JaZzArt en València

No se porque nadia me habia hablado de esta encantadora fotografa. Myriam Boulos, libanesa, nacio en 1992 en Beirut y sus fotografias han salido en las revistas Vogue y Vanity Fair. Pertenece a The Gemini Collective junto a ilustradores, otros fotografos y la psicologa Laura-Joy Boulos. Myriam colabora con la revista feminista Al Hayya, editada en Beirut. Hay que conocerla.

Esta artista entra en el grupo de mujeres que si son feministas con las cuales si podemos estar de acuerdo. Han hecho algo por todas las mujeres, no solo por las que piensan como las de podemos…

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I don’t know why no one told me about this wonderful photographer. Myriam Boulos, Lebanese, was born in 1992 in Beirut. Her photography has appeared in magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair. She forms part of the Gemini Collective among illustrators, other photographers and the psychologist Laura-Joy Boulos. She is a collaborator with the Beirut based feminist magazine Al Hayya. We have to get to know her.

Gracias…

Cheers…

I remember this song from my early childhood in Miami, Florida. We used to sing it in the second grade… And Steve Alaimo, although not a Miami native, did go to the University of Miami and then became a resident of the city. He used to sing at Miami Beach’s Eden Roc Hotel. Alaimo also co-produced and hosted Dick Clark’s Where the Action is. He released nine singles, none reaching the top 40. As a record producer he produced Sam & Dave and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Steve Alaimo died in 2024 at 84 years old.

«Happy» was released in 1964. Although it was a chart failure, it seemed to be well liked in Miami, at least among the children. It is not Alaimo’s most popular song, which is «Every Day I have to Cry«, but I too grew fond of this song. Hope you like it. And if you did, or not, please tell me what you think.

What song do you remember from the days of your early youth?

CHEERS

¿De veras?

DEACON 11
Karma

He said this would be the final teaching and when I found out it was about karma, I understood the reason why…

“In the Holy Bible it says God makes sure that whatever one sows that will he also reap. One can find such a statement in the epistles of St. Paul, (Galatians 6:7). In the Old Testament, i.e. Job 4:8, it is written that those who plough iniquities and sow trouble will reap the same. And although Jesus did not look at the world through the optics of karma, it is something that we must address. If God will let you sow iniquities from the troubles you ploughed, then there is something to karma after all.

“So, what is karma? It is a Sanskrit term, and belief, that deals with the consequences of actions and their intentions. If an action is good and done with good intentions, one will receive good karma. If the opposite is done, e. g. with evil or bad intent, then the results will likely be bad. It sounds simple enough. But is it? What can make an action to cause a good or bad reaction according to the intention? Is it God, as we are told by Saint Paul (Galatians 6), who will not be mocked by those committing evil deeds? If God makes sure that people reap what they sow, then karma is real. Be careful.

“In India’s sacred texts, the Upanishads, one can see that karma is clearly linked to causality. Take these verses from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.5-6, that tell us: A a man is one way or another according to how he behaves. If he is a man of good actions he will become a good man; if he is a man of bad actions he will become a bad man. One becomes pure from good actions and bad from bad actions.

“I believe this is a universal belief that we all can agree with. No? We do agree that good actions lead to good results, like positive thinking leads to positive things? No? And we can agree that the opposite is also true. No? Yet, are we free from the consequences of our actions? If we blame our actions on bad karma is that a legitimate defence? Is it an excuse? And on the other hand should we suppose that our triumphs and successes are merely the product of good luck? Or of good karma? I leave that up to you. We have free will to believe whatever we want. But bear in mind that the more good actions you accumulate in your life, the more good things you will receive, either in the short or the long road.»

And then he paused and took a glass of water in his hand, had a good, long drink and looked, with a saddened expression, right at me.

“And you who are chasing evil doers and those you perceive as evil men, will you stop to think of such things as karma? Will you not even stop to think that perhaps the greatest thing that Jesus taught and stressed, was that we should not judge others? ‘Judge not, and you will not be judged.’ So says Saint Luke (6:37). And Saint Matthew (7:1-2) says: ‘Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you‘. Does judging others produce of bad karma? I believe it does and perhaps that is why Jesus strongly commanded against it.

“And I have finished my work here. I understood there was a huge need as a voice guided me here to teach. I know many have heard these words, though few have listened. Yet I know that the one for whom these principles were laid out has listened and understood. This allows me to move on to someplace else where I may be needed with the same urgency as I was here.

“But before I finish I would like to remind you of what Jesus said were the two greatest commandments. The first is: ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these‘. (St. Mark 12-28-31). And we find that in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew (22:36-40), Jesus completes the statement with: ‘On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.‘

“So who are you chasing my son? Do not chase shadows, or much less your tail, should you end up like Ouroboros eating its own tail and a symbol of constant cycles. Or have you fallen? Let go and let God. Only He can raise you.

C.2025, Francisco Bravo Cabrera – 11 APR 2025 – Valencia, España

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This concludes the limited series DEACON 11

CHEERS

Arranca el tambor
dos dos tres dos dos cuatro,
las cuerdas del bajo,
atacando, atacando,
y la sangre te hierve,
te provoca la prisa,
el salto, el jirón,
media vuelta
y deslizas…

Tu figura que crece,
permanece en un trance,
y de trompetas el aire
se llena,
y respiras y sientes cada nota
llenarte,
de la tierna energía,
de la enérgica tierna,
celosa y sensual
agonía,
y del placer de bailar
bajo el sol.

¡Ay que luz,
media noche!

¡Qué mar!
¡Qué alegría!

C.2022, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 12 de septiembre de 2022, València, España

Angelina Jolie has opened up an artists atelier, and at the place supposedly used by Basquiat as his studio at 57 Great Jones Street. It’s an ugly, eye-sore dumpy building in lower Manhattan. Apparently when Basquiat met Andy Warhol (1983) he rented the second floor from him. Warhol had purchased the building in 1970. Basquiat lived and worked there until his death, (suicide or accidental heroin overdose?) in 1988. Previously the structure, built in the 1860’s, was owned by the gangster Paul Kelly, of the Five Points Gang. And more recently it was the very upscale Japanese restaurant Bohemian. Now, and since 2023, it belongs to Angelina Jolie and to the ghosts who probably inhabit it.

Supposedly the graffiti, uncovered while renovating the building, was the work of Al Diaz, Basquiat’s partner in the graffiti duo SAMO©. Diaz claimed it was his, that he had created it for his exhibition there in 2018. In my opinion the place would look better without it, but hell, who am I to suggest something to these people who glorify graffiti artists like Warhol, Diaz and Basquiat, and who think…without much knowledge of art history…that Basquiat was the greatest Black artist the US ever produced. And I am not saying that Jolie said so, but going by the blabber and the stammer.

Nota Bene:

According to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) of New York, these are the greatest Black artists of the US: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kerry James Marshall, and Kara Walker rank among the most influential contemporary Black artists. Historical figures like Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence transformed African American art representation in prestigious museums worldwide.

In any event Angelina Jolie wants to create a community of artists and thinkers and she wants them to group at the atelier, or to paint there, or do something there.

According to the New York Times, last April 5 Jolie met with Iranian artist (based in New York) Shirin Neshat, and conversed about how art was a way, for her, to communicate and find meaning, (whatever that means). And that she wants the atelier to be a place of dialogue about important things like refugees, women’s rights and ecology. Wow! Art as a way to create consciousness in people and communicate important things! A novel idea Ms. Jolie! Why didn’t we (all artists) think of this?

So… what was to be a fashion boutique, supposedly for designers, has turned out to be a commune for artists. Of course, rich artists, well placed and friends with the Manhattan elite. Although it was reported that Angelina said it was open to one and all. But I suspect the atelier will not be available to just any artist. But if you (artist) who is reading this receives an invitation to frolic with the ghosts of gangsters and the enfant terrible of the 80’s New York art scene, let me know, I may drop by to see your exhibition, or at least the ghosts.

And remember, Angelina Jolie says that «Art should be accessible*.» So if you are in town show up with your paints and brushes, or at least a spray can so you too can make history by scribbling some graffiti on the wall. But I doubt they will let you unless you show them your street credentials as a bona fide graffiti artist trained in the Basquiat-Al Diaz school of how to vandalise private property and get rich and famous!

* I do not know where she said this, perhaps to The New York Times but I plucked it out of an article in Pragmatika Magazine. A Ukrainian art, design, urbanism and architecture magazine. I recommend it.

CHEERS

One truly great musician, singer, composer and probably the most popular country singer of the 1990’s. And as a fan of country music, I’ve always admired his music and loved his songs. So I hope you enjoy this one, «The Older I Get, written by Adam Wright, Hailey Whitters, and Sarah Turner. Alan Jackson released it in 2017. Every time I hear it I begin to think about how fast life really passes by…

CHEERS

He visto mil cosas al andar por los prados, dehesas y montes… Cosas grandes, cosas vivas, llenas de entusiasmo; llenas de emociones; llenas de amarguras; llenas de heridas; llenas de sangre, y de risa… Otoños, y veranos manchados con la sangre del odio; primaveras manchadas con la sangre de besos y sueños que se empapan del agua de días sin pistolas, navajas, garrotes. De hombres que no ofenden ni ofrenden… Sin broncas; sin celos. He visto montañas llegar hasta el cielo, o al menos llegar a las nubes que tienen las formas de críos que sonríen al azar sin quererlo y sin miedo. Hoy he visto gran cosa, el nacer de un buen dia y al sol asomarse en el cielo, tan blanco, y le he dado las gracias a Dios por la luz, útil y necesaria, que nos calienta, que nos da vida…

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I’ve seen thousands of things while I dreamt I was walking through meadows, pastures, and mountains… Great things, living things, full of enthusiasm, full of emotions, full of bitterness, full of wounds, full of blood, laughter, autumn, and summers, stained with hatred; springs stained with kisses; dreams soaked in days without guns, knives, clubs, or offenses, or offerings… No quarrels, no jealousy. I have seen mountains reach to the sky, or at least reach clouds that are shaped just like children who smile without knowing, without wanting, and without fear. Today I have seen something great, the birth of a grand day! I’ve seen the sun rising in the sky, pure and white! And I have given thanks to God for giving us this useful light that warms us and gives us life…

El jazz a mi me encanta… bueno la música me fascina, bien sea la clásica, el jazz, el rock, el funk, el soul, el techno-pop, el punk, new wave y el country-western… baladas, canciones, operas, sonatas, sinfonias, cantatas, venga, que todas las escucho. Siempre llevo un cuadro en la cabeza por hacer y una música por tocar, o por componer. Por eso es que mi obra artística la considero obra jazz-art (JaZzArT), nada tios, soy un pintor jazz. Aunque mis cuadros los hago en mi estilo propio, surreal-expresionismo, estan motivados por el jazz. Además, como vosotros habéis notado, el baile también me mola. Si uno no baila no disfruta al tope de la vida…

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I love jazz… well, all music fascinates me, whether it’s classical, jazz, rock, funk, soul, techno-pop, punk, new wave, or country-western… ballads, songs, operas, sonatas, symphonies, cantatas, mates, I listen to them all. I always have a picture in my head that I want to create and a piece of music to play or compose. That’s why I consider my artistic work to be jazz-art (JaZzArT), I tell you, I’m a jazz painter. Although I create my paintings in my own style, surreal-expressionism, they are all inspired by jazz. Also, as you all have noticed, I really enjoy dancing. If one doesn’t dance, they don’t fully enjoy life…

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GRACIAS – CHEERS

Arranca el tambor
dos dos tres dos dos cuatro,
las cuerdas del bajo,
atacando, atacando,
y la sangre te hierve,
te provoca la prisa,
el salto, el jirón,
media vuelta
y deslizas…

Tu figura que crece,
permanece en un trance,
y de trompetas el aire
se llena,
y respiras y sientes cada nota
llenarte,
de la tierna energía,
de la enérgica tierna,
celosa y sensual
agonía,
y del placer de bailar
bajo el sol.

¡Ay que luz,
media noche!

¡Qué mar!
¡Qué alegría!

C.2022, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 12 de septiembre de 2022, València, España