Salvation Series 2025

This time around it’s so exciting to be able to present the work along with some thoughts. With that it a few thoughts on the series. First its named after the new store Salvation in Shoreline, WA that helped inspire getting back into the studio. Along with that the current time space. Who know what will happen, but what a time to dust off some ideas I gathered in the Philippines after the Asian Financial Crisis. Now as the future is uncertain, as folks talk more about the fall of the American Empire, the collapse of capitalism, and the fall of the Star Wars brand after Disney’s attempts to milk its cash cow, I find it the perfect time to make these. Will we be taken over by the AI chat agents? How is climate change and corruption impacting the Philippines? How is our colonization of western ideology doing?

In regards to the materials: Cotton shows up in my work here and there. It started with a roll of vintage WWII military cotton I found at a garage sale in Los Angeles. Cotton at the time, and perhaps still is used to pack wounds which provides the basis of this series. Shredded paper currency rains from the alternating skies as well as the shavings and shards of metal. Under the clouds of each is a Philippine star with a “Ka” symbol taken from materials published by the KDP activist organization that fought the Marcos Dictatorship in the 70’s & 80’s which signifies Kalayaan - freedom or liberation. Some contain Philippine soil as well. The figures I could say a bunch, but in general, are taken from my own collection that have had for many years. They all come from the Empire Strikes Back Micro Collection and follow along a couple of themes. Yes, the Ewoks will come…

— Jamie