JaZzArt en València

Two great artists which do not have the recognition they deserve in Art History. But I think they are very significant in the development of art throughout the XX C. and the XXI C. as well. It is important to recognise these women artists because even though they have been getting some recognition, their work at auction still sells for considerably less than that of their male counterparts. And no, I do not believe they were surrealists at all…

Enjoy:

(If the volume is perhaps too low, try with headsets as the sound will be better appreciated that way)

Cheers…

A truly BLACK day for democracy in the United States! Why should five unelected individuals decide against the will of a nation. That is the definition of TYRANNY.

33 rules to take you from clueless amateur to generational talent (or at least help you live life a little more creatively). Jerry Saltz photo by …

How To Be An Artist

Since the song I’ve chosen speaks about traditions, specifically a “family tradition”, I started to think about these things that some people hold almost sacred.

I, like most people, follow some traditions, although to most in my family, I am an iconoclast. However, as I mature and because of the passing of the years I am gaining knowledge, wisdom, insight. I now find that traditions are useless.

Just because someone in your tribe, family, social group, religion, whatever, did something…something he or she was obviously quite impressed with, why do I have to do it as well. That’s how I think…

So here comes Hank Williams Jr., a singer I like, and says that he drinks and smokes because it’s a family tradition. Alright, he might have been saying it sarcastically, but brother man, give me a break!

Enjoy the song y’all!

One of three believed he needed lights to see and never looked out to the sea, he lost his way…

And two of three focused his eyes on the horizon, on that flat line so far away, his eyes would never look away, he stumbled far too many times and never found the answers.

And three of three, since two they were, looked around without a care, didn’t think on lasting thoughts, knew they had but just enough to live in peace.

C.2022, Francis Bravo Cabrera, 22 JUN 2022, Miami, Florida, US.

To me these are two great artists of the XX C. that I greatly admire. They happen to be women artists that still…although they are highly recognised…have not achieved their much deserved status as equal to their male counterparts.

Here is a little of their story but I strongly urge you to look further, research more, take a good and close look at the body of their work. If you are an aspiring artist, emerging artist, student, art lover or collector, you should, without a doubt, get more familiar with the paintings of Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington, among many other female artists which I will most certainly feature here.

Cheers…

I am watching the hearings to try to find out why this criminal, that lamentably served as president of the United States between 2016 and 2020, a man whose name I will not mention, did what he did and how to proceed from there, civilly or criminally . The evidence is clear, concise, and overwhelming. I cannot understand why he is still allowed to walk free. He orchestrated an insurrection. He incited masses of extreme right wing, white supremacists to riot. He advocated for the destruction of democracy. He led a mass of rebels and convinced them to attack the U. S. Capitol. What more does the government want to finally put this evil being in prison?

These people are using democracy to destroy democracy. They act in the same manner as the communists, taking advantage of the freedoms that are provided to destroy the system and take over the government.

I generally stay away from politics, but I understand…and firmly believe…that artists must engage in the affairs of the people, in the things that affect our state and society. Although I am a European, I recognise that the things that a US president does can, and do affect the rest of the world, so we all have a voice in this and a valid opinion.

I find it a true horrorshow that such crimes as sedition, rebellion and other high crimes can go unpunished for so long. It is quite clear, not only through his own words but through his actions, that the man that was president before President Biden, was trying to overthrow the government so he could stay in power. Therefore I cannot understand the delay in punishment. Due process is a right and a very important part of democracy, but enough is enough!

Cheers…

ADIÓS, QUE TE APLASTE UN TREN

Bebes martinis de vodka con vermut,
y siempre pides dos…

Pues la ginebra no te basta para tratar de conquistar
las ganas de salir,
a aullar,
husmear, rastrear,
junto a los perros
que siguen agitando el caminar
de los gatos pardos de tu oscura sociedad.

La sociedad…
Fosa hedionda que tu admiras,
la teta donde mamas…

¡Pero yo ya no!
Ya pincho en hueso donde había jamón.
Ya bebo el vino que me da valor.
Ya soy el eco de mis propios pasos,
aunque sean lentos, y solitarios,
siempre serán solitarios…

Búscate otro que te toque el harpa,
no tardarás en encontrarle,
entre los perros habrán muchos,
tratando ser agradables.

Que te traiga otro la copa,
fanfarrón,
que te admire otro de abajo,
yo me voy con mi mochila y mi turrón,
a refugiarme al carajo…

Las migas que me soltaste,
atragantan a palomas.
Los dioses que representas
se han podrido en tus axiomas…

Los versos que ahora construyes,
con mentiras y rameras,
los cantan en las cantinas,
gitanos por peteneras…

Si deshojas una flor,
para saber el futuro,
vas a encontrar que el amor
lo has dejado entre lo oscuro…

Y aunque sigues en tu trono,
Midas cruel y dictador,
lo que tocas ya no es oro,
mierda es, abusador…

Por fin ya llegó la hora,
de arrancarme tus cadenas,
vete lejos con tus penas,
adiós, que te vaya bien,
y cabrón, que te aplaste un tren…

Dos martinis y dos gin tonics,
en la feria de los mozos beberé,
muriéndome de la risa,
libre y feliz estaré.

All I can say is that this year for me summer started way too early. By the first of April I was already feeling the heat, and of course, who wouldn’t, I had just arrived in South Florida…

It’s been a long three months so far but my time here is coming…finally…to an end. It is, naturally, scorching hot and super humid. When you walk the streets you feel that sticky, never-ending heat combined with humidity, but this is Miami and it is June, it would be quite odd indeed if it were brisk and cool…

I have to say that I have accomplished much this summer, or early summer. I have written much, composed new music, took many photographs and painted. I was commissioned very soon after I arrived by a collector, who already owned her «Bodo’s» but wanted a couple more, so I got to paint in Miami once again. I also was honoured by Gabriela Milton, editor of the anthology «Wounds I Healed», when she accepted one of my poems and included it in this wonderful book, which I recommend to all.

So I have to say that although I was no longer used to this all-consuming heat and the necessity of air conditioning, it was a good summer, productive and eventful. But I am very glad to be leaving.

I know that for many of you summer has just started or is about to start and I wish you a blessed and happy one!

Cheers…