african-american artist HORACE PIPPIN is one of america's best kept secrets. his work is in

the style naively called "naive", but i think of him as a realist. he was born in 1888 and grew up in goshen, new york. self-taught, pippin focused on the real life unfolding in front of him ~ and segregation and memories of slavery are focal points in his work. pippin fought for America in WW1, and lost the use of his right arm. my favorite painting of his is "Holy Mountain" ~ his paintings often have a biblical theme.

to the girls on the block, harlem 1989

u look through me

like u don't know me

from the roots of my hair

to the heels of my shoes

u assess my

skin

and count my charms

short

u might stare

but

u don't recognize me

we sit, together

on the bus

or crowd together,

on the subway

or stand on the corner

each in the shadow of the other

u think

we are worlds

apart as though

our breath could

not

mix in conversation

the same blood

could not

mingle in our veins

my sister

i wish

u could see me.

to a girl i don't know, but i mourn

what could push

a young girl, twenty five

to snuff her breath out

with a rope?

what kind of pain

could so rot the heart

to such sadness

what depth of what despair

to lead her there?

to the end, her end/

her last drawn breath

and the prayer of release

lights her eyes

for the last time

and

the pain goes away

it goes

with a crack

17 june 09

RIP

the sugar bowl is always full

at our house

overflowing

full

for your gluttony

rich amber, golden sweetness

wasted in the bottom of your cup

contained loosely

and tightlypacked in blue glass, safe

full

full full

always full

for you

three spoons, four

help yourself

sugar~ grains of perfect sand

blend, melt merge

so sweet

so sweet so full

have, have, take, take

more

more fill to bursting

til you purge

sweetened lies

tumbling at our feet

undigested, empty empty

blue glass broken on the red floor

faith

i liked the way these vendors made the facade of this mosque, in lagos island, their everyday backdrop.
the time weathered mosque sits in the very center of lagos market / it is a landmark and a point of reference for the found and the lost. at salat its surrounding sidewalks are flush with worshipers, knelt to Allah in unison.

abundance

seen in small things like grains of rice, and the glow of brightly iridescent beads / just when you might think there is no more here to see, when things are falling upwards and tearing inward / the realization of abundance humbles and rewards.

Jailer Video by Asa - MySpace Video

Jailer Video by Asa - MySpace Video

asa is a contemporary nigerian via europe singer, songwriter revolutionary, poet, griot... soothsayer. i dig everything about her, from her laid back personal style, her nonchalant and casual body language, her unassuming way of working in her world... she is both romantic and political... a radical combination for a new age.