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 program ends its first season on August 11th so if you have missed it, you still have a chance to see the winner be crowned and be awarded an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum which opens on August 14th in the projects gallery on the fifth floor.
The show is hosted by Tina Chow and has an allstar cast of art world movers & shakers or, I should say ‘makers’ in this case namely gallerist Bill Powers art critic Jerry Saltz curator Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn and art auctioneer Simon de Pury all of which are very good at judging the contestants work I think but the whole concept of the show is cheesy and belittles the struggle of an artist trying to make his mark in the established art world and have her or his work exhibited in a major museum.It seems as though its a kind of shortcut that any artist would be willing to undergo for fame and fortune and this platform reminds me of a book I just read titled “The End of Art” by art critic Donald Kuspit which explains that contemporary art has become entertainment.
These new artist or postartist as the book calls them are entertainers with some degree of talent but their work is created to capture an audience simular to the dadist but mimic the antics of Marcel Duchamp’s readymades with the superficiality of Andy Warhol where the creator becomes more important than the creation.
This is a disturbing set of circumstances for the serious artists who still believe in the magic of transendence and spirituality,and, at its simplist point,illusion, such as myself.I’m sure there are artist out there who feel that the gates of succes are only opened for a select group as it is but this show takes the cake in illustrating that its who you know and how much attention you can aquire in fifteen minutes and real passion isn’t required any longer.

This looks like an interesting new film but its a sad story that really shouldn’t be retold over and over again because it doesn’t inspire anyone,or I should say,any African Americans to become fine artists.
We are already conditioned to believe in rejection of our god given talents for more realistic goals taught to us by our parents which was taught to them by society at large.

Although Jean-Michel did enjoy some success it was brief and filled with self doubt throughout his entire career which was only seven years. I personally feel that if he had other contemporary artists that were African American around him and to support him he wouldn’t have been so lonely in an enviorment that usually consist of predominatly caucasian males who dominate the visual art world and
don’t have to worry about having people to relate to and share their feelings with.
This point is never examined when you try to figure out why he self medicated himself to a point of self-destruction and it is a shame that the impossibilities weigh so heavy on a person that they’ll try anything to fit into this American diaspora only to be exploited and then discarded like day old trash when no longer useful.
If the focus were on a collective group of artists then no one person would be at the center of attention and the pressure wouldn’t seem so great to be the leader of the pack,and,at best, it would develope a heathy competition amongst peers and one wouldn’t have to feel that they had to speak for an entire race of people.

How does one get past the artistic talent of Jean-Michel Basquiat and realize that there are a whole lot more artists out there who have just as much talent, if not more,with the same desire and passion to be a collective part of the visual arts world.I know they’re wondering when are the gates going to open up and give them a chance to express themselves.

“The feeling of loneliness and being unwanted is the most terrible of poverty.

Trenton Review Reading
Community Room
Sunday, Dec. 20, 2 p.m.

A new publication covering the arts and letters scene in the capital city, Trenton Review celebrates its debut with a reading by several of the contributors. Join Pulitzer-Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa, local poets Nancy Scott and Joan Goldstein, visual artist Karey Maurice and others as they demonstrate the range of talent the city has to offer. Among the first issue’s topics are an interview with artist Leon Rainbow, an article on Passage Theatre Company, and a piece about the rock club City Gardens, along with works by noted poets.
For more information visit the Princeton Public library’s website www.princetonlibrary.org and click on events.

Man,to visit my hometown to do an event is interesting and a big difference between actually living there and having a routeen of waking up in my studio and going to breakfast down town somewhere seeing or visiting people I know and then preparing to exhibit.

I like dropping in and getting busy with the artists and patrons who I respect and admire their collective spirit towards making something happen in Trenton,Nj and I always got to give props to Mr.Leon Rainbow who has the physical drive and fortitude to create something memorable for the masses.
He’s one of the first artist that I invited to Red Balloon Studio to work with and colaborate with on a series of paintings titled;”Flying Colours” which turned out fantastic way back in 2002 if my memory serves me well.
This “Rock Ya Body” event was creatively stimulating for everyone who entered Artworks Gallery & class rooms on “Black Friday” November 27th 2009. I don’t actually know how many people were there because I was busy painting my model most of the time. But what I did notice was the energy and excitement it all generated and thats what its all about with trying to stimulate a culturally depressed area like down town Trenton. Its not that it doesn’t exsist,its that diversity is not celebrated it is still shuned apon and exploited to benefit a few, but you can say that about most places outside New York,LA,Miami,Chicago but Trenton exsisted before those places so you would think that it would be ahead of the game.
I was glad to be apart of another sucessful event held in Trent N (if your from there) and I hope somebody realizes that the creative community is ready and willing to make the difference in the image that has stigmatized the town for decades.
They are even willing to “Rock Ya Body” with whatever it takes to make you happy in the once first capital of our nation. But only for a few days or something like that,check your history books.

Rock Ya Body 2.0

Event on Facebook

This concert is not to be missed if your a true Living Colour fan.The band sounded fantastic and you can read more about the concert in my music review online at www.outinjersey.net or www.dougwimbish.com Photos courtesy Karey Maurice all rights reserved, copyrights 2009

I received an invitation to a celebration that I’m sorry I missed two weeks ago. I cannot mention in this entry all the thanks I could give to a person who’s belief in me was pure and honest.

I have other entries that give my respect for Keith Haring and I have some great memories of him that will always be inspirational to me for the rest of my life. I want to say happy belated birthday to a great artist and most of all, a great friend.

The ‘Party of Life’ was the event that I was invited to and I thank whoever sent it to me but, I can’t dance like I use to due to a recent accident and some hearing loss from hanging out in discos for a decade. I was aware of this annual event since its inception at the Paradise Garage back in 1986 and I was surprised to see that somebody wanted to keep the party alive after all this time, kudos to you.
-RedSaid aka KaMo

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

I can’t believe its true. I was just visiting some friends in Philadelphia this weekend to attend an art opening of all female artist called “The F Word Revisited” curated by my friend Dr. Debra Miller and one of the artist in this exhibition is Andy Warhol’s niece Madalen Warhola who was one of the people who confirmed that Baird Jones died on February 21 2008 of natural causes. He was found in his apartment alone and it appears that no funny business had taken place. The last time I was with Baird was at the Jonathan Le Vine gallery for Doze Green’s exhibition about two years ago and I gave him this pocket painting that I made for him along with some drawings he made me do because he gave a friend of mine a classic Studio 54 drink token and I had to pay for it with the drawings that I did.

I thought that it was a fare trade and didn’t mind doing the drawings and I would only wish that I could do more drawings for him but it is now too late for that. I met Baird Jones like most people did hanging out at “The Underground” on 17th & Broadway at Union Square. He was the guy with the NY Yankees baseball cap and sports jacket with skinny tie at the front door checking if guys were wearing jackets and came with a date or two, or three,or up to five was the maximum allowed.

I’m gonna miss calling the Partyline to find out where the party is and him instructing me on what to wear, what time to be there and helping him promote by handing out passes so everyboby I knew could go out in New York City for Free and have the time of your life. Farewell My Friend the party is on cloud 9 if your interested.
RedSaid aka KaMo