Greetings all! I hope you are all enjoying the nice weather. Well February is almost over and we have already accomplished so much this year. During the month of February you had the opportunity to check out Heart of Chaos founder, Curtis Manzano's art at Riga's European Bakery and Cafe. The month of love also brought you Lacey Bryant's Share Love exhibit at Gardner Community Center. March is promising to be just as good! On March 7th Gardner Community Center will host Heart of Chaos artist and art program teacher Miguel Machuca's exhibit, The Initiation of an Artist. To read about Miguel check out his featured artist article. We are also excited to bring you Creatures of Habit: Paintings by artist Christine Benjamin who took first place at not one but two of our juried events (1st Annual Chalk Art Festival and UpRoar 2007). You can learn more about Christine in her featured artist article as well and her work will be on display and priced to sell until March 20th. See future events for reception details for both Miguel and Christine's exhibits.

I am happy to report that the City of San Jose has awarded us a Mini Grant for this years Chalk Art Festival. If you wish to participate as an artist check out the current call for artist section. The first event is planned for June 28th at Gardner Community Center and the second event will be held on August 30th, the venue will be announced soon.

We just recently announced our school aged chapter of Heart of Chaos called Heart of Kids. You can find out more about Heart of Kids and how to get involved here. We plan to host our first Heart of Kids exhibit soon, so be sure to let us know you are interested!

We have added several solo exhibits to this years calendar so make sure you check out the events section to find out who is showing and when. There will be a lots and lots of artwork on display in the months to come. If you are an artist who would like to have a solo exhibit at one of the venues we have been invited too make sure you check out the call for artist section.

Happy reading!

Sincerely Your Editor,
Jenifer "Jen" Sluga

Miguel Machuca: Arté Machuca-Sahagun
By Leon Morimoto

There is more to a painting than colors and shapes. Something compels us art enthusiasts to keep staring at the work being presented. Some types of work appeal to a select few, other types have a wider appeal. The characteristics that make an artist’s work memorable are subtleties that somehow become apparent to the viewer, a greater awareness of intent that is humanly intrinsic. When most elaborate on how certain art makes us feel, we vocalize a spiritual element that has just been communicated, a communication that is beyond words. Usually what is perceived is something that the viewer brings with them. There is a unique bond between artist and viewer, an experience exchanged. Everybody cannot grasp certain experiences; in the same thought that not everyone is able to agree. Yet, the beauty and purpose of art is embodied in these differences. It is human. The artists’ control of the work perceived ends after the piece is complete. It exists solely as the viewers experience from then on.
I have learned so much from my friend Miguel Machuca. I am fortunate enough to have known “Mikki” for over a decade, and we have shared many experiences within this number of years. He is one of the few people that I can ponder the abstractions of life with and not get annoyed by my own inability to see beyond myself. We draw together and listen to music, noting elements of the music, busying ourselves with creative energy. I admire his imagination as I nurture my own. I have watched him develop as the artist, and the individual. I recall his drawings on flyers. His work, the pen strokes, colors, shapes, and shading, the presence that is uniquely his amazes me. He is one of my biggest inspirations, but this feature is not about me, it is about a truly gifted man I know.
Miguel Machuca.

Miguel’s influences are eclectic; ancient cultures, elder’s wisdom and mysticism combined with elements and ideas embodied in global street culture. It is the voice of the old soul speaking with the language and color of today. His talent is rooted in a natural ability to manipulate shape and color, creating depth in the images that fascinate him and viewers alike. He is honest in sharing how he views the world around him. To be blunt, the dude can draw. His work is like none other. He used to rock characters that embodied the attitude of youth. It was something that his friends could relate to. Since then he has established himself as a seasoned painter, a technician. His techniques are self-taught, as he graduated from pens to brushes. His appreciation of form is visible to anyone who understands balance. His experiences are illustrated into ideas that take shape and color, sometimes in abstract form. Miguel’s presence is always apparent although he reveals an aspect of himself that is different from the last piece completed.

Painter, Illustrator Christine Benjamin Follows Her Bliss!
By: Joanne Hobbs

It was Joseph Campbell who said “Follow Your Bliss” if you want to thrive and enjoy your life. For visual artists like Christine Benjamin, that bliss is undeniably connected to a creative process that has called her forward since she was a child. Her paintings and illustrations of alternate realities populated with a myriad of whimsical characters reflects her command of the energy that creates worlds and is a powerful reflection of her essential identity.

“I have a family that I love dearly, but my art and my family are equal priorities, “Christine admits. “Art is who I am and I think about it all the time—always have. I am never without a sketch book to catch ideas as they present themselves.”

Christine’s fascination with characters revealed itself at the age of six when she started sketching figures from monster and science fiction movies and cartoons as well as making up her own characters. She also remembers being fascinated with miniature toys and dolls, frequent gifts from her uncle when he visited.

From creatures with personalities and attitudes she moved organically into creating their environment and situations that let them express the full range of human emotions. Often working late at night to shift from the left brain daylight consciousness to a state of being where she can easily access the twilight imagery offered by her right brain, Christine works intuitively, often beginning with a character sketch and turning it into a painted image. As she transforms the image, another part of her is listening for the story that wants to be told. With a bright rich palette that unifies her entire body of work, her characters typically take on a life of their own as they interact with each other and their surroundings.

“I also like to add some mystery to each painting to engage the viewer’s imagination. I want people to be active viewers of my art and project themselves into it so it becomes a part of their story,” shared Christine.

A friend of Christine has one of her paintings in her breakfast room featuring a sock monkey called Chico. It’s called “My Tea Party with Chico” and it elicits a lot of stories. Whenever her friend entertains, her guests always have something to say about what it means to them. Other characters from Christine’s universe that invite viewer participation include robots, one-eyed monsters, skeletons and oddball people with oversized eyes and angular bodies.

A graphic design and illustration degree from San Jose State University added more skills to her drawing and painting talents. In fact she incorporates her characters into her illustrations and design, working for several design studios before setting out to do freelance illustration for such companies as Yahoo!, Hitatchi, Hasbro, Addison-Wesley and Apple.

Her illustrations and designs have also appeared on products for children such as posters, books and clothing. One of her favorite assignments was for Hasbro. She was hired to sculpt circus characters from clay which were then photographed and used in a children’s book.

“I would like to do my own books eventually,” shared Christine. “I have the characters in mind and the story line so it is just a matter of time. “

Along with illustration Christine is currently focusing on painting and has had solo and group shows in the bay area including San Francisco, L.A. and San Diego She is also doing commissioned paintings for display in homes and restaurants, was the first place winner in the Heart of Chaos chalk art event at Camden Community Center and also placed first in Uproar with her painting “Another Day in the Big City.”

To read a terrific article on Christine Benjamin in the Willow Glen Resident, go to:
http://www.community-newspapers.com/archives/wgresident/20071130/community1.shtml
And to see more of her work visit her website at: cbillustration.squarespace.com or go to Riga’s European Café on the Alameda Ave. in San Jose (See Future Exhibits below) Christine can be reached at: christineben@sbcglobal.net or in her studio at 408.292.5818.

Grant Awarded for 2nd Annual Chalk Art Festival

On February 8th, the city of San Jose granted Catalyst for Youth and Heartof Chaos a Project Mini Grant to support the Second Annual Chalk Art Festival bringing emerging and established artists together with neighborhood families in designated areas at the Gardner Community Center on June 28 and an unspecified second location on August 30, 2008.

We need 15 emerging or established artists for each event. We would also like to feature our new Heart of Kids program at each event with 5 young artists, ages 4-15. Both categories will be entered into the juried portion of the event.

The First Annual Chalk Art Festival was held in the summer of 2007 and was highly successful. Two of the events were featured in Community Newspapers. To check out images from last years Chalk Art Festival please visit the Virtual Gallery.

If you would like to participate as an artist please send your name, phone number, mailing address and email address along with a link to or images of samples of your work and the desired date of participation to jen@heartofchaos.net.

Would you like to do a solo or duo exhibit? Read on...

Heart of Chaos has been invited to showcase its artists at Riga's European Bakery and Café, located at 1338 The Alameda, Suite 3, San Jose, CA 95126, with monthly solo exhibits. Heart of Chaos founder Curtis Manzano exhibited in February and Christine Benjamin is currently exhibiting.

We have also been invited to put on monthly solo exhibits at Gardner Community Center, located at 520 W. Virginia Street in San Jose. We kicked off the series in January with Elizabeth Cruz and February featured Lacey Bryant. Miguel Machuca is next up with for the month of March. Gardner is currently booked for 2007 however we are accepting applicants for the 2008 series.

If you have enough work to put on a solo exhibit or wish to do a duo exhibit with a friend please email Jen at jen@heartofchaos.net with the following information.

Location you wish to exhibit at: Gardner Community Center or Riga's European Bakery and Cafe

Your full contact details

Link to your portfolio or 5-10 web resolution images of your work

(If you wish to put on a duo exhibit, please send the other person's details and portfolio)

BackWater Arts Gallery and Studios has two studio spaces available.

1st space is SMALL, about 8x10, $150 per month, right off the back door and
kitchen, first floor. Perfect for someone who does messy small work (linoleum floor). 10 ft ceilings and a great wall of windows, great
afternoon light. Available March 2nd.

2nd Space is upstairs, an old carpeted bedroom with closet, about 12x12ft,
$300 per month, a window facing north and one facing west, great view of the garden and great light, with a closet. Available ASAP.

Both spaces give you access to an array of outdoor projects, many open studio opportunities, and first consideration of gallery curated shows. Both require 1st and last and half months deposit upon move-in, can be paid in two installments.

Have you registered for the
Heart of Chaos :: Virtual Exhibit yet?
Our online artist community is growing every day. Have you checked it out yet? You can post images, documents, music and movie files for access from our website.

The Heart of Chaos Virtual Exhibit was created to showcase artists and provide a portal for artists to sell their work. Create a FREE profile by visiting http://www.heartofchaos.net/artup.

For details on creating a profile and posting your work, click here.

We will be choosing future featured artists from the Virtual Exhibit to spotlight in upcoming issues of this newsletter, We look forward to seeing your work!

We always welcome new volunteers and are in need of as much help as we can get! Below are some volunteer opportunities, if you are interested in volunteering with Heart of Chaos, please email Joanne Hobbs.

Teach a Workshop - Juvenile Hall
Special guest watercolor artists from the California Watercolor Society gave
a two hour workshop in the B9 living unit. The minors had fun and created
some wonderful landscapes.

Teacher/Guest Artists
Would you like to teach a workshop at Juvenile Hall? We need two guest artists a month to teach a two hour Wednesday evening session from 6pm to 8pm.  Contact Joanne Hobbs for more information.

Heart of Chaos Crew
Help plan, set up and breakdown events. Contact Jen for more information.

Promoter
We need some people who are willing to pass out pre-printed fliers for Heart of Chaos events to local business and/or at local events in the bay area

Graphic Designers and Editors needed for collaboration on
Heart of Chaos Zines

Get your Heart of Chaos apparel! A $5 donation will be made to Heart of Chaos for every item purchased. There are tons of items to choose from and something for everyone.
Go Shopping!

Black & Brown Vintage Clothing Store
Exhibit featuring Shorty Fatz featuring custom designed lowrider bikes
February 23, 200
1225 W. San Carlos Street
San Jose, CA 95126
More info at: http://www.shortyfatz.com


- the cellar(under agenda) every Friday
show name:TRUTH
399 south first st.
san jose, ca
true hip-hop themed: live painting,break dancing, dj's
free

South FIRST FRIDAYS
An eclectic evening of Arts & Culture in downtown
San Jose's SoFA district every First Friday of the month


KALEID gallery
88 South Fourth Street
Downtown San Jose
Gallery Hours :
T-F Noon-7pm
Saturday Noon-5pm

works/san josé
451 south 1st street
san josé, california 95113
408.286.6800