Next Crypto Art Release: Thursday, August 26

Mark your calendars: I’ll be releasing my newest NFT collection on Hic et Nunc on Thursday, Aug 26 at 12pm PDT.

This release is part of a project called SCAPES, curated by architect and designer Gerri Witthuhn. It’s a group of architects and artists exploring the intersection of architecture and the environment. Check out this dreamy, spacious collection on Instagram at @scapes.xyz, and on the web at scapes.xyz.

We chose to release our work on Hic et Nunc because it’s the most sustainable option for the climate right now. I’ve decided that I personally won’t use Ethereum until it’s fully proof-of-stake.

Like last time, I’ll be donating 10% of my revenue to the Anti Police-Terror Project, which protects communities of color in Northern California from police violence.

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Design Milk Feature: How I Made Torus

This piece was just featured on Design Milk’s website and Instagram! I walked them through each step in the process of making Torus, this donut-shaped paper sculpture. Watch the preview video below, then read Design Milk’s article for more detail.

Book Feature — Paperists: Infinite Possibilities in Paper Art

My work is featured in a beautiful new coffee table book called Paperists: Infinite Possibilities in Paper Art by Sandu Publishing. You can get a sneak peek in this Colossal book review.

Other featured artists include JUDiTH+ROLFE, Pippa Dyrlaga, Makerie Studio, Ale Rambar, Zim & Zou, Diana Beltran Herrera, Sam Pierpoint, and Hazel Glass. All of them are worth following!

You can pre-order the book here.

Big Four Installation, Part II: Karl the Fog

In December, I did three large installations for the San Francisco office of a Big Four accounting firm. Each of their three executive boardrooms got a totally different style of installation. All three explored themes relating to the Bay Area.

This installation is a love note to Karl the Fog, San Francisco’s most iconic type of weather. By giving the fog its own nickname (and Twitter account), we’ve ascribed him intentions, feelings, and behaviors, which make his comings and goings all the more charming. As a Bay Area native, Divecha has always adored Karl the Fog. His presence feels comforting and familiar, like a cozy blanket on a cool morning.

Also see: Big Four Installation, Part I: Halfway to the Stars

Material Feels Podcast Interview

I’m excited to share an interview on Material Feels, a podcast that explores the intimate relationship between artists and their materials. Producer Catherine Monahon and I talk about my creative practice, how I discovered that paper was the right material for me, and the world I'm trying to create with my work.

Our conversation was delightful, snappy, silly, and energetic. I was thrilled to be talking to someone who not only deeply understands what’s like to work with one’s hands, but someone who is also similarly sensitive to noise! We even went on a whole long tangent about how to unload a dishwasher while minimizing clanging dish noises. (For your sake, though, Catherine edited out much of that bit.)

You can listen to the episode above, on the Material Feels website, or wherever you normally get your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher). Enjoy!

Virtual Workshop: Papercraft Fundamentals

I’ll be teaching a virtual workshop on papercraft fundamentals through The Level Up Project on Sunday, April 25th! Make a set of polyhedrons out of paper while honing basic skills like cutting, scoring, folding, and gluing.

It’s open to anyone who can safely handle a craft knife, and thanks to The Level Up Project’s redistributive wealth model, it will be free or subsidized for some folks. I’ll ship you the tools and materials in advance, and then we’ll learn together live online on April 25th!

⫸ Sunday, April 25th
⫸ 2-3:30pm PT, 5-6:30pm ET
⫸ Cost: Tiered pricing based on wealth, access, and equity
⫸ Register now!

This Papercraft Fundamentals workshop is part of a series of classes from The Level Up Project. Their mission is to remove systemic barriers within the fields of craft and design, and to help folks develop physical skills in these industries.

The redistributive wealth model is rad, and it’s one of the main reasons I was excited to teach this workshop! I was able to create a career in the arts because of an immense amount of privilege, and I want to make it easier for other folks to access this field and build their own skills.

époque évolution Interview

I recently did an interview and shoot with époque évolution, a local clothing brand. In addition to the usual topics (who am I, what’s the deal with my art), you can also read about my favorite life hack for getting annoying tasks done, tips for aspiring artists, a book that fundamentally changed my understanding of racism in the U.S., hot takes on buttered toast and ume plum vinegar, a brief rant about Trump, and a much longer list of TV recs than literally anyone asked for. Read the profile here; some of my favorite shots here.

Letterform Archive Acquisition

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My “Quiet Type” installation was just acquired by Letterform Archive, a museum dedicated to lettering, typography, calligraphy, and graphic design. It’ll be part of their permanent collection, and once things open up again, it’ll be on display for visitors to enjoy!

I can’t imagine a more meaningful home for this installation. Letterform Archive’s collection spans thousands of years of typographic history, and I’m humbled that they feel my art belongs there.

Also, I love that it’s going to be accessible to the public! Most of my artwork is currently in private collections, but this is one installation that anyone will be able to experience in person.

Some backstory: Two years ago, I participated in the 36 Days of Type, a global design competition in which illustrators, designers, and artists create one letter of the alphabet — and then the digits 0-9 — each day for 36 consecutive days. I had never undertaken that kind of rigorous creative challenge before, and scrambling to create a unique paper sculpture every day taught me so much about myself and my art practice. I was selected as one of six winners by Adobe, the competition sponsor that that year.

This series is one of my favorite things I’ve ever made, and I’m so glad I resisted the urge to split it up and sell it in parts. I wasn’t sure I would ever find the right home for the complete set, but two years later, I’m thrilled to have packed it up and handed it off to the team at Letterform Archive. Truly cannot imagine imagine better stewards for this beloved project.

Big Four Installation, Part I: Halfway to the Stars

In December, I did three large installations for the San Francisco office of a Big Four accounting firm. Each of their three executive boardrooms got a totally different style of installation. All three explored themes relating to the Bay Area.

This salon-style gallery wall, titled “Halfway to the Stars,” explores some of the many facets of California’s rich cultural history. Hidden amongst the abstract shapes and patterns are recognizable landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, the Transamerica Pyramid, and the California poppy. Less obvious motifs and symbols include: Ohlone shellmounds, to honor the unceded Indigenous territory we currently occupy. The pink triangle, for San Francisco’s history of LGBTQ and AIDS activism. Railroad tracks, to recognize the labor of Chinese immigrants who built much of the state’s early infrastructure. And rows of crops, to acknowledge the Latinx farmworkers who grow our food.

See: Big Four Installation, Part II: Karl the Fog

Books I've Read This Year

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I did an Instagram story series last week on some of the best books I read this year. If you’re looking for something to read, check out this list! I listened to most of these as audiobooks — I listen while I make art, drive, walk my dog, or do dishes. I highly recommend trying audiobooks if you feel like you don’t have time to read.

And in order to give less money to Amazon, I cancelled my Audible subscription and instead signed up for Libro.fm — they’re independently owned, and they give money to the local bookstore of your choice! If you use my referral link to sign up, we’ll each get a free audiobook. (Not sponsored or anything; this is just their standard referral program.)

If you’re on Goodreads and want to quickly add any of these titles, click here to see this list on Goodreads.

Sorry in advance for the silly formatting; these are screenshots from Instagram. Click to enlarge!

Zai's 2020 Gift Guide

Here are just a few of my favorite Bay Area artists, makers, and small businesses to shop this winter! If you can afford to support small businesses this holiday season, especially ones run by people of color, LGBTQ folks, and women, do it! Jeff Bezos doesn’t need your money. And you’ll get higher quality, more unique gifts, anyway!

This was originally an Instagram story series, hence the formatting, but I thought I should live on my website, too. Tap any image to enlarge; links to shp at the bottom of each image.

Where to Shop This Winter

UPDATE: Due to the Stay-at-Home order, we have decided to cancel the Sidewalk Sale. Stay tuned for other ways to see new art and shop!]

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Two options for how to shop this holiday season: online and in San Francisco!

Shop online: I’ll be doing a shop update at 12pm PST on Tuesday, December 1st. Last time, most items sold within a few minutes, so mark your calendars and perhaps consider setting an alarm.

[CANCELLED!] Shop in person in SF: I’ll be doing an outdoor, masked, distanced show with my studio neighbor, Yonder Shop! Come see new art in my windows, and then swing next door to shop Yonder’s gorgeous ceramics and other thoughtfully curated goods. Weather permitting; masks required.


Asterism

This triptych is now available in my online shop! I currently have three sets for sale. I will be donating 20% of the money to The Farmworker Project’s Fire Relief Fund. California farmworkers are experiencing a double whammy of unsafe work conditions because of the fires and Covid, and this money will go straight to farmworkers as hazard pay. Link to purchase in profile.

This triptych is named Asterism, which refers to a small collection of stars that’s smaller than a constellation. The Big Dipper is technically an asterism, because it’s part of the Ursa Major constellation. And in the typography world, an asterism is a set of three asterisks in a pyramid: ⁂

Portage: An Homage to Northern Minnesota's Boundary Waters

Earlier this summer, I made a piece for my sister Mia and her husband Nima, who live in Minneapolis. It’s inspired by the Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota, a place that holds special significance to several generations of my family.

The Boundary Waters is a gorgeous network of forested land masses and tiny lakes in Northern Minnesota, on the Canadian border. Check out the aerial shot below — it’s truly stunning. My mom, who grew up in Minnesota, went backpacking and canoeing there every summer. “Portaging” is when you carry your canoe and gear overland to get to the next lake — a combination of canoeing and backpacking.

Christopher Payne for The New York Times

Christopher Payne for The New York Times

As adults, Mia and Nima have fallen in love with the Boundary Waters, and have returned there a number of times. A few years back, they hosted my whole family for a portaging trip. It was really special to connect with a place was dear to my mom as a child.

For this piece, I rolled hundreds of tiny cones out of paper and arranged them in an organic pattern inspired by the Boundary Waters. This 22x40” piece now hangs over Mia and Nima’s fireplace in their Minneapolis home.

Black Lives Matter Art Raffle

UPDATE: We raised nearly $9,000! Thank you!

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Eleven other Bay Area artists and I are raising money for racial justice efforts. We’re each donating a piece of artwork to raffle off. Each raffle ticket costs $5, and the money will be split equally between six racial justice organizations. Tap or click to enlarge the images below to find out how to enter the raffle. Additional raffle details here.

This raffle is hosted by Jen Woo of Rogue Habits and neon artist Meryl Pataky. The money raised will support AAACC, Anti-Police Terror Project, Black Lives Matter, Black Visions Collective, Reclaim the Block, and So Oakland.

Participating artists include Aleksandra Zee, Erin Fong, Frankie Tobin, Katie Gong, Meghan Shimek, Meryl Pataky, Nipomo, Sam Lee, Stephanie Intelisano, West Perro, Whitney Sharpe of Latch Key Ceramics, Zai Divecha.

Thank you your support. Black lives matter. Let’s put our money where our mouths are.

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San Francisco Chronicle Feature

I was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle this past weekend! They did a beautiful (huge!) spread on four Bay Area artists — including my dear friends Windy Chien and Meghan Shimek. In the article, we discuss our mediums of choice, and how folks can nurture their own creative practices at home. Read the article here!

Paper Gem Garland Tutorial

New tutorial! Learn how to make this geometric, modern paper garland for your home. This tutorial is a little tricky — it requires use of a craft knife as well as a good deal of patience, so this one is for adults only. See Paper Gem Garland Tutorial for details, downloadable PDF template, and more!

Paper Star Tutorial

In times of stress, I find it very comforting to make things with my hands. I thought some of you might enjoy doing a little DIY project while you’re stuck indoors. Below is a tutorial on how to make paper stars! This soothing craft project is great for both kids and adults, and all you’ll need is a sheet of paper, pencil, scissors, and ruler. See Paper Star Tutorial for more details.

Thanks to my friend Jen Wong for teaching me how to make these stars when we were little kids, and for continuing to be an amazing friend to me 25+ years later.

Besharam Dinner Recap

I loved every minute of last night’s Besharam dinner event at the Minnesota Street Project. La Cocina’s Geetika Agrawal led an intimate and thoughtful conversation about how Chef Heena and I each channel the “besharam” (shameless) spirit into our careers. We talked about family, how our shared Indian heritages play into our lives, and what kind of experience or message we’re trying to convey with our craft. It felt pretty neat to be up there next to these two incredible, trailblazing South Asian women.

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We feasted on Chef Heena’s incredible Gujarati food—including samosas, dhokla, sev puri, and some of the best rasmalai I’ve ever had). I did a little paper-folding demo, and auctioned off two pieces to raise money for Pratham USA. And everyone took home a little handmade gift from me.

But the best part was that, because the event was capped at 30, I got meaningful time with everyone who attended! I loved getting to know all of the guests — it was such a fun mix of people in the food industry, writers, folks in the art world, collectors, and of course family (my parents!) and friends. Thank you all for appreciating Indian food and culture, and for supporting women of color who run their own businesses.

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