This evening, I met with photographer Loti Walker who also happens to be the Assistant Director of Programs at the Ann Arbor Art Center to discuss their ArtMakers Teens program. ArtMakers Teens is geared toward at risk youth between the ages of 14-18 and it exposes them to art education. The current session will be led by Loti & will be centered on photography.

During our meeting, Loti shared her vision for this session & the flow of what she wanted the students to experience through digital photography. This is where I come in. Loti extended an invitation for me to come in & give a talk to the students regarding my creative process & photography work. She also invited to me critique some of the student’s work at the end of program before their photography exhibit.

Needless to say, Loti didn’t have to twist my arm at all to get me on board. So Feb 20, 2010 I will give a talk to some young fresh minds, which I find very exciting.

The great thing about this opportunity is that it will allow me to educate & provide community service locally, which is a personal goal every year.

After Loti & I were done talking shop & exchanging fun life stories, I immediately called my Aunt Phyllis to share my news. I knew Aunt Phyllis would be excited because she’s an artist herself & teaches art in the Detroit Public School system. She was so excited for me & asked if she could join me at the talk. I so appreciate her undying support.

Now, I have to focus on my talk outline & prepare a visual presentation for the students to feast on.

On a side note: Loti introduced me to a new word; filthy. When something is filthy, its hot/bad ass/off the chain. When she first said it, I was like what did you just say? She laughed then explained. From there I challenged myself to say it throughout the week. See the Urban Dictionary’s 1. definition (I love the Urban Dictionary).

I was recently contacted by my friend, author & fellow blogger Richard Graves aKa DJ Black Adam about his upcoming book titled “Unbelieving Believers” in regards to his need for cover art.

After intense negotiations, the rest is history.

Above is the cover art for his release featuring my photo “Like A Prayer.” Funny how my photo title & his book wound up together. I found it to be a fitting choice based on the subject matter of his book.

You can find “Unbelieving Believers” here in paperback & digital download versions.

If you are looking for stock art, check out my stock work available via Getty Images or contact me for details.

It’s been 8 months since I applied to the Original Ann Arbor Street Art Fair & here I am just days away from showcasing some of my finest work to THOUSANDS of art lovers & artists from across the region and country.

I cannot express how excited & nervous I am as the day draws near.

Earlier this week, all of my 20×30 canvas gallery wraps arrived & they look amazing! And looking at the complete collection that I will have on display is nothing less than breathtaking (to me anyway).

All together I’ll have 11 ready to hang pieces & a large stack of matted prints as well as 3 hard cover printed catalogs representing a larger body of my work that can be ordered.

This weekend, I’ll be working on the little details such as supplies etc. Luckily Suite Suzy is helping me out with the logistics. I guess she really does like me.

Anyway, I would love to see my local & regional peeps at the art fair. What better reason to take a road trip to support your boo?!?!

So that you’re totally in the know, the Ann Arbor Art Fair starts Wednesday July 15 & runs through July 18. Hours M-F 10am – 9pm Sat 10am – 6pm

If you’re not familiar with the Ann Arbor area, here is a link that will get you in the place to be.

I’ll be located near Hill Auditorium & the Burton Memorial Carillon Tower in booth number A125.

If you don’t see me, well maybe you’ll hear me because I’ll be doing my bitch scream with every sale. No doubt.

Hope to see you and I appreciate the undying support that you have all given since I set off on this artist journey!

My next few weeks are going to be kinda intense with activity but I have my mind right for the challenges.

Some of the major things I have going on include the end of the spring semester, which ends next week. In the meantime, I have 2 projects due & my final exam by next Friday.

At this point, I have a 95% in the class & I’m hoping that I kick ass on the final so that I pull this A. I must show & prove!

Then we have a trip planned to visit NYC in a few weeks for a mini vacay. I’m looking forward to getting back on the eat coast. We plan on doing some museums & spending an entire day in Central Park doing nothing at all but living. Making this trip extra special is the fact that we are driving.

Yeah, I know it sounds intense but the drive to NY from MI is beautiful & very scenic. I plan on having a great 10 hour trek packed with good music & filthy rest stops.

And in the midst of all of this is my planning of me being at the 50th Ann Arbor Street Art Fair. I have tons of prints to pull together, matting to be cut, the coffee table books to assemble & all sorts of other little details. BTW, the fair is jumping off July 15-18th, I would love to see you, especially if you are coming to buy! :)

I plan on displaying some rather large dramatic pieces that I hope I do not wind up taking home when it is all said & done. My fingers are crossed!

Speaking of art, I also submitted a 20×30 piece to the University of Michigan Health System Employee Art Exhibition, which opens next week.

This show should be pretty interesting & I have to start a marketing campaign to get people to vote on my piece because I would love to win best in show for photography. Here is a link to the piece that will be on display.

Oh and speaking of art & me being on the grind; 2 weeks ago, I got the following message;

“Hi Tafari,

Wow! You’ve really caught Getty Images’ eye!

The Getty Images peeps selected another 10 of your photos for possible sale on the Getty Images web site.”

I was so geeked that I peed on myself a little bit. Anyway 9 of the 10 images are now on sale & I’m waiting for one last model release from my friend Yvette. This one will be hard to get because she is in Germany & I cannot get in touch. By the time I get this last image submitted, I will have a total of 15 creative photographs added to the Getty Images Flickr Collection. Go me!

And ‘m looking forward to getting my Getty royalty statement at the end of the week & so hoping that I had some sales. My fingers are so crossed!

Wanna here some funny shit? Today I got an email from “enRoute magazine (Air Canada’s in-flight magazine)” requesting use of one of my photos for the publication. The request stated that if I let them use the image, they would give me credit & send me a couple copies of the mag when it goes live.

I responded back by saying that I was flattered that they wanted to use my image, then mentioned that my licensing fee was $465.00. I never heard back.

1st of all, I don’t need credit in a magazine, I need cash in my mutha fucking hand! That credit ain’t gone do nothing for me feeding a family of 5. Sorry boo!

On a final note, I hope to bring some more on the grind soon! I’m hoping to secure media credentials for Zap Mama’s show happening in Ann Arbor next week courtesy of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, which happens to be on the last day of class. Here’s to hoping that the stars align the way that I need to them to.

Last week turned out be a very good week for my photography hustle.

I completed the transaction with my last wedding client & the couple was very happy with the final product. The bride sent me this note:

“Hey Mr photographer/comedian let me tell you that you really exceed our expectations taking those pictures from our wedding. I am a copywriter and I think you have a great eye and are very creative (which I find awesome!)…”

Needless to say, her words got me geeked! Linda, I love you guys!!!!!!!

Between Wednesday & Friday of last week, I booked 2 corporate head shots. One was for a local health care security professional & another for someone running for a local city council office. Both calls for worked shocked me honestly because I’ve never done a legit headshot. One of the jobs is completed & I have another satisfied client. The other is booked for this week & I’ll be shooting in an associates studio.

I tell you, the word is spreading about your boy. Maybe I will be famous one day. LOL

Then I got a few emails from some photographers & blog readers that made me feel like my work is actually getting a positive & even emotional reaction from unexpected areas.

- “Tafari – I just wanted to say your work is AMAZING!!! You definitely are inspiring to a beginner photographer like myself…”

- “Hi Tafari, I am in total awe of your work ! What a gifted photographer you are!

amazing creativity & wonder! You have lifted flicker high above other photo sites in my opinion.

Thank you for sharing of your talent…”

- “Hello Tafari, I wanted to send you a note as I have been lurking and reading your blog for quite a few months now….

…I love the range of your photography, the colors, the subjects and how you capture the beauty of every day life.

Congratulations on being invited to the Ann Arbor Art fair. We won’t be back in time for that, but I look forward to seeing your work in person one day.”

Then I got an awesome testimonial from Flickr & Twitter friend.

“My man “Bygbaby” has an eye and talent that is matched only by his humor and willingness to share his gift. I am proud to know him and privileged to learn from him. Keep shining T!”

And to put the icing on the cake for last week, I found out that one of my photos sold on Getty Images. It was the one of Sade holding the pomegranate arils. An adverting agency in Final purchased it & paid a little over 350 for it.

After Getty took their 80% cut, I was like for real, is this all I get??? But it’s all good because it still increases the value of my work in general & if I can keep sales stead, it will be some pretty nice paydays on images that I took just for the hell of it. So, I’ll just be thankful!

As I stated in a recent post, the last 4 months have been incredible as I’ve made some good moves & made some things happen that I had not planned on.

I swear, I’m just a Negro with a camera & a dream of one day doing something great; nothing more!

On a similar but unrelated note; I’m so grateful to have my momma’s momma (who everyone called ”Mommie”) creative genes flowing through my body. Mommie’s influence on me is the best gift she could have given me. Cousin Dee & I talk about this all the time & she feels the same for herself.

Yesterday for Earth Day, I decided to take a hoe bath instead of a shower. I may have saved 18 gallons of water but my balls were musty most of the day. It so was not worth it!

Tuesday night, one of my Twitter friends asked me what I was going to do to celebrate Earth Day. I told him that I was pouring the paint in my garage down the rain drain in front of my house & that I was going to burn some tires in my back yard.

He then asked me how was this helping the environment. I told him that it was helping the environment in my garage by clearing it out & will keep my wife from hounding me to get rid of the items. A win-win in my book.

Of course I was just kidding.

On a real note, my family does its part for the environment. We recycle weekly, conserve on lights & gas usage, I down sized my SVU for a small car & We shop at Whole Foods (which really means nothing); blah blah blah

If you are a Negro on the fence about what the environment means to you & how it affects you, check out this great discussion that I heard on NPR’s “Tell Me More” program.

To return back to my original sarcastic tone, did you know that today (April 23rd) is “Fuck The Earth Day?” You have to see this great promo video!

And lastly, does anyone really think that the earth gives a fuck about the 12% of her inhabitants giving her love on one special day or on hour during “Earth Hour.” Why can’t we all be conscious all the time?

There has been a lot of positive buzz over “A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy” throughout blogosphere over the last few months. Most notably, the buzz has been hot on the Invisible Woman’s blog (one of my most favoritestness spots to visit) who recently covered this independent flick that delves into Black relationship intricacies & sexuality in a refreshing perspective through 6 vignettes.

When it comes to independent reviews, The Invisible Woman has never disappointed me, but in this case, I was a little apprehensive. Maybe it is because I was like how can this film be any different from anything that I’ve seen in the past.

Nevertheless, after reading her interview with director Dennis Dortch, I was like, let me break this off & decided to rent the movie via iTunes (only $3.99).

So the movie starts & my interest was immediately piqued with the vision of a woman having an orgasm while in while the room was spinning & music being played backward. Very interested! Then the jump off occurred in this vignette aptly titled “Reciprocity.”

Home girl got hers & refused to break her boy off. Yeah, this may sound like blah, but the dialogue & circumstances between this hard pressed Negro eager to bust a nut & his boo, who was like back the fuck up was very intriguing. Oh did I mention that they were not in the room alone.

What a way to open the film!

The following vignette titled “Her Man” straight up reminded me of Kwame Kilpatrick & Christine Beatty. Maybe that is because of their complexions & the fact that the light skinneded (yes I did say skinneded) woman was the jump off who refused to let her man leave.

“Her Man” started off very sexy, VERY & ending like WTF on a relationship note.

This scene along with the rest in the movie seems all too real. I mean that actors appear to be real people, in real circumstances & it was very easy to identify with them in one way or the other.

The funny thing about “Her Man” is that I was singing “The Other Woman” by Nina Simone in my head (I love that song!).

The complexities of the jump off relationship & needs, are all spelled out here. And my mouth was held open till then end.

Vignette 3, “Tonight 1” seemed a little hood compared to the 1st two scenes but it gave an insight into a young woman’s reality & need to not compromise herself. Actually, I think this would be a good scene to show a group of young woman to illustrate that you need to protect yourself, mentally, physically & sexually.

Vignette 4, “Reprise” kinda fucked me up because it went back kinda to the scene in vignette one. You remember when I said that there someone else was in the room. It’s the roommate & her boo handling their business in a very anal way (you do the math).

Homegirl in this scene fucked me up & reminded me of this cougar that used to dig me, who wanted to go there with me. Not the kid boo!

All I can say about this, is that is was nasty & sexy. Nasty in a good/bad way.

Vignette 5 “Tonight 2” picks up where “Tonight 1” leaves off & the cavalry comes to rescue the young woman that did not sacrifice herself. I though that “Tonight 2” dragged a bit but it was interesting watching this young woman catch feelings for her friend’s older brother through song, rememories, fries and the ending of innocence. The makings of a complicated jump off.

The last vignette “American Boyfriend” was one of my favorites & it dealt with a young Negro boy being the love secret who’s held up in his Chinese American girlfriend’s bedroom as her parents visit.

This shit was straight up funny & reminded me of when I met Suite Suzy’s parents who showed up early from a vacation & I was laid up in their house.

What Black movie is complete without a dinner scene? “American Boyfriend” brings a dinner scene full of uncomfortable moments, a lesbian coming out of the closet, parents wanting their Chinese daughter to date/marry an Irish boy & a kiss that fucks up the whole scenario.

This scene is sure to make someone you “oh hell no” a few times.

Bottom line is, “A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy” is a great production! It showcases love, emotion & sex without the hypersexuality or raunchy B movie effect. In fact, I found all of the scenes to be very artful & in great taste.

There are a lot of directors that need to take a few pages from Dennis Dortch’s playbook, because homeboy set this off.

Before the credits finished rolling, I was on Amazon.com buying the DVD to have in my archive & since I was caught up in the moment of great Black cinema, I copped the soundtrack also (soundtrack is the bomb). Money well spent.

“A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy” is another shining example of Black cinema done right!
———————————————————–
Official Description:

Press play on A GOOD DAY TO BE BLACK AND SEXY. A mixed tape of deftly arranged vignettes on Black Love, Sex, and Reciprocity. What you hear may be unrecognizable at first… Neo-realistic intimacy between black people found in rare grooves previously drowned out by the sounds of modern hook-ups and bougie preoccupations, a cacophony of mass-produced beats created with drum machine loops and software. A Good Day to be Black and Sexy is that dusty LP you find in the crates. But as soon as you put the needle to wax, all the forgotten lyrics return to your lips in this dreamy love sonnet to the beautiful and chocolate coated. The intro track is a prelude into the heavily sensual world of expectations – the rhythm that drives the film. Erotic moments are lullabies that turn into syncopated groves without notice. This record skips, and jumps to the hook of a Millie Jackson remix. An anthem belted out by a minx who knows her limits, but can’t resist testing the boundaries.

It’s a song a sistah can roll her neck and snap her fingers to, exuding, at least for the moment, the confidence that every Black woman wished they had underneath the facade. When the bridge is over, a slow jam slides in- the one from prom night when curfews were extended and hotel rooms were reserved. Back when wistful notions of love were only true when written in diaries and carved on school desks. A sticky interlude eases in and out of the song, and you move a little closer and wrap your arms around to dance tighter, until growing up too fast and maturing too late, causes innocence to be lost too soon. Needle getting closer to the middles leaving the last cut a re-imagined version of masculinity, basketball, and the inability to freely love who you want to love, at the ease that non-Negroes take for granted. Time runs out and so does the tape. Eject

When I saw this last week I got moist & maintained a boner until I got off of work. I have a few more images up for review, just waiting on getting back model releases.

Go me!

While I’m excited about there is a big mixed reaction to the Flickr Collection from both professional photographers who see this collection as a bastardization of stock photography & from semi-profession photographers who see this opportunity as a way to get over on those who have dreams to break into the stock photography game.

I say fuck the critics & sale my shit. Maybe I’m missing something but this is such a good way to have your work seen by literally millions across the world. I know if I ever see one of my pieces used in a campaign, I would freak the fuck out.
———————————————————–
In other Getty Images Flickr collection news; In terms of race & ethnicity, the Flickr Collection is lacking diversity. Looks like minorities make up 25% of the collection. Is this really a shock? What can be done to have a better representation of minorities (non-ambiguous) in stock collections globally?

Anyway…

Tafari on Getty Images Flickr collection.

Last summer I read a movie review for “Medicine for Melancholy” on the Invisible Woman’s blog & got really excited to see this independent film dealing with an urban relationship. After I saw the trailer, I knew that I had to see this film. So since it was not widely released, I contacted the director of the film; Barry Jenkins.

Unfortunately, he at that time had no idea when the film would make its way to my area, because it was making the flim festival rounds. Bummer right!

Anyway, fast forward seven months later to February 2009: I was checking the film schedule for the Detroit Film Theatre & the 1st film that came up was “Medicine for Melancholy.” I got so excited that I did my bitch scream aloud at work, which was partially embarrassing.

So I hit Suite Suzy up to see if she could make arrangements for us to do a movie date. Five minutes later it was on for a Sunday afternoon jump off.

BTW, I love the Detroit Film Theatre. They always have obscure movies that I would never see if it were not for them. I have seen some AWESOME independent & foreign films there.

So on to the movie – The official description:

“Medicine for Melancholy is a love story of bikes and one-night stands told through two African-American twenty-somethings dealing with issues of class, identity, and the evolving conundrum of being a minority in rapidly gentrifying San Francisco-a city with the smallest proportional black population of any other major American city.”

The movie had me intrigued all the way through as it took some really interesting twists in terms of hoe baths, turning a jump off into a potential boo, interracial dating & relationship insecurities.

As the movie progressed, I found myself wanting Micah & Jo to leave it all behind & move on together but if it were real life, it would not be that easy as they both had some issues that needed to be resolved.

I think Barry Jenkins did an phenomenal job orchestrating this sexy, funny, simple but complex story making it seem very real & very human. If you fell out of love with Black love & or Black movies (don’t blame Tyler Perry, LOL), this film will give you a glimmer of hope.

After the film was over, Suite Suzy & I had an interesting conversation about Micah & Jo. We discussed what it means to be a good Black man & how a Black man could win the affection of a Black woman who has an easy life with a white boo when she acts like she wants something else. Very fascinating! Suite Suzy mentioned that she overheard a conversation in the ladies room between two Black ladies who basically said fuck Micah, stay with the white man & live good. This is slightly controversial for sure.

I know I cannot wait for this to come out on DVD, because I’m gonna be one of the 1st Negroes to cop it & then invite friends over for a viewing & discussion (I like doing that kind shit). According to the movie’s distributor, it will be available on DVD this spring.

So, YES, I’m in love with this refreshing movie!

Lastly, Invisible Woman did a great interview with Barry Jenkins late 2008; here’s a link. Go Invisible Woman!!! And thx for keeping me on my toes cinematically speaking!!!
———————————————————–
Other movies that I’ve seen recently & recommend that you get off your ass to go see are:

– Gran Torion – One of my friends was actually in this flick & I really enjoyed it! Filmed in Detroit, intense story line & the relationship transformations in this move are endearing & mind blowing. Talk about an ending!

- Curious Case of Benjamin Button – I just can’t say enough great things about this film. It’s like “Forrest Gump” meets “the Green Mile”. And yes, you are sure to see a magical Negro or two.

- Slumdog Millionaire – This movie really surpasses all of the hype about it. It is not a feel good movie, so please do not get it twisted. It is filled with tragic circumstances, abuse & ultimately love & triumph, an interesting combination for sure. I’m taking my momma to see it next weekend on a little date. On a related note, I feel bad that the kids who really made the movie are getting the short end of the money stick as they are back in India living in a slum as they portrayed in the movie. How fucked up is that???

– Taken – Loved this & Liam Neeson is now my best white friend in my head.

It’s amazing to be a young black man. who is a black artist. a black singer. a black writer & all the while more than black.

There is so much to me and so much at my feet as a black man and because I’m a black man and despite the fact I’m a black man.

And that to me is fucking beautiful.

~ Joshua Washington 2008