The Art of MusicIt has been a long journey to get to this point. I had painted 3 large paintings and 3 smaller live paintings before I pitched the idea for a gallery show on Central and South Asian music to Jordan of the Levantine Cultural Center back in Oct. 2012. He gave me the go ahead, and I began working on the rest of the 13 paintings for the show. The pieces included collaborations with Jorge "Tyme" Martinez, as well as 10 large paintings of music from 5 countries I visited while backpacking across Central and South Asia, connecting to people across language barriers through music.After much hard work painting, reaching out to local communities of the five cultures represented as well as other people interested in cultures and music, then getting the pieces framed by RA Custom Framing and then putting them up with the help of Jordan, Lila, Rima, Sahra and Kasmira at the Levantine Center, we were finally ready for the opening.We had our official gallery opening on Feb 2, 2013 and it went well beyond my wildest dreams. It was really heartwarming to see friends, family and all kinds of fans of art and music pack the Levantine Center's Inside/Outside gallery space, with Kyrgyz and Uyghur music playing in the background. It was a joy to share some of my friends and my experiences connecting to people in these beautiful cultures, and very rewarding to see people connect to it. Particularly hearing people's own experience in using art to connect with others on a deeper level was inspiring.
China Sketches
Here are some sketches created during travels in China last summer.
Read MoreGoodbye China!
Pakistani food in Kashghar, China. Driving to the Pakistan Border, Photos
Read MoreBack to Kashghar?
Tashkurgan, back to Kashghar. Things are getting ugly. Photos
Read MoreTo Tashkurgan!
Live musical stops on the way to Tashkurgan! Photos
Read MoreKashghar 2
Incredible people, architecture and bazars of Kashghar, China
Read MoreKashghar
Kashghar, musical instrument shop, mosques, incredible! Photos
Read MoreOne month on the road!
The guys take a swim in the river in Xinjiang province, China, Photos
Read MoreKhotan Day 2
Khotan, a watercolor sketch for out wonderful hosts. A day with our friend Ubul, Photos
Read MoreArriving in Khotan!
Across the desert to Khotan, Xinjiang, China Photos
Read MoreCherchen and Bin Chi Leen (Ice Cream)
On a quest for the elusice Bin Chi Leen (Ice Cream) in Cherchen, Photos
Read MoreCherchen
Cherchen, farms, tough children and low riding girls in China, photos
Read MoreIn Korla
Oh Korla, you rough little gem of a town in China..great food though, photos
Read MoreKorla
So you can't accept foreigners either? Hotels in China, photos, uncertainty of travel
Read MoreTian Chi
Mountains and Rivers in Tian Chi, China, photos
Read MoreUrumqi
On the way to Urumqi, China we found ourselves on the kid train, search for nan, and Uyghur people, photos
Read MoreTrain Ride
Relaxing Lanzou followed by the terror of the kid filled train car! En route to Urumqi, China. Photos
Read MoreLanzhou
Lanzou, relaxing along the beautiful Yangtze, beautiful images of Chinese life, photos
Read MoreTerracotta Warriors
Jpop meltdown, Terracotta Warriors and a traditional Chinese dance and music performance in China, Photos
Read MoreXian
Xian, China. The Great Mosque, like a beautiful Muslim/Buddhist Temple Photos
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