History Lesson of my Homeland…
31 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Videos Tags: Hawaiian Sovereignty
119 years ago the Kingdom of Hawai’i was overthrown by greed.
Learn the History.
Mini Interview with Paloma Belara
30 Dec 2011 2 Comments
in Interviews Tags: Area, artists, Bay, Community, fashion music art, innovator, support, women
Paloma Belara: Founder of PapaLoDown, a boutique PR firm and Program Coordinator for FRESH the Magazine Interview 2011
Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Paloma: Yes, born in SF, grew up in Pacifica/Daly City/Suisun… I’ve also lived in Oakland and NY, and currently in SF. I get around, LOL.
Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Paloma: My creative path started right after high school. I went to a fashion college in SF (FIDM), which led to me moving to NY for several years. I’ve been involved in many areas of creativity from Fashion, Music, and now Art.
Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Paloma: I find my inspiration in the artists in my community. The artists I work with also happen to be educators and activists, they have helped me become more socially conscious in my life, as well as my career choices.
Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Paloma: Madonna’s “Open your Heart”, my mom and I would blast it and sing out loud!
Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Paloma: One of my favorite quotes is from Paulo Coelho, the book “The Alchemist” which changed my life. “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it”. Thanks Malia for letting me share!!
www.papalodown.com
Mini Interview with D. Scot Miller
27 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Interviews Tags: Area, artists, Bay, Community, Father, support, Visual Artist, writer
photo by Eric K. Arnold
D. Scot Miller: Writer, Visual Artist , Educator Interview 2011
Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? D.Scot: I’m not a Bay Area Native, though I’ve lived here for nearly 20 years. Before that, I lived primarily in West Virginia, with stints in LA, Pasadena, Altadena, Pomona, Alabama, Georgia, and Washington D.C.
Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? D.Scot: I started writing professionally when I was 13 years old. I published a poem in the local paper and won a few poetry contests three years later. I got my first NEA grant about two years after that. I’ve been a writer/artist for as long as I can remember.
Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? D.Scot: I find inspiration everywhere! It’s what I love most about living, all of the experiences, the emotions, the joy and pain; it can be transformed into art and artistic practice, or art therapy. I like shadows too…
Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? D.Scot: Dayum. For the Love of Money by the O’Jays (a 45!) when I was around 5 or 6 in a record shop in DC. I had choice between that or a hot-fudge sundae from the Woolworths.
Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? D.Scot: ‘Amor Il Fate’, love your fate.
Sista straight outta Richmond, CA…
21 Dec 2011 1 Comment
in Videos Tags: Area, artists, Bay, Community, dancer, graffiti, Muralist, Oakland, support
Black Futurist Mural, African American Art & Culture Complex
Mini Interview with Bushmama Africa
15 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Interviews Tags: Area, artists, Bay, Community, Oakland, support, women
Bushmama Africa: Program Director at The Freedom Project Interview 2011
Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Bushmama: Born and Raised Oakland Native..
Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Bushmama: My current creative path started formally in 2004 when my store in the Oakland Box closed down…I took a hiatus and came back as a visual artist and jewelry maker who writes poetry and is working on a theater production.
Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Bushmama: Ancestors, African Textiles and Color shemes..
Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Bushmama: Prince – Purple Rain.
Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Bushmama: I’m currently offering a healing art workshop for survivors of domestic violence you can find me at http://thefreedomproject.yolasite.com/
Mini Interview with Jern Eye
15 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Interviews Tags: Area, artists, Bay, Community, Emcee, HipHop, support
Jern Eye: 1/3 of Oakland based Hip Hop group LUNAR HEIGHTS Interview 2011
Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Jern: I grew up in L.A., but have lived in Oakland for about 12 years now. It’s definitely become my home, and the town has accepted me as one of it’s own. I can foresee spending the rest of my adult life here, less I move to some place cool like Paris or Tokyo.
Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Jern: I started rapping in 91′ but didn’t take it serious until about my Junior year in High School. It’s where I met Sizwe from my group Lunar Heights. He was a big reason I made my move to Oakland. There was a huge creative movement at that time between us, and this group Mission: who are now known as Crown City Rockers. Being a part of that really helped with being disciplined, and becoming savvy in the studio.
Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Jern: Inspiration changes all the time. I’d like to think my music reflects where I am mentally and spiritually in life. I haven’t had much output in the last year or so, but I’ve been really enjoying riding and racing my bike. I draw a lot of energy from my crew though. Which puts me where I am right now, going back to the essence and trying to channel that energy that brought me here in the first place.
Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Jern: The very first Hip Hop record I purchased was RUN D.M.C. “Raising Hell”. Still got that too. There are records that were handed down to me from DJ friends, but I can’t remember what they were.
Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Jern: To everyone who’s supported my music, whether it was Lunar Heights or solo shit, thank you! I’ve met and worked some amazing people, and have done some pretty cool shit few rappers will ever get to do in their careers, so I’m grateful the Most High has blessed me to this point. Forward ever.
www.twitter.com/jerneye
http://bmxboyz.tumblr.com/
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/vision/id332417227
Help us Reach our Fundraising GOAL!!
14 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Community Blogs, Events Tags: fundraiser for 20th Anniversary shows, kickstarter campaign, Malia Movement Company, TuffGyal 808 photography
MMCo is working on raising funds to pay for the theater (Dance Mission) that we will be performing at, purchasing new costumes (for 3 new pieces), and creating our marketing collateral to get the word out there. Please help us and receive discounted tickets!! No amount too small and thank you in advance 
Mini Interview with Babak Gholamhossein
12 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Interviews Tags: Area, artists, Bay, Community, Photographer, support
Babak Gholamhossein: Photographer Interview 2011
Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Babak: I was born in iran but have lived in the bay since I was about 10 years old.
Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Babak: I started working in photolabs and for different photographer printing and editing their pictures. That foundation gave me the skill set to be able to express what I wanted in my photos.
Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Babak: I find my inspiration in silence.
Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Babak: I cant remember the first one but I remember rockin the hell out of some earth wind and fire my roommate had on vinyl lol.
Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Babak: I don’t take myself or my art too seriously.. keeping life light hearted allows me space to play, and thats when Im most creative.
Mini Interview with James Gayles
12 Dec 2011 2 Comments
in Interviews Tags: Accomplished, Area, artists, Bay, Community, Painter, support, Teacher
James Gayles : Visual Artist/Painter Interview 2011
Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? James: Not a native. I’m from the East Coast, Newark, NJ, Manhattan, Brooklyn. I’ve been living here half my life – 32 years.
Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? James: As far back as I can remember, so far I don’t even recall the beginning…..I do know I was jammin in kindergarten.
Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? James: My inspiration comes from everywhere, from life, from my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual environment, from other artists, other art forms, dance theater music and so on.
Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? James: Don’t remember. But I do remember my Mom had the greatest Jazz collection I have ever seen. I mean she had everybody Bird, Coltrane, Dizzy, Miles, Cannonball, Ornette, Dolphy, the Duke, the Count, Billie, Ella, Sarah, Dinah, Carmen, Nina, the Modern Jazz Quartet, the Jazz Messengers, the Jazz Crusaders……I mean everybody!!! I remember everyday coming home from high school, picking something out, flopping down in my Dad’s easy chair and being transported to another dimension. I know I didn’t really answer your question but those times really let an impression on me, they help shape my artistic temperament.
Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? James: This is a tough one. There are countless funny jokes and an unlimited supply of meaningful quotes. But I am one who can’t recall any. But wait there is one that pops into my mind that is both funny and meaningful..or not. “When considering LIFE, look at the doughnut and not the hole.”
Don’t know the origin of that or if it makes any sense but I’ll leave you with that.
Femme Arts Collective presents…
01 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Events Tags: Alouba, Area, artists, Bay, Bushmama, Community, Hansolo Creations, Jack Eastgate, Oakland, OooMami Flicks, SafetyFirst, Sariwa Co
