"Ultimately Mixed", a Memoir

I am working on a hybrid, cross-genre memoir that combines essays, art criticism, personal memoir and other ruminations that should be of interest to readers in viewpoint on existential questions and the art work from an outsider perspective.

Ultimately Mixed,

A Memoir with Self Analysis & Musings of an Afro-Euro, Italo & Daoist Han Chinese Abstractionist

I believe that Miller is a young performer who will continue to prove and improve himself at the transcendent level pushing his voice and cross-genre vocalisms in the years to come. I sense we have a not only a great deal to look forward to from Matisyahu Miller but, a great many wonderful surprises in terms of his contributions.

The caliber of these two huge talents, Hendrix and now, Matisyahu, serves as a role model to me and my creative efforts as a fine artist and special effects photographer. These vocalists exemplify for me, the finest, the artistically bravest and most daring artists whose vocals create something new and hybrid which is uniquely beautiful and of a very high (musical) standard.

The themes of love, freedom and faith that Matisyahu sings of go beyond the commonplace sentiment of so much of American popular music including some forms of Rap music for example. With a lot of Rap musicians we get the material world alright but, it's ultimately boring. We hear the same staccato, drumming over and over. We hear the same "shower" lyrics. Worldly interests that rappers sing about are limited to childish ramblings such as, showering girls with Champagne in the VIP room at clubs and how nice it is to have so much money. Lyrics which are ultimately empty and meaningless, one simply can't get much mileage out of those kind of lyrics or value for that matter.  Young or old, it dumbs us down.

Lost End of Summer 2011 Blur & Alternate View Photography

When Mars Puts Down His Sword and Shield & Puts on an Apron to Just Get It Done

My intuition told me we New Yorkers would have a mild winter.  It  has come to pass and there's not much left to the season now that we are in early February.  The buds are out and birds are singing louder than ever.  Never mind the birds, the Mars in Virgo retrograde although only just started is chugging on to it's conclusion on April 13th a long way off but the days will fly by.  During which time, it's time for clerical work, spring cleaning and other less than creative and fun things to do on hand for many of us, myself included.  I know this to be the case but, I hesitate to action on the clerical stuff in particular.  It's necessary but so boring, going back through the past, stacks of papers of all kinds, notes, letters, cards, reminders and on and on. It has to be done and this would be the best time to get on with it. I say this to you as I remind myself that more importantly, with the Mars in Virgo (sign of clerks and clerical work), this is the best time to clean up and discard junk.  Same as every year only this year, 2012, six months is a particularly long period of time. 

(On but off the topic a bit here, the Mars in Virgo transit bespeaks a certain action in the employment sector, while retrograde the action is slowed but after April 14, we will probably see an upswing in the numbers of new jobs created and that's where Mars will really be showing well.)

The retrograde (slow down) will pass and Mars will be off to more interesting, perhaps even exciting times when Mars enters Libra soon afterwards.  I know.  It sounds sexy, love rekindles itself and nature explodes in springtime, followed by early July transition from one sector of work (Virgo) to the following sector of play/art (Libra).  Mars in Libra this year and the mating season, albeit a delayed one for beast and man alike - by that time (July 3rd) the buds of spring will have long situated themselves in our lives and gardens.

What I am saying and this is out of context in a sense because it has to do with astrology and I have another blog for that.  But, I have to complain (forgive me but another Virgo attribute) to someone and at the same time, warn my readership about what may be in store for them and, how they might also make the best use of this time period. 

There is a much more serious aspect to this transit and that is one of surgery. Virgo is the sign of critical  health and Mars isn't holding that scalpel for nothing, if surgery is in the cards for you, do your very best to postpone any surgery until after the retrograde period is officially past which would be mid April.  May or any time afterwards would be far better than this current time period! 

The Mars in Virgo transit is overall six months which is a long time, make it work for you.  Get some chores and boring clerical and housework done because by the time your finished, some fun times will be at hand and you can rest assured you deserve it.

The best is yet to come!

Sailing to Byzantium

Sailing now, I have just launched an art photography project I have been working on for the past year.  Some exciting research was involved but now, it is out of my hands and in the world at large. 

I might have spent more time on it in preparation and one never knows how much time should or shouldn't go into a project before launching, at least I don't because, when you're an indi, independent representing yourself, there is a sense of a weird out of timelessness.  There are those times when the time and energy involved seems to be overwhelming but at one point - you just have to send your boat sailing and with hopes that it reaches the shoreline and is well received.  

One just has to send the gift forward so it goes out, Sailing to Byzantium. 

Wish I had some assistants to help me with promotional launches.  I like this and that photographic but don't know if out of the tens of thousands which ones, from which projects, and which categories should be presented?  An assistant might really be of help there, someone to reality check with during project development. 

Happy New Year, Matisyahu! Happy New Year All!

Matisyahu, I missed his gig last night in NYC.  So much for the very cold weather and not having a date to take me.  I am not happy about this and would love to have seen him performing live. 


He's extraordinary but, it looks as though I will have to wait until warmer weather and when he will perform in NYC again.  Until which time, I'll just have to read some interviews he has given and listen to his recorded music. 


Don't miss this talent, he is authentic to an unusual degree and a magnificent vocalist and improviser. 

Matisyahu Sings a Song of Peace

Matisyahu sings a very beautiful song here and, I hope you will have a few moments to enjoy his song while visiting.  I believe it's from his new album and it has a very special message of peace. 

La Vie en Rose, Louis Armstrong

A Facebook friend brought my attention to an old, Louis Armstrong song, "La Vie en Rose," and I am posting it here to share with you, visitors, here today.  It's so beautiful, fine a moment or two to listen.  It's not a long interpretation of the song but, it is most beautiful.  I know you will enjoy hearing it.