Kelsie Oreta

Photograph of an easel with two colorful paintings of a donut and one work in progress painting of a hot dog stuffy

Day 2 of my #oilpainting workshop with @alaiganuza.bsky.social at Studio Slew in #brooklyn #artsky

Picture of an oil painting of a brightly colored pink donut with sprinkles on an easel near its reference photo at a shared art studio space in Brooklyn, New York

Tried my hand at a different style of oil painting today with @alaiganuza.bsky.social. Day one of a two day workshop, check! #oilpainting #brooklyn #studioslew

Image in red, white and blue comparing Democracy vs Fascism, that reads as the following: Characteristics of Democracy -Equal ability for all citizens to vote -Freedom to make choices that affect the self and not others, such as speech, religion, assembly -Policy is decided by the majority of people -Rights of minority groups are respected by policy -Competing opinions, ideas and political parties allow for open debate -Separation of powers Characteristics of Fascism -Creates barriers for voting; fraudulent elections without oversight -Human rights can be ignored in cases of "need" determined by leader's goals -State control of economy, corporate power protected, labor power suppressed -Rampant sexism, homophobia, anti-intellectualism and suppression of arts -Suppression of the media and opposing views -Bribes and corruption used to centralize power for single leader with little to no accountability

Let’s be real, school was boring for many, especially lessons on government. Condemnation of anti-facism makes clear that much is forgotten or ignored from secondary education, so I put together this simple comparison of fascism and democracy to share with others.

If you believe that non-citizens do not have the rights your country claims to uphold, then you do not have rights at all, but privileges. And privileges can be revoked on a whim.

They have been bribed.

here’s a curse word free version of “look it up” as requested by countless teachers and librarians 🥰😘

Incredible line work, and your colors really pop!

Tens of thousands joined protests in two dozen Connecticut cities and towns with one message for Trump: #HandsOff.

The main lesson 50cent learned from me.

#robertgreene #psychology #50cent

The biggest thing we need to do is let people know that the protests are FUN. Yelling fuck the man is fun. You will meet fun people.

We also need to make them more fun. Bring grills like the French. Bring instruments like it’s Mardi Gras. Give people a reason to spend their weekend in the streets.

This is just the beginning!! 3.5% of the population is just around the corner! #handsoff #50501movement #mobilize #democracy

I am optimistic because I am not alone.

I hope today demonstrates that truth to every American. We are not alone. The People have the power.

Your sign is absolutely incredible!!! I painted mine too but yours is in another league!

crowd of protestors at the hands off rally protest at Washington monument in D.C. on April 5, 2025

My view when I first came upon the National Mall today for the Hands Off protest today in Washington D.C.—truly inspiring seeing all of the brave folks bussed in from all over the country! #handsoff #washingtondc

Photo of two protestors in costume at the hands off protest in Washington DC, one dressed as the Statue of Liberty and the other as an American revolutionary

Resistance as a source of joy #handsoff #washingtonDC #littleliberty

hear hear

Acrylic painting of grey dog with black and blue shadows on a white background by Kelsie Oreta

“Not my Dog” acrylic art on canvas, 2025 #acrylicpainting #artsky

Yet @algreen.house.gov is watching democracy crumble, taxpayers money fly out the window, mass firings in favor of billionaire subsidies and fascist sympathy, and he’s supposed to quietly wear a pink suit? @jahimes.bsky.social your constituents need you to be loud like @chrismurphyct.bsky.social

Disappointed to learn @jahimes.bsky.social voted to censure @algreen.house.gov. Over decorum? How have you not realized that decorum goes out the window when democracy is at stake? How is “decorum” a different conversation than what Zelensky wears? Represent the people, loudly, please.

Screenshot of Merriam-Webster dictionary website that reads “'Fascism' Lookups for fascism have remained high for months, and it was one of the most looked-up words again this week. In a city that became a seedbed for fascism in the 1930s, [Vice President J.D.] Vance aligned the "new sheriff in town" with European hard- and far-right populist parities that have been on the rise in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Britain. - Nick Bryant, The Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald, 24 Feb. 2025 While fascism is often used broadly to refer to any tendency toward (or exercise of) autocratic or dictatorial control, historically it refers to a political philosophy, movement” binging attention to current events in America where there Elon-Trump regime is representing facism

. @merriam-webster.com out here with the subtle activism, I see you!

Happening right in front of us

Photo of book On Tyranny Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

FaceTimed my mom the other day, she was in the company of two MAGA relatives. They *finally* expressed mild #dissent against their guy, so I anonymously sent @timothysnyder.bsky.social‘s On Tyranny to their door. Is there a name for nonconsensual book gifting? Book bombing? #booksky

Hey, artists, in case you were wondering if your work matters: I'm a scientist working on climate change and biodiversity, and I would not be who I am today without The Lorax, The Secret of NIMH, Watership Down, The Last Unicorn, and The X-Files. I know I'm not alone. Thank you for all you do.

Little boy reading a book in front of a freelittlelibrary small library box on a bench in a public park

The magic of @littlefreelibrary.bsky.social at Southport Park in Fairfield, CT ♥️✨

Picture of a colorful artist’s palate with dark neutrals and bright pinks purples yellows and blues for a sunset forest scene

Color palate & underpainting ready for my next #oilpainting! It’s been a while since I’ve started an oil painting from scratch—a long stretch of finishing up large pieces with small acrylics peppered in

Depression: How to Stop the Spiral Yesterday, a friend and I were discussing depression. They spoke of how slowly they slid into decline, waking up to a place they didn’t realize they were headed. When friends reassured them that “e…

New blog post! #mentalhealth #depression

This brought me so much joy. Lovely, especially how they broke a traditional choral formation to hover amongst the state leaders. Total power move by the U.S. Army Choir at the National Governer’s Association dinner this weekend

"This chapter will be written, not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office, nor by the wealthiest among us. The American story will be written by you, written by us, by WE THE PEOPLE." - Kamala Harris, NAACP Image Awards (02.22.25)