On Tuesday January 25, 2022, Joseph Gallivan interviews artist KHEM, about his show Smiles of Planet Earth in Portland, Oregon. KHEM paints simple black curves on white paper, arranged in patterns whose meaning he decodes after he has completed the work. KHEM has travelled widely in the Americas and arrived in Portland and experienced houselessness. Hear his reflections on keeping his mood up by smiling at strangers, and how he converts that into visual art, on paper, on walls and on Instagram @smilesofplanetearth. Smiles of Planet Earth closes on Friday January 28 with a live painting show at 6pm.
This show was recorded in person, with lapel mics and no masks but socially distanced, at Gather Make Shelter in n Northwest Portland on a Zoom H2 on Jan. 21, 2021. Edited by KBOO volunteer Ray Bodwell.
FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:
Smiles of Planet Earth
Smiles of Planet Earth are smiles for peace!
Creator of the program, KHEM, started actively smiling as an entryway to inner peace. Once He saw smiling helped regulate his brain and nervous system, KHEM began painting and sculpting smiles as a way to help people smile and be calm in the moment.
Because it’s easier to smile seeing smiles.
Bring your smile to GMS HQ to be a part of this multimedia experience!
Exhibition
January 13-28, 2022
GMS HQ, 906 NW 14th Ave
Open Fri-Sat 12-4pm
Closing Ceremony
Friday, January 28, 2022
6pm-8pm
Live painting starts at 6:35pm
Follow KHEM on instagram @smilesofplanetearth
Visit us at Gather:Make:Shelter HQ! 906 NW 14th Ave, open Fridays & Saturdays 12-4pm
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Joseph Gallivan has been a reporter since 1990. He has covered music for the London Independent, Technology for the New York Post, and arts and culture for the Portland Tribune, where he is currently a Feature Writer. He is the author of two novels, "Oi, Ref!" and "England All Over" which are available on Amazon.com
- KBOO