Posts filed under 'Rant & Rave'
July 1, 2010 A great day in the city of Newark. I was happy to be invited to the Mayors inauguration. I saw alot of familiar faces and new faces in the crowd. I have to mention the unofficial First Lady Gail King was in attendance too. I felt the Mayor’s speech was sharp and on point, I don’t feel the same about alot of his city council. It’s clear to me that change continues to be a difficult process for Newark. But, just like politics you will agree to disagree, I just hope that they can work together for the good of the city. Enjoy the pics!
July 10th, 2010
This week I spoke with Cory Booker Mayor of Newark, NJ about what he has done for Newark and what he still has to do with his impending election in May. I also designed some campaign posters that I had sent to him with hopes he will use them in the election. Still waiting on that Booker!
I guess I am a bit sentimental about the city where I was a third generation resident. It was the first place my family lived when immigrating from Italy. I have so many memories of growing up in an incredible city, my father and grandparents before me have even more incredible story’s. Some of my family still live and work in Newark so our roots are not all abandoned.
I’m not a person who gets involved in politics but when a person like Mayor Booker is trying this hard to bring back a city to its former glory, I think you need to stand behind him and support what his vision is. Some of his critics say, oh he’s a celebrity where is he on the streets of “Brick City”. I say, it’s good he gets some face-time on television what a great media to get outsiders to know Newark. And as far as the street, maybe you just weren’t there when he was in church that day, out patrolling the streets with the Newark Police Department, shoveling the snow a few weeks back for his neighbors. I’m not saying all hail Cory Booker, I’m just saying he’s a person with ambition to take the city back for community, jobs, the arts give him the time to do it then we can draw our conclusions. I think that most residents and former residents want to see better times for Newark, NJ. Thanks for reading.
February 6th, 2010
On a cold winter night in Newark, NJ my friend Flo Johnson took me to see an exhibt at the WBGO radio station. All Flo, said was “You have to see her work”, I was curious so agreed to go. I met an artist named Lady Bird Strickland who paints about the deep south and black history. Her paintings can be described as “social consciousness.” Her paintings can depict a montage of Martin Luther King to jazz great Dizzy Gillespie to her latest installment of the first black family, the Obamas.” I got to talking with her and her advice to me was, “do what you like, and do it well.” How can you beat that! Lady Bird was fascinating as she took me down memory lane with her through her days at Pratt to how much she loves Chinese food. She also never studied the piano, but there I found her tinkering the ivory’s of a Steinway at WBGO and she just made up the notes as she went along. Talented. Thank you Ladybird, It was a pleasure meeting you!
I also got the chance to meet Lady Bird’s daughter Pat Cleveland. To my amaze I found out only afterwords that she was one, if not the first, black couture supermodel working for the likes of Yves Saint Laurent and Halston. The daughter of a white jazz musician father and a black painter mother she ruled the catwalk in the early seventies.
What a night at WBGO in Newark, NJ!
Go to http://www.ladybirdsart.com/ to view her art.
March 2nd, 2009
December 27th, 2008
So my friend Ruben an Art Director in Chicago sends me all kinds of wonderful advice and rambles about just stuff. Life, Art, Music just stuff. He’s a good guy and a awesome artist. I decided to put up one of his funny things he sent me. I always knew I’d be famous.lol
December 27th, 2008
Soooo, I’ve been really busy with Hit Designs, lots of exciting projects and fantastic new clients. You would think working for yourself would afford you a little extra time but it’s the complete opposite if your like me and truly stand for clients come first!
Recently, I was invited to CNBC The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch to give my 30 second elevator speech about a product that I conceived and designed called the Pup’n'Pak.
It really is a great product and I’m not just saying that because it’s mine. All you dog owners know traveling with your pet for the day can be a hassle and the Pup’n'Pak eliminates that hassle. I would have to take 2 bowls, a bottle of water, a zip lock bag of food, and a small toy and throw it into a bag you get at the supermarket and drag that along with me…But now, since I made the Pup’n'Pak, I put the food on one side a water bottle on the other and a small toy right inside the 2 compartments that double as dog bowls with a water repellent liner. Makes my life easier and it can make your life easier! You can get one at my website www.pupnpak.com for only $14.95.
Watch the video clip and let me know what you think fellow K9 friends. I’m going to be designing more bags in lots of colors with my own custom designs soon.
Watch Video
September 13th, 2008
Nope, not Cher! It’s Patty LuPone she got the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress for Gypsy! She hasn’t won a Tony since her performance in Evita in 1980. No that wasn’t Madonna she was in the movie. I always have a soft spot for the theater since that is where my big break in design was. I designed for many broadway musicals too many to mention and I will always hold live theater close to my heart and the Creative Director who gave me my job. Those are my regards to Broadway.
June 22nd, 2008
One Make-up Artist and good friend of mine Jackie Catanese of FACEZ, is making a name for herself with her innovative make-up applications and techniques right here in New Jersey. For all of you thinking why am I blogging about make-up on an art blog. Well, make-up is an art. The artistry of make-up goes back thousands of years in many cultures across the world. Using pure and natural pigments tribal leaders, Egyptian queens (aka Cleopatra) men and women throughout history wore make-up. Jackie is a true artist with her new line of make-up called Bulletproof you are guaranteed to look FLAWLESS.
March 28th, 2008
