Fallen Star: Dedicated to Huey P. Newton

They could never understand
what u set out 2 do
instead they chose 2
ridicule u

when u got weak
they loved the sight
of your dimming
and flickering starlight

How could they understand what was so intricate
2 be loved by so many, so intimate
they wanted 2 c your lifeless corpse
this way u could not alter the course
of ignorance that they have set
2 make my people forget

- Tupac Shakur

The child asked what happened to the people? The old man replied, "They lost their history so they died."

Fela Anikulapo Kuti or simply Fela, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick. James Brown cited him as one of the originators of funk. Afro-beat music is basically a fusion of American jazz and funk with West African high-life.
You can check out Fela's musical voyage and just his story in the Broadway musical presented by Jay-Z and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Human Trophies for Sale

Date back to 1673, in the heights of the slave trade, African kids being sold as trophies in Europe. Take it closer to home, celebrities making the voyage to Africa to adopt a child. My intent is not to take away from the genuineness of adopting, I'm just stating my observation. Take from it what you please.

THE TINGUIAN

The word "Tinguian" may have been derived from the Malay word "tinggi," which means mountain or highlands, and may have been coined during the early Spanish period. These are Filipino tribes from the mountains, I found myself intrigued with the women in these photos and decided to share.

The mother of us all.

Randomly found this image online. But it represents the mother of all humankind. And I think it's one of the most beautiful depictions I've seen in a while.

Merely by describing yourself as black you have started on a road towards emancipation, you have committed yourself to fight against all forces that seek to use your blackness as a stamp that marks you out as a subservient being.

Nnenna Okore is a Nigerian artist now working in the United States. She is an Assistant Professor and Chair of the Art Department at North Park University, Chicago, where she teaches Spatial Art, Advanced Studio, Two and Three Dimensional Design, Drawing I and Video Art. Okore often uses discarded yet reusable materials such as magazines and newspapers found in the United States. In redeeming these everyday waste and found objects, Okore’s works brings a focus on consumerism, excessive wastefulness, and transformation of materials. Other materials employed in her work include clay, rope, wax, wood, and burlap.

A Must See

Thom Browne for Moncler

The genius tailoring of Thom Browne added a new edge to ski wear. This season Moncler Gamme Bleue has definitely went above and beyond.

Hansel & Gretel

Lady Gaga plays the witch in this month's editorial spread in Vogue.

Levi Uribe was my first subject when I was trying my eye at digital photography.

Flappers

Flappers was the term used in the 1920's to describe this new breed of women. These women hiked up their frock tails and went against the "acceptable" behavior. They had bob haircuts, treated sex casually, smoked, drove their own cars and wore excessive make-up. Flappers redefined the role of women.

Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau, their necks embellished with bullets after they executed the most renowned drug lord.
There's a certain cycle that goes on in this country, and it may never stop. 3days after this photograph was taken, every soldier in this group picture was killed and sent back to their village to be buried. An eye for an eye, and 6 dead bodies for one(they call it the vengeance of the old testament.)

Daphne Guinness, member of the Guinness brewing family and style icon was spotted wearing Nina Ricci's gravity defying shoes from this season. She's been quoted to say "Dali had the right concept, evening gowns at breakfast."

Save Fashion

The ultimate sample sale of the year. Brands from Acne to Band of Brothers to Helmut Lang will be there.
Date: November 13-22
Address: 237 Lafayette Street (between Prince and Spring Streets), NYC
Hours: Friday, 11/13 - 7:00AM - 9:00PM;
Saturday-Saturday 11/14-21, 10:00AM-9:00PM;
Sunday 11/22, 10:00AM-5:00PM
For more details check out Savefashion.com

Her

Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night hoping to find you laying beside me.

Roy DeCarava

"Photography is taking what is, and making it yours."
He said, the only thing he wants to capture is the wind. "I don't want to photograph what the wind makes move, I want to be able to capture the actual wind."
"Nothing worth knowing is instantly fathomable."

Janis Joplin

Today I was in a Janis Joplin kind of mood.

Once upon a time shoes were wearable art.

Rebel Music

The man that said "legalize it, and I will advertise it" - Peter Tosh born Winston McIntosh was my favorite Wailer.
Tosh sang with Bob Marley throughout the sixties and early seventies, but eventually went on to pursue his solo career. Unlike his band-mate Bob who sang of "One Love", Tosh was more concerned with fighting the system through revolting. He suffered many run-ins with the police.
Tosh lived hard, and in 1983 he went to South Africa for a couple years to sort some things out. In 1987 when he returned to Jamaica, he was gunned down in his home by an old friend, who was said to have went to jail for Tosh and was expecting some recompense when he was released.
The man that gave the wailing wailers edge, and the artist who gave us Legalize It and Bush Doctor. I pay homage.

WORDS

The new controversy in art is whether or not Words painted on canvas is indeed art. What the fuck? Isn't anything that's self-expression art? Then why is there a debate about it? If I can answer that in 5-8 words, why can't these art-historians figure it out?

Poetry

Untitled 2

With all this extra stressing the question I wonder is after death
After my last breath
When will I finally get to rest from this oppression?
They punish the people that's asking questions
And those that possess steal from the ones without possessions
The message I stress
To make you stop study your lessons
Don't settle for less
Even the genius asks his questions
Be grateful for blessings
Don't ever change, keep your essence
The power is in the people and politics we address
Always do your best
Don't let the pressure make you panic
And when you get stranded and things don't go the way you planned it
Dreaming of riches in the position of making a difference
Politicians is hypocrites
They don't want to listen
If I'm insane it's the fame
I ain't about to change
It ain't nothing like the game
It's just me against the world

Skellington

Felt like sharing what's my inspiration for the day. Yes I do find Jack Skellington sexy, and he's just stylish.

The man that makes me smile with just his presence. The man who's genius is contagious. Robot is the mechanical immortal that exists among humans, but never mistake him as one of them.

Autumn 09 Miu-Miu ad

Pornography vs Art

The lines have been blurred and in some recent research for my fine arts class I found a quote that made me realize that pornography is art, therefore there is no versus.
Others may argue that pornography has no "grace" or "couth" therefore it is not art. I say once it is done out of an appreciation for the human form as opposed to exploitation, then there's no need to classify or pass judgement.

Sojourner Truth

Just a flashback in time... The Woman known as Sojourner Truth (born Isabella Baumfree) sat in the White House Library in 1863 with Abraham Lincoln. She was an activist for women's rights and the rights of Negroes in the 1800's. Her most famous speech, "Aint I a Woman?", still gives me a sense of empowerment in 2009.

In memory of Robert Colescott

Robert Colescott, a figurative painter who had a way of expressing racial and sexual stereotypes died last Thursday at his home in Tuscon.
In 1997, Colescott was the first African American painter to have a solo exhibit at the Venice Biennale in Italy. His work is in the permanent collections of many museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum, the Seattle Art Museum, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Oakland Museum. Colescott's work inspired the Neo-Expressionist painting of the 1980's. A man who is recognized for his contribution to the art community and also a great inspiration to me personally, deserves recognition in the minute scale that I can provide.
"The way to serve art is to be true to thyself" Robert Colescott

DAVID BAILEY

So I was looking at one of my dad's inspiration boards today and I saw an image that had me in awe, a photograph by David Bailey circa 1969. I don't think I've seen any of his earlier work and that inspired me to do some research, and here are some of the photos I found. Hope you enjoy.

Jaci Kessler

So this month's feature in Interview Magazine was a talent from Clinton Hill. She's an artist and student at Pratt, although her accomplishments aren't much, at the age of twenty getting a spread in Interview is a bit of a deal. I checked out "The Prattler",the monthly magazine from Pratt of which she's one of the art directors.