UICA TRAILER

UICA TRAILER

↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑ A new commercial made by my coworkers on a budget of $0 to promote our workplace, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids, MI. I’ve got just one month left before my temporary position there runs out, but I’m happy to have learned so much these past four months. Working in museum education has been a dream come true.

Zachary Trebellas. Hand/Hando Taoru. Scanogram. 2015.

This is one piece of several I’m working on that focus on the Japanese habits that have replaced my American ones. In Japan, it’s not uncommon to find restrooms without towels or dryers, the expectation being that you carry your own hand towel for such instances. The restrooms in the schools I taught in were like that. Back in America, I’ve found it infinitely useful to carry a towel on me, though I notice that sometimes others seemed surprised when I pull it out. “Is that a ShamWow?” one friend asked. —— This is part of the series I’m working on, Nippo Greco American, exploring my relationship with the three ethnic groups I in some way identify with.

A Greek Record Store franchise bearing my Greek name, Ζαχαρίας (Zacharias). Athens. August, 2015.

Last month my twin brother, friend, and I took a three week trip to Istanbul, Greece, and England. I took the majority of my photographs with a Minolta on 35mm film. These shots are from the four days we spent in Istanbul at the beginning of the trip. More photos from Turkey and info on each can be found on my Flickr.

I’ve been taking a hiatus from participatory art because I’m tired of the success of a project being in the hands of other people. I have to rely on unreliable people enough in other parts of my life, I’d rather not have to deal with that in my art, at least for now. I’m a social person, so I’m naturally inclined to make social work, but for now I like the control of having a project that I can do all by myself.

I whipped this up the other day to celebrate the fact that I’m back in the etsy game. Check out my shop if you’re curious!

New items all this month.