Meow !!!!!

December 25, 2008 a legend passed.  Eartha Kitt (the original Catwoman & Material Girl).  If you Google her you will see how this woman came from the direst of circumstances to the rise of  a major actor, singer, dancer, and activist of her time.  Rest in Peace Ms Kitty.

"Praise the Lawd !!!!"

My grandmother was and still is a big influence in my life.  I use to go to church with her in a small town called  Thomaston, GA.  I remember sitting in the pew with a pocket full of peppermint candy while she stood at the entrance of the church.  She wore a white uniform with white gloves, white shoes and a silver ribbon pinned to her with the words Usher. The church didn't have central air and it would get scorching hot.  The flies were terrible and some of the times the water fountain in front didn't work.  Everyone would fan themselves with these paper fans with the image of Martin Luther King or Jesus on the front.  I never knew the words to any of the hymns that were sung, and still today I couldn't sing you a verse.  But the feeling that I got back then when the choir sang , even as a kid made the hairs on the back of my neck raise.  I thought it was the Holy Ghost touching me.   From time to time I would be a little mischievous horse playing with my cousins.  We would laugh at the way the Preacher spoke.  When he preached he would sometimes make this sound as if he had the hiccups.  My grandmother would see us laughing.  She had a way of gritting her teeth to let you know you were going to get it when you got home.  Believe me when I say I had my share of whippings, but I know in the end it was all out of LOVE.  So as a tribute to Catherine Smith I've taken photographs of small country churches that reminds me of the small church she attended.  It's an ongoing project, here's a few.  Hope you enjoy them as I enjoyed photographing them.  Sometimes while I'm shooting I can here the old choir sing and then I break out into my Reverend Strickland imitation minus the hiccup and say, "Praise the Lawd, Praise the Lawd !!!!!"

Merry Christmas !!!!!!!

Two Gorillas to go !!

Well I finally finish the paintings for the show in Paris totaling 18.  The truck came to pick up the work, they will drive them to NYC, crate them then ship to Paris.  I felt like this Silverback Gorilla just jump off my shoulder.  Now I have to work on getting the other two gorillas of my shoulders too. Lately I've been getting inspired by images of vintage sports  and circus photos.  I've already started incorporating them in my paintings, also I'm working on something interesting I will release on a later date.  Christmas Eve, I guess Santa's elves aren't the only ones working in the middle of the night. Merry Christmas to all, hope the economy doesn't have everyone down, let's get back to what Christmas really means, being surrounded by people you love and giving praise for what you do have.

Paris or Bust !!

Here's three of the paintings that will be included in my solo show in Paris, with Galarie Nordine Zidoun, January 17, 2009.  This will be my first show out of the country.  I'm also having a solo show in New York with Dillon Gallery a week before, showing my paintings and photography.

Miscegenation Series

An ongoing series about interracial relationships.  There will be 30 images in all, each measuring 16 x 20 in.

Going Grey

As a tribute to myself going grey, I've been working on a series of men who are Grey.  This is a series I will be working on for about three years.  So far it's been a  treat, not only capturing great images, but also hearing great stories in the process.  I understand what they mean by Grey as a sign of wisdom.  I would never think about dyeing my hair, but if I did have a choice in the matter, I would rather be totally grey then Salt & Pepper.  Giving me that Moses look, now if I could only find those Stone Tablets.