JaZzArt en València

Well, after a birthday (a few days ago), I usually think back over my life, or parts of my life and I wonder if I really remember things as they occurred or if I am editing the past. So, this year was no different. I can say that I have a completely accurate file of memories in my mental «hard drive» and things I remember did really occur.

Like…

Well, I grew up listening to music. Luckily for me I was introduced to The Beatles and became a life-long fan. Actually their songs helped me to get better acquainted with the English language and what they taught me I still practice to this day. Of course, I also listened and absorbed the music of my own country and familiarised myself with its sounds, rhythms, lyrical structure et cetera et cetera…

I have also seen travel and have lived in other countries, especially the United States, for many, many years of my life. I don’t really understand how that happened, but it had everything to do with my parents decisions at the time due to work considerations. But that experience opened my eyes and my mind to many things which I am quite grateful for.

I saw military service, deployments and conflicts in places where I never thought I would go and never see. And that helped me as well to strengthen my body and mind and to also accept and respect other people that seemed and looked different from me and from those I was accustomed to seeing.

I entered police work, thinking it would be transitional and punctual but it lasted a lifetime…

I saw revolutions and massacres, witnessed famines, hunger, death, destruction, terrorists and murderers turned into heroes and liberators, fanatics trying to shove their thoughts and religions down everybody else’s throats, rotten, corrupt politicians lying and stealing, tyrants ruling by telling their victims that they are the builders of communism so everyone can be equal while in truth they were being starved to death, ambitious dictators that tried to expand their boundaries to the detriment of so many who perished, I have witnessed the brainwashing of so many that thought, and still think that communist murderers like Che Guevara is a freedom-fighter and that mass murderers like Stalin and Mao were the best alternative for the growth and development of their countries, I have seen the persecution of Nazi war criminals but not the persecution of communist war criminals, paradoxes, paradoxes, paradoxes…

Well, enough for one chapter, I’ll leave it here, Diary, until chapter 2…

MODERN MAN

Modern man is a symbol, a whim, an illusion,
a being of sounds, a reflection of light,
who was born from the depths of a storm
in the darkest of nights.
Not on Earth,
no, not Earth but from a dark hole
that protested and cried but at last gave him birth…

He walked through the galaxy and found it quite small,
not a vast, glorious place,
not a wonder at all,
and he searched for sweet waters to moisten his tongue,
maybe searching for life,
maybe searching for death,
things that one never knows
things that poison our breath.

And one night as the moon filled the skies and the clouds rained with love,
he decided to visit and fell from above,
and he walked through the battlefields,
warm still with warm blood,
and he looked and he thought
about all those who fought,
and in that one brief instance he believed that he knew
that the wars of today will bring peace tried and true…

And I saw him run wild,
jumping, shouting with joy,
as he killed worthless traitors
with guns or with toys,
with the future in hand,
and the past in his bones,
he ran through the smoke
and the tears and the pain,
to return to his birth once again…

C.2022, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 13 JUN 2022, Miami Beach, Florida, USA

This was one of my paintings from the days of Miami back in 2003. Now it is here as a fine art print. What do you think?

And here is more…

Cheers…

I have been overwhelmed by the response to my collection on Fine Art America, but I also want to direct your attention here, where you will find somethings a little different. You will also find this piece there.

And here are some more:

Cheers…

To teach that man is not to ask for service but to give,

and through serving your brother you’ll always succeed,

strength came into this world with words of peace, to make a way for love who all can reach.

C.2022, Francis Bravo Cabrera, 13 JUN 2022, Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Well, I am not one to preach, but if I did, especially about how to make the world a «better place», I think I would say something like this»…

So watch Michael (from 1988) and listen to the song and if you want, here are the lyrics so that you can actually sing along…

MAN IN THE MIRROR

I’m gonna make a change
For once in my life
It’s gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
As I, turn up the collar on
My favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin’ my mind
I see the kids in the street
With not enough to eat
Who am I, to be blind pretending not to see their needs?
A summer’s disregard
A broken bottle top
And a one man’s soul
They follow each other on the wind ya know
‘Cause they got nowhere to go
That’s why I want you to know
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could’ve been any clearer
If they wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
I’ve been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It’s time that I realize
That there are some with no home
Not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me pretending that they’re not alone?
A willow deeply scarred
Somebody’s broken heart
And a washed out dream (washed out dream)
They follow the pattern of the wind, ya see
‘Cause they got no place to be
That’s why I’m starting with me
I’m starting with the man in the mirror (oh)
I’m asking him to change his ways (oh)
And no message could’ve been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
I’m starting with the man in the mirror (oh)
I’m asking him to change his ways (oh)
And no message could’ve been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that
Change
I’m starting with the man in the mirror (oh yeah)
I’m asking him to change his ways (better change)
No message could’ve been any clearer
(If you wanna make the world a better place)
(Take a look at yourself and then make the change)
you can’t
(Then you close your) close your, your mind
With the man in the mirror, oh yeah
I’m asking him to change his ways (better change)
No message could’ve been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
gonna feel real good now
I’m gonna make a change
It’s gonna feel real good
Come on (change)
Just lift yourself
You know
You’ve got to stop it
Yourself (yeah)
I’ve got to make that change today
(Man in the mirror) you got to
You got to not let yourself brother
(Yeah) you know
(Make that change) I’ve got to get that man, that man
You’ve got to
You’ve got to move
Come on
Come on
You got to
Stand up, stand up (yeah, make that change)
Stand up
Stand up and lift
Yourself, now
(Man in the mirror)
Gonna make that change come on
(Man in the mirror)
You know it
You know it
You know it
You know
Change
Make that change
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Glen Ballard / Siedah Garrett
Man in the Mirror lyrics © Yellowbrick Road Music

So many people go out into life thinking they are going to change the world. They throw themselves into their quest by trying to achieve the greatest success possible. Unfortunately they fail. Why? Because they are trying to change other people, other things, systems, governments, countries et cetera. But they forget that change starts with the «man in the mirror» (or woman).

And there is definitely a need for change in this world. Things are not getting better with progress. As a matter of fact, arrived at through mere observation, I can see that capitalism is now roaring ever louder and poverty and equality have gone down the virtual toilet. People matter if they have a lot of money, if they don’t they are treated like slaves. We are now more controlled, lied to, manipulated and misgoverned than we have been since the Middle Ages when we were ruled by incompetent and corrupt absolute rulers.

So, take a look at the man/woman in the mirror and ask yourself how you can make a change. And I am sorry, I do not mean to preach, but I just could not help myself with this one. I believe that artists (painters, writers, poets, dancers, choreographers, photographers et al) should speak out as much as possible, especially if they have a forum from which to do it. People that are educated and well trained have a responsibility to the society in which they live to speak out and express their opinions.

What do you think?

Cheers…

This one is a part of the proto-jazz art collection and I have chosen it now to convert it into a fine art print which you can get here.

I also invite you to look here…

Cheers…

For me what I call Jazz-Art (JaZzArt) is more than a «style», it is one of my most important methods of artistic expression. Mainly because I love music, particularly jazz and dance as well. The combination of the two, brought to a two dimensional plane, meaning painting or drawing, formed for me Jazz-Art.

Well, now I am selecting some of these drawings and turning them into fine art prints, which you can order here.

Here are more of my Jazz-Art drawings…

Cheers…

Think about it, a song can be shit, but it is still a song…

But art can be shit, and really be shit!

Cheers…

Abstract art is something that has to be thought of very hard and very carefully as the reference must be very clear to the artist, although it is entirely in his head. So I have tried some abstract work and I am quite satisfied with it. Now I have chosen to make some, like this one, available as a fine art print, which you can get here.

And here is some more of my abstract art…

Cheers…