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.

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