Juro Kim Feliz Announces GKBoy and Partnership with Yuna Kim

Monday, June 29, 2020

KHN Alumnx (2019) Juro Kim Feliz, composer, announced the debut single of his musical creation/project, Grumpy Kitty Boy (GKBoy), "Airplane Wings," has debuted, and the release is now available via Bandcamp as well as other digital streaming platforms. Juro also announced he and fellow KHN Alumnx (2019) Yuna Kim, visual artist, have formed a collaborative partnership for GKBoy. Yuna created cover art, and art/illustrations for the release, and plans are in the works for an animated lyric video for the single. Juro and Yuna are working on merchandise and other extras to accompany another single release later this year, and for the official EP release slated for January 2021. Juro and Yuna met during their KHN residencies in August last year.

Juro mentioned that his KHN residency was very instrumental in making this possible. "Airplane wings fly to Nebraska. Words emerge out of endless blue skies. Paws touch solid ground as miles stretch across cornfields. Melodies and piano strings finally fill in the grumpy silences. An artist residency at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts gave birth to this song⁠—now released as a Grumpy Kitty Boy debut single! Big thanks to Holly McAdams Olson and Sara Ammon for an inspiring time there!" Juro said he wrote this song on the way to his KHN residency, starting with the lyrics during his travel to Nebraska via plane, and the music followed, written while he was at KHN.

GKBoy "Airplane Wings," by Juro Kim Feliz, was mixed by Rojh Baquiran, master work by Sebastián Gómez Mancheno, art and character design by Yuna Kim. The livestream release is still available on GKBoy's Facebook page (see link), from the online release party on June 26. The link to the song on Bandcamp is below.

Hailing from the Philippines, Toronto-based composer Juro Kim Feliz has collaborated with artists including the Thin Edge New Music Collective, ensemble x.y, and Liminar, garnering performances of his works in Southeast Asia, Israel, Greece, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada and the United States. Pursuing studies in the University of the Philippines and McGill University under the supervision of Jonas Baes and Melissa Hui, he also sought mentorship with composers Liza Lim, Dieter Mack, Linda Catlin Smith, and the Japanese koto performer Hiroko Nagai. Since receiving the Goethe South East Asian Young Composer Award in 2009, he appeared in several festival programs including the Yogyakarta Contemporary Music Festivals, Asian Composers League festivals, Music Biennale Zagreb, New Music on the Bayou, MATA Festival, Nief-Norf Summer Festival, and the MUSLAB Festival. His percussion duo work Gandingan sa Kagiliran is released in the album “Millennial Masters, Vol. 7” under Ablaze Records. Besides activities involving composition, Feliz also engaged in community radio as a producer and co-host of Sigaw ng Bayan Montreal at CKUT 90.3 FM (2015-2017). As a library resident artist of the Canadian Music Centre Ontario (2018-2019), he produced a blog/podcast series named Nomadic Sound Worlds which explores and situates Canadian contemporary music within present-day global migration.

Yuna Kim is an artist working in various media. Her work examines how personal confession is ever-evolving in the public sphere, and how culture and environment intersect as we construct our ideas and conceptions of self. Born and raised in South Korea, she graduated from Hong-Ik University with a BFA in Printmaking and a BA in Art Theory. She received her MFA in Print Media from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Currently, she is residing and working in Phoenix, Arizona. Her work has exhibited regionally and nationally across the United States and internationally at venues such as the International Biennale of Engraving of Sarcelles, France; the Chang Ucchin Museum of Art, South Korea and several others.

Check out the link to the recording from GKBoy's premier release party, as well as learn more about Juro and Yuna on their websites, below.

Congratulations, Juro and Yuna/GKBoy!

GKBoy on Instagram

GKBoy / "Airplane Wings" via Bandcamp

GKBoy on Facebook

GKBoy on YouTube

Juro Kim Feliz - website

Yuna Kim - website

Recording of Facebook Live Event: Online Release Party for "Airplane Wings" by GKBoy

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My favorite aspect of the residency was the undistracted, solitary time to work! My studio (#2) was wonderful with both the natural and track lighting and the garage door.

Myszka Lewis

Visual Artist, 2018 — Madison, WI

There's so much I like! I like the intimate nature of the residency and how the very excellent alone time is balanced with just a bit of togetherness with the organized lunch and invites to some stuff in town. I love the Third Thursday open house.

Betsy Andrews

Writer, 2018 — Brooklyn, NY

I thought the number of residents was perfect. It was easy to get to know everyone, and feel comfortable here. Both my living and studio accommodations were very comfortable and welcoming.

Hannah Newman

Visual Artist, 2018 — Springfield, MO

The Staff was very supportive, it was easy to reach out and discuss anything. The facilities are also very comfortable, and the environment is great for working.

Jayoung Yoon

Visual Artist, 2018 — Beacon, NY

The open gallery night was especially wonderful. I really enjoyed the chance to share my work with the larger community and to hear their feedback and questions — as well as to see and hear the work of the other residents.

Sonia Scherr

Writer, 2018 — Norwich, VT

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Katy Mixon

Visual Artist, 2018 — Brooklyn, NY

This place is shockingly quiet. The welcome letter mentions that, but it's nothing compared to the actual silence on the grounds. The town itself aids to this, and it yields an excellent environment for creativity.

Kory Reeder

Composer, 2017 — Kearney, NE

The interdisciplinary structure is really beneficial and generates unique conversations while providing mutual inspiration for residents. The staff is engaged but is also very conscious of respecting the time and space of each resident. Nebraska City has excellent institutions but still provides a quiet and slow-paced setting. The apartment and studio are well equipped, clean, and well maintained.

Kari Varner

Visual Artist, 2017 — University City, MO

Facilities, staff, and the ease with which I was able to simply settle in and work all exceeded my expectations!

Lauren W. Westerfield

Writer, 2017 — Moscow, ID

I think the facility at KHN could not be more ideally suited for an artist residency program. I felt like I was staying in a very comfortable private home and I had everything that I needed to do my work, and having the private bathroom and spacious kitchen was wonderful.

Gary Peter

Writer, 2017 — St. Paul, MN

Peace and quiet. Beautiful facilities! Piano was great, staff was very friendly and helpful. And that Mexican place is EXCELLENT.

Jonathan Russ

Composer, 2017 — Brooklyn, NY

KHN is a wonderful facility in a beautiful space. It was great to have time to focus on my work, and I took advantage of the location to photograph several nearby prairies and natural areas.

Amanda Breitbach

Visual Artist, 2017 —Lincoln, NE

The staff was so helpful and accommodating. I couldn't believe how easy they made everything. They also were always ready to find things for me and share resources. This made everything so much easier since I had travelled from too far to bring a lot of extra items for my studio practice. I loved that there was a mix of writers, artists and composers. This mix made for great conversations and interesting meetings.

Julia Staples

Visual Artist, 2017 — Philadelphia, PA

The space and set up were great! This is one of my favorite residencies thus far. The location of the apartment wasn't too far from civilization but also in a good area for it not to be super noisy nor was there lots of traffic or other sounds. The middle school across the street wasn't at all a distraction. I also really loved the dessert spots and greatly appreciated the staff's flexibility and availability to help, answer questions, drive you to the store when needed. All the details were thought of right down to a bathroom mat and miscellaneous supplies available in its own closet.

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Writer, 2017 — Kew Gardens, NY

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Rachel Peters

Composer, 2017 — Brooklyn, NY

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Dan Fishback

Composer, 2017 — Brooklyn, NY

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Katherine Bickmore

Visual Artist 2017 — Albany, NY

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Writer, 2012 — Los Angeles, CA

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Christina Vogel

Visual Artist, 2013 — Omaha, NE

I was able to produce more in my 3 week residency than I can normally in half a year. The building itself was inspiration for me and I enjoyed the small number of artists present at one time. The staff was incredibly helpful with their time, resources and ideas.

Desiree Moore

Visual Artist, 2016 — Indianapolis, IN

The residency was flawless in all areas. Facilities were charming and clean, the program structure open-ended, staff talented and kind, Nebraska City vibrant and idiosyncratic. I truly cannot single out any particular facet, as all aspects complemented the others: the architecture promotes seclusion and community, the structure promotes exploration and collaboration, the staff promotes well-being and cohesiveness, and the town promotes discovery in digestible pieces. Perfecto!

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Writer 2016 — Omaha, NE

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Juro Kim Feliz Announces GKBoy and Partnership with Yuna Kim

Juro Kim Feliz Announces GKBoy and Partnership with Yuna Kim

What the Artists are Saying...

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