A Creative Life: The Art of L. Frank Manriquez

The Bowl Twists by L. Frank Manriquez

Sometimes in life we are lucky to come across people who make us stop and think, and appreciate our surroundings, history, and experiences on a deeper level. Artist L. Frank Manriquez is just such a person. Her strength and creativity extends to so many realms, from visual arts and storytelling, to singing, weaving, gardening, and preserving the rich history of California's Native Americans.
Condor Time I by L. Frank Manriquez

L. Frank is from Southern California and belongs to the Tongva and Ajachmem tribes. A tribal scholar and self-described "decolonizationist", she is a Board Member of the California Indian Basketweavers Association (which does awesome stuff like making sure that parents of adopted Indian children receive the handwoven baskets babies were traditionally carried in), and co-founder of Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival. She has a wonderful way of making folklore and history come to life with her engaging stories and extensive knowledge. Her colorful paintings have been featured in galleries and museums nationally and internationally. This Is Yo Luck by L. Frank Manriquez

Manriquez also cultivates an extensive garden at her Sonoma County home. She lives on nearly a half acre of land in Santa Rosa, and has three gardens: one for growing basket weaving materials, herbs, and medicinal plants, another for vegetables, and a cactus garden. She grows corn, butternut squash, radishes, onions, lettuce, acorns, and watermelons. The garden also produces many fruits, including blueberries, Santa Rosa plums, raspberries, and blackberries. "Gardening makes it necessary to value a season's passing," she says. "[It's] not something somebody tells you; it is something that you learn for yourself. It is not as technical as people think. It is an emotional relationship, it's all about how you feel." L. Frank is passionate about sustainable living, and builds straw bale and waddle and cob buildings.






One of the things L. Frank is best known for is her "Acorn Soup" cartoon, which appears in News From Native California. The cartoon features the adventures of Coyote, who is the mischievous trickster of Native American folklore. Coyote is also the subject of many of L. Frank's paintings. Female Coyote by L. Frank Manriquez

Stop the Dance by L. Frank Manriquez

Many of Manriquez's paintings are of animals, and contain symbols of nature and spirit. A core theme in her work is respect for the land and those we share it with, and showing appreciation for the animals, plants, and people whose homeland we are guests of wherever we go.
Not to give the cockroach a bad name by L. Frank Manriquez

In addition to her works on canvas, L. Frank paints murals, creates jewelry, photography, and weavings. The mixed media installation in the above photo reflects her wry sense of humor. Most recently she was part of a workshop at this year's Bioneers Conference focusing on "native efforts to revitalize indigenous watercraft and navigation systems as a way to restore indigenous knowledge and address climate disruption."
L. Frank Manriquez is a powerful force for good. She has done so much to preserve Native American history and culture, and constantly expresses her deep knowledge in new and different ways. She is an inspiring example of how we can preserve and share our traditions.

For more about L. Frank and her work:
http://crowsonthenose.com/home.html
http://www.nativeland.org

A Creative Life: The Art of L. Frank Manriquez

The Bowl Twists by L. Frank Manriquez

Sometimes in life we are lucky to come across people who make us stop and think, and appreciate our surroundings, history, and experiences on a deeper level. Artist L. Frank Manriquez is just such a person. Her strength and creativity extends to so many realms, from visual arts and storytelling, to singing, weaving, gardening, and preserving the rich history of California's Native Americans.
Condor Time I by L. Frank Manriquez

L. Frank is from Southern California and belongs to the Tongva and Ajachmem tribes. A tribal scholar and self-described "decolonizationist", she is a Board Member of the California Indian Basketweavers Association (which does awesome stuff like making sure that parents of adopted Indian children receive the handwoven baskets babies were traditionally carried in), and co-founder of Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival. She has a wonderful way of making folklore and history come to life with her engaging stories and extensive knowledge. Her colorful paintings have been featured in galleries and museums nationally and internationally. This Is Yo Luck by L. Frank Manriquez

Manriquez also cultivates an extensive garden at her Sonoma County home. She lives on nearly a half acre of land in Santa Rosa, and has three gardens: one for growing basket weaving materials, herbs, and medicinal plants, another for vegetables, and a cactus garden. She grows corn, butternut squash, radishes, onions, lettuce, acorns, and watermelons. The garden also produces many fruits, including blueberries, Santa Rosa plums, raspberries, and blackberries. "Gardening makes it necessary to value a season's passing," she says. "[It's] not something somebody tells you; it is something that you learn for yourself. It is not as technical as people think. It is an emotional relationship, it's all about how you feel." L. Frank is passionate about sustainable living, and builds straw bale and waddle and cob buildings.






One of the things L. Frank is best known for is her "Acorn Soup" cartoon, which appears in News From Native California. The cartoon features the adventures of Coyote, who is the mischievous trickster of Native American folklore. Coyote is also the subject of many of L. Frank's paintings. Female Coyote by L. Frank Manriquez

Stop the Dance by L. Frank Manriquez

Many of Manriquez's paintings are of animals, and contain symbols of nature and spirit. A core theme in her work is respect for the land and those we share it with, and showing appreciation for the animals, plants, and people whose homeland we are guests of wherever we go.
Not to give the cockroach a bad name by L. Frank Manriquez

In addition to her works on canvas, L. Frank paints murals, creates jewelry, photography, and weavings. The mixed media installation in the above photo reflects her wry sense of humor. Most recently she was part of a workshop at this year's Bioneers Conference focusing on "native efforts to revitalize indigenous watercraft and navigation systems as a way to restore indigenous knowledge and address climate disruption."
L. Frank Manriquez is a powerful force for good. She has done so much to preserve Native American history and culture, and constantly expresses her deep knowledge in new and different ways. She is an inspiring example of how we can preserve and share our traditions.

For more about L. Frank and her work:
http://crowsonthenose.com/home.html
http://www.nativeland.org

Now Showing: Live To Change Something Through Art

There's an arts renaissance happening in Brooklyn. The lens of the New York art world, typically trained on Manhattan and its established artists, museums, and galleries, is shifting its focus towards Brooklyn, a borough fast becoming hotbed of emerging artists, galleries, and alternative spaces. Coup d' etat Arts Collective has captured much of this lively energy in their latest show, Live To Change Something Through Art. The show, featuring a variety of Brooklyn-based emerging talent, was curated by Brownsville native Nakeisha Gumbs, and drew quite a crowd to the Skylight Gallery at Restoration Plaza in the heart of Bed-Stuy for its November opening reception. The show was sponsored by Puma (some of the artists even received pairs of complimentary sneakers) along with local Brooklyn businesses Karen's Body Beautiful and Kush.


Says Coup d'etat co-founder Rasu Jilani, "the voices of urban image-makers have too often been dismissed as inarticulate and underexposed. This exhibition was developed to help my fellow creators build positive awareness of their work while exposing our youth to the many vehicles of self-expression."

The works chosen for the show reflect a variety of perspectives, from the deeply personal, to political, and even spiritual. Live To Change Something Through Art is on display until January 31st at Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street, 3rd floor, Brooklyn, New York. Skylight Gallery hours: Wednesday through Friday 11am-6pm, Saturdays 1pm-6pm

Now Showing: Live To Change Something Through Art

There's an arts renaissance happening in Brooklyn. The lens of the New York art world, typically trained on Manhattan and its established artists, museums, and galleries, is shifting its focus towards Brooklyn, a borough fast becoming hotbed of emerging artists, galleries, and alternative spaces. Coup d' etat Arts Collective has captured much of this lively energy in their latest show, Live To Change Something Through Art. The show, featuring a variety of Brooklyn-based emerging talent, was curated by Brownsville native Nakeisha Gumbs, and drew quite a crowd to the Skylight Gallery at Restoration Plaza in the heart of Bed-Stuy for its November opening reception. The show was sponsored by Puma (some of the artists even received pairs of complimentary sneakers) along with local Brooklyn businesses Karen's Body Beautiful and Kush.


Says Coup d'etat co-founder Rasu Jilani, "the voices of urban image-makers have too often been dismissed as inarticulate and underexposed. This exhibition was developed to help my fellow creators build positive awareness of their work while exposing our youth to the many vehicles of self-expression."

The works chosen for the show reflect a variety of perspectives, from the deeply personal, to political, and even spiritual. Live To Change Something Through Art is on display until January 31st at Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street, 3rd floor, Brooklyn, New York. Skylight Gallery hours: Wednesday through Friday 11am-6pm, Saturdays 1pm-6pm