Dave Barnes’ Eatin Right!

Evidently Dave Barnes is a somewhat famous soul musician, but that’s not the Dave Barnes we’re talking about here. The Dave Barnes we’re talking about is a Canadian artist and illustrator who combines gritty materials and dated colors with polished illustrations to form what he calls “oldification.” His pieces are nostalgic yet humorous and modern at the same time — the best of all times.

And, as you’ll notice in this piece below, Eatin’ Right, Barnes pays a lot of attention to small details. Check out the random related newspaper clippings, the pen marks added around the rooster’s head, or the slightly faded starbursts in the background.

Barnes will be a part of a group show titled “Made In Canada,” at the Bear and Bird in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The show opened yesterday, and Barnes’ work will be shown alongside that of artists like Rey Ortega and Lori Joy Smith.

Written by
Vee Hua 華婷婷

Vee Hua 華婷婷 (they/them) is a writer, filmmaker, and organizer with semi-nomadic tendencies. Much of their work unifies their metaphysical interests with their belief that art can positively transform the self and society. They are the Editor-in-Chief of REDEFINE, Interim Managing Editor of South Seattle Emerald, and Co-Chair of the Seattle Arts Commission. They also previously served as the Executive Director of the interdisciplinary community hub, Northwest Film Forum, where they played a key role in making the space more welcoming and accessible for diverse audiences.

Vee has two narrative short films. Searching Skies (2017) touches on Syrian refugee resettlement in the United States; with it, they helped co-organize The Seventh Art Stand, a national film and civil rights discussion series against Islamophobia. Reckless Spirits (2022) is a metaphysical, multi-lingual POC buddy comedy for a bleak new era, in anticipation of a feature-length project.

Vee is passionate about cultural space, the environment, and finding ways to covertly and overtly disrupt oppressive structures. They also regularly share observational human stories through their storytelling newsletter, RAMBLIN’ WITH VEE!, and are pursuing a Master’s in Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship under the Native American Studies Department at the University of Minnesota.

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Written by Vee Hua 華婷婷
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