Some of My Illustrations are Going to Bologna Children's Book Fair-!

My good old friend - we've been friends since we were nine!!- told me about this competition held by Literature Translation Institute of Korea, to be selected and promoted in Bologna Children's Book Fair. I did apply, without the slightest expectation, and did not even check on the result. That is kind of things you learn only after so many rejections and disappointments. I make myself forget about results. That way, I save (too much) disappointment and when there actually is a good result, it feels even better. It turned out to be not so good attitude this time though. Almost three weeks after the date of announcement, I suddenly remembered about this competition and went to their website, just to see. When I found my name on the list of selected illustrators, I was so happy and so freaked out at the same time. It was Sunday night, 17th, and the due date for them to receive hard copies of my promotional pieces via mail was Wednesday, 20th. And of course, it was to be mailed to their office in Korea.

I called Ms. Park, the person in charge, and begged to wait for my material. I made a package over night, sent them out express next morning to Korea. Ms. Park kindly sent me the confirmation when she received the package on Thursday.

Having my books in Bologna Children's Book Fair someday has been my dream. It's not my book that will be shown in the fair this year, but I am more than honored to be able to show a bit of my works there. Those pieces of mine would go to Bologna this time, and who knows, I also would go there myself sometime in the future with my own book! :)

I appreciate the chance from Literature Translation Institute of Korea and especially my friend Sohee who believed in my works!

Selected illustrators list to be promoted in Bologna Children's Book Fair by Literature Translation Institute of Korea.

2013 HOPE Poster Competition & Exhibition for REACH

This show is up until February 23rd! See some photos here.

Exhibitions Now On: Bookmaking to Opening

Book exhibition with works done by first year students of MFA Illustration program at SVA, curated by Viktor Koen is up since February 6th. The opening reception was on 14th, and the show would be there until March 3rd. They are all individual projects based on a short story called Mr.Nobody At All by Ann Beattie.  

Bookmaking before the show installation:

figuring out how to arrange pictures in a book

Making 49 images into one accordion book. Gluing, gluing, gluing. 

On February 6th, from early in the morning to the late afternoon, everyone gathered for installation:

Installation & Kim taking pictures of us.

Installation & Marshall trimming large size posters for Broadway Project Exhibition.

After the installation:  

24 images out of 49 images selected and hung: 49 days. 

Cheesy picture, but I had to do it.

With Marshall!!

While first year students were installing the Mr. Nobody At All show in the museum, in the lobby,  Chen-Min and Boyeon were installing Broadway Project Exhibition. The far right image with window scene is mine! 

February 14th, Opening Night:

It was a great turnout! 

People at the opening reception at the SVA museum.

There are a lot of people whom we owe a great deal to put this show together. There are many people whom I owe to finish up this book. There are many stories I wanted to say but didn't say. I was surprised and touched when people read the story that I thought I didn't tell. When I get my book back, after this show is over, I will try to tell more stories. Or maybe not.

New Listings on the Shop

Blueberry Muffin, wrapped pretty: from the book project 49 Days

Six new drawings are listed newly in my shop! Mostly done with mixed media including pen, watercolor, color pencils and collage. They would be finely printed on an archival paper and be a cheerful and whimsical addition to the wall.

* Two exhibition info (Mr. Nobody At All, Broadway Project) that are open this week would be posted soon.

HOPE Poster in the Finalists' Show in SVA Westside Project Space

HOPE poster submitted  to Student Health and Counseling Services

I pulled out my woodblock print to turn it into a poster. It was a HOPE poster competition sponsored by SVA Student Health and Counseling Services. We were given certain texts to be included in the poster and everything else was up to us. When I read the description and purpose of the campaign, I thought of this woodblock print I made awhile ago. The key in the campaign, I felt, was support and comfort and it did match well with the intention of this print when I was creating it.

Thankfully, this piece has been selected as a finalist in the competition and will be featured in the Hope Poster Exhibition in SVA Westside Project Space (133/141 West 21 Street) from Saturday, February 9, 2013 through Saturday, February 23, 2013. Works would be printed 18 x 24 poster size, so I am quite excited to see my work as big. The show is not up yet, but I got to see some works selected for the show and there are really some amazing works included! I am honored to be a part of it.