I know it’s a bit late, but recently I came across Samuel Rodriguez, a visual artist known for establishing Shorty Fatz art + design studio. I’ve seen his work at Loft in Space at Fresh Café and I failed to mention him on my blog. I followed him on Instagram and I’ve become obsessed with his work. I admire his use of multi-ethnic muses, unconventional prints and patterns while still maintaining a functional canvas. It works. It kind of represents Hawaii and its art community. We’ve evolved here, we’re no longer traditional artists. We’ve become risk takers, cultured brave souls with an understanding of the issues at hand and there’s always a message behind our work. Here Samuel Rodriguez showcases “walking melting pots,” which is not soley based on ethnicity but on visual identity.