Ginger Che (b. 1970)

+ Bio

Ginger Che, Mixed Media Artist

Ginger Che, born in Taiwan and raised in Germany, made La Jolla California her art & design base from 1992- 2008 while raising her first child as a single mother.  She lived in San Francisco for the following three years and currently resides in Malibu, California, with her husband, artist and entrepreneur Andy Howell, and their two children.

Che's work is autobiographical. She uses memory, meditation, intuition, and dream as sources for her work. Che's  work communicates multiculturalism, spirituality, female sexuality, and the complexity of relationships. The pursuit in bridging the cultural divide between East and West within herself is obvious in all her work. Che achieves beauty that consists of overlays and diffuses the self into the undifferentiated whole, into the million changes of things within her art. The multiculturalism is the blending with her communities, including all cultures and people she meets. These are represented by images, timeless symbols, and objects; which are also part of the media. Materials, such as, rice, glass, beads, glitter, sand, flowers, kelp, paper, and denim often appear in her work as symbols for nurture, pain, beauty, mother earth, diligent learning, and personal style. The abstraction comes from the imagination and expresses the self through dripping, smudging and blending of paint. Due to the reflective media the work shimmers and changes while viewed from different angles.

Light changes Che's work representing that nothing is ever still...not even in a painting.  Life is juxtaposed with death through bright and dark hues as her symbol for spirituality. The female power to give life is articulated through the shape of the vagina -sometimes obvious, other times it is hidden in the flow of the paint. Two opposite colors are often juxtaposed to represent two beings interacting beautifully as individuals without "becoming one".

Che believes that all disciplines and mediums are connected. Therefore, she works with a variety of media including painting, collage, sculpture, poetry, installation, assemblage, performance, interior-and fashion design.

Artists whose work have inspired Che are Vincent van Gogh,  Robert Rauschenberg, Jackson Pollock, Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol, and Gustav Klimt, amongst many others.

Che is also known for her one-of-a kind jewelry, apparel, and accessories, and has launched several collections and businesses in her career including fathom design, Ginger Che jewelry, clothing & accessories, Daydream apparel, jewelry & accessories, Fathom Design Gallery, Ginger Che Boutique, and "gingerche.com", an online gallery. Ginger Che & fathom design jewelry, apparel & accessories have been worn and collected by art lovers, artists, designers and celebrities around the world for the past two decades.  Che studied under the founders of Conceptual Art: Eleanor & David Antin, she also worked with Barbara Krueger, Faith Ringgold, Italo Scanga, Li Huai, Kim Mac Connel, Ernest Silva, and Raul Guerrero.  Che earned her BA in Visual Art (Studio) with high Honors from University California San Diego.

 

+ Exhibitions

2018 Hotel/Motel SD, CA
2017 Hotel/Motel, "silence is within you", collection of 15 paintings, fallentreeexhibitions.com San Diego, California.
2014 Malibu Artists Unite, “birds of a feather”, Malibu, California.
2013
"The Release" by Andy Howell & Ginger Che, Studio Number One,
1331 West Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, California.
2012
Skate It Or Hang It, MODA Museum of Design Atlanta, "The Release" by Andy
Howell & Ginger Che, Atlanta, GA.
2012-2013
Bleeding Mother Earth, Collection of 20 paintings, solo exhibition, Nue Studio, Miami, Florida.
2011
analog<>digital, an artsprojekt exhibition @ The Meridian Gallery-San Francisco, California.
2010
edge of love- an artsprojekt exhibition, "she-wolf", strychnin gallery, Berlin, Germany.
2009-book publication : Art For Obama-Designing Manifest Hope and the Campaign
for Change-edited by Shepard Fairy and Jennifer Gross.
2009
-Paint The Town Red, Red Tie Gala benefiting -Silent Art Auction-works
include Ginger Che, Andy Howell, Pablo Picasso & more.
-Ginger Che one-of-a-kind jewelry at The Escondido Center for the Arts, CA.
-The American Red Cross Bay Area, group exhibition with Ginger Che, Andy
Howell, Pablo Picasso and many more..., San Francisco City Hall, CA.
-AGENDA Show 09, San Diego, CA. Jim Mahfood, Mike Kershnar, Chor Boogie,
Crol, Andy Howell, Ginger Che, Slick, Soldier Leisure.
2008
-Manifest Hope Exhibition-Obama Campaign, DC Gallery, Washington.
Irvine Contemporary Art Gallery, Obama portrait "What's Going On?" mixed
media painting, Washington, DC .

- Art Basel, Corpor-n-ation, Miami, Florida.
-Manifest Hope Exhibition, Andenken Gallery, Denver, CO.
2007 Love Requires Action, The Freedom Project, Anaheim, CA.
Brave Art, a subversive visual art exhibit showcasing diverse artists, Encinitas, CA
2006 Hope, thegluenetwork.com, mural painting, Costa Mesa, CA.
-JEP 3-year anniversary party: life painting by Ginger Che & Andy Howell, La Jolla, CA.
- 'Ginger Che' solo show, Bleu Boutique & Showroom Opening, PB, CA.
-'All Beings Are One', solo show, Ronk Salon, SD, CA.
2005 'Intellectual Property' Preet Srivastava & Ginger Che. 72 Street, Brooklyn, New York, NY 10021.
-Kinokuniya Gallery, Sydney Australia, October '05. Solo Show & Life Painting Exhibit featuring Andy Howell & Ginger Che.
-Ginger Che-recent works, Bird Rock Gallery, La Jolla, CA.
-'Kaleidoscope' La Jolla Art Association Gallery, La Jolla, CA.
'As Time Goes By: The La Jolla Art Association at 87'. The Village Gallery. 7932 Ivanhoe Avenue. La Jolla, CA.
2004 San Diego Art Institute/ Museum of the Living Artist. C-NOTE Show. House of Charm, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA.
--Preetworks Gallery, 'Internal & External Figure', Brooklyn, New York.
-Bird Rock Gallery. Ginger Che- Fathom Mixed Media. La Jolla, CA.
-San Diego Art Institute/ Museum of the Living Artist. San Diego Regional Artists & 'One Foot' Show. House of Charm, Balboa Park, SD.
-Original Art Street Banner Program, Gaslamp Quarter Association, SD, CA.
-LJAA Library Art Show. La Jolla Library, La Jolla, CA.
-Scopello Fine Art Gallery. Triptych: Longevity, mixed media on canvas. 63 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11217.
-La Jolla Art Association Membership Show 2004, La Jolla, CA.
-Third Annual 'Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Festival' in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA.
-'Preet & Ginger’s' Recent Works', Galoka Gallery, La Jolla, CA.
-6th Annual San Diego Multicultural Festival, San Diego, CA.
2003 Sixty Recent Works by Ginger Che, solo show, Indigo, SD, CA.
-'...all beings are one...', solo show, Fathom Design Gallery, La Jolla, CA.
-Yin & Yang In Love, solo show, Price Center Gallery A & B, University California SD, LJ, CA.
2003 Hotels/Motels at the Travelodge, SD, CA.: 'If you believe in oneness & love…”
-Original Art Street Banner Program, Gaslamp Quarter Association, 'Longevity', SD, CA.
-Understood, a skateboard art show, 'Lotus', Cassius King Gallery, SD, CA.
-La Jolla Art Association: An Art Show to Benifit LJAA & The Friends of Children United Society, Coronado Cays, CA.
-Asian Fusion Art Show, Galoka Gallery, La Jolla, CA.
-Vagina Monologue, “twolips” & “between 4 lips”. UCSD Price Center, LJ, CA.
-Understood, a white cube of sorts, a skateboard art show to benefit homeless teenagers in San Diego, CA
-Fathom Mixed Media, solo show, Cafe 976, SD, CA
2001 San Diego Chinese Art Society Festival, Center for the Performing Arts, SD, CA
-Any1canfly, student show with professor Faith Ringgold, Mandaville UCSD, CA
-Who Have I Become?, solo show, Cafe 976, SD, CA
-eintagsfliege, student show with professor Faith Ringgold, Mandaville UCSD,CA
-Breaking Down Walls, Opening Minds, art competition & exhibit for a hate free campus, UCSD, CA
-Understood, a skateboard art show to benefit homeless teenagers in San Diego, CA
-Manifest, a women's group show. 838 G street, SD, CA
2001-2002 Flowers of Life, Anissa M., La Jolla, CA
2001 Turning Myself In...side...out!: paintings, sculptures, poetry, collage, assemblage, and installation, Annex Gallery UCSD, CA
-Who AM I?, solo show, East Village Cafe, SD, CA
-Naive Narcissism, solo show, 30 self portraits, The Pannikin Cafe, LJ, CA
2000 Annual Student Art Exhibition, San Diego Mesa College Gallery, CA
1999 Annual Student Art Exhibition, San Diego Mesa College Gallery, CA
1998 Annual Student Art Exhibition, San Diego Mesa College Gallery, CA
1997 Watercolors of Flowers Within, solo show, Cafe 976, SD, CA
1996 Watercolors of Ocean Blossoms, solo show, Cafe 976, SD, CA
1995 Ginger Che: drawings & watercolors from 1993 to 1995, solo show, Healthy Choice Bar, SD, CA

Performances:
2006 San Diego Experience, television show (pilot), fashion host.
2003 Motion Picture 'Don't Blink' -Neighbor (Lead) UCSD Productions, Megan O'Connor Dir.
2002 Motion Picture 'Three Brief Phases' Lover, (Lead) UCSD Productions, Megan O'Connor Dir.
2001 Solo performance-marathon performance:' what is performance art?', 'Abortion', Che Cafe UCSD, La Jolla, CA.
2000 Koopmann, Streness Blue, Lounge Collaboration-Sensual Living CD, Ginger Che voice on 3., 8., Wiesbaden: Streness Blue, Accessories GMBH, Skyline Musik Verlag, 2000, advertised in Elle Magazine (Germany).

Fashion Design:

2008  Keep A Breast Foundation- Fashion Show featuring painted breast casts and
fashion by Ginger Che & Kites by Carla Manuel.
2007  daydream collection for eggprojects,inc
2006  Jeans For Justice- a unprecedented fashion & lifestyle event, exposing designers & artists, honoring Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and benefiting the San Diego Center for Children (SDCC)
-San Diego Experience (pilot), television host, SD, CA.
-Catwalk through the Gardens-Jan.21,2006 fashion show.'The Festival of Life' at the Quail Botanical Gardens, Encinitas, CA
2005 reDEFINE: fashion show, a club e3 Eco Fashion Show, Ginger Che-handmade couture apparel, accessories and jewelry, San Diego State University, SD.
-Fusion Fashion Show. charity benefit, oct.6, 2005. The season 1 and 2 cast of LAGUNA BEACH. A fashion show at On Broadway to benefit Running Home 4 Teens-a charity dedicated to preventing teen suicide and depression. SD, CA. Fathom Design clothing, jewelry and accessories.
-Eco Fashion Show UN-WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (WED) San Francisco June 1 to June 5, 2005. Fathom jewelry and purses in the WILD-SIDE ECO-CHIC fashion show.
-Fashion Show, 'Fashion for the Senses', Fathom Design & Euphesus Salon, 615 On Broadway, SD, CA.
2004 Fashion Show, One Year Anniversary 944 Magazine, W Hotel, San Diego.
-Motion Picture Wardrobe-Fathom Design by Ginger Che- for 'As Good As Touching', a short film by Megan O'Conner-Dir., UCSD Productions.
2003 Television Commercial (channel Fox 6) for Let's go of La Jolla, La Jolla, CA.
2002-2003 letsgoclothing.com & goclothing.com- internet store, model, SD, CA
2002 Fashion Show: Let's Go of La Jolla & Niche Boutique, The Abbey,SD, CA.
-Fashion Show: Kites Design, Niche Boutique, Fathom Design by Ginger Che, designer, model. Shaker Room, SD, CA.
2001Underwear Catalogue for Deux Soeurs, model, San Diego, CA.
2000 Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Catalog, model, Germany
1999 Longboard Magazine, model, SD, CA 1997 Bild, Bremen-Das Wetter, model, Germany
1996 Bremen Sonderheft, Essen und Trinken, model, Germany
1995 Exploring Germany, model, SV Medien Service GmbH Munich, Germany
1994 San Diego Home and Garden, Hathunter Hats, model, La Jolla, CA
1992 Silk Salon, model, San Diego, CA
1991 Sylter Nachrichten-Das Wetter, model, Germany

Press Releases/ Media:
2007 Women’s Wear Daily, WWD Thursday, Cape Up, fathom design by Ginger Che, April 3, 2007.
2006 San Diego City Beat, Get Your Art On, Oct. 4, 2006.
San Diego Union Tribune, SD, Currents: New show zooms in on San Diego by Mark Sauer. Feb.9, 2006.
Los Angeles City Beat-The Climate Is Right, Sep 14, 2006.
Howell & Che Show at PDA Art Event, San Diego, CA.
2005 NY City Press, NY Sun World Art Media, Television: East Village Life, Manhattan Cable Channel 5 'Intellectual Property' an art show with Preet Srivastava & Ginger Che.
News: Fashion Careeers College, CA interviews Ginger Che.
-Arts & Entertainment, Gay & Lesbian Times, Thread: Trunk Show Puts San Diego On The Fashion Map May 19, 2005 Issue 908 By Jennifer Chung
-Magazine 944, SD volume 4, issue 5. 'Late Night Sushi Party' by sandiegomix.com .
-Magazine 944, San Diego volume 4, issue 1. eye candy.
-B05 Boutiques: 'Best Accessory Selection Fathom Design by Ginger Che'.

Ginger Che and her husband Andy Howell collaborate on the self portrait "Ching-Teh Released" in 2005.  Sydney, Australia.  (p. Ionescu)

+ Impressum

Degrees:

2002 BA, Fine Art (Studio), Magna Cum Laude, University California San Diego
2001 AA, Fine Art, Dean’s Honors, San Diego Mesa College, CA

Honors:

2002 Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
-Golden Key International Honor Society
2000-2002 UCSD Provost's Honors
-The National Dean's List
1998-2000 Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
-Dean’s Honors List San Diego Mesa College

Grant:
2002 Russel Grant, UCSD

Volunteer work:

2014-present The Sycamore School, Malibu, California.

2012-2014 Webster Elementary School, Malibu California.

2002 Conceptual photographic art project “The Fall of Pompeii” with professor Eleanor Antin, UCSD, CA
2000-2001 Assistant to professor Italo Scanga for sculpture and drawing courses at UCSD, CA
1998-2000 Mesa College Art Gallery, SD, CA
1995-1999 San Diego City School Volunteer- Bird Rock Elementary School, taught painting & reading, grades 1-6

Membership:
2007-2008 Cambridge Who’s Who
2004-2006 San Diego Art Institute-Museum of the Living Artist, CA
2003-2006 La Jolla Art Association, CA

Work experience:

2016-present   private Art & Chinese language instructor, Malibu, CA
2002-present   artist, designer, private stylist, 
chehowell.com, Malibu, CA
2002-2008 Ginger Che Boutique & Showroom, owner, La Jolla, CA
2005-2007 eggprojects, inc. brand incubator & hatchery, creative director, La Jolla, CA
2005-2006 San Diego Experience-television show (pilot), fashion host, San Diego, CA
2002-2006 Private Art & Jewelry Design courses for young adults, instructor, La Jolla, CA
2003 Learning Annex, How to Achieve Success as a Jewelry Designer, instructor, San Diego, CA

2000-2001 Assistant to Professor Italo Scanga for sculpture and drawing courses, UCSD, La Jolla, CA

1997-2002 San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, San Diego, CA

1995-1997 Let’s Go of La Jolla Boutique, La Jolla, CA

1992-1995 fashion model, model scout, make-up artist, stylist, San Diego,

La Jolla, CA

1992-2005 fashion model, hair model, stylist, San Diego, CA