Some say Nike ain't right for their new ad campaign

A lot of people are saying Nike's new crotch-in-your-face ad campaign is homophobic. What do you think?

Here is what I think.

GREAT AD! I don't see it as 'homophobic'!
Two THUMBS UP!
Posted by:Elvert Barnes August 01, 2008 at 05:17 PM

and

If anything ... its more HOMO-EROTIC than HOMO-PHOBIC!
Posted by:Elvert Barnes August 01, 2008 at 05:31 PM

Click the image above to read the entire PlanetOut.com article and to post your comment.

Friday's Photo of the Week - 31 August 2008

Nicolas F Shi Artist Studio . 1500 P Street, NW, WDC

Thursday evening, 31 July 2008

Windows - P Street, NW, WDC (2008)

Fridays' Photos of the Week / 2008

Dorothy, Toto & the Mayor of Munchkinland Makes Special Appearance at Last Nights Screening of The Wizard of Oz at Stead Park

Though when I left the apartment it had been my intention to attend last night's Summer Movie Mania screening of the Wizard of Oz! at Stead Park as I strolled down 17th Street from Q Street and reflected on my experiences, over the years, when I have attended such things or, for that matter, stopped in at the gay bars ... I decided to head home.

However, on my way down 17th Street, I did have the pleasure of running into Dorothy, Toto and the Mayor of Munchkinland who, having just exited from JR's was en route to Stead Park. Here is the video clip.

Perhaps, I'll attend the last event of this season on 28 August 2008 when Goonies will be screened.

Steve waters the Steve & Phil's Flower & Weed Garden at Dupont Circle East - 31 July 2008

Though I had noticed it many times before, it was during a February 2006 Historic Dupont Circle Main Street photo walk that I learned that the little garden just west of the Sulgrave Club situated in the Dupont Circle East traffic triangle intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and P Street in NW Washington DC was referred to as Steve and Phil's Garden. Realizing that it was also the work and effort of Steve and Phil ... in connection with my ongoing Community Gardens series ... when passing through the area since then I have often made a point to photograph it.

As was the case on Thursday evening, 31 July 2008, that I'd video-taped Steve watering the flower and weed garden.

Though I have 'noticed' Steve many times at Dupont Circle, over the years, I did not know until Thursday evening, 31 July 2008, that he was the Steve of Steve and Phill who attended to the garden.

Now that I know that ... I'll pay even more attention to what I refer to as Steve & Phil's Flower & Weed Garden at DupontCircle East.

Click the above to view my 31 July 2008 video of Steve watering the garden.

Rick Castro's Antebellum Gallery presents AUTOMOLOVE: car culture with a kink! opening this Saturday, 2 August in LA

Click above image for Google Document w/ details from various sources and info pertaining to severaal exhibitors.

Theo Eastwind advances to Round One in NYC Sound Tracks Competition at MSG / Channel 27

Troubadour Theo Eastwind who I captured at the 1350 Connecticut Avenue Complex / Dupont Circle South in January 2007 is amongst the 8 finalists in the NYC Sound Tracks Competition which is hosted by MSG - Channel 27.

"NYC Sound Tracks" is an eight-episode series that goes underground to find the most talented New York City subway musicians. Tapping into the literal ground level of the music industry, these subway musicians play their souls out trying to make a living and hoping for their big break. The winner, as chosen by the viewers via www.MSG.com, will have the opportunity to play as an opening act on the stage of one of Madison Square Garden's prestigious venues.

Over the first three episodes of the series, MSG's cameras scoured the NYC subway system in an extensive search that offered viewers an inside look into the culture and lifestyle of the underground musician, resulting an open call audition where 16 performers were selected to compete in the "NYC Sound Tracks" competition which took place on Sunday night, 27 July 2008.

Here are episodes #1, #2 and #3. After competing in Sunday night's Open Call competition featuring 16 finalists, Theo Eastwind is amongst the 8 finalists that will advance to the 10 August 2008 Round 1 Episode.

Five Boroughs, 16 Musicians, One Superstar ... the search for NYC's best underground sound is on.

And troubadour Theo Eastwind is amongst the 8 finalists.

Paul van Dyk at Hudson River Park's Pier 54 / NYC - 16 August 2008 (Afterparty at Webster Hall / Brooklyn)

Friday's Photo of the Week . 18 July 2008

Himmarshee Street . Fort Lauderdale, FL . 14 July 2008

2008 Friday's Photo of the Week

Elvert Barnes in JibJab's "Time For Some Campaignin'

Rosen's Prestige Automotive's Hydrogen Conversion Kit featured on Fort Lauderdale's Local 10 News

When on Monday afternoon that we stopped in at Rosen's Prestige Automotive to have the car checked underneath to make sure that there were no damages after an almost acccident at the airport on Friday afternoon, after a friendly greeting by owner Robert Rosen he would inquire if we had seen them on TV.

When we replied that we had not he directed us to a computer screen situated at the receptionist counter and showed us a video feature that recently aired on South Florida's Local 10 News regarding Rosen's Prestige Automotive's Hydrogen Converstion Kit.

While hydrogen conversion kits are readily available online it is my suggestion that unless you are an automobile mechanic that you seek the services of a reputable automotive company such as Rosen's Prestige which is considered as one of the best automotive repair businesses in the Fort Lauderdale FL area.

Regardless, you may wish to read Are Hydrogen Conversion Kits a Scam? by Michael Cooper to gain a better understanding of what hydrogen conversion kits are.

Click the above image to view my Rosen's Prestige Automotive album which also includes a few images of their classic cars collection. See also Rosen's Prestige Automotive at Yelp.

Visit Rosen's Prestige Automotive at their website or at 600 West Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale FL. Telephone 954-467-2234. Email at CarCare@rosensprestige.com.

"Herb Gentry & Friends" Opening Reception THIS FRIDAY at Parish Gallery in Georgetown

Opening this Friday, 18 July 2008 at the Parish Gallery in Georgetown with a 6 till 8 pm reception will be the Herb Gentry & Friends Exhibition that will feature the work not only of Herb Gentry but also of Richard Mayhew, Nannette Carter, Ed Clark and others.

The exhibition will run through 30 August 2008. Click the image above to view a larger version of the flyer that I have compiled from flyers that Herb Gentry's widow Mary Anne Rose furnished me.

The flyer features a letter from Mary Anne Rose with details regarding the event as well as a more complete list of other artsts whose work will be featured in the 18 July through 30 August 2008 HERB GENTRY & FRIENDS EXHIBITION at PARISH GALLERY in Georgetown.

The Parish Gallery / Georgetown is located at 1054 31st Street in NW Washington DC. Telephone at 202-944-2310.

Unfortunately, already in Fort Lauderdale I will not be able to attend.

Friday's Photo of the Week - 11 July 2008

Mr. Yogato . 1515 17th Street, NW, WDC

The 17th Street / WDC Project

Saturday, 5 July 2008

2008 Fridays' Photos of the Week

Jim Lucio / Defekto E-News: Art Stuff Going On...Trash Cinema, Photo Show..etc - Thursday, 10 July 2008

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to let you know about a couple of things going on.

Tomorrow there is a group photo show that I'm in at the Wind-Up Space called The Fourth Wall and will also feature the work of a bunch of the usual suspects including Joe Giordano, Sam Holden, Eldon Baldwin, Rob Perry, Josh Sisk, et al.

The opening is starts at 7pm and is located at 10-12 W. North Avenue which is right at Charles Street, directly across from New York Fried Chicke.

And NEXT WEEKEND, Saturday and Sunday 19 - 20 July ...yes, Artscape weekend.

Flux Studios and Metro Gallery are joining forces with a show called Sinerama: That's Exploitation!

Click above image for Jim Lucio / Defekto's E-News dated Thursday, 10 July 2008 for more details.

People of Dupont Circle: What's Inside of Werner Jampen's Pants?

Though I had observed Werner Jampen many times before when passing through Dupont Circle and while I now do not recall exactly when it was that we first conversed, in Dupont Circle, I have always remembered him since that first conversation (perhaps a year or so ago) as the artist who spoke of Dallas and Houston as places that he was planning future exhibitions.

So when passing through Dupont Circle on Wednesday afternoon, 2 July 2008, that he suggested that I return with him to his art studio / apartment in Georgetown to view and discuss his "What's Inside The Pants?" collection which he is currently in negotiations with galleries in NYC, the Hamptons, Boston, Dallas, and Houston for future exhibitions ... after joking that I've heard that "... come up and see my etchings ..." line before we took a leisure walk from the Dupont Circle, west on P Street to the rear of his apartment building in the 2500 block of P Street, NW.

During which time he told me a little more about himself. Now 69, originally from Switzerland, when Werner Jampen moved to WDC from NYC in 1972, one of his first exhibitions in WDC was at the Swiss Embassy. Which is where he has exhibited many times, over the years. As well as at other locations throughout the city.

It was also during our walk along P Street that he mentioned that he was in negotiations with the Leslie Lohman Gay Art Foundation in Soho NYC and several galleries in Dallas and Houston TX, including the Main Contemporary Gallery for future exhibitions.

Nearing the rear of his building on P Street he told me of Finnish photographer, Karl Sonio, who held an exhibition of 'out of focus' images projected onto mirrors and glass ... as a means by which to express the fact that the creation of art does not always have be an expensive production but can come from the simpless of the things in life.

And, as an example of his creating art from the simpless of things, once inside his artist studio / apartment, the first works that Werner showed me was his newly started project that involves pouring a small amount of water onto a collage of tissue paper or paper towels that have been embedded into the back of a plastic picture frame that onced dried will then serve as the canvas as well as frame for an abstract oil-painted work of art.

And though I did not photograph nor video-tape the first few minutes of the impromptu get-together in the process of him showing me not only his large collection of "What's Inside The Pants" series but other collections as well ... since such documentation of an artist in his /her studio is amongst my ongoing themes, particularly, when it is my intent to refer the artist to galleries or collectors ... I insisted that I video-tape as much of my visit as possible with him discussing his art.

Currently in the final stages of negotiation with The Main Contemporary Gallery for exclusive representation and exhibition rights to his work in the Dallas and North Texas markets an in discussions with the Leslie/Lohman Gallery in SoHo NYC for future exhibitions, Werner Jampen will be traveling this summer to NYC, The Hamptons, Boston, Houston and Dallas for summer 2008 exhibitons and to finalize plans for future ones.

Having founded the Werner Jamper Foundation in 2007 which will curate his large collection as well as develop creative avenues by which the work of unknown but talented artists may be introduced to the world, Werner Jampen can be reached by telephone at 202-965-1503.

To get a glimpse of what's inside of Werner Jampen's pants ... you, simply MUST, FIRST, EXPERIENCE HIS ART!

While "What's Inside The Pants" derived from his fascination with Texas, as you can see, Werner Jampen's art and exploration of powerful and provocative themes has no bounds.

Drawing on Nina Simone's "Strange Fruit" and through paintings depciting 'racial themes' he's currently in the process of a series that will speak on the issue of lynching!

People of Dupont Circle: Wadey, aka 'Marilyn Monroe'

Born in Costa Rica in November 1933, 75 year old Wadey, also known as Marilyn Monroe was a fixture at Mr. P's which opened in 1975 or 76 as the first gay bar in the Dupont Circle area at 2147 P Street in NW WDC.

In fact, Wadey would inform me during our brief conversation in Dupont Circle on Wednesday evening, 2 July 2008, that he began working for George Dotson and Gene Newsome ... the first owners and operators of Mr. P's ... on the first night of its opening in the coat check.

At the time, working full-time at Helman's Company in the accounting department it was not until after his retirement at 62 that, on a dare, he began to perform in drag at Mr. P's as the infamous Marilyn Monroe. Who, along with James Dean and Elvis Presley, he has always had a fascination with.

Regarding himself as a very patriotic American, Wadey says "Marilyn, Elvis and James Dean" personifies the true America. The America that he fell in love in 1956 when he, his mother and father would visit Washington DC for the wedding of his sister.

Born of wealth to a Lebanese mother and an Italian father who sent him and his sister to private schools in Costa Rica as children, he was much closer to his mother than his father.

It was while she was attending a private University in Washington DC that his sister met her future husband.

While his parents returned to Costa Rica after his sister's wedding in 1956, Wadey did not. Since then he has lived in Washington DC and until recent years would revisit Costa Rica at least once a year.

In addition to diabetes and high blood pressure, now 75, Wadey recently suffered a stroke. Which he as all but recovered from.

When I asked why he chose Marilyn Monroe as his drag persona he replied that it started on a dare shortly after his retirement when a drag party was to be held at Mr. P's. Having had a fascination with Marilyn for many years who he and his mother actually met at a train station when they were traveling in the late 50's or early 60's ... his friends who thought that he had a resemblance to Marilyn suggested that he should go in drag as Marilyn.

And, so he did.

Reminicsing about the good ole days, Wadey spoke highly of George Dotson and Gene Newsome who he said 'took care of and respected people'. While he did not speak badly of John Mako, he expressed that the last owners 'were just into it for the money'. And did not care about the people nor respect him the way Dotson, Newsome and folks of his day did.

When Mr. P's closed its doors in January 2006 or 2007, many of his dresses and other valuables were left in the apartment that he rented above Mr. P's with the understanding that when he recovered from his stroke and other ailments he could pick-up his things. But, unfortunately, in the process of renovation his things were misplaced or disgarded by the contractors.

Which saddens and has angered Wadey!

Robert Lighthouse to appear at 2008 Summer Blues Festival in Sweden

Having captured Delta Blues artist Robert Lighthouse many years ago with 35mm film, as part of my ongoing Street Musicians series, I believe my 2 July 2008 Robert Lighthouse at the 1350 Connecticut Avenue Complex at Dupont Circle South series represents the first time that I have captured him on video.

During which time I also purchased his Deep Down In the Mud cd. And, as a result, will purchase other cds of music.

Delta Blues artist Robert Lighthouse is one of the many artists featured at this summer's 4-day Åmål's Blues Fest in Sweden. Here is the English translation.

His website indicates that his Amals Blues Festival schedule is as follows:

Thursday, 10 July from 21.00 to 22.00 at Cafe Örnäs
Friday, 11 July Blues Breakfast at Cafe Örnäs from 9.30 to 11.00
Friday, 11 July Blues Train (next to Bluesterminalen) from 15.00 to 17.45
Saturday, 12 July Blues Train (next to Bluesterminalen) from 13.00 to 15.45

The Original Soul Invaders perform on 42nd Smithsonian Folklife Festival Closing Day

I would not have revisited the 42nd Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival had it not been that I wanted to pick-up two official 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival tee-shirts (one for Richard and the other for me). Which after much searching over the past two seasons I have not been able to locate at its Folkways online store.

In the past I have visited the Festival a number of times during each summer season, this year, as a result of the 25 June 2008 incident which was not unlike similar incidents in 2007, 2006 and 2005 nor incidents that I experience when documenting the annual National Police Week, Race For The Cure or the various GLBT Pride events ... I purposely did not document the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival nor the Independence Day Parade.

Returning home after my 4 July 2008 photo walk through Dupont Circle and along P Street I ran into a lady who lives in my apartment complex that mentioned that she was just getting in from an almost nine hour day of volunteering at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival's Market Place. It was during that conversation that when I inquired if the tee-shirts were available online that she informed me that they were not.

It was then and there that I decided that I would revisit the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival on Sunday, its closing day, to pick up a couple of tee-shirts.

I'm almost sure that my Sunday visit would not necessarily have been an 'in your face' direct action' had I not received the email that I did from a white man whose book I am in the process of reading who tried to tell me that, perhaps, my perspective about racism is not what it is.

And, as I subwayed to the Festival I reflected on my experiences over the past 40 some years when others had tried to convince me of the exact same thing. Only to realize years later that what I had expressed or suspected at the time that it was or was not was more true than the lies or misconceptions that they had misled me to believe.

So, as I captured The Original Soul Invaders performance on the Dancehall Stage at the 42nd Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival closing day in a similar way that I captured opening day, not only was that email reverberating through my thoughts so was the incident that had occurred on opening day.

Here is the video.

Alfredo Hernandez's Drum Circle "Lesson" at Dupont Circle last Sunday

Though I was not at Dupont Circle for long this past Sunday while there I made a point to capture a variety of scenarios in connection my ongoing Sundays at Dupont Circle Project, including this photographer in action.

Though, over the past two years I sometimes have ventured to Malcolm X. Park at Meridian Hill for the Sunday afternoon Drum & Dance Circle my introduction to the Drum Circle scene in DC is rooted in Alfredo Hernandez's sessions and often lessons that he and others in his network have held on Sunday afternoon in Dupont Circle.

Which I have captured dating back to 1994. Perhaps, before!

Realizing now that the Dupont Circle sessions are sometimes lessions held by Alfredo Hernandez and others in his network ... my focus when capturing the Drum Circle in Dupont Cirlce this past Sunday was to depict Hernandez and others in the process of mentoring, instructing and teaching.

Click the above image to view my Drum Circle - Dupont Circle - 29 June 2008 photoset.

The videos are as follows:

• Video #1
• Video #2
• Video #3

Music That I'm Listening To: Julie Clark's FEEL FREE

In turn for having sent her a cd of the video footage and photography images that I took of her during the Capital Pride Festival, songwriter Julie Clark sent me a copy of her debut cd entitled Feel Free.

Which, since its arrival last Friday evening, I've listened to many times. Often repeating One Of These Days, The Naked Song, Think Too Much, Your Wings and She's Movin' On. Especially, One Of These Days ... over and over again.

When I first listened to FEEL FREE while fixing dinner last Friday evening I kept thinking that she reminds me of another artist but could not put my thumb on who it was.

Then, eating dinner and taking the time to glance at the lyrics while listening to the cd ... it dawned on me.

Julie Clark, in particular, her songwriting reminded me of Carole King. Who I had just saw a few nights before on one of the late night talk shows discussing that she her recent re-emergence and soon to be launched The Living Room Tour.

FEEL FREE by Julie Clark is a cd that I be listening to for a long, long time. And many times over!

I Hate Shopping At Whole Foods

For more than two weeks I had searched the dairy section at the Safeway at Waterfront Mall for Monterey Pepper Jack Cheese which, living in SW DC since November 2001, is where I have purchased it many times over the years.

Planning to mix up a batch of ground beef for burgers for Sunday's dinner and the weeks leftovers before leaving the apartment for my 29 June 2008 Sunday photo walk I made a mental note to stop in at the Whole Foods on P Street, during my walk, to pick up some monterey pepper jack cheese.

And when I say a mental note I usually will say the world outloud or jot int down into my note pad which is deliberate on my part so as to register the thought in my brain making it more likely that I will forget.

Not even a second would pass after registering "Monterey Pepper Jack Cheese - Whole Foods Market" did the words or thought but more flashback "I hate shopping at Whole Foods" spiral through my head.

My white friends talk about how they love shopping at Whole Foods or brag about how this one and that one cruised them at the DC Eagle or the fabulous time they had at some circuit party or the bath house my reflections which haunting similar to those that flashed before on Sunday afternoon when I contemplated stopping in a Whole Foods for some Monterey Pepper Jack Cheese.

While Whole Foods may be organic and eco-inclined and have received awards for one of the best places to work ... from the very first moment that they saw me, a black man, walk through door their first, last and after thought was to oversee, police, watch, and stalk me.

In the exact same way that when I visited the DC Eagle the night before that they watched my ever move that they have watched my ever move since my first visit to the first DC Eagle almost 30 years ago. If after 30 years I can not walk into the DC Eagle or on my job without being overseen, policed, stalked at every along the way ... Independence Day does not mean to me, a black man ... what it means to you.

But, shopping at Whole Foods is no different than shopping at Safeway. If I can not walk into the Safeway at Waterfront without being targeted the problem is not me. Nor has it ever been me. The problem, at least from where I stand is you!

If you were me or I were you ... what would you do!

I hate shopping at Whole Foods but Safeway, too!

The problem, for me ... has always been you!