Friday's Photo of the Week - 23 May 2008

Road Dawg . National Police Week . 13th Annual Law Ride

Assemblance . RFK Stadium Parking Lot

SE WDC . Sunday, 11 May 2008

2008 Fridays Photos of the Week

Elvert Barnes Photo Blog

My "The Fight For Love & Life" 2006 NYC Pride Parade Photo Montage

In celebration of the 2008 GLBT Pride Season, here is my photo montage projections project of my June 2006 trip to NYC for the 37th Annual Heritage Pride Parade.

Featuring two teadance mixes from DJ Bryan Hughes' July 2007 'Tea & Crumpets" series, the project begans on Friday evening, 23 June 2006, when Ken, Mark and I drive up to NYC from WDC, with Ken at the wheel.

It then picks up on Sunday morning, 25 June, shortly after 11 am on 8th Avenue in Chelsea when Ken and Mark headed to the Flatiron District and I walked to the Village ... to watch the parade at our respective locations.

Images of 'folks caught in the rain' then follow while I brunched at the Dublin 6 on Hudson and West 11th Street in the Village.

Once the rain stopped, at around 12:45 pm, I took to the street and, captured the crowd waiting on Christopher Street before the arrival of the parade.

The Sirens and other women motorcycle clubs lead the parade down Christopher Street, followed by the Emprire City MC.

From the beginning of the montage, until the end of the parade, Bryan Hughes' "Tea & Crumpets" #2/3 serves as background music.

"Tea & Crumpets" #1/3 serves as background music for the "end of the parade'. Which, while reflecting on the 10 June 2006 attack upon drag performer and dance music recording artists Kevin Aviance by a gang of four male youth ... highlights the 2006 Heritage Pride theme "The Fight For Love and Life!".

And though I did not mention this in the project, when reflecting on the attack upon Aviance, I could not help but reflect on two Saturday nights ago when I was attacked on the subway in WDC by a gang of young black males who when two older black men intervened, the gang of youth then shouted '... but he's a punk ...!'

Nor did I mention that when on Sunday night that I returned to The Village to relax from having spent the entire day photographing the parade when I attempted to enter Ty's that the door manager said "... you can't come in ... the place is full!" ... in the exact same way that when visiting NYC in September 2007 the exact same door man said the exact same thing to me.

And in the exact same way that I had experienced racism at bars in WDC during the 70's and 80's.

While the fight for many may be for the right to love, as a 50 something gay black male who practiced integration not only must I still fight racism but, in most cases, my fight must now also be against those who I loved and against those who professed to have loved me.

As an older but wiser and more mature black man, F--- THE LOVE!

Its about my LIFE!

Click image to view my NYC's 2006 "The Fight For Love & Life" Heritage of Pride PARADE photo montage at Google Video. And here is my 2006 NYC PRIDE WEEKEND photo collection.

Michael David Murphy's limited-edition of "Jim Crow Road" prints available via 20x200

An offshoot of the Jen Bekman Gallery in NYC, starting at $20, 20x200 has just released limited-editions of "Jim Crow Road" by Michael David Murphy (While Seated) as one of two featured prints this week.

Click image for details.

Dalila Kriheli of Rock Star Pix Images of Raven featured in May 2008 issue of Heavy Magazine

Congratulations to Dalila Kriheli of Rock Star Pix whose two images of Raven shot during their April 2008 performance at L'amour [The Rock Capitol] of Staten Island are now featured in an article entitled RAVEN by S. A. Adams, on page 79, in the May 2008 issue of Heavy Magazine, a German metal / thrash publication.

Here is a pdf of the page. Click image to view Raven collection at RockStarPix.

Friday's Photo of the Week - 16 May 2008

Joe Shymanksi . Artomatic . 12th Floor

Capitol Plaza 1 . 1200 1st Street, NE, WDC

Opening Night - Friday, 9 May 2008

2008 Fridays' Photos of the Week

RockStarPix of Belladonna's 13 May 2008 performance at Brooklyn's Europa Night Club

On Tuesday evening, 13 May 2008, Dalila Kriheli of RockStarPix captured Belladonna's performance at the Europa Night Club in Brooklyn during the New York leg of their Never Look Back 2008 Tour.

Click image to view Dalila Kriheli's Belladonna collection.

Visit the rockstarpix website to view more collections. And to learn more about or to contact Dalila Kriheli.

My NPW 13th Annual Emerald Society & Pipeband (March) Video

click image for video

13th Annual Emerald Society Pipeband Event Collection

National Police Week 2008 Collection

2001 NPW Pipeband March Photos Never Before Seen

My National Police Week 20th Candlelight Vigil Videos

In observance of National Police Week 2008 on Tuesday evening, 13 May 2008, I would attend the 20th Annual Candlelight Vigil at the National Law Enforcemement Officers Memorial in Washington DC.

Here are three video compilations identified as:

• Version 1 (complete compilation) - long
• Version 2 (Musical Tribute & Candlelighting) - short
• Version 3 (Candlelighting) - shorter

Though still under construction, here is the 20th Annual Candlelight Vigil photoset which is included in the National Police Week 2008 collection.

IKEA Kitchen Rhythms Contest Ends 14 May

From now until May 14th, you can still check out and vote on your favorite video submission for the IKEA Kitchen Rhythms Contest. Not only will you be helping one lucky finalist win all they can grab at IKEA — but you'll also see some amazing music being made from everyday kitchen items. Log onto www.youtube.com/IKEA to see for yourself. While there, be sure to watch new videos showing fun ways to make your home more functional and beautiful.

National Police Week's 20th Annual Candlelight Vigil scheduled for TUESDAY EVENING, 13 May 2008

The names of 358 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty (181 during 2007) will be formally dedicated on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC on Tuesday evening, 13 May 2008, during the 20th Annual Candlelight Vigil.

U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey will deliver the keynote address and lead the lighting of candles and reading of the names of the fallen officers. In addition to the 181 officers who died in line of duty during 2007, 177 officers who died in previous years but whose deaths had been lost to history will be dedicated on the Memorial.

Read the NLEOMF Press Release for details. Keep abreast of National Police Week events or cancellations due to weather conditions by visiting the blog.

Click image to view 2001 National Police Week never before seen images of the 13th Annual Candlelight Vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

The Sun Shine State - Gay & Lesbian Edition

click image

My Emerge / 10th Street Art Walk Video Project

In connection with my ongoing series Public Art in Public Spaces, since its first Metamorphosis installment, in the spring of 2006, I have documented the 10th Street Art Walk.

Metamorphosis was replaced with Drift in the spring of 2007. Followed by the final and third installment, Emerge, which opened in the spring of 2008.

Click the image to view my EMERGE - 10th Street Art Walk - 7 May 2008 video tribute to the 12 contributing artists.

The video compilation features two 2004 studio mixes by DJ Bryan Hughes as background music. The first is Sunday Morning which is followed by Dreaming.

STUDIOCOLE SPRING 2008 Newsletter

In a Spring 2008 Newsletter dated Sunday, 4 May 2008, Robert and Susan Cole report that Robert was been very busy, this past winter, creating many new works in his studio. While some pieces follow established branches others are fresh blossoms on the tree of art.

And, along with more than 20 other artists, the Robert Cole Studios will participate in next weekend's 17 - 18 May 2008 Mid City Artists Open Studio.

The Spring 2008 Newsletter also reports that Robert's "Leaf" is one of twelve sculptures included in the first ever Foggy Bottom Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit. Curated by Shirley Koller, each sculpture will be on display in front of a historic home in the historic Foggy Bottom neighborhood from 3 May thru 25 October 2008.

Perhaps, its time for me to visit the Foggy Bottom area and, in connection with my ongoing Public Art In Public Spaces series, tour the Foggy Bottom Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit.

Click the above image to view the entire Studio Cole Spring 2008 E-Newsletter.

Friday's Photo of the Week - 9 May 2008

IKEA Ad Campaign / Billboard Display

WMATA - Union Station . NE . WDC

Saturday, 3 May 2008

2008 Fridays' Photos of the Week

Artomatic CD release party to be held tonight at Ibiza

Get an earful of some of the musical performers that will rock Artomatic this summer at a free CD release party tonight, Thursday, 8 May 2008.

From 6 until 9pm, Ibiza Night Club will play host to some of the bands that are on this year’s Artomatic CD compilation. Live music will be provided by BanjerDan, Lou Black, 302acid, The Splints, James Terrell and Free Lobster Buffet. Ibiza is located at 1222 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., adjacent to the site of Artomatic 2008 and close to the New York Avenue Metro station.

Click above Artomatic News image for details.

Today's Sounds in the Square Concert Postponed

Due to inclement weather, the Sounds in the Square concert in Farragut Park scheduled for tonight, Thursday, May 8th, featuring No Second Troy has been postponed. The rain date for the concert is September 4th. The regular schedule will continue next Thursday, 15 May, with a performance by Justin Jones & the Driving Rain. For all of the details on Sounds in the Square -- the free, outdoor concert series taking place in Farragut Square Park on Thursday nights in May and June, visit www.goldentriangledc.com.

SmartBike DC to Debut in Mid-May

Though SmartBike DC had hoped to launch in March 2008, due to some minor setbacks the first ever bike sharing program to hit the states will now debut in mid-May.

To learn more about the SmartBike DC program visit the website or The Bike-sharing Blog.

Click image to view my ongoing SmartBike DC photoset.

"On the Fly" Eco-Vending: A New Breed of Street Vendors

Though launched last November which, after some reflecting I now recall hearing news of at the time, the first time that I'd ever come across an On The Fly Smartkart was yesterday afternoon when enroute to the 10th Street Art Walk that I headed north on 7th Street, from D Street, and turned left onto F Street in the Penn Quarter area of NW WDC.

Founded by three crazy kats that saw a void that needed to be filled ... who then teamed up with three other doods ... the odd little green vehicle with wings debuted in Chinatown near 8th and H, NW selling empanadas and other Mexican fare.

A second Smartkart would fly in, at the 7th and F Street location in January 2008. Here's a list of other locations which includes the National Arboretum and National Ballpark and the soon to open Artomatic 2008.

Here is a list of their vending partners. If you have a product that you would like to see On The Fly® carry or, perhaps, always wanted to quit your day job and start a hummus company but need some help ... drop the crazy kats / doods a line.

And here is other pertinent contact info.

Sounds in the Square Summer Concert Series Kicks Off on Thursday, 8 May

Thursday marks the first of seven concerts this summer as part of the Golden Triangle’s tenth annual Sounds in the Square free summer concert series. No Second Troy, a band Spin magazine says “burns bright as the sun” and who received a nod from Washington City Paper as one of DC’s best local bands, will start the series off from 5 until 7 pm in Farragut Square Park. Check out their MySpace page and then come by the park ... for the best live and free music the city has to offer!

National Train Day - Saturday, 10 May 2008

The first-ever National Train Day will choo choo is way, in town and across the nation, on this Saturday, 10 May 2008. And there’s never been a better time to celebrate. With passenger ridership growing every year, more and more people recognize that trains are the best way to relax and enjoy the ride. To read, talk, work or snooze the time away. Which makes traveling by train the nicer way to get there. So get ready to join the festivities, which include live musical performances, exhibits, trip planning, VIP appearances and trip giveaways.

National Train Day events will take place on Saturday, 10 May at four of Amtrak’s largest stations: WDC - Union Station, NYC - Penn Station, Chicago - Union Station and La - Union Station. And here is a list of other events, throughout the nation, that will celebrate National Train Day as well.

And here are some National Train Day promotions that may be of interest to you.