Bombay Dreams Illustration

By Lenora Jayne | Published: October 8, 2009

Bombay Dreams
New illustration, done for an upcoming party in Toronto thrown by RefugeNYC and RoyalPink!

The party is called Bombay Dreams and I was asked to do my reoccurring girl character (you’ll see her in my other flyers I’ve done for Refuge and Newmindspace) in an Eastern style. I took my inspiration from the Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of beauty, prosperity and good fortune, with a few modern adaptations (obviously).

I’d love to see how a four-armed girl would rage on the dancefloor.

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Artitronic at Club Exit

By Lenora Jayne | Published: September 30, 2009

Last weekend, I participated in an excellent art party at Exit in Brooklyn, called Artitronic. Artitronic is the brainchild of Jay Clue and DJ Dali that synthesizes two of my favorite things: “banging beats and dope artwork”.

They embody a similar ethos as Lowbrow Society (which is my art collective), in the fact that they value a low-key and unintimidating atmosphere outside of the fancy art-gallery scene, where people can hang out and talk shop.

I was impressed with the sense of community within the artists, especially. Many seemed to know one another and chatted amicably, asked me about my paintings and collage work, and just generally helped out with the event to keep it lively. The scope of art shown was deliciously varied; everything from hand-painted skateboard decks to macabre horror photography to psychedelic fractals.

I chose to show two large fashion-girl paintings, rendered in some crazy bright neon gouache and cutout paper, along with a spray-paint and collage piece that I did for this summer’s Mashup party. The collage seemed to get a lot of lovin’, which surprised me, because I felt like it was less “original”. I definitely will be exploring working at a larger size, because I feel a huge relief to break out of the sketchbook format and just take over a beautiful sheet of rag paper (my current preferred surface, I love how it takes watercolor and colored pencil).

Needless to say, there was also a stellar lineup of DJs as well, including Udachi, who drops the best wobbly bass, as well as Odi, who is a pillar of the NYC drum & bass scene.

Hopefully, I’ll get some scans or photos this week of my work, but for now, this post is without images, boo!

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This I Believe

By Lenora Jayne | Published: August 25, 2009

When I was a freshman at Parsons, three years ago, we had an assignment to write a one-page essay in the vein of an ongoing radio segment called “This I Believe” on NPR. This is my most recent version of that essay, and I think, a good way to introduce my new blog.

Wordle.net visualization of my manifesto

I believe in brilliance.

In the limitless capacity that you and I and all of us have for creating and being beauty. And not just in the boring magazine-slick plastic-surgery sort of way, but the beauty of the individual and the crowd. The beauty of authenticity, of fully and wholly owning every part of yourself, without apology. Of the endless permutations that define us in degrees and decades are what make the universe electric.

I believe also, in losing the barriers between self and surroundings. The magic that throttles through our veins when a connection is made, when syllables and neurons and heartbeats become no longer lonely, but shared. These shared moments become stories, shared stories that can be set upon the world for others to reach out to.

I believe in the art of connecting with one another, the instances of light and brightness when synapses fire in the same sequences. When a look, a nod, a smile, a touch, a sound is made and shared and there is an understanding that goes beyond any need for language.

I believe in the construction of community; that our social architecture is more incredible and more important than our individual lives alone. I believe our combined efforts and energies become an alloy that is indescribable and indestructible.

I believe in the sheer bliss of experience, of turning my life into a constant living work of art. I believe in the beauty of single, sparking instances where a connection is made. Of sharing, spreading, speaking up to burst open your world a little further.

I believe in constant evolution, every second is a chance for revelation. Every second our bodies have changed from the last, so there is no reason why our minds should stay static. I believe in personal dynamism, of constantly breaking down and rebuilding yourself in order to create a more perfect state of being. I believe, as well, in always learning and always keeping an open mind, for we are infinite in our ability to appreciate and understand.

I believe in chaos, in the reliability of instability. I believe that there is a beauty in never staying the same.

I believe in self-expression and the importance of sharing our stories, struggles and secrets. Creativity is our vehicle for these expressions, for entertaining our dreams and dreaming up our futures. I believe that self-expression is the key to connection and change, a cipher in order to unlock our differences.

I believe that art and music are transformative; that the motion and exploration of the body and mind within beauty and ugliness can create a new understanding of the universe and of one another.

I believe in light, color, brightness, because they are the purest manifestations of the sun.

I believe in love and hate and despair and envy. I believe the sanctity of emotion, and experiencing each in all of its infinite hues, because it is what makes us human.

I believe it’s important to remain in a constant state of wonder.

I believe in our combined brilliance.

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