FUNKY CHIC CROCHET CROWNS BY XENOBIA BAILEY, STRAIGHT OUT OF HARLEM JUST IN TIME FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS: PURCHASE AT XENBA.ETSY.COM

GREETINGS GLOBAL COMMUNITY, I'M BACK WITH MY LATEST CROCHET CROWNS. OVER THE SUMMER SOME OF MY WONDERFUL CUSTOMERS WERE ASKING ME TO CROCHET MY CROWNS SO THAT THE CROWNS WOULD COVER THEIR EARS TO KEEP THEM WARM WHEN THE WEATHER REALLY GETS COLD.

SO, MY SOLUTION IS TO SUGGEST THE USE OF A NICE SCARF TO BE WORN WITH MY CROWNS.

I HAVE INCLUDED SOME WAYS OF WEARING THE SCARVES ON THE LOVELY MODEL AND MY DEAR FRIEND ANN.

THESE FUNKY CROCHET CROWNS CAN BE PURCHASED ON MY XENBA.ETSY.COM STORE.


































Be on the look out for my post of my 17 day in Sheboygan Wi. when I was doing a artist in residency at the Michael Kohler Cultural Center.... I can't wait to show you all the wonderful creative time we had.

I FINALLY POSTED XENOBIA BAILEY'S 17 DAYS CREATIVITY UTOPIA WORKSHOP AT JOHN MICHAEL KOHLEN CULTURAL CENTER, IN SHEBOYGEN WIS. OCT 1-17, 2009: PART 1

I DID SO MANY WORKSHOP AND THERE WAS SO MANY AMAZING WORKS OF ART CREATED DURING MY STAY, I HAVE TO DO A PART 1 & 2.


I JUST AM GETTING MY BREATH BACK FROM AN AMAZING 17 CREATIVE FILLED DAYS AT THE JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER CULTURAL CENTER IN SHEYBOYGEN WISCONSIN.

THIS IS THE BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF LAKE MICHIGAN THAT I WOKE UP TO EVERY MORNING. EVERY MORNING I WAS TEMPTED TO TAKE A DIP, (I HAD MY BATHING SUIT WITH ME).

THIS IS THE ENTRY OF THE JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER CULTURAL CENTER. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZINGLY, CREATIVELY FUNCTIONING CULTURAL CENTERS THAT I HAVE EVER VISITED.

THE BRILLIANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LIVING LEGEND, IS RUTH DE YOUNG KOHLER, I CAN'T BRAG ENOUGH ABOUT THIS WOMAN. I AM SURE THIS CULTURAL CENTER IS ADDING TO THE BRILLIANT CREATIVE MIND POOL OF THIS NATION AS WE GO INTO AN ERA OF NEW CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS.

THIS IS THE DOORWAY TO MY DOMAIN FOR 17 DAY, I HAD ADDED THE TITLE UTOPIA LAB TO THE ALREADY "THE ARTERY", WHICH I LOVE THIS WORKSPACE.

I CAN'T CALL IT THE HEART OF THE CULTURAL CENTER BECAUSE EVERY SPACE I WALKED INTO WAS THE HEART OF THE CULTURAL CENTER... EVEN THE BATHROOMS!!!!...



THEY LET ME REDESIGN THE WALLS, SO I DESIGN A MURAL ON PHOTOSHOP WITH HIGH AND LOW AQUA PYRAMID'S WITH INSPIRATIONALLY HIGHLIGHTED PEAKS, (EACH PEAK IS GOING TO HAVE A RED ROOSTER STENCILED ON THEM, THIS IS A ONGOING CREATIVE COMMUNITY PROJECT), I WENT TO THE PAINT STORE, PICKED OUT SOME COLORS THAT WOULD BE SOOTHING TO WORKING TO WORK IN AND WHEN I WALKED INTO THE NEW UTOPIA LAB EVERYTHING WAS READY.



THE "ARTERY" WHERE MY UTOPIA LAB WAS OPERATING, IS RAN BY OME OF THE HARDEST WORKING YOUNG WOMAN IN THE STUDIO ART BUSINESS. THE MIGHTY, DIVINE YVONNE MONTOYA.

THIS CARDBOARD HOUSE WAS BUILT, I CALLED IT THE "INSIDE/OUTSIDE HOUSE". I WAS WORKING WITH CONCEPT ART WITH THIS PART OF THE UTOPIA LAB PROJECT.

THIS IS THE VERY FIRST BRILLIANT YOUNG ARTIST THAT STARTED TO WORK WITH ME IN THE UTOPIA LAB. SHE WAS THE FIRST TO TEST OUT THE RECYCLED NEWSPAPER CROWNS I DESIGNED. SHE WAS A GREAT INSPIRATION TO ME. SHE IS STAYING IN THE "INSIDE/OUTSIDE HOUSE, THAT HAS GREEN GRASS AND BLUE SKY ON THE INSIDE.

SHE IS STANDING NEXT TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE SIGNS THAT READ "THINKING HAT AREA, IMAGINATION UNDER CONSTRUCTION", THAT MEANT EVERYONE HAD TO CREATE THEIR THINKING HAT/CROWN, AND BOY-O-BOY DID THEY CREATE SOME OUT OF THIS WORLD CROWNS.

WE HAD INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES COMING INTO TO STUDIO, AND WE HAD GROUPS. THE CENTER WAS CELEBRATING A ANNIVERSARY MY FIRST SUNDAY THERE, SO THERE WAS NONE STOP ACTIVITY.



I WAS WORKING WITH ELEMENTARY, JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, SENIOR CENTER, AND OTHER YOUTH AND ADULT GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITIES.

I WANTED TO WORK WITH AS MANY GROUPS AS I COULD, IT WAS SO MUCH FUN SEEING EVERYONE CROWN THEMSELVES.



THE CONCEPT THAT I WAS WORKING WITH WITH THE CROWNS WAS FOR EVERYONE TO BE THEIR OWN MUSE, WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET PAST THE CROWN PROJECT. BUT IT WAS A GOOD EXERCISE ON BEING INSPIRED BY WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE IMAGINE OURSELVE.

THIS BEAUTIFUL SELF CROWNED SENIOR HAS CELEBRATED 92 YEARS OF LIFE, SHE GAVE ME THE BIGGEST HUG...

THE KING SITS BEFORE US...


THIS IS A GROUP OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM MILWAUKEE THAT CAME FOR A CREATIVE WORKSHOP, AND THEY JUST TOOK OFF ON THEIR OWN AND CREATED THESE DYNAMIC HEADDRESSES, CROWNS AND LIKE I SAID.... THEY TOOK THIS WORKSHOP OFF THE CHARTS!!!!... AND THEY KEPT ON GOING...

THE JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER CENTER HAS A ENDLESS STORAGE ROOM FULL OF MATERIALS, SUPPLIES AMD TOOL. WE WERE DOING A LOT OF RECYCLEING, USING NEWSPAPER FOR THE BASE CROWNS OF THE CROWN THAT I DESIGNED.

BASICLY WE HAD A ROOM FULL OF MATERIAL, I SHOWED A GROUP OF TEACHERS HOW TO MAKE ROSES OUT OF NEWPAPER, AND AFTER THAT, GLITTER, NEWSPAPER, POM-POMS, CUT CUTS OF COLORFUL CONSTRUCTION PAPER WAS FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

...AND WHEN THE GLITTER AND FEATHERS SETTLED, EVERYONE HAD THESE AMAZINGLY FUN CROWNS.

NYC FASHION WEEK DEBUT OF THE "FUNKY CHIC", FIRST LADY, CROCHET CROWNS, BY XENOBIA BAILEY. INSPIRED BY FIRST LADY EXTRAORDINAIRE MICHELLE OBAMA.

GREETINGS GOOD FOLKS,.... WITH THE ARRIVAL OF FALL, AND ALL THE EXCITEMENT OF NEW YORK CITY FASHION WEEK, CAME THIS (HARLEM, U.S.A. STYLE) INSPIRATION OF MY "FIRST LADY/"CHURCH LADY" CROCHET CROWNS, INSPIRED BY OUR "FIRST LADY" MICHELLE OBAMA. THE FIRST LADY SERVES AS A NEW-FOUND MUSE FOR SOME OF MY 21st CENTURY SUPERNATURAL CREATIONS.

THIS IS A SNEEK PREVIEW OF WHAT THE FIRST LADY/"CHURCH LADY" CROWNS WILL LOOK LIKE.... THIS CREATION IS STILL IN THE DESIGNING PHASE.... I AM GOING TO BE MAKING SOME CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THIS CROWN, I WILL POST THE UPDATED WHEN THEY HAPPEN.

THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE A OVER SIZED ULTRA-FUNKY-CHIC, "OLE RUGGED" CROCHET CROWN, AS I DEVELOPE THE CONCEPT MORE, YOU WILL BEGIN TO SEE THE DIRECTION OF MY VISION.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY MY BLOG.

FUNKY BEJEWELLED MINI GLASS BEADED CROCHET CROWN FOR THE ENCHANTED SUPERNATURALS BY XENOBIA BAILEY

GREETINGS FOLKS, I AM STILL WORKING ON THIS CROCHET BEADED CROWN, I HAD TO PUT IT ON SOMEONE MAGICAL TO SEE HOW THE PIECE IS WORN.

THIS AMAZING PERSON IS DEBRA, SHE IS A WORLD TRAVELER AND WRITER. YOU CAN CHECK OUT HER BLOG. SHE HAS AMAZING TRAVELING STORIES TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD... A TRUE BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT THIS ONE IS.... A "FOR-REAL" ENCHANTED BEING IF I EVER MET ONE.

I WILL HAVE HER BLOG SITE VERY SOON TO SHARE WITH YOU.

PEACE

XENOBIA

WILD AUTUMN, SUPERNATURAL CROCHET CROWNING OF CROCHET ARTIST IN UNION SQUARE PARK, BY XENOBIA BAILEY

GREETINGS ONCE AGAIN LOVELY PEOPLE,... HERE IS A LOOK AT MY LATEST CROCHET CROWN-CAPS, WORN BY A YOUNG SUPERNATURAL CROCHET ARTIST.... SHE REMINDS ME OF MYSELF BACK IN THE DAY, THE YOUTH HAS SUCH WONDERFUL ENERGY WHEN THEY CULTIVATE THEMSELVES.

I'M STILL IN A GRAND RUSH TO GET EVERYTHING DONE AT THE SAME TIME... THINGS WILL GET ORGANIZED SOON, SO THAT I CAN HAVE MORE PR TIME ON THE BLOG. I'M ABOUT A YEAR BEHIND WITH SOME OF MY POSTINGS.

PEACE YA'LL

XENOBIA

CROCHET CROWN-CAP FOR SELL IN MY ETSY STORE...

XENBA.ETSY.COM

THE SUPERNATURAL DAILY GROOVE AT UNION SQUARE... MORE CROWNINGS BY XENOBIA BAILEY

THIS AMAZING WOMAN IS ABENA KOOMSON, SHE IS A PERFORMING ARTIST/ACTRESS THAT WAS IN THE OF BROADWAY PRODUCTION OF FELA. SHE DEVELOPED THE ROLE OF FELA'S MOTHER.

CHECK OUT HOW THIS FUNKY QUEEN IS WEARING MY CROCHET CROWN...

SHE WILL BE UNDER STUDING THE SAME ROLE FOR THE ON BROADWAY PRODUCTION OF FELA!, SOON TO OPEN THIS FALL.

YET ANOTHER OF THE ENDLESS VIEW OF THE URBAN GROOVE...

THIS IS "CHI-TOWN" (CHICAGO) AT IT'S MOST NATURAL, ULTRA COOLNESS, PASSIN THROUGH "THE SQUARE" ON 14TH STREET, NYC...

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT. DO'NT HURT NOBODY NOW...

JULY 2009 SUPERNATURAL SPOTTING AND CROWNING OF 21st CENTURY ENLIGHTENED ONES IN UNION SQUARE PARK, 14TH ST IN NYC BY XENOBIA BAILEY

POET AND AMAZING DANCER ADANZE ASANTE,.. SHE HAS A VERY MYSTICAL BOOK THAT WILL BE COMING OUT REAL SOON... I'LL KEEP YOU INFORMED.



I'VE BEEN VERY BUSY FOLKS THIS SUMMER, I HAVE NOT HAD MUCH TIME TO POST ACTIVITIES ON THE BLOG... BUT AS SOON AS I GET A MINUTE, I'LL UPDATE YOU ALL.

BUT... IN THE MEAN TIME,.. HERE ARE SOME IMAGES OF SOME OF THE CROWNING THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING WITH MY CROCHET CROWNS FOR ALL THE "SUPERNATURAL EVERYDAY FOLKS" I RUN INTO IN UNION SQUARE PARK IN NYC.

MORE ON THIS REALITY CROWNING PROJECT AS SOON AS I CAN GET IT TOGETHER.

PEACE YA'LL

I PROUDLY PRESENT MY FIRST OBATALA BABALAWO TYPE ORISHA CROCHET SACRRED ARTS OF ADORNMENT CROWN

GREETING FOLKS, WITH GREAT PRIDE I PRESENT TO YOU MY FIRST OBATALA BABALAWO ORISHA SACRED DECORATIVE ARTS OF ADORNMENT FOR BELIEVERS AND COLLECTORS OF COMTEMPORARY ART

I JUST POSTED THIS ITEM IN MY ETSY STORE, I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG I AM GOING TO BE CREATING THESE HATS, REALLY CHECK THEM OUT

I WILL BE POSTING MORE CROCHET CROWNS VERY SOON

SUPERNATURAL ARTIST SPOTTED AND CROWNED IN UNION SQUARE PARK BY XENOBIA BAILEY

HEY GOOD FOLKS THIS IS MEG, SHE IS TRULY A SUPERNATURAL ARTIST, WE JUST MET WHEN SHE PURCHASED ONE OF MY CROCHET CROWNS A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO,

I REALLY LIKED HOW SHE LOOKED IN THIS FUNKY CROWN, THIS CROWN WAS PURCHASE BY SOMEONE ELSE SO ME PURCHASED ANOTHER CROWN THAT WAS REALLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE CROWNS, THE PHOTO I TOOK WAS NOT A GOOD SHOT, SO I AM SHOWING FABULOUS MEG WITH THIS CROWN

NEW ORISHA AND URBN WIZARD CROCHET CROWNS FROM XENOBIA BAILEY

I AM SO VERY PROUD TO PRESENT THE ORISHA CHANGO CROWN, THIS IS A SMALL SIZE, ABOUT A SIZE 22 INCHE HEAD.

I WILL BE POSTING ON ETSY VERY SOON.

URBAN WIZARD CROCHET CROWN FOR THE MYSICS IN THE HOOD.

SOON TO BE POSTED ON MY ETSY STORE.

ZEBRA CROWN, THIS CROWN HAS BEEN SOLD.

INTRODUCING THE YEMAYAH CROWN FROM THE NEW ORISHA CROCHET CROWN COLLECTION BY XENOBIA BAILEY

YEMAYAH CROCHET CROWN BY XENOBIA BAILE, THIS CROWN HAS ALREADY BEEN SOLD. BUT I WILL BE DOING OTHERS CROWNS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

GREETINGS WORLD, I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE MY NEW ORISHA CROCHET CROWN COLLECTION FOR THE URBAN SUPERNATURALS.

YEMAYAH GODDESS ON THE JOB.

THE ORISHA OF THE OCEAN AND MOTHERHOOD, THE QUEEN BEE OF HUMANITY, THIS CROWN WAS CREATED FOR THE SUPERNATURAL GREAT GODDESS OF URBAN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD.

I WILL BE WRITING MORE ON THIS SUBJECT AS SOON AS I GET A LITTLE TIME, I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE THIS ADORNMENT FOR THIS MYSTICAL WONDER OF A WOMAN.


THE MODEL IS A VERY DEAR FRIEND OF MINE AND A COLLECTOR OF MY ART WORK, SHE IS ALL ABOUT LIFE, LOVE, GRACE, ABUNDANCE AND MOTHERHOOD.

CROCHET CROWNS FOR THE SUPERNATURAL CREATIVE FOLKS OF THE PLANET, BY XENOBIA BAILEY

GREETINGS FOLKS, HERE IS TWO OF MY NEW CROCHET CROWNS, CREATED TO ADORN THE BRILLIANT HEADS CREATIVE FOLK HEROS IN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GLOBE.

CLOSE UP VIEW OF WIZARD CROWN SHOWN ON ARTIST BELOW.

THIS PHOTO IS ONE OF THE LOCAL ARTIST/BUSINESS PERSON THAT VENDS IN UNION SQUARE PARK ON 14TH STREET IN NEW YORK CITY.

BOTH OF THESE CROCHET CROWNS WILL BE POSTED FOR SELL IN MY ETSY STORE.

NEW LOOK AT FUNKY CHIC CROCHET CROWNS

I SHOWED THIS CROWN BEFORE, BUT IT IS A BETTER FIT ON THIS MODEL. THIS MODEL IS MISHON, MISHON, SHE IS A AMAZING NATURAL HAIR STYLIST IN BROOKLYN.

THIS CROWN JUST SOLD ON ETSY.

I SHOWED THIS CROWN ON THE BLOG BEFORE... BUT THIS IS A BETTER FIT, THIS CROWN IS A LITTLE LARGE.

THIS IS A NEW CROWN, THIS CROWN HAS ALREADY BEEN SOLD... I WANTED TO SHARE THE IMAGE ANYWAY.

WORKS IN PROGRESS FUNKY CROCHET CROWN

WHEN I PUT THIS CROWN ON A WOMANM IT WORKS BETTER FOR ME, I STILL HAVE TO ADD THE SIZING FOR SCULPTURAL BODY TO THE CROWN.

THE INSTALLATION OF MANDALA TITLED, ONE NATION UNDER A CROVE, BIT BY BIT, LITTLE BY LITTLE, AND SCONCES BY DORIAN WEBB AT LOGAN AIRPORT IN BOSTON

THIS INSTALLATION WAS SPONSORED BY THE FULLER CRAFT MUSEUM IN BROCKTON MASS. THE LOCATION IN THE AIRPORT OF THE INSTALLATION IS A THE DELTA BAGGAGE PICK UP.

I WILL GIVE MORE DETAIL SOON,... LIKE ALWAYS... I'M IN A MAD RUSH.

TEXTURAL RHYTHMS: CONSTRUCTING THE JAZZ TRADITION-CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN AMERICAN QUILTS, AMERICAN

THE MORNING OF JUNE 23, 2009, MANSUR SCOTT, THE GIOT "HOLY MAN" OF LENOX AVE. CALLED ME, AND TOLD ME TWO OF HIS FRIENDS WHERE COMING INTO NEW YORK FROM NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE QUILTING EXHIBIT AT THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF FOLK ART IN NYC.

HIS FRIEND WIFE WAS ONE OF THE QUILTER IN THE EXHIBIT, I WILL ADD DETAILS LATER. MANSUR TOLD ME THE OPENING WAS THAT EVENING. THIS WAS AN EVENT I NEEDED TO ATTEND.

THIS IS A EXCITING TRAVELING EXHIBIT

TWO OF THE QUILTERS IN FRONT OF A QUILT HONORING NINA SIMONE IN THE BACKGROUND.

THE NETWORKING AMONG THE ARTIST AND QUEST.


TWON OF MY DEAR FRIENDS FROM BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS A ART STUDENT AT PRATT INSTITUTE. DAPHNE MC KINGHT SITTING WITH SHORT HAIR AND SANDI BENGERMAN, STANDING.

SANDI IS SOON TO RETIRE FROM PRATT AND BECOMING A FULL TIME QUILTER IN NORTH CAROLINA. I HAVE A GREAT SANDI STORY.

VERY INTERESTING COUPLE WITH A GREAT LOOK, I FELT WE WOULD HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON.

BESIDES BEING LOVERS OF THRIFT STORES, HE IS A CROCHETER. HE PULLED THIS AMAZING PIECE OUT OF HIS BAG.


THE CUTEST MOTHER AND DAUGHTER AT THE EXHIBIT, I THINK THEY ARE FROM WASHINGTON DC, THE DAUGHTER IS IN NEW YORK TO GO TO ALVIN AILEY FOR THE SUMMER... IN A MAD RUSH... I WILL GET BACK TO ALL THE DETAILS SOON.

NOTES FOR FINAL WORKS IN PROGRESS CROCHET CROWN LOOK... ONE MORE PHASE TO GO BEFORE COMPLETION

THIS LOOK REALLY WORKS FOR ME WITH THE BRIM, I LIKE THE ELEVATION THE THE TRIM MULTI COLOR BRIMS TO THE CROWN, NOW IT IS COMPLETED.

THE ADDITION OF THE BRIM AND THE TRIML IS REALLY SAYING SOMETHING TO ME.... I STILL HAVE TO ADD THE SIZING AND HAND SCULPT THE CROWN FOR IT TO HOLD IT'S PERMANENT SHAPE...

WORK-IN-PROGRESS NOTES ON MY CREATION OF MY LATEST FUNKY CROCHET MOJO CROWNS FOR THE URBAN MYSTICS OF THE PLANET BY XENOBIA BAIELY

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS CROCHET MOJO CROWN THAT I AM WORKING ON,... I HAVE NOT YET DONE THE HAND SCULPTING WITH THE LAQUAR SIZING TO GIVE THE CROWN IT'S PERMANENT SHAPE... FOR SOME REASON IT DOES NOT LOOK COMPLETE TO ME.

I THINK I AM GOING TO ADD A BRIM TO IT BEFORE I DO THE HAND SCULPTING WITH THE SIZING....

THE COLORS WORK FOR ME... THE YARN COLORS AND FILAMENT SPARKLING THREADS DO NOT SHOW UP THAT GOOD IN THE PHOTO....

IT IS SO GREAT TO WORK WITH A WONDERFUL LIVE MODEL WHILE I WORK ON THIS SERIES OF CROCHET CROWNS... IT REALLY HELPS WITH MY VISUAL THINKING.

AMERICAN STORY, INSTALLATION OF RE POSSESSED AT THE JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ART CENTER, SHEBOYGAN, WI

THIS IS A VERY EXCITING EXHIBIT AT THE JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ART CENTER... IT RUNS FROM JUNE 20, 2009 TO JAN 3, 2009

I'M STILL IN A MAD RUSH, I ONLY HAD TIME TO POST THESE IMAGES, I WILL POST THE TEXT REAL SOON... I PROMISE.

CHECK OUT THE JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ART CENTERS WEBSITE... ITS A GREAT PLACE.

https://www.jmkac.org/XenobiaBailey

ULTRA FUNKY CROCHET CROWN FOR KING COOL PAPA DADDY-O, FOR FATHERS DAY, OR ANY DAY, CREATED BY FIBER ARTIST XENOBIA BAILEY

GREETINGS FOLKS... HERE IS MY LATEST CREATION FOR ALL THE ART COLLECTER LOOKING FOR THAT ONE-OF-A-KIND GIFT FOR FATHERS DAY...

I'M IN A SUPER MAD RUSH RIGHT NOW... FOR MORE DETAIL... CHECK IT OUT ON MY XENBA.ETSY.COM SITE...

THANKS FOLKS... I'LL BE WRITING MORE IN THE FUTURE.

MORE FUNKY CROCHET CROWNS FOR THE URBAN MYSTICS, WIZARDS AND SUPERNATURAL BROTHERHOOD OF THE PLANET: FRESH FROM MY STUDIO.

GREETINGS WORLD, HERE ARE TWO NEW FUNKY CROCHET CROWNS HOT OFF MY CROCHET HOOK, THESE CROWNS WILL ALSO BE ON ETSY IN A FEW DAYS.

THIS SIZE IS FOR A 23 INCHE HEAD,


THIS CROWN AT THIS STAGE WAS A WORK IN PROGRESS, ...I WAS NOT TO PLEASED AT LEAVING THIS CROWN AS COMPLETED AT THIS STAGE,.... IT SEEMED TO ME LIKE IT NEEDED SOMETHING ELSE,..... IT WAS NOT GOING IN THE DIRECTION THAT I WANTED IT TO GO IN...

HERE IS THE FINAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CROWN,..... I POPPED UP THE TOP AND ADDED A BRIM TO GIVE IT THE LOOK I WANTED.....

NOW THAT I LOOK AT VIEW (2), I LIKE VIEW (2) FOR ANOTHER FUNKY CROWN STUDY,... I REALLY LOVE THESE DIGITAL CAMERAS FOR KEEPING VISUAL STUDIO NOTES.

THE MODEL IS A BRILLIANT YOUNG ENTREPENUER, NAMED LHIODES (SOUNDS LIKE "LEE OTIS"),..... HE IS VISITING HARLEM ON A BUSINESS TRIP LOOKING FOR A SPORTS WEAR FASHION DESIGNER TO DESIGN FOR HIS AND HIS PARTNERS CLOTHING LINE IN PARIS,...... I WILL SHARE MORE INFO ABOUT HIS PROJECT REAL SOON.

HE IS ORIGINALLY FROM THE CONGO, HIS FAMILY AND HIM MOVED TO PARIS WHEN HE WAS YOUNG AND THAT IS WERE HE PRESENTLY LIVES.

HE WILL BE IN NEW YORK FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS.

I HAVE JUST DRAFTED HIM AS MY NEW MODEL MUSE FOR MY FUNKY URBAN CROWNS FOR ALL THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE PLANET... ARE MY STARS LINED UP OR WHAT?!!!

PEACE Y'ALL

XENOBIA'S FUNKY URBAN ONE-A-KIND CROCHET CROWNS WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL THE SUPERNATURAL FOLKS ON THE PLANET. ON XENBA. ETSY.COM

ONE OF A KIND COSMIC CROCHET CROWNS AS FUNKY AS I CAN MAKE THEM FOLKS... WITH MY PERSONAL LABEL, NOW AVAILABLE FOR SELL TO THE WORLD.

GREETINGS EVERYONE,... I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF CREATING A 2009 COLLECTION OF MY NEW FUNKY URBAN CROCHET CROWNS.

I WILL BE SELLING THEM ON MY XENBA.ETSY.COM SITE IN A FEW DAYS. THIS POSTING IS THE FIRST INTRODUCTION.

THIS HAT WITH THE BLACK/PURPLE TOP, THE AQUA/DARK BROWN SECOND LAYER HAS ALREADY BEEN SOLD. THIS IS A SMALL SIZE.

ALL THE CROWNS ARE PERSONALLY CROCHET BY ME, XENOBIA BAILEY, THEY ARE CROCHET WITH 4 PLY COTTON AND ACRYLIC YARNS, SINGLE STITCH WITH MY ORIGINAL SIGNATURE "LIQUID STITCH".

ALL THE CROWNS ARE SCULPTED WITH SIZING, SO THAT THE CROWNS MAINTAINS THE ORIGINAL SHAPE.

THE PRICE WAS $135.00

THIS RED/DARK OLIVE GREEN TOP CROWN, WITH NO BRIM, IS STILL FOR SELL, MEDIUM SIZE.

PRICE $135.00

THIS LOVELY HOT PINK/TURQUISE TOP COCHET CROWN WITH NO BRIM HAS SOLD. MEDIUM SIZE.

PRICE $135.00

THIS FUNKY BLUE NUMBER WITH DENIM BLUE/PALE RAINBOW COLORS AT THE TOP WITH A BRIM IS STILL AVAILABLE. THIS IS A SMALL SIZE.

PRICE $140.00

THIS BEAUTIFUL HOT PINK/DARK BROWN AT THE BOTTOM WITH A BLACK/WHITE TWEED BRIM WITH A LAVENDER TRIM.

PRICE $140.00

THIS CUTE WINE RED/APPLE GREEN TOP, WITH GREEN CAMOFLAGE BRIM, WITH LAVENDER TRIM. SMALL SIZE.

PRICE $140.00

THIS FUNKY FLAPPED CROWN WITH THE WINE RED/TURQUISE TOP WITH DENIM BLUE AMBRE BRIM WITH SAND COLORED TRIM. THIS IS A LARGER SIZE HAT.

PRICE $150.00

FRONT VIEW OF THE ABOVE CROCHET CROWN.

FOUR CORNERED RED/DARK GREEN TOP WITH GREEN CAMOFLAGED BRIM AND VIBRANT PURPLE TRIM MEDIUM SIZE.

PRICE $150.00 (THIS CROCHET FUNKY CROWN IS SOLD)

CLOSER VIEW OF THE ABOVE CROCHET CROWN. (THIS CROCHET CROWN HAS BEEN SOLD)

MANY THANKS TO THE BEAUTIFUL MODEL ANN. ANN IS AN AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL PERSON INSIDE AN OUT. SHE FIRST MODELED FOR ME AT A FASHION SHOW AT THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK A FEW YEARS AGO, AND SHE STOLE THE SHOW.

SHE IS A WONDERFUL DANCER, SHE WAS RECENTLY PERFORMING IN BILL T. JONE POWERHOUSE OFF BROADWAY MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF FELA. KEEP YOUR EYES OPENED FOR THIS DYNAMIC ARTIST.

MANY THANKS ANN!!... YOU REALLY MAKE MY ART WORK COME ALIVE!!!

BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC'S, DANCE AFRICA 2009, TRANCE-PORTING THE BLOCK TO ANOTHER COSMIC-FREQUENCY.

EACH YEAR, I CAN'T HARDLY WAIT FOR DANCE AFRICA'S MARKET PLACE TO OPEN UP IN THE PARKING LOT OF BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC. I ALWAY SEE THESE AMAZING WORKS OF UTILITARIAN ART BY THESE ARTIST VENDORS.

I DID NOT GET THIS BOOTH'S NAME, BUT I WILL GO OVER MY BUSINESS CARDS THAT I COLLECTED AND POST THE INFO AT A LATER DATE..... I HOPE.

I HAVE TO GET MY TRAVELING BAGS ENHANCED BY THIS ARTIST.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY ROVING MODELS THAT WERE MOVING THROUGH THE CROWD WITH THE ULTIMATE URBAN LOOK FOR THE 21st. CENTURY... ART WE READY FOR COSMIC STAR TIME?

NICE, NICE, VERY NICE...

A PLUS, PLUS FOR CULTURAL FUSION REMIX.... I THINK WE CAN ALL GET ALONG.

I AM LOVING THIS BRAID JOB..

REAL IRON MAN SURFACE DESIGN...

THIS IS MY ULTRA COOL, HOMEGIRL, DEAR FRIEND, EYE DOCTOR, IN ONE OF MY FUNKY CROCHET CROWNS THAT SHE JUST PURCHASED. SHE ALSO CROCHETS, PRINTS ON FABRIC AND IS WORKING ON A VIDEO... I WILL KEEP YOU TUNE FOR FUTURE DETAILS ON DR. DONNA.

HERE IS THE FABULOUS MODEL ANN, MODELING AN ORIGINAL OUTFIT BY MULTI TALENTED PERFORMANCE ARTIST AND DESIGNER EXTRA ORDINAIRE WUMMI THE WONDER WOMAN.

FUNKY CHIC IN THE SUMMER TIME.

ONE OF THOSE, FAMILY AT THE FESTIVAL PHOTO'S, THIS IS ANN, HER ADORABLE DAUGHTER AND HER VERY SUPPORTIVE MOTHER.

I THINK SOME ONE HAS JUST STOLEN THIS SCENE, WITH HER CUTE LITTLE SASSY SELF,

...ANOTHER COSMIC STAR IS BORN.

THIS IS WHAT FESTIVAL ARE ALL ABOUT,... EATING ALL THE SWEETS YOU CAN BEFORE YOUR MOTHER AND GRANDMA SEES YOU.

YUM, YUM, YUMMY...AAHHHH TO THE LAST CRUMB.

SHE IS AS CUTE AS A BUTTON,... I LOVE THE WAY HER MOTHER DRESSES HER, IN URBAN DESIGNER WEAR.

FACE PAINTING IS ALWAYS POPULAR... CHECK MOM ON THE LEFT GETING INTO THE PHOTO.

CHECK MOM ON THE RIGHT, GETTING INTO THE PHOTO...

FINAL APROVAL OF THE FACE PAINT JOB.

i THINK SHE LIKES IT.

SHOPPERS AT ONE OF THE MANY VENDORS BOOTH,

SOMETIMES I DO'NT KNOW WHERE TO LOOK FIRST...

REGROUPING.

TRADITIONAL AFRICAN FABRIC.... I DID NOT SEE ANY CONTEMPORARY TEXTILE PRINTS...

AS I WAS LEAVING THE FESTIVAL, I RAN INTO A SISTAH CROCHET VENDOR THAT I MET ON 14TH ST. AT UNION SQUARE PARK SELLING HER CROCHET HATS. SHE WAS AT THE FESTIVAL WITH HER SON, HE IS SUCH A NICE YOUNG MAN.

I GUESS HIS CHARM CAUGHT THE EYE OF THIS LITTLE GIRL THAT WAS ON THE SUBWAY AS WE ALL ENTERED THE TRAIN, HER AND HER MOTHER WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR, AND THEY SAT DOWN WITH US.

THE LITTLE GIRLS MOTHER SAID THAT THE LITTLE GIRL WANTED TO SHOW THE LITTLE BOY HER SWORD.

US ADULTS THOUGHT THE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THEM WAS SO CUTE...

LOOK HOW SHE IS LOOKING AT HIM... AND HE IS ACTING LIKE HE IS SO INTO CHECKING OUT HER SWORD.

YET ANOTHER OUTING TO REMEMBER FOR MY FUTURE NOTES...

MAIMOUNA KEITA SCHOOL OF AFRICAN DANCE: CONFERENCE 2009 WORKSHOPS AND CONCERT 4.9.09-4.12.09, NYC

THIS PAST EASTER SUNDAY WEEKEND WAS THE 17TH ANNUAL DANCE CONFERENCE AND CONCERT OF MAIMOUNA KEITA SCHOOL OF AFRICAN DANCE, INC.www.maimounakeita.com/

CO-FOUNDED BY MARIE BASSE-WILES (ON THE LEFT) AND OLUKOSE WILES, MUSICAL DIRECTOR (NOT PICTURED).

WHEN EVER I AM IN TOWN I LOVE TO DROP BY THIS MAGICAL JOURNEY OF DANCE & DRUMMING WORKSHOPS BY THE BEST CRAFTSMEN OF THEIR FIELD...

MARIE BASSE-WILES HAS SHARED HER CREATIVE PERFORMANCE BRILLIANCE WITH THIS CONFERENCE FOR 17 YEARS NOW... THIS AIN'T AN EASY THING TO DO FOLKS... WONDERFUL PRODUCTION "QUEEN" WILEY.... YOU HAVE LIFTED OUR SPIRITS, HIGHER AND HIGHER...

THERE WAS A LOVELY SHORT AFRICAN FASHION SHOW OF A COLLECTION OF AMAZING AFRICAN GARMENTS THAT THE VENDER WERE SELLING.

I LOVE BEING INSPIRED BY THE ELEGANT STYLE OF ALL THE SUPERNATURALS AND EVERYDAY PEOPLE "STARS" WHO ALL WERE SO RADIANTLY STYLED FOR THIS FOUR DAY EVENT.

POWER-HOUSE DANCER/INSTRUCTOR.

21ST CENTURY AFRO-POP STYLE AT IT'S MOST SYPHISTICATED BEST....

THE HAIR PARTING CRAFT TAKE REAL SKILL THAT COME WITH A LOT OF PRACTICE....


MY CROCHET CROWN ON THIS ULTRA-HIP, TALENTED, YOUNG AFRICAN PRINCE

ANOTHER OF MY CROCHET CROWNS... I COULD'NT HELP MYSELF FOLKS... IT WAS ROYALTY ALL AROUND ME, EVERY WHERE I LOOKED... I HAD TO CAPTURE THE MOMENTS.

ULTRA SOPHISTICATED AND FUN LOOK... IN OTHER WORDS... NEO RICH!!!... IT'S IN THE BLOOD!!!....

OK... I HAVE TO STOP WRITING NOW THIS IS TO MUCH EXCITEMENT FOR ME... MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS OUT OF CONTROL...

ENJOY THE IMAGES OF THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH MARIE BASSE-WILES FOR THIS WONDERFUL SPIRITED WEEKEND....

THIS WAS GOOD MEDICIAN!!!






















THESE TWO MAGICAL PEOPLE JUST MET AS I WAS PHOTOGRAPHING THEM...

I JUST LET MY IMAGINATION RUN WILD, MAKING THEM A COUPLE IN MY MIND,... BECAUSE THEY LOOKED SO FABULOUS TOGETHER...

IS'NT THIS THE MOST NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL YOUNG COUPLE YOU HAVE EVER SEEN IN A LONG TIME!!!.

SO CALM...

SO REFRESHING...

SO SMART LOOKING,

SOOOO 21ST CENTURY AFRO-CHIC!!!























THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH MARIE, FOR SHARING THIS WONDERFUL AFRICAN DANCE & DRUMMING EXPERIENCE WITH US,...

WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU AMONG US.

STUDIO MUSEUM OF HARLEM: COLLECTED, PROPOSITIONS ON THE PERMANENT COLLECTION [KALUP LINZY: if it Don't Fit] OPENING 4.1.09 HARLEM, NYC

STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM,... LIKE A ANOTHER MAGAZINE "UPTOWN", HAS A DOUBLE COVER FOR THE SPRING STUDIO MAGAZINE WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA AND A ART PIECE BY FINE ARTIST ROMEARE BEARDEN....

IF YOU CAN EVER GET A COPY OF ANY OF THESE INSIGHTFUL STUDIO MAGAZINES, IT WOULD BE MORE THAN WORTH IT TO HAVE IN YOUR PERSONAL LIBRARY.

THE EXHIBIT, COLLECTED, PROPOSITIONS ON THE PERMANENT COLLECTION, IS A VERY LARGE AND WONDERFUL EXHIBITION OF THE STUDIO MUSUEM IN HARLEMS PERMANENT COLLECTION.

I HAVE ONE OF MY WORKS IN THIS EXHIBIT, TITLED "SUPERNATURAL THING" EVEN THOUGH THIS PIECE IS PART OF DANNY SIMMONS PERMANENT ART COLLECTION. I WAS ASKED TO BE A PART OF THE EXHIBIT... I WAS TRULY HONORED FOR THE OPPURTUNITY.

WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE BUILDING, I WENT STAIGHT TO THE STUDIO MUSEUM GIFT SHOP TO SAY HI TO JAMIE GLOVER AND TO SEE HOW MY TEA'S WERE SELLING.

I SAW A EXCITING COLLECTION OF HAND CROCHET HATS BY A 3 GENERATION CROCHET DESIGNER/BUSINESS WOMAN, PAULRTTE JEMMOTT-WILEY. SHE IS A PRODUCT OF HER CROCHETING MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER....

PLEASE GO TO HER WEB-SIGHT WWW.DALIASOLEIL.COM AND CHECK HER OUT, SHE IS AN AMAZING CRAFTS WOMEN. SHE DESERVES AN A++ IN MY BOOK.

THIS IS THE LOVELY DESIGNER, IT WAS MY OVERSIGHT TO NOT INCLUDE HER DAUGHTER IN THE PHOTO BECAUSE HER DAUGHTER IS THE INSPIRATION FOR HER VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

PAULETTE'S CHOICE''S AND COMBINATION OF COLORS WORKS WILL WITH ANY SKIN TONE. ... HER WORK HAS TO BE VIEWED IN PERSON, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE HOW WELL STRUCTURED THESE HATS ARE. I CAN REALLY SEE THE EFECTS OF 3 GENERATIONS IN EVERY STITCHE. SHE ALSO HAS A ETSY STORE dahliasoleil.etsy.com

A WONDERFUL CHARMINGLY FUNKY CROCHET HAT. A REAL NICE ADDITION TO THE EXPANDING FUNKY URBAN AESTHETIC.

HERE ARE TWO MASTERFULLY KNITTED HEAD WEAR....

SHE'S GOT THE LOOK:

SPOT LIGHTING ANOTHER SUPERNATURAL STYLING HER URBAN LOOK AT STUDIO MUSEUM OPENING.

A COOL, RICH, FUNKY LOOK.

I SPOKE WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL QUEEN MOTHER, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE STUDIO MUSEUM,

SHE WAS WEARING THIS STUNNING CROCHET HEAD PIECE THAT SHE WAS WEARING LIKE A CROWN, I HAD TO ASK ABOUT THIS WORK.

IT REMINDED ME OF THE CROCHET WORK THAT I SAW BACK IN THE 1980'S, BEFORE I KNEW HOW TO CROCHET. THIS WAS THE HIGH SKILL OF CRAFTSMENSHIP, URBAN AESTHETIC, PATTERN DESIGN AND CHOICE OF NATURAL COTTON YARNS, THAT INSPIRED THE WORK THAT I DO TODAY.

I DO NOT SEE THIS QUALITY OF WORK ANY MORE, IT USED TO BE SO COMMON IN THE COMMUNITY, AFTER THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION AND THE BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT IN THE 1960'S.

SHE TOLD ME, THAT THIS MASTERFUL COLLECTOR ITIEM WAS INDEED FROM THE 1980'S.... IT WAS WONDERFUL TO STUDY THIS STRIKING WORK OF ART.

SHE TOLD ME SHE PAID $20.00 FOR IT,... THAT WAS "BACK IN THE DAY" WHEN RENT WAS $250.00 FOR A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT IN A BROWNSTONE IN BROOKLYN, THAT WAS SPECIAL ERA FOR THE "PEOPLE"...

SHE TOLD ME THAT THE ARTIST THAT CROCHET IT HAD PASSED ON.... BLESS HER BEAUTIFUL SOUL.

XENOBIA BAILEY'S "HAPPENING" BIRTHDAY-TEA NOTES: KNITTY CITY 4.5.09 NYC

HEY FOLKS... FIRST... GIVING BIRTHDAY THANKS TO MY PARENTS FOR MY BIRTH, AND FOR HAVING THEM BOTH, TOGETHER AS A MARRIED COUPLE, IN MY LIFE, UNTIL I LEFT HOME AS A ADULT.

AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT WOULD MAKE THIS BIRTHDAY SPECIAL FOR ME, I CAME UP WITH SOME NOTES ABOUT SOME IDEAS FOR MY BIRTHDAY TEA.

I SAW THIS AMAZING TEE-SHIRT WITH THE LIKENESS OF OUR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA, ON IT FOR SELL ON 14TH STREET AND UNION SQUARE IN NEW YORK CITY,

THIS TEE SHIRT REALLY GOT MY CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING, AS FAR AS ECONOMIC STIMULATION, ARTIST, THE WORK PLACE, KNEEDLE ARTS ETC. ETC.

I AM GOING TO CREAT A SERIES OF FUNKY CROCHET BUSINESS POWER SUITS, FOR POWER DRESSING.

THESE SUITS ARE GOING TO BE WORN WITH DIFFERENT ULTRA-COOL TEE SHIRTS THAT I MAKE OR BUY FROM OTHER ARTIST, THESE POWER TEE-SHIRTS HAVE TO HAVE A SPIRITED PROGRESSIVE MESSAGE, LIKE THIS ONE HERE OF OUR FIRST LADY.

I AM GOING TO USE COCO CHANEL AS A POINT OF INSPIRATION, BECAUSE OF HOW SHE PUT GLAMORE INTO POWER DRESSING.

I AM GOING TO CREAT SOME CATHEDRAL LENGTH NECK PIECE, WITH DARK PEARLS, DARK CRYSTALS AND CROCHET JUJU BEADS THT I MAKE.

I AM GOING TO CREATE THE ULTIMATE FUNKY CROCHET POWER SUIT, FOR THE SERIOUS, ON THE MOVE BUSINESS WOMAN.

LIKE THIS PHOTO OF THE "FORCE" COCO CHANEL, STEPPING OUT, ON A MISSION IN HER FABULOUS CREATIONS THAT SPEAK VOLUMES FOR WHO EVER IS WEARING THEM,

THIS WOMAN WAS AND STILL IS A REAL POWERFUL CREATIVE BEING.

PEARL CHIN, THE OWNER OF KNITTY CITY, HAS A BUNCH OF OLD MAGAZINES FOR SELL FOR $1.00, THAT SHE HAS IN THE STORE, OF CROCHET AND KNIT PATTERNS, FROM BACK IN THE DAY. SO I AM GOING TO BE FLIPPING THROUGH THEM FOR IDEAS FOR MY SUITS.

POWER DRESSING WITH A MYSTIC. I LOVE THIS COLLECTION OF LOOKS.

NICE,.. SIMPLE,... I CAN FUNK SOMETHING LIKE THIS UP A LITTLE , TO PUT A LITTLE MORE OF MY FLAVA IN THIS SUIT.









THE REAL CREATIVITY HAPPENS IN THE FITTING, THIS IS WHEN I REALLY START DREAM CASTING FOR THE POWER SUIT TO COME ALIVE AND ROCK MY WORLD.

THIS IS WHEN I START WORKING MY MOJO!!.




I STARTED COLLECTING SECOND HAND BARBIE DOLLS LAST YEAR FOR THIS POWER DRESSING PROJECT. I PLAN TO DESIGN A SERIES OF CROCHET POWER SUITS FOR THESE BARBIES DOLLS FOR MY PROTOTYPES.

I AM SURE THE FINISHED POWER SUITS WILL NOT LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THE PROTOTYPES THAT I CREAT, BUT THIS WILL BE A REALLY GOOD EXCERCISE ANYWAY.

I WILL EXHIBIT THE FINISHED SECOND HAND BARBIES IN THEIR POWER SUIT IN MY TRAVELING EXHIBIT (RE) POSSESSED IN THE FUTURE.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF USING THE BARBIE DOLL AS A MINITURE DRESS MANNIQUINE BECAUSE SHE IS SO SMALL, I CAN DESIGN AND RE-DESIGN, QUICK, LIKE I AM SKETCHING IN 3D.


COCO CHANEL REALLY KNEWS HOW TO WORK HER STUFF!!!



THIS IS A IMAGE OF COCO CHANELS APARTMENT IN PARIS, WITH A MODEL WEARING ONE OF HER SUITS AMONG COCO CHANELS CHERISHED BOOKS.

SO EVERY ONE, COME HELP ME CELEBRATE ANOTHER CREATIVE YEAR AND BE READY TO COME FLIP THROUGH THE BOOKS, OLD AND NEW MAGAZINES, SIP TEA, TALK, DREAM, LOOK AT YARN AND HAVE FUN PLAYING WITH THE IDEAS OF POWER DRESSING AND ECONOMIC STIMULATION THROUGH THE ARTS.

WHO KNOWS... I MAY TURN THIS LITTLE BIRTHDAY PROJECT INTO A CROCHET POWER SUIT WORKSHOP SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE....

POWER DRESSING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY..

HEY WORLD!!... XENOBIA BAILEY'S IS HAVING A BIRTHDAY GET TOGETHER TEA PARTY AT KNITTY CITY YARN STORE IN NYC, 4.5.09, PALM SUNDAY 3-5PM

OK WORLD, YOU ARE ALL INVITED TO MY VERY CASUAL GET-TOGETHER TEA-PARTY AT KNITTY CITY YARN STORE IN NEW YORK CITY APRIL 5, 2009, PALM SUNDAY 3-5PM. www.knittycity.com/

THIS DATE IS REALLY MY EARTH DAY-BIRTHDAY, AND I WANT IT TO BE AMONG THE YARNS AND YOU ALL!!!...

WE'LL JUST GATHERED TOGETHER AMONG ALL THE COLORFUL YARNS, BOOKS & IDEAS, VISITING WITH EACH OTHER, AND HAVE A WARM AND WONDERFUL INSPIRING TEA-TALK ABOUT SPRING, LIFE, OUR LOVELY SELVES, THE FUTURE OF FIBER ARTS, ALL THE STUFF THAT EXCITES US ABOUT THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF KNEEDLE WORK, DOMESTIC LIFESTYLES AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE WILL BE GOING ON!!!....

HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT...



.

SUPER-NATURAL COIFFURE ADORNMENT AT APPLE'S GENIUS BAR 14TH ST. NYC, 3 29.09

MY FRIEND MICHELLE HILL AND I DROPPED IN AT THE APPLE STORE ON 14TH STREET AND 9 AVE IN NYC TO CHECK OUT THE NEW PRODUCTS SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

I SPOTTED ONE OF THE APPLE GENIUS ADORNED WITH A SUPERNATURAL AFRO-CHIC BRAIDED COIFFURE.

AS MICHELLE AND I SPOKE WITH (I FORGOT HER NAME) WE FOUND OUT SHE IS TRUELY WORKING ON HIGH-LIFING HER BEING INTO THE SUPER-NATURAL LIFESTYLE.

SHE IS A DANCER.... WHICH WE COULD TELL BY THE WAY SHE CARRIED HERSELF. SHE SAID THAT SHE DANCES AT ALVIN ALLEY AMERICAN DANCE CENTER & SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY.

AT THE CROSSROAD IN THE APPLE STORE ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

FINE ARTIST: MICHALENE THOMAS: SHE'S COME UNDONE! AT THE LEHMANN MAUPIN GALLERY, NYC, 3.26-5.2.09

RADIANTLY, GLOWING ARTIST MICHALENE THOMAS AT HER SOLO OPENING AT THE LEHLMANN MAUIN GALLERY 3.29.09 IN CHELSEA, NEW YORK CITY. www.lehmannmaupin.com/#/exhibitions/2009-03-26_mickalene-thomas/

DROPPING IN TO CHECK OUT MICKALENE'S NEW BODY OF WORK IS ANOTHER OF OUR AMAZING ILLUMINARIES, YOUNG MASTER, HANK AARON... I MEAN GRAND-SLAMMIN HANK WILLIS THOMAS AND A VERY NICE FRIEND OF HIS, I WAS HAPPY TO MEET, SHE HAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL NAME, THAT I JUST FORGOT FOR THE MOMENT.

HANK HAD A VERY POWERFUL EXHIBIT THAT JUST CLOSED AT THE JACK SHAIMAN GALLERY A FEW BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET.
I HEARD A GREAT DEAL OF THE WORK SOLD BEFORE THE EXHIBIT IN THE GALLERY OPENED.

I AM SO VERY SORRY I MISSED THIS EXHIBIT BECAUSE HANK IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE, INSIGHTFUL ARTIST WITH A DEEP AND MEANINGFUL MESSAGE, HIS WORK IS SO VERY BRILLIANTLY EXECUTED. www.jackshainman.com/dynamic/exhibit_artist.asp?ExhibitID=108

ARE'T GALLERY OPENING CROWDS THE BEST!!

HMMMM!

MICKALENE'S MOTHER IS THE MODEL IN MOST OF HER WORKS, HER MOTHER WAS THERE THAT NIGHT, BUT IT WAS SO VERY EXCITING I COULD NOT GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH HER.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD MICKALENE GIVE A ARTIST TALK, BUT FROM SEEING THIS BODY OF WORK, I AM REALLY INTERESTED TO HEAR HER POINT OF VIEW.

I LARGE CROWD ASEMBLED TO VIEW THIS WORK.... EVERYONE WAS VERY EXCITED.




THE STAFF AT THE GALLERY MINGLEING WITH THE FOLKS.

A FEW DAYS BEFORE MICKALENE THOMAS'S OPENING, ARTIST NANETTE CARTER E-MAIL ME TO ASK ME AND CHERYL RILEY TO MEET HER IN CHELSEA TO GALLERY HOP AND CHECK OUT MICKALENE'S OPENING AND OTHER ART WORK.... THIS SOUNDED GREAT TO ME,... I ALWAYS SEEM TO MISS OPENINGS... I TOLD HER YES, I WOULD MEET HER AND CHERYL.

IT WAS A COLD AND VERY RAINY WHEN I GOT DOWN TO THE GALLERY, THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I HAD NOT SEEN FOR SO LONG, PLUS MEETING NEW FOLKS, I ENDED UP STAYING AT THE GALLERY UNTIL THEY CLOSED, (THIS ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WITH ME.

I DID'NT GO TO THE AFTER PARTY, I MET UP WITH ARTIST NARI WARD www.whitney.org/www/2006biennial/artists.php?artist=Ward_Nari WHO LIVES AROUND THE CORNER FROM ME IN HARLEM.

ME AND HIM ARE BOTH PARTY PUPERS..., SO HE DROP ME OFF AT MY PLACE ON HIS WAY HOME AFTER THE OPENING, WE HAD A WONDERFUL TALK ABOUT GALLERIES IN THE CAR RIDE UPTOWN, HE INVITED ME OVER TO CHECK OUT HIS STUDIO LATER ON ..... I'LL KEEP YOU ALL INFORMED ABOUT MORE OF NARI'S WORK AND DEVELOPMENT.


I AM REALLY GLAD I WENT TO THE OPENING,.. I WILL HAVE TO GO BACK AGAIN WITHOUT THE CROWD TO REALLY GET A GOOD LOOK AT THE ART WORK.


GREAT JOB MICKALENE... YOU DONE US PROUD!!

MY FLEA MARKET KNEEDLE POINT TAPESTRY BY J.H. FRAGONARD OF PARIS REPRODUCTION FIND ON THE WESTSIDE HIGHWAY NYC.

LAST SUMMER I SAW THIS YOUNG MAN ON THE WESTSIDE HIGHWAY THAT WAS SELLING A LOT OF PAINTINGS AND TEXTILE. MY EYE CAUGHT THIS ONE TEXTILE PIECE OF A WOMAN READING A LOVE LETTER FROM THE 1700'S IN PARIS, THIS IS ONLY A REPRODUCTION, BUT I CHARISH THIS WORK.

I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON IT AT THE FRICK MUSEUM ON 5TH AVE. IN NEW YORK CITY. I WILL SHARE MY FINDINGS ABOUT THE ARTIST, AND THE WORK. www.frick.org/

QUEEN AFUA: SACRAD WOMAN & CITY OF WELLNESS, EVENT AT BARBARA ANN TEERS, NATIONAL BLACK THEATER IN HARLEM USA. 3.22.09

queenafua.moonfruit.com/THIS PAST SUNDAY AT BARBARA ANN TEERS NATIONAL BLACK THEATER IN HARLEM, QUEEN AFUA HELD A WELLNESS EVENT... I ARRIVED AT THE END OF THE EVENT, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP LITERATURE AND DO SOME NETWORKING CONNECTING WITH FOLKS ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND THE UP-GRADE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN DIET.

A FEW YEARS AGO, I WENT THROUGH QUEEN AFUA'S SACRAD WOMAN: A GUIDE TO HEALING THE FEMININE BODY, A WONDERFUL 10 WEEK PROGRAM, IT WAS LIFE ALTERING TO SAY THE LEAST, I REALLY LOVED THE LIVE-FOOD DIET, LEARNING ABOUT HERB AND OILS, IN ALL IT WAS WHAT I NEEDED AT THE TIME.

I LOVE TO CHECK OUT THE SUPER-NATURALS AND THEIR STYLES, THE WAY THE SISTAH'S ADORN THEMSELVES WITH THEIR TEXTILES.

THE LIVE FOOD WAS INSPIRING...




TINTAWI CHARAKA: SUPER-NATURAL LOCTICIAN AND NATURAL HAIR STYLIST AND HER TWO SUPER-NATURAL SONS. SHE ALSO CROCHETS. www.tintawi.com

MANIFESTING THINGS: Making your way when here is no way. Spiritual excerts from life by Misha McGlown. Book Review by Xenobia Bailey

MANIFESTING THINGS: Making your way when there is no way. Spiritual excerpts from life by Misha McGlown. www.manifestingthings.com/

ORIGINAL SONGS BY MISHA MCGLOWN. www.omomisha.com/cd.htm

MISHA MCGLOWN, MODELING HER "TOGETHA SISTAH AFRO", HER JEWLERY DESIGN AND HALTER TOP FROM BACK IN THE DAY WHEN BROOKLYN WAS "THE PLACE". www.omomisha.com/jewelry-main.htm

MISHA MODELING MORE OF HER JEWLERY DESIGNS.

MISHA'S JEWLERY COLLECTION. THIS WAS BACK IN THE DAY IN BROOKLYN, WHEN BROOKLYN WAS STILL THE "HOOD" SPIKE LEE TURNED THE HOOD INTO BLACK HOLLYWOOD. ALL THE ARTIST I KNEW WERE MAKING BIG MOVES. SOME OF US JUST DID'NT KNOW HOW TO DREAM BIG ENOUGH AT THE TIME TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE TIMES.

A NECKLACE FROM THE AMAZING JEWLRY COLLECTION OF DESIGNER MISHA MCGLOWN.

NECK PIECE BY MISHA.

THE MOST DAZZLEING WAIST BEADS I HAVE EVER SEEN, DESIGNED BY MISHA.

PAIR OF EARRINGS, WITH MISHA'S CLASSIC SIGNITURE WRAPPED WIRE.





ARTIST TEACHER WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

MISHA IN HER ARTIST TEACHER DAYS.

MISHA AND HER TWO LOVE MUFFINS, WHEN THEY WERE MINI MUFFINS.


THESE DAYS I AM PRESENTLY WORKING ON A MAJOR FINE ART CROCHET DEADLINE, SO I HAVE BEEN, NOSE TO THE YARN AND HOOK, WORKING LIKE CRAZY.

TO ASSIST ME THROUGH THIS LONG PERIOD OF NONE-STOP WORK, I WENT TO THE GRAND ARMY PLAZA BROOKLYN LIBRARY AND THE CONTEE COLEEN LIBRARY IN HARLEM AND CHECKED OUT ABOUT 40 HOURS WORTH OF BOOKS ON CD'S.

THE FIRST GROUP OF CD'S I STARTED LISTENING TO WAS DR. MAYA ANGELOU'S, A SONG FLUNG UP TO HEAVEN AND, LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER (OF WHICH I FEEL THE WRITINGS WERE ADDRESSED TO ME).

I MUST ADD, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO CATCH UP WITH ONE'S READING AND REFLECT. THESE VERY OPEN & MOVING BOOKS ON CD'S BY DR. ANGELOU, MADE ME REFLECT ON MY LIFE AS A ARTIST AND THE LIFE AND WORK OF A PARTICULAR ARTIST IN MY LIFE.

I THOUGHT BACK TO THE BOOK THAT I READ A WHILE BACK, BY AN AMAZINGLY CREATIVE ARTIST I KNOW, THAT LIVES, WORKS AND CAST HER SPELL'S IN HARLEM.

HER NAME IS MISHA MCGLOWN. MISHA IS ORIGINALLY FROM DETROIT MICHIGAN, SHE CAME TO NEW YORK TO POLISH HER NATURAL-BORN RISING STAR. SHE SHARE'S HER JOURNEYS THOUGHTS AND CHOICES IN A VERY ENTERESTING WAY

THIS, I AM SURE, IS THE ONLY BOOK OUT IN BOOK-LAND, ABOUT A VERY ACTIVE/HANDS-ON/ATTENTITIVE SINGLE, AFRICAN-AMERICAN MOTHER, OF TWO TEEN-AGERS. A ARTIST, JEWLERY DESIGNER/TEACHER/BUSINESSWOMAN, SINGER. THAT STILL MAINTAINS THE SPARKLE IN HER DREAMS THAT ARE FUELED BY HER CREATIVE GIFTS AND A STRONG FAITH IN "FOREVER AFTER".

THIS IS A RARE ARTIST "REALITY JOURNAL". BECAUSE NOT MANY WOMAN WITH A FULL LIFE LIKE MISHA CAN FIND THE TIME TO WRITE, FIND THE CREATIVE VOICE, FINISH, REWRITE AND SELF PUBLISH A BOOK LIKE THIS WITH OUT IT BEING FULL OF THE BLUES OF REGRETS, ANGER AND EMPTY HEARTEDNESS.

THIS IS A BOOK OF REFLECTIONS AND PROJECTIONS. REFLECTING ON THE OPEN FIELDS OF DREAMS THAT EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO, FIELDS OF DREAMS THAT ONLY FADE OR THAT ARE PUT AWAY ONLY BY THE HAND OF THE DREAMER. AND PROJECTIONS OF A SELF GOVERNING "JEANIE" OUT-OF-THE-BOTTLE.

THIS IS A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BOOK, TO BE CONTINUED, FOR AND FROM, A FULL HEARTED DREAMER THAT IS IN THE MIST OF HER SELF FULFILLING DESTINY.

TO BE READ BY TRUE-TO-LIFE BELIEVERS IN DREAMERS, AND THOSE THAT KNOW THEM, OR THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEM. THIS IS A BOOK OF A ARTIST WHO IS ON THE ROAD TO HIGHER CREATIVE GROUNDS TO A UNPAVED VENTURE.

A GREAT STUDY OF FEMALE CREATIVITY, THERE IS A LOT TO BE OBSERVED FOR THOSE WHO WANT A FAMILY AND ART CAREER, EVEN IF THAT MEANS BEING A VERY RESPONSIVE SINGLE MOTHER ARTIST.

XENOBIA BAILEY'S MOON LODGE, TRANCE FORMER TENT AT LA TRIENNALEDI MILANO DESIGN MUSEUMS EXHIBIT: DRITTO ROVESCIO, 2.24-3.29.09 , MILAN, ITALY

HEY FOLK!!!

CLICK THE LINK AND CHECK OUT THIS EXCITING INTERNATIONAL FIBER ARTS EXHIBIT THAT MY MOON LODGE, TRANCE FORMER TENT IS CAMPED OUT AT UNTIL MARCH 29, 2009.

I REALLY LOVE THE SPIRIT OF THE FOLKS THERE, AND THE SPARK OF NEW LIFE IN THE DESIGN MUSEUM...

I'M FOR SURE,... THIS AIN'T KANSAS ANY MORE YA'ALL!!!!

"HOLLA"

THANKS YOU COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY, NYC: FOR YOUR PURCHASE OF MY ART WORK, MINI BOP-FLOW, CROCHET, COSMIC TAPESTRY MANDALA. 2.27.2009

I AM SO VERY PROUD, THRILLED & THANKFUL TO ANNOUNCE THE COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY'S RECENT PURCHASE OF MY ART WORK MINI BOP-FLOW.

THIS WORK IS APPROXIMATELY 2' X 3' FT. HAND CROCHET, 4 PLY, COTTON AND ACRYLIC YARN, WITH A 100% COTTON CANVAS BACK.

MICHELLE BISHOP: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & FOUNDER OF "HARLEM NEEDLE ARTS, INC." WAS THE ORGANIZER FOR THE EXHIBIT PRESENTED AT THE COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY "HONORING OUR PAST, LOOKING TOWARD OUR FUTURE" FEATURING HARLEM NEEDLE ARTS, INC.

MICHELLE BISHOP WAS ALSO THE BROKER FOR THE "ACQUISITION" OF MY ART WORK MINI BOP-FLOW BY THE COMPANY.

NICE GOING MICHELLE!!. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ENERGY, PASSION, DREAMS, DEVOTION & HARD WORK. I THANK THE COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY FOR THE INTEREST IN HOSTING OUR FIBER ARTS.

THANKS A MILLION TO MY COUSIN EDWINA GOSA FROM WILMINGTON DELAWARE, FOR BEING THE FIRST FAMILY MEMBER TO PURCHASE A PIECE OF MY ART

EVERYONE HELP ME IN GIVING MY COUSIN EDWINA GOSA A CYBER CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING THE FIRST MEMBER IN OUR FAMILY TO PURCHASE A PIECE OF MY ART WORK.

THIS IS A WORK FROM MY MINIATURE JAZZ TEXTILE "SCAT" MANDALAS, CROCHET WITH EMBROIDERY THREAD. IT IS 13" X 12 1/2".

YOU'RE MY FAVORITE EDWINA, WITHOUT A DOUBT. MUCH LOVE FROM YOUR CUZ... THIS IS ALMOST AS BIG AS OBAMA GETTING ELECTED HAS PRESIDENT!!!

FREE CULTURAL EVENT IN BROOKLYN NY: A (NEW WORKS) CONVERSATION WITH AWARD WINNING ARTIST/CHOREOGRAPHER BILL T. JONES, 3.16. 2009. 7:00PM

I THINK BILL T. JONES IS A NATIONAL TREASURE, TO ME, HE IS ONE THE MOST BRILLIANT MINDS PRESENTING ART WORK ON THE STAGE TODAY. ANY TIME THAT I SEE HE IS IN CONCERT, WORKING ON GROUND BREAKING PROJECTS OR SPEAKING, I MAKE IT A POINT TO BE AT HIS FEET!!!!

I AM SURE THIS EVENING OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ARTS COLLOQUIUM AT ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE WILL PROVE TO BE AN EVENING OF ARTISTIC ENLIGHTENMENT THE WAY THAT BILL T. JONES ONLY CAN DO...

SEE YOU THERE!!

St. Joseph's College Council for the Arts cordially
invites you to attend our

Presidential Arts Colloquium
MONDAY, MARCH 16, (7:00 PM)

"A CONVERSATION WITH BILL T. JONES"
Tony Award Winning Choreographer(Spring Awakening) &
MacArthur "Genius Award" Recipient

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Auditorium, Tuohy Hall
245 Clinton Avenue

For info call (718) 399-0358 or (718) 636-6811 or visit
www.sjcny.edu

Bill T. Jones will be speaking about his newest work on
Abraham Lincoln - FONDLY WE DO HOPE...FERVENTLY WE DO
PRAY.

"Though Bill T. Jones' works are replete with striking
beauty and emotional
power, he has made his mark with dances that push, ask
questions and often get
to the very heart of who we are as human beings" --Karen
Campbell,Boston Globe

St. Joseph's is located in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn at 245
Clinton Avenue between Willoughby and DeKalb Avenues. The
closest subway stop is the Washington/Clinton Ave stop of
the G train.

This event is part of St. Joseph's our spring series,
AMERICA FROM SEA TO SHIFTING SEA: OUR CHANGING CULTURAL
TIDES.
We certainly hope that you can join us!

FREE CULTURAL DANCE EVENT: 3rd ANNUAL AFRICAN HEALTH/CULTURAL EXPO, HARLEM USA, 3.7.09

Queen Mother of Black Dance, Mambo (Priestess), choreographer, Dancer, songwriter, Anthropologist, Katherine (The Great) Dunham, And her Dancers, 1943

Dancer Katherine Dunham dancing the Florida East-Coast shimmy w. dancer Ohardieno during show "Shore Exursion" New York City, 1943, Photographer Gjon Mili.

WE MUST DO AS THE MASTER WRITER TONI MORRISON WROTE IN ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE NOVELS, "BELOVED", "WE HAVE TO DANCE TO KEEP OUR BLOODLINE OPEN".

THIS COMING SATURDAY, IN HARLEM, "The African Dance of the NYC Mission Society Presents the 3rd Annual African Cultural Expo. Saturday March 7, 2009, Time 11:00am-8:00pm. location, NYC Mission Society Beacon Center, 215 West 114th Stre, Harlem New York. (between 7th and 8 Ave.

THIS IS GOING TO BE AN AMAZING ALL DAY WANG-DANG DUDDLE FOLKS, THAT'S FREE!!,... (I REPEAT) FREE OF CHARGE,

A AFRICAN/AMERICAN HEALTH/CULTURAL EXPO TO ENHANCE THE BODY, MIND AND SOUL OF THE WHOLE FAMILY, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES FOR A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THIS NEW ERA WE HAVE ENTERED.

THERE'S GOING TO BE MANY FORMS OF AFRICAN/AMERICAN DANCE STYLES, HEALTHY FOOD PREPARATIONS, CRAFT CLASSES, EXCHANGE OF INFO AND NETWORKING WITH LIKE MINDED COMMUNITY FOLKS.... I CAN HARDLY WAIT... I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS...

REMEMBER WHILE YOU READ THIS, HEALTH IS WEALTH.

CHECK OUT THE DETAILS BELOW AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS/FAMILY AND GET YOUR HEALTHY GROOVE ON.... SEE YOU THERE!!!

New York City Mission Society

Changing Lives since 1812...

The African Dance of the NYC Mission Society Presents the 3rd Annual African Cultural Expo. Saturday March 7, 2009, Time 11:00am-8:00pm. location, NYC Mission Society Beacon Center, 215 West 114th Stre, Harlem New York. (between 7th and 8 Ave.

All Classess and Workshops are FREE OF CHARGE

10:30 AM—11:00 AM
REGISTRATION

11:00 AM—12:00 PM
JUST FINE LINE DANCE
Jasmine Poole

COOKING A HEALTHY BREAKFAST
Marcia

FITNESS
Tyrone Randolph
Sneakers are recommended

CHILDREN’S AFRICAN DANCE
Esther Grant-Walker

MEN’S AFRICAN DANCE (TUTSI)
Kevin Rainey

BLOCK PRINTING
Tatiana Smith

12:15 PM—1:15 PM
FUSION – AFRICIAN/HIP HOP
Jeffrey Page

CHILDREN’S BALLET DANCE
Sheri Cruz

ART OF SEDUCTION
Rill
Women Ages 21+. Shoes w/heels Recommended

ADULT CAKE DECORATING
Nasiba

YOUTH PRAISE DANCE
Kandia Crenshaw

QUILTING TECHNIQUES
Leona and Caroline

SALSA
Gary Moore

LIFE COACHING
Michelle Alexander


1:30 PM—2:30 PM
SABAR
Dionne Monsanto

YOUTH HOUSE DANCE
Kim Holmes

SAMBA
Nyota Nyo

PRAISE DANCE
Blak

LINDY HOP
Nakia

COOKING
Frank Malloy

5 WAYS TO STEP INTO THE NEW YOU
Dr. Heru K.K. Shango, ND

2:45 PM—3:45 PM
AFRO-CARIBBEAN DANCE
Crystal Harrison

SOUTH AFRICAN BOOT DANCE (CHILDREN)
Kevin Rainey

BELLY DANCE
Segulah

CHICAGO-STYLE STEPPING
NYC Steppers

ORGANIC SOUL COOKING
Madea Gueye

YOUTH HIP HOP DANCE
Sheree Allen

5 FOODS & 6 TASTES: COMBINATIONS TO A HEALTHY LIFE
Dr. Heru K.K. Shango, ND


4:00 PM—5:00 PM
HAITIAN FOLKLORE DANCE: RARA
Tatiana Smith

ADULT AFRICAN DANCE
Pat Mabry and Billy Green

FUSION – AFRO/HIP HOP (YOUTH)
Jeffrey Page

ADULT HOUSE DANCE
Keisha Franklin

CHILDREN’S CAKE DECORATING
Nasiba

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
Kyira Harris

ADULT MODERN DANCE
Obediah Wright

5:15 PM—6:15 PM
ADULT AFRICAN DANCE
Sandella Malloy

YOUTH MODERN DANCE
Kim Holmes

CHILDREN’S CRAFTS
Jeannie Mitchell

LEARN TO VOUGE (ADULTS)
Michael P

YOUTH AFRICAN DANCE
Amina Heckstall

HEALTHY EATING FOR DIABETES
Max Fleuival

SIZZLING HOT BELLY DANCE COMBINATIONS
Nyla
Please bring a veil

6:30 PM—7:30 PM
ADULT AFRICAN DANCE
Malang Bayo

ADULT HIP HOP/ JAZZ DANCE
Wayne Daniels

YOUTH CRAFTS
Jeannie Mitchell

ART OF SEDUCTION PART II
Rill
Women Ages 21+. Shoes w/heels Recommended

I SURE AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS!!!

I THINK THIS PHOTO OF KATHERINE DUNHAM PLAYING WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHERS CAT WITH THE FEATHERS IN HER HAT IS SO CUTE!!!....

FREE FILM: AT THE MALCOLM X AND DR. BETTY SHABAZZ MEMORIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTER (FORMERLY THE AUDUBON BALLROOM) IN HARLEM 2.8.09

QUICK NOTE HERE... IN A BIG RUSH...,

BUT I HAD TO POST THIS INFO ABOUT THIS FILM SCREENING UPTOWN IN HARLEM AT WHAT USED TO BE THE AUDUBON BALLROOM, THE SAME BUILDING WHERE MALCOLM X WAS ASSASINATED, AS BEEN RENOVATED AND REDEDICATED AS THE MALCOLM X AND DR. BETTY SHABAZZ MEMORIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTER.

THEY HAVE DONE A BEAUTIFUL JOB IN RENOVATING AND BRINGING LIFE BACK TO THIS SPACE.

LAST WEEK THEY HAD THE 44TH ANIVERSARY OF THE ASSASINATION OF MALCOLM X ALL OVER HARLEM, I WAS UNABLE TO POST THIS MOVING TRIBUTE BEFORE THEY HAPPENED... BUT AT LEAST I'M LETTING YOU KNOW THAT THE SPIRIT AND THE WORK OF MALCOLM X AND DR. BETTY SHABAZZ IS CONTINUEING IN THE SAME BUILDING THAT MALCOLM X LOST HIS PRECIOUS LIFE.

YOU CAN SEE THE WONDERFUL SCULPTURE OF MALCOLM X AS YOU ENTER THE CENTER ON THE FIRST FLOOR, AND THE MURAL THAT IS ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

I WILL TRY TO KEEP YOU POSTED ON ALL THE HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE GOING ON THERE.

The Shabazz Center
3940 Broadway
New York, NY 10032
(212) 568-1341
admin@theshabazzcenter.net

A, C or 1 Train to 168th St.

The Shabazz Center is located at 3940 Broadway in Harlem, New York. The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial, Educational and Cultural Center honors the lives and legacies of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz by promoting human and civil rights through the knowledge of the history and culture of the African Diaspora; education and self-empowerment; family values; and facilitates racial and religious reconciliation. For more information about the event call (212) 568-1341 or send an email to admin@theshabazzcenter.net.

http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001YVkTxAH8eCBYfL5i8lNgv3K1E41d9-Hl3bN5DQk3bBcpObcqcRtWr3ZuyJvScAqCe_pQ1m2wjitJYj-Cc2OgE6G8Z3w5YhjU0BANTQrpbGwJNmJrQqS7ln4WGw5WAiFg

THANK YOU LADY'S FOR A DELIGHTFUL "SUPERNATURAL" FIBER ARTS TEA GATHERING WITH ME AND THE GREAT FOLKS @ KNITTY CITY IN NYC, 2.13.09

WOW!!!... I MUST SAY.... THIS DAY STARTED OUT AS A FRIDAY THE 13th FOR REAL,... I WON'T BORE YOU WITH ALL THE DRAMA & DETAILS, BUT!... IT HAS TO DO WITH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.... THANKS TO MY GALLERY, STUX GALLERY, RUSH ARTS GALLERY, SHAWN (MY HOME-BOY) AT CREATIVE CAPITAL, PHYLLIS HOWE, THAT NICE GUY CUSTOMER THAT WALKED INTO KNITTY CITY THINKING HE WAS GOING TO BE A HONORED CUSTOMER BUT GAVE US UNDIVIDED AND SELFLESS HEEELLLLLP... THE OWNER OF KNITTY CITY'S SON FOR RUNNING TO RADIO SHACK.... I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY, WE DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT WE SURE ENOUGH FOUND OUT "WHO LOVE'S US BABY"!!

THANK YOU PEARL CHIN FOR THE PLACE AND THE SPACE... WHAT A BOSS LADY!!!...

THANKS FOR GRACING THE SPACE DORA OHRENSTEIN... THE PUBLISHER AND HEAD LADY IN CHARGE OF A WONDERFUL ONLINE CROCHET MAGAZINE CALL CROCHET INSIDER.COM CHECK IT OUT. WONDERFUL INTERNATIONAL INFO FOR CROCHETERS,... GIRLFRIEND IS WORKIN THAT BLUE CROCHET MINI CAPE SHE MADE, AIN'T SHE.... "YOU GO GIRL"...

HEY THERE SHARON... MY BROOKLYN "BACK IN THE DAY, AROUND THE WAY, "HOME-GIRL" THANKS FOR SHOWING UP, GREAT SEEING YOU... DID I SEE A CROCHET HOOK IN YOUR HAND?

THANK YOU TO ALL MY HONORED TEA GUEST, YOU ALL MADE THE EVENING A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE, AS WE PRESS OUR WAY TO A SUPERNATURAL LIFESTYLE WITH OUR "EVERYDAY-PEOPLES MASTER-PIECES"..... ONE STITCH AND A THOUGHT AT A TIME!!... THIS WAS OUR FIRST GATHERING,.. BUT IT WON'T BE OUR LAST.... WE'VE FINALLY FOUND EACH OTHER!!..... THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST AND THE MEMORY.



THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING ME WITH THAT WONDERFUL CROCHET WRIST ADORNMENT... THE BEST OF EVERYTHING TO YOU!!.



THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE, YOUR TALENT AND YOUR WITTY SPIRIT LISA,.... EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE KNITTING: )... CHECK OUT LISA'S AMAZING CROCHET BRACELET.... I WILL POST A DETAILED VIEW SOON,... SUCH STYLE!!








THANK YOU TO THE STAFF AT KNITTY CITY FOR BEING SUCH WONDERFUL HONORED TEA MASTERS IN TRAINING AND ANSWERING ALL MY ABSENT MINDED QUESTIONS.

A "SUPERNATURAL" FIBER ARTS TEA GATHERING WITH FIBER ARTIST XENOBIA BAILEY @ KNITTY CITY IN NYC

FRIDAY THE 13th/VALENTINES DAY EVE 2.13.09, FROM 6-8:00PM. THE MOST FABULOUS YARN STORE, THIS SIDE OF THE HUDSON RIVER, KNITY CITY,... IS HOSTING A VERY SPECIAL EVENING.

TITLED: THE HEART OF CROCHET: A "SUPERNATURAL" FIBER ARTS TEA GATHERING WITH FIBER ARTIST XENOBIA BAILEY... ( that's me folks )

THIS WILL BE ONE OF THOSE WARM GATHERINGS ( minus the fireplace ), WHERE I SHARE PARTS OF MY CREATIVE CROCHET JOURNEY AND INSPIRATIONS WITH A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION,... PLUS,... I WILL SHOW & TELL (no instructions) A FEW SAMPLES OF MY WORK AND WORKS IN PROGRESS... WHILE WE ALL NIBBLE ON LITE BITE SIZE SNACKS, AND SIP OUR DELICIOUS CUPS OF MY SPECIAL BLENDED, FULL BODIED TEAS, FROM THE RICH CONTINENT OF AFRICA.

EVERYONE ATTENDING IS ASKED TO BRING THEIR FAVORITE TEACUP OR MUG, FOR THE TAKING OF COLOR DIGITAL PORTRAITS ( portraits shot by me ) FOR DOCUMENTATION AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS FROM THIS CREATIVE GATHERING, AMONG THE SHOPS NATURAL FIBERS, TEA, BOOKS AND OUR IMAGINATION OF DELIGHT, IN THIS SHOP ON THE UPPER WESTSIDE.... THE IMAGES WILL BE BURNED ON CD'S, TO BE PICKED UP AT A LATER DATE.... BUT NOT TO LATE.

WE'ER LIMITING THE NUMER OF ATTENDEES TO 25, SO BE SURE TO SIGN UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, TO INSURE YOURSELF A SEAT. THE LOCATION IS 208 W, 79th ST, ( BETWEEN BROADWAY & AMSTERDAM ), NEAREST SUBWAY: 1 Train to 79th Street walk half a block east on 79th... TELEPHONE: 212. PURL-TWO (212. 787.5896)

THERE WILL BE A CHARGE OF $25.00 TO HELP DEFRAY COSTS,... BUT THIS IS SURE TO BE, ONE OF THOSE "BACK IN THE DAY" MOMENTS,... A VERY SPECIAL GATHERING,... WE ALL WILL EXPLORE IN THOUGHT, FOR A WHILE,.... OUR OWN ELEMENTS OF MYSTICAL WONDERMAKING IN HANDMADE ITIEMS FROM NATURAL FIBERS "THROUGH THE ART OF CROCHET".

HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT.

TEAS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SELL AT KNITTY CITY.
http://www.knittycity.com/newsletter

THESE ARE THE LABELS FOR MY BLENDS OF TEAS THAT I JUST LOVE....

MASTERFUL FIBER ARTIST NICK CAVE'S SPELLBINDING SOLO EXHIBIT AT JACK SHAINMAN GALLERY, CHELSEA, NYC, 1.8.09-2.7.09

LIKE THE EXHIBIT NEO HOODOO AT P.S. 1, I WAITED UNTIL THE LAST FEW DAYS TO VISIT JACK SHAINMANS GALLERY IN CHELSEA, TO SEE NICK CAVE'S MASTERFUL WORK, THIS IS MY VERY FIRST TIME SEEING THE SOUNDSUITS IN PERSON, AND I MUST SAY THIS BODY OF ART WORK IS SOMETHING TO SEE.

NICK CAVE'S WAS IN TOWN FRIDAY TO SHOTOI A VIDEO OF HIMSELF DANCING IN THE SOUNDSUITS AT THE JACK SHAINMAN GALLERY ON SUNDAY, HE TOLD ME THIS VIDEO WAS FOR HIS NEXT MAJOR TRAVELING EXHIBIT THAT WILL OPEN AT YERBA BUENA ART CENTER, IN SAN FRANCISCO CA.IN MARCH.

WHEN I FIRST WALKED INTO THE GALLERY, I WAS MET BY A NEW (TO ME AT LEAST) SCULPTURAL WORKS OF NICK'S. A VERY CLEVER STUDY OF FOUND OBJECTS AND RECONSTUCTION OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ICON OF THE PAST CENTURY... VERY GOOD USE OF MATERIAL... VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT VISUALLY... AND AS USUAL.... MASTERFUL CRAFTSMANSHIP.

THEN... WHEN I WALKED INTO THE OPEN GALLERY SPACE... I NOT ONLY TOOK OFF MY HAT!!... I HAD TO THROW IT ACROSS THE ROOM.... I HAVE FINALLY "SEENT" THE FUTURE... NICK CAVES HAS CLOSED THE AESTHETIC TIME GAP OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN AESTHETIC IN MYSTICISM, THE DECORATIVE ARTS AND THEATER AS RITUAL.... VERY INSPIRING WORK.

THESE FAKE FUR PIECE HAD REAL PRESENCE AND A LIFE OF THEIR OWN.... THIS IS THE KIND OF COSTUMES THAT I WANTED TO CREATE WHEN I WAS WORKING IN MY NIEGHBORHOOD THEATER "BLACK ARTS WEST" IN SEATTLE WASHINGTON.

THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS, THE SCRIPTS HAD NOT BEEN WRITTEN.... I AM VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE NICK TAKES THIS WORK.

NICK TOLD ME FRIDAY WHEN I SAW HIM AT THE GALLERY, THAT HE WAS PLANNING TO CREATE 90 SOUNDSUIT AND THEN TAKE THEM INTO THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR LOCAL DANCERS TO PERFORM IN THE SUIT... ALL I CAN SAY IS.... MY!.. MY!!.. MY!!

NICK IS A MAJOR COLLECTOR OF OBJECTS AND TEXTILES FROM THE THIFT STORES.... FROM THIS PASSION FROM COLLECTING ITEMS THAT CATCHES HIS FANCY, COMES A HIGHLY DEVELOPED SELF TAUGHT SKILL OF ASEMBLAGE AND COMPOSITION.

HE CAN ALTER THE MOST COMMON DOMESTIC DECORATIVE OBJECT INTO A PERFORMING SHRINE...

SPENDING TIME IN A GALLERY WITH THIS BODY OF WORK, WILL SET THE IMAGINATION OFF INTO ANOTHER ORBIT....


HERE YOU CAN SEE THE SKILL THIS MAN HAS WITH VERY COMPLEX COMPOSITIONS WITH DECONSTRUCTING AND PATCHWORKING TEXTILES TOGETHER.... HE HAS CREATED HIS OWN VISUAL LANGUAGE THAT WORKS FOR HIM.

THIS TOWERING WORK OF ART, IS MADE FROM CROCHET HATS ASSEMBLED TOGETHER.... CAN YOU BELIVE THIS?...

DETAIL VIEW OF TOP.

DETAIL VIEW OF MIDDLE.

DETAIL VIEW OF THE MOST "FANCY-EST FEET I EVER DID SEE".

DETAIL VIEW OF PATCHWORKED SEQUINCED DRESSES THAT WAS DECONSTRUCTED, THEN RECONSTRUCTED TO CREAT THIS STRONG DECORATIVE TEXTILE SURFACE, AND THEN THE ARTIST FINE HAND STITCHED QUILTED THE ENTIRE SURFACE.

DETAILED VIEW OF FOUND SEQUINCE GARMENT, THE ARTIST ADORNED WITH WHITE BUTTONS.... THERE HAD TO BE MILLIONS OF BUTTONS AND BEADS IN THIS WORK.

DETAILED VIEW OF EMBROIDERD FOUND OBJECT FINELY HAND QUILTED, WITH PATCH WORK BUGLE BEADS APLIQUE. ON TOP.

THIS IS A REAL GOOD CLOSE-UP SO THAT YOU CAN SEE A FEW OF THE MILLIONS OF TINY HAND STITCHES THAT GOES INTO THIS BODY OF WORK.

THE COLLECTION OF FOUND OBJECTS (COLORFUL MID 20Th CENTURY TIN TOYS) ALONE ON THIS PIECE IS ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU STOP IN YOUR TRACKS.

THE BODY OF THIS PIECE IS TOTALLY COVER WITH CROCHET PATCHES...


YOU CAN SEE MORE OF THE ARTIST SURFACE HAND QUILTING.


THIS MAN REALLY KNOWS HOW TO WORK WITH PATTERNS.

CHECK OUT HOW HE WORKS WITH ADORNING THE FEET... DO'NT THIS JUST (REALLY, TRULY) KNOCK YOUR SOCK OFF....




GO ON, NICK CAVE'S, WITH YOUR BAD SELF!!!






ALL I COULD SAY WHEN I LEFT THE JACK SHAINMAN GALLERY WAS.... CRAZY.... CRAZY.... CRAAAZY!!!.... NICK CAVES REALLY GOT A HOLD ON SOMETHING HERE... YOU CAN MARK MY WORD.

I AM SO PROUD TO HAVE STUDIED WITH HIM.... TRULY A YOUNG MASTER!!!

FREE AFRICAN DANCE CLASSES AND OTHER FREE CLASSES @ THE STANLEY M. ISAAC NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, UP-TOWN, BET. 95TH & 97TH ST. IN NYC

THIS CLASS LOOKS REALLY WONDERFUL FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS A GOOD WORK-OUT FOR THE RIGHT PRICE (FREE) DURING THESE FINANCIALLY HARD TIMES.

EVERYONE LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE HAVING BIG FUN. YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TIME AND MOVE ACROSS THE FLOOR WITH THE RYTHYMS OF THE LIVE DRUMS UNTIL YOU CATCH ON TO THE STEPS AND THE MOVEMENTS,... THE MAINE THING ABOUT THESE CLASSES IS TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND RELEASE STRESS.

ALL RIGHT NOW!!!.... GOOD WORK-OUT FOR THE BODY AND SPIRIT...

I MADE A CROCHET HAT FOR A SISTAH (AFRICAN DANCE) FRIEND OF MINE, CRYSTAL HARRISON, A REAL UP SPIRITED AND LOVELY PERSON. I DELIVERED IT TO HER AT HER DANCE CLASS THAT SHE TEACHES AT THE STANLEY M. ISAACS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, AT 1700 THIRD AVE. (BET. 95TH & 97TH ST.) IN MANHATTAN. 212 828-6342.

I REGISTERED AND GOT PHOTO ID FOR SOME CLASSES WHILE I WAS THERE, THIS CENTER HAS SOME REALLY WONDERFUL FREE ACTIVITIES GOING ON THERE, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE INTERESTING ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

ACTIVITIES FOR THE TWEENS AFTER 4:00PM, WHICH INCLUDE, BASKETBALL, CHEERLEADING, COOKING, DANCE, EARLY COLLEGE AWARENESS, FASHION, GAMES & BIDEO LOUNGE, HOMEWORK HELP, MARTIAL ARTS, MENTORING, PEER GROUPS, RECREATION, THEATRE ARTS, TUTORING AND OTHER GREAT ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE, AEROBICS CLASS, AFRICAN DANCE, BELLY DANCE, GIRL SCOUTS, LATIN DANCE CLASS, AND YOGA.

THE CENTER CELEBRATED IT'S 10TH YEAR LAST YEAR, 1998-2008... THIS IS SOMETHING I NEED TO PUT IN MY SCHEDULE...

RAW SOUL RESTAURANT & JUICE BAR OPEN HOUSE 1.25.09

ON MY WAY HOME FROM SEEING THE EXHIBIT NEO HOODOO, I GOT OF THE D TRAIN AT 145 AND ST. NICK BECAUSE I WANTED TO GO TO PATHMARK SUPERMARKET AND GET SOME FRUIT JUICE FOR MY MORNING SMOOTHY.

I WAS PASSING BY RAW SOUL RESTAURANT & JUICE BAR, WHEN I SAW THE RESTAURANT WAS FULL OF PEOPLE STAND AND LISTENING TO LILLIAN BUTLER, ONE OF THE OWNERS SPEAK.

MY FRIEND DAVID AT THE DOOR AND HE WAVED TO ME TO "COME ON IN", THEY WERE HAVING A OPEN HOUSE TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORT AND TO SHARE THEIR TASTY LIVE FOOD CUISINE WITH THE GUEST.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT I WAS EATING, BUT YOU CAN MARK MY WORK, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS. I REALLY HAVE TO UPGRADE MY FOOD PREPARATION SKILLS TO LIVE FOOD. WHAT I REALLY, TRULY LOVE ABOUT RAW SOUL IS THE INTERNATIONAL MENUS THEY HAVE CREATED, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THING ABOUT THIS RESTAURANT.

I HAD GREAT LIKE MINDED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE CHANGE OVER TO THE SUPERNATURAL LIFESTYLE OF THE 21ST CENTURY WITH FOLKS IN THE HARLEM COMMUNITY.

A COUPLE OF MUSICIANS PERFORMED A FEW SET BEFORE THEY WENT UP THE STREET TO DO THEIR GIG AT ST. NICKS PUB. I STAYED LONGER THAN I PLANNED, BUT IT WAS ALL GOOD.

OPEN HOUSE
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2009
4:00 – 7:00 P.M.

We invite to join us for our Open House to experience raw and live foods that are soul-fully delicious and healthy. We have planned a JOYOUS evening that includes:

Sampling of raw and live dishes
INTRODUCTION TO CLASSES AND SERVICES
Food Preparation Demonstrations
Testimonials
Entertainment

Bring your family and friends so that you can begin your health journey together.
Make the commitment today to change your life forever. We’ll show you how.

Call us at 212-491-5859 to reserve

P.S.1 CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER: NEO HOODOO, ART FOR A FORGOTTEN FAITH, CURATED BY FRANKLIN SIRMAN

SCULPTURE BY PEPON OSORIO, TITLE LONELY SOUL: WOODEN CRUTCHES, FIBERGLASS, STYROFOAM, WOOD, RESIN, PHOTOGRAPHS, METALS, HUMAN HAIR, ONE-THOUSAND PINS, HAIR CLIPS, AND WHEELCHAIR WHEELS.

INSTALLATION ART BY RADCLIFFE BAILEY, TITLE STORM AT SEA, 2006, PIANO KEYS AFRICAN SCULPTURE, MODEL BOAT, PAPER, ACRYLIC, GLITTER AND GOLD LEAF.

NEO HOODOO IS AN AMAZING EXHIBIT, I AM SORRY I WAITED SO LONG TO VIEW THIS INSPIRING BODY OF ART WORK, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE VISITED THIS EXHIBIT SEVERAL TIMES VERY SLOWLY. I THINK THE EXHIBIT WAS A WONDERFUL IDEA: THE ART OF A FORGOTTEN FAITH (SIMPLY BRILLIANT SEEDS OF THOUGHT), THIS EXHIBIT WAS ESPECIALLY INSPIRING TO ME FOR THE CONNECTION TO MY TRAVELING EXHIBIT (RE) POSSESSED THAT I HAVE CASTED SAIL, TO CROSS THE COUNTRY.

P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center presents NeoHooDoo: Art for a Forgotten Faith, an exhibition co-organized by The Menil Collection that brings together a multigenerational group of North, South, and Central American artists who address the value of ritual in the artistic process and the wider implications of spirituality in contemporary art. On view in the 2nd Floor Main Gallery, Project Rooms, and Corner Gallery.
Including some 50 works of sculpture, photography, assemblage, video, performance, and other media, NeoHooDoo asserts that the drive towards a spiritual practice is as relevant today in our burgeoning global society as it has ever been. Artists have long engaged with ritualism to enrich their work, drawing on the traditions of shamans, griots, and oral historians. NeoHooDoo “grew out of a desire to explore the multiple meanings of spirituality in contemporary art,” states P.S.1 Curatorial Advisor and Menil Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Franklin Sirmans.
In the late 1960s poet Ishmael Reed adopted the 19th-century term “HooDoo,” referring to forms of religion and their practice in the New World to explore the idea of spiritual practice outside easily definable faiths or creeds and ritualism on contemporary works of literature and art. “Neo-HooDoo,” he writes in his 1972 collection of poetry, Conjure, “believes that every man is an artist and every artist a priest.” His seminal poems, “The Neo-HooDoo Manifesto” and “The Neo-HooDoo Aesthetic,” delve even deeper into this artistic practice to demonstrate its vitality as an international, multicultural aesthetic that embraces spiritual creativity and innovation.
From Vancouver to Havana, Guatemala City, and Bahia, the artists in NeoHooDoo began using ritualistic practice as a means to recover “lost” spirituality and to reexamine and reinterpret aspects of cultural heritage throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s. Visual artists from across the Americas, such as Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988), José Bedia (b. 1959), Rebecca Belmore (b. 1960), Jimmie Durham (b. 1940), and Ana Mendieta (1948–1985) have freely combined disparate materials and mediums to create spaces where art and audience can interact unhindered by history or societal constraints. For these artists, ritual practice often emerges as a form of catharsis and political critique to approach issues such as race, gender, slavery, and colonization. This exhibition also will look at younger artists such as video artists Michael Joo and Regina José Galindo, who carry on many of these practices and themes decades later, reconfiguring the work of their predecessors into performative displays of ritual through film and gallery installations.
Challenging conceptions of “insider” and “outsider” art, the artists in the exhibition frequently create work using everyday objects that resonate both within the confines of a gallery or museum and among their own localized audiences who may or may not visit art institutions. Situating their work in a vernacular aesthetic, the meaning of the work fluctuates according to its context. Items such as light bulbs, wine bottles, artificial flowers, piano keys are repositioned in assemblages confronting themes of exploitation, genocide, and poverty. The 53 pieces of discarded waste paper comprising Jimmy Durham’s A Street-level Treatise on Money and Work are brought to the center of a dialogue on the destruction of native cultures and Dario Robleto addresses American notions of manifest destiny in Deep Down I Don’t Believe in Hymns by taking a military-issued blanket and “infesting” it with hand-ground dust made from vinyl recordings of Neil Young’s “Cortez the Killer” and Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love.”
Franklin Sirmans developed NeoHooDoo as one of P.S.1’s curatorial advisory programs, a unique system that allows diverse curators to present experimental exhibition work. Current curatorial advisors include Chief Curatorial Advisor Klaus Biesenbach, Senior Curatorial Advisor Neville Wakefield, Andrea Bellini, Phong Bui, Lia Gangitano, Susanne Pfeffer, and Franklin Sirmans.
NeoHooDoo: Art for a Forgotten Faith will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue featuring texts by Arthur C. Danto, Greg Tate, Robert Farris Thompson, Jen Budney and Julia Herzberg. The catalogue will also include an interview with Ishmael Reed by Franklin Sirmans and a work by renowned poet Quincy Troupe. The fully illustrated, color catalogue will be available for purchase at Artbook @ P.S.1 (144 pp., $45.00).
Artist List:
Terry Adkins, Janine Antoni, Radcliffe Bailey, José Bedia, Rebecca Belmore, Sanford Biggers, Tania Bruguera, James Lee Byars, María Magdalena Campos-Pons, William Cordova, Jimmie Durham, Regina José Galindo, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, David Hammons, Michael Joo, Brian Jungen, Kcho, Marepe, Ana Mendieta, Amalia Mesa-Bains, Pepón Osorio, Adrian Piper, Ernesto Pujol, Dario Robleto, Betye Saar, Gary Simmons, George Smith, Michael Tracy, Nari Ward

The exhibition is co-organized by The Menil Collection, Houston, Texas, and P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center. It was previously presented at The Menil Collection and will travel to the Miami Art Museum from February 20 until May 24, 2009.

THE LINKS INC. & THE KING ARTS WOMEN'S SERVICE BOARD, PRESENTS: A AFTERNOON TEA & ARTIST TALK WITH FIBER ARTIST XENOBIA BAILEY COLUMBUS, OHIO 1.4.09

THANK YOU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DR. BARBARA R. NICHOLSON FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, SUPPORT & DIRECTION OF THE (RE) POSSESSED PROJECT WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED AT THE KING ARTS COMPLEX.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH BETTYE STULL FOR YOUR DEDICATED GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE EXHIBIT (RE) POSSESSED WHEN IT TOURED THE KING ARTS COMPLEX IN COLUMBUS OHIO.

AND THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH FOR ARRANGING THE LOVELY AFTERNOON TEA & ARTIST TALK.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY HONORED GUEST FOR THE AFTERNOON TEA ARTIST TALK.























I HUMBLY THANK THE TWIN RIVERS CHAPTER LINKS, INC. THE COLUMBUS LINKS, INC. THE KING ARTS WOMEN'S SERVICE BOARD AND BETTYE STULL, THE CURATORIAL CONSULTANT AT THE KING ARTS COMPLEX IN COLUMBUS OHIO, FOR A WONDERFUL CLOSING TEA AND ARTIST TALK IN THE BEAUTIFUL BALLROOM AT THE KING ARTS COMPLEX FOR MY TRAVELING EXHIBIT (RE) POSSESSED.

I AM FOREVER GREATFUL TO THE DISTINGUISHED AND HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED LADY'S OF THE LINKS INC,FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO ME, EARLY IN MY CAREER DEVELOPMENT.

IT WAS WONDERFUL MEETING THE LADY'S OF THE LINKS AND THE KING ARTS WOMEN'S SERVICE BOARD AND BRIEFLY SPEAKING TO AND ENJOYING SHORT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LADY'S BEFORE I QUICKLY PACKED UP MY THINGS AND HEADED FOR MY PLANE BACK TO NEW YORK.

THANK YOU LADY'S FOR THE PURCHASE OF MY HATS AND THE GIFTS OF TOILETRIES, YOU LADY'S ARE A TREASURE TO ME YOUR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU FOREVER.

(RE) POSSESSED EXHIBIT DEINSTALLATION AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY & KING ARTS COMPLEX DEINSTALLATON

THE EXHIBIT (RE) POSSESSED AT THE KING ARTS COMPLEX IN COLUMBUS OHIO HAD A FEW NEW ADDITION...
I WAS REMINDED BY MY PHOTOGRAPHERS WIFE JAMES DEE, THAT I HAD CREATED A SERIES OF SOFT BODY, CERAMIC FACED DOLL BACK IN THE 80'S THAT I TITLED THE COUNTRY COUSIN DOLLS.... THIS WAS A STUDY OF THE RURAL FEMALE NATURAL HEALERS IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THIS DOLL IS INSPIRED BY THE MOJO HEALING WORKERS IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY WORK MOSTLY BY SPOKEN WORDS, PRAYERS, CONVERSATION, STORIES, HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS AND INSPIRING OTHERS BY LIVING THE EXAMPLE.

THIS DOLL WEARS A STRAW HAT, WITH ARTIFICIAL VELVET MINITURE FLOWERS, WITH A GRAPEVINE TWIG IN THE HAT. HER DRESS IS ADORNED WITH COWRY SHELLS AND SILVER BELLS AND BUTTONS. HER GARMENT IS HAND STITCHED PATCHWORKED, WITH BUFFALO FUR ON HER SHOULDERS.

HER BODY IS DESIGNED AND HAND STITCHED BY ME AND PAINTED WITH ACRYLIC PAINT. HER HAND PAINTED FACE OF TERRACOTA CLAY WAS MADE FROM A MOLD DESIGNED & CREATED BY ME.

THE CONJURE WOMAN DOLL, RURAL HEALING ARTIST, MASTER OF THE ART OF CONJURING THING AND SITUATIONS.

THIS IS THE FIRST DOLL THAT I CROCHET A HAT FOR, EVERYTHING ELSE IS HAND SEWN, I REALLY LIKE HAND MAKING THING. IT'S LIKE PUTTING A PART OF MYSELF IN WHAT EVER I CREAT.

THE HOODOO WOMAN DOLL, THE ROOTS WORKER, HEALING ARTIST, MASTER OF HERBS, POTIONS, LOTIONS AND ENCHANTRESS.

I THING THIS WAS MY VERY FIRST DOLL OF THIS SERIES THAT I MAKE, I THINK IT WAS AROUND 1984 OR SOME WHERE AROUND THERE,

THIS IS PRUDENCE GILL, A ARTS DEPARTMENT HEAD AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, PURCHASING REFRESHMENTS FOR THE OPENING OF A BRILLIANT CAMPUS EXHIBIT.

PRUDENCE WAS PURCHASING GENETICALLY ALTERED FOODS FOR THE REFRESHMENTS, THIS WAS A NEW CONCEPT TO ME, I HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF GENETICALLY ALTERED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE IN THE GROCERY STORES THAT WE SHOP IN.

THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME TASTING THESE ITEMS.... THIS EXHIBIT WAS REALLY EDUCATIONAL TO ME IN THAT WAY.

THE BRILLIANT AND TALENTED OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT EATING THEIR FRESH GENETICALLY ALTERED FRUITS & VEGETABLES.

PRUDENCE GILL'S ART CLASS FROM OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, VISITING THE EXHIBIT, (RE) POSSESSED AT THE KING ARTS COMPLEX.

THIS IS THE DUEL ANGEL RESCUE DEINSTALLATION SQUAD, FROM OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, HELPING OR RATHER SAFELY WRAPPING AND PACKING THE CRYSTAL CHANDELIER FROM THE EXHIBIT THAT WAS DESIGNED BY DORIAN WEBB.
THEY HAD TO RECYLE THE BUBBLE WRAP THAT THE CHANDELIERS ARRIVED IN, SO THAT THEY COULD RE-WRAP AND RE-TAPE THE CHANDELIERS FOR SHIPMENT BY TO NEW YORK.

THESE LADIES WERE HEAVEN SENT... I LOVED THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LIFE, WORK, THE ARTS AND CAREER DIRECTION THAT WAS GOING ON DURING THE DEINSTALLATION.



THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY DYNAMIC DUEL CRYSTAL CHANDELIER PACKING, PEARL WEARING, MIGHTY MUSCLES, PROBLEM SOLVING, CHEER LEADINGS GLASS ARTIST:

BETHANY HAESELER: GLASS ARTIST, MFA STUDENT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.

KAMI MEIGHAN: GLASS TEACHER & ACADEMIC COUNCELOR AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.

THANKS YOU SO VERY MUCH LADY'S, I REALLY ENJOYED YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR EFFORT, YOU HELP MAKE A HARD JOB REAL EASY... STAY IN TOUCH. AND FOREVER BONDED IN THE ARTS.

MUCH GRATITUDE XENOBIA

1929: WHITE HOUSE TEA AND NO SYMPATHY: THE DePRIEST INCIDENT: THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN INVITED TO TEA AT THE WHITE HOUSE

In the early summer of 1929, citizens in the nation’s capital enjoyed reading about the White
House activities of President Herbert Hoover and his wife, Lou Hoover, in their local newspaper.
They learned that a “talking movie” was shown at the White House , that the president’s
pets had acquired silver-plated nametags, and that a policy had been implemented to reduce
the number of handshakes the president had to endure during public receptions. By July, the
Hoovers no doubt sorely missed such whimsical coverage, when it was replaced by reports criticizing
Mrs. Hoover for inviting an African-American woman to attend a White House tea.
Ordinarily, the First Lady’s activities would have been covered in the society news; in this
case, however, Lou Hoover made front page headlines in newspapers across the country. Early
in her husband’s administration, Mrs. Hoover planned to invite the wives of U.S. Congressmen
to the White House, but she faced a dilemma. For the first time in decades, and for the first time
ever outside the South, an African-American man had been elected to the U.S. Congress. Should
she invite his wife, Mrs. Oscar DePriest, to tea at the White House along with the wives of the
other Congressmen? She decided to do so, and Mrs. DePriest accepted the invitation and did
indeed visit the White House, igniting a firestorm that demonstrated the sensitive and symbolic
nature of the White House, as well as the delicate state of race relations in America on the cusp
of the Depression.
The Incident
Oscar DePriest was the first African-American elected as a U.S. Congressman since Reconstruction,
and he was the first African-American ever elected to serve in the U.S. Congress from
outside the South. A Republican from Chicago, DePriest began his term in March 1929, at the
same time President Hoover started his term as president. It quickly became clear that a decision
had to be made about what to do about Mrs. DePriest. While President and Mrs. Hoover
tried to minimize political fallout, there does not seem to be any doubt that they would include
Mrs. DePriest. It would be difficult to ignore White House traditions, so canceling the event was
not really an option. Nor would the Hoovers snub Mrs. DePriest by excluding her.

(I WONDER WHAT "THEY" WOULD SAY TODAY,... THEM DRY BONES MUST BE JUMPING ALL OVER CREATION RIGHT ABOUT NOW)

CERAMIST: SANA MUSASAMA TRAVELS TO CAMBODIA TO DO CULTURAL REHAB & SOCIAL REINTEGRATION ACTIVITIES WITH THE YOUNG GIRLS VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

MY AMAZING HUMANITARIAN ARTIST FRIEND, SANA MUSASAMA JUST LEFT NEW YORK THE OTHER DAY, TO TRAVEL TO VIETNAM TO DO VOLUNTARY WORK WITH THE GIRLS OF SAMOLY MAM FOUNDATION IN CAMBODIA.

THE SAMOLY MAM FOUNDATION IS AN AMAZING RESCUE FOUNDATION, SHE RECUES, REHABILITATES AND REINTERGRATE YOUNG GIRLS IN CAMBODIA BACK INTO SOCIETY AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM BEING VICTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICING IN THE SEX SLAVE TRADE.

SAMOLY MAM WAS KIDNAPPED AND SOLD TO A BROTHAL AS A SEX SLAVE AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 12 IN CAMBODIA, SHE EXSCAPE THIS LIFE OF HORROR AND HAS FOUNDED THE FOUNDATION THAT HAS RESCUED OVER 4,000 YOUNG GIRLS.

SAMOLY MAM HAS WRITTEN A BOOK TITLED "THE ROAD OF LOST INNOCENCE" THAT YOU CAN READ ABOUT HER LIFE, I PLAN TO GET THE CD AND LISTEN TO IT WHILE I CROCHET.

SANA MUSASAMA IS IN VIETNAM RIGHT NOW, SHE WILL BE TRAVELING TO CAMBODIA IN A FEW DAYS TO WORK WITH THE YOUNG GIRLS. I WILL BE POSTING HER E-MAILS OF HER JOURNEY AND WORK.

SANA IS AN AMAZING TRAVELER, SHE HAS WONDERFUL TRAVELING STORIES TO TELL, SHE IS A FIRE SPIRIT, SO THERE ARE ALWAY INTERESTING ENCOUNTERS.

HOLIDAY GIFTS BY XENOBIA BAILEY: "FUNKY CHIC BEADED CROCHET SKULLCAPS" @ ETSY.COM

MY IMAGES ARE BACK!!!. I'M ON ANOTHER COMPUTER,.. BUT AT LEAST I CAN POST IMAGES....
..
SO... HERE IS MY "SONG AND DANCE" ABOUT MY HATS SELLING ON ETSY.COM AGAIN.

JUST GO TO ETSY.COM, TYPE IN "FUNKY CHIC, CROCHET, BEADED, SKULLCAPS" AND THE RED SKULLCAP THAT IS POSTED HERE WILL APPEAR.

NO TELLING WHEN I WILL STOP CROCHETING THESE HATS COMPLETELY,

SO... IF YOU WANT TO BE AS CUTE AS A BUTTON THIS WINTER, MAKE YOU ORDER WHILE THE OFFER LASTS...

DO'NT SAY I DID'NT GIVE YOU A HEADS-UP ON THIS ALMOST LAST CALL.

HOLIDAY GIFTS BY XENOBIA BAILEY: "FUNKY CHIC BEADED CROCHET SKULLCAPS" @ ETSY.COM

OK GOOD PEOPLE,... I HAVE TO TAKE A BIG, DEEP BREATH RIGHT ABOUT NOW, AS I MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS JACKED-UP IMAGE ON MY BLOG.

IT LOOKS AS IF, I WILL HAVE TO WORK ON THIS BLOG WITH NO IMAGES OR A JACKED-UP IMAGE FOR A WHILE... IT REMINDS ME OF "BACK IN THE DAY" WHEN THE ELECTRICITY WOULD BE TURN OFF, AND WE WOULD ACT LIKE WE WERE IN THE WILDERNESS WITH ONLY CANDLE LIGHTS.

SO UNTIL I HAVE THE TIME TO REALLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED, WE WILL JUST HAVE TO USE OUR IMAGINATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

BY THE WAY... THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THE SUGGESTIONS. I TRIED THEM ALL.

BUT.... ANYWAY...

I AM CROCHETING MY FUNKY, CHIC, BEADED, SKULLCAPS, AND I AM SELLING THEM @ ETSY.COM.

CHECK THEM OUT... WHEN YOU GO TO THE ETSY.COM WEBSITE, GO TO "HANDMADE ITEMS: TAGS, TITLES" THEN COPY & PASTE "FUNKY, CHIC, BEADED CROCHET SKULLCAPS" CLICK ON "SEARCH" AND A IMAGE OF A MODEL WITH A RED FUNKY CHIC, BEADED CROCHET SKULLCAP, WILL APPEAR.

IF YOU DO NOT SEE A COLOR COMBINATION THAT TICKLES YOUR FANCY, JUST WRITE ME A NOTE THROUGH MY ETSY ACCOUNT AND I WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT.

ALL THE HATS ARE HAND CROCHET BY ME, NO ONE ELSE AND THEY ALL COME WITH MY PERSONAL LABEL. SO... I DO'NT KNOW HOW LONG I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE HATS. BUT MARK MY WORK, THE END OF ME MAKING THESE Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age

OK... THAT'S IT.... I'M TAKING THIS #@^&*@!& COMPUTER TO THE MAC STORE TO SEE WHAT THE HECK IS NOT GOING ON!!!!

NOW THE BLOG HAS GONE HAYWIRE,.. I CAN ONLY PUBLISH IN THE TITLE BLOCK IN A ROUND ABOUT WAY!!

I AM TRYING TO SEE WAHT WORKS AND HOW.... OK... I CAN SOMETIMES GET SOME TEXT POSTED, BUT NO IMAGES.

WHAT I NEED IS FOR EVERYONE TO LAY YOUR HANDS ON YOUR COMPUTER AND SEND MY BLOG AND ME SOME GOOD VIBES.... THIS BLOG NEEDS A GOOD OLD FASHION GLOBAL CYBER HEALING.

STILL HAVING IMAGE UPLOADING PROBLEM,

SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN POSTING, I AM HAVING PROBLEMS POSTING AND UPLOADING INFORMATION TO MY BLOG. HOPEFULLY THE PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED SOON. THANKS

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF HARLEM: AISHA AL ALADAWIYA, THE LOVELY AND GRACIOUS HISTORICAL ARCHIVIST AT THE SCHOMBURG CENTER LIBRARY IN HARLEM

DECEMBER 1 2008, I HAD TO STOP BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN HARLEM TO MAKE A DROP-OFF, THE SCHOMBURG CENTER FOR RESEARCH IN BLACK CULTURE LIBRARY,

I WAS MET IN THE LOBBY BY THE BEAUTIFUL SISTAH AISHA AL ALADAWIYA, IT WAS REALLY GREAT SEEING HER, I LOVE HER PERONAL STYLE. SHE IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT I KNOW THAT HAS A BEAUTIFUL LAVENDER COLOR IN HER SKIN TONE, I RALLY LOVE HOW SHE WORKS WITH HER CULTURAL AESTHETIC.... "SHE BE WEARIN HER ADORNMENTS"

I WAS HOPEING TO GET ANOTHER SNEAK VIEW OF THE AARON DOUGLAS EXHIBIT THAT WAS ON VIEW AT THE SCHOMBURG LIBRARY. THE LAST DAY WAS SUNDAY. AARON DOUGLAS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTIST. I LOVE HOW HE PAINTS AND WRITES ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN IN THE NEW INDUSTRIAL AGE IN AMERICA.. HIS USE OF SPACE, FORM AND COLOR IS SIMPLE YET POWERFUL. I THINK I AM GOING TO HAVE TO TRAVEL TO SEE THE LIBRARY AT FISK UNIVERSITY WHERE HE PAINTED A TIMELESS MURAL ON THE WALLS.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM ANCESTORS GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER: A PAMPHLET "HELP FOR THE HARD TIMES" COMMISSIONED BY BOOKER T. WASHINGTON. 1916.

WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I REMEMBER ASKING MY MOTHER, WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE DURING THE DEPRESSION OF THE 1920'S. SHE TOLD ME HER PEOPLE WHERE NOT AFFECTED BY IT MUCH, BECAUSE THEY LIVED ON A FARM AND THEY ATE WELL EVERY DAY.

EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT RAISE ON A FARM, I ALWAYS HAVE VALUED THE SOIL AND MAINTAINING THE RICH MINERALS IN IT TO GREW FOOD FOR A BALANCED LIFE ON THIS PLANET.

SO... WHILE DOING RESEARCH ON GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER AND HIS WORK AT THE TUSKEGE INSTITUTE, FOR THE EXHIBIT (RE) POSSESSED, I CAME ACROSS THIS PAMPHLET THAT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON COMMISSIONED GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER TO DEVELOPE AND WRITE. I THOUGHT THIS INFORMATION WOULD BE VALUABLE TO HOMEMAKERS AROUND THE WORLD TODAY, AS WE ALL GO THROUGH THIS TEMPORARY ECONOMIC "HARD TIME"

I PLAN TO FOLLOW THIS ADVICE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER BY GROWING VEGETABLE IN MY WINDOWS, (I THINK IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL & HEALTHY) AND WHAT EVER ELSE I CAN DO IN THE CITY TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY DIET.

I WILL CONTINUE TO RESEARCH THE ART OF (RE) POSSESING A HUMANE LIFESTYLE FOR THE EXHIBIT AND WHAT EVER ELSE I CAN FIND ON THE SUBJECT OF THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SUPERNATURAL LIFESTYLE.... DO'NT WORRY... WHAT EVER I FIND, I WILL SHARE...

CERAMIST SANA MUSASAMA'S MEMORIAL PREPARATION FOR HER DEAR BELOVED FRIEND DIEDRA BIBBY

MY DEAR LONG-TIME FRIEND CERAMIST SANA MUSASAMA JUST LOST HER BEST FRIEND CURATOR DIEDRA BIBBY, A FEW MONTHS AGO.

SANA IS PLANNING TO DO A TEA MEMORIAL WITH DIEDRA'S FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLIEGES AT THE SCHOMBERG LIBRARY IN HARLEM WHERE DIEDRA ONCE WORKED AS A CURATOR IN THE FINE ART DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY BEAUTIFUL EVENT, SANA IS CREATING ALL OF THE TEACUPS AND SAUCER FOR THE EVENT.

THIS IS A PASSIONATE MORNING EXERCISE FOR SANA, I WENT BY SANA'S STUDIO TO HELP HER PACK SOME TEACUPS & SAUCERS.

I WAS SUPPOSE TO MAKE SOME TEACUPS SAUCERS MYSELF FOR THE EVENT, BUT I COULD NOT GET MY SCHEDULE TOGETHER.

SANA IS AN AMAZING TRAVELER, SHE HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD SEVERAL TIMES, STUDYING CERAMIST WITH INDIGENIST PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THEIR HANDS AND CLAY.

SHE HAS SPENT TIME IN AFRICA, CHINA, INDIA, PERU, VIETNAM, NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH WEST PART OF NORTH AMERICA. COSTA RICA, I AM SURE THERE A PLACES I HAVE NOT MENTIONED.

SHE IS CREATING AN AMAZING POP-UP CHILDRENS AND ADULT BOOK ABOUT HER ADVENTURIST AND COLORFUL TRAVELS.

THIS IS PAUL, THE CERAMIC STUDIO MANAGER AT HUNTER COLLEGE.

THIS IS ONE OF PAUL BRILLIANT TEACUPS THAT HE MADE FOR THE MEMORIAL, YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE HOLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE TO DRINK THE TEA OUT OF.

BACK TO THE POP-UP BOOK... I KNOW SANA WILL HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL BOOK BECAUSE OF HER UNIQUE AESTHETIC, AND THAT SHE IS A FABULOUS STORY TELLER.

I HAVE KNOWN SANA SINCE THE 70'S, AND HER STORIES OF HER TRAVEL STILL ENTERTAIN, THRILL, SCARE, SHOCK AND INSPIRE ME.

WATCHING HER WORK WITH CLAY IS LIKE WATCHING PREPERATIONS FOR A RITUAL.





SANA AND ONE OF HER TALENTED FORMER STUDENTS SALLY. .

THESE ARE UNFIRED TEACUPS, I THOUGHT THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL JUST LIKE THIS.

UNFIRED TALL TEACUP, I PLAN TO TRY AND MAKE A FEW OF THESE MYSELF, IT IS SO ELEGANTLY FUNKY. I LOVED THE SPLIT BOWL ON THE RIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO TRY THAT SPLIT EFFECT MYSELF ONE DAY. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT AFTER IT IS FIRED.

MORE UNFIRED ELEGANT TALL TEACUPS. I REALLY LOVE THESE TEACUPS.

THIS IS THE CREATIVE FLOOR OF SANA'S STUDIO. AT LOT OF EXPERIMENTING & DISCOVERY GOES ON HERE.





SANA'S SINGLE GOLDEN SLIPPER.

I REALLY WISH I COULD ATTEND DIEDRA BIBBY'S MEMORIAL SANA IS PLANNING, I KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE WONDERFUL. DIEDRA WOULD BE VERY PLEASED. SANA IS GOING TO HAVE EVERYTHING THERE DIEDRA LOVED. FROM PEOPLE TO ART, MUSIC, FOOD, INCENSE, FLOWERS AND SANA.

VISIT WITH COLUMBUS OHIO LIVING TREASURE, MASTER FIBER ARTIST, ANIMATED JOURNALIST EXTRAORDINAIRE, AMINAH BRENDA LYNN ROBINSON

KING ARTS COMPLEX DR BARBARA NICHOLSON, WHO ARRANGED THIS VISIT, KNOCKS ON THE ANIMATED DOOR OF AMINAH ROBINSON WHILE MY MOUTH WAS HANGING WIDE OPEN.

FIBER ARTIST AMINAH BRENDA LYNN ROBINSONS INSTALLATION FRONT YARN. THIS AMAZING WOMAN PREPARES HER PATH BEFORE HER,

WE WERE GREETED BY AMINAH AND INVITED IN,... HAS WE ENTERED THIS LIVING STUDIO, WE FIRST APROACHED A VANITY TABLE THAT WAS CONVERTED TO A ALTAR OF SORTS, WITH A LARGE BOOK OPENED WITH AN AMAZING DRAWING OF THE HUMAN BODY.... I REALY APRECIATED THAT AMINAH AND DR NICHOLSON LET ME HAVE MY SILENCE, HAS I WALKED AROUND AND DRANK IN THE LIFE IN THE SURROUNDINGS ROOMS.

WITH EVERY STEP, AND EVERY TURN OF THE HEAD THERE IS INSPIRATION FROM DOOR NOBS, TO WALLS, BOOKS, ART, OPEN LETTER, NOTES, YOU NAME IT. WHAT EVER ENTERS THIS CREATIVE CHAMBERS IS ADDED TO THIS ARTIST CREATIVE PALETTE.

WHEN I SAW AMINAHS WORK IN PROGRESS I HEARD MY HEART BEATING IN MY EARS AND I FELT IT IN MY NECK,.... BUT... I WAS COOL!!... I WAS TOTALLY REVERENT IN THE PRESENCE OF THE RESTING NEEDLE & THREAD OF A MASTER.

I FELT LIKE I WAS WALKING BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF THE WIZARD, WHEN I SAW THE CONSTRUCTION OF ONE OF AMINAH'S QUILTS. DR NICHOLSON TOLD ME LATER THAT AMINAH IS TEACHING HERSELF ABOUT 3 OR MORE LANGUAGES.

BOOKS, BOOKS EVERY WHERE, THEN I SAW THE POST CARD ABOUT MY EXHIBIT (RE) POSSESSED AT THE KING ARTS COMPLEX ON HER WALL.

AMINAHS RESEARCH MATERIAL.

AMINAH HAS TURNED HER KITCHEN INTO ANOTHER STUDIO SPACE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF HER SCULPTURE, I WAS TOLD SHE DOES NOT COOK, SHE TURNED THE STOVE INTO A STAND FOR HER THIMBLE ASSEMBLAGE SCULPTURE.

I AM LOVING THE THIMBLE ASSEMBLAGE.

I WAS TOLD THAT AMINAH ONLY EATS FRUIT.

A ROW OF FRUIT RIPPENING IN THE WINDOW SUNLIGHT.

AMINAH HAS TWO DOGS, THEY ARE REAL CHARACTERS, SO ARE HER DOGGIE CERAMICS.

AND THEN I ENTERED THE MASTERS DRAWING ROOM!!!!!...

I ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE, TO BE IN A MASTERS STUDIO THAT HAS SUCH HISTORY AND ENERGY.

I LOVE HOW AMINAH HAS GIVEN SUCH SPIRIT TO HER ENVIRONMENT BY ANIMATING THE WALLS WITH HER PAINTINGS.

AS THE SIGN ABOVE SAYS,... THIS IS AMINAH SANCTUARY... I DID NOT ENTER... BUT, I REALLY WANTED TO.


AMINAH HAD THIS OTHER STUDIO BUILT IN HER BACK YARD.


I LOVE THIS ASSEMBLAGE ON THE WOODEN FENCE... YOU CAN'T HELP TO HAVE MEMORIES WHEN YOU SEE THESE MANUAL TOOLS FROM YESTERYEAR.

AMINAH INSIDE HER OUTDOOR STUDIO.... HER SCULPTURE FILLED THE SPACE FROM THE FLOOR TO THE CEILING.

AMINAH WAS "RIGHT ON TIME" WHEN SHE GAVE ME THREE ROCK FROM HER BACK YARD.... I LOVE ROCKS.... AND I LOVE THE ROCKS THAT PEOPLE GIVE ME... A CHOOSEN ROCK SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE GIVEN.


I SAW THIS SIGN AS WE WERE LEAVING. ALL HAND CARVED BY AMINAH.

TWO OF THE MANY MASSIVE QUILTS CREATED BY AMINAH.

THIS WAS THE HIGHPOINT TO THE EXHIBIT (RE) POSSESSED TRAVELING TO COLUMBUS OHIO, WAS MY VISIT TO THE WORK/LIVE/SANCTUARY SPACE OF THE "SUPER BEING OF ANOTHER ORDER" AMINA BRENDA LYNN ROBINSON. I REALLY THANK DR BARBARA NICHOLSON OF THE KING ARTS COMPLEX FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

THIS WAS A FULL VISIT FOR ME I MUST SAY. COLUMBUS OHIO IS SO VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS LIVING TREASURE OF A ARTIST.

PLEASE VISIT COLUMBUS MUSEUM OF ARTS WEBSITE WERE A INSTALLATION FOR PORTIONS OF THE (RE) POSSESSED IS INSTALLED. THE MUSEUM HAS CREATED A WONDERFUL WEBSITE FOR AMINAH ROBINSON.

http://www.aminahsworld.org/

I HOPE TO BRING YOU MORE INFORMATION ON THIS DEDICATED PASSIONATE ARTIST.

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA FROM ALICE WALKER: "WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR"

JENNELLE MAHONE-SY AND HER LOVELY SISTER AT HARLEMS SCHOMBERG LIBRARIES ELECTION NIGHT WATCH PARTY. THAT WAS A UNFORGETABLE HISTORICAL NIGHT.


THIS OPEN LETTER WAS SENT TO ME FROM A PAST COLLEGE ROOMMATE OF MINE. SHE GOT IT FROM http://theroot.com/. I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THIS WITH WHOM EVER IS INTERESTED.

WE ALL NEED TO WORK HARD AND GET HAS MUCH GOOD WORK ACOMPLISHED AS POSSIBLE DURING THIS PRESIDENCY.

Alice Walker on expectations, responsibilities and a new reality that is almost more than the heart can bear. Nov. 5, 2008

Dear Brother Obama,

You have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us. Us being the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know, because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you deliver the torch so many others before you carried, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, only to be struck down before igniting the flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear. And yet, this observation is not intended to burden you, for you are of a different time, and, indeed, because of all the relay runners before you, North America is a different place. It is really only to say: Well done. We knew, through all the generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of the spirit of Africa and of the Americas. Knowing this, that you would actually appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.

I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone.

I would further advise you not to take on other people's enemies. Most damage that others do to us is out of fear, humiliation and pain. Those feelings occur in all of us, not just in those of us who profess a certain religious or racial devotion. We must learn actually not to have enemies, but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise. It is understood by all that you are commander in chief of the United States and are sworn to protect our beloved country; this we understand, completely. However, as my mother used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often fought, "hate the sin, but love the sinner." There must be no more crushing of whole communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of ruling a people's spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.

A good model of how to "work with the enemy" internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul as he confronts the Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

In Peace and Joy,
Alice Walker

DESIGN WITHOUT END: AN AFTERNOON WITH ARTIST EL ANASUI: METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART NEW YORK CITY, NOV 9, 2008, 3:00PM

I WOULD NOT MISS THIS TALK FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD ( or maybe just about anything in the world)

Design Without End: An Afternoon with El Anatsui
November 09, 2008
Part of Sunday at the Met—The Essential Art of African Textiles: Design Without End
Contemporary artist El Anatsui, whose work was recently acquired by the Met, will discuss his art in an interview with Alisa LaGamma, Curator of the exhibition, and Chika Okeke-Agulu, Assistant Professor of African and African Diaspora Art at Princeton University.

Free with Museum admission
3:00 p.m., The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium

MANHATTAN ISLAND SOLD AT BARGAIN PRICE TO DUTCH SETTLERS NOV 5, 1626

Peter Schagen's letter from 1626 reports the Purchase of Manhattan Island by Dutch settlers. Dutch settlers purchased the island from the resident Manhattan tribal leaders in exchange for goods worth a total of sixty Dutch guilders, or the equivalent of about twenty-four dollars today. Two years earlier, Dutch settlers had begun laying the foundations for a town at the southern tip of the island, calling the settlement New Amsterdam. The decision to purchase this island hinged on the fact that it could be easily defended and was centrally located among other Dutch settlements. The colony was run by the West India Company, which gave up its trade monopoly in 1640 and allowed other Dutch merchants to invest in the town. By 1645 Dutch settlers had completely eradicated the Manhattan tribe.

The original spellings have been retained in this document

Letter Regarding the Purchase of Manhattan (1626)


Peter Schagen


From: Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York, Ed. E. B. O'Callaghan, Vol I, p. 37–38.



Mr. Peter Schagen to the States General; the Island of Manhattans purchased.

High and Mighty Lords:

Yesterday, arrived here the Ship the Arms of Amsterdam, which sailed from New Netherland, out of the River Mauritius, on the 23rd September. They report that our people are in good heart and live in peace there; the Women also have borne some children there. They have purchased the Island Manhattes from the Indians for the value of 60 guilders; 'tis 11,000 morgens in size. They had all their grain sowed by the middle of May, and reaped by the middle of August. They send thence samples of summer grain; such as wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, canary seed, beans and flax.

The cargo of the aforesaid ship is:-

7246 Beaver skins.

178 1/2 Otter skins.

675 Otter skins.

48 Minck skins.

36 Wild cat skins.

33 Mincks.

34 Rat skins.

Considerable Oak timber and Hickory.

Herewith, High and Mighty Lords, be commended to the mercy of the Almighty.

In Amsterdam, the 5th November, Ad 1626.

Received 7th November, 1626.

Your High Mightinesses' obedient,

(Signed) P. Schagen.

HISTORIC VOTING MORNING NOV 4 2008, HARLEM NEW YORK

I GOT UP 5:30 IN THE MORNING TO BEAT THE CROWDS TO VOTE... IT LOOKED LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN HARLEM HAD THAT SAME IDEA,.. WE ALL WALKED TO THE POLLS IN THE DARK...

I STOOD ON LINE TO VOTE FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES.... BUT IT DID NOT SEEM LIKE LONG TO ANY OF US IN LINE.



INSIDE THE VOTEING POLLS HAD AN AMAZING ENERGY..









THE IS HEADQUARTERS ON 135TH BETWEEN LENOX AND 7TH AVE.





SCHOMBERG LIBRARY, WHERE THEY WILL HAVE A ELECTION WATCH PARTY TONITE.

SORRY I CAN NOT WRITE MUCH RIGHT NOW... I HAVE TO GET BACK OUT AND BE IN THIS HISTORIC MOMENT....

TO BE CONTINUED.....

NOV 4 2008, USA, HISTORICAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HARLEM & LOWER MANHATTAN

ONE OF MY ELDER NEIGHBORS ON MY BLOCK IN HARLEM GIVING ME THE THUMBS UP SIGN. HISTORICAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DAY IN HARLEM 2008

CUPCAKES TELL NO LIES... THE MOST POPULAR CUPCAKE FOR THE DAY IS OBAMA... THE BAKE CRUMB SHOP IN MANHATTAN.


MY NERVES ARE TOTALLY FRAZZLED.... DORIAN WEBB E-MAIL ME TO SAY THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE MAKING PHONE CALLS FOR OBAMA, SHE ASKED ME IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN MAKING SOME CALLS. I SAID YES...

THE BOWERY HOTEL IN MANHATTAN WAS THE SCENE.... I GOT MY LIST OF STATES TO CALL AND I SAT WITH ALL OF THE REST OF THE CALLERS ON THEIR CELL PHONES AND MADE MY CALLS....

MAKING THESE CALL MADE ME MORE NERVOUS....

IT LOOKED LIKE A STUDY HALL IN THE LOBBY OF THE BOWERY HOTEL... TO BE CONTINUED.... STAY TUNED IN....

KERRY JAMES MARSHALL'S ARTIST TALK: THE ZABAR ARTIST TALK LECTURE SERIES @ AT HUNTER COLLEGE NYC, OCT 28, 2008

TUESDAY AFTERNOON I HAD PLANNED ON GOING DOWN TO MY FRIEND SANA MUSASAMA'S JOB TO HELP HER AND HER STUDENTS OUT WITH A ONLINE PROJECT THEY WERE WORKING ON.... I CALLED SANA TO FIND OUT WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO COME,... SHE TOLD ME THAT HER PLANS HAD CHANGED,.... THAT SHE AND HER STUDENTS WERE GOING TO HEAR THE ARTIST KERRY JAMES MARSHALL SPEAK AT HUNTER COLLEGE, WHERE SHE TEACHES CERAMICS.... I TOLD HER I WANTED TO GO AND THAT I WOULD MEET HER AT THE SCHOOL.

THIS WAS THE MOST ARTIST CAREER BASED ENPOWERING LECTURE THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD FROM AN ARTIST THAT SPOKE DIRECTLY RO MY MISSION AS A ARTIST.

THIS LECTURE SERIES IS SPONSORED BY THE ZABAR FAMILY OF ZABAR'S DELI & GOURMET FOODS IN NEW YORK CITY.

MR. ZABAR IS IN THE PHOTO BELOW, THE MAN ON THE FAR LEFT TAKING THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE LECTURE.... I WAS EXTREMELY EMPRESSED TO SEE MR & MRS. ZABAR THERE AND ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE EVENING.

KERRY JAMES MARSHALL IN THE BLUE SHIRT, SANA MUSASAMA PINK SCARF AND BRAID, AND A GUEST AND STUDENTS ASKING KERRY JAMES MARSHALL QUESTIONS, AFTER HIS SCHORLARLY AND THE BUSINESS OF ART TALK.

THIS TALK LASTED 3 HOURS,... NOT ONE PERSON LEFT THE ROOM DURING THIS TIME.


BLACK ARTIST IN THE DARK,.... TALKING ABOUT BLACK ART TO STUDENTS,.... THEY TURNED THE LIGHTS OUT IN THE AUDITORIUM TO MAKE EVERYONE LEAVE,... BUT THE STUDENTS STAYED AND KERRY KEPT TALKING IN THE DARK.... IT LOOKED LIKE ONE OF KERRY'S LIVE WORKS OF ART IF YOU ASK ME.

THE ARTIST KERRY JAMES MARSHALL AND ONE OF HIS WORKS OF ART.

KERRY JAMES MARSHALL HAD DEFINATELY CREATED A PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL ART HISTORY FOR HIS WORKS OF ART,.. THE STYLE HE CREATED WITH HIS AFRICAN-AMERICAN SENSIBILITY, AESTHETIC AND HISTORICAL NARRATIVE,... THE INTELLECTUAL CONTENT,... THE QUESTIONING & EXPLORATION OF CONDITIONS,.... THE SIZE, HOW HIS ART WORK RELATES TO OTHER CONTEMPORARY ART. KERRY JAMES MARSHALL HAS MASTERED SEVERAL LEVELS.

MY ADVISE TO ANY ARTIST OF WHAT EVER COLOR IS, IF YOU HEAR OR SEE THAT KERRY JAMES MARSHALL IS GOING TO BE SPEAKING IN YOUR AREA, MAKE PLANS TO BE THERE, IF HE IS NOT SCHEDULED TO SPEAK AT A COLLEGE OR CULTURAL INSITITUTION IN YOUR AREA. PLEASE MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR HIM TO ENLIGHTEN YOU WITH HIS WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE..



THIS WAS A MASTERFUL EVENING... WE ALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENTED A MARSHALL DEGREES AS WE LEFT THE AUDITORIUM.... TOTALLY EMPOWERING.

THANK YOU KERRY JAMES MARSHALL,... YOU GOT A NEW FAN.!!!!