The Kin: Growing Better Every Year

I've known these two brothers who make up The Kin for a long time; not since they were born, but since Thorry taught me to play the basics of the guitar and since Isaac's mum (Thorry's too of course) Madeleine, did my tarot cards back in the day when I would come over to her apartment in Soho, and had discovered (to my wonder) that my guitar's teacher's mum was the hot blonde woman who I had seen for years around the neighborhood.

The Kin is a partners-in-crime collaboration between Aussie brothers, Thorald and Isaac Koren, and New York drummer Shakerleg.

Well when you know the mum you understand how these sweet young men have a steely core, which reflects itself in great music, both lyrically and melodically. You just have to go hear them, next time they're playing in a town near you!

Rock of Ages: The Musical That Keeps You Wanting More

I was prepared to be bored by this 80s California musical but within 5 minutes I was enraptured. What was indeed 80s was also so cool, so well written, directed and choreographed, by actors that were cute and engaging. I had to give them the standing ovation they deserved at the end. A little like Grease, but one decade later, you have to go see http://www.rockofagesmusical.com/

studio MDA: Markus Doschantschi and Co. Design a School in the Congo for Girls

My friend Markus Doschantschi, founder of studio MDA http://studiomda.com/ , designed this girls' school in the Congo pro bono!

Here's a link to the George Malaika Foundation website where you can donate to support education in Africa.
http://www.gmfafrica.org/

Haiti Contemporary Artists Showcase

Raynald Leconte mounted a stellar pop up exhibition on 2nd Avenue near 60th Street with some of Haiti's best artists: Mario Benjamin, Prefete Duffaut, Frantz Zephirin, Sebastien Jean, Dubreus Lherisson, David Boyer, Mirlande Constant, a series of Voodoo flags by Georges Valris, Yves Thelemaque, Onel, Edy Jacques, Killy and Cheby. Head of the Haitian Cultural Foundation (raynald@haitianculturalfoundation.org) Raynald is a fount of information about Haiti and Haitian art in general.

This exhibition was the diamond among a lot of stones during the Armory. Here we had a range of work that was full of surprise, delight and spirituality. If only we could have more pop ups that are full with energy like this exhibition, not beaten down by the market and boring  as are most of what we see in commercial galleries and art fairs these days.

Consider this one artist, Frantz Zephirin, to understand the range of work that was on view (and still can be seen through private viewings arranged by Leconte). 

Frantz Zephirin

Frantz Zephirin

Frantz Zephirin

Frantz Zephirin

Frantz Zephirin

In addition to paintings, there were flags, assemblage, collage and sculpture. Look at this video, narrated by the musician Annie Lennox, to get an idea of what you missed, and what you can still experience if you get in touch with Raynald Leconte at the email address above.

IN THE EYE OF THE SPIRAL Trailer from In the Eye of the Spiral on Vimeo.

Gravey Daham: So Glad he is my friend

Listen to the new tracks that are coming out of the man who I once described as the Nabokov of music lyric writing. With a raw freshness that smells better than teen spirit, I think we all have something to look forward to in the art of this still revealing himself genius.
https://soundcloud.com/gravey-daham
Gravey Daham, the Artist's working name, is a play on that of folk guitar extraordinaire Davey Graham.
The line drawings that accompany the songs are in and of themselves an exhibition waiting to happen:

Images Courtesy of the Artist Gregory Mirzayantz

Y'All Put It Together, a new film series at the Gene Frankel Theater

Beez And Honey, Poppington & Only Popcorn present “Y’All Put It Together”, a new series of films and discussions at Gene Frankel Theater. The series unspools with a screening of the urban drama “Paid In Full,” on Tuesday, March 26th at 7:00pm followed by a Q&A with Producer Damon Dash. Doors open at 6:00pm. 

“Paid in Full” marks the feature debut of director Charles Stone III, who rose to fame after creating Budweiser's "Wassup" commercials. The urban gangster drama is loosely based on the true story of 1980s Harlem drug kingpins AZ, Rich Porter, and Alpo. (This story was also the basis for a documentary, Game Over (Part 1).) Ace (Wood Harris) works at a laundromat, struggling to get by, while his friend Mitch (Mekhi Phifer) lives the high life selling heroin. His sister's boyfriend, Calvin (Kevin Carroll) also sells drugs, and looks down on Ace for struggling to earn a living. Out delivering laundry one day, Ace meets Lulu (Esai Morales), a big time coke dealer, who lives better than anyone Ace has ever known. When Lulu leaves some coke in the pocket of a coat he's having cleaned, Ace returns it to him, and Lulu rewards him for his honesty by letting him keep the drugs. When Calvin gets busted, Ace hesitantly takes his place in the neighborhood, and starts working for Lulu. As the crack business takes off, Ace finds himself making more money than he knows what to do with. Mitch goes to jail for a short time, where another inmate, Rico (rapper Cam'ron in his acting debut), defends him in a fight. By the time Mitch gets out of prison, Ace is running the neighborhood. Ace makes Mitch his right-hand man, and when Rico gets out of jail, he joins the crew. The drugs and money flow, and Ace tries to keep everyone happy, but there are some who want what's his, and will stop at nothing to get it. “Paid in Full” was shown at the 2002 Urbanworld Film Festival.

Beverages will be served and attendees can view a screening of the Art Film, “The Art of Nothing,” directed by Derrick B. Harden. “Y’ALL PUT IT TOGETHER” is a series of films curated by Gail Thacker, Nicollette Ramirez and Derrick B. Harden. Additional titles in the film series will be announced.

Tickets are available at the Gene Frankel Theater Box Office, located at 24 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012, (212) 777-1767 or genefrankeltheatre@gmail.com and will be $20 at the door. For press inquiries onlypopcorninfo@gmail.com or info@beezandhoney.com

 

Maria Kreyn: A Contemporary Classicist

The artist in her studio

Maria's paintings have the weight of art history behind them, both in style and content, but with the 21st Century awareness of multiple dimensionality, and of the spirit, the aura, being visible to those who have the eyes to see it.

The artist with Derrick B Harden at the exhibition "Incarnations"

 Go see her work in this group exhibition "Incarnations" at the Highline Loft.

 

www.mariakreyn.com
Go see her in Chelsea

@The Highline Loft

508 W 26th st. 5th floor

the show will run from March 7-11, gallery hours 12-6pm

Thomas Mulcaire: From Antarctica to the Sun and Back Again

Please make a pledge to our upcoming exhibition featuring work from the last twenty years of this uniquely talented South African artist.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/107906494/from-antarctica-to-the-sun-and-back-again-thomas-m?ref=email

Alberto Di Fabio: An Italian in London

As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words. So here you have several thousand words about one of Italy's, and Gagosian's, best artists.
Go see him in London at the Estorick Collection

Derrick B. Harden (Dear Derrick & The Band) - Born 4 Porn

If Derrick B. Harden was a student of New York city, then his latest project "Born 4 Porn" is his Senior thesis. Ironically enough, having never graduated from high school, he is a well-poised soon-to-be Renaissance man who graduated through life motivated by his will to self-education and self-betterment. After listening to his most prominent work to-date, the first project with his creative collective Dear Derrick & The Band, it is most appropriate to say he is as good a lyricist as a student of life. His relentless and frivolous word-play lead-in for "Ups and Downs" demonstrates the lyrical frolicking of great writers. His hook in "Capitalist Cards" exhibits his most accessible side to a more Pop-driven urban audience. Hip-hop is about storytelling and Derrick goes out of his way to narrate the full 360 of his life including the funny, the ugly, and the uncomfortable. The Funny we hear in "Drug Dealer" when he explains his participation in a farcical rat race as an eager, uninformed and illegitimate student of capitalism. The Bad is illustrated in "Song's of Sin." The imagery each speaker uses to tell the tales of their iniquities is chilling right down to its clever chorus. The Uncomfortable he touches on half-way through the collection in "Alot." He shares his toughest stories growing up as a young man in Brownsville, Brooklyn and expresses his frankest criticisms of how Consumerism as a way to freedom threatens optimism. His overall aim is the Truth at whatever unfriendly cost and we all know the Truth is an acquired taste. While Derrick's words of encouragement (and sometimes discouragement) are beneficial to most people, he finds his most devoted audience in intellectuals and young thinkers. On "Born 4 Porn," there really is a song for everyone. So if Derrick was a sort of trailblazer, "Born 4 Porn" is more like a letter to himself by which out of grace, he decided to share the contents of, with the whole world. Derrick B. Harden is Brooklyn's noble knight with the charisma of a suave orator. He is short but not always sweet and its okay because he speaks and acts with the heart of the city as his source of conscience.

Text by Shelby A Coley and Images by Anna Bloda