Signs of the Times

My work usually centers around happy subject matter— colorful carousel horses, clowns with the biggest smile, yummy ice-cream and fun juggling balls etc. Not because I’m ecstatic 24-7 (cos’ that’d be psychotic), but because I believe that the world is such an overwhelming place, it is incredibly easy to get swallowed by dark thoughts. Therefore, every ounce of cheer would come in handy. I love that my jewelry could bring joy to people and remind them how simple it should be.

However, once in a while, digging into what truly bothers us is also needed, no matter how confusing or hurtful that might be.

I was born and raised in Hong Kong and I moved to Los Angeles when I was eighteen, meaning that I had no idea what it was like to be a minority growing up. The concept of having extra obstacles in life because of my ethnicity was not something I would even think of. My experience of interaction with non Chinese people were pleasant. They were my aunt’s dear friends from London, friendly English teachers or speakers at school, and happy tourists who asked for direction. They were different from me, yes, but they never made me feel inferior because of it.

After moving to LA, I was still clueless and extremely slow to pick up on the existence of racism. If someone repeated something to me dramatically slow because I didn’t catch it the first time, they were just being nice, weren’t they? If someone assumed that the car that was parked in between two spots must be mine, they were just being funny, weren’t they? If someone who always showed up late and took long breaks and was just generally lousy got promoted even though they were less experienced or efficient than I was, they must be better in other areas, weren’t they? If someone thought I was beautiful only because I got dark hair, almond eyes and tiny breasts, I must be just coincidently their type, wasn’t I?

Because if I thought the answers were NO, HONEY to any of the above, then I must be just too sensitive.

It’s mind-blowing how racism is such a rooted problem that even the victims are somehow brainwashed to think that all the wrongful little things are just something to shrug off. But I was lucky to have the choice, though not the best one, to shrug it off because what I have experienced or observed was comparatively insignificant.

Never have I ever imagined that I would live in a time that an elderly would get attacked in broad daylight just because he was Asian. Oh, and what comes after throwing rocks? Burning us on wooden stakes?

It is time to wake up and address the severeness of it before all the things that I thought I could shrug off become something irreversible like a buried coffin, and this might as well be the darkest pun of all.

To process all the anger, fear, sadness and frustration I’ve generated reading all the recent hate crimes news, including additional murders of black people and transgender people. I’ve created the following two pieces.

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Resist hate⁠
Restore faith⁠

No matter how distorted the concept of right and wrong has become⁠

Participating in this year’s metals challenge hosted by @metalartssociety MASSC, I've used 7 out of 8 given materials to create this piece as instructed and I'm pleased with the result. If I do win any of the four prizes, 50% of it will be donated to National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association⁠
@naapimha , supporting the ongoing battle against anti AAPI hate crimes.⁠

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Not a style preference but an eternal fact
Ignorance isn't a license for violence
Exclusion doesn't make one elite
In times of chaos, please look for huggers
At moments of despair, please be reminded that love is still in the air

This piece is created for the upcoming group show Signs of the Times⁠ hosted by Cactus Gallery
Opens online this Saturday at 3pm PST ⁠via this 🔗link 🔗
Check out what everybody else has to say → So many wonderful pieces!!⁠
50% of the proceeds from a sale will go to Stop AAPI Hate

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So dear racists, love us, don’t love us, I honestly don’t give a shit. We are not looking for your approval to exist. We are reminding you that this isn’t The Stone Age, and you can’t go around bashing people’s heads because you are convinced that we stole your stupid dinosaurs. Please kindly pull your heads outta your buttocks. Thank you very much.

COVID Life Survival 101: Plan the Unplannable

I know, I know, it’s quite silly that I still insist on using my 2020 planner although everything that was preplanned is now impossible to execute. But is it really though? I can’t say that I am a brand new person because of COVID-19, but if it has sparked any inspiration at all, it is probably my ability to adapt.

Notice that being able to adapt isn’t the same as blindly accepting every unwanted thing. It is what you can make the best of under imperfect situations, and what might take an unexpected and uplifting turn. If it wasn’t for COVID, I might be forever making excuses for not putting effort into all my online platforms. I would have kept on making my artisan jewelry but probably putting off posting them online because I enjoy doing shows in person more. If it wasn’t for COVID, I would not have over 160 pieces on my Etsy store instead of the same 40 that I’ve had since the dawn of time. For a wholesale kind of store, 160 is absolutely nothing, but for one of a kind handcrafted pieces from one person, ya I’ve been one hell of a busy bee. If it wasn’t for COVID, I would not have stepped outside of my comfort zone and started doing LIVE videos and found out that there is in fact a small audience! If it wasn’t for COVID, I would not have been active enough for a casting director from the NBC show Making It to approach me and ask me to apply to be on it. No I didn’t get selected but instead of getting discouraged, I feel exactly the opposite. I now really believe that I have made the right decision to quit my 9 to 5 and am truly on the right path.

So here are a few things I have learned during the quarantine lifestyle. It might help you too!

• Make Plans Anyways
  Well, obviously not travel plans or bar hopping plans just yet. Make plans that will give you some structure to follow, a reason to get out of bed, a sense of accomplishment. I don’t always complete every task I write on my planner, but I give the effort every day and I am positive that I do end up feeling better because I know that I got some of them done and did not waste my life away. I didn’t make ravioli that Saturday but here’s an example:

• Stay Active Physically
  Dance, yoga, HIIT, jumping jacks, squat with your fat cat in the arms… It doesn’t matter what, all I know is that sweating off the stress is extremely effective. The side effects? Better skin and amazing abs. Duh! Please and thank you.

• Put on the Peace Maker Hat
  You are bound to get irritated by your spouse/kids/parents/roommates/pets at some point for something because you simply get a lot more time with them. Tune down that self-righteousness (but don’t lose it, you’ll need a little bit of that in order not to get walked all over by assholes you’ll run into later), and give your best to respect that everyone has their own thoughts and their own needs and although sometimes they may clash with yours, no one is trying to hurt you intentionally. So when my visual merchandiser head takes over and the sight of a collapsing pile of shirts in the hubby’s side of the closet makes me cringe, I try to remember that he’s washing dishes.

• Stay Groomed
  Do your makeup if you want! Put on that sexy dress, use that fancy beard oil! You don’t have to have a date to feel beautiful. It’s just a little mood booster trick. Remember, taking care of yourself isn’t pointless. It is the best way to love your loved ones. Ask your mom if I’m right. I dare you. (Ya call her! Mother’s day is in a week!)

• Be Creative
  This sounds broad and general but what I am trying to focus on is what I can do instead of what I can’t do. Ironically, the idealistic artists are gonna struggle the most with this. Comfort zones are for people who want to stop living. Yes I miss fresh sushi, but hey, I now know how to make fresh pasta! It is fascinating what that attitude can bring. My ballet teacher started offering online classes since the quarantine order, and next thing you know, he is reconnected to his old students who now reside in New York, Ohio and Beijing!

• Stay Home and Shop Online, and Shop Wisely
  Quarantine sucks, that’s universally agreed. Everyone copes differently. I cannot stop people from interpreting “liberty” as irresponsibility, but I can do my part and wear my mask, and support small businesses by spending a few more minutes to look for them instead of going on the big store websites by default. I’m actually thinking of friends’ birthdays ahead of time just so I can shop now and contribute to small stores that are on the verge of closing. You don’t need to spend more than what you normally would, but choosing where to shop makes a difference. I am not saying that all Corporate CEOs are heartless and talentless, some might actually have earned their success. But I know that COVID is only gonna affect a few digits in their bank accounts but not their lifestyle, while it is literally threatening small business owners’ ability to bring food to the table.

So even though you might not be able to travel, dine out, and party your hearts out, please don’t curl up into a human slug ball in bed and give up. You are not alone, and damn it WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS!!

One more thing:

My weekly studio video #BenchTimewithTheClaw has been really fun yet many have expressed that the Wednesday afternoon time slot doesn’t quite work with their schedule, and others have said that they aren’t on Instagram and feel a bit excluded. So I have decided to mix things up, it will be weekly, yet it will take different formats. Some will remain LIVE, others prerecorded and stay available. Most will be behind the scene session at the studio but some will be a total surprise. Alright, I love it. Variety is the spice of life!

And for this week, Wednesday May 6th 8pm PT, in order to get myself outta that pity party because of all the canceled shows, I will be showcasing my work at home via Instagram and Facebook. It’ll be almost like you’re at my show, just claim your hugs later when the world resumes. Follow me @chloeography and stay tune!!

Take care. Much love. Call your mom.