A few words from Napoleon:

I am proud to be identified as an Asian American, Filipino American to be precise.  Filipino as my intrinsic heritage and American is also a great part of my identity.  The latter is where my awareness for democratic and progressive ideologies coalesced.  The United States has become the land that nurtured me to live and express freely this body of work.  Having the two cultural identities, one in which I was born with and which instilled my basic customs, and the other, which awakened my mind and another lifestyle, is more than any artist could ask for.

I continue to be a student of life and art for my life inspires my arts, and my art embodies my life.  There is always something to discover when art guides one’s life.  These recent works are part of my self-discovery that has helped me connect to a culture that I have taken for granted because I was too busy thinking of my future.  There is a saying that my parents have told me, “Sino man ang hindi lumingon sa pinangalingan; ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.” He who does not look back from where he came from, will not reach his destined place of aspiration.

My latest works, Sebastian and Celena are in homage to my great uncle and aunt, who I got to know through stories passed from generation to generation.

Napoleon's art will be on Display at the Coup de Grace Gallery beginning Friday night, May 2nd from 6 to 10 PM and then throughout the month of May.

Coup de Grace is located at 707 S 3rd St in Downtown Phoenix, just south of the Warehouse District.

for more info cdggallery@hotmail.com

A photo-based, mixed media artist, Keith Stanton will be exhibiting a bit of his work beginning on First Fridays, May 2nd, 2008 at the Coup de Grace.

Keith Says:

My photographs are based on my curiosity with the underlying marketing forces that inundate suburbia.  I create miniature still-lifes of everyday suburban occurrences and then photograph them to exact my point of view. My intention is to attract the viewer into examining the familiarity of everyday life.

My choices in colors are part organic, part synthetic, yet distinctly artificial and they reflect my personal sentiment regarding the evolution of the suburban consumer. I add to the visual texture of a still-life by using toys as additional props.  These objects disposed of by others and discovered at thrift stores are a symbol of suburban consumption patterns.

I use an architect's scale during construction of the still-lifes to make sure they are visually in proportion. By shooting the photographs with a macro lens, I am able to control the scale that is captured on film. My process is the opposite of a landscape photographer and allows me to exhibit larger-than-reality photographs.

This affords the viewer the opportunity to expand their worldview beyond mundane suburbia.

The Coup de Grace Gallery is located at 707 S 3rd St, just south of the Downtown Phoenix Warehouse District.

cdggallery@hotmail.com

A big trade show coming up at the Phoenix Convention Center.  Design, learn, shop, learn, be inspired. 

May 1st through 4th - Info online