by Bob Martin | Jun 2, 2011 | Art, Culture
One of the most fascinating and generous people I’ve ever met in Phoenix is Fatimah Halim, who will be performing at the “Playhouse on the Park” (part of the Phoenix Museum Complex) June 11th. Purchase Ticket Here –
Be there if you can!
Storyteller and writer Fatimah Halim sees women as complex and fascinating beings; juggling personal beliefs of what is expected of them with who they truly want to be in the world. This juggling sometimes pushes them over the edge, forcing them to create personas that help them cope with what life throws their way. This conflict is at the crux of this one woman show about a woman who lives in her own archetypal world.
by Sandy | May 25, 2011 | Art, Blogroll, Books, Culture, Exhibits, Learning
Over 200 exhibit booths will be featured at the 2011 edition of this annual free event including music stages, panel discussions and children’s activities. 
“The vision of the Harlem Book Fair is to partner with local
and national leadership organizations under the banner of literacy
awareness, affirming HBF as the nation’s largest African American
literary event celebrating family literacy, community empowerment,
and community cooperation. “
Annual Harlem Book Fair * Saturday July 23, 2011
11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on West 135th Street, NYC
(Betw. Malcolm X Blvd. /Lenox Ave and Fredrick Douglas Blvd. 8th Ave)
by Bob Martin | Feb 7, 2011 | Culture, Exhibits, Fashion, Museums
February 21 2009 – July 5, 2009
“Romantic ideas of chivalry and courtly magnificence from the Middle Ages have inspired the use of medieval silhouettes and details in modern fashion design, literature, architecture and art. Also known as Gothic style, medievalism blossomed in the mid-19th century as a sentimental response toward the societal challenges of rapid industrialization. While its origins lie in early antiquarian studies and politics, the revival of medieval silhouettes and motifs today emerges through popular mediums such as films, books and fairy tales that are distant interpretations.” Phoenix Museum of Art
by Sandy | Jan 10, 2011 | Art, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Books, Culture, Movies
Shakespeare’s Macbeth is my favorite.
I know, if I wish to impress, I should say – Hamlet, King Lear, etc.
They may be “deeper”, but, they’re not as much fun.
Macbeth has witches (3) it has ghosts (8 plus), (Hamlet only has a flickering dad). The play has a “moving” forest and a man with a questionable birth. This is drama! 
You are grabbed with the first scene and it won’t let you go until that pesky forest starts to inch forward, (I hope I haven’t given too much away)
I’ve seen Macbeth on stage once – the witches were in Japanese white Butoh masks(interesting). I have relied on an occasional reread and film rentals to revisit this story of power and madness. There are several British color versions from the 70’s and 80’s, but, the Orson Welles version is my favorite. He starred in and directed a stark, black & white minimalist film (read low budget with paper-mache sets, and cardboard crowns) in 1948.
Welles, as Macbeth, and Jeanette Nolan, as Lady M, bring the play to life. They, and the rest of the spirited cast, proceed to climb the scenery, without there being much to climb. (The sets are pretty bare). All underlying ambition and greed of the passionate duo is uncovered, They eventually embrace their baser nature with relish and self destruct. Sound familiar?
Wm. Shakespeare’s flawed characters transcend centuries and we can still relate.
Love it.
by Sandy | Dec 3, 2010 | Art, Blogroll, Culture, Exhibits, Museums
The Museum of the African Diaspora, in San Francisco, CA , has an exhibit called, “Art/Object: Re-contextualizing African Art “.
Featured are “masks, costumes, sculptures and objects of everyday use that show through multimedia recreated environments, photographs and archival footage how African objects from public and private collections were used in their original settings often to mark important rituals and ceremonies.”
Re-contextualizing African Art * until January 17, 2011
MoAD – The Museum of the African Diaspora
685 Mission Street San Francisco, CA
by Bob Martin | Oct 21, 2010 | Art, Culture, Events, Live Performance, music
Even back in the 1950’s, musical trends were moving almost as fast as they do today and the spotlight shined on talented musicians for a brief time.
Yusef Lateef
The games of who was the greatest or the best served to confuse the listening public into thinking that the greatest were those who died early in life.
Yusef Lateef, who has just turned ninety and who is an authentic and early contributor to our understanding musical culture or “World Music”, will be at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral this Friday, Oct 22, as a part of this year’s SFJazz Festival.
Lateef refutes the myth that “only the good day young”. Sometimes they live for what seems like forever. Happy life day.
[ad#Adsense Link Unit]
[ad#Google Mobile]
