// October 30th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog
If this ain’t something! I love the fabic and, the guy in it is kinda sexy in a freakish way. He does have some big sexy legs but, damn… what kind of freak is he in the bedroom? He looks like a screamer. Total turnoff. Oh well, a book cannot be judged by its cover… no matter how hard marketing and pr try to convince us otherwise. ;-)
// October 30th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog
Not much on the blog the last few days but, there are five new reviews from the 20th to the 27th. Others are in the works at this very moment. Even though I don’t consider myself a great writer, I do have some facility at it. Having time makes a lot of difference in the quality of the work.
Broward’s Cultural Division and The Artist Initiative, Inc. put on a workshop over the weekend called Artists as Entrepreneur. It was only the beginning of something real because this was not a real workshop but, a meeting to find out how much interest is really here for a series of workshops to be held. Many in attendance spoke of their personal needs that such a workshop might address. We’ll have to wait and see if this will come to fruition soon.
I’m still without a camera at the moment. Well, I’m without a camera that can be easily carried around. I have a medium format film camera and I will not drag that heavy thing around with me to openings. I am waiting for a new battery to arrive since we couldn’t find one in a local store.
// October 28th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog
Man, has this week just flown by! I’ve been tired as a dog too since I went to Philadelphia. I didn’t sleep much those two days, or should I say nights. And, I’ve got student projects to grade, mid-terms to grade, personal projects to continue and, it’s already Saturday evening… in 45 min.
I went to an opening last night and, an artist meeting hosted and organized by the County’s Cultural Division this morning. I think I’m seeing a flash of light in this deep, dark tunnel…
// October 25th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog
I was out of town on Tuesday taking care of the business in Philadelphia, PA where I ran into our Miami friend and now expatriot, Lorie Mertes where she serves as the Director of the Fabric Workshop and Museum. She was surprised and pleased to see me out at a gallery opening. She’s doing just great. We miss her here locally too. But, best of everything Lorie, in your new job and city.
She wasn’t the only surprised person as gallery owner in Phila. that’s on my newsletter e-list was up there too with an exhibition of handmade (funerary) urns. Quite a unique offering they were but, I would be honored if my ashes were resting in a number of those receptacles. No matter how there are used, they are beautiful sculptures.
The actual reason for being in Phila. was to be part of an art-in-public places project, my first. I had long ago given up on getting a public art commission as my typical work is not the type that garners commissions. Actually, my work has been called “too confrontational” for public art. Anyway, once I consult with a couple friends and get some sketches done you’ll get more word about what I’m doing. The only thing I can say for sure at the moment is that it will be sculpture and have a aural component.
Anyway, back to the daily grind…
// October 22nd, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog
There was the Bruce Nauman opening at MoCA on 19 Oct. and, that was the time and place my camera malfunctioned. I did get a few shots but, mostly had to do without my own images. Adaptability is good. Read about the show Bruce Nauman Works with Light.
Wynwood & Design District openings on Saturday night were a bit hampered without the camera but, the galleries sent images as requested.
My web development partner keeps pressing me on the site redesign which is good although, he thinks I’m not doing enough however, I do have four courses I’m teaching this semester. Bringing a new concept to fruition takes time if it is done correctly, which is the goal. Thank you to those that have provided additional input in conceptualization. Thank you in advance to those that have yet providedinput but will do so soon. You haven’t been asked?
// October 18th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog
I asked Nayland Blake to ask some general questions (some time ago) that I could use on my art blog but (I previously thought) these too personal. I’m probably wrong. Forgive me if these have appeared before. So, here goes:
Q: Which family member was most important for your practice as an artist, either by example or by direction?
A: I was more interested in music and writing than visual art until meeting my high school friend, Ray Bravo. I don’t know that I think of him as inspiration for that change of direction in my thinking because he’s a painter and I was more interested in photography. However, back to writing, my mother and grandmother used to read great poetry to us kids, Langston Hughes, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and I was impressed that Arna Bontemps’ (another writer) daughter was a friend of my mother. So, nobody really directed me towards the arts, especially my parents. My father actually offered to pay for my entire college education if I chose a business major. I think that was really stupid (on his part) when I had shown no interest in it and he certainly didn’t talk to me about it with any enthusiasm I recognized. My mother was obviously thrilled about creativity and wanted me to give her some of my photographs but, never showed interest in my poetry (being too cryptic and revealing only a few glimpses of what I really wanted to say).
Q: What is the one work related thing (piece of equipment cup of coffee, etc.) you can’t do without and why?
A: If by work related, you mean teaching, I don’t have anything I have to have because I’ve had very little during this career. I’ve had a real office since 2002, I have access to a digital camera and, that will be difficult to give up but, if I have to, I’ll continue to live. I also have a laptop to use. I also have a darkroom to use. I would hate to give it all up but, since I’m an adjunct, I have nothing really except my own person files and books to keep if I move to another job.
Q: Describe a milestone in your romantic life.
A: Well, I guess I’d have to say realizing that I could actually love a man, a specific man. There were a few men that I liked a lot but the one man that made me realize it, unfortunately, has since died. I’ve mostly felt inadequate romantically because almost all of the men I wanted to develop a romantic relationship with were not interested in doing the same thing. I guess my choices have been wrong rather than being a matter of inadequacy then.
Q: What do you find most irritating about the art of our day and what would you do to correct it?
A: That is actually a very tough question. Everything it seems is part of the capitalist machine and to change that would seem to inevitably require a change in the nature of the human species because, greed and corruption will never go away. It’s a very big part of capitalism. So, if anything irritates me it’s that art is so tied to its financial value rather than to its social value. And, if social value of specific artworks can be raised it almost has to be using the current economic model by raising the economic first then, the social. But, some would say the economic value is its social value. Like all things contemporary, we are too close to our own time and place to be able to assess it with any real authority.
Q: You have written about the orishas – is your engagement with them part of a larger spiritual practice, if not, how does your artmaking reflect your spiritual beliefs?
A: Orisha worship is part of a larger spiritual practice for me although, its intensity has diminished over the years. By that, I mean I don’t attend a temple like I did many years ago. Some things happened including, deaths of priests/ priestesses, that have kept me a bit isolated, by choice. I do have several orishas here (“warriors”) and, therefore, do participate in regular worship. I have learned something about Yoruba language, herbalism, various traditions (Cuban, Haitian, Brazilian, Nigerian, Dahomeian, etc.), how to worship on my own because I was living in a rural area for a good number of years away from any other worshippers.
As far as it dovetailing with my art practice, it does inform some of the philosophical underpinnings but, not heavily weighted on the visual side as one might think. I mean I don’t make the majority of my art that would be identified as related to orisha. Much of it cannot be restricted aesthetically to African Atlantic culture even if that is my origination point. But, things such as color choices are reflected as a choice related to orisha worship: red, white, black, yellow (naturally produced colors like red dust from a particular African tree which is not really red but reddish brown, white kaolin from a river, black charcoal, yellow from another plant which is more like a darker mixture of mustard seed yellow). The use of negative images to reflect the spiritual world that would mirror this one, for instance.
My high school friend I mentioned in the first answer, has also produced art over the years that is closely related to mine, visually, because of his interest in the spiritual. He’s Chicano with childhood background loosely in Catholicism. My childhood was also Christian. Part of my reason for moving to Florida was to become more acquainted with the Africanness of my family. It has been a very enlightening journey although, the search brought me much more than knowledge about my family.
// October 14th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog
Thursday night at the MoCA opening my camera, owned by the university, stopped functioning. Something is preventing the lens from extending so that I can’t focus. That’s probably something that can’t be fixed. I found out this week that I have a fund from which I can draw for equiptment, travel or, other educationally related interests. Seems that money will now go toward a new camera.
// October 12th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog
With another step into the unknown, I’m currently testing Skype. It has potential beyond normal podcasting because it’s in real time with real people from around the world. Skypecasts will continue for a while to build strength and see where we might go. It wasn’t started as a dating service but, it seems it has become a viable one for some according to today’s article in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Skype will remain about art for me although, I would be open to a date if the opportunity arose.
The software routes calls over the data network, substituting voice for e-mail. Web mail services such as Google, MSN and Yahoo also allow customers to make Net phone calls, but Skype has kept a few steps ahead of its competitors by being one of the first to offer this for free. Skype also lets users put money in an account and call land-line phones and cellphones.
Link: With Skype, you can date now, meet later: South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
// October 11th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog
I’ve got too many things to work on at the moment. Yesterday I took an picture of one of those mushrooms that stink and attract insects to distribute its spores. I’ll try to get it posted later. I have class in 5 min. (posted below)
I took a pic of one of these last year. They only live for one day then die. I just happened to see it as I was walking through the grass yesterday. I can’t remember its name off the top of my head but when I find it I’ll add it to this page. Until then…
// October 7th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog
Today, Saturday at noon, eastern daylight time (NYC). Naturally, it’s about art. Let’s see what happens. (Click icon above)
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