Author: onajide

Today was going to be my prep day for another peach cobbler. Instead, while shopping, the strawberries had a sign, “buy one, get one free!” Yes, I bought. I sliced some up and sprinkled some raw sugar on, put in the fridge for tomorrow. I was planning on posting this little tidbit but, I see ruralrob & emjaybaxter has posted pics and a little story about making strawberry ice cream! *Yum*

However, it’s so warm here bananas ripen way too fast. I can’t buy more than 3 before they get too soft to eat. I don’t like ’em too green when I buy ’em. I thought that I should bake a banana cake, I did. It’s cooling off right now but looks fine.

I’ve been really busy working on several websites. I even got paid without having to say it was time to pay on one of the jobs. I had to resolve the domain renewal for another client. Then I started two new websites this week. I love when people pay a deposit up front. 🙂

I have a domain to transfer to myself next week, Miamiartexchange.com. My partner and I have had some discussions about getting the site redesigned and the artists we’re going to exhibit. I told him that right away I just wanted to redesign the main page so I could send out an email telling everyone the site was changing hands and would relaunch soon. I just to keep the traffic there since there hasn’t been much new there in the past month and a half. Writing policies and contracts aren’t easy. I wrote the by-laws for the St. Lucie Co. Cultural Affairs Council when I lived there. Also for an art organization I used to be a member of. I’ve been involved with a few attorneys over the years but, I would like to find an attorney-for-the-arts that can help pro bono. The local arts council can provide that.

Last but not least, I wish I had a digital camera. I saw the most handsome streetworker today when I went to the store. No shirt, thick chest, not too tall, light brown short hair, fuzzy chest, stache, and sexy-as-can-be body! He was avg. built but gawd, I just stood next to the sidewalk where he was working and just stared (drooling is more like it). When I left the store he had gone up the street so, I drove up to see him again. Gawd, he was fine! I like that type of man… my friend that died was a construction worker. He had big hands and some tatts, smooth, muscular (iron worker), brn hair & eyes, stache, & square jaw (woof). For those that know porn, he looked like a miniature Wolfmeir, honestly. Let me calm myself down here…. *fan*

one more time jawnbc

This time I was a bit more self-reflective…

+ Have I been honest and true within myself?

+ Do I have higher goals within for self-development and how do I achieve that without becoming a monk living on a mountaintop?

+ Can I reach the level of spirituality, inwardly seeking truth, that I feel it possible?

+ Since I have chosen a creative path, how do I understand the measurement of success in this realm because, since the 1950s, artistic success is measured in financial terms, not on how the work might affect ones historical and cultural legacy within ones society or culture?

+ Is it truly possible for two men to love each other in all the ways that I had seen my parents? (This one has been somewhat realized although I remain single. I don’t find the typical “gay lifestyle,” in most of the variations I’ve seen other the years, attractive since I don’t subscribe to the leather, hankies, rainbows, lisping, and calling out “girlfriend” type stuff. Never have! When I found love, it was short lived but, the time stays in my memories. My friend is deceased.)

In accordance to jawnbc, I am responding to these questions:

+ Have your interactions with others been characterized by respect, kindness and compassion?
For the most part, yes. However, I know that when I lose patience my voice changes and because of the tenor of my voice, I sound intimidating.

+ Are you responding to life as a gift, even when the moments are unhappy?
At this point in my life, I would say yes. As I have lost friends and family to death, it has become very apparent that a small token of kindness is extremely important. I’ve had many unhappy moments and the past two years have had days of frustration however, I still wake up (and go to bed) thinking how beautiful life is and that stress, anger, and hate just cannot be part of my life.

+ Do you react to things in terms of what you can contribute, rather than what you’ll get out of them?
I guess I would have to say the former since I don’t have much to show in terms of things I’ve gotten. Today, however, I’m doing things AND thinking about what I can get out of it. No compensation doesn’t pay the bills, or provide me with some tradeoff of value that I can use down the road. And, the road has become pretty narrow, and short, these days.

+ In the areas that you’ve not kept close to these ideals, how do you make things right again?
I work as hard on these things now as I ever have. I don’t have all the answers but, honestly, I’ve always felt the urge to develop inner strength, be it intellectual or spiritual. I think I’ve not reached a level of self-satisfaction. And, as I age, I feel understanding of certain principles is just beyond my comprehension, even though I’ve tried to. Some things can only be taught through life’s experiences…

Homer Jackson is a friend of mine. He’s a visual and performance artist. We met several years ago in Miami where he was doing a performance art piece (not to be mistaken for a theatrical piece on stage). It was at South Florida Arts Center, where I eventually became part off the exhibition review committee. He and I discussed his print publication but, my interest veers toward web publishing where I feel art oriented topics have more immediacy for action and discussion. Hence, I became Editor of miamiartexchange.com

Holding the Door Open: An Interview with Homer Jackson

Shine
Philadelphia’s Homer Jackson has launched “Shine: Conversations Between Artists,” a quarterly newsletter he calls “a national, even international dialogue.” Jackson is a important performance and community artist deeply concerned about the voices of artists of color. The first issue includes interviews with Atlanta’s award-winning poet Alice Lovelace and recording producer Richard Nichols, an article on the baffling health-insurance situation of the late MC Poetic, and a profile of Alternate ROOTS. Upcoming issues examine the role of the black performance artist and the worlds of community-based art and public art. Contributors and feature artists include Euware Osayande, Gary Moore, Robin Holder, Sherman Fleming, SuAndi, June Edwards and Rick Lowe. $10/year. E-mail: homershines@yahoo.com.

“God, that is so gay.” “Openly gay and lesbian artists – writers, directors, actors, composers – are more visible than ever in 2003 America. Indeed, when two men can share a kiss on national TV in celebration of their 25-year relationship and the Tony they have just won, it seems as if a milestone of acceptance and assimilation has been reached. And, certainly, gay characters are more in evidence than ever before on stage, screen, and TV. When a mainstream newspaper like USA Today runs an article asking, ‘How ‘in’ is it to be gay? Let us ‘out’ the ways,’ something must be afoot.”

UCI Vice-president Godkin hits out at NSW attack on road racing Former senior police officer, Ray Godkin, is outraged by an Australian State Government’s decision…

I should have posted this link already. Sorry. I’m not a uniform freak but I do like nicely shaped legs. Check out this cop… …uniformed musings.

Francesco Bonami’s 2003 Venice Biennale has been trashed already.

Venice Biennale: But where’s the art? What are the expectations of art and artists in today’s climate? Those outside the direct influence and knowledge of the artworld certainly don’t find of interest the search for some of the conceptual extremes that have received press in recent years. That lay audience still treasures realist works because they can grab ahold of it in their minds and relate to something they understand. Even “fantasy” based art and graffiti can do that. Abstraction and Conceptualism are more difficult but, many find it worthy and acceptable. What’s your take on it (after reading part of all of the articles)?

[Of course, the question is posed to all no matter how much you are involved with visual art.]

B8 d++ t- k- s u- f- i o+ x e+ l+ c+

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I have been a bit concerned about my financial situation this summer. I’ve managed to have some freelance web design lined up because just maintaining sites isn’t gonna cut it. I’ve got some writing projects lined up. I think that’s amazing! Diasporavibe Gallery asked me to write up some promotional stuff on some of their artists and make slides of artists’ work. They also asked me to get them a proposal for a catalogue project where they’ll need images, text and layout work done. Nice work if you can get it.

My cousin’s daughter is in town for the American Black Film Festival. I only met her for the first time at my Uncle’s (her grandfather) funeral. She and I have similar interests so that’s really kewl. She has a graphic design degree and wants to study film/video at NYU. Anyway, I was talking to her while walking in South Beach to grab a bite to eat, that Miami New Times was interested in me freelancing some articles on art and culture but that I hadn’t heard from them in a couple months. Well, I got home, checked my email, and there was the email to give a call to the person that spoke to me about it. Sure enough, they wanted me to write something and it fit exactly one of my interests. I have two weeks or so to put something together. This will be nice. I haven’t written for a newspaper in a while but I’m excited.

Okay, now the bad news. The film in my camera jammed and I lost a roll. The counter kept advancing but the film wasn’t in the spool correctly. Oh well… I did get some of the cycling pics to come out okay. And, some of the flora images. The ones I want to examine more closely are those I took with a point-and-shoot underwater camera. I was just hoping for some blurred, out of focus, unbalanced color type stuff. Scanning begins tomorrow.

Oh! I forgot to mention my cooking adventure for today. I decided a few days ago to buy some fresh peaches and make a cobbler. And did I! Have mercy it is GOOOOOOOD! I took my time for everything letting it cool. I couldn’t wait. I scooped up some, put in a bowl with a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream and just about licked the bowl afterwards… :-Þ~~