an illustration id a giant hot dog acting as a bridge between two red rock cliffs. There is a rainbow arching over the hot dog in a blue sky with scattered fluffy white clouds.
2023 Feb 25 Sat
ACME, Art Making
What's Ya' Blueprint? Hot Dog Bridge Opening Event!

Saturday, February 25 | 10 am–12 pm 
FREE | All ages are welcome! 
Registration is required | Register Here

So, what's your blueprint? Join the UMFA for an artmaking workshop with local multidisciplinary artist Shalandrea Houchen in celebration of Black History Month, inspired by the lithograph, Hot Dog Bridge by Russell T. Gordon, and the speech Your Life’s Blueprint by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  

In his speech, presented at Philadelphia's Barratt Junior High School, Dr. King asked the students "...do you have a proper, a solid and a sound blueprint." He powerfully asserts the importance of a deep belief in your own dignity, worth, and somebody-ness, and a determination of excellence, especially to Black Americans. He encourages them to not be ashamed of themselves with words that transcend time.  

We’ll use these elements of self-determination to parallel the self-expression of artist Russell T. Gordon and his unique take on a “traditional” Western landscape as a Black artist living in a predominantly white state. Make your own mixed-media collages to explore these connections through art and dialogue.  

Shalandrea Houchen, a young Black woman with a mauve shirt and purple flowers alongside her face

Shalandrea Houchen 
SLC/NYC/LA/VIBES 
She can be found on social media at: @allnaturalingredient @artbyallnatural @whats.ya.vibe 
Contact 

Shalandrea Renee Houchen is a LA-born-NYC-raised performative artist and designer that uses everyday objects like Black hair, its accessories, and vibrant media to express our society's love, hate, fear, and confidence. Her intention is to awaken, activate joy through humor, and record history.  

From creating to producing, Shalandrea does it all! She was mentioned in the New York Times for her installation What's Ya Zodiac? – a twelve-room zodiac art playground. Shalandrea now uses elements of astrology in her work highlighting our differences and similarities through elements like water and fire. In honor of her mother, Yolanda Renee Thomas, she often uses pearls representing her connection to the divine and ability to see beauty in all things that are deemed imperfect. She also uses digital art Pop Art to express the continual need for diverse media motifs that occur in the United States. 

The use of music plays a major part in Shalandrea's work. She uses her feet, hands, and objects to create beats and vibrations on her work that jump out of the canvas or the ceiling to create experiences. With each piece being story-based Shalandrea makes narratives using provocative bursts of energy along with tranquil brush strokes. She also creates instruments to then be used as tools for spreading and blending colors. She was theatrically trained from age five by Wendy Raquel Robinson and Denise Dowse. From stage to film performing, she has been in Scorsese's Vinyl and also won a NAACP award for her role in the song Yes, Mistress It's a Pity! in the South African play SARAFINA! 

Now as a teaching artist and founder of What's Ya Vibe?, Shalandrea has worked with over 1,000 youth in Los Angeles, New York City, and Salt Lake City teaching curriculum based on themes of wellness, self-care, art therapy, and multicultural arts. As a youth advocate, she places mental health on a pedestal with an understanding of clarity exposing arts healing powers.