Mother's Day by Bob S Martin
Dad just sent me this link to James Frey’s blog. One of Dad’s paintings are on his site for Mother’s Day. Life is so deliciously random. PS. If you haven’t already (shame on you!) look at some of Dad’s other paintings online.
I went to my friend, & fellow Tisch alumnus, Rod Gailes’ New York Premier of his feature film “Camouflage” last week. It’s a very intriguing, thought provoking visual journey/film shot during the pre-gentrification of Harlem. I believe Rod began production on “Camouflage” close to 15 years ago. One of the many thoughts the film will leave you with is just how much potential, desire and hope was being suffocated in the impoverished circumstances of Harlem.
Flash forward many years later and we have that potential expressed. One excellent blog, worthy of a RSS feed, is “Harlem World”. Its a pretty content rich blog/magazine centered on Harlem. What caught my attention was just how much is focused on the arts. I just happened on the blog today (late to the party, I know) but greatly enjoyed this article on the “Negritude” exhibit at the Exit Art Gallery. Continue reading ‘Blog Spotlight: Harlem World’
Ah. Sign of the times (cue Prince). I have been getting requests about “how to throw a networking party”. My first thought was I’ve never thrown a networking party – but wait! Correction – all of my parties are potential networking parties. The deal with a networking party is, unlike other events, it really is up to the participants to make it work or not. You are the facilitator but the truth is, a really crafty intelligent “networker” can find a business contact while riding the M34 crosstown or shopping for chew toys at Pet Smart. Continue reading ‘Having a Networking Party’
Today is your lucky day. At my speakeasy (not that there was one, hypothetically only of course), patrons were not allowed to disclose the address (not that it existed) nor take photographs of the goings-on nor even blog about the experience (what experience? ….exactly). However, I recently attended a newly created SpeakEasy in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn and was given permission to pass on some information to the public. Continue reading ‘A SpeakEasy Grows in Brooklyn’
Every once and awhile, someone asks my advice about throwing a Toga / Ancient Greek or Roman party. I usually shrug, turn up my nose and offer a different theme for their party. A Toga party just always sounds so cliche. Such an “I ran out of ideas” idea for a party. However, this morning, I was inspired. I am a creative girl. How would ACSE do a Toga Party? This is what I came up with. Continue reading ‘Toga! Toga! Toga! (How to Update a Roman/Grecian Party)’
My father (Auntie Carrie’s nephew) wrote this wonderful post in his blog, “Review”, about the Apollo Theater’s anniversary. I decided to steal it and re-post it. It’s fascinating and I doubt he minds. Here you go:
“Everyone played the Apollo. I remember leaving school early on Wednesdays and standing on line to get in to see James Brown, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry or the Moonglows. In those days you could sit through and catch a second show which we did often.
A lot of our neighborhood friends performed at the Apollo. with groups like the The Chantels (”Maybe”, “Will you Love Me Tomorrow” and our favorite “The Plea”), the Limelighters, the Cadillacs and others. Sometimes the singing groups would gather outside one of the side doors to see if they could get on stage that day and do their thing.
Our Dad introduced us to the Apollo, where he once played. (Jazz big band that won “Amateur Night” ) It was our Broadway and sometimes Sinatra or Bennett would travel north to sit in with one of the bands.
One of the greatest shows I ever saw, was the Arthur Prysock Singing with Red Prysock’s band, followed by Machito. This was followed by an outrageous jam session with the two bands joined together playing Dizzy Gillespie’s Caravan, like I had never heard it before.
I can recall going out on a first date to see Bill Cosby and embarrassingly crying with laughter and following up the next week to see the complete Motown Review, all for less money then it takes to fill a gas tank.
The Apollo turns 75 and it’s been a miracle that it is still alive.”
Post script – I found this beautiful photograph from the site, BlackPast.org.
One of my all time favorite Super Star Hustlers, Rich Williams, has started an excellent opportunity for NYC artists, called “Collective Art”. As he explains, “Artists will receive between 8 and 10 feet of space to hang their work for $50. Artist can choose simply to display or sell their art. The individual artist keeps 100% of the money from sales of their work.”
This weekend, I will be exhibiting 15 new oil paintings at the first of the Collective Art Shows. Continue reading ‘Collective Art Show in DUMBO’
My dear friend, Todd Rowe, and his wife started The Cupcake Truck in New Haven, CT. I must say their vegan chocolate cupcake is so moist, yummy that if I didn’t already know Todd and how much he honors his word (and he does), I’d swear they were bs’ing me. Todd and I are actually friends from his film life but it seems his “side-hustle” is exploding.
As a special treat for their loyal clientele, Todd is doing “Exclusive Cupcake Truck Sweetheart Boxes” for VDay and asked myself and fellow artist, Tama Ordway to help with the cause. What we did was create individual pieces of artwork for the cupcake boxes. Tama’s are these beautiful precious illustrations. I went for a more Day of the Dead, Rock n Roll, “I love you but you still piss me off” inspired theme.
Auntie’s Advice: Take a drive out with the one you love (or want to leave in) New Haven. Continue reading ‘Valentine’s Day Goes Truckin’’
Blurb. Blurb. Blurb.
See how easy that was? I sent out an email recently called “Let’s Be Selfish” asking my friends to consider supporting self-published, self-distribution or self-promoting artists for the holidays. It was a fun email to create, I found the title “Selfish for the Holidays” entertaining (and really all I want in life is to be entertained) and if nothing else, I got to promote my fellow friends to my list of about 700 people. That’s what the Auntie Carrie site is all about. Continue reading ‘Self Publishing an Art Book (and other good stuff)’
