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SO HEARTBROKEN TO POST THIS BUT I AM BEING CHALLENGED AS A VISUAL ARTIST BY AN ENTIRE AMERICAN CITY, PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE. ALL IMAGES ABOVE ARE MY OWN WORK PRIOR TO 2020, OTHER THAN THOSE NAMED.

EVIDENCE: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mkog-Z1T7zWHAS8XlH_VmzABV-L0Fzkl?usp=share_link

In the past calendar year I have been finalist for my drawings of public sculptures in NINE U.S. CITIES, and I have won two of these commissions with another pending. I have created a number of public sculptures for cities including my maritime “Waves” series, since 2017. In September 2022 I submitted my drawing, img 2, to the insta @ portsmouthnh400 committee (they blocked me). In November the fellow six other finalist artists for this open-ended national competition for $200k was revealed to each other during our interview sign up process. My screenshot here shows that. In early March 2023 Sijia was selected and announced, and I brought the past works to the committee’s attention. Two weeks later I noticed a design nearly identical to mine was being advertised in @ seacoastonline (reporters there ignoring me), on the portsmouthnh400 pages, on insta @ sijiachenart website and on the city’s press releases for a $100k commission. I was absolutely shocked. After I inquired again, the committee also did not respond. They sent me a one line response from the city’s lawyer, Suzanne Woodward. Please DM me for the evidence folder if you can help. I have written many times over the past month to the mayor, the city council, the original committee and even the artist to PLEASE STOP THE FABRICATION OF MY ORIGINAL DESIGN. I have not once asked for money or to be credited. I simply want this circus to end. I spoke at city hall on Tuesday in Portsmouth and was ambushed by a surprise response of denials - the committee most likely illegally shared my letter with the artist in California over the weekend. She is denying all wrongdoing.

I am simply asking for the design to be removed from the internet and articles. It is too similar to my finalist design to be seen as original in this insane context, especially considering previous unoriginal works in the artist’s portfolio. Herself and the city act like I am “accusing” her of something much graver and asking for something else, never once speaking to me about the matter since the start of March 2023.

She is older and more established, I am a queer, disabled first generation immigrant. This is just so dishonorable, and unethical. Write to committee: Sculpture@portsmouthnh400.org But they don’t care. I need help.

contact info at oracle666 d0t com

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This December 2020 it was amazing to design the sculptural set for DJ Oona Dahl’s livestreamed ambient set on renowned label and event company All Day I Dream (ADID). We received over 10k views across Twitch and Facebook! Oona’s next livestream set will feature these props in their nighttime light environment, since this stream had a daytime theme.

Watch the recording of the stream:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=381860419541448&ref=watch_permalink

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I started a new series of 8 foot+ drawings, lithography crayon drawings on pronto paper. I am listening to particular music when I make them and reacting to it, so I am calling them “Sound Drawings.”

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Here are some of the hand cut resin sculptures I created this year, as well as a 6.5ft standing floor sculpture constructed of similar materials, aluminum, and steel.

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It was lovely to present my solo installation of light sculptures “Fairy Organs” at Amy Van Doran’s Modern Love Club Gallery in the East Village. In fact, due to the pandemic, it turned out to be the last exhibition at the four year old gallery. What a pleasure, and a great thanks to Amy for maintaining an excellent community space through the years. The gallery may return in the future.

In the past I exhibited at Modern Love alongside none other than Man Ray and Michael Halsband. In the middle of this article you can see an image of my smaller works, hanging light sculptures against the back of the gallery.

https://coolhunting.com/culture/sea-witch-space-witch-modern-love-club/

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This was a difficult year for artists. I found it remarkable that after waiting for three months for unemployment benefits after covid-19 hit, a CNN reporter profiled my studio and featured it in an article about freelancers - which resulted in my benefits being released later that day! I am grateful to have my work featured. When you scrolled through the CNN home page that day, it was all one cover image of politicians after another - and then my queer pink head in the middle of everything. Happy to break up the monotony.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/29/politics/freelance-contract-worker-unemployment-assistance-benefits-covid/index.html

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Grateful to have been a part of the Masks in the Wild project with my NYC-based gallery Wallplay. In May they had artists throughout NYC decorate masks to promote health and safety and distribute them to members of the community.

https://www.masksinthewild.com/

https://bklyner.com/masks-in-the-wild/

https://greenpointers.com/2020/05/28/thursday-spotlight-masks-in-the-wild-commissions-artists-and-promotes-public-health/

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It was lovely to showcase my hand cut light sculpture installation in the window at Refuge Arts (Bedstuy, Brooklyn) for several weeks in May. The artwork was part of the “International Day of Light” and the “LIGHT WINDOWS” curation by the Center for Holographic Arts (NYC).

http://holocenter.org/events/may-2018

Here’s a link to press about the show:

https://nypost.com/2020/05/15/artists-fill-their-windows-with-light-displays-for-isolation-exhibit/

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Grateful to @maxnova for having me as a guest lecturer on the topic of video art for his class at NYU Tisch the last three years. Here is a video clip of me at the last in-person session in February of 2020. This fall we did a zoom version! More to come.

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Been busy in the studio the last couple weeks. This experiment is a break from my normal sculpture process and I’ve been exploring some new materials along the way. I’m curious how this one will turn out! Also you can see the preparations for a lithography project peeking out from behind. 

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At the beginning of 2020 my DJ bestie Öona Dahl and I produced our first two-person show at House of Yes NYC, which turned into a sold out event. Looking forward to going on tour together for our immersive audiovisual collaboration.

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Images from my immersive solo installation “The Fairy Organ Realm” at Satellite Art Show 2019 during Art Basel Miami.

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Some shots of my installation with Furby Queen, “FVCCBOI PU$$Y PORT4L: The Cyber Hentai Fantasy Realm” for Satellite Art Fair NYC in fall of 2019, at The Pfeizer Building. VIDEO:

https://vimeo.com/364666298

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Video of me working on the welding of the steel frame for my sculpture Sky Shard at the Gilbertsville Expressive Movement artist residency and sculpture park in Gilbertsville, New York!

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Behind the scenes shots and final pics from my “Sky Shard” permanent public sculpture for Gilbertsville Expressive Movement in Gilbertsville, New York. Summer 2019. This work is made from a welded steel frame and colored acrylic.

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Images from my performance and installation I created for the Center of Holographic Arts at Plaxall Gallery for the show SPACE:LIGHT. One month exhibition this past November 2019. 

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Selected shots from my epic photoshoot with Vancouver-based Yvette Tang in my studio, featuring my hand cut light sculptures and shibari by Lana Boy. 

also check out my most recent DJ mix here: https://soundcloud.com/oracle666/cyberwaterfall-mix-666