As some of you may remember, about a year and a half ago, we thought we were going to lose him. I even flew down to Florida to say my good-byes. But he managed to hang on a little longer. Now you know where I get my stubbornness from! However, he had an severe hip injury about a month ago and his body just couldn't take it anymore. The Parkinson's took over and made him too weak to fight the disease.
My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease when he was 48, back in 1996. It slowly progressed, attacking his nervous system. In 2005, he was forced to retire and had to move from New Jersey to Florida, because the cold weather had a bad effect on his muscles. Over the past year, he couldn't talk, walk, eat, swallow, understand conversations, or anything. Then dementia began to set in and he couldn't even recognize people, including me.
My dad was a perfectionist. Not even a mustache hair out of place. Shirts that were meant to be worn out, he still tucked in. He had a deep love for music. He was also a great artist. (Hmmm... sound familiar?) So I will take those qualities and memories with me. We didn't always get along. He was absent a lot and I wasn't exactly daddy's little princess. But we grew to understand and respect each other. Although I am thrilled he's no longer suffering, I am sad he had to leave in such harsh manner.
Thank you to everyone for your outpouring of well wishes and support. Your messages, comments, texts, influx of phone calls... everything.. means the world to me. Speechless.
PS: The next time you eat at The Coach House, Six Brothers Diner, or any other diner, restaurant, or establishment, just know my dad may have designed their kitchen!
05.12.12
Not Yo Mama's Craft Fair : Creation Station
We've got some talented and intelligent kids here in New Jersey. Forget "tan mom," Jersey Shore, Jerseylicious, or whatever the idiot box wants to portray New Jersey to be. These kids couldn't wait to get creative and dazzle their mom with their very own work of art. Most didn't even need direction. They came up with the ideas all on their own. I coached only a couple who were a bit stuck, but overall it was a reminder of how we need to just let kids' imagination run wild. Even a little butterfly flew around my table to see all the fun! I was happy to be a part of Not Yo Mama's Craft Fair's Creation Station, where we kids (and some adults) made their very own mother's day cards to celebrate mom's special day! My booth was packed with participants throughout the day. I have a feeling we'll be doing this again very soon. Here are a few photos from the day:
Click on the photo to enlarge:
UPCOMING EVENTS
KupiArt Gear and Flair will be available at these events:
Click Flyer to Enlarge:
Not Yo Mama's Holiday Craft Fair
Saturday: May 12, 2012
11pm - 5pm
Van Vorst Park
Jersey City, NJ
Artist And Craft Vendors • Kids Crafts * Live Art • Live Music • Food • and much more!
Join me at the Creation Station as we make Mother's Day Cards for mom's special day!
So, why do I care so much about this little known events, National Postcard Week? Well, not only do I love photography, typography, and stationary, but because I feel that it's a dying form of communication. Well, obviously when we have social media, email and phones. Call it getting back to basics, however, there's so much a simple postcard has to offer. It can introduce you to a new photographer, artist, a moment in history or even be a great advertising tool for a tourist location, a national landmark, or your business. I'm also a huge advocate for the United States Post Office. People don't realize just how important it is to keep this institution alive and thriving. I could list a ton of reasons why the USPS is important, but what's most important is touching base with friends and family through a powerful little thing like a postcard. It’s no fun opening your mailbox day after day, month after month, to only receive bills and junk mail. It’s time to do something a bit more personal. Send a postcard! I hope you'll join me in this wonderful tradition!
On April 21 & April 22, I
was a featured vendor at the Digable Arts Festival in Hoboken, NJ. The event was held at the Monroe Center and featured over fifty of the best painters, photographers, sculptors, mixed media artists, digital artists, crafters, and designers New Jersey has to offer. There were six rooms FILLED to the brim with stunning and thrilling art collections and fun interactive sections for kids and the budding art geek. The weekend also included two stages with live music and dance performances throughout the day. It was an active and delightful experience, despite the weather and conflicting events in the area. I only wish more people knew about it.
Where the early 1900s meets the early 2000s. Everything from the pins to the backing cards, manufactured by hand.
If you read my last post, about my early 1900s journey, this new series of pins will make sense. I've been spending a lot of time finding the right images for this one. True, they're not my own designs, but photography from unregistered and basically royalty free. However, I think they are so beautiful, that I wanted to give them new life! I was going to use my standard backing card that I used with the other pins, but it didn't do the images justice. So, using a classic font that I paid a pretty penny for, I designed it's very own backing card. Printed at home, cut and hole punched by hand. I also slightly burned the edges of the card to make it even more old and weathered. You can see more photos and comment on the KupiFlair Facebook page by clicking here.
The Vintage Series will debut at this weekend's Digable Arts Festival (www.digablearts.com) in Hoboken. If they do well, I will offer them for sale here on my website. So far the response has been very positive. Some fans of the flair have said:
"I love those pins!!!!!!" -- Joanna Wecht (poster artist)
"Wow!! You've out done yourself! I want 3 of each!" -- DJ Juice E
"Those look great." -- Richard Rodriguez (Photographer: Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
"WOW! You always impress me Kupi. AMAZING! ♥" -- Natalie Crüe
"How awesome are these?!" -- Jayson Ramos (The Craftmen)
Thank you to everyone who left comments and love.
Hope to see you this weekend!
04.06.12
Have you seen the new flair? First, we have famous New York addresses. Can you name them? Next we have inspirational quotes by the unknown. You may recognize two of them. I was never happy with the former design, so I switched it up. I am also obsessed with early 1900 art, photography, and music. Crazy for a little hip hop chick right? But this isn't a new thing. I've always loved the era of the early 1900s. But I find the more the years go by, the more I seem to be revolving around that period in time. I'm not trying to live in the past, but I do like to see how some styles change or where they originated, and how they factor in to today's culture. Trust me, as a woman, I WOULD NOT want to live back then. No rights for women, segregation, naive, lack of medicine, no spandex, no lyrca. BRRRR... chills! hahaha. Also, with the anniversary of the Titanic sinking, and Steampunk on the rise, I've noticed some designers are putting a new spin on old typography. So I've been experimenting with it too in my own designs. A great example are recent posters like the Do It Yourself show, The Heart Gallery, Champagne Life and Sampling Our Sound, and the album cover for Champain Era. So in keeping up with trends, I wanted to bring my own flavor. Hope you like it!
These buttons will debut at this weekend's Digable Arts Festival (www.digablearts.com) in Hoboken.
04.02.12
Hello Spring! Although it's been a pretty mild Winter for a change, it's kind of felt like Spring several times this season. Well, unfortunately I don't have many new projects I'd like to share. Most of the
projects were just recycled works or have unfinished works in progress. I'm working on a new website, and planning some spring/summer events, and I've also been dealing with a lot of family issues. Mom is fighting breast cancer and dad is suffering from Parkinson's disease. So it's been a trying. But here's something you may enjoy:
• :: CD Cover :: Champain Era + DJ Shakeyface : Champface
UPCOMING EVENTS
KupiArt Gear and Flair will be available at these events:
Click Flyer to Enlarge:
DIGABLE ARTS FESTIVAL
Earth Day Art Summit
Saturday: April 21, 2012
12pm - 7pm Saturday: April 22, 2012
12pm - 7pm
The 2012 Digable Arts Festival will be taking place at the Monroe Center for the arts with MULTIPLE GALLERIES full of cutting edge art, TWO STAGES full of LIVE MUSIC and a variety of interesting Art Installations.
A special focus on Modern dance will make this years Digable even MORE dynamic than previous years.
Pilsner Haus After Party Sunday, just after the end of the event.
DROPPING BOMBS TODAY! The KupiArt "Bombs" shirt getting some much deserved shine lately. Check out Mr. Len's interview with Dead End Hip Hop at the AC3 Hip Hop Festival this year. I spy bombs! Thanks Len!
Shout out to Majestik Originality. He's been a huge supporter of the flair movement! Here's his newly released (and very dope) video for "Muddy Water." Here he's rocking the "Less Pop, More Culture" button. You can download the song at http://majestikoriginality.bandcamp.com/track/muddy-water.
Urbanites In Flight x KupiFLAIR
Here's another little jam from my second family DJ IRS. He's rocking the flair proud. It's hard to see, but he has assured me it's there. I think at 1:50? Either way... enjoy the track! You can get the music here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/urbanites-in-flight/id487175663.
01.31.12
So, here's a sign of the times. The Court Tavern has shut down. And now Southpaw in Brooklyn announced it's closing. Where is low budget independent music supposed to go?
It's getting harder and harder to be in this business. I hear there's a shortage of welders. The can make up to $90k a year?! Hmmm... thinking about it! In the meantime, here's how I made a living this month:
• :: Photo Retouch:: Meetup.com : Urban Garden
• :: Flyer :: Kid Fest! presented by Art House Productions
• :: Poster :: Night Dreamers Sound Sessions
• :: Poster :: Champagne Life (January 2012)
• :: Flyer :: Winter Sessions (January 2012)
01.29.12
SIGHTINGS!
Yeah! She won my t-shirt! The "Bombs" shirt was a part of their many giveaways at the monthly event "Da Sessions." You can find out when the next event is by visiting www.delinquentsoundz.com.
Amy from Story Haven and a very happy customer, from Kid Fest at Art House Productions in Jersey City, NJ.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Click Flyer to Enlarge:
Art House Productions Presents
KID FEST!
A Festival of Story and Performance for Youth
Saturday: January 28, 2012
10am - 2pm
FREE EVENT!
Food * Face Painting * Giveaways * Crafts * Music
11am - Story Haven - (Ages 3-5)
Creativity Workshops for Kids
GAMES & STORIES
1pm - STAGES! - (Ages 10-17)
Theater Academy and Performance Company for Youth
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Art House Productions
1 McWilliams Place
Jersey City, NJ 07302
info@arthouseproductions.org
201.915.9911
01.22.12
THE GIANTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!
And we've got you covered! Order one button or a TEN PACK for your party! Do you have a Superbowl design of your own that you'd like on a button? Let's make some buttons and show "Big Blue" support!
*Designs cannot include any official Giants logos or NFL branding.
$2 each
01.01.12
It's 2012! The year of the predicted apocalypse! The end of it all! All of humanity exterminated!!! Well, we shall see about that. This year I hope to work less with music and entertainment and work more hands on with crafts and upcycling. In case you missed this post last October, here are some pieces I repainted. I'm working on a dresser right now, and will post those photos very soon. I'm very happy and grateful for the experiences I've had in the music industry. I don't ever think I'll ever fully move on from it. But I'm getting older and I don't want to stand still in one place anymore. I'm still available for album art, posters, flyers, business cards, buttons, and everything you've come to expect from KupiArt. But the music industry in crumbling and has pushed me out so... on top of the terrible evolution and bad ego obsessed attitudes... it's time to reinvent myself. Just live up to my name K.I.M. (keep it moving).
Hope you guys find what moves you too in the new year.
Sad news today. At 5:15am, my father passed away. 
Click for Facebook Event Page
