Claudius II. Eventually he was persecuted and executed. There is more about it here and here.

What really intrigued us was all the pagan history we discovered. Rome before it was Rome: Roman legend says that the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, twin babies in a basket are placed in the Tiber, and are washed up at the site of seven green hills. The babies are found by a mother wolf, who suckles them and rears them as her own, saving them from death.

This sheds a new light on the wolf. In our dark European and Scandinavian folktales the wolf was bad. They huffed and puffed and blew your house down, and impersonated grandmothers. Here was a wolf showing compassion, intelligence, altruism and love.

The true origin of St. Valentine's day appears to be theLupercalia. During Lupecalia, the young men in loin clothes would lead a procession of priests around the city carrying bloody strips of goat hide with which they would gently slap women and crops alike to increase fertility and purification. This macabre parade was followed by lotteries in which maidens names were plucked from massive urns by eager young bachelors. The resulting pairs would become sexual partners for a year.

The festival of Lupercalia was observed for hundreds of years until Christianity took root in Rome. Not surprisingly early Christian leaders found much of the festival’s activities objectionable. The sex lottery and goat-skin whips were gradually phased out as emphasis shifted to the life and legend of Saint Valentine.

Where has this connection with the earth gone? I'd swap modern living for goat-skin whips any day.

Interestingly enough, St Valentine's Day is traditionally the time when wild birds come together to mate.

Black Mountain
SOLD

Left: Lupercalia AVAILABLE
Right: Doorway to Pagan SOLD

Claudius Gothicus
AVAILABLE

One Soldier Gets A Girl
SOLD

My Head For Your Heart
SOLD

The Gods Look Down
AVAILABLE

Virgin Awaits
SOLD

Devour My Innocence
AVAILABLE

Give All To Love
AVAILABLE

Secrets
SOLD

St. Valenine's Head
SOLD

A Daring Attempt At War
AVAILABLE

SHOP FOR PIECES AND PRINTS HERE

Brazil Eu Te Amo

2009-08-04T19:34:00.001-07:00

“Fanatic - A Group show of Excessive Enthusiasm”
October 10th - November 8th, 2008
BLVD Gallery

“Fanatic” was a group show that explored the enthusiasm expressed in “Fan” art. The artists that participated in the show were given the task of creating art that is in tribute to something that they are truly a fan of.

Rob and I thought about it for a day. It was a no brainer. We are true fanatics of Brazil. We are learning to speak Portuguese, contemplate moving there, love Brazilian cinema, and even dressed up as carnivale samba dancers one halloween. It was the perfect motivation to delve deeper in our fanaticism for this beautiful country and their culture. One of my favorite memories of this project was the music. There is so much great tropicalia and rare songs. We had a blast hunting them down and listening to hours and hours of it. We made a disc of our favorites and had a mixes available at the gallery. I will have some available to download soon.

FAVELA CASUALTY
ACRYLIC ON AOAK
>
MESTRE ACORDEON
CAPOEIRA MASTER, AUTHOR & MUSICIAN
JOSE WILKER
PLAYWRIGHT, ACTOR
LEADING ROLE IN FILM BYE BYE BRAZIL

DEIZE TIGRONA
FUNK CARIOCA MUSICIAN

FERNANDA MONTENEGRO
"THE FIRST LADY OF BRAZILIAN THEATER"
LEADING ROLE IN FILM CENTRAL STATION

ASTRUD GILBERTO
SINGER, BOSSA-NOVA LEDEND

CARMEN MIRANDA
"THE BRAZILIAN BOMBSHELL"
SINGER AND MOTION PICTURE STAR

RITA LEE OF OS MUTANTES
PSYCHEDELIC ROCK BAND

SERGIO DIAS OF OS MUTANTES

ARNALDO BAPTISTA OF OS MUTANTES
TROPICALISMO MOVEMENT

Brazil Book
click on arrows to explore
click on image to zoom
5 pages

Our Midnight Snack Video

2009-08-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

video our friend Aaron made of us painting

Altered Minds

2009-08-04T15:03:00.000-07:00

The Mash-Up
June 26 - July 26, 2008
Munkyking, Los Angelos

Mary's Inspiration

Rob's Inspiration

Rob's Series: DIRTY MIND

SOLD

SOLD

Mary's Series: CONAN ON ACID

We were a part of the Pocket Full of Monsters show at MunkyKing

Krishnamurti

2009-08-04T06:41:00.000-07:00

Rob and I were invited to design a toy in 2008. We had painted on a Qee before, but this will be our first attempt making our very own "official" toy. The masterminds behind it all were Super Rad Toys, who promoted unique toys and the artists who create them. However, something went wrong and the goshos got cancelled.

These are our plans and sketches. Many many hours and erasers went into the our Krishnamurti doll.

Jiddu Krishnamurti was a great mind that blessed the earth from 1895 to 1986. If you don't know him, look him up. He's worth the search. We were inspired by him with our toy design. Krishnamurti was an amazing peaceful teacher.

This is what a blank Ningyo Gosho looks like. The Gosho dolls were given as gifts during the Tokugawa shogunate period (1603-1868). And made to provoke, invoke, fear, revere and inspire. The doll is carrying a rope which symbolized good luck. The figure would use the rope to pull in ships carrying treasure and other fortunes. Our Gosho will bring a peace of mind.

click image to enlarge

This was our final design compilation. Many sketches were first made on paper, scanned in and worked on. It was challenging fitting Krishnamurti's narrow face on a chubby child's head, but I feel like we captured his essence. He often spoke of the human brain so we chose to have his exposed.

Devil Vs Jesus

2009-08-04T06:34:00.000-07:00

the beginning

Broken Rhythm was born from a question on faith. The question was about whether good and evil could be more sympathetic to each other's position.

A question like this led us to do research about religion and evil. To our surprise, evil and good share a lot more similarities than imagined. One man's evil, is another man's good.

Broken Rhythm was a concept about Jesus, Satan, and the angels that surround them. In the Bible, angels aren't cute. They are angry, ass-kicking, flaming-sword-wielding, vengeance-mongers who kill demons in their spare time.

We flipped a coin to determine who painted Jesus or Satan. Rob painted Satan and the left half. Mary painted Jesus and the right half.

click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge
rob painted the left, mary paited the right
acrylic on wood
2006

Romantic Misunderstandings

2009-08-04T06:29:00.001-07:00

acrylic on wood
2006
click image to enlarge

Romantic Misunderstandings began with just a head floating in outerspace. We researched beheadings and found many legends about St. Valentine. On February 14 around the year 278 A.D., Valentine, a holy priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed.

Under the rule of Claudius II (photo above), marriage was outlawed to make it easy for soldiers to join the army. A lottery of names gave the men a new lover each year. Valentine, a leader in the underground Christian movement, performed marriages in secret. When Claudius II discovered this he had Valentine beaten, beheaded, and his head served to Valentines' blind lover.

Nothing is certain, but it's a great story.

Jason of Flying Coffin used this design to print tees and crews. They are all sold out from his line, but we have a stash available.

Bogus Philosophy

2009-08-04T06:27:00.000-07:00

BOGUS PHILOSOPHY
acrylic on wood
2006
This is a great example of how we approach painting. Kind of a free for all.
Bogus Philosophy was inspired by Basquiat.

Exodus

2009-08-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

Rob's sketches are already drawn out in his mind.
It's only a matter of how well he can illustrate them on paper.
We picked key words to help keep us focused...
danger
lurking
bombs
float

Once we start painting, ideas move from one direction to another. Sometimes we don't know what's going on.
Rob painted the left half of the water.
I painted the right.

These guys are canon ball traders, obviously.

Here Comes The Canons

2009-08-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes 2 paintings are set up and we paint simultaneously.

Pourquoi Kiki

2009-08-04T06:15:00.001-07:00

Commission for Atwater
2007

Now that is one happy customer if I may say so.

Four-Eyed

2009-08-04T06:03:00.000-07:00

Four-Eyed Fish Show
June 9, 2006
Prototype, Hawaii

Rob and my take on what a "four-eyed fish" means to us.
Basically, stop poisoning the fish to the point that their eyes are all jacked up.

Brainstorm Begins

2009-08-04T05:33:00.000-07:00

All the PFOM kids were painting murals, and asked us to join in but we didn't know what to paint. Nervous and inspired, we went home around midnight to practice. 5 hours later we ended up with the piece BRAINSTORM above. Rob painted the right half, I painted the left.

Rob and I painting a mural at Olivodoce Gallery in Seattle.
We both painted a large egg shape and went nuts with it.

If you look closely, the skulls on the bunny's vest are actually plug outlets.

We were ready to saw our paintings out of the wall but decided not to.

Jilf's mural was amazing. Watching him paint perfect lines was a rare treat.

Skeleton Says Aloha

2009-08-04T05:31:00.000-07:00

Anti-Valentines

2009-08-04T05:15:00.000-07:00

Anti-Valentines Solo Show
February 14, 2005
Neumos, Seattle
5" X 7" Pastel drawings
Frames scribbled with dirty phrases

Some of these images got cut at first because Photobucket thinks they are too risque to post. I've made some adjustments. We'll see what happens. The derriere seems to get the A-okay. I made sticker packs of all the girls and sold them at the Good Girls Gone Bad show. They are collectors items and if you're lucky you bought a pack.

SOLD OUT

Lapdance College

2009-08-04T04:45:00.000-07:00

Good Girls Gone Bad Show
June 3, 2005
Moksha, Seattle

Going with the theme of the night "good girls gone bad," I created a collection called lapdance college. There's got to be one out there.

CHUNKY RUMP
SOLD

NO SMOKING
(TRADE)

I had a "no smoking" theme going with ladies puffing away. 5 months later, a no smoking ban was in effect in Seattle's restaurants and bars. Too bad for me since I'm a second-hand addict.

NO SMOKING SWEETHEART
DISAPPEARED

Two separate girls purchased this little piece, and it disappeared from the shop. Sounds like a mixup happened and now I owe Namcy and Danijela a copy.

TURQUORANGE
(TRADED FOR GROOMING)

This piece is one of those that flow out of you like magic and then you try to duplicate it and that magic is more like a balloon animal.

BALLOON ANIMAL
AVAILABLE

NIGHTSHIFT
AVAILABLE (BORDERLINE NFS)

IT'S FUNNER IN PAIRS
SOLD (GOT A COFFEE GRINDER TOO!)

ELECTRIC
AVAILABLE (AGAIN BORDERLINE NFS)

LAVENDER BUNNY
SOLD
Heidi and Paul from Goods purchased this one for their friend, Elsie Katz.
All these paintings were done with acrylic, enamel and gouache.

Still Life

2009-08-04T04:36:00.000-07:00

capturing space...

I did this piece back when I lived in Hawaii around 2002. The plastic pink teddy bear is a vintage piggy bank and he sits peacefully in my home to this day. The silk orchid flowers have the most delicate features and I love em because orchids are so hard to grow. I hung my red skirt behind them and set them on my mother's black enamel cabinet. This painting was in my first art show at Hesham's Photography Loft.

This still life was painted a few years later in Seattle. Rob did a painting too (photo coming soon). The background is a sheet of pale green sketch paper with part of some red furniture peaking in. I set up my windup beetle and cowboy. A bottle of Polish Vodka becomes a platform suspending them in a moment. They have encountered each other and a battle is in the air. There only spectator is a vacuum attachment waiting to see what happens next.

Mary's Big Break

2009-08-04T03:45:00.000-07:00

Way back when friendster was the new kid on the block, and random people were linking up like a bunch of sausages I met a guy named Brian. Turned out Brian was a budding genius on the Seattle scene. He put together an amazing night of art, music, and fashion called Graylife. We had similar backgrounds, being half Korean and Caucasian, which put us in the hapa gang. One day he asked me to be a model in one of his events, and I told him I'd do it only if he would allow me to show my art at his next Graylife. Here's a picture of me working hard:

Bada bing. Bada bang. Brian is a man of his word and I got my first show in Seattle. There was only one other artist showing at the event. His name is Sua. Back then who knew Sua, Rob, and I would later become very close friends.

The theme for this show was "BIG IN JAPAN"

Radioactive Bunny
SOLD

Battle Royale
SOLD

B
SOLD

R
SOLD

Munky Punchu
SOLD

Karaoke
SOLD

Golden Tiger
SOLD

Break Time
SOLD

Pocky Farmer
AVAILABLE
(Got taken of the NFS list)

To make it interesting, I turned it into a silent auction. Anyone could bid any amount. If no one else bid, the piece was yours. A good friend walked away with a painting for only $20. It was just exciting that strangers were buying. Although friends are truly the ones that support you most. I must've had about 40 paintings up, most of which found new homes. This was a whimsical era for me. Lots of bunnies and smoke.

Korea

2009-08-04T03:08:00.000-07:00

My mom, dad, older sister Naomi and I celebrating my sister's birthday.

This polaroid was taken in Korea, where my mom met my dad and where my sister was born. I wasn't born there though. My mom and dad moved to California, and that's where I popped out literally.

My mom says I was 2 weeks overdue. I was born the day she finally got her driver's license although I think the examiner was too stressed over her belly to care how well she did. She had failed her driver's license exam 3 times before that. Happy with her success, she went to the doctor and they wanted me out. They induced her labor and I came "popping out" before they could even move her to the delivery room.

My mom and dad didn't stay together long. Relationships come and go. We can only do our best or go searching for a tiger's whisker.

The Tiger's Whisker: A Korean Folktale
SOLD
acrylic and gouache on canvas

Older Koreans are known to give advise linked to some random folk story. Supposedly back in the day, those in need of wisdom paid a visit to the trusty village hermit. This is one such story.

This is my first painting inspired by my Korean heritage. It was published in a book about Korean American artists. Want to know how to cope with your unpredictable, cross, angry husband? Read on.

ONCE UPON A TIME a young wife named Yun Ok was at her wit's end. Her husband had always been a tender and loving soulmate before he had left for the wars, but ever since he returned home he was cross, angry, and unpredictable. She was almost afraid to live with her own husband. Only in glancing moments did she catch a shadow of the husband she used to know and love.

When one ailment or another bothered people in her village, they would often rush for a cure to a hermit who lived deep in the mountains. Not Yun Ok. She always prided herself that she could heal her own troubles. But this time was different. She was desperate.

As Yun Ok approached the hermit's hut, she saw the door was open. The old man said without turning around, "I hear you. What's your problem?"

She explained the situation. His back still to her, he said, "Ah yes, it's often that way when soldiers return from the war. What do you expect me to do about it?"

"Make me a potion!" cried the young wife. "Or an amulet, a drink, whatever it takes to get my husband back the way he used to be."

The old man turned around. "Young woman, your request doesn't exactly fall into the same category as a broken bone or ear infection."

"I know," said she.

"It will take three days before I can even look into it. Come back then."

Three days later, Yun Ok returned to the hermit's hut. "Yun Ok," he greeted her with a smile, "I have good news. There is a potion that will restore your husband to the way he used to be, but you should know that it requires an unusual ingredient. You must bring me a whisker from a live tiger."

"What?" she gasped. "Such a thing is impossible!"

"I cannot make the potion without it!" he shouted, startling her. He turned his back. "There is nothing more to say. As you can see, I'm very busy."

That night Yun Ok tossed and turned. How could she get a whisker from a live tiger?

The next day before dawn, she crept out of the house with a bowl of rice covered with meat sauce. She went to a cave on the mountainside where a tiger was known to live. She clicked her tongue very softly as she crept up, her heart pounding, and carefully set the bowl on the grass. Then, trying to make as little noise as she could, she backed away.

The next day before dawn, she took another bowl of rice covered with meat sauce to the cave. She approached the same spot, clicking softly with her tongue. She saw that the bowl was empty, replaced the empty one with a fresh one, and again left, clicking softly and trying not to break twigs or rustle leaves, or do anything else to startle and unsettle the wild beast.

So it went, day after day, for several months. She never saw the tiger (thank goodness for that! she thought) though she knew from footprints on the ground that the tiger - and not a smaller mountain creature - had been eating her food. Then one day as she approached, she noticed the tiger's head poking out of its cave. Glancing downward, she stepped very carefully to the same spot and with as little noise as she could, set down the fresh bowl and, her heart pounding, picked up the one that was empty.

After a few weeks, she noticed the tiger would come out of its cave as it heard her footsteps, though it stayed a distance away (again, thank goodness! she thought, though she knew that someday, in order to get the whisker, she'd have to come closer to it).

Another month went by. Then the tiger would wait by the empty food bowl as it heard her approaching. As she picked up the old bowl and replaced it with a fresh one, she could smell its scent, as it could surely smell hers.

"Actually," she thought, remembering its almost kittenish look as she set down a fresh bowl, "it is a rather friendly creature, when you get to know it." The next time she visited, she glanced up at the tiger briefly and noticed what a lovely downturn of reddish fur it had from over one of its eyebrows to the next. Not a week later, the tiger allowed her to gently rub its head, and it purred and stretched like a house cat.

Then she knew the time had come. The next morning, very early, she brought with her a small knife. After she set down the fresh bowl and the tiger allowed her to pet its head she said in a low voice, "Oh, my tiger, may I please have just one of your whiskers?" While petting the tiger with one hand, she held one whisker at its base, and with the other hand, in one quick stroke, she carved the whisker off. She stood up, speaking softly her thanks, and left, for the last time.

The next morning seemed endless. At last her husband left for the rice fields. She ran to the hermit's hut, clutching the precious whisker in her fist. Bursting in, she cried to the hermit, "I have it! I have the tiger's whisker!"

"You don't say?" he said, turning around. "From a live tiger?"

"Yes!" she said.

"Tell me," said the hermit, interested. "How did you do it?"

Yun Ok told the hermit how, for the last six months, she had earned the trust of the creature and it had finally permitted her to cut off one of its whiskers. With pride she handed him the whisker. The hermit examined it, satisfied himself that it was indeed a whisker from a live tiger, then flicked it into the fire where it sizzled and burned in an instant.

"What have you done?" Yun Ok cried, horrified.

"Yun Ok," the hermit said softly, "you no longer need the whisker. Tell me, is a man more vicious than a tiger? If a dangerous wild beast will respond to your gradual and patient care, do you think a man will respond any less willingly?"

Yun Ok stood speechless. Then she turned and stepped down the trail, turning over in her mind images of the tiger and of her husband, back and forth. She knew what she could do.

Korea Vs Mexico

2009-08-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

A digital collage titled "korea vs mexico." This pretty much sums up a big part of what we are. I'm half Korean and my better half is half Mexican. It's a mixed plate situation.