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.

Who is John Hanson?

Some say he was the first Congressional President of the United States, some say he was black (a moor), some say he was a Swede. Some say the name was repeated so much during that era that there was a lot of confusion on where in history the acclaimed first President who was black fell. Was it John Hanson of Maryland: an activist trying to get Africans back to Liberia from the states? Was he a Swede? Was he a moor/black? So with three different images of John Hanson and three different stories and timelines, who is John Hanson? The picture of the signing of the Declaration of Independence shows a black man who is now said to be a Robert Morris, who might or might not have been black, but was definitely one of the first 7 Presidents.

Music of yesterdays

For the past week or so I've been stuck in a Nina Simone dark blues room, with incessant cigarette smoke and cheap beer. The androgyny of her voice made my ears a bisexual, and the peak is orgasmic. Pirate Jenny is a sneaky bitch, and I've been in disguise but don't be fooled.

Rants

I'm at a point in my life where I'm trying to set things into motion, I mean life should be that way at all times. But I've gotten to a point where I'm hungry, and just the inkling has my stomach growling. My appetite is wide open, and the taste buds are watering for what's in clear view, but I haven't possessed yet.

Le Moment