Patricia, From the Beautiful Neighbor Series, Joyce Dade (c) 2012

The Existential Moment #3, Photographic, Joyce Dade (c) 2012

Existential Moment, Photographic, Joyce Dade (c) 2012

Farewell and God Bless You, Hilton Kramer

I cried yesterday when I read that the senior statesman of art criticism, Hilton Kramer had passed away.  Mr. Kramer is in my opinion, the greatest of art critics, brave, unafraid to go up against the biggest "art world" players and heavy hitters.  He was my kind of man.  So, when I read of his passing, I simply broke down and cried.  I cried because we have lost a great man of letters, a giant of a man.  I am not sure if we will ever see the likes of someone who can replace him although, I remain hopeful.  We need his the brand of courage of conviction and high brow, high minded and rugged forthrightness in art criticism and across the board when it comes to art. 

When I first encountered his writings,  many years ago, I knew that I was reading the criticism of someone who saw things the way that I did.  I realize was considered by many people to be too conservative in his viewpoint but, in many ways, I am conservative too. 

When I first read his articles many years ago, I was comforted to find that there was a critic out there who was cogent at the same time, expressed a contempt for run of the mill art and artists who weren't really raising the bar vis-a-vis their contributions. Artists who were nevertheless, making huge sums of money and at the same time, making American art history with far less than high caliber art.  The situation does not seem to have changed very much over the years, the difference is, now we are without Mr. Kramer to tell us like it is. 

As time went by, I lost track of Hilton Kramer, he left the New York Times and I did not know of his , New Criterion stint since 1982.  I lost track of a giant only to find yesterday that he had left us to fend for ourselves in an art world of dubious distinction. 

Hilton Kramer was a hero of mine.  I treasure his memory and feel the need now more than ever to look into and research his critical essays and, rediscover this courageous and wonderful man of letters that the world can simply not replace.

Thank you, beloved Hilton Kramer, for being one of the very best men of letters that this world has thad o offer us. God bless you now and always.

"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!