Project 365: Launch Day!

Tomorrow is the beginning of my year long photography project, Project 356. You have no idea how excited I am! It's not just the project that has me so happy and proud of myself. This isn't the first time I've wanted to do a photography project. This is the first time that I've taken the necessary steps to starting and completing a photography project though. And I have been taken some huge steps! I decided I was going to do this project using instant film(view sample images above) the day after I decided I was going to do Project 365. Tonight I'm going to launch my project on Kickstarter to help me get the funds I need for this project. I won't be putting all of the images on the Internet. I'm thinking I will post an image from this project about once a week or month. Depending on how busy I get once I start school again. All the same the regular content of this blog will continue as normal.

Now lets talk about Kickstarter. I first heard about Kickstarter after Kasalina Nabakooza emailed me asking me to help fund her project. I meet her at a Black Girl Project premiere back in August which she later interviewed me for her website. I really must send a huge thank you her way!! I'm asking for $1000, that will go towards covering the cost of film and creating my book at the end of the year! I hope you guys can feel how inspired and determined I feel and will help me by backing my project in whatever way you can. If you can only give a dolor then that's totally fine!! If you can only help by spreading the word then that too is fine and very helpful. Happy New Year All! I'll see you there!!

A la prochaine!

Merry Christmas!

Just in chase you where wondering.

HOW TO BE ALONE by Tanya Davis

"If you are at first lonely, be patient. If you've not been alone much, or if when you were, you weren't okay with it, then just wait. You'll find it's fine to be alone once you're embracing it.
We could start with the acceptable places, the bathroom, the coffee shop, the library. Where you can stall and read the paper, where you can get your caffeine fix and sit and stay there. Where you can browse the stacks and smell the books. You're not supposed to talk much anyway so it's safe there.
There's also the gym. If you're shy you could hang out with yourself in mirrors, you could put headphones in (guitar stroke).
And there's public transportation, because we all gotta go places.
And there's prayer and meditation. No one will think less if you're hanging with your breath seeking peace and salvation.

Start simple. Things you may have previously (electric guitar plucking) based on your avoid being alone principals.
The lunch counter. Where you will be surrounded by chow-downers. Employees who only have an hour and their spouses work across town and so they -- like you -- will be alone.
Resist the urge to hang out with your cell phone.

When you are comfortable with eat lunch and run, take yourself out for dinner. A restaurant with linen and silverware. You're no less intriguing a person when you're eating solo dessert to cleaning the whipped cream from the dish with your finger. In fact some people at full tables will wish they were where you were.
Go to the movies. Where it is dark and soothing. Alone in your seat amidst a fleeting community.
And then, take yourself out dancing to a club where no one knows you. Stand on the outside of the floor till the lights convince you more and more and the music shows you. Dance like no one's watching...because, they're probably not. And, if they are, assume it is with best of human intentions. The way bodies move genuinely to beats is, after all, gorgeous and affecting. Dance until you're sweating, and beads of perspiration remind you of life's best things, down your back like a brook of blessings.

Go to the woods alone, and the trees and squirrels will watch for you.
Go to an unfamiliar city, roam the streets, there're always statues to talk to and benches made for sitting give strangers a shared existence if only for a minute and these moments can be so uplifting and the conversations you get in by sitting alone on benches might've never happened had you not been there by yourself
Society is afraid of alonedom, like lonely hearts are wasting away in basements, like people must have problems if, after a while, nobody is dating them. but lonely is a freedom that breaths easy and weightless and lonely is healing if you make it.

You could stand, swathed by groups and mobs or hold hands with your partner, look both further and farther for the endless quest for company. But no one's in your head and by the time you translate your thoughts, some essence of them may be lost or perhaps it is just kept.
Perhaps in the interest of loving oneself, perhaps all those sappy slogans from preschool over to high school's groaning were tokens for holding the lonely at bay. Cuz if you're happy in your head than solitude is blessed and alone is okay.

It's okay if no one believes like you. All experience is unique, no one has the same synapses, can't think like you, for this be releived, keeps things interesting lifes magic things in reach.
And it doesn't mean you're not connected, that communitie's not present, just take the perspective you get from being one person in one head and feel the effects of it. take silence and respect it. if you have an art that needs a practice, stop neglecting it. if your family doesn't get you, or religious sect is not meant for you, don't obsess about it.

you could be in an instant surrounded if you needed it
If your heart is bleeding make the best of it
There is heat in freezing, be a testament."

I'm going to print this out and frame it! I've always liked being alone. I find happiness and peace in doing things on my own. Like going to the movies or out to dinner. It's true though that society makes you feel like maybe there's something wrong with you because you crave solitude. I like being alone and think I know how to do it. But just incase I ever forget I'll have this!
View video here.

A la prochaine!

Ignoring those pessimistic voices. Mine and others.

Today's post is dedicated to self doubt, pride and pessimism.
So as you guys may know starting January 1st I'm going to be doing Project 365. In the middle of last week I made the decision to make a book and do this project. That's big, and I'm very proud of my self! I've been trying to figure out how I wanted to approach the project. Digital or film photographs. I'm crazy about film photography, more specifically instant photography. I was devastated when Polaroid stopped making film, but very excited about Fuji's new instant film cameras.
I decided that I want to do the whole project using this camera. It would be great! It would help me become a better photographer. It would help me with the tiny problem I have with creating something every day. The only problem I have is funding this project. I HATE asking for anything! I'm a prideful creature, and along with that pride is the tiny pessimistic voice that I carry around with me. My main problem is that I can talk myself out of anything! I also come from a family of pessimistic individuals. I say that pessimism is our religious view, they don't like that.... I started doing some research in hopes of finding some inspiration, and some way of funding my project with out feeling like I'm begging.
I found this web site called Kickstarter, where you can ask people to help you fund creative projects. Score!! I found out about it when my friend sent me a link to her project. View it here. I've been working on writing my project out. I'm very good when it comes to talking about something, but have a hard time getting it on paper. Send some positivity my way and I promise to continue battling my pessimistic ways.

A la prochaine!

Weezer on a Sunday Morning

I brought my friends Ipod touch last week. Actually if I'm being honest I'm still paying it off. She pretty much put every album Weezer has made on it. I've fallen in love with Ratitude. I really can't stop listening to it.

Documentaries

"Lost In The Night" from The Madbury Club on Vimeo.

The Black Girl Project {a short} from Aiesha Turman on Vimeo.

I really want to create a documentary...I have for a very long time. Maybe this will be something I try to do after I finish Project 365. One thing at a time. On a side note: Did notice me in the second film? I'm very blessed to have met or know people that have made these documentaries or are in them.

A la prochaine!

Project 365

I have this bad habit, I have a hard time starting/finishing new projects. I get discouraged. I set unrealistic goals for myself. I lie to myself. I say I can't do it. I say no one will be interested. I say I need more training. But really all I need is more balls. I need a little more moxie.

I've been trying to figure out a photo project to start while I'm not in school for winter break. I've been throwing around these big ideas that I just won't have time to fully commit myself too. I have heard about project 365 many times, but I guess I thought it was too simple for me to do (because I'm so great, Ha). Anyway, why would I won't to do something everyone else has done? Example one of how I lie to myself.

Well today I decided that:

1. I want to write a book.
2. I want to make a book filled with my photographs, if for nothing else then to put on my bookshelf.

I decided to take a chance with Project 365. I Googled it and found this article on photojojo. Before I read the article I figured that if I wanted to I could change the project around so that it was more complicated, and would there for be better. Example 2 of me lying to myself and creating unrealistic goals. After I read the article I realized that the project will be hard enough and would be great because at the end of the year I would be able to create my photo book!

I'm going to start this project on January 1, 2011. I'm not going to post every photo I take on the internet because I may wind up selling the book. Anythings possible right! Wish me luck!

A la prochaine(until next time, it's French!!) ;-)

Aim High

Today's Goal

1. Resist the urge to run home grab cameras and explore, explore, explore!
   
2. Leave computer lab, go to library and attempt to study for last two finals tomorrow evening
3. 7pm tonight, a free show at Therapy Wine Bar in Brooklyn, NY with Selzin. Gotta love live music!

Tomorrow

1. Finish sketchbook
   
2. Find Brian Wren, my tattoo artist
3. Draw tattoo ideas
   
4. Make an appointment to get new ink!
   

Just Another Sunday

I really like doing these music post. They help me find and listen to new music. I'll never be able to listen to Single Ladies with out thinking of this version! I'm going to try and do this every Sunday. I hope you enjoy!
A la prochaine ;-)

Artist Talk: Timothy Selzin Nafziger

Who?
Birth name: Timothy Selzin Nafziger Artist Name :Selzin (pronounced sel-zon-just because) aka timothy tha ol'skoola aka calzone

Where are you from?
Surprisingly Earth. Born in England, raised in Jos, Nigeria til the age of 13, then moved to Columbus, Ohio (C-bus) migrated south to Florida for a few years, then back to Ohio. And of course now Brooklyn!

What do you call yourself (writer, rapper, photographer, etc)?
Ambiguous. An artist. Poet. Emcee. Dreamer.

How do you create (your inspiration)?
People around me inspire me. My surroundings engulf me. Mediocrity annoys me. War grips me. Race does not define me. Rivers flow and carry elements with them. I am one of them. People are music-pulsing, walking, dancing, stuttering, panting, screaming, yelling, screeching, whispering. Shhh, can you hear it? My art defines me. Music aligns me

Why do you do it?
For the love. To prove a point. To strike a chord. To start a revolution in 3 and a half minutes. To expose the truth. To let go. To let in. To engage.

Are you currently working on anything?
Always. Working on a hip hop project that is gonna consist of a lot of alliteration. I have also been writing a decent amount of introspective poetry recently. Starting a new band. I will be hosting a monthly showcase @ Therapy wine bar, next show is Dec 14th, 7pm sharp-10pm.

Advice you would give a young Artist?
Don't let substance, women, or negative feedback get in the way of your goal. Learn from the criticism you collect. Write with no limitations. NEVER throw away your art. Years later you will be able to pick and choose from these pieces. Be yourself. Adapt but do not conform.

I love food, just ask anyone!!

(photo from Moptop Maven)

I like to call my self a "Big Girl...on the inside!" Haha I can pack quite a bit of food in this 99 lb frame. I usually just cook very simple dishes of assorted veggies, Basmati brown rice, and beans. Have I mentioned I'm a Vegetarian? When I cook it's mostly to get full.

This past Thanksgiving my Aunt, a devoted meatie, made the best lasagna I've ever had. It was made with nothing but soy meats! It wasn't until I was was eating the last of it that I realized that I had never had anything but frozen lasagna. My diet is very....bland. I don't want to change it, I was raised a Vegetarian, and chose to stay that way. I just want to add some fun to my diet. And it would be fun to trick my meatie friends with a nice big plate of veggie lasagna and have them think there's meat in it!

Anyway I saw this post on Moptop Maven with this yummy picture of a pot pie, that made me realize that I've never had a pot pie that wasn't frozen. The recipe seems simple enough, I'm kind of slow in the kitchen, so maybe I'll give this a try. Not before I master my Aunts lasagna though!!

A la prochaine!

Hello Sunday

Thanksgiving Dance-Off!

Sorry no food photography. I was to busy stuffing my face. I went to Yonkers to see my Aunt. On Saturday I went to my lovely friend Amanda's place for a "not-a-party" dance-off! I had an AMAZING time!!

Baby Steps

Have you ever wanted to just pack a bag a leave...the country? I've been feeling that way. I made a promise to my self to take a long trip after I get my degree(by the way I'll be finish next fall!). I really want to go to France. If you can make it in NY you can make it any where right? I took Spanish in high school and college, though I can't speak it, at all! I started taking French lessons with these podcast I found on itunes. Coffee Break French is amazing. I may not be a pro when I finally make my trip to France, but at least I'll be able to ask for food and water! Check this out also.

SO I've been trying to find some art exhibits to go to. I really like going to the open reception's. I love hearing what other people have to say about the art. It's how I learn. I went looking for some opening reception's online for this month and found this web site here. I'm really excited about this because they have listings for not only areas of NY , but also places like Chicago and LA. Places I will visit someday!

Shadeism

Shadeism from Shadeism on Vimeo.

A good video to watch about the many shades of Brown people, and the love/hate relationship some people feel about it.

Art is Everything!

Art is what happens when the Love inside you builds up then spills over - Netchem H.

Artist Talk: Aiesha Turman

Who?
Aiesha Turman

Where are you from?
Born in Albany, NY. Raised in Rochester, NY. Been a Brooklynite for over a decade

What do you call yourself (writer, rapper, photographer, etc)?
Filmmaker-Writer-Artist-Educator

How do you create (your inspiration)?
My inspiration is Black people in general, but Black women specifically, both contemporary and historic -- wherever they are in the world.

Why do you do it?
Because I have to. I am supposed to. It is my calling.

Are you currently working on anything?
I'm always working on something. I'm expanding my film, The Black Girl Project, to include a book and several shorter films. I am working on a multi-dimensional web-based project about Black women, and working on a book project, as well as teaching.

Advice you would give a young Artist?
Create. Spend your time creating. There are a lot of distractions, but what's important is that you stay focused and produce whatever it is you do.


For more info on The Black Girl Project click here.

Photo by me: Brooklyn, NY - Oct/2009

Friday Night Music

Live Music

Last Tuesday night I attended a show at Therapy Wine Bar in Brooklyn, NY to see Selzin and Tai Allen . It was awesome night of live music. They may be doing this once a month, there next show is 12/16. I was all ready to add a disclaimer to the end of this post complaining about the lighting, and how I haven't used my camera in so long. I quite like these photo's though, so no complaining from me. Enjoy!

A la prochaine!

Joe Mangrum - Union Square

This past Thursday I was just about to yell at my self for carrying my camera around all day and not using it when I ran into this guy. Joe Mangrum makes these awesome paintings with colored sand. I like to call his paintings removable street art.

A la prochaine!

Stop

Brookyn, NY - Nov/2010

Tin City

I love this place for the following reasons:

1. The only place in Brooklyn where I can get some homework done
2. The soda floats (the Black Cow)
3. The ice cream (Ginger , or Eggnog. Mostly Ginger, on a cone!)
4. My unofficial hang out spot. But please don't tell anyone, I'd like to keep it my unofficial hang out spot. ;-)

If your in Brooklyn and haven't visited this place yet do so soon. Like before I eat all the ginger ice cream! Click here.

A la prochaine!

Boys Wanna Be Her - Peaches

There's something about this song that makes me want to lick my lips, pump my fist, stomp my feet, and shake my ass! ;-)

Artist Talk

A monthly series where I will be interviewing artists. Or people I consider artists. I have always found myself inspired more by people I know. These are the people that inspire and keep me motivated in alot of ways. There just regular people that have created or said something that has made me want to keep going with my art. I think everyone has some art in them, so I won't just be interviewing people that paint or sculpt, but people that write or create films also.

I've wanted to do this for a very long time, and I hope you guys enjoy it! If you know any artists that you think I'll be interested in please shoot me an email at netchem2002@gmail.com

A la prochaine!

Howl-loween!

This past weekend was Halloween. I "celebrated" on Saturday with some friends. Really I just went out and had a couple of alcoholic beverages. This girl and two of her friend were Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll. Can you guess which one she was? Drugs! I thought they were very original and it made me want to do something different then my Indian girl costume next year!

I'm having some computer issues, but will post as frequently as I can. That's all for now.

A la prochaine!

Yes Yes, I know I said I quit!

What I really should have said was I was quitting any influence from people about the way I create and express my self. Let me make my self clear. Just because I've dusted my camera off doesn't mean I'm going to whip it out at your request and take photo's for you.

If you know me at all you know why photography means so much to me, and why I can't quit it. The idea of photography was implanted in my head in HS when I was battling a very dark period in my life. I had spent a year homeless, lost quite a bit of friends and spent a year in bed making it impossible to graduate with my class. I was allowed to take photography and it was a great experience. It wasn't a very long class, and it had too many students but the idea that I could create something, that I could capture the moments and people that meant the most to me was planted. After HS I started taking on photo jobs. Mostly events, but some fashion work too. None of it felt right, but I kept doing it because people wanted me too. This past summer I had enough and I told anyone that was listening that "I Quite". Honestly I had no desire to be behind or in front of a camera.

A couple of random things happened recently. One of my friends went online and saw some of my work and sent me an email saying they where awesome. I then went online and looked at the portrait work I liked doing and realized that they were good and that I had grew from the time I started. I also realized that no one should be able to make me quite something that I enjoy doing. I need to get a better at saying no and meaning it. It's okay to be a little selfish sometime.

Baby I'm back!

"B" is for Bulb

SO I took these back in July and never posted them. Woops. The top one I especially like. It's of my mother at the end of the stairs. See her? She's the blur....

Oh and hello I guess I'm back. Kinda.

A la prochaine!

"Don't Cha Know"- MoShadee

MoShadee - "Didn't Cha Know" from skip_PFOP on Vimeo.
I know I've mentioned my admiration for Nakeya Brown before. Well this is her boyfriend Maurice MoShadee Clarke. You know how alot of people say there this or that? When I heard that he was a artist, and aspiring entertainer, I thought "Okay, that's nice". Now I don't know much about much about Hip Hop, but my ears like what there hearing.

Keep up the great work MoShadee! =)

Punch Drunk Love

Fort Greene Festival

I am now the Outreach and Communication intern for The Black Girl Project. I was sent out to the Fort Greene Festival this past Saturday, it was a full day of music and food. There was a performance at the end by Common. He stole my heart, it's official! This is some of the who's and what's that I saw.

The Black Girl Project

In a culture where Black women and girls are either venerated for their
saintly accomplishments which strips them of any other character attribute
except that of martyr/mammy, or demonized and used as the fall gal to explain
away all that is wrong with the Black community and society-at-large, it is
important to hear and see Black girls speak their truths.

Click here for more.

Painting with Light

These are beautiful. I found them here.

What do you call your self?

"A work of art is good if it has arisen out of necessity.." -Rilke

I don't call myself a writer or a poet. Sometimes though the need to write hits me in the dead of the night, right before I'm about to fall asleep. At those times I get up turn on the lights and write don't the words in my head. Afterwards, with out reading what I just put down on paper, I fall in bed happy that I listened to the words my heart was shouting at me.

One day I'm going to compile all this mini stories from my heart into a book.

p.s. I'm reading one letter from Letters To A Young Poet a day

Books I must own...soon!

If I wasn't capable of reading a book a day I would be confident that that tiny list of seven books would last me through out the whole summer. As it is I've already finish two books, (in two days), and I'm going to start reading Black Girl in Paris tomorrow.

I was thinking about books I've read in the past and loved, but can't remember now. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou was one of those books. I read it in HS, and can remember nothing about it expect that I liked it. Last semester I read an essay from Sherman Alexie and fell in love with this author. Now I must have The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. When I was in JHS I read four books by Mildred D. Taylor They were wonderful but I forgot the names as soon as I finish them. I came across one of them at the $1 table at strand a while back and now I must own all four stories.

1. Song of the Trees
2. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (I own this one)
3. Let the Circle Be Unbroken
4. The Road to Memphis

Hopefully I'll be able to get these books soon. If I don't though there's a summary to The Road to Memphis on Wikipedia. =/

Until next time.

Sleep Don't Come Easy

These last couple of day here in NY have been mind numbingly hot! All I've been able to do is sit in bed, read, and sweat. I finished two of the books on that list, and since I'm trying to make the list last the summer I'm now re-reading Harry Potter #5.

Today was nice(I didn't sweat at all! WOOT!) and I got some stuff done for my hair. Did I mention that I turned my tumblr blog into a natural hair blog....no? Well check it out here! I'm getting into the habit of making things for my hair instead of buying them. I might have a mini business by the end of the summer.

Now about that portfolio I need to be doing. I'm ashamed to say I haven't worked on it since last Sunday when I went to Dumbo BK(view pictures in last post). I'm confined to my house because right now I literally can't afford to go anywhere, and I find it very hard to get inspired to do anything art wise at home. My home isn't inspiring. Ah well I know my success lies in my hands and that feels good to say! If I don't succeed it will only be my fault.

This turned out to be a rambling post. This is what happens when your clock gets turned around because of the humidity. Sleep deprivation at its lowest.

Is it Summer yet...?

DUMBO, Brooklyn NY