Keith Haring '78-'82 | Brooklyn Museum

until July 8th 2012

"Keith Haring: 1978–1982 is the first large-scale exhibition to explore the early career of one of the best-known American artists of the twentieth century. Tracing the development of Haring’s extraordinary visual vocabulary, the exhibition includes 155 works on paper, numerous experimental videos, and over 150 archival objects, including rarely seen sketchbooks, journals, exhibition flyers, posters, subway drawings, and documentary photographs.

The exhibition chronicles the period in Haring’s career from his arrival in New York City through the years when he started his studio practice and began making public and political art on the city streets. Immersing himself in New York’s downtown culture, he quickly became a fixture on the artistic scene, befriending other artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kenny Scharf, as well as many of the most innovative cultural figures of the period. The critical role that these relationships played in Haring’s development as a public artist and facilitator of group exhibitions and performances is also explored. Pieces on view include a number of very early works never before seen in public; seven video pieces, including Painting Myself into a Corner (his first video piece) and Tribute to Gloria Vanderbilt; and collages created from cut-up fragments of his own writing, history textbooks, and newspapers." -BrooklynMuseum.org

Para Los Rumberos

Jam En El Barrio

Love you Graaaandpaa.

Sunset : Whitney Houston

I mimicked your every turn, note, breath, pause, in hopes of mastering your songs even remotely close to your mastery.  Through you I became a better singer. I dreamt of becoming a singer, having your poise and grace, and your intense control and fluidity.  I dreamt that I would meet you and be able to share with you how much I enjoyed your music and how much your voice impacted my determination to sing with strength and emotion, sounding as effortless and as angelic.

Life takes us to unexpected places, sometimes dark and treacherous, and although I can't imagine the breadth of difficulty you faced, I always hoped with hands clenched tightly that you would find your peace with us on earth, find your way to sing again, even if not perfect, but find the beauty in sharing your gift.  You leave us a tremendous gift that can be shared forever, and countless performers were born from your presence and music.  That I do not consider a waste of life.  You lived a full life in a short span, and all I can hope for is that you somehow know how much you were cherished, and hope you are resting in loving peace.

Now, to play what became one of my favorite songs of yours, which came later in your career, an album I wholeheartedly admired and felt had more of your own soul within it.  I cherish these lyrics and how you sang them everyday, as I will cherish all of your contributions to this lifetime.

SUNSET: Etta James

"You know what Mean Gene?"

Wrestling always brings warm memories of my great grandmother's excitement while watching the Big Boss Man, Macho Man Randy Savage, and of course Hulk Hogan.  This of course came hand in hand with her cute 5 feet tall, 80 years old, only-verbalized-in-spanish contempt for Rick Flair, The Undertaker, Ravishing Rick Rude.  This was a woman who spoke no english, but loved, absolutely loved wrestling.  I love that my father took his grandmother-in-law to a movie theather to watch the first WrestleMania.

With the passing of Randy Savage, all I can think of is the excitement and entertainment we experienced watching the World Wrestling Federation, and all of its bright stars back in the 80's and 90's. A big thank you to him and countless others for the crazy wear and tear they put themselves through while making a cute little old Puerto Rican lady fall in love with smack talk and "violence" on TV.

A Celebrated Voice : Teena Marie

While reflecting recently on cherished friendships present and past, I realized and enjoy the memory's ability to recall bits of details that, maybe at the moment, did not cause impact or difference, but become more vibrant as time adds more color, more detail.

Teena Marie's voice resonated with many, but I loved to hear the hint of emulation in Keisha's voice. Long ago I was lucky to see an ad in Backstage magazine looking for a young Latina R&B singer to audition for an all Latina R&B group back in 1998. After auditioning I met Keisha, the core of the group and the voice that carried each song.

I remember one of the first artists to ever arise in conversation with Keisha was with regards to our favorite singers, her's being Teena Marie. People make that claim everyday, who their favorites are, but over the years I loved to see how true this was for Keish.

Keisha carried her admiration in the voice she projected during every song she sang. Our voice is ultimately born of our genes, but I can hear the fingerprint left behind from influence. Keisha's admiration made me discover more music by Teena, and I loved every minute. Teena's power and emotion left its own small fingerprint on my voice and love of music. Keisha displayed her admiration for singing and for Teena by singing her favorite song "Out on A Limb" at the Apollo Theater in Harlem for Amateur night, to the cheering and applause of a notoriously unapologetic harsh crowd.

We all wish to seek learning, hearing, seeing new things from those we admire. We never know how long we have to keep learning, keep hearing, seeing. When the time comes and those we admire leave us, all we have left is what they left in our hearts and minds. Although sad to know Teena Marie has left us, I am grateful for her voice and grateful to watch and hear a piece of her exist on in those she has touched.

A Celebrated Life: Frida Kahlo

Celebrating Roy

Thank You Roy

I once wrote that Roy DeCarava was an artist with a timeless vision for beauty and a wonderful teacher with a sensibility for teaching artistic freedom. Today he left us, yet he leaves us with many lessons and memories to treasure. I am forever changed by his beauty and remain astounded by paths and circumstances that lead me to experience his grace and love for life.

I thank him for many things, but tonight I will specify one. I find myself on an eternal quest to discover music, and Roy used to play Sarah Vaughn, Coltrane, and other legends of jazz in the classroom when I studied photography with him at Hunter College . He gave me a list he prepared for his students who show interest in the music he played, a list of his personal favorite jazz albums to enjoy, almost like an introductory course in Jazz, Jazz 101. From that list I discovered a song, which I can easily say, is and will remain my favorite song of all time. There are over 50 recorded versions of this song titled For All We Know, written in 1934 by J. Fred Coots and Sam M. Lewis, but no one invokes the deep emotion of these lyrics like Aretha Franklin,

and tonight I dedicate this song to Roy.


DarkJive's blog post on The Sweet Flypaper of Life
New York Times Parting Glance: Roy DeCarava

Soupy

We all knew him as Soupy Sales, and I knew him through my father's stories of watching the Soupy Sales Show as a kid. I still laugh thinking of my father's imitations of Fang. Then one day I heard Soupy Sales impression of Fang in person.

I worked for Sam Goody on 60th and 3rd ave. in New York City for almost three years, starting in 1998. During that time a gaggle of celebrities shopped our store. I didn't recognize Soupy Sales on the day he first entered the store, one of my managers made a case that it was him and we asked. A sweet and gentle being, he responded, and I called my father excited. "You would never guess who was in the store today... no... guess!.... (impression of Fang)...YEAH! REALLY!"

He returned a few times to the store, I imagined it was part of his morning/afternoon stroll around the neighborhood. I had my cellphone ready to call my father waiting for him to return again, after I purchased Soupy Sales biography as a Christmas gift for him that year. Sure enough he did, and yes, he mumbled like Fang for my father by phone. He was delightful company and I hope he enjoyed visiting and speaking with us as well. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as he has left us all with wonderful memories.