Bay Area – Art of Rob

Asian American History 101-Podcast

Link to interview with Be a and Harvey of EastWind Books. Last Spring I got the chance to speak and table at an event in Berkeley California supporting a new model curriculum about Ethnic Studies; one of my favorite things to talk about. And while I was there I got a chance to speak to Bea and Harvey. They were both so kind and actually carried one of my books! I regret not going to EastWind more when the physical location was open, but as you’ll hear in this episode they are still publishing and selling books. Their advocacy and work is so freaking important so please check out their work here.

Really enjoyed this episode of “Asian American History 101” which I found through an awesome interview w/ my good friend and fellow kid lit creator Nidhi Chanani. This seems like a really cool podcast to follow and listen to for historic and current perspectives on AAPI in the US! Love the fact that is a father daughter duo too:)

Dig this? Check out this Inspiration Board I made featuring books, art, film, and more.

August 14, 2024

in General

SJ Made Fest! June 1-2nd, 11am-6pm

Hey fam, if you’re in the South Bay this weekend come see me at the SJ Made Fest! I’ll be there alongside 250 vendors and there will be 50 food trucks, K-Pop performances, and a kitten lounge. Come through with your entire family, its free. MORE INFO HERE.

Here are some photos the SJ Made team took of me in my home studio:)

Dig this? Check out a photo of me selling at the Craneway Craft Fair in 2023

May 27, 2024

in General

7th Annual Social Justice Children’s Bk Holiday Fair

Man, I was so busy sharing about this event and planning and prepping that I forgot to psot about it on my own damn blog. Anyways, for those who came it was beautiful and hectic. For the first time we partnered with Emerson Elementary in Oakland.

Here is the livestream of interviews and performances from that day:

Interviews w/ Emerson PTA, Local authors, activists, and musicians

Here is the Facebook invite from this year

And here is the books new Instagram account. Please follow us!

Link to our IG

Ok, if you were not there but want to support the authors/organizations/musicians who tabled please go to our website.

Dig this? Check out some photos for the fair last year.

December 11, 2023

in General

Erin Yoshi short doc

Hey, Erin Yoshi (Trust Your Struggle, Few and Far, COI) has a new short doc about her mural work. Check it out at this LINK.

This is my sister right here and I’m always inspired by her words and her work.

Dig this? Check out this post about ‘When She Rises”

April 5, 2023

in General

I’m sure most of you who love R&B and allow new artists into their heart have already heard of H.E.R. But if you’re new to her let me give a brief introduction. H.E.R. (Having Everything Revealed) first came on my radar on Daniel Ceasar’s song “Best Part”. One of the coolest things about her style is that she is not trying to do what everyone else was doing when she reemerged in the industry. Her music is something a soul lover of any age can feel. Gabby Wilson is a youngster from Vallejo California, home to greats such as Confunkshun, Mac Dre, and E40. She’s a Blasian kid (Pinay + Black) and from an early age her family had her in the mix of music making and enjoyment. She plays the drums, bass, and piano. I think she’s best known for her guitar licks and vocals. In a world of manufactured checklists of artists thus singer songwriter is a breath of fresh air and she’s just getting started. With them shades she invokes MF Doom and Daft Punk with a focus less about how she looks and more about what you hear. Please follow her, support her music, and check out her most recent effort to inspire “Girls with Guitar’s”.

Sources: Revolt, LA Times, Sway in The Morning
Fav song: Carried Away

Did you catch the last one? Kiwi
Check out one i did of Equipto

May 5, 2020

in General, Kindred Journey

Photo via @FriscoLens

Man, so good to read this article about the principles of #415Day which just passed here in the Bay. Its a special day where Black and Brown folks from San Francisco (Born and Raised) get together to celebrate pride in the city and the fact that they’re still there! Fighting to survive in a city that has welcomed the world and pushed out the people who made it the city so many want to visit.

If you know anyone who’s recently moved to the Bay Area or are new to SF please share this article with them written with the organizers and published by SF’s own Tecolote newspaper.

ARTICLE LINK

Heads up, we have a 510 Day in Oakland too.

April 30, 2020

in General

Flip the Record-Trailer

FLIP THE RECORD Teaser Trailer from Marie Jamora on Vimeo.
This is a dope short film. If you love hip hop, DJ culture, and/or female empowerment check this out.

May 25, 2019

in General

Folks, for the 2nd year in a row I have been able to help produce this amazing book fair with Social Justice minded kids bk creators, authors of color, queer and local authors. We started off in the mighty Chapter 510 space last year and have moved to Destiny Arts, still in Oakland. If you are around, we have many great book makers confirmed and the Grammy nominated group ALPHABET ROCKERS will be in the house performing alongside the kids and doing interactive tings. I will be there as well selling my book, reading, and signing books for families.

Saturday Dec 8th, 10am-2pm
Destiny Arts in Oakland
Social Justice and Diverse Books
Alphabet Rockers and various performers for kids
Event link

December 2, 2018

in General

Video – People’s Kitchen Collective

Me and my wife volunteered to help with PKC’s mission. Her, much more than me, taking the lead on cooking for hundreds of people. Super proud to work with these homies and all the good people who came to help and eat! Follow the Peoples Kitchen Collective here. Also, my crew Trust Your Struggle volunteered some artwork to be printed along with several other artists which you can see in the video.

July 11, 2018

in General

Ok, so what follows is a bunch of brick and mortar actual physical stores from California to London. What I would like you to do is to visit them if they are near you. Buy my book there and buy other books from them. Support small businesses rather than the huge corporations. If they don’t have a book you want, they can get it for you. Support these also because they have different specialties and tastes, which means you’ll find things you weren’t looking for when you shop. If you’re an author or illustrator, contact them too.

1. Blue Willow Bookshop – Houston TX