KCHUNG Girl Talk

screen grab from soyoung's tumblr x

This afternoon @ 3pm! The rad Ms. Soyoung Shin & yours truly will be having a bit of a chat. We'll be talking about L.A. Zine Fest. I'll be tabling as "your friend, ava" for the second time, so come see me! Soyoung will be there with me as well. It's going to be a beautiful day. 

Other subjects on our agenda : Boys Men & dating, favorite artists/photographers, film versus digital?, L.A. Art Book Fair finds, and so much more. We'll also be playing some music for you. Thanks for tuning in, friends! xx

Find us here or here

The Huntington Library

Recently, my Mom and I spent time at one of our favorite places. This is my childhood. As long as I can remember, she's been bringing me here. This place is full of dreams. I remember rolling down the grassy hills near the cacti garden. Giant palm trees surrounding me. The same statue of a sea horse resides by the lily pond.

all images © Ava Alamshah / all rights reserved 

Two years ago we took some polaroids here!

I couldn't wait to share these photographs. I've been feeling a bit sad to be honest, and I know the reason why. I have this passion and I feel like I'm not doing enough with it. Zinefest was amazing and I got this natural high from creating. Making little books you could hold on to. This outlet has been great, but I have been craving the old school way of creating. I've started shooting a lot more with film again, and I love it. Now what to do with all this film? I want to produce books. Zines, and maybe eventually coffee table books. The portraits of Ema are a work in progress. There is so much more I want to do with those. I have a look book idea in the works for someone I truly admire, and I hope to get that started next month. I'm being awfully candid about my feelings. I'm glad I'm shooting a lot more. I suppose that's what counts. As long as I have the ability to do that, I'm happy. 

your friend,

ava

L.A. Zine Fest, 2014!

My zines and some personal treasures. Cameras & plant life -the plant to the left was a gift from Angie. The rock, I collected from the center of the Spiral Jetty. Every time I look at it, I think about past road trips & land art. Nancy Holt passed away a couple of weeks ago, so all this has been on my mind. I'll never forget the peace I had while laying in the middle of one of her epic Sun Tunnels. Glimpses of light shining through a carved out circle. And the Utah desert… 

April Wolfe, my Mom, & your's truly. Proud to be a part of the zine community. x

Hey! That's me wedged in between Zach! (his friend, April, filling in for him) & Laura of Fluxus LA! Rad women. It was a pleasure getting to know them. 

homies (I was overjoyed with the enormous amount of support I received from friends and family-I feel very lucky)

I can't tell you enough how much I learned and how happy I was to share my work with others. L.A Zine Fest was such a beautiful experience and I met so many rad & talented people that day. Thank you to everyone who came to support and all the vendors who are putting their work out there. Truly inspiring. Can't wait to do it again next year! 

your friend,

ava

…coming back from a long weekend

My experience at this year's LA Zine Fest was extremely amazing. I want to write about it and all the wonderful people I met, but I need to decompress for a day or two (I am exhausted). To all my friends & family who showed their support, I want to thank you. I feel very lucky to have such beautiful, talented, and kind people in my life. True gems. 

Until my next entry, I thought I'd share some photos I took of my neighborhood, Historic Filipino Town & Echo Park proper. x

all images © Ava Alamshah

your friend,

ava

L.A. Zine Fest

S N E A K   P E A K 

Here is a sneak peak of what I'll be selling at this year's L.A. Zine Fest! It is my first year participating and I couldn't be happier. I have nervous knots…the anticipation, along with my tendency to be a complete perfectionist. I am kind of freaking out, friends! Oh, man…..Freaking Out!!! 

For more info / my interview

I cannot wait to meet other artists/zine makers. On Sunday, February 16th, after checking out my booth (wink wink), I really recommend this panel discussion on turning your zine practice into full on publishing ventures. I wish I could go, but I'll be manning my booth. So many cool people will be discussing this topic-Esther Pearl Watson, & Kevin Staniec to name a couple. 

I had the pleasure of submitting some polaroids to Kevin for this book. It's beautiful. Stefani's work is also featured. There was also a huge one night only polaroid exhibit at Bergamot Station about four years ago, that Kevin organized. Great guy.

So many cool things in the works. Can't wait to tell you all about them. It's all very humbling. 

your friend,

ava

rainy days...

Slowly coming back from a long hiatus and I'm really forcing myself to type this. I've been feeling a bit under the weather for the past week, and since I'm cooped up in my apartment, I thought the only sensible thing to do would be to stop feeling sorry for myself and focus! So here I am….

So much has happened since I came back from my trip and I wanted to share some highlights.

This is a one day art sale that I'm very proud to be a part of. So many wonderful artists - many CalArts friends / fellow alumni. Hope to see you there this Sunday! We got a pretty cool shout out from Los Angeles, I'm Yours !

©Ava Alamshah for Ermie x Weltenbuerger

 One of my photographs from an event I shot for the ERMIE x Weltenbuerger pop up at Arts (Re)Store LA!  Click here to see more photos and get an inside scoop from the event and future workshops. I can't tell you how happy I was to be a part of this night. Jennifer Parry Dodge is absolutely talented, and the warmest soul. Please check out her shop & support local! x 

If it wasn't for Joanna introducing me to Jennifer, I wouldn't have had this opportunity. Joanna, you are a gem. Thank you. xx

©Ava Alamshah

// This photo of Josephine //

I feel like our friendship has gotten closer over the years, and that makes me really happy. She lives in Portland, OR, and is married to my friend, Dave. Dave and I have known each other for 12 years. Dave & Jo met through craigslist! I love them, dearly. Good eggs.

Jo writes and curates. 

When I was visiting, I really had it in mind to do a couple's shoot for with you, today, but it rained so much and the timing wasn't right. I managed to get some good, random stills of my friends that I will share in the coming months. My boots were worn in that whole trip, and everyday my feet were soaking wet. It was all worth it. One evening, Dave made clam soup (delicious). We drank wine and listened to records. Her grandma, Katie, was also visiting and told wonderful stories of her childhood. She is an awesome, inspiring woman. I hope to be as independent & full of life in my 80s.

grandma katie © Ava Alamshah

Hey! I'm going to have a table at LA Zine Fest, 2014! Wassup!!!

Excited / nervous as hell. More details as the time inches closer.

your friend,

ava