I'm updating for new pics!
Posted by Toniet at 12:42 AM
LINKS
Sassparilla the Singing Gorilla
Posted by Mark at 8:11 PM
I've always kept a few quotes to remind, motivate, or inspire me.
Gandhi: Live as if your were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
Harold Rheingold: People who use computers to communicate, form friendships that sometimes form the basis of communities, but you have to be careful to not mistake the tool for the task and think that just writing words on a screen is the same thing as real community.
Eric Hoffer: With some people solitariness is an escape not from others but from themselves. For they see in the eyes of others only a reflection of themselves.
Unknown: He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
Oscar Wilde: A true friend stabs you in the front.
Adrienne Rich: Lying is done with words and also with silence.
Anais Nin: The personal life deeply lived always expands into truths beyond itself.
Erich Fromm: Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.
Buckminster Fuller: Dare to be naive.
Anais Nin: People living deeply have no fear of death.
Pablo Picasso: All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.
Joyce Brothers: Marriage is not just spiritual communion, it is also remembering to take out the trash.
Samuel Johnson: Marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.
Abraham Lincoln (attributed): You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
Unknown: I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE E. E. CUMMINGS!!!!!!!
Posted by Toniet at 11:11 AM
Various Dance Pictures
Photos: Fan dance @ Club 1150 - 2001, Video with Zerotaiko, Group photo - Showbox - Jen Boxly, Thomas Tulis (B&W pic), D. Whithouse (last with veil)
Posted by Toniet at 6:38 PM
"Renaissance Goddess"
30" diameter
Mixed media, 1996
Posted by Toniet at 11:12 PM
10/25/05
After I poured the rain
I shut off all curiosity
looking at the ugly
My face towards the sun...
10/17/05
Always Put the “O” in Your Famous Last Werds
Try as you might to Lick my Life
Recall
You crossed the Bridge you Burned one night
“Disgusted with myself”, I heard you say
My new open eyes
caught on to your bogus display
So run along my favorite con
Down the lonely, abandoned road of ghost communications
“I can’t see you NOT in my life”, you said.
Really sweetheart?
Shame the games in your head.
We’re just better off dead.
By the way, can I have your phone number?
9/05
From: The Cycle of Power
Animal Totems
by Sayahda
The Dog
Throughout history dogs have been known as protectors and guardians. Their acute hearing and keen sight forewarned their masters of impending danger. Dogs are known as mans best friend. They serve selflessly never asking for their service to be prasied. They hold the energies of unconditional love and teach us its true meaning.
The domesticated dog is a faithful companion to humans and has a strong willingness to serve. Their sense of spirit and the ability to love even when abused is incredible. The dog teaches those with this totem how to give and receive love unconditionally. It also carries the energy of forgiveness. People with dog medicine would do well in service oriented jobs.
Dogs are intelligent and sensitive. They are able to sniff out dangerous situations accurately and guide us into safety. Psychic gifts have long been are associated with the dog because of their ability to detect subtle energy frequencies often unknown to mankind. If dog suddenly appears in your life pay attention to your immediate surroundings and let the dog guide your footsteps.
Certain breeds of dog were designed for specific functions. The study of the breed and its purpose can help you define the energy associated with it. Since wolves and coyotes are its descendants these should be studied as well.
The behavior of a dog often reflects the personality of its owner. Through its observation and constant interaction with you it anticipates your next move, and serves as a mirror image of who you truly are. The dog is a great teacher for those who are willing to be loyal students. The choice is yours.
9/21/05
About Faith and Love
I hear the words of fear...
Proof, Truth, Release, Escape
We will never escape the truth of our own beliefs and actions.
How we treat others is what will be returned to us.
Many thanks for having faith.
I have been rewarded for risking love like a fool.
9/28/05
My Inner Fears
I find it has been best to try and embrace them. To not escape.
9/26/05
Partnership and Growth
Over the last three years, life has been a wonderful journey of great change on all personal levels particularly getting married. After my bachelorette years of heartbreaking trial and error, I truly have found my best friend, lover, and hero. It is true what they say that life is easier with the right partner. This is not to say that there have been obstacles to overcome for the both of us. We are the imperfect humans. So far during our growth and journey together, we have faced challenges in releasing unhealthy, toxic places, people, and habits. To evolve from such harmful situations, we work on humility, faith, courage and adaptability. We learn to recognize the safety and protection of keeping our marriage sacred. In the process, the strengthening of our bond increases.
9/25/05
Lazy Sundays
We're making changes on the site here and there. I'll be posting old stuff and new as we go along. Stayed mellow this weekend except for painting. Writing all the time. Maybe they will become lyrics to a song later. But today is a love day with my family.
9/17/05
I don't have to do a thing.
I'll just let it unfold gratefully. Ah, the freedom to relax.
1/26/2005
Snake Oil Girlfriend
Roaming places alone mimicking independence
But you hope to run into somebody
To charm with your phony innocence
Yeah, I used to know you snaking around
You searched for particular company
Always reassuring a genuine friend you were indeed
Now you say your heart is black
It always hides behind a façade of calm
Certainly trust is what you lack
And it explodes with dark obsessions
Renting space in your head
Filling it with hidden agendas
Plenty of underhanded motives
You knocked on my door hundreds of times
Poor one searching for sympathy and more
We now know what that was really all about
That neighbor boy who lived on my same floor
I’ve long since moved away from that place
An inconvenience that doesn’t suit you
Now I see you fear being face to face
Because I realize your unfriendly truth
Thank you for showing me
The mirror I never want to be
Your reflection is a clear example
Of selfish intentions and insincerity
Posted by Toniet at 11:20 AM
Here are a few of my haikuish style poems.
Some of these were written for my "Honey Kisses" art installation back in 2001.
T. Gallego
Slinky black dress
caress my lower back
nothing underneath
Scent of sweat
clutching my hair
his eyes are blue
Upon
the cold window
my sighing breath
fogging memories of you
White circle sun
misting through grey clouds
morning moonlight drive
Memory of lost kisses
The soldier's tear
stench of rot
Dirty, old man
computer screen stare
lonelier each minute
4:40 p.m. bed head
puke green
broken beer bottles
Posted by Toniet at 7:00 AM
Introduction
One of my favorite quotes ever...
"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls."
Joseph Campbell
Originally in 2002, I wanted to make this site a web portfolio of various creative projects I had either produced or participated in. By the end of summer in 2005, I was given the ability to do my own posting. (Thanks to Mark Lusher for making this site possible.) I'll be constantly adding so expect a lot of changes both within the past and current happenings.
For years I have always been drawn towards a variety of artistic disciplines to the point of indecisiveness. What an amazing journey it has been exploring so many avenues. With this in mind, I chose to break down my creative endeavors into three main categories - Art, Dance and Muse.
ART
One day my kindergarten teacher called Mom and said I had the promises of an artist. The teacher was impressed with the self-portrait I drew for her class assignment. Crazy thing is that I completely remember that drawing. I drew myself in my favorite polka-dotted suit.
I took all sorts of art classes while growing up. During my education, I won a few awards and even a scholarship at one point. I pursued degrees in advertising design and art direction. However upon graduating from college, I lost interest in having a career in advertising. Being in the super-competitive, rat race was a complete turn-off for me. I desired to live the “bohemian artist” life instead. Making this decision would be quite enlightening and adventurous in developing technically and spiritually as an artist. Today aside from sketching or painting for personal enjoyment, I work as a craftsman hand painting and refinishing antique furniture. I have occasionally dabbled in video and multi-media art. I find lots of joy in collecting and making dollhouse miniatures.
DANCE
As a kid, I loved locking myself in my room and pretend I was a dancing on stage. Always I would practice and dance in front of the mirror. I started to learn and perform the hula at the age of seven. When I reached my teens, I began taking modern jazz and ballet. I later developed and taught myself how to dance with martial arts fans as well as performing with candles. One of the best exercises to learn performance techniques was being a club dancer and I did this mostly through the 90's.
In 2004, I got involved in burlesque and took the stage name - Chinita. Sometimes I could be a drunken flight attendant, a Fiji mermaid, an Exotic Chinese-fan dancer or a scantily-clad art student.
MUSE
I once had an old boyfriend who used to call me his muse. It was romantic and flattering that he would refer to me as such. I became drawn to the meaning of the muse. A muse is a guiding spirit or a source of inspiration. I feel very lucky to have met and worked with many wonderful, influential teachers and artists in my life. I hope I can positively inspire others as they have encouraged and inspired me. Within this category I will post projects such as film/video appearances, music, and photo shoots. For extras, I have included pages on upcoming events, pictures, blogs, plus links to friends and people whose work I admire.
I always want to continue striving to do what I love. I don't believe that life should be a struggle except for the necessary growing pains to achieve goals and true happiness.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy visiting my site.
xoxo,
Toniet
Posted by Toniet at 3:00 AM