Sunday, August 26, 2007

NYC and American History

We spent a Friday and Saturday in New York City staying with some close friends who recently purchased a condo in Brooklyn. All I can say is the NYC is an incredible portrait of diversity. We attended a Muslim wedding of Helen's college friends Friday night. Weddings, no matter what culture or lifestyle share the same spirit of joy and celebration.

In summary, NYC was overwhelming at first, but I found the city to have an incredible energy and spirit. I want to go back.

I managed to get some good reading time on the bus ride up. Currently I'm reading Howard Zinn "A People's History of the United States". It's an enthralling and eye-opening read, because he focuses on the history the slaves, Native American, impoverished immigrants, poor working classes, and women. I'm finding the sugar coated version of history that has been traditionally taught has not told of the true struggle and hardships of the disadvantaged classes. You can't help but parallel some of these struggles to modern problems today such immigration, subtle racial injustices, problems of the poorer working classes, and gay rights to mention a few. You can find, if you look hard enough that these groups of people are often at a disadvantage and the power in almost any governmental system leans and favors towards the financially privileged.

One paragraph I came across I immediately thought of the painting Spirit of '76 by Archibald McNeal Willard (1836-1918, an Ohio boy and a carraige painter by trade.



Now consider the following paragraph taken from the book, pg 36. At Stono, South Carolina, in 1739, about 20 slaves rebelled, killed two warehouse guards, stole guns and gunpowder, and headed south, killing people in their way, and burning buildings. They were joined by others, until there were perhaps eighty slaves in all and, according to one account of the time "they called out Liberty, marched on with Colours displayed, and two drums beating." The militia found and attacked them. In the ensuing battle perhaps 50 slaves and twenty five whites were killed before the uprising was crushed.

I wonder how if Archibald painted the depiction above, how the painting would look.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Picaso as puppy

I've been putting together our footage from Peru into a DVD complete with menus and the like. I'm finding creating movies addicting and the time flies when I'm editing video. Here's a clip pf Picaso as puppy



from the DVD, although this clip is not scored to music. My DVD is and when you score music with video it can be magical. The DVD is more for family and personal use. I think it's ok to use an artist's music, but I'm not sure about the youtube copyright policies. I guess you can credit the artist at the end of the clips (which I have done in my DVD), but if you're posting on youtube to a worldwide audience it's probably best to stay away from copyrighted music. After all I don't want anyone to use my images without permission.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Hot Baltimore nights

It's been so hot lately. 100+ here in Baltimore and with humidity the heat index is reaching 106 downtown.

Artist Phil Hansen with an interesting approach to his work. I admire his thought and sacrafice behind his work. The idea of taking frgaments of experience or material around you that relates to the issue, delivers more impact.


Check the first TV nation Healthcare olympics:


I have tow shows coming up, on at the Metropolitan cafe in September and another at Caz bar in November. Need to get busy and make some more work.