SPIKE LEE RECEIVES WEXNER PRIZE

"YOU THE MAN SPIKE"!!!

Spike Lee
Filmmaker to receive Wexner Prize for body of work
By Frank Gabrenya
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Directed by Spike Lee

• 1983: Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (student film)

• 1986: She's Gotta Have It

• 1988: School Daze

• 1989: Do the Right Thing

• 1990: Mo' Better Blues

• 1991: Jungle Fever

• 1992: Malcolm X

• 1994: Crooklyn

• 1995: Clockers

• 1996: Get on the Bus, Girl 6

• 1997: 4 Little Girls

• 1998: He Got Game

• 1999: Summer of Sam

• 2000: Bamboozled, The Original Kings of Comedy

• 2001: A Huey P. Newton Story (TV movie)

• 2002: 25th Hour, Jim Brown: All American (TV movie)

• 2004: She Hate Me

• 2006: Inside Man, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (miniseries)


The winners

• 1992: Peter Brook, theater director

• 1993: John Cage, composer and musician; Merce Cunningham, choreographer

• 1994: Bruce Nauman, visual artist

• 1995: Yvonne Ranier, choreographer and filmmaker

• 1996-97: Martin Scorsese, filmmaker

• 1998: Gerhard Richter, painter

• 1999: Louise Bourgeois, visual artist

• 2000: Robert Rauschenberg, visual artist

• 2001: Renzo Piano, architect

• 2002: William Forsythe, choreographer

• 2004: Issey Miyake, designer

• 2005: Bill T. Jones, choreographer

• 2008: Spike Lee, filmmaker

Filmmaker Spike Lee, the director of Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, is the recipient of the 13th Wexner Prize, awarded by the Wexner Center for the Arts.

Lee will receive the award -- $50,000 and a commemorative sculpture -- during a private ceremony early in February.

He will discuss his work at public and student events Feb. 11 and 12, and inspire a retrospective in the center's film/video theater.

Lee, 50, talked about the award by e-mail.

"It's a blessing," he said. "I'm doing what I love, first and foremost, and to be recognized for that is a bonus."

"Spike Lee is one of the foremost independent voices in filmmaking today," said Sherri Geldin, executive director of the center. "He has been a fierce pioneer at every stage of his career, flaunting all the taboos and having the audacity

to take on subject matter that few, if any, filmmakers are willing to tackle."

The Wexner Prize was created in 1992 to honor contemporary artists who are "consistently original, influential and challenging to convention."

The winner is chosen by the trustees of the Wexner Center Foundation from nominations by the center's International Arts Advisory Council. The prize is funded through the foundation by Chairman Leslie H. Wexner.

In a statement, Wexner hailed Lee as "a bold, creative spirit who is unafraid to provoke and challenge us."

The award, Geldin said, is the first to Lee from a multidisciplinary arts center.

Lee was born in Atlanta and grew up in New York. His first commercial feature, She's Gotta Have It, was made in 1986 for about $175,000 and grossed $7 million.

He drew national fame for his acclaimed third feature, Do the Right Thing (1989), an angry drama about racial tensions in his home neighborhood on the hottest day of the summer. It provoked a national debate and earned Oscar nominations, including one for his screenplay.

In the years since, his films have examined interracial affairs (Jungle Fever, 1991), religion and leadership (Malcolm X, 1992), drugs (Clockers, 1995), the Million Man March (Get on the Bus, 1996) and the exploitation of black stereotypes (Bamboozled, 2000) .

Not all of his features have dealt directly with racial themes. The 2006 thriller Inside Man -- a heist drama co-starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Jodie Foster -- has been his most commercially successful, earning $88 million in the United States.

Lee has been prolific in other areas, including TV commercials, music videos and documentaries. His 4 1/2-hour TV documentary about the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006), won three Emmy Awards, including one for exceptional merit in nonfiction filmmaking.

David Filipi, the Wexner Center's media-arts curator, said that referring to Lee as primarily a black filmmaker doesn't give him the credit he deserves.

"People mostly think of him as a controversial filmmaker, but he really is a great stylist. He puts a lot of thought and care into the look of his pictures, the art direction, the cinematography. He also has a very keen awareness of film history."

Lee commented on his status as a prominent black filmmaker and how it has influenced those who have followed him.

"There have been great improvements in many areas. To me, the final hurdle is to get into and stay in the gatekeeper's position."

The only other filmmakers to have won the Wexner Prize are Yvonne Ranier, better- known as a choreographer, and Martin Scorsese, director of the Oscar-winning The Departed and a close friend of Lee's.

"Marty took a genuine interest in me and my work while I was in New York University grad film school," Lee said. "There is no one on this planet -- alive, at least -- who knows and loves cinema like Martin Scorsese."

The award to Lee will be the center's first since 2005, when the prize went to choreographer Bill T. Jones.

The gap since then, Geldin said, was a matter of timing.

"We prefer to award it in the spring, but the last one was awarded in the fall of 2005 to coincide with the reopening (of the center).

"Ideally we would have awarded . . . (the prize to Lee) in the spring of this year. The selection was made very early in this calendar year, but it was a matter of clearing dates on Spike's calendar.

"We could have done it earlier, but we didn't want to go to a runner-up. We wanted Spike."

MICHELLE BISHOP: HARLEM NEEDLE ARTS

I recieved this e-mail from Michelle Bishop a few days ago, I thought I would share it...

Happy New Year!

I am so sorry that I was not able to attend Isisara’s Kwanzaa. When Aliyah arrived home she was sick so I had to stay home.
Let me know if you are free next Monday January 14 so that we can get together. Aliyah will be away the entire week with her school.

Just wanted to let you know that Lowery Sims is no longer with the Studio Museum but now she is a curator at Museum of Art and Design (MAD) with David McFadden. I will be meeting with David and Lowery in a few weeks. Thelma Golden is now the new Executive Director of Studio Museum .

Also another piece of good news – Harlem Needle Arts Inc.non-profit status was approved by the IRS. HOORAY. It’s official. There has been so much going on I’ve been meditating every minute of every day.

Chat soon.

Peace and blessings,
Michelle

Michelle Bishop is the founder of a major part of the Needle Arts Movement in Harlem that has been going on for the past 5 yrs. This Hard working UpTown Sistah is Focued, Driven and No half-Stepper.

A Full Time Single Super-Mom,

A Full Time Homemaker

A Full Time Director of Harlem Needle Arts.

A Full Time Up-Holder of the Culture.

A Full Time Friend.

I first met Michelle about 4 summers ago one evening at a African Film Showing in a park in Harlem, (I just can't recall the name of the park at this moment).... But, anyway, Michelle was busy passing out flyers and talking to folks about crochet and knitting classes that she was starting in Harlem.

I introduced myself to her, we talked a little about needle arts, and the rest is history.

She has organized for the past 3 or 4 yrs, this amazing Bus Trip, from Harlem to Rhinebeck New York in the Fall, to The Sheep & Wool Festival, I really, really love this trip because I never saw so many Blue Ribbon livestock before, Alpaca's, lama's, goats, sheep, rabbit, sheep, sheep dogs, yarn spinner, any kind of felters, just stuff and more stuff connected to wool is at this festival. People come from across the country with their livestock, wools and yarns, it's out of this world.

I have gotten some of the best wools & silks that is made in this country at this event for a really good price. Plus they have wine maker, cheese maker, maple syrup, candies, honey bee people. Jellies, Jams, cider's, sausages and other prime meats straight from the farm. and it is always so beautiful, the leaves are changing into their vivid autumn colors this time of the year. It's just the place to be at that time of year.

This year Michelle left her corporate 9 - 5 gig as a Digital Information Technologist for 12 yrs. to work full time to build her EMPIRE,... I ment,... home based business/organization and raise her 13 year old daughter Aliyah.

Just to mention a few of her activities, she has curated a annual quilting exhibits at Lincoln Center in the summer for the past 3 yrs, she organized a regular quilting-bee with quilting sistah artist in Harlem, she has organized a clothing drive drive for a children's performance group from Kenya, caught in cold New York this past winter.

I'll just see... Remember the name... Michelle Bishop and The Harlem Needle Arts, and I am sure she will tell you all that you need to know.

harlemneedlearts@verizon.net

RADIANT ACTOR RUBY DEE

"The kind of beauty I want most is the hard-to-get kind that comes from within -- strength, courage, dignity."

RUBY DEE

This is a quote that I found on the internet by Ms Ruby Dee that I feel says it all about this LIVING LEGEND.

To be in service of a high profile person, to adorn the form of Ms Ruby Dee who has graced film and stage for decades is what us independent behind the scenes people live for.

The day my friend Casaundra Bromfield describes the experience of designing the Ball Gown and wardrobe preparation for Oprah Winfry’s Legends Weekend, was humbling and glorifying at the same time.

Ms Dee not only is the symbol of subdued majesty, she personifies the brilliance of spirit, commitment to theater arts. Along with her late husband/partner Ossie Davis they with-stood the pit falls and the glitter and gloom of early Hollywood

It’s clear, this award winning actors trophy is her radiant beauty & craft, along with wisdom, belief in self and her people,

She demonstrates belief in supporting the creative skills of African-American artist & craftspeople as can be seen in this beautiful portrait by Photographer Chester Higgins Jr. and Designer Cassandra Bromsfield.

I cherish the stories that designer Cassandra tells me about her experience with her celebrity client, Ms Bromfield designing and organizing Ms Dee's, when Ms Dee was invited to Oprah Winfry’s legendary, Legends Ball. She has told me over and over again, each and every detail of preparation.

Even down to the diamond earring Oprah Winfry gave Ms Dee, Ms Bromfields first invitation to Ms Dee’s home for wardrobe consultation work, the conversations with Ms Dee’s daughter's Hasna & Nora , being served coffee and zucchini bread by the actresses assistant as Ms Dee was called away for a quick business phone call, Flipping through the coffee table books in the living room, Seeing Ms Dee historical collection of costumes from stage & screen. I felt like I had a front role seat to backstage American Theater History.

FORMAL PATCHWORK SILKS

From T-shirt to Wedding Gowns & Evening Formals, that's how Cassandra Bromfield recollects the major leap she took to be in her present designer studio on 42nd St. in New York City.

That’s a mighty long stretch from vending her one of a kind custom sewn and hand adorned T-shirts by CASSANDRA BROMFIELD back in the dayz of Boys & Girl High School, African Street Festival in Brooklyn, over the 4th of July weekend.

This was in the late 1980’s, when Spike Lee and Monty Ross had just turned down-town Brooklyn into a small but mighty Black Hollywood. International and national fashion magazines, independent filmmakers and music video producers set loose their wild eyed, ultra-hip young stylist, searching the “hood” for the new look of uniquely contrived, rare and wonderful wears created by urban artist.

Back then, Cassandra, other artist and myself vended our Wearable Art together at The African Street Festival, the exposure and contacts were definitely worth the venture. Merchandisers from across the country and around the world would pass through, dropping their business cards and taking our info, conversing and checking our wears out. It was inspiring,

A visually stimulating scene, this event generated ideas for future prospects with exciting possibilities. "OUR NEXT BIG STEP", was the common thought mingling in our minds and in the thick sea of Neo-Africans for the four days of festivity.

Fast forward to the 21st Century and Cassandra Bromfield has captured and is mastering her vision by creating her Hallmark, tie-dyed, silk patchwork & decoratively quilted wedding dresses and formal evening gowns.

These garment are the elegant evolution of the African American aesthetic of collaging and patchwork quilting, Quilting was a survival textile craft and a passionate art form, developed by the enslaved Africans and later the emancipated African-American woman home maker.

In the 20th century collaging was championed by Fine Artist Romare Bearden and Quilting was elevated to a Fine Art by the internationally acclaimed Artist/Quilters of the Gee’s Bend Quilters Collective, living and creating in the area of Rehoboth and Boykin, Alabama.

Real Silky-Smooth Move Cassandra!!!!.

SOTHEBY'S IN PARIS AUCTIONS AFRICAN ART

Private African Art Collection Sold in Paris Dec. 7, 2007

American collectors Brian and Diane Leyden, whose extensive collection of African art Brian amassed over the past 40 years, decided to sell 15 pieces at Sotheby’s in Paris. Why Paris? “All of the objects are from two Ivory Coast tribes, the Bete and the Senufo,” he said. “The market for them is stronger in Paris than it is in the United States.” (The strong Euro may also have something to do with it.) The Leydens concentrated on works in the pre-Colonial style and statuary whose impact on 20th century Western art is most evident. The sale took place on December 5, 2007 and though only seven of the lots sold, for a total of €2,200,750 ($3,225,307), the major pieces found buyers.

Images of women brought the highest prices, including the star Senufo figure, a 19th-century object from the Ivory Coast or Mali that sold to an anonymous American buyer for €844,250 ($1,240,110, est. €500,000–800,000). Senufo statuary was popular among early 20th-century artists, including Andre Derain and Fernand Leger. A second highlight of the sale was a stylized Bete figure of a women, also from the 19th century, that was pre-empted by the Musee du Quai Branly for €704,250 ($1,034,473, est. €600,000–900,000), setting an auction record for a Bete figure. Another Senufo female figure, with arms folded by her sides, went to a European collector for €384,250 ($564,425, est. €350,000–500,000).

GEORGIA O'KEEFFE DONATES ALFRED STIEGLITZ VALUABLE ART COLLECTION TO FISK UNIVERSITY, 1949

Georgia O’Keeffe received word in 1946 in New Mexico that her husband, Alfred Stieglitz, had suffered a serious stroke in New York. Catching the next airplane from Albuquerque, she was by his side when he died on July 13. No one at Fisk University in Nashville knew then that Stieglitz’s death had put into motion a chain of events which would lead to Fisk’s receiving, in 1949, an art collection considered “the finest of its type anywhere in the South.”

Stieglitz, one of the greatest photographers in the history of the medium, is credited with transforming photography from a method of documentation into an art form. As a premier collector and gallery owner of his time, Stieglitz encouraged and acquired art work by many young American artists, including Arthur Dove, Marsden Hartley, Georgia O’Keeffe, Charles Demuth, and John Marin. He is also credited with mounting the first exhibition of African sculpture in the United States. O’Keeffe, generally considered the most important female artist in 20th century America (a description that would have irritated her), had both a business and personal relationship with the much older Stieglitz. They married in 1924, despite the 23-year difference in their ages.

Along with his own photographs, Stieglitz amassed a substantial collection of paintings, but he failed to do anything with the collection during his lifetime, leaving that particular burden to O’Keeffe after his death. His will granted O’Keeffe the right to select the recipients of the art, provided it went to “one or more” non-profit corporations “under such arrangements as will assure to the public, under reasonable regulations, access thereto to promote the study of art.”

O’Keeffe undertook the difficult task of organizing and giving away over 1,000 pieces of art. She eventually divided the works among six institutions. The first five were logical choices: the Library of Congress, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The sixth choice was a surprise: Fisk University.

Founded in 1866 to educate newly freed slaves, Fisk is Nashville’s oldest university. Outside the black community, Fisk was at that time probably best known for its choir, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who have performed throughout this country and others since 1871. Fisk was also respected for offering a solid academic program: in 1930 it became the first African-American institution to earn accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The obvious question, however, is why Fisk was selected to receive 101 pieces of art from the collection, when neither Stieglitz nor O’Keeffe had ever visited this small, historically black college in the South, where rigid segregation was the order of the day.

Enter Carl Van Vechten, New York writer and photographer and friend of both Stieglitz and O’Keeffe. A patron of the Harlem Renaissance with a consuming interest in black culture, he was also a friend of Fisk President Charles Johnson. Van Vechten informed O’Keeffe of his intention to leave many of his photographs and other materials to the school and introduced her to President Johnson. Johnson, a sociologist by training, had come to Fisk in 1928 after spending several years in New York as director of research for the National Urban League and as a supporter of the arts. Elected president of Fisk in 1946, Johnson was the first black to occupy that position.

Later O’Keeffe explained that she picked Fisk because it would have made Stieglitz happy. Since she had given portions of the collections to institutions in the Northeast and the Midwest, she thought it logical that some of the collection go to another part of the country.

Whatever her reasons, the choice was not without problems. In late October 1949, O’Keeffe and her assistant drove to Nashville from New Mexico to inspect the gallery (to be named in honor of Van Vechten) and to assist with the hanging of the art. Fisk had gone to considerable effort and expense to convert its old gymnasium into an art gallery, hiring a New York architect to design the space. When O’Keeffe saw the gallery for the first time, she hated it. She and her assistant began conforming the space to her wishes, coming in at 7:00 each morning to meet with the workmen. For at least a week she made changes: replacing the lighting, removing molding, painting walls, changing the color of cabinets, and more. Still unhappy with the lights, she flew in a lighting expert on the morning of the opening to make final changes.

The opening ceremonies took place on the afternoon of November 4, 1949, in Memorial Chapel, filled to capacity with over 900 present. President Johnson introduced O’Keeffe, who declined to approach the rostrum, speaking instead from her chair: “Dr. Johnson wrote and asked me to speak and I did not answer. I had and have no intention of speaking. These paintings and sculptures are a gift from Stieglitz. They are for the students. I hope you will go back and look at them more than once.” Van Vechten also spoke briefly, concluding that the gallery was “not equaled by any in New York City.” The dean of education at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art delivered the major address.

The Stieglitz Collection consists of 101 art works: five pieces of African tribal art, nineteen Stieglitz photographs, two paintings by O’Keeffe, prints by Cezanne and Renoir, and a number of paintings by Marsden Hartley, Arthur Dove, Charles DeMuth, and John Marin. The Collection is currently in storage at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts while Fisk implements plans to improve the facilities of the Van Vechten Gallery.

Author’s Note: The author’s law firm, Bone McAllester Norton, PLLC, represents Fisk University in its current litigation brought in the Chancery Court of Davidson County seeking approval of the Court for the sale of two pieces of art from the Stieglitz Collection. This essay does not discuss the legal issues in that case, but only recounts the facts and circumstances of how this fabulous art collection came to be given to Fisk.

By C. Michael Norton

FISK UNIVERSITY SELLS TWO PAINTINGS FROM GEORGIA O'KEEFE'S DONATED ART COLLECTION TO SAVE SCHOOL FROM CLOSING, 2007

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Gives up Fight over Fisk University Art
Tennessean.com
9/14/2007

After months of legal wrangling, Fisk University is no longer ensnared in a court battle with the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum over the school's Alfred Stieglitz Collection.

On Tuesday, the Santa Fe, N.M.-based museum dropped a lawsuit against Fisk that sought possession of the collection of 101 paintings, donated to the school in 1949 by painter Georgia O'Keeffe. The move opens the door wider for Fisk to consider an informal $30 million offer from Wal-Mart heir Alice Walton, who's building a museum in Arkansas.

"It would be an understatement to say we're happy," said Fisk University President Hazel O'Leary after learning the lawsuit had been dropped. O'Leary made the decision in December 2005 to sell two paintings from the Stieglitz Collection; the museum argued -- and Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle agreed -- that the sale would violate the painter's wishes.

"This has been a very long journey for Fisk, and it has most especially distracted my attention from the business of the university. I'm happy to go back to doing the full-time job of being president of Fisk."

The museum's decision comes one day after Lyle rejected an agreement that would have ended the lawsuit by leaving the museum in possession of the collection's most important painting, O'Keeffe's Radiator Building -- Night, New York. The financially beleaguered university would have received $7.5 million and the opportunity to display Radiator Building for four months every four years.

Lyle rejected the agreement, in part, because of a more appealing offer informally extended by the soon-to-open Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The Bentonville, Ark., museum would pay Fisk $30 million for a 50 percent interest in the collection, along with shared exhibition rights.

CHESTER HIGGINS: MEDICINE LENS

Above photographs of...

1. CHIEF SITTING SUN
2. CHEROKEE ROSE
3. EDDIE LOTT, OHATCHEE

Photographed in Brooklyn, New York, by Chester Higgins. Recognizing the African Native-American Cultural Root Workers in us and among us. Beautiful Job, I love this cultural vision work.

This past Saturday afternoon, I stopped at Settipani Bakery on the corner of 120th St. and Lenox Ave. in Harlem for a quick light pick-me-up snack, and I ran into International Photographer Chester Higgins and his wife, sitting at a table, talking to Settipani co-owner Leah Abraham.

Chester has been documenting some very interesting angles of the African Cultural Experience during his professional life, he gave me a very beautiful postcard of one of his monumental photographic works, The Bet St. Giyorgis (Church of St. George), Lalibela, Ethiopia. The most famous of 12 churches at Lalibela, a sacred destination for centuries of pilgrims.

You will have to visit Chester's website to get more images, and view details of his many projects. You will also view by-gone traces of our history that his searching eye has artistically captured.

We had a very short, but interesting conversation, he asked me stimulating questions about my present project, that helped bring up vital question that i needed to gave the development of the project more focus.

We exchanged contact info and parted.

Check out this amazing artist at chesterhiggins.com to stir-up inner dialogue with self.

AMAZING FIBER ARTIST: SONYA CLARK

I just received this e-mail from Sonya Clark. I met Sonya about 3 years ago at a College Arts Association Conference and we have been trying to stay in contact every since…. She is an amazing Fiber Artist, who’s imagination brings a brilliant perspective to the Fine Art and the Culture of African American Natural Hair, You have to really, I repeat, really check her website out, www.sonyaclark.com This is one of the best constructed artist website I have ever seen, She really knows how to package herself, You go Mz Sonya!!!

The artwork displayed here is titled Afro-Abe II, it is a embroidered 5 dollar.

Check out the listings below to see where Sonya is exhibiting for Jan 2008.

PRICKED: Extreme Embroidery
Museum of Art and Design, NYC.

November 8, 2007 - March 9, 2008
"Pricked" is curated by David McFadden and has received lots of press. "My piece, Afro Abe II,made it into the review of the show in the Parisian newspaper, Le Monde. The show includes work by Ghada Amer, Elaine Reichek, Judy Chicago, Mark Newport and several others", "I'll be at the museum to give a lecture on Thursday, February 21. Click on the museum's link for more details".

FROM TABOO TO ICON, Icebox, Crane Arts, Philadelphia.

January 10, 2008 - February 10, 2008

"This exhibit, curated by Sophie Saunders and Shervone Neckles, includes two pieces of my work and BEADED PRAYERS, the collaborative project I created with over 4000 participants. "From Taboo to Icon" includes the work of Pepon Osorio, Karyn Olivier, Hank Willis, Syd Carpenter, Keith Morrison, Tyrone Mitchell and others".

TRANSFORMERS
Corridor Gallery, Brooklyn

January 13, 2008 - March 8, 2008

"In this two person exhibition at Danny Simmons' Corridor Gallery, David Ellis and I "address ideas of race, gender, and popular culture using everyday and found objects. I will be exhibiting my images of Madam CJ Walker done in hundreds of fine toothed combs. The curators are Danny Simmons and Meridith McNeal".

"I'll be at the opening on Sunday, January 13, 4-7 p.m
and there for a panel discussion on Saturday, February 2, 3-5 p.m"

www.sonyaclark.com

Sonya Clark is Chair of the Department of Craft/Material Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Richmond, Virginia. She has a M.F.A. (Cranbrook), B.F.A. (Art Institute of Chicago), and B.A. (Amherst College.) She is the recipient of a Pollock-Krasner Award and a Rockefeller Foundation Residency. Her work has been exhibited in over 150 venues in the UK, Brazil, South Africa, Canada, Taiwan, Austria, Australia, Ghana, France, Switzerland, and throughout the USA.

SONYA CLARK, is a "sho nuf" Heavy Weight, Sonya and I are in a group exhibit in the Bronx, at Hostos University that is going on now, I will get the full run of the exhibit later.

WINTER EVENING FILM AT MoMA, NYC

(continued) After church was out, I walked over to the Rose’s house, In this photo they are preparing to go out for a walk and get something to eat…. So as soon as everyone’s hair was combed, diapers dried, all the toys and jackets packed, we all walk around the block to a place Theresa had read about in a uptown magazine, to get some take-out food, we walked over to the park and set at one of the park benches and eat & talked as “Big Sister” Rose road around on her scooter (I think that's was they call that thing she was riding!!)...But.... anyway...afterwards we left the park,...went to PathMark to get a few groceries…. I walked with the Rose’s back to their home…

I continued with my Sunday visiting,… I invited myself over to Literary Agent Marie Brown’s house, her house was one of the house’s that was on the Artist-Open-Studio Tour earlier that day, she was exhibiting Clamenza Hopkins Painting’s,…Even though it was late in the evening, I know they would still be there winding down the evening with food, (Marie had prepared this really-truly delicious salad) and interesting conversation, I met the most wonderful group of woman their, I hope to gather again at another time.

That’s it for that Sunday in Oct.…This is what happened today, I was so proud of myself for getting so much administrative work done today, a lot of research reading for grants & exhibitions,…I did not crochet today…this is not a good thing…

6:00 pm:..I was on a panel for The Bronx Council for The Arts organization BRIO (Bronx Recognizes it’s Own) Titled: “HOW TO APPLY” for the 2008 BRIO Awards for the Arts, I was a past awards panelist and BRIO asked myself and other panelist and BRIO award recipients to give application insight and tips to new applicants....

7:45 pm,…..After the panel…For the hi-light of my day....I rushed down to the Museum of Modern Art to catch the film, “Shakespeare in Love”,… This is one of the many reason I got a membership at the Museum of Modern Art,… to see endless films…(I you so desired)…. free for member… on the big screen, home video’s & DVD’s are fine,… But,….

8::48 pm,… viewing a film on the big screen is divine,… I can see why this film received The Academy Award Best Film ten years ago… for me,… the patterns, textile’s, costumes and the women’s hairstyles & hair-ornaments were, just,…(to say the least) stunning!!!, even though this was a film that used very few colors, they stayed with a (very well lit) rich natural color palette,… accentuating the lead & primary Actor’s and sets….and….. THEY! (snap) WORKED! (snap) THAT! (snap) PALETTE! (snap) TO! (snap) THE! (snap) “9”! (Double-snap)…. Oh,,… Yeah…. The acting, direction and cinematography was good also…Definitely,… A Must See Again & Again!!!…

200 YR. GRACE OF ABYSINNIAN CHURCH

This here, is a image of proud Father Richard, with his son, This was taken this past Oct, 2007,.... The Sunday before I went to London,.... I called Richard and his wife Theresa Sunday morning to ask them what they were doing that day, because I wanted to come by and see the baby before I left for London, They said that they were planning to go to church for fellowship that morning,… they invited me over for a after church meal,

Well….They were not able to get themselves and the kiddies ready in time for church (totally understood), but I decided to go since I was going to be leaving the country,…

Abyssinian (there seems to be a few ways to spell this) Baptist Church in Harlem is our church of choice for fellowship… it was an amazing service on a beautiful Summer like Fall morning. A large group from the church and Rev. Calvin Butts had just returned from a Pilgrimage to Ethiopia,….

Rev Butt. Spoke so beautifully about their travels,….During this trip, Ethiopia was celebrating their 2nd millennium, he spoke about the festivities, formal banquets, tours of palaces, helicopter rides viewing the land and an moving story about foot climbing up the mountains for a breathtaking view....He said, Rita Marley was there with her family.

I had to get 2, CD copies of this sermon, one for myself, and one for Richard and Theresa since they were unable to attend this service, I thought it was one of those historical moments to be captured and shared, I plan to get a copy of the CD of the sermon Rev Butts delivered before the group left for Ethiopia, I heard, that service was equally as stirring as the one I attended.

I have to look up the dates,… But…Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia had visited Abyssinian Church and presented Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who was the pastor at that time. with a Ethiopian Coptic Cross that is displayed in the church…..Now!!…Ain’t that something to write home about?

FIRST-SUN OF THE NEW YEAR...

12:20 pm, A mild misty/rainy day:... Happy New Year,... As the Sun Rises on the New Day and New Year, I think of New Births that always bring exciting expectations to a community.... This photograph, is of a good friend, who lives in my community. International photographer Richard Rose' and his beautiful son Mosiah Rose, Mosiah's name comes from the middle name of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr. This powerful act of naming this child, roots Mosiah Rose into a strong sense of history and clears a way for a bright creative culturally conscious, fulfilling future.

5:53 pm very calm evening: Very quiet day today, did a little work on the computer, Listened to my phone messages from yesterday, I have to follow up on one possible visiting artist gig, went to the store...... Blah,...blah....blah,,,

Last night: I wanted to spend the New Year's in observation of some form of tradition, so, I chose to have fellowship at Abyssinian Baptist Church's "Watch Night Service" in Harlem, I have to admit I did not know the significance of "Watch Night Service" until last night.

I was thankful that the historical significance was printed in the church program. The "Watch Night Service" has a great political and historical significance, it's roots can be traced back to gatherings of en-Slaved Africans on December 31, 1862, also known as "Freedom's Eve." on that night, the en-slaved Africans congregated where ever they could, in what ever meeting places they created or found across the nation, in place of worship and fellowship, they anxiously waiting for news that the Emancipation Proclamation would become law.

With the north and south regions of America about to enter the third year of a bloody civil battle, President Abraham Lincoln was set to sign an edict that would impact the enslaved Africans, and fundamentally transform the character of the war.

This Emancipation Proclamation decreed "That all persons held as slaves within any state, or any designated part of a rebellious state, shall be henceforward and forever, "FREE" at the stroke of midnight on January 1, 1863, en-slaved Africans in the Confederate States were declared legally "FREE".

When this was heard by the en-slaved Africans (Who many could not read) complete Jubilation broke-out among the newly Emancipated African-Americans.

Last nights service was an unusually moving, beautiful and powerful service for me, it was eloquently pastored by Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III. Abyssinian Baptist Church has a very impressive history to the community of Harlem and the United States, This church was pastored by the brilliant and charismatic, national politician ("Keep the Faith, Baby") Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

Talk about shaking things up during troubled times, This man was amazing.

PRECIOUS MEMOIRS...

11;21 am, It's the New Year Eve, a beautiful mild, sunny day in Harlem, and I am working on my organization & planning resolution I entend to resolve in 2008, Plan's are to work smarter, to reduce stress, to keep my blood pressure down and to have Time Management down to a Fine Science so that my events and activities have a nice flow throughout the day,

I think my management upgrade is working better than it appears... ("one's disorganised surroundings can be miss leading when you are re-organizing".... remember that,... it helps with the remedy),.... I'm looking forward to a very productive year that will be a result of better management skills,...

First on the list for today, None Scheduled Activities:...return library books (MUMBO JUMBO,... THE LAST DAYS OF LOUISIANA RED,... and THE FREE-LANCE PALL BEARERS all by ISHMAEL REED),... organize my storage space (a little), do my laundry (finally), read and send out follow-up e-mails (past due), get my $5.00 phone card ready so when the New Year arrives around the world I can give a New Year "Holla" to my folks on the planet.

NITE-WATCH: GRAND CENTRAL STATION

The night I photographed this image of the Chrysler Building over looking Grand Central Station, I was walking across 42 st.... I usually do'nt walk along this street, because the sights are not that interesting to me on this part of 42 St., but,.... this night I walked down 42 st. between Park & Lexington Ave,... I was in the front of the Hilton Hotel,.... there was a yellow cab parked out front that was on fire, the cab driver was trying to put the flames out with his jacket, I looked around to see if there was any help and there was a group of people standing in front of the Hilton Hotel just watching this man trying to save his burning cab..., I asked did anyone call the fire department,..... they did not respond to me,... they acted as if I was not there,.... I knew everyone that was watching this cab blazing, had a cell phone,.... I call the fire department telling them that there was a burning cab on 42 St. between Park & Lexington Ave. in front of the Hilton Hotel and before I could disconnect the call I heard the Fire engine and police tearing down the street towards us,... as the group of people still stood there watching,...
the fireman secured the area and the fire was put out....I could'nt believe the people just standing there watching this.

That burning New York City Yellow Cab story brings to mind my first New York City Yellow Cab burning experience, I was on the 34th st. cross town bus, going to purchase some 35 mm film for my camera,... which I had with me at the time because I was planning to photograph later on in the evening, but I was completely out of film,

I was on the 34th st. cross town bus right in front of Madison Square Garden on the most light perfect time of day, and this yellow cab was right in the inter section of 34th and Broadway, hood up and it seemed like traffic-light-high-flames were leaping from the engine of this cab,... my first reaction to this scene was to get off the bus and start photographing because it was an amazing moment to be captured, with the razzle-dazzle of Madison Square Garden, a sea of jammed up cars & cabs,... the neon street lights,... the crowded streets,.... it was like a urban war-zone photograph. But... I was on the bus, with a empty camera... on my way to get film...I felt like a raged caged artist....

Need I say,... a few month later I saw that exact...I repeat.... EXACT!!..... scene in Danny Simmons, the artist and producer of Def Jam Comedy's on HBO and on Broadway...(I had to put all that in, because I think it's a big deal).... I said all that to say that... I saw that exact shot in Danny Simmons ONE WORLD MAGAZINE... Photographed by a roaming street photographer....

I'm still trying to get over that "SHOT THAT GOT AWAY".

NOBLE ELDER BRO. MANSUR SCOTT

I believe I need a DRUM-ROLL to do this "shout-out"!!!...but, here it goes anyway, ...."HIS SUPREME HONORABLE EXCELLENCY",... "THE MAGNIFICENT",... "THE ULTIMATE NOBLE ELDER",... SIR BROTHER-MAN: MANSUR SCOTT....ILLUSTRIOUS GRIOT/MUSICIAN (PERCUSSIONIST-FLUTIST) EXTRAORDINAIRE!!!....OK,.. OK,.... I know, I went a little over the top, but this is where a conversation with Mansur Scott takes my imagination,.... spinning way out there, along with his insights into the worlds and characters of the "outer streams" and his personal encounters, experiences and evolutions.... some Folks "back-in-the-day" called him....."HEAVY" (for good reason)....Folk's do'nt come no realler and stronger that this "real-deal", "Deep-Cat". You heard the cliche, what do'nt kill you, will make you stronger? Brother-Man Mansur had to be the inspiration for this thought.

"HER LADYSHIP LOCKS".....

INSPIRATION NOTE: From my point of view, The Premier Master: Natural Hair Artist of the Land... Howard University Alumni, Madame Anu Prestonia, Owner of Kamit Kinks of New York, She has sustained a hight standard of excellence over the many years, moves and husbands...... as a personality & Sistah Friend, she goes waaaaaaaaay beyond the borders of fullment and cultural illumination....Without a doubt, a friend and a inspiration to me as a artist/business woman....."Can I get a Whooop, Whoop, here?"......Speaking of African Nature Coiffure....I came across a very interesting mathematical element to designing natural hair braids and the African aesthetic......"Copy" & "Paste" and Check out this link............http://www.ccd.rpi.edu/Eglash/csdt/african/CORNROW_CURVES/cornrow_homepage.html.....................I need to research this a little more for my projects.

"JUST DO IT...BABY"!!!

UpTown Style...Harlem, New York, Dec 2006...."YEOOW SIR......YEOW SIR..... Eeee YEOOOOW SIR!!!....


This Silky Smooth Dapper Up-Town Brother was definitely out to see and be seen,... He was totally, ready, willing and able to strike a "Meeeean" pose, when I asked him if I could take his picture.... Thanks for the memory...

OUT WITH THE OLD...

"THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS 2006: I walked around the neighborhood this time last year (on a very warm December day) photographing discarded items put-out for random pick-up.... I was not able to do that this year because I was busy with other projects, maybe I can get a few shots before everything gets thrown-out and picked-up........

INSPIRATION NOTE: Please Copy & Paste the link below and go to "Download this talk" & check this talk out by this amazing young woman that lives in The South Bronx, New York, her name is Majora Carter, she is doing very dynamic evironmental work, revitalizing & greening her community. I always need a boost of inspiration to keep me going through my creative day, listening to this talk really gave me the charge I needed.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/53

"TO BE GIFTED..."

2008 ENDLESS WISH LIST...
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