[the grip]

Art/Skating/Fam. Let's get a skate park in the Roc! Check out Roc City Park for more info.

[The Global Female]

Rochester International Women’s Day

at Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo)

137 East Avenue

March 8th, 2009- 1:00 - 3:30pm

Formal Program begins at 1:30pm

Enjoy...

*Earth Tones Woman Installation: A Modern Gypsy’s Photo Journal

by Jamie Columbus

*Blessings by multi-cultural spiritual leaders

*Peace offerings in sign language by Trinity Montessori girls

*Proclamations by offices of the County Executive, Mayor, and Town of Brighton

*Ethnic hors d’oeuvres, tea, wine coolers, beer, International music, cultural dancers & performance groups representing women of the world,

*Goddess Make up, Henna Hands, Sacred Hand Art Project

friends, conversation, and surprises

More info and other Rochester events: http://www.riwd.org/index.html

[handlebar or dali]

Have you ever wanted to have a moustache? Or just fake it? Well here's your chance- The Mustache Party is going down January 28 at the Bug Jar! Not only will there be art, music, and general mischief-making there will be mustaches (hopefully on everyone). Party starts at 6pm so get your faux mustaches ready and get there early. I will already be in the bay area so just party without me.

[dream more]

I really like this book by Dallas Clayton. I want a car that runs on jellybeans...

[other people's stuff]

It's fun to take a peek into other people's homes isn't it? Well photographer Todd Selby has a whole project showcasing creative people and their creative spaces. The photographs are lush, colorful and fun. Check them out: Todd Selby

[eat it like couscous]

[potential life]

For a while now I've been meaning to check out the gallery at Potential Life Studios (34 Elton St. 1st floor). I've picked up several of their flyers at Lakeshore Records but somehow I have yet to make my way over. Today I stumbled across their website and it all clicked. This gallery/musical space is currently exhibiting "reMIXED MEDIA"- mixed media work from Rochester artists kurt ketchum, chicken bone, jeremy dziedzic and r. scott oliver through January 2nd, 2009.



In addition to showcasing works of art Potential Life also has a weekly "improvised musical collaboration"- Sundays from 6-9pm. So even if you go every sunday you will never have the same muscial experience. Sounds exactly like my cup of tea. Check out Potential Life Studios and support local artists.

[happy hour art]

Rochester now has a First Friday gallery night! Every first Friday of the month (from 6-9pm) local galleries host a community night for folks to experience and share art. This winter there's even a free shuttle to take you between galleries. Basically you get a chauffeured ride to and from spots filled with art. That's like finding a portal through other people's imaginations. Plus don't you find it amusing to have random conversations with strangers about the "meaning" behind a painting/sculpture/modern art piece? Check out the First Friday website for info and a map of the participating venues. Initiative by ROCO.

[artiste extraordinaire]

[BIRD KING by Rah Crawford- 30x40" mix media on canvas]

Living in Philly I was exposed to the magnificent artist Rah Crawford. Not only are his paintings vibrant, contemporary, and beautiful- each one seems to leap off the canvas and whisper something remarkable in your ear.[24K Godz- by Rah Crawford- 40" x 30" acrylic on canvas]

Visit Rah Crawford's website and check out his artwork. You can also purchase prints and other goods such as apparel.

[Spike Lee Back in Full Effect]

Just when we were getting worried that he had disappeared Spike Lee comes back with a new movie, a million interviews, several guest photography shoots and articles in magazines, and even a G-shock watch!Yes- our all time favorite director is a force to be reckoned with.
Go see his new WWII movie. Spike Lee's new movie, "Miracle at St. Anna", is out in theaters now.

[Art Fest--->Corporate Fest]

This past weekend Rochester held it's annual Park Ave Arts Festival. Park Avenue was lined with arts vendors, food stands, musical acts, and other festival offerings. This year we also noticed a large number of corporate sponsors and booths that seemed to threaten the artistic nature of the festival. Nevertheless the festival drew large crowds and we hope that artisans made a decent profit.

Artists that caught our attention: Al Hubbard whose colorful jazz influenced acrylics made a seriously bold statement. Donald Lo whose photographs of Asian landscapes were so beautiful they looked surreal. We made one purchase- some Egyptian musk and "dat thing" incense from Mutayyiboon. This vendor had a wealthy offering of incense, oils, pure shea butter, and black soap. We tried a sample of their shea butter on our hands and it truly was a decadent moisturizer. Will definitely purchase some in the near future.

[B Boy BBQ '08]

As the 3rd annual B Boy BBQ was coming to a close a mutual friend looked around, gestured at the environment, and simply said, 'This is beautiful." The B Boy BBQ was a day that celebrated Hip Hop elements and the people who respect and love the culture. Picture yourself in the heart of the hood. You are surrounded by graffiti artists who are posted up on walls creating immaculate murals. B Boys are breaking on that trademark piece of the kitchen floor. All the while emcees are doing what they do to the sounds provided by an entourage of local DJ legends. The atmosphere oozed with creativity and positivity. Rochester is deemed the city of festivals, but events like this are few and far between. If only our city could be like this everyday- violence free and back to the basics of this culture we love.

[Rochester's BBOY BBQ '08]

don't sleep on this annual event.

[First things first...]