The Physician-Photographer: Images from a Perceptive Life…

The Gift: A Physician-Photographer Speaks about Work, Life and Photography.

“There are two kinds of intellect; the first is acquired – You learn and your intellect grows superior. The other intellect is God’s pure gift; its heart is in the breast of the soul.” Rumi

Serendipity: the phenomenon of suddenly finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.

Photo: Bridge to ... Somewhere by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

“Bridge to…Somewhere” was taken at Olbrich Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin. That is one of my favorite places to visit for photography. In this photo, I made everything black and white but left the color of the purple flowers on the trees. I usually don’t like to play around with Photoshop too much on my photos, but I thought it worked well in this case. M.Ejercito

Grace Bay Beach Pier by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

“Grace Bay Beach Pier” was taken in Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean. This is one of my personal favorites. I went for a wonderful walk along the beach with my family and was fortunate that this wonderful pier was on the property right next to where we were staying. M.Ejercito

A while back, I had made a commitment to write a series of get-to-know-you short interviews, where I ask the same/similar set of questions of remarkable people I have met on a range of social network sites; men and women who cherish the interactions they have with others and share their gift of communication by joining the social media conversation – each in his/her own unique way. My goal remains to share insights and stories from my interviewees and present the real people behind the many usernames that greet us on myriad sites.

Today, we meet the remarkable, gifted physician/photographer – Michael Ejercito. I added the definition of the word serendipity at the top of this post because it aptly describes how I met Michael. I was searching for photos on Google Images when I came across the photograph above. I stopped, astonished at the simple, stark beauty of the shot; heaven meeting earth with no obvious lines of demarcation. It was stunning and I followed it back to its source on Flickr. Serendipity led me back to Wisdoc, Michael’s username on Flickr, where I was greeted by a panoply of spectacular photographs; a visual feast for the eyes.

I invite you to kick back and enjoy the generosity of Michael’s story and photographs. A very busy medical doctor by training, Michael still finds time to engage in one of his favorite pastimes – photography. He has “loved photography ever since I owned my first camera when I was 7 and wasted rolls of film taking blurry pictures of my model airplanes.”

“Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again.” Henri Cartier Bresson
“The energy of the mind is the essence of life.” Aristotle

Family Baptisms: Michael, Karen and daughters via M. Ejercito

Foundation Questions:
Tell us a bit about your background: Who are you? Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
My name is Michael Ejercito. I’m 34 and married to my fantastic wife Karen Reed. We are parents to two wonderful daughters, Sierra (3 years), and Felicity (6 months). I was born in Manila, Philippines but my family moved to the United States when I was only 3 months old because my father, an Ear, Nose, and Throat physician, needed to complete his training in Virginia. We lived in Virginia for a few years then moved to Marshfield, Wisconsin; I was 4 years old and that’s where I grew up.

Marshfield is a nice quiet town right in the center of Wisconsin. Although my childhood roots were in Marshfield, I moved to Madison, when I finished high school, to complete undergraduate and medical school at the University of Wisconsin. After medical school, I moved to East Lansing, Michigan where I did my residency training specializing in Emergency Medicine; I met my beautiful wife – Karen – in East Lansing. Currently, we live in Janesville, which is in southern Wisconsin near the Illinois border.

What do you do for a living?
I am an Emergency Medicine physician. I work in 2 different hospitals in southern Wisconsin as well as in an urgent care center in northern Illinois. Most of the time, I really enjoy what I do. The difficult thing about my job is that I work all kinds of strange hours. I work some weekends and also work morning, midday, and overnight shifts and sometimes it is difficult to adjust to my ever-changing schedule. But, my work is never boring. I hear all kinds of interesting stories each day from all the patients I meet – some funny, some very sad…

Over the past few years, photography has become one of my passions and I would love to eventually make photographs on a professional level.

“Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution.” Ansel Adams

Paco Park by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

“Paco Park” was taken in Manila, Philippines. This is a national landmark and a special place for me – that’s where my parents were married:) M.Ejercito

Healing: Rays of Light by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

“Rays of Light” is also one of my personal favorites. I was actually on my way to a lake in Madison, Wisconsin to take a picture of the sunrise. But on the way there, I realized that I would be too late for the actual sunrise but was pleasantly surprised by the scene that I found. Another example of how it’s not the destination but the journey that is important:) M.Ejercito

Why did you choose the path you now follow?
I come from a strong lineage of people who have worked or still work in the medical field. Both of my parents are physicians, as well as my maternal/paternal grandfathers, and one of my uncles. I always knew that I wanted to be a physician too. I had a difficult time choosing a specialty and so I chose Emergency Medicine since it encompasses a broad range of medical problems. I see all kinds of people as patients every day – from newborns to people over 100 years old and I cherish the great satisfaction I get from helping each person.

When did you decide to make key changes in your life?
I think that a key moment of change in my life was when I finally became a parent. After spending years focusing my life on improving myself (schooling and working), becoming a father made me significantly shift my priorities from myself and my wife to our first daughter; we had a new family dynamic. I had to sacrifice my already limited spare time and put my time and energy into helping raise my daughter. So far, it has been a wonderful change. We now have two beautiful daughters whom I love very much. We do have some challenging times, but a sweet smile or beautiful laugh makes all the trouble worthwhile. I cannot imagine life without them.

“Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph.” Matt Hardy

Larkspur Star Trails by M. Ejecito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

“Larkspur Star Trails” was taken at my sister-in-law’s home in Larkspur, Colorado. I love long exposure photography. This particular photo was exposed for about 25 minutes in order to capture the motion of the stars as they rotate around the North Star. M.Ejercito

Family Pet: Ramona in Motion by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

“Ramona in Motion” was taken when I was experimenting with panning photographs. My dog Ramona loves to run and I wanted to capture her speed as she ran. This photo was taken with a shutterspeed of 1/25 of a second. While taking this photo, I had to swivel my camera to keep Ramona centered while the shutter was open to achieve this effect. M.Ejercito

Share your world view: How do you live your life and manage your household?
Our household is a very busy one. I work full-time and my wife, who is a Family Practice physician, also works full-time. Thankfully, we have a wonderful nanny who helps us out quite a bit when we are working. Juggling schedules is a daily concern especially with both of us being physicians with shifting work schedules; but we somehow always find a way to make it work. My parents live a few hours away and are usually very eager to help take care of our kids when something comes up. Despite our busy schedules, I do feel we get to spend plenty of quality time with our daughters. We also have a wonderful gentle Labrador retriever, Ramona, who completes our family.

“It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer. You need less imagination to be a painter, because you can invent things. But in photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the ordinary.” David Bailey

Bond Falls Tranquility by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

Water Under the Bridge by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

“Bond Falls Tranquility” was taken in the upper peninsula of Michigan. “Water Under the Bridge” was taken at Mulnomah Falls in Oregon. I love waterfalls! M.Ejercito

Reflective Questions:
What motivates you to get out of bed?
Most of the time, it is usually one of my daughters who wakes up and ushers in the new day. I’m not a morning person, but when I see them smile, I feel much better about starting the day. I think that, in general, the world is a beautiful place and there is so much to see and explore. Photography is also another reason to get up early and there is nothing like sunrise and the early morning light. It is a miracle watching the earth wake up from its slumber. Whether it’s coming home from a long overnight shift or exploring a beautiful scene while on vacation, being outside with nature in the morning is magical.

What makes you happy/laugh?
There are plenty of things that make me happy. Getting to spend quality time with my family is wonderful. Being active makes me happy – going for a nice run, biking, rollerblading, weightlifting – anything physical makes me happy. Of course, taking a nice picture makes me happy too. I’m also a huge sports fan – cheering for the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers, or the Wisconsin Badgers teams makes me smile. A yummy meal with good friends or family also makes me happy.

What makes you sad/mad?
I think that one of the things that make me sad is realizing how quickly time goes by. It makes me sad to think that my little daughters will not stay little forever. It’s hard for me to deal with the fact that everyone that I care for will sooner or later grow old and die. I try to treat everyone I am in contact with throughout the day with respect; however, if that respect is not returned it upsets me.

“Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited and the wealth and confusion man has created.” Edward Steichen

Cannon Beach by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

“Cannon Beach” was taken on the coast of Oregon. I think the Oregon coast is one of the prettiest places in the world. This particular image was an 8 second exposure which I needed to capture the sense of motion of the waves there. M.Ejercito

Healing Hands: Piano Light Paint by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

“Piano Light Paint” is an example of a photographic technique called light painting. My mother was kind enough to be the model for this photo:) This photo was taken in a dark room. The camera was set for the shutter to be open for about 10 seconds. During this time, I used a flashlight to illuminate the piano. The hands were illuminated for about 5 seconds and then my mother removed her hands from the photo to achieve the ghostlike effect of her hands. M.Ejercito

What would you do differently with your life if you had the power? With the world if you had the choice?
There really isn’t very much that I’d do differently with my life – I’m very content with where my life has taken me. I wouldn’t mind working less and getting to spend more time with my family. I also regret not having the chance to play football when I was in high school. My parents were very protective of me and I definitely understand their concern for me getting hurt while playing; their concern is now underscored by what I see as a physician especially when patients come to my ER because of injuries from playing football. But I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have played…

As far as changes with the world, I wish that people in general would be more tolerant of each others differences. Someone once suggested to me that the root of all wars in this world is intolerance of others. I wish people could look past differences in race, religion, and culture, and realize that we all have more in common than we are different.

What guiding principle(s) do you follow to make your life meaningful?
The Golden Rule: I’m always a firm believer of doing unto others as they would do onto you. Whether I’m interacting with family or friends, or whether I’m dealing with patients in the ER, I try to put myself in their shoes and treat them the way I imagine they would want to be treated.

I know this is another cliché, but I do believe in enjoying the journey of life and not necessarily the destination. I do find that I struggle with that sometimes. For example, when I am dealing with two screaming kids in the middle of the night, I realize that I need to just smile and treasure the moment. Time passes in the blink of an eye and before I know it, those screaming kids will be in college and I will miss the chance to see them at all hours of the night!

“No matter how slow the film, Spirit always stands still long enough for the photographer it has chosen.” Minor White

End of the Road by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

“The End of the Road” was taken on Highway 128 near Moab, Utah. To me, this is one of the most scenic highways in the United States. M.Ejercito

Water Reflections: Patrick and Eamon on the beach by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

“Patrick and Eamon on the beach” was taken while we were visiting the Oregon coast a few years ago. Patrick is my brother-in-law and Eamon is his son. Sometimes wonderful moments can occur when you least expect it. In this photo, a wave had just washed ashore and I was fortunate to capture their reflection – a moment later their reflection was gone. M.Ejercito

What word(s) of advice would you give to others today?
Yet another cliché – life is a marathon, not a sprint. When I was in high school, I was a sprinter on our track team and that was how I looked at life; one huge sprint. I worked hard to accomplish my short-term goals. But as I’ve grown a bit older, I’ve come to realize that life is hard work. If you want to accomplish your dream, you really do have to put in the time and energy to get to where you want to be. And it won’t necessarily happen overnight. However, through persistence and focus, you can reach your goals. These days, I have converted my running style as well as my goals in life to a more “long distance” mentality.

How would you like to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered as a good person overall. I’d like to be known as a great husband and father. I’d like my colleagues to remember me as intelligent, hardworking, and easygoing.

“A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.” Diane Arbus

Bohol Beach Awakens by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

In Repose: Bohol Beach by M. Ejercito (Wisdoc) via Flickr

“Bohol Beach” was taken on the island of Bohol in the Philippines. Last year, I was fortunate to get a chance to visit the Philippines with my family. Although I was born there, I was 3 months old when we moved from the Philippines to the U.S. I’ve only been back to the Philippines twice since then. I’d love to go back and spend more time there! M.Ejercito

Happiness is…..?
Getting to snuggle in bed with my wife and two daughters all cuddled up together on one half of the bed. It is always wonderful to come home after a long day of work and get a nice hug and kiss from my wife, hear the excited voices of my daughters, and be greeted with plenty of licks from our dog Ramona. Happiness is also getting the opportunity to enjoy Nature’s beauty – from the mountains and oceans, sunrises and sunsets, and the changing seasons – it is wonderful being able to experience it all!
Michael and his beautiful family live in Janesville, Wisconsin where, in between the grueling demands of a physician’s life, he finds time to pursue his passion for photography. You may connect with him via Wisdoc on Flickr.

Do you have a hobby that has grown into something more? Share your thoughts and comments on Michael’s piece or your own efforts at the creative process. Thank You!

Here’s wishing everyone a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING holiday!

PHOTO CREDITS
All Photographs above taken by Michael Ejercito ~ via Wisdoc on Flickr
Happy Thanksgiving bountiful basket postcard ~ via zazzle.com

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank

Ten Reasons to Blog: Your Ego can Handle it!

Ten Reasons to Blog: Your Ego can Handle it!

“Blogs, social networks, newspapers, any other form of publication – all have social aspects to them. It is a spectrum really, with social networks at one extreme and a 19th century novel at the other. But there’s room for all types of social publishing platforms.” Richard MacManus

The Blogosphere awaits You...

Were you voted most likely to dominate the publishing world in pre-school and again in High School? Okay, so you always imagined becoming the next J.K. Rowling or publishing superstar? Let me guess, was it the famous psychic who assured you your name will be in lights with your words written all over it? Do you fantasize about retiring filthy rich with the money lode you earned blogging? Is your weekly grocery list the most creative prose you’ve written since your school days?

“Authenticity is not an automatic ticket to success in an attention economy. Because, if you choose a platform or business building model where a key element is attention, you’ve got to be not only authentic, but significant.” Jonathan Fields (Career Renegade)

Nature Shot #2 by Veronika Pinke

Alright, I hear your protests. Confess; did you send out a few inquiries to publishers with a treatment or two on How to Solve the Mystery of the Lemming Syndrome and got no response? Right, right… and that 5 page fictional outline on authentic yet insignificant baloney you mailed to 20 agents and publishers? Well, at least you got one reply; the rejection letter was curt and to the point “… Thanks, but no thanks!”

If you answered “yes” or even “no” to any of my questions, then writing a blog is the new path for you. Yes, you might get smacked down and your ego might take a beating but, you don’t want to take an unfulfilled desire to your nursing home or grave, do you? Even if you are busy and think you have little to offer; try blogging anyway; you might surprise yourself.

“One critical consideration when launching a blog is what you are going to call it.” Chris Garrett

Nature Shot #14 by Veronika Pinke

The internet is open to a wide spectrum of voices; why silence your voice? Daily, people from around the world sift through the noise, looking for their version of a gem; that gem could be one of your blogs … or not. Don’t spend too much time worrying whether everybody will love your blog; everyone won’t, some might, and perhaps a few will. Pick a blog name, check your ego at your blog door and go to it.
If you’re still not convinced, here are ten good reasons to blog: Trust me; your ego will thrive…

“Your blog is what you say when there is nobody standing over your shoulder telling you what to do.” Lorelle Van Fossen

I Like You... uploaded by Mike Montiero

♥ Create a digital identity on your terms. Your blog registers your personal memories, ideas, and opinions online for posterity. It is your creative expression and you decide what you wish to include. Embrace the identity you have selected for your foray into blogging. Are you the last angry woman or the happy-go-lucky sprite? Embrace her; she has friends dying to connect in the blogosphere. Go meet them. You can invite your alter ego to blog, you may express your moods and magic through various incarnations or personalities, just stay on point whatever the message. Regardless of who you choose to be, do keep in mind that you must manage your views as what you say is on the internet forever.

“I’ve long advised that bloggers seeking to make money from blogging spread their interests across multiple revenue streams so as not to put all their eggs in one basket.” Darren Rowse (Problogger)

Nature Shot #13 by Veronika Pinke

♥ Clarify your motivations and thoughts as you embark on this unique writing process. Even if the original impulse that led you to blog on a topic dries up quickly, push on and write anyway. Why am I blogging? It is important to ask this question on a regular basis. Blogging will help you engage in discussions that hold meaning for you and your gradually expanding readership. If you plan to make money from blogging, educate yourself on what that entails and then follow your calling. If you blog purely for enjoyment, don’t be shy about that fact either. It is your choice that counts and don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

“I never remember what I read; I remember experiences. I find it best to dive right in and learn the hard way.” Pete Cashmore (Mashable)

Nature Shot#9 by Veronika Pinke

♥ Connect with both new readers and other bloggers in the blogosphere. As you write, you will find a vast door open that connects you to other bloggers; some with a similar bent or experience and others with vastly different sensibilities. This is perfectly fine. Eureka or inspirational moments can be triggered by reading a blog on a familiar or obscure subject. As you connect with other bloggers, you will open a gateway to new blogging experiences and knowledge. It can be quite a feast and you must be careful not to over-indulge. There are millions of bloggers out there and only 24 hours in a day. Be selective of which blogs to read daily and which ones to read occasionally. Don’t get overwhelmed by all the choices out there, let your forays into the blogosphere evolve.

“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.” Brian Clark (Copyblogger)

Nature Shot#28 by Veronika Pinke

♥ Be open to re-evaluating your closely held premises about life, love and the world of ideas. As you formulate ideas and topics to write about, don’t hesitate to challenge yourself to feed off of other points of view; whether you play devil’s advocate or peacemaker, take a position and write on it. If you enjoy writing motivational pieces like I do, don’t censor yourself and pretend to be something else. Write how you feel and share your experiences; as long as your opinions are not completely outrageous you should write without fear of public sanction. Even if you choose to say something outrageous, do so with a clear head and the conviction to stand your ground. You are entitled to your opinion after all.

“I guess my point is, if you’re one of these people considering giving up on blogging in exchange for paying more attention to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and MySpace, or whatever they throw at us mere mortals, bear in mind you are giving up on something rather unique and wonderful.” Hugh Macleod

Nature Shot #5 by Veronika Pinke

♥ Be bold about learning a new skill. Blogging is a skill that grows with time and the experience gained will be worth the journey. The explosion of social media sites and internet innovation will continue to provide vital fodder for creative, visionary thinkers. As the medium grows and you grow at blogging, you will learn about new applications/tools to help you improve your efforts and make blogging effective. As a new blogger in fall 2008, I soon learned that WordPress regularly updated and offered many blog design templates to choose from, that uploading images/video and writing simple html code for my blog was easier than I imagined. With each passing day/month, I learn new tips and tools about blogging and look forward to seeing (yes, with time) my blog enjoy exponential growth.

“The heart of blogging is linking…linking and commenting. Connecting and communicating is the purpose of the Internet.” George Siemens

Snow and Magiclight in NorthernJutland Denmark by Øyvind Strøm

♥ Develop an expertise in an area if you are so inclined. Are you ready to stay enthusiastic about a particular subject? This is not absolutely carved in stone. If you have several interests, like I do, don’t be afraid to explore them. Follow your spanda, your bliss, your voice and your blog will evolve. Whether you decide to be a generalist or a specialist is your prerogative; be at peace with your choice. Learn as much as you can on the topics you choose to write about and subscribe to your favorite bloggers to stay in touch with the community. Wikipedia.org and Google Images are great resources for material but there are tons you can learn from other bloggers including the bloggers whose quotes you read in my blog. Their names will link you back to their websites/blogs. Go visit and enjoy.

“I believe the term “blog” means more than an online journal. I believe a blog is a conversation. People go to blogs to read AND write, not just consume.” Michael Arrington

Fog in Dyrehaven near Copenhagen Denmark by Øyvind Strøm

♥ Develop discipline and a commitment to honor the goals you set for your blog postings. The best gift you can give yourself as a blogger is to be honest about what is/isn’t feasible time wise and stay true to your blog goals. When I took Darren Rowse’s 31 Days to Build a Better Blog in April, 2009, it helped me create a realistic schedule for posting my blogs. I knew that, given the demands of work, family, personal training goals, and other commitments, a weekly blog post would be ideal for me. Find your rhythm and go with it.

“The more popular a person thinks he is in the blogosphere, the thinner his skin and the thicker his hypocrisy. This should be exactly the opposite: the higher you go the thicker the skin and thinner the hypocrisy.” Guy Kawasaki

Kashmir Gathering by Ami Vitale

♥ Gain some perspective on readership, blogger stardom, media attention, blog statistics and search engine optimization (SEO). Even Technorati’s star bloggers identified in 100 Top Blogs by authority or 100 Top Blogs by reader favorites did not become wildly successful overnight. NorthxEast.com’s 50 most influential female bloggers focused on their content, their readership, and their blog goals and with time their influence spread. Don’t fixate on the numbers … ok, at least not daily!
The point is to focus on your game, do the best you can and enjoy the process. Even if you were being paid to blog, it really should not feel like a demanding second job. I enjoy researching and gathering information and photographs for my weekly posts. I actually find the process relaxing and fun because I always find something I never expected… so go with the flow; gain perspective my dear, perspective is key to longevity here.

“Just as we don’t spend a lot of time worrying about how all those poets out there are going to monetize their poetry, the same is true for most bloggers.” Seth Godin

The great Baobab Tree by Alli Cooper

♥ Take ownership and responsibility for your good/bad posts. To err is human and to forgive is divine. Unless like Seth Godin, you decide to disallow comments entirely, be prepared for positive, negative, spammy, and zero comments on your blog. Again, don’t fixate on the numbers. Did someone email you privately to say how much they enjoyed it? Fine. Move on… The fantastic part is that you have administrative control and can limit or edit comments as you deem fit. Another point to remember is that the joy of blogging includes the ability to edit your content whenever you want.

“Without the New York Times, there is no blog community. They’d have nothing to blog about.” Malcolm Gladwell

Focus: Don't let your Blog face a ~Total Eclipse by Yang Lei AP

♥ Please get over your fear of public rejection. Your blog represents one facet of who you are; it is not the whole picture. Even if some of your characters are fictionalized to protect the fill-in-the-blank, is your message conveyed effectively? Is the authenticity of your intention and the lesson learned expressed there? Yes, you may choose to re-invent yourself into some new-fangled persona through blogging and maybe, the characters in your blog are more exciting than the characters in your real life but so what? As long as you distinguish fact from fiction by the way you deliver your message, readers will understand you are not the New York Times or BBC News.
As your voice and vision grow, your confidence as a blogger will grow. If you have a niche, you will attract like minded spirits; if you don’t then enjoy your role as a renaissance man/woman. Perfectly acceptable. Now go to it! What do you think?

♥ Let me know how the process evolves for you. I’d love to hear from you regardless of where you are in your blogging history. Share some of your insights or tips here if you wish. Thank you!

***Spanda is a Sanskrit term for the subtle creative pulse of the universe as it transforms into a dynamic living form. The divine impulse to create!

Photo Credits:
Nature Photography by Veronica Pinke
More Nature Shots by Øyvind Strøm
I Like You uploaded by Mike Montiero via Creative Commons.
Kashmir Gathering by Ami Vitale
The great Baobab Tree by Alli Cooper
Total Eclipse by Yang Lei AP

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank

Yinka Shonibare MBE: Where Art meets Post-Colonial African Artifice

Yinka Shonibare MBE: Where Art meets Post-Colonial African Artifice

“I am very interested in using the idea of something which is visually very beautiful because I think that I want my audience to engage with my work even though I am actually tackling quite serious issues…” Yinka Shonibare

Yinka Shonibare, the artist, in a portrait in Diary of a Victorian Dandy 14:00 Hours

Yinka Shonibare as the protagonist in The Picture of Dorian Grey series

Born in London, England and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, contemporary, multi-talented installation artist, Yinka Shonibare MBE, likes to refer to himself as a bi-cultural, post colonial hybrid. As an artist who is acutely aware of the two distinct cultures he inhabits; one Western, the other African, it is not surprising that Shonibare’s creative endeavors, whether sculpture, painting, photography, film or installation art, straddle both worlds.

“All art is a kind of confession, more or less oblique. All artists, if they are to survive, are forced, at last, to tell the whole story; to vomit the anguish up.” James Baldwin

The Swing

The Pursuit

Yinka Shonibare often brings an exaggerated, tongue-in-cheek sensibility to his installations even when the topics he addresses are serious. His use of Victorian themes, African inspired fabrics originally made for Indonesia by way of the Netherlands, and his use of highly stylized images in scenes, often variations of work from other artists, such as Fragonard’s “Swing” and Gainsborough’s portraits, all showcase Shonibare’s determination to juxtapose the obvious with the ambiguous.

“All that I desire to point out is the general principle that Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life.” Oscar Wilde

How to Blow Up Two Heads at Once ~ Female

Piles of Ankara Dutch wax cloth ~ Extremely popular on the African Continent.

As a young art student in the mid 1980s in London, Shonibare recalls how an art teacher challenged him to seek an authentic African voice in his artistic work. This comment led him to the Brixton markets where he bought batik fabrics (Ankara, kente fabrics) favored by women and men in West Africa. Shonibare understood the popularity of these fabrics in his native Nigeria; especially for women’s social groups. Members of these groups often spent enormous amounts of money procuring unique designs that would become cultural identifiers of wealth, social club exclusivity or priviledged social connections.

“Art is both creation and recreation. Of the two ideas, I think art as recreation or as sheer play of the human spirit is more important.” Lin Yutang

Victorian Couple

Odile and Odette

Shonibare’s motivation might have been to portray how African women and men use these beautiful fabrics to highlight their special, idealized cultural connections. However, his research found something more; a remarkable historical paradox. The paradox was that the fabrics were originally manufactured in Holland for the Indonesian batik market. When the Indonesian traders rejected the designs as unsuitable for their market, the fabrics were sold to African traders who transformed this unexpected reject into a cultural windfall that remains a staple of every African woman’s wardrobe.

“Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience, and our aesthetic enjoyment is recognition of the pattern.” Alfred North Whitehead

Leisure Lady with Ocelots

Because many people presume the fabric origins are inherently African, Shonibare uses his artwork to force us to consider how the themes of artifice and authenticity can be presented and lampooned. How does he accomplish his objective? He dresses his Victorian mannequins in appropriately styled period clothing made from these “authentic African” fabrics. He then presents some of his mannequins in inappropriate, lascivious postures.

Interestingly, for the last several years, the Ankara trend has been overtaken by wax prints from Cote d’Ivoire and perhaps more recently, Ghana. The prints from Cote d’Ivoire are called “Woodin” (tied to Vlisco), while the Ghanaian ones are simply referred to as ..”Ghana!” These fabrics which bear special names like Treasures (a tradition of naming fabrics continues even today) are vibrant, colorful and rich… The designs show a high level of creativity too. Woodin did a range of animal prints, there’s liberal use of gold and silver paint, faux lace and more. The colors range from pastels to brilliant blues, bright reds, oranges to black and white monochromatic designs. Additionally, the younger generations have jettisoned the Dutch wax in favor of these newer fabrics especially because they are more affordable.

“There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality.” Pablo Picasso

Black Gold ~ A reference to the continent's Oil Resources

Maxa

According to Shonibare, another source of inspiration for his Victorian era installation pieces came from Margaret Thatcher’s call for Victorian values in the decadent 1980s. This was also the era when Thatcher re-evaluated British immigration policy and sent many British residents from the former colonies packing. His depiction of characters from the colonial era, dressed in African patterned Dutch made fabrics, was not accidental; any student of colonial African history knows that the scramble for Africa created chaotic geographic boundaries. The new nations that emerged were a mishmash of former opponents led by warlords eager to maintain the interests of their specific ethnic group. Today, leaders on the continent continue to seek ways to stem the resultant warfare; a legacy of those ancient affiliations.

“All art is contemporary, if it’s alive, and if it’s not alive, what’s the point of it?” David Hockney

The Scramble for Africa

La Meduse ~ The Ship to nowhere...

The Scramble for Africa left behind a complex hodgepodge of competing cultures created by European colonialists in the form of Anglophone/Francophone/Lusophone nations on the continent. The terms actually identify English/French/Portuguese speaking African nations; each nation representing a miniature cultural version of the former ruling entity. Ironically, in the similarly named installation by Shonibare, “The Scramble for Africa,” he depicts a scene where African leaders sit around dinner table considering ways to divide and pillage the continent’s resources; thereby perpetuating the atrocities of its past history.

“I want the point of entry to be intriguing and to be engaging and hopefully people will enter the other levels of the work.” Yinka Shonibare

Big Boy: The Dandy in his regalia

Reverend on Ice

In reviewing Shonibare’s art, one is led to see how a Post colonial African artist juxtaposes artifice with the authentic and creates something refreshingly original that can’t be easily typecast. The fabrics on these Victorian figures (from the staid to the sexualized) are an artificial construct exported to the continent by textile merchants from Manchester, England and from, Vlisco, a company in the Netherlands.

“Respect the masterpiece. It is true reverence to man. There is no quality so great, none so much needed now.” Frank Lloyd Wright

Gallantry and Criminal Conversations

Sun, Sea and Sand

While Shonibare’s work addresses issues of culture, race, identity politics and reconstructed history, his art is still quite entertaining, playful and colorful. Even his acceptance of an MBE (Member of the British Empire) from the Queen, and his subsequent use of that honorific title in his recent exhibitions, hints at the humor he finds in what could potentially be deemed ironic. Here is an outsider, particularly one who lampoons the draconian dictates and high brow hypocrisies of the old establishment, being honored instead of vilified by the descendants of the establishment.

“Is there such a thing as pure origin? For those of the post colonial generation this is a very difficult question. I’m bilingual because I was brought up in Lagos and London.” Yinka Shonibare

The Sleep of Reason ~ Asia and Africa

Dysfunctional Family

As Yinka Shonibare shared in an interview with Anthony Downey for Bomb Magazine, “In the end, I felt that, given what my work is about; to have actually been acknowledged and honored by the establishment was quite interesting … I think it’s better to make an impact from within rather than from without. In a way I feel flattered, because I never really thought the establishment took any notice of what artists did.” As long as he maintains creative license, some artistic distance and remains observant of the cultural mores of the social milieu he tackles in his art work, his impact from “within” should remain fresh and unencumbered. We hope…

“Another unsettling element in modern art is that common symptom of immaturity, the dread of doing what has been done before.” Edith Wharton

Deep Blue ~ Acrylic paint on 25 Dutch printed cotton fabric

Alternating Currents ~ Fabric on wall shows Nigerian Eagles teammates

Shonibare’s art installations and short films are currently being exhibited at both the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, NY from June 26–September 20, 2009 and at the Newark Museum in Newark, NJ from July 1, 2009 – January 3, 2010. I encourage you to visit and share your thoughts with us here. What do you think?

Photo Credits: Photos culled from various sources in print and online media
Photo Credits: include photos from Yinka Shonibare’s website
Additional Photos from my personal collection.

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank

Choi Jeong Hwa & Do-Ho Suh: Installation Artists Extraordinaire

“There is a vocabulary that belongs to the art world that we all inhabit, but there always has to be something local, something that comes out of your experience, or the work becomes generic, pallid and weak…” Lynn Zelevansky (Contemporary Art, LACMA)

Art is inspirational, passionate, visionary and revolutionary. It often makes social commentary on the world we share and showcases new creative directions and ideas; the creation of great art is not effortless yet reactions to art are always immediate. I enjoy most genres of art especially art that makes me pause… Today, I pause to bring you Choi Jeong Hwa and Do-Ho Suh. Next time, we will meet Yinka Shonibare.

The Flower Tree installation by Choi Jeong Hwa

“Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know.” Vincent Van Gogh

Paratrooper V by Do-Ho Suh

Choi Jeong Hwa and Do-Ho Suh are two of the featured artists at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (LACMA) exhibit “Your Bright Future: 12 Contemporary Artists From Korea.” Set to run from June 28–September 20, 2009. While the exhibit showcases the works of some of the most well known contemporary Korean artists, it also includes a few up-and-coming rising stars. If you are in the Los Angeles area, do visit and come share your experience here.

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“Your heart is my art. Your shopping is my art” Choi Jeong Hwa

Choi Jeong Hwa with Happy Happy installation. Photo by Kirk McKoy for LATimes

Choi Jeong-Hwa is an internationally acclaimed, Seoul, South Korea born and based artist who incorporates an impressive range of raw materials in his artistic productions. Considered the father of pop art, Choi masterfully uses items from the local community where his work is exhibited, to create and capture perspectives representative of that particular culture; often translating his observations into artistic installations.

“One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself. Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master.” Henri Matisse

Flower Flower photo by Romy Petrick

Choi is known to use plastics; tons of cheap, colorful, mass-produced, malleable plastic for his projects. He also uses recyclable supplies, video monitors, real/fake food, wires, instruments, religious art, shoes, all manner of bric-a-brac/tchotcke, and light fixtures to create video art, computerized animation and remarkable sculptural displays.

“There’s no retirement for an artist, it’s your way of living so there’s no end to it.” Henry Moore

Fluorescent Flower in Beijing

As one of the featured artists at the Los Angeles City Museum of Art (LACMA) exhibit “Your Bright Future: 12 Contemporary Artists From Korea.”, set to run from June 28 to September 20 2009, Choi brings a very well developed artistic eye to the event. For this event, Choi has created several contemporary pieces including three outdoor multimedia installations, comprised of computer animation, video art and sculpture.

“It took me 40 years to find out that painting is not sculpture.” Marc Chagall

Choi Jeong Hwa: Ok Towada Show

“With the most primitive means the artist creates something which the most ingenious and efficient technology will never be able to create.” Kasimir Malevich

LACMA Welcome

For the first of three outdoor installations at LACMA, “Welcome”, Choi wraps the Ahmanson Building in brightly colored fabric.

“Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.” Jackson Pollock

Happy Happy Installation at LACMA

“Happy Happy” is created from wire-strung, plastic bins, bowls, cups and tubs that hang down like the remnants of a giant psychedelic shower curtain. The third outdoor “Happy Happy” installation is an interactive project in which Choi has invited museum visitors to add their own plastic container sculptures to a section of LACMA’s chain-link fence.

“I am out to introduce a psychic shock into my painting, one that is always motivated by pictorial reasoning: that is to say, a fourth dimension.” Salvador Dali

Floral Horse at Ok Towada Show

What one finds particularly refreshing about this contemporary artist is the cheerful, playful, and colorful way he uses local materials, essentially junk, to engage and entertain his viewing public. Choi Jeong Hwa wants his audience to have an Aha! moment and a good time. His website showcases excellent, colorful renditions of his artwork.

Accumulation

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“Being an artist is very difficult like all other things and having fun while making art is important.” Do-Ho Suh

Do-Ho Suh

Do-Ho Suh is a highly respected and popular South Korean installation artist based in both Seoul and NYC. He is a contemporary of Choi Jeong Hwa and is known for his gravity-defying, highly detailed, intricate and truly spectacular artwork. Do-Ho’s work focuses on the myriad ways humans use and manage both private and public space.

“I’m not an abstractionist. I’m not interested in the relationship of color or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on.” Mark Rothko

Karma

Born in Seoul, the son of the nationally respected artist and scholar Se-Ok Suh, young Do-Ho was more interested in studying aquatic life than art. Se-Ok Suh’s influence gradually took hold and after completing his studies in South Korea, Do-Ho moved to the USA to study at the Rhode Island School of Design and Yale University.

“A sincere artist is not one who makes a faithful attempt to put on to canvas what is in front of him, but one who tries to create something which is, in itself, a living thing.” William Dobell

Cause and Effect

He builds site-specific installations that challenge our perceptions of space, our understanding of individual boundaries, and that examine the interconnectedness as well as the separateness of our global society.

“At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since.” Leonardo da Vinci

Someone ~ made of dogtags intricately pieced together to create a kimono

Do-Ho’s acutely detailed works of art also offer a social critique which brings to the mind the global conversation we ought to continue having on the creation and distribution of resources, the importance of our collective power to enforce positive change, and the questions that arise around the subject of identity and personal freedom.

“The only time I feel alive is when I’m painting.” Andy Warhol

Art:21 Do-Ho Suh

“Believe it or not, I can actually draw.” Jean Michel Basquiat

Fallen Star

Do-Ho Suh, as one of the featured artists at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (LACMA) exhibit “Your Bright Future: 12 Contemporary Artists From Korea.” set to run from June 28–September 20, 2009, contributed his famous installation “Fallen Star” to this event.
It shows a home partially destroyed with another, albeit smaller, home perched in the air, near it. Do-Ho’s works are exhibited worldwide and he has been showcased at, among a slew of venues, the Seattle Art Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the 49th Venice Biennale in Italy.

“The holy grail is to spend less time making the picture than it takes people to look at it.” Paul Cezanne

Who are We? A 4 sided installation of miniature photo portraits

The piece that remains a favorite for giving Do-Ho much satisfaction is “Who are We?” It is a wallpaper piece showing miniature photos of people and could be viewed as a creative way of maintaining genealogical memories and ties. He loves this one for its simplicity and subtlety.

Large Floor Art made of miniature figures under a wide Plexiglas cover

“Every good painter paints what he is.” Rembrandt van Rijn

Sometimes art and artists can get so serious that the basic point of it all is lost; art is meant to be enjoyed, collected, shared, and ultimately, to enrich our enjoyment of the creative process. What do you think?

Photo Credits: Kirk McKoy for The LA Times
Flower Flower photo by Romy Petrick
Misc Photos from various Media sources including Choi Jeong Hwa’s website

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank

Sweet Sensations II: African Divas Sing…

Sweet Sensations II: Those fabulous African Divas Sing…

“Every Friday and Saturday night, its Pata Pata time
The music keeps going on and on, till the morning sun begins to shine.” Miriam Makeba

Music has always carried the day for me. When I am feeling upside down, inside out, happy as a clam or simply running around like a very busy bee, music sets the mood that transports me someplace else; it grounds me.

Last week, I added the songs, voices, and lyrics of six African Divas for you to kick back and enjoy. These are women whose recordings and live shows I have enjoyed over the years. I admire all the women on my list and as I mentioned last week, this is not a comprehensive list. There are many singing divas I have not included because it is extremely difficult to build a blog around a list that could truly cover all the best singing divas on the continent. I have selected some of my top favorites and I will revisit this subject in the future and bring you more beautiful voices.

This week, we will visit the remaining five divas on my list of favorite singing ladies from the African continent: My favorite Divas… Yes. Again, these are singing queens many of us know and some of us might have forgotten or never met. Welcome to my mini showcase with promises to gradually present a global tour of my favorite ladies of song.

Stay with me, will you? In Sweet Sensations I and II, we will (in alphabetical order) meet in PART I: Angelique Kidjo, Asa, Cesaria Evora, Ejigayehu “Gigi” Shibabaw, Folasade “Sade” Adu, and Judee. In PART II: M’bilia Bel, Miriam Makeba, Oumou Sangare, Patience Dabany, and Suzanna Labruno

*To make best use of lyrics space, you may follow the lyrics all the way down on the left, and then follow the highlighted lyric parts all the way down on the right…*

Mbilia taking a breather from the African sun.

“If a song’s about something I’ve experienced or that could’ve happened to me it’s good. But if it’s alien to me, I couldn’t lend anything to it. Because that’s what soul is all about.” Aretha Franklin

M’bilia ‘Mbilia Bel’ Mboyo, the Queen of Congolese rumba, was born in Zaire (the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and became very popular in the early 1980s performing with top African artist Tabu Ley Rochereau on the Afrisa International band. She was adoredfor performing in the popular African Conga rumba style known as soukous; a fast paced dance music with afro rhythmic beats. After she left Tabu’s band, M’bilia moved to Paris in 1989 and joined forces with Rigo “Starr” Bamundele. Mbilia became a huge success traveling around the world with Rigo Starr and enjoyed comparisons to Makeba whom she admired. Her first album with Rigo Starr entitled “Phenomene” was a phenomenal success and solidified her solo career and position as an international performer.
Mbilia Bel reigned as one of Africa’s transcontinental divas in the 1990s and her fast paced songs were always a dance hit at African parties. She performs her songs in several languages; Lingala, French and Swahili and brings a unique sultry sound to the soukous afro zouk beat/sounds that fans enjoy. Naza is a song from “Welcome” which was her first album of the new millennium (2001).”Welcome” is filled with songs that showcase Rumba and Afro beat elements that work beautifully with Mbilia’s great voice. Below, she sings ~ Naza

M’Bilia Bel singing NAZA (I Exist)

Lyrics to NAZA: I Exist (Translated)
NAZA NAZA TE Naza Naza TE
NAZA NAZA TE Naza Naza TE

NAZA NAZA NAZA Naza Naza Naza
NAZA NAZA NAZA TE Naza Naza Naza TE

(2X)
Na Boyi koloba na bino soki na lobi na Memi ngambo
Na Bangi miso ya nzambe epekisa motema mabé
Na Boyi kotonga bato soki na tongi na memi ngambo
Na bangi miso ya nzambe epekisa kotonga mabé
Bino baluki Makambo mosala ko tongo baninga
Yuta kala ko yina boto koluka pasi ya bana ya baninga

Refrain:(2x)
Na Boyi eh Na Lobi eh Na Lobi eh Na Boyi eh
Ekila ya nzambe motema mabé Ouh ouh ouh ouh
Tika mwana ya moto kufa na malembe Na kozonga sima te
Futa nyongo odefaki na satan eh Fwila mulakwe Fwila bundundu
Nga na yo famille te Ouh ouh ouh ouh ouh ouh
Toyaki mboka mboka Banga eh Banga eh
Ponini oko Luka Liwa na nga
Na banga yo té na banga nzambe
Mokili naye te Na na yo eh

Repeat left side Refrain above
Bana ya Kwata au taux du jour Fwila monakwe Fwila monakwe
Bana ya kitambo magasin mère na bino aza Fwila kutima Fwila kutime
Na Lobi eh Na Boyi eh Ouh ouh banga eh ouh ouh banga eh
Ouh ouh ouh ouh Na Lobi eh Na Boyi na eh
Mama eh Mama eh Na lobi eh Lobi na eh
Ouh ouh ouh ouh

Miriam in a reflective mood... long before the music stopped.

“When music fails to agree to the ear, to soothe the ear and the heart and the senses, then it has missed its point.” Maria Calla

Zenzile Miriam Makeba, often referred to as Mama Africa, was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to a Xhosa dad and Swazi mom who encouraged her to start singing as a child. Miriam recorded Pata Pata in 1956 which became a major international hit and she traveled around the world performing to enthusiastic audiences. Due to her activism and efforts to bring attention to the oppression of apartheid in South Africa, Miriam Makeba’s citizenship was revoked in 1963. She returned home, for the first time in years, at the urging of Nelson Mandela in 1990.
Miriam was married to Hugh Masekela and Stokely Carmichael, moved to Brussels after her only daughter, Bongi, died and traveled constantly to share her music. Miriam Makeba was a dynamic, consummate entertainer and her songs were as passionate as the lady herself. I remember meeting and interviewing Miriam Makeba for a small African publication in the early 1990s. She was elegant, gracious and brutally honest about her life; its ups and downs. Sadly, she passed away in Castel Volturno near Italy on November 9th 2008. She will be missed. Below, she sings ~ PataPata

Miriam singing Pata Pata in the 1960s

Lyrics to PataPata
Pata Pata Pata Pata is the name of a dance
Saguguka sathi beka We did down Gauteng* way
(Nantsi, pata pata) Everybody starts to move
Saguguka sathi beka As soon as Pata Pata begins to play
(Yiyo, pata pata) Every Friday and Saturday night
Yi yo mama yiyo mama Its Pata Pata time
(Nantsi, pata pata) The music keeps going on and on
Yi yo mama yiyo mama Till the morning sun begins to shine
(Yiyo, pata pata)

Oumou looking every bit the African Diva here

“You have got to discover you, what you do, and trust it.” Barbra Streisand

Oumou Sangare was born in Bamako, Mali, into a Wassoulou musical household. Her mother was the great Malian singer Aminata Diakité and Oumou grew up appreciating the traditional hunting songs and accompanying stories from the griot tradition that were popular in the area. She is often called “The Songbird of Wassoulou.” She recorded her first successful album, Moussoulou (“Women”), with the help of another great artist Amadou Ba Guindo. Amadou was the arranger/bass player on her 1st album. Oumou is a very generous entertainer and is known to add more songs to her live shows; just to keep her audience jumping, dancing and shouting for more. Below, she sings ~ Saa Magni.

Oumou singing Saa Magni

Lyrics to Saa Magni: Death is Terrible (Translated)
Dedicated to Amadou Ba Guindo
O death; O death Death is so harsh
Death is so cruel Death who struck down Amadou Ba Guindo
But spares no creature Nothing can stop it
Not even fame Or having many children, great riches and many friends Amadou is gone And when I go to Douentza I will not see him again

He will never be seen again in Bamako
In Douentza Tenin Ongoïna cries for you
Whilst in Bamako Amadou cries for you
As Adja’ cries for you
Your widow Fanta cries for her missing husband

For Guindo has disappeared, struck down by treacherous death
In Bamako your old friend Alou Tracré misses you
How bitter is death, how bitter separation
It is hard to break the friendship links
How hard it is to be separated from one’s people, Guindo
But death spares no one
The Grim Reaper of hope did not spare Amadou Guindo

If it did not spare the Prophet Mohammed Just as it struck down Amadou Chérif
Leaving his father Bouba in pain May his soul rest in peace
How harsh is separation, how harsh death
And merciless death strikes without distinction
Villainous death crouches at a bend in the path, lying in wait for us

May God preserve us from it But death spares no one
It strikes in the prime of life Perfidious death crouches at a bend in the path
O death; O death You did not spare Guindo
No creature can escape you O death; O death, how you are cruel

Death is terrible, death is terrible, oh my brothers,
Guindo has lain down for ever
Death won’t leave you alone even if you’re rich. or popular
or you have small children -death needs you, he’ll come
and find you anywhere and take you with him
Death has claimed B Guindo, all Mali mourns him,

his wife has been left on her own, Oumou has been left on her own,
Death showed no pity for Amadou Ba Guindo

The ever youthful Ms. Patience rocking the music - lyrics please!

“I don’t think you get to good writing unless you expose yourself and your feelings. Deep songs don’t come from the surface; they come from the deep down. The poetry and the songs that you are supposed to write, I believe are in your heart.” Judy Collins

Patience Dabany, a highly regarded Gabonese chanteuse, was born Marie Joséphine Kama in Brazzaville Congo. Patience was raised in a musical family; her mom was a traditional singer and both her dad and brother played string instruments. Her parents started her on the path to a successful music career by encouraging her to sing from an early age. She traveled throughout Brazzaville as a member of the local choir singing popular traditional songs.
In 1959, setting her music aside, she married the President of Gabon, Omar Bongo, and started a family. By 1986, the marriage had ended and Patience returned to her love for music. A prolific songwriter, Patience has written music for film and collaborated with many over the years including artists such as James Debarge, Tabu Ley Rochereau, and Tshala Muana. She continues to perform when possible. She lives in the USA and Libreville and her music is loved by her fans around the world. Below, she sings ~ C’est Pour la Vie ~ This is for Life

Patience Dabany singing C’est Pour La Vie (This is for Life)
The search for the lyrics or translation continues.
If you have them, do share…

Suzanna performing in Angola to a full house.

“You could write a song about some kind of emotional problem you are having, but it would not be a good song, in my eyes, until it went through a period of sensitivity to a moment of clarity. Without that moment of clarity to contribute to the song, it’s just complaining.” Joni Mitchell

Suzanna Lubrano is a very popular, award winning Zouk singer. She was born in Cape Verde and now lives in Rotterdam. Zouk means “festival/party” and is a fusion of rhythmic party/festival music sung in creole with French and English influences. It is particularly associated with musicians from francophone (French speaking) and lusophone (Portuguese speaking) countries on the African continent. Suzanna performs her R&B tinged upbeat songs around the world; captivating her audience in English, Dutch and French creole. In 2003, she won the Kora All African Music Award for Best Female Artist of Africa of the year. Below, she sings ~ Taxi

Suzanna Lubrano singing Taxi

Lyrics to Taxi:
I’m leaving… Taxi Because you don’t care about us… Taxi
Taxi in front of the door, waiting to bring me to the station
The train leaves at 6 You had enough time to change my mind
And convince me You had enough time to change my mind
And convince me to stay (4x chorus)
Now I’m telling you Now I’m telling you bye

You had enough time to change my mind And convince me
You had enough time to change my mind And convince me to stay
Now I’m telling you bye I’m leaving ‘cause you don’t care
Now I’m telling you bye (3x chorus)
You don’t need to look for me anymore
You had enough time to convince me to stay Taxi in front of the door(4x)

You made time for everyone instead of me(2x)
Your priority went to everybody, but not me
My heart… I’m sorry I didn’t understand all the signs you gave me
Now I’m telling you Now I’m telling you bye

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” Judy Garland

Let me know what you think of the list I have shared. Share your list with me and if you know any up and coming divas from the continent you’d like me to meet, do share. Thank you! Merci!

Photo Credits: Various Newsmedia publications, Wikipedia, and other sources TBD.

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Fra

Sweet Sensations I: African Divas Sing…

Sweet Sensations I: Those fabulous African Divas Sing…

“Do you think anyone else can do it ? Really, this dance has got something.
Something…you can’t beat… Wombo Lombo.” Angelique Kidjo

Music has always carried the day for me. When I am feeling upside down, inside out, happy as a clam or running around like a very busy bee, music sets the mood that transports me to someplace else; it grounds me.

I have always loved music and dance and it doesn’t take much, but definitely good tracks and syncopation, to engage me musically. While I do have memories of those musical periods of my life when I gravitated to songs that were romantic, tear jerking, thump you in the back beats, I have other fond memories of the days when Barry White crooned, Michael Jackson sizzled, Fela Anikulapo Kuti dazzled, Poison, Prince, The Police and The Beatles rocked and many other groups kept the music flowing.

Today, I want to revisit some of my favorite ladies from the African continent: My favorite Divas… Yeah, the ones many of us know and the ones some of us might have forgotten or never met. This is not a comprehensive list by any stretch of the imagination, just my mini showcase with promises to gradually present a global tour of my favorite ladies of song.

Stay with me, will ya? In Sweet Sensations I and II, we will (in alphabetical order) meet in PART I: Angelique Kidjo, Asa, Cesaria Evora, Ejigayehu “Gigi” Shibabaw, Folasade “Sade” Adu, and Judee. In PART II: M’bilia Bel, Miriam Makeba, Oumou Sangare, Patience Dabany, and Suzanna Labruno
*To make best use of lyrics space, you may follow the lyrics all the way down on the left, and then follow the highlighted lyric parts all the way down on the right…*

Angelique Kidjo: The diva in a relaxed mood.

“Music is love in search of a word.” Sidonie Gabrielle

Angelique Kidjo was born in Cotonou, Benin and started quite early, at age six, singing and dancing with her mother’s performing group. Her musical influences came from both her father’s Fon and mother’s Yoruba backgrounds. She grew up listening to both African and American music and became successful during her teen years by borrowing and adapting her repertoire from one of her favorite singers, Miriam Makeba.
Today, Angelique continues to thrill her fans worldwide with her well choreographed, highly energetic performances. She speaks and performs in four languages; Fon, French, Yoruba, and English. Below, she sings ~ Wombo Lombo

Angelique singing Wombo Lombo

Lyrics to Wombo Lombo
Wombo lombo Wombo lombo
Wombo lombo Wombo lombo
Wombo lombo Wombo lombo
Wombo lombo Wombo lombo

Gbogbo ènyan n' so houn kpé onindjo kan m'bè Have you ever seen this man moving?
Niboni mon léri ènikan odamin lohoun Do you think anyone else can do it ?
Ilé onindjo wa lègbè odo Really this dance has got something,
Inou gbèrèko oman tou oko akpèdja Something, no way you can't beat it.

Wombo lombo Wombo lombo
Wombo lombo Wombo lombo
Wombo lombo Wombo lombo
Wombo lombo Wombo lombo

Gbogbo ènyan n'so kpé onindjo kan m'bè Have you ever seen this man moving ?
Niboni mon léri ènikan odamin lohoun Do you think anyone else can do it ?
Ilé onindjo wa lègbè odo Really this dance has got something
Inou gbèrèko oman tou oko akpèdja Something, no way you can't beat it.

Ho ham ham ho ham Ho ham ham ho ham
Yélélé ho ham ham ho ham Yélélé ho ham ham ho ham
Wombo lombo Wombo lombo
Wombo lombo Wombo lombo

Have you ever seen this man moving ? Really this dance has got something
Do you think anyone else can do it ? Something, no way you can't beat it.
Wombo lombo Wombo lombo

Asa contemplating her unique sound. Musically, she is going somewhere fabulous.

“Songwriting is a very mysterious process. It feels like creating something from nothing. It’s something I don’t feel like I really control.” Tracy Chapman

Aṣa (Bukola Elemide), a young, up-and-coming Nigerian artist, was born in Paris, France where she lived till age two. Her family moved back to live in Lagos, Nigeria (West Africa) and Asa spent her formative years listening to a wide range of performers. Years later, she returned to Paris to develop her music which remains very popular in Europe and Africa. While her songs might be reminiscent of the soulful sounds of Tracy Chapman, Asa brings a sensibility to her music that includes African influences with a tinge of reggae and rap. Below, she sings ~ Fire On The Mountain.

Asa singing Fire on the Mountain

Lyrics to Fire on the Mountain:
There is fire on the mountain, I wake up in the morning…
and nobody seems to be on the run. tell you what I see on my TV screen :
Oh there is fire on the mountain top, I see the blood of an innocent child,
and no one is’ah running. and everybody’s watching.

Now, I’m looking out of my window, What did they say to make you so blind,
and what do I see ? to your conscience and reason ?
I see an army of soldiers that’re Could it be love for your country,
marching across the street, heh… or for the gun you use in killing ? So…

There is fire on the mountain, Heh, Mister Loverman !
and nobody seems to be on the run. Can I get a chance to talk to you ?
Oh there is fire on the mountain top, ’cause you are fooling w/ a dead man’s corpse,
and no one is’ah running. and you don’t know what you do. Oh…
So little Lucy turns sixteen, For there is fire on the mountain,
and like the movie she’s been seeing, and nobody seems to be on the run
she has a lover in her daddy. Oh there is fire on the mountain top,
She can’t tell nobody… and no one is’ah running. Oh yes.
’till she makes the evening news.

One day the river will overflow,
and there’ll be nowhere for us to go;
and we will run, run…
wishing we had put out the fire, oh no…

Cesaria, The Barefoot Diva, pauses between songs to enjoy her beautiful flowers.

“You can’t copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you’re working without any real feeling. No two people on earth are alike, and it’s got to be that way in music or it isn’t music.” Billie Holiday

Cesária Évora, the barefoot diva, was born in Cape Verde and is internationally known for the beautiful way she sings morna or dirges. Mornas are songs of sadness, sorrow and great yearning; they are sung very much the way Billie Holiday sang the blues. Cesaria spent her early years in an orphanage and soon found comfort singing in local bars. As her reputation and skill grew, local fans named her the “Queen of Mornas.” Cesaria added lyrics written by her uncle, B. Leza to her repertoire of sad, haunting songs and became very popular in the region.
As word of her musical prowess and fame spread, Cesaria went through a very difficult phase of her life. She stopped performing for 10 years and struggled with financial problems and alcoholism. Cesaria found her musical footing again and subsequent fame when she met José da Silva who encouraged her to move to Paris in 1988.
The albums, La Diva Aux Pieds Nus (The Barefoot Diva) and Miss Perfumado, brought Cesaria international acclaim. Her music continues to bring warmth and longing to the hearts of her fans worldwide. Even the Turkish President is a fan. The lyrics to Cesaria’s songs are often in Portuguese and the local Cape Verdean Creole. Below, she sings ~ Embarcacao accompanied by the beautiful Kayah

Cesaria Evora singing Embarcacao with Kayah

Lyrics to Embarcacao: The Boat/Vessel (Translated)
Ai, ness mundo ca tem sô sofrimento There’s not only suffering in the world
Ma naquel olhar cheio di mágoa Looking into these sad eyes
Modê crê tão cedo na felecidade But how can you believe in happiness
Tcheu titá fogá na solidão That drown in tears alone

Ma na embarcação quta levá nôs vida On the boat of our fate
Um bom timonero nô ta desejá, pa guiá-no We need a skilled helmsman
Na temporal nô ta reá vela Who will manage to pull down the sails on time
Pa nô ca perdê na profundeza dum amargura And break us away from the embrace of starving waves of despair

Terra longe à vista é um doce promessa Probably the far off desired land
Ma qui ta desfazê nindiferença Will be the usual broken promise
Um sonho nascê na porto dilusão Because dreams are born in the haven of illusion
Fgi pa longe parcê um solução From which something keeps on chasing us away to the sea
Ma na ro ta incerta di nôs destino Our future has an unknown destination
Nô ta pô esperança num brisa mansa e constante In you, I hope for a tame and constant breeze
(2x)
Pintchi vela dnôs existencia But your wind, blows into the sails
E na paz levá, assim, nôs nau And lead our boat in peace
Pum horizonte cheio di luz e bonança Towards the horizon with peaceful and bright shores

Gigi chilling and posing for her fans.

“It isn’t where you came from; it’s where you’re going that counts.” Ella Fitzgerald

Ejigayehu “Gigi” Shibabaw, an Ethiopian singer/songwriter, was born in Chagni; a small town in the north-west region of the country. Her parents moved to Kenya when she was a child and then to San Francisco in 1998. She is married to Bill Laswell who helped produce her “GiGi” album. Gigi has a powerful voice with a range often compared to that of the great Ethiopian chanteuse — Aster Aweke. Gigi writes and sings her mellifluous songs in both Amharic and English and lives in NY. Below, she sings ~ Gud Fella

Gigi singing Gud Fella

Lyrics to Gud Fella: Trouble is Brewing (Translated)
Thought I had given it up – heeded their words Where does he learn these things?
What brought it on again, that old forgotten love Takes me like candy then chews me like gum!
Trouble is imminent, oh where, Trouble, imminent trouble (2x)

Hear the trumpets of his soul Trouble brews, trouble in the air (2x)
I hear it from afar. This is my jubilee You’d think I care what they say
My love returns to me I only care about your love

Look how he moves, watch his swagger He stands so tall, he’s ripe no doubt
Killing me with his eyes, with his smile He tempts, but he can’t be eaten
How many times am I to die? To think there is such a vine
A frame so fine along his spine So fine (2x)

Sade Adu, forever the sultry African Diva

New Sade Album cover ~ 'Soldier of Love' courtesy Sony Music via Billboard.com

“When I sing, trouble can sit right on my shoulder and I don’t even notice.” Sarah Vaughan

Folasade “Sade” Adu was born in Ikere, Nigeria. Her Yoruba name means love confers your crown. Sade’s parents, a Nigerian lecturer and an English nurse, met in London. When she was quite young, a few months old, her mom moved back to England with the children; Sade and brother Banji. Sade’s love and artistic flair for fashion, dance and music exposed her to many creative people in the London scene and soon evolved from a chance singing opportunity with the Latin soul group Arriva, to the band Pride which became the phenomenally successful group – Sade.
Sade and her band of four have enjoyed a very rewarding music career since the debut of their first album Diamond Life in 1984. Sade’s sensual melodies and evocative songs make her a fan favorite and she remains one of the most loved international recording stars. She has a daughter (Ila) and rumor has it that an album is due out in the fall. The latest update is that Sade’s new album ‘Soldier of Love’ will drop on February 8, 2010; all her fans will be excited to learn this bit of great news. Below, she sings ~ The Sweetest Taboo

Sade Adu singing The Sweetest Taboo

Lyrics to The Sweetest Taboo: by Adu – Ditcham
If I tell you There’s a quiet storm
If I tell you now And it never felt like this before
Will you keep on There’s a quiet storm
Will you keep on loving me That is you
If I tell you There’s a quiet storm
If I tell you how I feel And it never felt this hot before
Will you keep bringing out the best in me Giving me something that’s taboo
You give me the sweetest taboo Sometimes I think you’re just too good for me
You’re giving me the sweetest taboo Too good for me

You give me the sweetest taboo I’d do anything for you, I’d stand out in the rain
That’s why I’m in love with you Anything you want me to do, don’t let it slip away
You give me the sweetest taboo Sometimes I think you’re just too good for me

There’s a quiet storm You give me the sweetest taboo
And it never felt like this before That’s why I’m in love with you
There’s a quiet storm You give me, you’re giving me the sweetest taboo
I think it’s you Too good for me
There’s a quiet storm You’ve got the biggest heart
And I never felt this hot before Sometimes I think you’re just too good for me
Giving me something that’s taboo Every day is Christmas, and every night is new years eve

Will you keep on loving me Will you keep on, will you keep on
Will you keep on, bringing out the best in me Bringing out the best in me

Judee performing one of her afro dance songs in Switzerland

“As a singer I tried on all these hats, these voices, these clothes, and eventually out came me.” Carly Simon

Judith “Judee” Kisob, a native of Cameroon, grew up around the world and sees herself as an international citizen. Her father, a highly respected diplomat, traveled for many years with his family to new posts and Judee was exposed to cultures that continue to enrich and influence her music. A resident of Switzerland and a chemist/engineer by training, Judee found her musical calling after a very successful first public performance in 1990. Judee has created a unique sound that blends African beats with world music and she has a sensibility that makes her songs catchy and appealing to music lovers across genres. Judee sings mainly in English and French with a few other African dialects blended in from time to time. Below, she sings ~ To Mr. Mann

Judee singing “To Mr. Mann” and more…
Try this link for an MP3 playback

Lyrics to “To Mr. Mann”
1. You got a girl, a pretty girl. 2. To have a secret love, never crossed ma’ mind
I have a man, a good man. But now my heart is staging quite a show
Still I come to you with ma’ grand, master plan. Let’s not even talk of further down, down below
You look at me; you’re all confused. You seem uneasy with my honesty.
My proposition, you do refuse. You may no longer even wanna see me
Heartache! You look at me with such dismay! Heartache! You look at me with such dismay!
Heartbreak! Cos’ you don’t feel the same way. Heartbreak! Cos’ you don’t feel the same way.

CHORUS: CHORUS:
Don’t hold it against me Don’t hold it against me
If’ I say you’ve got sex appeal Cos’ I live for moments spent with you
That’s just the way I really truly feel. Hello kisses on my cheeks from you
Don’t hold it against me Don’t hold it against me
If I say I want you all the time Cos’ I whisper your name all day long
And still hope one day you’ll be mine. Ma’ need for you is just much too strong.
All you see is extra baggage Don’t hold it against me, please, baby,
To your simple way of life Don’t hold it against me.
Promise, I won’t cause any damage I’d love you as a lover
That would cause you pain and strife But I really need you more as a friend.
I care for you too much and your big heart is just too beautiful So don’t hold it against me

CHORUS:
Don’t hold it against me Don’t hold it against me, please, please baby,
If I say there’s somethin’ special ’bout you Don’t hold it against me
That makes me wanna get freaky wit’chu. I’d love you as a lover
Don’t hold it against me But I really need you more as a friend
When you talk I just watch your mouth So don’t hold it against me
I’m in a trance; don’t know north from south. Please…

“My music fights against the system that teaches us to live and die.” Bob Marley

Let me know what you think of the list I have shared. Share your list with me and if you know any up and coming divas from the continent you’d like me to meet, do share. Thank you! Merci!

Photo Credits: Various Newsmedia publications, Wikipedia, and other sources TBD.
Sade Adu: Album cover ‘Soldier of Love’ ~ courtesy Sony Music via Billboard.com

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank

Myth meets Mystery: For the Love of Rainbows

Mystery meets Myth: For the Love of Rainbows

“Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.” (Lyrics from ~ Over the Rainbow)

I have always loved seeing the colors of a rainbow suddenly form in the sky or near a body of water. As a child, I remember sitting by the window, after a downpour, inventing stories about visiting mystical places on a rainbow ride through the heavens. I also heard others tell stories about why we see rainbows and what, from a mythological perspective, forms them.
In Hindu mythology, the rainbow “Indradhanush” symbolized the gigantic, protective bow of Lord Indra; God of lightning, thunder and rain. (In Sanskrit and Hindi, dhanush is bow). In Christian biblical record, the rainbow became the eternal symbol of God’s promise to Noah, after the flood, that life would never again be destroyed by water (Genesis 9.13-15). My favorite was always that a rainbow was a reminder of God’s bountiful mercies and the promise of good fortune coming our way.

Rainbow over Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe by Zest_pk

“Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.”(Lyrics from ~ Over the Rainbow)

Another fond rainbow memory is of the song “Over the Rainbow” in the Wizard of Oz. Who could ignore the message in the song “Over the Rainbow” written by Harold Arlen/Yip Harburg and sung by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy, a key character, imagines a world over the rainbow where life is perfect and everyone lives in peace and harmony. I loved the movie and the quirky characters. I also had fun watching the colorful though panned version of “The Wiz” with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson years later.

Judy Garland singing “Over the Rainbow” in The Wizard of OZ movie…

“The true harvest of my life is intangible – a little star dust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched.” Henry David Thoreau

What is a rainbow? From a scientific explanation, it is an optical and meteorological event that causes a band of light to appear on the surface of water or in the sky when the Sun reflects off moisture in the Earth’s atmosphere. The moisture could be from a fountain, rain, mist, spray, and even early morning dew. A colorful arc is formed by seven colors, at least apparent to the human eyes; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

A magnificent Double Rainbow in Alaska by Eric Rolph

“Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
A way above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me.” (Lyrics from ~ Over the Rainbow)

Even in the world of rainbows, there are complexities and unique variations on the standard arched rainbow we find familiar. A supernumerary rainbow consists of several pastel colored rainbows on the inner side of the primary rainbow. They rarely appear outside the secondary rainbow. A reflection rainbow occurs when sunlight reflects off a body of water before reaching the raindrops especially if the water body is large and quiet over its entire surface. The reflection rainbow intersects a normal one, reaches further in the sky and appears above the horizon; it is rarely visible. A reflected rainbow appears on the surface of water as a mirror image. The sunlight is reflected off the water after it is first deflected by the raindrops falling into the calm body of water.

Reflection Rainbow at Skagit Bay, WA by Terry L Anderson

“Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then oh why can’t I?” (Lyrics from ~ Over the Rainbow)

Interestingly, looking back to the world of music, I believe that rainbows strike a chord with many people especially around the notion of dreams and creating a better world. “Over the Rainbow” is considered the #1 Song of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. It is also rated the greatest song in a movie by The American Film Institute. In 1986, Barbara Streisand sang a new version at a concert at her Malibu home and included it on her new album.

Barbara Streisand singing “Over the Rainbow at a concert in 1986 at her Malibu, CA home.

“If happy little blue birds fly beyond the rainbow
Why oh why can’t I?” (Lyrics from ~ Over the Rainbow)

Rainbows make me smile and lift my spirits. The glorious spectrum of colors that stream through the sky or reflect off the surface of a lake, ocean or other water source calms me and brings back seemingly ancient stories from my childhood. The mystical nature of rainbows always manages to evoke romantic, mythical stories in my mind. Stories filled with ancient battles fought by valiant knights over beautiful, powerful damsels. In my stories, the women are not in distress; they are valued and smart. What emotions are stirred when you see a rainbow? Do you have memories or stories of your experience with rainbows? Do Share.

Rainbow Fountain at Ossining Park, NY

Photo Credits: Victoria Falls Rainbow by Zest PK
Reflection Rainbow at Skagit Bay, WA by Terry L Anderson
A magnificent Double Rainbow in Alaska by Eric Rolph

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank

Life, Liberty and Independence Day: A chat with Dan Rosandich, Canny Cartoonist

Life, Liberty and Independence Day: A chat with Dan Rosandich, Canny Cartoonist

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Independence Day, celebrated with food, fireworks and more on July 4th, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 and the separation from Great Britain. This national holiday is yet another reminder of a key facet of being an American; enjoying the freedom of expression that comes with living under a democracy that protects the pursuit and enjoyment of individual liberties. While Freedom is paramount to all, it is of particular interest to artists – writers, singers, cartoonists and more – who vigorously defend their right to creative expression.

“A free America… means just this: individual freedom for all, rich or poor, or else this system of government we call democracy is only an expedient to enslave man to the machine and make him like it.” Frank Lloyd Wright

Washington Monument ~ July 4th Fireworks

For creative types like Dan Rosandich, a freelance cartoonist with over 30 years experience, it means the freedom to create witty, family friendly cartoons that showcase our collective humor, frailties, and foibles. In a recent, short interview below, Dan shared some insights on his 30+ years cartooning background, his life’s work and the creative process. He generously shared three favorite cartoons (posted in this piece) for all to enjoy.

“As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Nelson Mandela

One of three favorite cartoons by Dan Rosandich

Where are you from and what training do you have in cartooning? Dan was born in Detroit back in 1957 and still lives in Michigan. During his High School years, he did some subcontracting roofing work for his grandpa and, later on, worked in a print shop in Troy duplicating blue prints. Essentially, Dan is self-taught as he always loved drawing.

What led you to cartooning? As Dan explains, he was “compelled by a God given talent” to pursue cartooning as a career path. “The talent was already instilled within me….I just had to put it to good use…I’d hate to be on this planet and not know one of my gag panel cartoons is being read by someone somewhere else on the planet.”

“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” Abraham Lincoln

Another Dan Rosandich favorite

What feeds your inspiration? “Tough question, when you already love to draw… I just like to see if my next cartoon stands up to another person’s sense of what’s funny or what might appeal to other readers or visitors.”

Do you have a favorite cartoon or series of cartoons? “I’ve always been a fan of Garfield. Just the fact that a cartoon cat can antagonize his owner, yet maintain his own sense of sarcasm day in and day out is fun.”
“I try and read that comic strip every day; although I don’t go out of my way to invest in any “collections” or “anthologies” – I just feel like I’m reading up on a friend’s day to day activities. Maybe in a sick way, I’m living vicariously (if that’s what you call vicarious!) through Garfield. I can also relate to Jon and Odie.”

How has the internet and technology helped shape your business and entrepreneurial vision? “I have to say we are living in an exceptional age…I talk with people and say “just think” . . . “we could have lived during medieval times.” I mean, with all of this fantastic technology to allow people to communicate, display their work and service to a worldwide audience is a bit mind boggling.”
“I always try to tell people to jump aboard the information technology highway and use it to their advantage. I don’t mean sending out viral emails or jokes, or videos but put your business online….if you like fishing and tie flies, sell them online. If you like playing softball or baseball in general, start your own sideline and sell used sports equipment…it goes on and on.”
“I draw cartoons – so the only logical step is putting my cartoons up online and offering them to the world for licensing and it seems to slowly be picking up or at least gradually generating a steady flow of regular clients.”

“I defend both the freedom of expression and society’s right to counter it. I may pay the price for differing. It is the natural way of things.” Naguib Mahfouz

Life in the technology age ~ A third Dan Rosandich favorite

Dan’s cartoons, on a wide range of topics, have been published in Reader’s Digest, Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Better Homes and Garden and numerous publications. He has worked with McGraw-Hill, The Florida Farm Bureau and a host of other clients. He offers a majority of his work for licensing through an online web catalog at www.danscartoons.com and will be happy to create something special for your business.

Do you have a unique business you’d like to share with my audience? Write me for an interview and we can share it.

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank

Heartbreak Hotel: Scattering Stars Like Dust

Heartbreak Hotel: Scattering Stars like Dust.
“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.” ~ Rumi

It was with great shock that I received the news of the tragic deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett on Thursday, June 25, 2009. While their deaths are heartbreaking, the lessons for the living remain; live life fully, embrace yourself/loved ones, share your gifts and remember your blessings with a spirit of gratitude…

♥Heartbreak Hotel with Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley in a video collage♥

A youthful Michael Jackson years before all the complications

MJ in a moment of mirthfulness ... just a moment

I grew up with Michael Jackson’s music from the early days when he was a member of the Jackson 5. I remember watching him prance around on stage; focused, supremely talented and mirthful. How could someone so young have such charismatic star power? He had a unique voice, dance moves and a strong musical message. Who could ever forget A.B.C…?

The Jackson Five: From left clockwise, Tito, Jermaine, Jackie, Michael and Marlon.

Michael Jackson and Diana Ross back in the day during the Motown years...

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” Rumi

My memories of the early days of the Jackson Five are tied to their performances and music; they were consummate entertainers, their music had catchy, bubblegum, teenybopper tunes that kept everyone dancing. As time went by, “The Jacksons’” matured, their music evolved and when Michael finally ventured off on his own, it was explosive… Heartbreak Hotel was always my top favorite even though I loved many songs in his recordings. Michael had an impressive musical body of work; it was personal, passionate, political, and always inspired.

♥You Rock My World ~ Michael Jackson w/ Usher and Chris Tucker♥

♥You Rock My World ~ Michael Jackson with Chris Tucker♥

The Jackson Five w/ their drummer Milford: Dressed in Blue...

“Still, the Final Grace was left: For all of existence and Hafiz to blend and to find that I am every pillow offering comfort to each mind and Foot.” ~ Hafiz

I remember the first time I saw Charlie’s Angels on TV with Farrah and her partners dashing around, solving cases and capturing criminals. It was a step in a different direction for women as characters with authority and while they had their share of detractors, the overall message was a positive one. Farrah moved on after the first season to a career that included high moments; especially in her roles in “Extremities” and “The Burning Bed.”

Screen shot of Charlie's Angel; Farrah, Kate and Jaclyn were the original three.

A classic iconic photo of Farrah Fawcett

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” ~ Kahlil Gibran

This is a shocking and massive dual loss for fans of both celebrities. These were people who seemingly had everything yet had their share of pain and suffering; Farrah handled her battle with cancer with grace and a clarity that included documenting part of the complicated journey to seek/receive treatment. Michael handled his life long childhood scars by sublimating the pain through touring around the world, passionately sharing his musical genius, turning to his spiritual faith and giving much to charity. Michael’s “Thriller” captures that genius and intertwines the dark with light…

♥Thriller ~ Michael Jackson♥

Michael Jackson on tour in Japan

Michael Jackson holding a little cat

“We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust” ~ Rumi

When the lives of deceased loved ones are celebrated, we often hear the reminder that we come into the world naked and alone and leave the same way. I believe we come into the world with angels who escort us back to God; so we are never truly alone on the physical or spiritual plane.

♥You are Not Alone ~ Michael Jackson♥

Michael with Prince I and Paris ... family love

Michael Jackson had many fans and friends ~ Here w/ Whitney Houston.

Rest In Peace Michael and Farrah; we are all stars scattered across the earth to bring joy and gifts for a set time. Some bring more and others less yet all gifts have merit and touch lives: I send peace, sympathy and love to the families and loved ones of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. Our Life is a journey rift with mysteries, challenges and blessings. Our love carries us forward and then scatters to touch other souls; that’s the way love is/goes…

Michael and Janet Jackson; famous, super-talented siblings

♥That’s the Way Love Goes. ~ Janet Jackson♥

The Jackson Five: Brothers making music

Michael Jackson: Weep No More, You are Free... and loved♥

Have you hugged a dear one and shared words of wisdom and love? Remember to live Your life fully, embrace Your loved ones, share Your gifts and be grateful… Share Your thoughts?

Photo Credits:
Photo of Michael with cat and at Home with Prince I and Paris from J.Randy T and TMZ
Multiple photos of Michael, family, friends from C.Johnson
Photo of Farrah Fawcett from Wikipedia
“Charlie’s Angels” Shot ~This image is a screen shot of a copyrighted television program or station ID.

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank

Creative Intuition: The Power of Listening and Praying.

Creative Intuition: The Power of Listening and Praying.

“The great book, always open and which we should make an effort to read, is that of Nature; the other books are taken from it, and in them there are the mistakes and misinterpretations of men.” Antoni Gaudi

La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain by Montrealais ~ spectacular and unfinished

Intuition: The ability to acquire direct knowledge/conviction without inference or the use of reason. Origins from the Latin intueri ~ to contemplate
Creative: To display imaginative originality and reject/shirk the conventional
Prayer: Praarthanaa (in Sanskrit) derived from ‘pra’ and ‘artha’ meaning pleading fervently. A reverent, faith based plea for divine intervention; for God’s grace.

Casa Batllo by T. Grasso

I was taking a contemplative walk with a friend this morning at a local park that has a beautiful lake set right in the middle of it. Typically on sunnier days, at a set time, a fountain in the lake spouts water sky high and creates a kaleidoscope of color capturing the gift of a rainbow reflecting off the lake.
Not today. It was a foggy morning with drizzling rain showers that started and stopped as if in response to a distant drum beat.

“Only when we find the quietness in our own minds can we begin to hear our inner teacher, so that we may receive some intuition. Only when we are ready to recognize and value the wisdom that we carry at the core of our being will we turn our attention inwards and ‘listen in’.” Innerspace

Casa Mila in Barcelona by Chongming 76

We were early so there were few people around. A croaking bullfrog and chirping birds sang their morning praises to the creator. We listened, commented on how beautiful our surroundings were; a perfect canvas painted by divine hands.

“Intuition is a spiritual faculty and does not explain, but simply points the way.”
Florence Scovel Shinn

Staircase in Casa Batllo in Barcelona by Chongming 76

We often speak about nature’s beauty but many of us hardly pause to listen to the sounds and songs she shares. We don’t listen for the whispered secrets that feed the creative impulses of those we call extraordinary artists; men and women of creative genius ~ who listen to their intuitive impulses, pray, and create magical works.

“The creative path leads directly to a sacred realm.” K. Bradford Brown

Cripta de la Colonia Guell in Barcelona by Tillf Teenck

As we paced ourselves; one white-sneakered shoe in front of the other, the grotesquely twisted limbs of some nearby trees caught my eye; birds perched digging for worms, richly hued green leaves glistened with rain droplets. The thought, nature is not always beautiful but she is perfect especially when juxtaposed…. crossed my mind. How nature’s beauty shows her face; a two-sided coin with beauty on one side and the beast on the other.

“The world is but a canvas to the imagination.” Henry David Thoreau

Parc Guell in Barcelona by WikiScript

I needed to contemplate this some more. Ah, sure! Creativity has the same quality and we are sometimes forced to consider these juxtapositions when we are struck by stark examples of beauty and the beast in nature or creative endeavors. All are divinely inspired.

“Men may be divided into two types: men of words and men of action. The first speak; the latter act. I am of the second group. I lack the means to express myself adequately…” Gaudi

Antoni Gaudí’s {Antoni Plàcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet (25 June 1852–10 June 1926)} original, powerful architectural wonders in Barcelona, Spain came to mind as I kept up a steady pace with my friend.

“I believe creativity is like electricity. We don’t understand how it works… we just use it.” Maya Angelou

Casa Batllo in Barcelona by Vincent Abbey

Recently, at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, I had watched a documentary on Gaudi by Hiroshi Teshigahara … and the haunting images of his immensely imaginative architecture; gothic, surreal, hypnotic and more swirled around my head like a psychedelic dream.

“Listen to your intuition. It will tell you everything you need to know. ” Anthony D Angelo

Casa Mila in Barcelona by Diliff

Gaudi was a prayerful, intuitive architect who captured nature’s irregular shapes and unusual proportions in his building designs. He was not afraid to explore new ways in construction, design and the use of color and materials.

“I would not be able to explain to anyone my artistic concepts. I have not yet concretized them. I never had time to reflect on them. My hours have been spent in my work.”
Gaudi

He was acutely aware of nature and his surroundings and injected portions of those elements into his work. For the monumental La Sagrada Familia, it is said he fasted and prayed for guidance on this project and though it was never completed (still under construction) in his lifetime, it is this project that led many to call Gaudí “God’s Architect.”

“When your creativity comes to a climax, when your whole life becomes creative, you live in God. So he must be the creator because people who have been creative have been closest to him…” Osho

Finca Guell in Barcelona by 555 Nase

Where does the creative impulse come from? Do you listen to the still, small voice urging you to try painting your life story on an innovative canvas? Do you pray for creative guidance and then think that sudden thought on what to do is stupid? When do we know that what we know is divinely inspired and original? What do we learn about fearlessness from artists of remarkable genius?

Photos from a selection on Wikipedia – credits/attributions below
Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera (Catalan for ‘The Quarry’) built 1906-1910 Photo credit Casa Mila by Diliff
Casa Batlló also known as Casa dels ossos (House of Bones), built 1877 remodeled 1905-1097 ; Casa Batllo by ChongMing76, T Grasso and Vincent Abbey
The Church of Colònia Güell built as a place of worship for people in a suburb of Barcelona. Photo credit by Till F. Teenck and Canaan
La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell Photo credit by Montrealais and WikiScript
Finca Guell Photo credit by 555 Nase

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank