I just read an article in the March 10th addition of Newsweek Magazine about the late William F. Buckley Jr. I have to be honest and say I did not really know much about this man except that he was the editor and chief and owner/publisher of the National Review and a staunch conservative. In fact at one point in my adolescent life, I thought of him as the embodiment of evil personified as wealthy no neck elitist. Ahhh…. how wrong I was to think that I was so different in my ways of thinking to this man’s. Only in my ignorance. As I read through this article I could not help but kind of admire him. In fact, congruous to mine, this article mentioned many thoughts and positions Buckley promoted in it’s thesis that claims him to be one of if not the key architect of the modern American conservative agenda. Buckley’s route ideals to be that of individualism and a pluralist freedom over the liberal collectivism and it’s dogma that is used to promote discontentment and water down American constitutional freedoms. A battle that I can not avoid as I negotiate the liberal streets of NYC. And I think it’s too bad that I did not pay closer attention to this man’s point of view for armament. Now not without my true form of incredulity, do I think that Buckley was impervious to fault of ignorance and manipulations or that his point of view and influence was too used promote agendas in direct conflict to his own. His life as been that of privilege and fortune however, well spent.
R.I.P. William F. Buckley Jr.
Was recently watching a DVD of “Wild Style.” A movie that I saw on the screen in the Times Square district in 1983 when it was first released. This movie is a document to the true original “Old Skool” hip hop scene.
Listening to the commentary by Fab Five Freddy, a producer and actor in the film, he mention an old saying about Alphabet city in the 80’s
On Avenue A, your A.O.K.
On Avenue B, be careful.
On Avenue C, your crazy.
On Avenue D, your Dead!
This is far from true these days, even though one should always keep aware in the hood. The Alphabet has changed and people don’t refer to it as so. It’s now just referred to as the east village.
Often when I talk to people from other places they often think that being in close proximity to celebrities is cool. They also think that it is some how beneficial to have that kind of access, specially if your goals are related to their industry. What people forget is that celebrities are people. And wether they became “celebs” due to talent or luck, they are just like you and me. Now I know what I’m writing is old wisdom. I understand… You get it. What I think most over looked is that what the world looks like to a celebrity. It’s a hostle place. Everyone wants something from them. From the people they work with to their fans.
Now the picture above I took last night. I attended a jam the Milk studios has every now and then. I was invited to this one. Andy Summers from the Police was there to jam. I didn’t speak to him. And I wouldn’t know what to say to him either. The only interaction that I had was that he looked at me when I was playing the bongos. He’s musician and as all musicians he has to try to connect with those he plays with. That was the extent of my relation to this rock star. And there is no more to expect.
This summer I’ve met other celebrities in which I’ve shaken their hands. I won’t say who cause I didn’t connect with them like most all the others so it doesn’t matter. Being around people like that I find uncomfortable. You have many feelings. You sometimes feel that you know them. But you don’t. You want them to like you. But they won’t remember you. You want them to connect with you cause you feel that you connect with them. The whole thing kind of sucks. But what’s important to remember is that it sucks for them too.
This evening I went to the Studio Museum in Harlem Located on 125th street btwn Adam Clayton Powell and Lenox ave. It is a very nice museum and the art is good. They had an exhibition of the photos of James Van Der Zee. There was a photo of a Harlem pool hall that I would love to acquire a print of. It takes you back to that time of the Harlem Renaissance. Many of the photos visualized the thoughts I imagined as I was making my way through the streets of Harlem to get to this Museum. However, I must admit that I think that a lot of my thoughts of this vintage aesthetic was also do to the fact that I had just finished watching the original 1932,“Scarface” movie directed by Howard Hawks before I set out for the Museum. I think everyone should see this movie that has only seen the 1983 remake.
At the Museum I was introduced to DJ Spooky (that subliminal kid). He gave me this CD. He said that he had just been in Venice for the Bi-Annual, which included a piece of his work. He also told me that he is working on a film in which people can re-edit and manipulate… I really would like to see this when he is done. Funny thing is that I had actually met him just before he became a start DJ. It was in a record shop on the bowery btwn Bond and Great Jones. I’m not sure how we started talking but I remember that we started to talk about Zakir Hussein. He was and still is very nice and courteous. I’m listening to this CD as I write this but I must admit it is kind of schizophrenic.
I’ve hit a mid summer lull. This lull has not come on because of the summer. It is due to a common occurrence that has happened over and over again through my life working as a freelancer. It happens when I’m taken out of the rhythm that I have been able to create for my self when I’m not working.
When I’m not working I have to find ways to stay motivated and crank those personal gears that allow me to build momentum. If a small and short job comes along such as storyboarding a commercial I can usually sustain my initial momentum after the job. However, at the beginning of this summer I was presented with a great opportunity to run a few projects in which I art directed, consulted and did the motion graphic work for the titles of three movies. One was a small Russian film, the other two where American films. “Girl in the Park” an independent film staring Sigourney Weaver and Kate Bosworth and “Awake” which is a larger budget movie staring Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba and Terrence Howard. I am currently doing another movie called “Tenderness” which stars Russell Crowe.
All this work hit suddenly and because it was new territory for me it was a lot of pressure. I had to acclimate my self to a new workflow and process that I’m not so accustom to. And most all the responsibility fell on me to be able to produce. It’s been a good and challenging experience and will lead to new things and I’m very excited for that. But this work is on a contract bases and when it rains it pours. But one can also find one’s self in a drought.
As of now things have really slowed down and I feel as though I have lost my momentum. I’m lost as what to do with my self and not sure where I should put this energy. And what I tend to do is let this energy knot up inside. This produces a depressed and sad feeling inside of me. Every thing starts to become an effort and my attitude starts to become despondent and my moral low. This is how I feel. However, I know and have faith in my resilience and I have to keep an objective perspective that this feeling will pass and I have tools to help. And the tool that kept coming to mind for me is this blog.
For the last two weeks I have thought about my blog. I’ve thought how I need to post another and that for so long I haven’t. I felt that I had to put up a picture or do something that seems more gallant than just words on page. I have a natural tendency to want to build things to grand and monumental proportions. Instead I end up with self-pity that I cannot live up to my own expectations. It’s horrible. But I realized that the show must go on! And words are just as important. This blog is important to me. It is a work in progress and will never be finished. So for all that may be visiting words are what I have to offer now.
Photographed rock’n'roll shows always look the same to me, so this is how I do it!
click here for photomontage
Rock’n'Roll will never die and these guys helped keep it alive. Once again Michael H and his buddy’s and band Andy Hilfiger and Scott Lipps, New York Dolls Guitarist Steve Conte and bassist Sami Yaffa playing the classics of garage punk and helped me get out of my work funk.
click hear for photomontage
Last night I attended my friend Michael H’s launch party for his new premium denim brand DeHoghton. He asked me to take pictures. His usual motley crew was there. With the likes of Tommy and Andy Hilfiger who are his good friends/brothers from his childhood growing up in Elmira New York. Michael is all about rock’n'roll and his clothes wicked cool.
As I walked home, I ran into Vanina with her new born of 5 months. We spoke for some time. We talked about what we were recently up to. She asked,” Are you an Aquarius?” I replyed,”Why do you ask?” She said,”…well you always have a whole bunch of stuff your doing… you just don’t do one thing. Most Aquarius’s I know are Art Directors cause they alway have their hands in many projects.”
I think she might have an a good insight as to what kind of employment I should seek. Hmmmmm.
This is her baby peacefully asleep.
