Single Mothers, Take a Bow.

It’s funny that Mother’s Day is today, considering that i got my first taste of motherhood this past week.

Well, maybe not my first, because i’ve taken care of a lot of children in my day… including a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.  But this is the first time i’ve had to handle the responsibility of caring for a 1 year old baby, with no help.

It was only for four days, but i can tell you, it was no piece of cake.  My niece is a great kid, she’s very easy-going and good-natured.  Still, it was not easy.  i’m used to being able to do whatever i want to do, whenever i want to do it, but for four days that was virtually impossible.  It was also really hard for me to get any painting done, so i sympathize with mothers of the creative type… It seems like there is never enough time in the day, and every minute is devoted to raising your child.  All art forms must be placed on the back burner.

it takes a strong woman to take care of children by herself, especially multiple children.  My mom had six of us, and i don’t know how she did it without going completely crazy.  i have a new found respect for her, and all the other single moms i know.  i wish single parenting didn’t exist, but that’s just the way it goes.  Sometimes it’s better for the child to not have the other parent in their life…

Anyway, for this experience, i give myself a B.  i think i did a pretty good job – got her to use the potty, let her run around on the beach a few times (which totally stresses me out, because she puts everything in her mouth), and made sure she brushed her teeth ever morning and night.  If she could talk, i would ask her how she would grade me.  i’m curious to know…

Yeah, so i just want to big up all the single mothers out there; the ones who are really trying to raise their kids right.  Moms make mistakes sometimes…  When they are stressed and overwhelmed, they often take it out on the children.  But when it all comes down to it, they really want the best for their kids.  And just as the sun never stops shining, a mother’s love never dies.  Even though it may get covered up by clouds sometimes.

LEAH X for President 2012

Sike!  i would kill myself before i ran for President.  i march to the beat of my own drum, and i do it ALONE.

i have so many things running through my mind right now, in regards to the events that have taken place within the last few days…  i just need to write them down.

Politics are not my thing.  They never have been, and they never will be.  i had enough faith in Obama to vote for him, but that’s about the extent of my political activity.  Oh, yeah, i also voted for Nader in the election before that.  i don’t know what kind of president Ralph Nader would have turned out to be, but he is responsible for hipping me to the concept of green living.  And at that time, he was supported by Cornel West (one of my heroes).  i was actually able to see West speak at a Nader rally in 2000, at Henry J. Kaiser….

Back to my point – i often ignore anything to do with politics, because it stresses me out.  i like to live life pretending the lies and corruption do not exist, and that’s how i survive.  So i have little knowledge of the war, Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden or the Taliban.  i also choose not to pay attention to anything pertaining to political parties.  What’s the difference between a Democrat and a Republican?  And what the hell is the Tea Party?  Personally, i hate labels. therefore i will never associate myself with any such thing.  I’m Leah, dammit!  i’m a Cancer, born in the year of the Earth Goat, with a moon in Virgo and Virgo rising.  And i’m an artist.

Yes, all these things that separate us, they are all illusory.  So even if someone does not share the same views as me, i am not going to judge them, or even try to change their mind.  But that will not stop me from saying what i think needs to be said.

i actually learned about the supposed “death of Osama bin Laden” on Twitter, from Maxwell, of all people.  After that, my timeline was inundated with patriotic, pro-Obama tweets.  (Mind you, up to now, i’ve had no real qualms with Obama.  i’ve kinda ignored him for the past 3 years.  The only time he becomes a part of my reality is when he is mentioned by Tavis Smiley and Cornel West.)  As i read these tweets, my heart sank.  i can’t tell you why, but i knew it was all wrong.  As i said before, i don’t know much about bin Laden, (though i did watch Fahrenheit 9/11), but what i’ve gathered is that he’s not a savory person.  So the feeling i was feeling was not one of compassion, or sorrow.  i guess i just felt bad for humanity – and how we think.  We react too quickly, and don’t take the time to analyze a situation, or search for the truth.

Just like everything else in the news, after 2 days, the noise had died down and only a few people were still talking about it.  But me, i’ve been researching, and listening to different points of view.  Frankly, the President and his people are not doing a good job at convincing me.  i mean, C’MON!  A sea burial?  And no photos?  Just the fact that the announcement interrupted ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ was too much for me.  Straight HOLLYWOOD.

i can’t prove that Osama bin Laden was killed in 2004, but i don’t doubt it’s a possibility.  There are videos, credible videos to make you question it, like the one that shows Benazir Bhutto talking about Osama bin Laden being killed by Omar Sheikh in 2007 (http://youtu.be/UnychOXj9Tg).  i don’t know, you be the judge.  Let your heart and intuition guide you – don’t take anyone else’s word for it.

In closing, i would just like to say that i don’t want no problems with Big Brother, or the U.S. Government lol.  i like my freedom and my privacy (the little bit i still have).  i know i’m not the sharpest tool in the box, but the intelligence i do possess??  i don’t want it insulted.  Dig?  Why not show me, and the rest of America a little respect, and just be HONEST for a change.  Yeah, i know that will never happen, but a girl can dream…

EVERYBODY (that includes you, me, the Prez, Donald Trump and every living soul across the globe) get FREE!  Free your mind, use your heart as your guide, stop putting money first, find your passion, help somebody, love yourself, quit lyin’, appreciate your loved ones,  stop giving to receive, take back your health…  Be HAPPY.

My Kind of Porn

Lol.  This is about as close as i get to watching porn.  i refrained from talking too much about his last show at MSG because i didn’t want to get on anyone’s nerves, but the music is still stuck in my head.

Watch Video for Kiss (Prince)

…And he still looks the same.  That’s how i’m gonna be when i turn 50.  If i make it to 50…

SURGEON GENERAL X’S WARNING

New Artwork: Our Obsession with BEAUTY.

This is a work in progress.  I want to fill all the remaining white spaces, but I’m not quite sure with what.

It started out with me drawing my niece Maya’s nose.  She’s almost 5 months old and the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen.  Her nose is a work of art – like a perfectly constructed building, or bridge.  Her parent’s genes combined to make the kind of nose people in Hollywood run to their plastic surgeon to get.

Sure, it’s fine to appreciate beautiful things, and being that I’m an artist, I think my eye is automatically drawn to pretty stuff.  But honestly, I don’t even want to think like that.  I don’t want to notice if someone has “nice” or “ugly” features.  Who cares?

This preoccupation we have with “beauty” is ridiculous.  It’s always been an issue, but it seems to get progressively worse.  Especially in Hollywood.  I refuse to let a place like that dictate to me what is/is not beautiful.  And I will try my hardest to make sure that Maya doesn’t pick up on that bullsh*t.

I was watching Chris Rock’s “Good Hair” the other day, and he was talking about how he’s constantly reminding his daughters that they are beautiful.  With or without perms.  (Not gonna get into details – you should watch the movie for yourself.)  Anyway, I probably tell Maya at least once an hour how cute and sweet and special she is.  But when she’s old enough to understand I’m going to stress the importance of judging one by their character, and not by how they look.

If you have kids, please try not to instill these stupid ideas in them.  I was watching an interview with Michael Jackson where he talked about how his father told him, “You didn’t get that nose from me.”  Man, that pains my heart…  Not trying to judge Joe Jackson, but you should NEVER say ANYTHING like that to your children. People wondered why MJ had problems with his self-esteem…

I’ll write more later, because I have more to say about this.  But until that time, think about it and ask why you’re so quick to point out when you see someone “ugly.”  It probably because you want to feel better about yourself.  And when you do that you’re ugly, too.  On the inside.

New Painting for Tibet/Rants

So, I’m going to do that Tibetan Gothic painting I described in a previous post later.  For the Choice: HIV/AIDS Initiative silent auction on September 4, 2010, I’m gonna do something a little less time-consuming.  This is one of my #1 soul-bruthas, J.D., with the Tibetan flag behind him.

8/20

This is just the beginning.  I still have to fix the eyes, cuz they’re looking kinda cock-eyed… and do the eyebrows and lips and some darker shading.  I’ll probably get that done later today.

8/21

This is like the second layer… and I still have more detail to do on the eyelids, the ears, and the hair…

8/25

I still have to fix his hair, his shirt, and the straighten the lines, and paint some sun rays on the flag behind him.  I don’t know if I’m gonna keep the button-up shirt on him or chupa… I’ll figure it out today.

9/2

Almost done…

9/4

Today is the day of the auction, and the painting still has some wet spots, but it is dry enough to travel to 1st Congregational Church on Harrison where the event is taking place.  Wish I had a little more time to make things perfect, but you can’t cry over spilled milk.  Hopefully it raises a little money for TANC and Choice: HIV/AIDS Initiative…

I know my non-Tibetan friends and family always hear me talking about, Tibet this, and Tibet that, but do you really understand what’s going on over there??  Basically, the same thing that was done to the Native people of America, the cultural genocide, is taking place in Tibet.

This is nothing new… it’s been going on since 1959, when the Chinese government took over.  Tibet is not a really small place, but it’s like a little mouse compared to China and it’s dragon-sized military.  I guess all the conflict only boils down to one thing – MONEY.  Tibet is a land rich in natural resources and culture, and the Chinese government claims that it is, and always has been, a part of China.  Therefore they’re entitled to anything that Tibet has to offer, including the various places of worship and historical landmarks that draw in a lot of tourism.  (Which doesn’t make much sense, since the Chinese government is so anti-religious.  I saw somewhere that you have to be an Athiest in order to work for the government.)  The fact is, that Tibet IS NOT part of China, and the written history proves that.  Tibetans ARE NOT Chinese - they don’t speak Chinese, nor do they look Chinese.  And their way of life is unlike any other I’ve ever seen.

The sad part is that the Tibetan people’s culture is dying out.  There is an influx of Chinese people in Tibet, and the number of original inhabitants continues to get smaller.  They may soon become the minority in their own land, a land where they are discriminated against if they speak their own language instead of Mandarin, and a place that they STILL do not have the religious freedom to worship the Dalai Lama, their spiritual leader.  You can be imprisoned if you openly support the Dalai Lama, or even keep a picture of him.

Anyway, it’s all about greed and the acquisition of wealth at the expense of someone else.  And it’s not right!  America really has no room to speak on it, because we do the same thing.  It’s everywhere.  For some reason, it’s really hard for humans to fight against a greedy spirit, and they will do whatever it takes to get what they want.  They are able to ignore that they are hurting someone else, because they are only looking straight ahead… got a one-track mind on the dollar sign.

Politically, America can’t get involved, because it would interfere with their own interests.  We owe billions(?) of dollars to China, and it would be really stupid to get on their bad side.  Plus, what can we say?  America is probably the greediest nation of all, and we have a long-standing history of abusing people in order to make money.  That’s why sometimes money makes me sick.  If we have enough to eat and our living conditions are comfortable, then why do we need more??  Why can’t we take some of the excess and share it with those who have NOTHING TO EAT!  There are people starving right now!  Damn.  (I know I’m talking a big game right now, but I’m not helping any of those hungry people.  If I were rich, I would, though.  I really would.)

Side Note:  I had also stated previously that I didn’t want any enemies, and that maybe things could be solved peaceably and yadah, yadah, yadah… But enough is enough.  50 years is enough.  I don’t like to be offensive, but I want to be the type of person who isn’t afraid to speak the truth.  Sorry, China.  I love you, but the false imprisonment, and the executions and torturing and brain-washing…  It is NOT the way to do it.  If the government doesn’t condone these things (torture, etc.), then can you please look further into the behavior of the officials in the cities and provinces, or individuals in the military/police, who may not not be handling the situation properly?

Police notice, Tibet, 1993

Shit, maybe I need to be taking the time out to ask the same thing to Mr. Obama and Schwartznegger and Ron Dellums.  Can you guys check your police officers and tell them to stop shooting kids?  This world is a mess.

As far as that situation in NY is concerned, about the Ground Zero mosque/cultural complex thing… I can’t believe the ignorance that still exists… We have to look at things with a purer heart and mind.  The fact is that there are Muslims who died in 9/11, there are Muslims that are “on the frontlines,” fighting for America (even though I don’t support that war).  The people who are equating Muslims with terrorists really need to expand their minds, watch some documentaries, and meet some people.  Islam is the world’s largest religion, so you will find a plethora of personality types within that group.  There are extremists in every religion.  Christians have done some f*cked up stuff, too.  Are you going to stop letting them build churches because some Christian killed a bunch of innocent people?  THINK ABOUT IT!

#RIDICULOUS

For the Love of MONEY

You know what I say?  FUCK Money.  Sometimes I hate money, man.

It’s true, we all gotta eat.  And I don’t want to live on the streets.  But I swear to God, if I ever start rakin’ in the dough, I won’t be the one to go buy expensive clothes and all that other superficial bullshit.  I’m going to constantly remind myself that children somewhere are starving, and it’s my job to do something to help them.  Success to me means making a positive change in the world, and if I die broke having done that, I’ll be fine.

Cancer, The Mother of Creation

I was born on this day 31 years ago.  Did you hear that?!  I’m 31 years old!  I think somebody lied ‘cuz I don’t feel a day over 12.

I don’t care to celebrate, but I do find the day of my birth to hold some significance, because I am so much into Astrology.

My sun sign is Cancer, the crab.  Cancer is a water sign, and we’re ruled by the moon. Deep, sensitive, creative and romantic – these are traits that are often associated with people born under my sign.  And they describe me to a large extent.

Anyway, I’m gonna use this time, from now until July 21st, to steadily create and focus on expressing that deep love and romanticism through my creations. Gemini was a time of exploration and freedom, and my mind was opened a little more each day.  I came up with so many ideas, and now I just want to put them on canvas. (Speaking of, here’s a post from Kanye’s blog that I really loved… check it out – http://www.kanyewest.com/home/#/home/page/52/)

Maybe you, too, can use this time to create something.  If everybody used their free time to make something, our lives would be a lot more fulfilling.  ’Cuz we are all gods, and we are all creators in some form or another.

Shout outs to all my Cancerian peoples out there!  i.e. H.H. the XIVth Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Frida Kahlo, Carlos Santana, my sister…  And a big “Happy Birthday” to those born on the very same day as me – Mike Tyson, Fantasia Barrino, Lena Horne (R.I.P.), Buddy Rich and David Alan Grier.  (You see the similarities? ;P)

Patrice Lumumba was also a Cancer, and the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo after he helped win its independence from Belgium in June 1960.

Art & Music (Maxwell Live, 06.02.10)

I just got back from Seattle last night.  I go to Seattle frequently because my beloved sisters, cousins and most of my nieces and nephews reside there, but this time I flew up for 2 days, mainly to see Maxwell perform at the Key Arena.

He was coming to Oakland, so I could have just gone to the show taking place at the Oracle Arena this evening, but I’d had a great time seeing him in Seattle at The Paramount last Summer – it was a little more low-key.  Plus, I wanted to take my cousin, a fellow Maxwell enthusiast, for her birthday.  I thought it would be an adventure…

And it was. One of the most stressful experiences I’ve had in my life. There was a road block at every corner, it seemed.  By the time 8:00pm came on the 2nd of June, I was just ready to find my seat, relax, and listen to audible art.

This is not a review, but rather my attempt to understand my own brain and the effect music has on it.  I am constantly trying to figure out why I use music as an escape from the harsh realities of life.  Well, besides the obvious reasons…

I’ve mentioned before how certain things trigger dopamine production in our brains; food, sex, drugs and alcohol.  Music is another, and my drug of choice.  It really does help me get through life when I’m feeling hopeless.  I don’t know if I would be able to live without it.

As for Visual Art, I absolutely love creating, but I really only do it because I happen to be good at it.  Music is my first love.  And I don’t have much knowledge of the art world, the history, or styles and techniques.  I tend to look to musicians for guidance and inspiration, and revere them as most visual artists would revere great painters like Van Gogh or Michelangelo.

That’s how I see Maxwell, you know.  I always associate him with fine art.  Maybe it’s partly to do with the imagery in his earlier videos, like the voluptuous mermaid painting in “Whenever, Wherever, Whatever.”  The only paintings I knew of at that time were by Dali (because my grandmother was a collector of his work and I had seen his paintings around the house) and Frida Kahlo (because my eldest sister had a book about her), but besides that I had no interest or knowledge of any visual artists.  So that may be the reason I put musicians in the space that would normally be occupied by artists, at least in the brain of an artist.

Anyway, it’s for that reason that I do not hesitate to buy tickets to see Maxwell whenever he goes on tour.  I’ve seen him perform the same numbers on 4 different occasions in the past 2 years, and every time I learn something new.  There is something that happens in my mind each time I see him live.  I don’t have a great epiphany – nothing like that – but I get a better understanding of my own mind.

When I listen to my favorite artist’s albums, it’s sometimes hard for me not to worship them.  I’m able to ignore the fact that they are humans, they’re fallible, and that they eat, sleep, and sh*t like the rest of us.  But when I get to see them in person, that dreamy bubble floating over my head gets popped, and I can see things a little more clearly.  I still adore them, but I can see them for what they are, not the image that I’ve made up in my head for them.

It’s deep.  And I’ve ranted enough, so I’ll close by saying I’m glad I got to go and especially happy that I was able to contribute 2 whole dollars to Haiti and hear the smooth sounds of Max and his band in the process.  I don’t even have any complaints about the wait time.  All I know is that I’m gonna try to be the BEST artist I can be, touch as many hearts as I can, and to take every opportunity to HELP SOMEBODY.  (That was my favorite part, btw.  I felt that in my legs.)  Shout outs to everybody in the band, but especially Ms. Webb and her angelic voice, the horn section, and Hod David’s magic fingers.  Have a great rest of your tour…

“I don’t do drugs, I am drugs”

Salvador Dalí(Spanish painter, 1904-1989)

Elements of Hip Hop: The Make of a Movement

If you love Hip Hop, or if you just love me, you should come check out Elements of Hip Hop: The Make of a Movement. You’ll be able to see some of my pieces in the exhibition lasting from June 17-September 30, with the opening reception taking place on Saturday, June 19th from 6pm-2am.

“The exhibition is a celebration of the movement called Hip Hop! Join us as Bay Area artists share their vision of hip hop and the Four Elements: MCing, DJing, Graffiti Writing, and Breakdancing, named by Afrika Bambaataa – founder of the Zulu Nation.

“The opening reception is the celebration of the StreetSmARTS program created by the SF Arts Commission. The StreetSmARTS Celebration: Elements of Hip Hop kicks off with local and world cuisine, live muraling, arts activities for youth and families, music, and movies.  As the evening progresses there will be a DJ spinning, B-Boy contests, and a midnight unveiling of art pieces by local urban artists.

“The exhibition also features monthly panel discussions hosted by StreetSmARTS, The African American Art & Culture Complex, Asia Pacific Islanders Cultural Center, BayView Opera House, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, Queer Cultural Center, and SOMArts Cultural Center.”

Remember the illustration of J. Dilla that I did just after he passed?  Well, I thought that would be a good piece to feature in the exhibition.  To learn more about him and his contribution to hip hop, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J_Dilla

I did this drawing at the behest of one of my MySpace friends who was organizing artists to pay tribute to Dilla after his untimely death.  I honestly didn’t even know who he was at the time.  And my friend told me he was one of the masterminds behind Common’s “Like Water for Chocolate” album, which happens to be one of my favorite hip hop records of all time.

Hence, the e=mc2… Evian (water) = mILK cHOCOLATE2… Get it?  Any way, he was a genius.  So I think it’s a great piece to show, and maybe through it others who don’t know can discover the Genius of James Yancey.

One of the advantages of keeping the originals of my work is that I can UPGRADE them if I feel it’s necessary.  I thought this piece was nice, but it could be nicer, so I decided to make a few changes.

I love houndstooth – that’s my favorite pattern, so I drew it into the background.  I’m no M.C. Escher, but I was pretty precise with it.  It’s quite relaxing to draw with a ruler, even though I am always hesitant to use one.  It’s good to have a guide when you’re trying to reach perfection with your pencil strokes.

So, down at the bottom you will see what it’s gonna look like.  I’ll make a few other adjustments and call it a day…

6/09

I’ve been messing around with this one… going a little crazy with the gold paint pen.  I’m gonna straighten the edges, accent some other areas, and that’ll be it…

p.s. Special Thanks to Melonie & Melorra!