From today’s b, the paper

{photo by Eddie Winter}

indie art “Asterism”
GALLERY FOUR
For those whose upper-level science in college meant spending time with the football team in geology, “asterism,” refers to concepts of luminance and change in the natural world. If you’re still with us, “Asterism” features thought-provokingly original stuff. There is site-specific painting and recent sculpture by D.C.’s Maggie Michael and new work by Brooklyn’s Bryan Savitz and Baltimore’s Jan Razauskas and Nikki Romanello, as well as Chicagoan Steve Nyktas’ photography. Now-Jan. 10. H&H Building, 405 W. Franklin St., fourth floor. Noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and by appointment. galleryfour.net.

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micaweb.jpg

From today’s b, the paper

make it work Experimental Fashion Show
MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART
Now that “Project Runway” is in an ongoing air-or-not-to-air battle, we have to get our offbeat fashion fix somewhere else. Often edgy and eclectic, MICA’s past shows, always featuring student wares, have teetered on the edge between practical and, uh, not-so-practical. This year’s theme is “Kegger,” and since this is MICA, don’t expect a dress made out of beer cans. Instead, each of the collections address themes of indulgence, consumption and beauty. 7 p.m. Saturday, main building. $5 in advance, $7 at the door. mica.edu.

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V Valentine {V Valentine}

Toao {V Valentine}

Now more than ever, it’s critical for every artist to be just as equally creative with their business sense as they are with their cadenced ingenuity during this reconstruction era of the music business. Valencia “V Valentine” Wood and Joseph “Toao” Murray have truly valued this concept, as they created a licensing business to spread their music worldwide. “In 2004, we contacted a few publishing and independent film companies in California and sent our music to them,” says V Valentine, one half of the Baltimore-based duo of maestros, SOILSOUND. “From there, our music started to appear on The Discovery Channel, TLC and NBC.” Since every company has a certain sound they are looking for, V Valentine stresses that those looking to break into the licensing business thoroughly execute their research before sending off their music. “This shouldn’t discourage artists who want to license their music because there are lots of publishers, ad agencies and the like that need music and content.” She and Toao created SOILSOUND in 2003 as a boutique production company whose main goals were to bring an organic-infused melodic palette to Baltimore.

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Obama’s Victory {ABC News}

I write this piece on the eve of my beautiful grandmother’s birthday. My grandmother, who tomorrow-God Willing- will turn 77 years young, still walks the streets of Harlem on her daily outings as vigorously as she did the day she migrated to the Big Apple from her hometown of Goldsboro, North Carolina more that 50 years ago. I thought of her as I watched Senator Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. accept his victory as the 44th President of these United Sates of America last night around the hour of 11:00.  Addressing this nation with his new world order at task, he spoke of a woman named Ann Nixon Cooper; a 106 year old former homemaker and socialite from Atlanta who for the first time in her life was able to cast her vote for an African-American nominee. For more than a century on this earth, this extraordinary woman has witnessed America evolve before her eyes. I wonder if Mrs. Nixon Cooper or my grandmother ever thought, in their wildest dreams, that they would see a black man being prepared to take the helm of this country. I think of my maternal grandmother who passed way in 2004, the same year that Barack Obama was just making his mark in the national political arena by giving maybe the most important speech of his career at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. I think of my mother, as all she could say was “Oh My Goodness,” in between her sobs of joy as she watched the nation erupt in jubilee on her television. I think of my father, who was an award-winning journalist at the Village Voice during the 1980’s, when young black people were being killed at an alarming rate by a bigoted NYPD and the devastating crack epidemic. I think of my grandfather, who fell limp across his bed crying when he received the news that Malcolm X was killed at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City.

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From today’s b, the paper

beautiful state “Eugene Leake: Works on Paper”
C. GRIMALDIS GALLERY
Eugene Leake, who died in 2005 at 94, led a tremendous life, one that included a long tenure as president of the Maryland Institute College of Art. This one focuses on some of Leake’s spectacular watercolors and oils of the Maryland landscape, as well as what he encountered during travels to Ireland and Wyoming. Now-Nov. 29. 523 N. Charles St. cgrimaldisgallery.com.

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From today’s b, the paper

all that glitters “Bedazzled: 5,000 Years of Jewelry”
THE WALTERS ART MUSEUM
When we hear “Bedazzled,” we instantly pine for a belt or jean jacket to encrust. We’ll have to hold back at the Walters’ latest, which includes more than 200 pieces from a variety of cultures. Among the enviable offerings: a gold bracelet from the first-century B.C.; a Tiffany & Co. iris corsage with 139 (!) sapphires, diamonds and other gems; and finger rings emblazoned with emblems of love. Even men get in on the action, with 18th-century signet seals and chatelaines, clasps from which suspended watches were hung. And because some things never go out of style, there are similar themes on display — death, love, power — that have remained constant throughout history. On view Sunday-Jan. 4. 600 N. Charles St. $8. thewalters.org.

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W.O.N.D.A. {thanks, C. Lewis}

Corey Lewis is a student of hip-hop…..literally. As an alumnus of Howard University, and after graduating from The Sheffield School of Recording Arts as a certified engineer; this Producer/MC from Baltimore decided to not only educate himself in the strategy of making music, but also it’s entities of profit. Inspired by rapping in the mirror to the backgrounds of hip-hop videos as a child, the young man known as W.O.N.D.A. (Watch One N***a Do It All) has created his own niche as a maestro behind his trusty MPC 2000XL. Wanting to bring back the natural charisma and enjoyment in hip-hop from times past, W.O.N.D.A. has studied a coalition of hip-hop greats from Dr. Dre and the Notorious B.I.G. to Kanye West and the Neptunes for direction. As he uses the influences of his hometown to paint melodic canvasses, W.O.N.D.A. wants to continue to expand his horizon of learning, enterprise and creativity. Read the rest of this entry »

{Brian Krista, b}

Last Friday the Steps to the Cure inaugural ball took place at the American Visionary Arts Museum in Baltimore. The event, touted as “the intersection of art, fashion, and philanthropy”, was indeed that.  Hosted by the Larry and Lori Lickstein Foundation, Steps to the Cure raised money and awareness for breast cancer and benefited the following charities: Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, Fuchsia Foundation, Kids Konnected, and The Red Devils. Maryland native Christian Siriano, winner of Bravo TV’s Project Runway, narrated the runway fashion show. The essayists in today’s b cover story, along with other local breast cancer survivors, modeled in the runway fashion show, which featured dresses designed by MICA students and alum. Designers from Charm City Cakes also contributed shoe-themed cakes which were auctioned off.

Here’s some scenes from the event.
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The H&N Crew (Thanks Samuel Queen IV)

Going through trials and tribulations just might be the best inspiration for a writer to draw their anecdotes from. Keith Hutchins, a.k.a. Keilo, Leroy Graudney, a.k.a. Face Mobb, Ronald Saunders, a.k.a. Lil’ Ronnie, and Samuel Queen IV, a.k.a. Don B., unfortunately knows this all too well. Collectively known as The H&N Crew, these East Baltimore MC’s have quickly recognized that there are more important things in life than the flash and glare of celebrity, and they have decided to put those accounts to music. These young men were hit directly by the Dawson Family firebombing tragedy that occurred on Cecil Ave. in 2003. Instead of letting the memory of the family fade in the wind, they decided to give a concert for the affected community that found healing and comfort through their music-if only for the duration of the group’s performance. Since then, H&N have committed to keeping their music profanity-free, and encourage anyone willing to listen to become a positive enforcement in their respective communities. It seems their leadership has paid off, as their newest song, “Tip-Toe”, is currently being requested on 92Q. As they prepare to release a new album in November through Itunes and Amazon.com, H&N looks to continue to empower their city with words of truth, encouragement and hope. Read the rest of this entry »

Wendy Gaunt and Elliott Rauh star in Single Carrot’s provocative “Food for Fish” {thanks, Single Carrot}

From today’s b, the paper

“Food for Fish” // SINGLE CARROT THEATRE
Single Carrot opens its promising second season with a comedy about people alternating between reality and dreamland. Written by off-Broadway playwright Adam Szymkowicz and (very) loosely based on Anton Chekhov’s “Three Sisters,” the offbeat work focuses on three women in New York longing for their childhood lives in New Jersey (apparently, they’ve forgotten it’s New Jersey). Before you scream “Garden State” foul, Szymkowicz emboldens his look at life’s greater meanings by exploring gender roles — the play’s central relationship is played gender reverse. Definitely food for thought. Thursday-Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Load of Fun, 120 W. North Ave. $12. singlecarrot.com.

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