Its true, African Americans have long admired Asian culture and its traditions along with its post war contemporary restructuring. The introduction of martial arts in the 1970’s to western society sparked the interest of African Americans across the nation and Karate was practiced (although secretly) in the basements of homes and public housing developments everywhere. This form of self-defense was felt needed due to the discrimination that African American males experienced while being outside at night and questioned by police at random.
The second influence came from television broadcasts of films such as “Godzilla vs King Kong” and with episodic television series portraying families that transformed into super robotic heroes like “Jonny Socko” and “Giant Robot” along with “Ultraman” and the Science Patrol exploration team ultimatly expressed transcendence and adventure.
The third influence was Saturday morning cartoons which had the most impact on the youth (myself being one of them) which used martial arts fighting in a lot of popular shows namely “Hong Kong Phooey” utilizing Scatman Crothers an African American actors voice as the main character.
These programs were all transformative and inspirational to the African American community in many ways and now Asian youth culture is finding relativity in the Hip Hop culture of African Americans because of similar experiences with living in a traditional oppressive society. I personally feel a deep spiritual connection with Asian culture because of its form of discipline it has and its respect of form and function in its traditional sense but that is rapidly transforming into a new hybrid of modern society expressed through music and the visual arts.

The Red Balloon Studio was founded by neo-pop artist Karey Maurice Counts in 2001. The name was inspired by the children’s book & film “The Red Balloon” written and directed by Albert Lamorisse. It is a film about a young boy in Paris who befriends a very large red balloon.

Online store www.cafepress.com/rbstudio or just simply click the link to the left.

< For those of you who don't check in regularly with the retail side of this website, I would like to Inform you of the new designs that are created from my custom toys. I have blown them up and stretched them out onto nice clothes that you can rock showing your support of the new direction I have taken my clothing line from the very simplistic Red Balloon design to my offshoots under the KaMo brand.
If you don't have a piece of mine yet then you owe yourself a treat and the clothes are a lot less expensive than trying to purchase one of my original canvases or custom designer toy sculptures which will be on display next month at Smile Gallery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is scheduled to open on September 11,2009 through to October.

This is Princeton’s new accessory to the usual campus style that dominates the streets but, thats all changing due to a infusion of hip and artsy business owners. One store in particular is Niko Niko that seems to be ahead of the curve when it comes to street style and global culture that is becoming more noticeable thanks to the internet where information is exchanged in hyper real time.

The same owners of this play imaginative clothing boutique have a mother store called “Morning Glory” where they sell the greatest toys and accessories for the child in everyone and y

He hits below the belt.

ou can now purchase my custom designed toy/sculptures at “Niko Niko”.

This store has been long gone and replaced by Bloomingdales unfortunatly. Back in the day we use to get all of our clothes there and some accessories to complete the personal look that you wanted. There was a large veriety of different styles that you could mix and match anything from millitary gear to second had clothes. I use to buy blank Items to paint on and sell when hand painting clothes was hot.

I had a thought that this year would be a transitional year for me and I guessed correctly that I would soon return to the New York scene that I thought was long gone. It really is long gone, but what is old soon becomes new again, but with different people or those who survived.

I received this flyer from an artist that I recently met at this years Art Expo and I was surprised to see a name on the invite that I am very familiar with. I haven’t attended a Herbert Fox event in over a decade and I am glad he is still doing his thing by providing people like me the opportunity to hang out in a plush environment and network with like minded folks in the fashion & art business.

This event just happens to be on the same night as the group show that I have been included in being held at APW gallery(see last post) on the lower east side of New York this month.I’m going to go to this event after my opening and celebrate the fact that I haven’t shown my physical works of art in New York in over fifteen years.
-RedSaid a.k.a.KaMo

Well I’m sure glad that this one(2006) is finally past us now because I can honestly say that It has been a rough one.
I’m not even going to start this year with one bad thought, especially revisiting the past. I want to begin this first entry of 2007 on a positive note simply saying that “I’m going to reap what I sowed this time. I have done so much opportunity building that I am now waiting for some replies to some life changing situations.The seeds I planted have spent enough time in the ground and are now ready to appear, and grow to eventual fruition.
I am really excited about the events that are going to take place in a matter of weeks and then, as we get further into the year some more good things are going to happen as a result of my dedication to what I know best,”Myself.
I would fill this entry with all the things that I’m talking about but then I would have nothing to write about when the time comes so, for now,I’ll just say that “Its gonna feel like heaven in 2007.RedSaid and Mr. New Year, as well.Peace be your Blessing!

“Afternoon delight is what I remember about this event,I remember checking the mail everyday for this invitation to arrive.At this time in my life I thought I was going to be a fashion designer.I was really into clothes bigtime,not only wearing them but,I also had interest in making them.I had subscriptions to Women’s Wear Daily & Gentelman  Quartly magazine,that’s how I found out about the fashion show.I was so excited to be seated next to the runway and see Judith Jamison & Maurice Hines do a number right in front of me.This show also featured Dolph Lundgren making his modeling debut, and he was dating Grace Jones at the time although she was not there.I remember coming home from New York that day very thrilled and when I got in the house,my father told me he had seen me there at the fashion show on ABC 7 news that day.I thought I was famous already.RedSaid

I remember walking into this place for the first time it was if I was struck by lightning or something.I couldn’t believe how amazing it made me feel I was glad I had a camera to document the moment.This was one of the many places I visited while checking out the Soho fashion scene.I use to cut through the little alley street named Jersey St. and it was the smallest street I ever walked down right next to the Pop shop that ran between Lafayette St & Crosby St. on my way to Canal Jean Co. for more shopping.RedSaid

Keith Haring artwork © Estate of Keith Karing