Welcome to my first newsletter in at least a dozen years, since it was on TinyLetter (RIP). I still caffeinate from a small-batch ceramic mug they sent me for being an early user, back in the old days when swag was good…hint hint, Buttondown!

Anyway, hi, thank you for signing up. I’m Rena, I make art, I craft, I still use the word craft. I write sometimes and curate art shows and teach workshops. I also make books and zines and other multiples under the micro-imprint Not Great, Not Terrible.

As you can tell, AI did not write this. Buckle up, it’s stream-of-consciousness babble all the way down 😬

STUDIO STUFF

I’m in a printmaking lull until I begin fall semester at Laney and can access the big presses, so summer has been a lot of cyanotype. Here’s one of Oakland street fireworks.

I was weaving the cyanos, but for whatever reason it wasn’t clicking, so I’m starting to fold them instead. I think they look pretty good, and now I want to mount and backlight them. Maybe when I get access to Laney’s fablab I can figure that out? This is pleated lichen.

CURRENT HAPPENINGS

• I have a paper weaving in the Society of Artists and Makers show at Werkshack in Oakland with other Peralta District students, it’s up through August 29.

• I have a relief print and an aquatint in an SFO Museum exhibition through April 2027, also with my fellow classmates. Community college rules, ok?

UPCOMING

• Find me slinging zines, prints, and patches at the SF Zine Fest on September 6 at the Hibernia. I’m bringing two brand-new zines: Don’t Forget the Magic, a 3-color Riso photobook with sunwashed, wistful images of northern California (see photo at top), and Sidewalk Stamps, featuring concrete sidewalk stamps that I printed on postage stamps. Stamps all the way down.

• I am giving a talk to the Pinole Artisans on September 11 about my work and demoing paper weaving. It’s very flattering to be asked to share what I do. Time to make some slides!

• I’m curating a group exhibition about photo-sculpture-objects at Oakland Photo Workshop. Just look at this artist lineup: Sam Kober, dani lopez, Lucy Puls, Sarah Sanford, Gabby Severson, Shirin Towfiq, Amy Yoshitsu. The reception will be October 2 (Oakland First Friday), save the date if you’re local.

• My installation Yellow was chosen for Kearny Street Workshop’s APAture 2026 festival. KSW is the oldest AAPI arts org in the country and I’m honored to work with them. The visual arts showcase opens October 17 at ARC Gallery in SF.

LOOKING FORWARD TO

• Attending and volunteering at Bathers Library Summer Symposium

• Reading as much of Handwork: Handcrafted Objects that Made America as possible before it has to go back to the library

• Labor Day camping trip to close out a busy summer

• Printmaking class with the friends, my goal is to try woodcut and stone litho this semester, and do One Weird Thing with silkscreen

That’s it for now - Rena