ART || words of/from an artist.

Hey! I'm back.

Please forgive the excessive gushing that follows, but I can't help it:

I think that Kanye West is probably my most favorite artist. Ever. But I never know how to start a blog post about my musical journey with Mr. West. And I don't know if I ever will be able to write about it here. Just know that Kanye West's music has had a huge impact on me. He's arrogant, flashy, stylish, funny, arrogant (again) but most of all HE. IS. AN. ARTIST.

I never click the links on Twitter when artists/celebrities/stars go live on Ustream. But this time, after reading a few comments of other tweeters, I jumped on the bandwagon. And I'm glad I did.

He talks about his inspirations, his creative process, and what's coming next:

Embarrassing Confession: As I watched this, tears began to form. That's when I really realized how much I admire this man's work.

ART || VOTE! help the detroit rep!

If you remember this post, I saw a wonderful play at the Detroit Repertory Theatre. It's the only play at the Rep I blogged about, but I've seen others there, including a production of Yellowman by Dael Orlandersmith that made my head spin (and subsequently made Yellowman my favorite play of all time.) So the theatre is really important to me.

I love my city. I love the wonderful art made in my city. Please click the button below and vote!

ART || poetry.

Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note

Amiri Baraka

Lately, I've become accustomed to the way

The ground opens up and envelopes me

Each time I go out to walk the dog.

Or the broad edged silly music the wind

Makes when I run for a bus. . .

Things have come to that.

And now, each night I count the stars.

And each night I get the same number.

And when they will not come to be counted,

I count the holes they leave.

Nobody sings anymore.

And then last night I tiptoed up

To my daughter's room and heard her

Talking to someone, and when I opened

The door, there was no one there. . .

Only she on her knees peeking into

Her own clasped hands

___________________________________________________________________________________

This is one of my favorite poems and it's resonating with me right now. There is a story of hope in there, even though the title has the word suicide in it. I could go on, but I won't. I just wanted to share some art with you. :)

ART & MUSIC || naked, cool, and free.

I don't have much to write about. Life is busy. The semester is wrapping up and the show I'm in opens tonight. So life is busy. But I want to leave you all with this piece about Erykah Badu's new video for "Window Seat." Children are brilliant:

A five year old reviews Erykah Badu's "Window Seat" video.


Love.

ART || inspiration.

poetry inspires me. it makes me want to get up and create.
when i hear it i want to dance, or paint, or draw, or just believe.
the biggest thing,the hardest thing,is it makes me want to write poems, too.

i am not a poet.

well, if i am, i'm a really bad poet.

but when i hear all the poets onstage, i want to master the language too.
poems where the words rise from my soul through my fingers where they flow in ink on a pad
or where they roll off of my tongue with grace, or passion, or anger, or love or . . . something.

i wish i could use words and play with them until their meanings become new.i wish i could master pun. i'd love to use assonance, alliteration, make my S's linger so it sounds so smooth


i'd love to mesmerize. i want to seek freedom by spilling the stories that we're all afraid to tell.
stand naked on a stage. just me and the mic. and let everyone take a glimpse at the real me.
one who is not happy all of the time.
one who is insecure
one who wants so much more than she is given
one who is afraid of moving forward
one who has faith that it will get better.

UPDATE || on the topic of being thankful:

I am thankful that I was able to be a part of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. I was a singer and my life was greatly enriched by being a part of this organization. I knew once I graduated from the program, I wanted my career to be in the arts.

Take time to vote so that they can have more funding to continue to allow young people express themselves and get quality training in the performing arts! (You have to fan Chase Community Giving in order to vote.)

MUSIC || mighty.

I remember the first time I heard Mos Def. I feel like I may have heard the name before, but I'm not sure. But I do remember the day I heard Mos Def's music.

I was at a point where I could care less about rap. I wasn't a huge fan. I mean I danced to the popular songs and could hold a decent conversation about the rappers out at that time.

But this was something new.

He was talking about history. And music. And love. And race. And home. And rock and roll. You had to listen to the words, not just bob your head to the beat. It wasn't about catchy hooks. It was something that connected to my soul.

So in that crowded van, riding around DC, surrounded by classmates and thespians who had dreams like me, who chatted about auditions and life at Howard and stuff like that, I zoned out of the conversation to agree with Mos Def's statement that

"Elvis Presley ain't got no soul, Bo Diddly is rock and roll. You may dig on the Rolling Stones, but they ain't come up with that shit on they own."

There was music store in the train station. I thumbed through the M's in the Rap Section, laughing at the idea that I was actually in the Rap section, and picked up the only copy of Black on Both Sides. I was surrounded by words. Words that took me places. Words that made me think. Words that riled me up and words that lulled me to sleep. All spoken with love.

By the time I got home, I was in love.

Since then I've listened to as much of his work as I could get my hands on. I get excited for new album releases. I've fallen in love with his acting (which has nothing to do with the music part, but I just wanted to put it out there.)

But I'm here. I'm still listening.

these are [two] of my favorite things

Art and Kanye West. Together.
Amazing. Click it.



Fred Hart's interpretation of Kanye West's "Robocop" and "Amazing." from his
Cover series of the songs from 808s and Heartbreak. These two are my favorites.
See the rest at the above link.

Listening to Kanye West "Paranoid"