Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts

War Binders / Spiritual Journaling

I've been keeping a journal for as long as I can remember. About 4 years ago that journaling turned into something more spiritual; instead of poetry and short stories, it started recording Bible studies, sermons, prayer lists, etc. During the month of May I didn't get to do much journaling and consequently, I didn't read the Bible as much either. For me the process of journaling helps me focus, but it also motivates me to want to s… Read more »
Published on Sunday, May 30, 2021
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Quotes to Live By: Katherine Dunham

I used to want the words "She tried" on my tombstone. Now I want "She did it." Katherine Dunham Katherine Dunham, PhD (1909-2006) was a choreographer, dancer, and anthropologist. She used her anthropology research to bring ethnic dance styles to the stage, taking much of her inspiration from the Caribbean and Brazil. Dr. Dunham didn't stop with bringing blackness into art, she was active in our every day plight. In 1992 … Read more »
Published on Tuesday, February 5, 2019
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Real Experiences for BHM 2016: Black Art

Today in Black History: Art is the world that stimulates our senses, there's visual art for the eyes, music and spoken word for the ears, culinary art for taste... In the US, visual art is mostly "White art" the models are white, the painters are white, the designers are white. That probably explain why minorities don't see themselves reflected as standards of beauty too often in the art world. But there are tons of Black artis… Read more »
Published on Wednesday, February 17, 2016
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Real Experiences for BHM 2016: Music Gurus

The next set of heroes I want to talk about are one set of my maternal grandparents (that's a long story, just go with it): Leslie McIver, Sr. and Mary-Ann McIver . They were born a little later than may paternal grandparents, but still during the Jim Crow South. They met while attending Claflin University —1 of 4 of the only schools in South Carolina that accepted Blacks at the time. While at Claflin, my grandfather became a member of Alpha P… Read more »
Published on Wednesday, February 3, 2016
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The Wiz Live

I did what I told myself not to do: I looked at the comments section. Let me start from the beginning, ever since the moment I heard there was going to be a modern adaption of The Wiz , I've been stoked. I've only seen The Wiz once and it's been quite a while. I love music and I love The Wizard of Oz , it stands to reason that a Black musical version of The Wizard of Oz is bound to lure me in (yes, I'm also a fan of Wicked ). In the b… Read more »
Published on Friday, December 4, 2015
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Diversity in Ballet

B allet is an art form that's not known for diversity. One contributing factor to the lack of diversity could be cost—on top of the cost for lessons, there are also shoes, practice leotards, and performance costumes to be bought. Juilliard, which is one of the best (if not the best) schools for ballet, offers a ballet summer camp for teens that costs $1200 plus $1000 for room and board. Private lessons can cost up to $75 per hour [ 5 ] ! So, on t… Read more »
Published on Thursday, June 11, 2015
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Black Cinema: the Filmmakers Edition

First Black Filmmaker Oscar Micheaux may not be the namesake of the Oscar award, but he is a legend in the film world. Upon producing The Homesteader  in 1919, Micheaux became the first black in America to produce a feature film. Not only was he the first black to produce a feature film, but he was also the first to produce a film to be shown in white-only movie theaters. He used his status as producer to create films to attack the overt racism of… Read more »
Published on Monday, February 23, 2015
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The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

R eading is fundamental.Whether your interests are scientific or artistic, words are always lurking around the corner. A love for reading can inspire a child to achieve greatness in any field. Many of the children and young adult novels that sucked me into the world of reading were not given to me by my teachers, but my parents. While my teachers assigned books like Pippi Longstocking and The Great Gatsby , my parents found books with faces like m… Read more »
Published on Saturday, February 21, 2015
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The Blank Sketchbook

A blank sketchbook lies at my feet It stares at me curiously as I walk by Knowing emptiness is some kind of defeat, It waits for me patiently to decide On words to entertain countless pages On colors to paint and brighten stages... It knows something exists there In the creases of forgotten paper And given enough time to adequately prepare Something, becomes a skyscraper. A monument to the lack of emptiness A testament to the found happiness. Patience knows… Read more »
Published on Monday, July 14, 2014
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Craft of the Day

Sometimes I just have the urge to create, To let my hands and fingers get dirty-- And I sit around thinking what image Can serve at least one purpose... Should I create something for beauty Or perhaps something more practical... Something for the world to use Or just something for me. Weeks pass, days come and go But this urge to create never leaves-- So every once in awhile, I succumb Forget everything I have to do Discard obligation for joy And create some… Read more »
Published on Monday, June 16, 2014
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Contortion

Twisted, Spine disconnected Awkwardly turned Drenched in pain Throbbing, Pulsing rapidly... Doubled over And faintly existing Struggling to upright And steady shaken limbs. Read more »
Published on Wednesday, March 26, 2014
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Sci-Fi Legend:

Spotlight on Octavia E. Butler The fusion of ideas, Blended into a world of possibility-- Uncontradicted and unheard of Science and mythology combined, Soaring above and beyond The usual fantasy... Jumbled letters and words Breathe! This isn't the usual story And I'm determined to sort it out Add my own flavor To create some place no one else can reach Somewhere I want to go. References " Octavia E. Butler ". Biography ; visited 2014 Margalit Fox… Read more »
Published on Monday, February 24, 2014
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Prime Time is My Time:

Spotlight on Hattie McDaniel Four shows in,     and not a colored face-- Not a black, or a Latina, an Asian or Indian-- So I turn to something more ethnic, Something a little more like me And it's funny      that I can enjoy both, But only the colorless gets the spotlight. Then message boards condemn      the all black cast You want to cry foul When the rest of the network is whiter than rice And I miss the days of UPN... Weird, as I think back: My favorit… Read more »
Published on Friday, February 21, 2014
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Imagination Frees:

Spotlight on Morrie Turner Imagination creates the image, But the image is what inspires-- Reaches out to visitors Captures their attention, Whisks them away     into the depths of the creator's mind-- Here they can be swept up Drawn into a dream of a perfect world And visualize the possibilities. The images don't fade; But burn into the brain Leaving smoke trails back to perfection, A memory embedded in the visitor's soul Ready to be visited,     … Read more »
Published on Monday, February 17, 2014
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Do What You Do:

Spotlight on Charley Pride Some things come naturally, Like a spider spinning silk And natural tendencies shine. No matter how you hide-- Tuck it deep in the trunk of life Drape it in black-out shades And it still illuminates Natural energy burns naturally, It cannot be dimmed. No matter how you contain it-- The force that exists naturally Will be, however it chooses to be Strong willed, long lived... An uncontrollable light Charley Pride's first #1 hit Ref… Read more »
Published on Sunday, February 9, 2014
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Express Yourself:

Spotlight on Thomas Blackshear The need to express oneself To release some of your essence In words, or sounds, or images, Meant to wash away pains And illuminate great joys-- The right hand of a spirit Too dry to shed tears Too full to simply smile, Therefore it must create Paint, speak, and sing... A spotlight on your very soul Shining in near perfect creations Reflecting a piece of you, A gift you gave the world. References Thomas Blackshear Gallery ". T… Read more »
Published on Saturday, February 8, 2014
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Dreams of a Sugar Plum Fairy:

Spotlight on Misty Copeland I was young Everyone was doing it— Blonde ponytails, pink tutus And then there was me... If I'd noticed, Maybe I would've quit But I loved it And I wanted to shine. Twirl and twirl On pointed toe, Ribbons and colors Music and art— Sugar plum fairy dreams Swirling through snowflakes And me in the background Awaiting my chance... Expensive dreams, Pirouetting in front of me Taunting and haunting Until at last I concede. References Me… Read more »
Published on Wednesday, February 5, 2014
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WordArt

Quotes read from blank pages Fill the air and linger above us Beautiful words of inspiration Paint illustrious images in the sky Captivate each ear, each eye But let us engage the message Take it out of closed quarters Graffiti it on unblemished walls On display, sidelining busy streets For the world to writhe at their display Feel the weight of each voice Echoing like obnoxious bass From car to car, wheel to wheel Circulating into hearts and minds Creating a… Read more »
Published on Monday, January 20, 2014
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Paint the Truth

O ye of little faith, How can you doubt? Can you not see What's painted right before your eyes? Can you ignore the world's insignificance And block out the lies--- There's a Picasso Painted there, in heavenly skies. Can you not make out The smooth lines Connecting dotted events Of human lives? You may not understand How the colors flow And the threads connect, Woven into this tapestry-- So you fall into deceit , Clever lies spread by the "wise&qu… Read more »
Published on Wednesday, September 11, 2013
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Kinetic vs. Potential

I am Hope. Born on a hot, sunny day They took me home And loved me. I was born to dance. I'd sneak away Buy tickets for Broadway shows And study their technique My passion, alive in my feet. A soft calming in my soul... It's my world-- I make the rules. One day... I'll be at Julliard I'll dance on a mahogany stage … Read more »
Published on Monday, August 26, 2013
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