MUSEUM//OHIO//JUNK//PHILLY//TORONTO//MURALS

Holy Moly!! This month has been crazies. Yer girl just wrapped up gift guide styling for  People StyleWatch, Essence Magazine (I'm soooo antsy to spill the beans about this one, I'll have to wait til it's on the shelf). I even squeezed in some propping jobs for Travel and Leisure, Brides Mag and Nine West! wowswers. This lil maker is pooped....buuut not that pooped.
Crash: 20” x 20” Mixed Media 3D Analog Collage, Ink hand Cut Paper and Photography
Crash: 20” x 20” Mixed Media 3D Analog Collage, Ink hand Cut Paper and Photography
JUNKPRINTS + PYRAMID HILL MUSEUM Next week my very first museum show opens in Ohio at the Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park Museum in Hamilton. Look ma, a freaking Museum! I'm thrilled, honored and humbled to be sharing Explorations In Nude with fine folks of Ohio. The show will be on display October 21st – November 12th, 2016 Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum in Ohio. The show open October 21st 2016. 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Road,State Route 128,Hamilton, Ohio 45013 Here's a link to the deets.    
ART PRINTS!
Since the Brooklyn exhibition of Explorations In Nude folks expressed interest in print from the series. I struggled with producing prints for this series because I wanted to make sure that I didn't short change the originals. Most artwork is experiences in some form of reproduction and in some ways that is great because it makes it more accessible but in the case of 3D work it's can be a bit problematic. This series plays a lot with shadow and I was concerned that the 3d element would get lost in reproductions. So I kind of  shelved the idea of prints until I had the amazing opportunity to partner with TWYLA. We meticulously worked together to ensure that the integrity of each piece is well represented in these limited edition prints. Six junkprints pieces including  Studded as well as The Goo Inside from the Explorations in Nude series are now available in certified numbered limited editions. These can be purchases directly through TWYLA
Studded 46″ X 20″ / Black Museum Frame Limited edition TWYLA print
Studded 46″ X 20″ / Black Museum Frame Limited edition TWYLA print
BK35 CANADA LOVE Squad Love. My team over at Brooklyn35 collective and I will be heading to Canada to celebrate the release of the La la la video. I co-directed this video along with Tough Dumplin. Ya'll know I love me some Canada, specifically Toronto. I'm especially feeling the love given that I currently reside in a nation that has a presidential candidate that is into 'pussy grabbing'  and a police force that is hell bent on executing Black folks. Given all of that I'm excited to be supporting the collective, sharing work, getting up with my Kitchener and Toronto folks.  Mark your calendar 11/12 it's going down. McCabe's Irish Pub Kitchener 352 King St. West, Kitchener, Ontario N2G 1B7. See the facebook page to rsvp and for more deets SHOP IN PERSON Shop Junkprints. I know this is the part that ya'll been waiting for. I'm participating in a Holiday Pop Up shop along with the ladies Love project crew!   Just in time for the holidays. I'll be releasing some new items in the athletic wear.  More on that later. For now please hold the date. The event will be taking place in the Lower East Side, NY, NY on Saturday Nov. 26th PHILADELPHIA ARTS MURAL  I was selected to participate in Philadelphia Arts Mural Training program.  Guess who will be sharpening up those skills and throwing color all over some walls? Me 🙂 Mural Arts has united artists and communities through a collaborative process, rooted in the traditions of mural-making, to create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives. Can't wait to dive deep into this and get some community based larger scale projects under my belt.          
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EXPLORATION IN NUDE OPENS IN MAY!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                            

BROOKLYN35 & JUNKPRINTS PRESENTS

EXPLORATIONS IN NUDE

Curated by Jen Joyce Davis & Hana Elkhazin

Friday May 13th – Sunday May 15th: Pop-up festivities and artist talk for Explorations In Nude, will be held at 5 Central Ave, Brooklyn NY 11206. The concept behind these events is a performance driven display of the artist’s work using emotions, inspirations and community connections. Events include live performances, a video screening, community yoga class, and a fundraising evening with chef prepared vegan dinner - proceeds will be donated to Black Lives Matter. Explorations in Nude is Chanel Kennebrew’s first solo exhibit. In this new work, she attempts to shake off assigned categories and invites us to explore the different definitions and associations of the term nude. In Kennebrew's opinion, society hides behind -isms (racism, colorism, normalism, conformism, westernism etc) and uses them to neatly organize and categorize practices, ideologies, and movements. Explorations in Nude is the articulation of Kennebrew’s deep dive into that world of isms. Using mixed-media, illustrations, photography, hand-cut paper, wood, paint, ink and installations, Kennebrew dissects, defaces, layers and crassly tacks on foreign elements to chisel away at society's history, power, trends and language. By exposing the layers, she clears a path to imagine, design and build a better futuristic representation of a transparent new world socially aware.
 
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
  • Conjunction (Friday May 13th, 2016) - A screening of a video project by Chanel Kennebrew and Brooklyn35. Followed by live performances. RSVP required. Please note - limited display of Explorations in Nude at this event. To see the full exhibit visit the Brooklyn35 and Junkprints pop-up space on Saturday and Sunday. Doors open at 6pm
 
  • Concordance (Saturday May 14th, 2016) - Find your at-oneness in a free community yoga class held in the environment of Explorations in Nude. Led by Tara Sponsored by WTRMLN WTR - RSVP for Class at 10am. Exhibit open to yogis at 9:45am and to public 11am - 7pm
  • Communion (Sunday May 15th, 2016) - An intimate dinner party and artist talk hosted by curators Jen Joyce Davis and Hana Elkhazin.  Plant-based fare prepared by Chef Joanna Jeros. RSVP and donation required. 100% of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Black Lives Matter. Exhibit open to public 11am - 5pm

About Chanel Kennebrew and Junkprints

CHANEL KENNEBREW (b.1982, Inglewood, CA) is a Brooklyn/Philadelphia based mixed media artist and prop stylist. Kennebrew holds a B.F.A. from Ryerson University and has also studied at New York School of Visual Arts and Ontario College of Art and Design. She has exhibited her work at The Leroy Neiman Gallery, Westwood Gallery, i-20 Gallery, WNYC Radio’s Green Space, Rush Gallery, Andeken Gallery, SXSW and the Manifest Hope Art for Obama Democratic Convention Gallery Exhibition. She has done site-specific installation work at Etsy’s HQ, Publicis and branded art projects for Nickelodeon, Birkenstock, Pepsi, and Macy’s. In 2013 she won first place entry in Curate NYC. Her art has been featured and written about in the New York Times, The New York Post, Gawker and The Wall Street Journal. She has spoken on panels for The Asian Art’s Alliance, Corridor Gallery, The Black Future Project (Toronto), NYFA, and Craft Magazine. Kennebrew is a contributing prop stylist for InStyle Magazine, People StyleWatch Magazine, Travel + Leisure, Real Simple Magazine, Essence Magazine and Ebony Magazine.
About Brooklyn35 BROOKLYN35 is a progressive collective of musicians, singers, emcees, Dj’s, producers and visual artists who, instead of being pigeon-holed by the hip-hop genre, hang their hat on versatility. Brooklyn35 has a diverse collective of various styles, including Jazz, Reggae, RnB, Soul, and Dance. The collective’s process is in the vein of classic Motown. All aspects are collaborative from the song writing to the production. Most of our songs are created in a jam session environment. This process ensures that the music is clever spontaneous and unique. Tara Purnell is a Washington, DC-native, brought to Brooklyn by magic and good fortune. She took her first yoga class as a student of media and marketing at University of Pennsylvania and fell in love. Yoga and transcendental mediation practices continued to ground her work as a multimedia producer and grant writer for youth, arts, education and wellness. With a compassionate spirit and a zest for life, Tara has dedicated her life to celebrating wellness and mindfully meditative arts –empowering people to feel better in their bodies and express their humanity.
About WTRMLN WTR WTRMLN WTR™ is a great tasting, all natural cold-pressed watermelon water that hydrates and rejuvenates.  Every bottle is packed with electrolytes (6x the leading artificial sports drink) and L Citrulline for workout recovery, plus nutrients and antioxidants from vitamin c and lycopene. With no added sugar or water and only watermelon flesh, watermelon rind + organic lemon, WTRMLN WTR is a pure and delicious way to stay hydrated.
About Joanna Jeros Joanna Jeros is a New York City-based vegan chef and activist working at the ACLU. Having worked in the non-profit sector fighting for social justice for the last ten years, Joanna believes that working to support health through plant-based cooking is a natural extension of her passion for positively contributing to the world. She is a graduate of Hunter College and Ann Wigmore’s Living Foods Lifestyle course.
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How you see it and how I see it

Yesterday I met up with a long time friend and Brooklyn business owner and a commercial  real estate developer pal. My friend is looking into expanding his business in Philly so I tagged along with them to scope out neighborhoods talk to other business owners and get a general  feel of  Philadelphia. We had some pretty interesting conversations regarding gentrification, the inevitable boring cloud that will roll over nyc due to pricing out creatives, and we also talked about our various  view on what the future holds as far as urban development.

If you ever want to really get the lowdown on what's to come in your neighborhood, make friends  with a real estate developer and members of city council. So much of the conversations about what will be allowed to go where are are determined  by those two entities...with supposed input from the community residents. The part that was so startling to me about many of the views of the developer was how much money and aquisition of it seemed to be a primarily concern. For examples, the proposed plan to build a gated high rise luxury apartment building in an area of row houses. The community  was completely  against it. The developer  was for it stating that by bring in higher earning residents the city could have more tax revenue. My concern is that property taxes are done based on average  area incomes so that would inevitably push out old tenants by the tax increase. He argued  that the schools and public  facilities, such as parks would get more funding from that and get better...but better for whom? My concern was primarily  for the residents  that currently live in the neighborhood not the rich ones he hoped to invite.  I understand that change is inevitable and cities are constantly in a state of flux. One thing that became very apparent in that conversation is that there is a huge gap in  perspective in how residents  view where they live and developers view that same region. I truely feel that most folks just want a decent roof over their head in a safe and neighborhoor. There are so many people in the business of shaping what that means to potential buyers, often done in a way that doesn't support diversity in age, backgrounds and socioeconomic position. Doing that isn't generally as profitable. So that gap in perspective of what the future of the neighborhood could be is so large that folks are often not even speaking the same language.

I don't think that all developers are bad folks and there are some beautiful examples of valuable developments such as Crane art and the teachers lofts on philadelphia. It's just that so much of the positive development is rarely enjoyed by people of color and old neighborhood residents. I'm sure alot of this has to do with the limited participation and involment if those parties with city planning, funding and development.

That limited involvement sounds like the same problem with every other sector (with the exclusion of activism) of business, from art, fashion, music, finance, tech, entertainment etc. At the end of our conversation I had a series of mixed emotions and thoughts.

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Upcoming Gallery Exhibition! OPENING JAN 27th

IONA College Council on the arts 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801 BlackHair: Black Identity Sunday Jan 20th-Thursday Feb 21 Opening reception Sunday January 27th 1p-3p Curated by Peridot Smith Featuring art by Natassia Davis, Chanel Kennebrew, Soo Yoon Lym, Jamel Shabazz, Alexandria Smith, James Petrozzello, Tabitha Bianco Brown, Toyin Odutola, Philece R. and Peridot Smith Refreshments Live Music by DJ Spawn Live hair styling Demonstration by Diva Designs and Cuts by D For further Information, call 917637-7796 or visit www iona.edu/artscouncil
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note to self: MAKE MORE ART

Recently I  completed 2 custom pieces for a collector. It was a pretty fun project. I've always been a bit of a spastic artist, flip flopping between materials and surfaces. It's nice to get back to a flat surface and this project reminded me how nice it is to just make art....slow art, paint art, illustrative art. As much as I love my digital tools I've been missing the journey of using the analogue tools. These pieces are about 2 feet high and 5ft and 2ft by 3ft.      
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Currency Exhibition: “What If We Re-Made U.S. Economic Policy?” 06/15/2012

Is thrilled to announce that I will be exhibiting new art work centered around “What If We Re-Made U.S. Economic Policy?” Dates 06/15/2012 Time 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Venue Info Supernova 26-19 Jackson Avenue Long Island City, NY, 11101 In 1944, during World War II, President Roosevelt called for an Economic Bill of Rights. “People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made,” he warned. Today, some would say we have inherited that fate, although they might disagree on the causes and the culprits. In a new world, how would artists create a sustainable and equitable economy to the benefit of citizens, businesses and communities? “What If We Re-Made U.S. Economic Policy?” is a QAX event featuring new collaborative work by Leslie Alfin, Theresa Byrnes, Chanel Kennebrew and Toshi Reagon. Presented by Queens Council on the Arts with generous support from Rockrose Development Corp. QAX After-Party w/ GlobeSonic Sound System: 9-11pm @ Currency, immediately following this New World event.
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BLACKEST BLACK FRIDAY NOV. 25th-27th

Yo! The Fine folks at Junkprints are hosting the blackest black friday open studio ever. This event is going to be so black that your gonna need a flashlight & affirmative actions to balance it out. Just kidding! I’ve been prepping for the holiday season & am thrilled to be open 11/25-11/27 for all your Junk shopping desires. Free goodies w/ the 1st 10 black friday purchases. Fri Nov. 25th and Sun. Nov. 27th // Noon til 7PM
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JUNKPRINTS? IN A CHELSEA GALLERY? OPENING JULY 21st

Yep that's rights. Junkprints will be in a Chelsea Gallery. Join me at the opening of Make Skateboards, at I-20 Gallery 55 West 23rd Street,New York, NY 10011-1102 on July 21st. The following is the press release and all the details. DATES:    JULY 21 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2011 SHOP HOURS:    TUESDAY – SUNDAY, NOON – 8 PM OPENING:    THURSDAY, JULY 21, 6 – 8 PM I-20 Gallery is pleased to announce MAKE SKATEBOARDS, a group exhibition and pop-up skate shop conceived as a throwback to the days when art took precedence over branding and a welcoming vibe met you at the door. The show will be a playful take on running a skateboard shop, transforming I-20 into a functional retail space offering a custom line of artist-designed skateboards, skate-related ephemera and accessories, original artwork, vintage objects, custom furniture and clothing by up-and-coming New York designers. A true working skate shop, MAKE SKATEBOARDS will offer decks that are fully skate-able yet designed to an artistic standard. Two types of boards will be available: affordable, limited-edition silk-screened skateboards; and one-of-a-kind decks altered and embellished by hand, including several conceptual takes on the idea of skateboarding itself. While contemporary art, skateboarding and other forms of street culture are at the forefront of current popular tastes, these worlds remain surprisingly inaccessible to much of the public. The creative interaction and welcoming feel of MAKE SKATEBOARDS will attempt to bridge this divide from a convenient location in the heart of the Chelsea art district, just a few short blocks from the Pier 62 Skate Park. MAKE SKATEBOARDS’ inventory will change and grow throughout its two-month run, offering ever-changing aesthetics and variety to art patrons and skaters alike. Some of the pieces exhibited will result from collaborations with community groups such as the Brooklyn-based League Education & Treatment Center’s L.A.N.D. Gallery, a creative-outreach program for artists with disabilities. The shop will also join forces with KCDC, one of New York’s most established and respected skate shops. A string of weekly parties will celebrate new shop arrivals, book signings, album launches, and secret band nights. While most galleries close their doors for much of August, the MAKE Skateboards shop will stay open, serving as a refuge from the hot summer weather. MAKE SKATEBOARDS was conceived by artist and filmmaker Scott Ogden and organized in conjunction with Jonathan Lavoie, Director of I-20 Gallery. This summer’s event will be the first of many pop-up incarnations of the shop. For more information or visuals, please contact: makeskateboards@i-20.com or call (212) 645-1100. PARTICIPANTS: Michael Alan, Michael Anderson, Hawkins Bolden, Slater Bradley, Carlton DeWoody, Chris Dorland, David Ellis, Orly Genger, Debra Hampton, Drew Heitzler, Horse Cycles, Grant Huang, Junk Prints, Jacob Kassay, Marina Kappos, KCDC, Sarah Kurz, Curtis Kulig, Wes Lang, L.A.N.D., Robert Lazzarini, Cameron Martin, Moris (Israel Meza Moreno), Scott Ogden, Olek, Erik Parker, Parts + Labor Workshop, Joyce Pensato, RePOP, Prophet Royal Robertson, Jenn Ruff, Tom Sanford, Eduardo Sarabia, Peter Saul, Bill Saylor, Kenny Scharf, Ivory Serra, Shelter Serra, MiYoung Sohn, Tony Bones, Vincent Szarek, Bruce Lee Webb, WHIT makeskateboards.com
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BRAIN RE-WIRE

I have been a really bad blogger lately and have been a bit MIA over the last month on social media networks, and ya'll know how I love me some twitter. Well my friends and frenemies, here's why. I have been rewiring my brain, and assessing the next major creative move for Junkprints. I consider my self an artist who happens to be using textiles as a medium, but have never really considered myself a 'fashion designer' The reason for that is because generally, the culture around fashion is stuffy (and art's not right? I'll get to that later) and I'm not formally trained in it. So in some ways I don't have the brainwashing that makes me worship it. That being said, I love clothing, dressing clever, costumes, and vintage archives and many designer collections, I just don't like the fuss around it, and all the 'tastemakers' being 'nonhuman like' to boost the importance of wearing the perfect shade of magenta this season...it's just not the serious. To me clothing and adornment is to support a mood and cover the bits that the public is uncomfortable with seeing, and keep us warm/cool and 'protected' while expressing us. It's to inspire us, not make us feel unworthy. Here's the dilemma with having an artist making clothing, well to be perfectly honest, I do not like making things over and over again. I never did. Once the concept, design is resolved in my mind and in execution, I feel like my work is done. That puts one in quite a predicament if the item requires pattern grading, sizing and material sourcing. I've never been one to go half on things so for the last few years I have taken this on and with an extreme gusto and passion. Over the last few months I realized that this may be smashing up my creative process. No one wants their creativity all smashed up, so I've take  a moment to rewire my brain and come up with a plan of action. I will continue to make engaging work...no matter what!  I am shifting gears a bit and am creating art...just art, not art for a tee...just art. Recently I've sold some large pieces including the one below. I also have a show coming up in a swanky Chelsea Gallery as well as a solo show in Delaware next year. Deets soon to come. In addition to the art I'm gearing up for licensing. Yep that's right, I'll be playing with the corporate world, but don't worry I'll be wise with my licensing and will be more on the L.A.M.B. side of the table than the god awful Ed Hardy (believe it or not the dude is talented he's just a licensing whore) side of the table.  The plan is to be extremely hands on while utilizing there resources and distribution. I still need all the work that stems for Junkprints to have integrity and am excited about working with the grown ups. This licensing thing is in the works and I probably won't have stuff to show for a while, giants move slow you know, but I'm working with some great business folks on getting this done and it will be most amazing. So with all this new stuff going on, you may see lots of one of a kind items on junkprints including clothing and I apologies in advance if it's not available in your size, for now I will be prototyping, just like when I first started...keeping, the creative juices flowing. Due to all these changes, many items currently on the Junkprints.com will be ending there editions early, basically I'm selling what I have in stock and will not be making more, particularly on the clothing.  So if you see a tee or hoodie you have your eye on, snag it now...cuz once it's gone it's gone.
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JUNKPRINTS IS GOING TO PHILLY: SAT JUNE 11th

On Saturday, June 11th, 2011 Junkprints will be in Philly at the 10th Annual B-Boy BBQ in Philly. This yearly experience is going to be quite spectacular. It is an oppurtunity for people of all walks of life to exper…ience all aspects of hip-hop culture from graffiti to breakdancing, emceeing and deejaying. Every year there is influx of 400-500 people to the site of the B-Boy BBQ where they can witness local, national and internationally renowned artists in action and shop the nearly 100 vendors selling everything from spraypaint and clothing to food and face painting. This event is in the tradition of Rock Steady Day, Meeting of Styles and other large scale hip-hop events. I'm super duper excited to be participating in this event. This is the very first time The junkprints goodies will be in the streets of Philly. Don't miss this one day opportunity. 48th and Westminister, West Philly Saturday June 11th, 8am-8pm
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