Thank you
tamara

Age? 19 [she stands to have many opportunities in front of her...how awesome]

Did you go through art training or are you self taught? Street taught

Where can the public purchase your merchandise/art? City West Boutique or the Garage
What was your inspiration to do what you do? The freedom of making anything…a piece of canvas, a wall or even a truck…anything can be a surface to paint on.
What is your favorite childhood memory? My mother adding chunks of mascara to her eyelashes and me telling her it looked like spider legs now I exaggerate my eyelashes and I paint huge overlapping lashes on my cartoons

How do you describe your artwork? Ghetto hardcore, Sand Chikz, ‘Anything you can do I can do better, or ‘It’s a man’s world and I’m in it!’
Can people find you on the net? Where? sandoner.com

Where do you see yourself going in the future with your artwork? I hope I get financial stability but I m not sure what awaits…I’m not sure what I’m doing tomorrow.

How did you get the name “Sand”? I just liked it. It’s smooth…it’s me, now when you hear Sand, Sand is me.
Is it any different being a female artist verses a male artist? It is scarce… there are not many females. It is only a few.
What is your personal history? I was born in East Los Angeles…I love pupusas and I paint Sand Chikz all day. I don’t smoke, drink, or party… I just paint and I love Thai food! Pad that shrimp!! And I enjoy being a loaner.

What is your favorite type of music? Jose Jose/ Emmanuel/Sublime /Ana Gabriel/Gangstarr/Biggie/Ghetto Boyz/Mos Def/the Grouch [can anyone really pick one?]
Any suggestions for future artists? Just paint but don’t call it abstract because you can’t paint…look at other art and follow the art you feel is right. Don’t listen to people, because at the beginning, they will always doubt of your success until proven wrong.

What are your favorite surfaces to paint on? Walls, trucks, smooth dumpsters, leather purses, U-hauls, metal abandoned buildings … [I think the list goes on]

What is your life motto? ‘Go big or go home’ along with ‘Get it while the game is big!’

Definitely check online www.sandoner.com though if you find yourself in East LA then take a look around the Sand Chikz can’t be missed.

]]> http://www.spanglishchick.com/?feed=rss2&p=474 3 http://www.spanglishchick.com/?p=458 http://www.spanglishchick.com/?p=458#comments Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:00:13 +0000 Spanglish Chick Contributor http://www.spanglishchick.com/?p=458 Finally, two weeks later, I am able to summarize a recap of the “LLow Down” showcase and benefit for Girls Rock Camp Austin, I was proudly a part of, presented by Ladies Lotto and Lola Ink at this year’s SXSW conference in Austin, Texas.

Although I now live in New York City, by way of Chicago, Texas is the closest place to home for me since I lived there for more than ten years. I resided in Houston but traveled to Austin any chance I could get. I love Austin. Austin can be charming anytime of the year, but if you’ve never been there during the SXSW music festival, which takes place every year in March, it’s hard to explain just how astounding it is to see the streets, of a rather small city, bustling with musicians, press, fans, agents and artists alike and to hear bands playing simultaneously every few steps.

When Ladies Lotto (LL) an international lifestyle and networking community aimed at developing the professional and personal success of independent women, decided to start an Austin chapter, LL members, Catherine Wentworth (DJ Cat NYC) and Lorraine Lamont (Lola Ink) approached Ladies Lotto founder, Natalie Blacker, in launching the Austin chapter during SXSW. Soon after, the event planning process quickly accelerated, with the successful outreach that lies within the LL community. A networking mixer with women from coast to coast (Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and more) assembled for the LL networking mixer at Parkside with hosts Sarah Cirkiel, Lorraine Lamont and Ruby Veridiano before heading to the “LLow Down” event at The Music Gym.

As early as 8 p.m. The Music Gym was filled with energetic talent from all over the country. The showcase included host, Ruby Veridiano, who presented on the outside stage, a plethora of talented rock and pop bands, an inside booth dedicated to a lineup of amazing DJs spinnin’ everything from electro, pop, rock ‘n roll, techno and house music, an inside and outdoor bar, and a side room used by KarmaLoop TV (www.karmalooptv.com) for interviewing all the talent. LL member, KK Graham, covered a particularly charming interview with The Beatards. There was no inactive corner at The Music Gym on the night of March 18.

Some highlights of the night included the bands Frank and Derol (Big Picture Media), the adorable duo from Los Angeles, composed of Brandi Cyrus (yes, she is the older sister of Miley and daughter of Billy Ray) and Codi Caraco, who made their first ever appearance at SXSW this year; The Colourist (Big Picture Media); The New Collisions (Big Picture Media); Patches (Girls Rock Camp); Mussels (Woxy); The Beatards (Mixtape Riot); and Miz Metro. After several bands rocked the stage, the mood slightly shifted around 11 p.m. when The Beatards, the New York hip-hop trio from Brooklyn, shook up the crowd with extreme freestyle lyrical rawness. The Beatards were joined onstage by an impromptu beatbox performance by Chris Sullivan a.k.a. Shockwave followed by a soulful performance by New York’s very own, Miz Metro (Laura O’Reilly) who also graced the event filming and interviewing people for Miz Metro TV.

Inside, the dance floor was filled with revelers shaking to the beats of the DJs, Automatic Panic (Citrusonic), DJ Cat NYC (Citrusonic), Ceeplus Bad Knives and Fredster of Houston, Texas, Skrillex (Ultra Records), DMNDAYS (Bloodcompany), Johan (Lose Control) and DJ John Bourke of Trash Yourself (Dance Robots Dance) who played a notably rockin’ set.

“The showcase was a true collaboration amongst peers, bringing the most amazing women together to create an event that highlighted individual work as well as help raise money for a great cause,” said Natalie Blacker, founder of Ladies Lotto.

All in all, the “LLow Down” showcase and benefit for Girls Rock Camp Austin turned out to be a beautiful night of music goodness and a perfect launch for Ladies Lotto Austin. For more info on Ladies Lotto check out http://ladieslotto.com.

Spanglish Chick contributor Susan Justus is a quirky mix of Filipino, Cherokee and Caucasian blood. She was born in the States and has lived all over the U.S. She works full-time in the legal profession and as a freelance writer and, at times, a mentor. Her daily vices include coffee and comics. Susan is the founder of JustusPR and currently resides in New York City.

My editor, Tamara and I woke up to the chilly weather…No surprise, right? Wrong. What happened to our Spring? Well, we decided to take a break..I mean, come on, we have been going non-stop since we got here. We checked in Thursday and then headed for the showcases. We made Ozomatli’s concert at Auditorium Shores which was awesome….not only were they great but somehow the concert grounds were almost spotless. Wow I was impressed. Then we ended our night with Ladies Lotto & Lola Ink presenting “Low Down”- an unofficial SXSW showcase (we’ll have more details on them later).
Friday afternoon, at Cafe Mundi, we were entertained by Bo-Peep, Girl in a Coma,

plus a few others. Alot of us are on a budget so the Austin venues are having free concerts to keep people entertained. Smart move….but I don’t mind paying for someone I really want to see. We paid to see the Japan Nite Showcase at Elysium, watching JinnyOops! along with another talented band from Japan then it was off to other venues. We stopped in to Buffalo Billards…Margaret Cho was gonna be there…well I am not a fan. Hehe…now I remember why…oh well. Next Club Vice, the editor knows one of the showcasers, DJ Cat. She was spinning some excellent music…I mean it had everyone on the floor, moving…hehe…you should have seen their moves. Next year someone should have a free dance workshop….Anyone??
Tonight they host the SXSW Music Awards…plus a million different bands in many different venues. The options are endless….what will we choose?
P.S.Don’t worry Tamara got some great shots and we will have them up soon.

UPDATE: Check out our Flickr feed at the bottom of the front page. SXSW pics are up!

For St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it would be nice to make a traditional Irish dish. Even if you’re not Irish, everyone loves potatoes! It’s a win win situation here. My mom’s potato soup is one of my favorites, so I mentioned to my boyfriend that I wanted to try to make it.  He responded with a brisk, “Okay.”  Turns out, he’d never had potato soup.  How a person makes it to his early 30’s in such a state is beyond me.  No way was I going to let him get through this St. Patrick’s Day without trying the family recipe. 

I had to call my mom to find out how to make it, and it turns out that being the family recipe that it is, it wasn’t precise.  Her instructions went something like, “Pour in some milk, then some flour mixed with water …”  No, really.  The word “some” and the phrase “a little” were used a lot. Thanks mom.

She got the recipe from my great-aunt, who I assume got it from her grandfather, who was an Irish immigrant.  At least, it’s a better story than “she got it from the back of a bag of potatoes.”  I made it last night, and tried my best to get more exact measurements.  Here’s the recipe, but know that when you try it, it might need some tweaking.

• 5 lb. peeled and diced potatoes
• 2 ½ cups of milk
• ¼ cup of flour mixed with about 1 cup of water
• ½ stick of butter
• 8oz. package of cream cheese, softened

In a large pot, boil the potatoes until they’re soft.  (Don’t drain the water.)  Add 2 ½ cups of milk.  Then mix about ¼ cup of flour with about 1 cup of water.  (If the pot looks like it isn’t going to hold much more, you can use the liquid from the soup.  That’s what I had to do.)  Next, throw in a ½ stick of butter.  Dicing it up first will help it to melt more evenly.  Then dice up an 8 oz. package of cream cheese.  As soon as the cream cheese is melted into the soup, you’re done!

Season with salt and pepper to taste, and feel free to spice it up with red pepper, or add chives, bacon bits and cheddar cheese.     

I’m not sure if it’s because it reminds me of my childhood and my great-aunt, but I really love this soup.  It’s better than anything you’ll get in a restaurant. 

If you want to be authentic and have the stomach for it, have your bowl of soup with a pint of Guinness.  It’s the most popular beer in Ireland.  Enjoy! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Spanglish Chick Contributor Karah Leigh will celebrating St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Houston. We’re sure her Irish eyes will be smiling after a few green beers. Known for her on-air talent at Houston’s 94.5 The Buzz, Karah is not only ‘in the know’ about music, she’s in the loop on pop culture and celebrity entertainment. Visit her Houston Examiner page for more juicy celebrity news and updates!

• Along with doing your hair and nails, and making sure that you’re wearing something green, getting prepared for an onslaught of drunk men coming on to you is standard party prep for St. Patrick’s Day.  I asked a few women to share their stories of getting hit on by drunken men, and they provided some serious gems. Some are funny, some are witty, and some are beyond cringe-worthy. 
• My good friend bumped into a semi-acquaintance at a bar on St. Patrick’s Day a few years ago.  Instead of saying hello, he grabbed her around the waist and kissed her passionately.  I guess it was okay, though.  They got married last Saturday. – Trina
  
• I went to Dublin, Ireland for St. Patty’s Day last year. A group of drunken Irishmen approached my friends and I and started talking to us.  I couldn’t understand what the hell they were saying, so I responded with “Sorry, I speak English.” As I was saying this, I immediately thought, “Oh, my God, they ARE speaking English!  I’m a fool!” It was so embarrassing.  But to be fair, a drunken Irish brogue is extremely hard to follow, especially when you’re also drunk. – Ruth
  
• Two guys were hitting on my best friend and I.  The one talking to my friend said, “I’m in the army, you know.  I’m a Ranger.  I’ve killed four people.”  He misinterpreted her look of amusement/disgust for worry, so he quickly added, “No, no, it’s okay.  I sent cards to the families.”  Meanwhile his friend was looking at me and shaking his head in dismay.  It was glorious. – Catherine
  
• My friends and I were waiting outside of a bar for another friend once, and these almost-Guido type guys came up to us, and I was just not interested or impressed at all.  One guy says, “Hey, we’re from Connecticut, where can we go for a good time?”  My response?  “Back to Connecticut.” – Ellie
  
• I was dancing at a club once and a guy came up to me and said, “Those hips!  You’re killing me, smalls!”  I was amused and baffled by his use of a quote from “The Sandlot” as a pickup line. – Jennifer
  
• This didn’t happen to me, but I was out with some friends in college and one of the guys hit on a girl by asking if he could scratch and sniff her. – Sandra
  
• I went to a club with a friend once, and there was an entire rugby team there. That night, nearly every one of the members of said team drunkenly approached me.  They were practically taking turns, it was so bizarre.  One of the guys would get rejected and another would almost instantly ask me to dance. One tried to put his face between my boobs, and he got punched. I said I had a boyfriend (lie) for the most part, but then the last one was nice enough, and hot, and my friend was with some other guy, so I figured why not.  Fun night. – Susan
  
• I was traveling around Australia with my best friend, and somehow ended up with a broken foot.  One night, we were at a party on a big farm in West Australia with about a hundred people, when this very drunk local guy approached me.  My friends tried to edge him out of the circle, but it wasn’t working.  Then came the line of the evening.  Leaning towards me, his eyes pointing in two different directions, he said, “I like you … because you can’t run away.”  I was about to hit him over the head with my crutch when another local, who was thankfully sober, intervened.  We didn’t see him for the rest of the night – hopefully he was unconscious somewhere and woke up with a raging hangover. – Quinn

Remember as you’re taking your umpteenth shot of tequila (Irish people do drink tequila, right?) that you aren’t the only one who will likely have some strange or awkward encounter with a guy who’s three sheets to the wind before St. Patrick’s Day is over.  So before you turn around and whip your hair in his face as you walk away, thank him for being the unfortunate star in the story that you’ll retell for years to come.  Slainte!

Spanglish Chick Contributor Karah Leigh lives in Houston with her boyfriend and two awesome dogs. Known for her on-air talent at Houston’s 94.5 The Buzz, Karah is not only ‘in the know’ about music, she’s in the loop on pop culture and celebrity entertainment. Visit her Houston Examiner page for more juicy celebrity news and updates!

members of the Houston Roller Derby

With monikers like DD Doomz, Grrrl Friday and Tony Smasheries, the ladies of the Houston Roller Derby, promise to raise Hell this season.  Popularized in the 1970s, Roller Derby made a comeback in the 90s. It then circulated throughout Texas. Since organizing in 2005, the Houston Roller Derby has grown into a league of more than 40 skaters and is a member of The Woman’s Flat Track Derby Association.

Recreation league member DD Doomz says, “You’re learning from the most experienced skaters. Roller Derby is an amazing culture. It’s awesome, comfortable and I like that you can be a strong sexy woman with an edge.”

DD Doomz

Get ready for some blocking, bruises and brazen hot broads. Check out the ladies on Opening Day,  March 20 at 6p.m. at Kick’s located on 611 Sheperd. Don’t be a titty … get out and support your local Derby chicks this season! Take a look at this season’s schedule and learn more about the league at www.houstonrollerderby.com

P.S. Check out Spanglish Chick’s Flickr feed at the bottom of the page. We went out to the Texas Hotrod Hoedown to check out an exhibition game the ladies recently particpated in.

Good Luck this season girls!

After Haiti’s earthquake, you were unable to turn on the TV or go online without seeing “donate to Haiti.” It was awesome to see everyone hugging and joining together in an effort to bring Haiti back to life … where did it all go? I understand that some people are feeling the effects of “disaster fatigue” and might feel that Chile is a country that can handle the aftermath since it seems they have better resources and what not. But lives were lost, towns have crumbled, we truly don’t know if the people there have it all  … remember Hurricanes Ike and Katrina? New Orleans and Houston practically fell into Third World status when those bitches hit. Some people are still recovering from those hurricanes and this is the U.S. 

Chile needs our help, too. Whether it’s donating to the Red Cross to help people not just in Chile, but elsewhere when disasters strike, making a donation to a Chilean animal shelter (pets were affected, too) or just taking the time to buy Chilean products at your local store to support the country’s exports … as a culture, as a people and as Americans we should support the beautiful nation of Chile in rebuilding itself …  please don’t wait for the media to make that choice for you.

Eduardo at the airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Recently, a friend of Spanglish Chick took some time out of his life in Houston to lend a hand in the earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

Eduardo E. shared with us his thoughts and experience in the stricken nation. Spanglish Chick applauds Eduardo for his heartfelt, selfless contribution and for all the humanitarian work he has done not only for Haiti, but with all his charitable endeavors.

Why did you feel compelled to go to Haiti?
My initial reaction was that I felt I had to do something in response to the situation occurring there. When my job asked me to go I did everything necessary to prepare without giving too much thought to the (health & security) dangers associated with the trip.

What did you see?
To be honest, I stayed primarily in the airport area during the unloading and loading of supplies from the planes to the trucks that then took it to the tent community. I would depart in the morning from Miami and stay through late afternoon/evening in Hiati. I was there for 2 days. The destruction I saw was limited because the airport was 20 miles away from the epicenter from where earthquake struck.

How did you feel about what you saw?
During one of the stays I inquired about going into the city, but I was told by several U.S. Military (that was there assisting with airport logistics and security) that it was not recommended and that they hadn’t gone out there due to security reasons. The Haitian people I met seemed to be bewildered by the situation. I think part of them had gratitude for the aid, but another part of them may have felt as if we were encroaching on their territory.

What can people do to help?
At this point, I think many people are experiencing “donor fatigue,” but the sad thing is that the situation will not be resolved soon and it may take up to three years for levels to reach pre-earthquake status. I think that the global community can use this experience to improve the situation for the better and demonstrate that we can come together as a community during times of need.