Walk In Their Shoes - J27

Walk In Their Shoes ... like this pair representing the 3-year-old daughter of Hussein al Tarish, help people visualize unspeakable pain and suffering this war has inflicted on the Iraqi people. In the final weeks of the election season, let’s take shoes like these to the doorsteps of pro-war candidates—outside a fundraiser, a debate, their campaign headquarters or their homes.

Friday's Photo of the Week . 26 January 2007

2006 Chinese New Year Parade WDC

Photographs Never Before Seen

2006 CNYP-WDC photo collection

Friday's Photos of the Week 2007

SEEN opening reception at Transformer Gallery - Saturday, 3 February

With Seen, Transformer presents an installation of photographic work by DC based artists Lely Constantinople and Antonia Tricarico that explores their use of photography to bear witness, journalize, document, make connection and homage to people, places and things seen through travels and everyday life.

SEEN will be on display at the Transformer Gallery from 3 February through 10 March 2007. A 7 - 9 pm opening reception will launch SEEN at the Transformer Gallery on Saturday, 3 February 2007. On display through 10 March 2007 SEEN will host a 2 pm Artist Talk on Saturday, 17 February.

Located at 1404 P Street, NW, WDC hours, during exhibition, are Wednesday through Saturday, 1 - 7 pm. Or by appointment.

Contact at 202-483-1102 or email info@transformergallery.org

Artist Russell Richards featured in Jan - Feb 2007 Virginia Living

There is an excellent profile piece about Russell U. Richards, authored by Laura Parsons, in the current issue (Jan-Feb 2007) of Virginia Living magazine, available at newsstands now!

In recent months Richards' art has undergone a major change in direction, with a new focus on larger, original (that is, one-of-a-kind) paintings instead of prints. A few of his new paintings, and a cool T-shirt design that was donated to the nonprofit Computers 4 Kids, can be seen at Richard's website.

To watch a brief video of Richards and poet Helena Wetsel discussing their collaborative artwork "Me and You at the Zoo" from last summer's "Love Letter Invitational" group show at Second Street Gallery visit the ABOUT page.

More "Davell Crawford" @ 2006 SFLF photos

Doing the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival's special evening concert series Been in the Storm So Long which featured African-American musical traditions from the New Orleans region devastated by Hurricane Katrina Davell Crawford was amongst the groups that I had the absolute pleasure of photographing. Others include Chief Monk Boudreaux and the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indian Tribe, the Hot 8 Brass Band and the Dixie Cups.

While they all performed foot stumpin', hand clappin' and booty shakin' sets ... Davell Crawford is one of the best performers that I've ever seen. Some of the songs that he performed were tributes to Etta James. The man is a class act.

Click photo to view most recently uploaded photos of Davell Crawford performing at the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival's special evening concert series Been In The Storm So Long. Having shot hundreds of photos, many which depict folks clappin' their hands, stompin' their feet and shakin' their booties, more will be added later.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival has been amongst my ongoing themes since 1994.

Paul van Dyk @ Crobar / NYC . Friday, 16 Feb

Ultra Dance, Vol 8 CD released 23 January

More "Dixie Cups" @ 2006 SFLF photos

The original DIXIE CUPS were sisters Barbara Ann Hawkins, Rosa Lee Hawkins, and their cousin Joan Marie Johnson, all born in New Orleans. Originally known as "Little Miss and the Muffets", the three girls were discovered at a talent contest by New Orleans record producer/singer Joe Jones. Best known for his 1960 top ten hit "You Talk Too Much", Jones brought the girls to New York where in 1964 they changed their name and recorded the song that would become their signature hit "Chapel of Love."

Consisting of Barbara Ann Hawkins, Rosa Lee Hawkins and Athelgra Neville Gabriel, today's DIXIE CUPS perform regularly around the world, performing their own hits along with other crowd-pleasing favorites from the eras of 60's girl groups.

Click photo to view most recent uploaded images from the 8 July 2006 "Dixie Cups" performance at the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall. Many which depict folks dancing. More will be added later.

The Dixie Cups was one of several groups that participated in the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Been In The Storm So Long Evening Concert series. See schedule or 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Pedestrian Traffic 2007

Since the first snow of December 2005 I have sought to capture pedestrian traffic in the downtown area of WDC. Last summer I'd delve more into not only pedestrian but also vehicular traffic photography studies in various but select areas of the city And then in the fall of 2006 I'd launch a rush hour traffic project.

When reflecting on my photography over the past 15 years I grow increasingly aware of the maturation and historic importance of my body of work.

In order for one to progress forward one most know the truth regarding his past.

Since my visit to Fort Lauderdale just before and over Thanksgiving 2006 not a moment nor second has gone by that I have not reflected on "Absolutely, Nothing!".

Which is a yet to be completed essay that I would began writing on Friday afternoon, 17 November that sheds light on the defining moment when I'd come to realize that during the course of enitire life the relationships that others had shjared with me ... a black male ... had been based on lies and rooted in untruths.

Lies and untruths that always yielded me 'absolutely, nothing!

Since 1992, it has only been through the integration of my photography with my writings that I have been able to verbalize these unspoken truths. In order to progress forwar, it is impertative that one knows the truth about his/her past.

Click photo to view my Pedestrian Traffic 2007 photo project.

Alpersteins Furniture / Mount Vernon Square

Alperstein Furniture has been in the District since 1904. They have good service and the furniture prices are in line with other local area furniture stores. They provide furniture for offices and residential homes and they even rent furniture. They even have a good selection of recreational furniture such as patio sets and outdoor play sets. (See Insider Pages).

Though I had observed it many times before I become more familiar with Alpersteins as well as other businesses and properties in the area when in February 1982 that I would relocate back to WDC, from NYC, and purchase 449 Ridge Street from Roger Tiemann.

In October 2005 I would learn that this area is known as Mount Vernon Square which in 2007 I hope to explore more. In my 9 July 2006 blog posting I shed light on my perspective of the history of the 7th Street and 14th Street furniture store districts.

Though, similar to my Reincarnations Home Furnishings project, at least, from a photographic point of view, Alpersteins which has been at the same location since 1904 has a much richer history. Click photo which may also be viewed at Insider's Page.

Alperstein's is located at 1015 7th Street between K and L Streets in NW WDC. Contact by telephone at 202-783-0100 or email info@alpersteins.com.

"In the Life" pre-Valentine Day Party - 13 February - NYC

Celebrate love in the LGBT community at In The Life’s pre-Valentine’s Day Party.

Tuesday, 13 February 2007

6:30pm - 9pm

In the Life's 5th Avenue Studio

184 Fifth Avenue (@ 23rd)

5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

$50 or $75.

Click photo or phone Nora McCaffrey at 212-255-6012 ext. 305.

34th March for Life, 22 January 2007

Though the 34th Annual Anti-Abortion March for Life Convention takes place in the Washington DC area from Saturday, the 20th - Monday, 22nd January 2007 the historic march along Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court which takes place on Monday afternoon, 22 January 2007, is preceeded by two important events earlier in the today.

Beginning at 9 am, students will canvas Capitol Hill and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue by delivering Red Roses Messages to each Member of Congress and every Supreme Court Judge, and the President and Vice President.

While in years past demonstrators would assemble on the Ellipse, directly across from The White House's Rose Garden, for the second year in a roll ... would be marchers will converge onto the National Mall, near 7th Street between Madison and Jefferson Streets, shortly before 11 am for the annual 12 noon Assemblance Rally which preceeds the 1 pm March ... from the National Mall, along Constitution Avenue to the US Supreme Court.

Click photo to view a collection 33rd March For Life WDC PHOTOGRAPHS NEVER BEFORE SEEN. See also 33 MFL March and 33 MFL Supreme Court.

Visit www.MarchforLife.org to learn more about March For Life.

Frank Muzzy's "Bears" @ Chelsea's MDH Fine Arts (February) Bare, Body and Soul

Bare, Body and Soul ... opens in Chelsea NYC on Thursday, 8 February 2007 at the MDH Fine Arts Gallery. Featuring new works by JS Adams, Debby Lee Cohen, Fabio D'Aroma, Michael Henry, Michael Muller, Frank Muzzy, Rachel Press, Jim Shack and Kurt Walters the exhibit concludes on 28 February 2007. See prospective flyer.

According to Frank Muzzy, some of whose Frankie Goes To Paris works was included in the MDH Fine Arts' (November) Form (Human & Otherwise) exhibition his February 2007 "Bears" display at the MDH Fine Arts Bare, Body & Soul exhibition will feature "Red Bear, Black Bear, Grey Bear ... plus a few others that are a bit of a departure from past exhibits... ".

Located at 233 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011, MDH Fine Arts Gallery hours are Tuesday - Friday 2-8, Saturday 12-7, Sunday 12-5, Closed Monday.

Contact Michael Henry, the gallery owner at director, at telephone 917-364-8221 or email michael@mdhfinearts.com.

Contact Frank Muzzy at muzzydc@verizon.net. Frank Muzzy's exhibtion, Frankie Goes to Paris, is still on display at Pulp on 14th Street in NW WDC.

Happy 4th anniversary to Jacqueline Dupree of JD Land

It was on January 19, 2003 (a beautifully clear but cold day) that Jacqueline Dupree made Mr. JD drive her around Near Southeast during which time she would proceed to shoot a bunch of pictures through the passenger window. And would shortly, thereafter, post to the web to show the two or three people who visited JDLand.

Little did they know that that their little excursion would metamorphosis as one of the most important historic documentations of the city, the Near Southeast DC Redevelopment web site.

Though I had not heard of Ms Dupree nor JD Land when I would commence my documentation of the area of in November 2004. Since my return to the area in January 2005, it has been the work of Jacqueline Dupree at JD Land that I look to when posting accurate information to the web regarding my very own, "Old - New" Near Southeast DC Redevelopment historic images and ongoing documentary project.

Congratulations Jacqueline Dupree ... for a job well done! And, I'm looking forward to the day, that our paths cross!

Click above January 2003 photo by Jacqueline Dupree to view a photo gallery featuring historic images of buildings and properties that have been demolished in the Near Southeast DC area since 2003.

You, GO ... GIRL!