David Hrobowski's Riffstick Art Exhibit

Last night's solo Art Exhibit at MorYork Art Gallery, featuring David Hrobowski's Riffstick Art was a huge success! There were so many people there until we were walking shoulder to shoulder, eagerly trying to see each piece of Art work that was displayed. Functional Art work. Riffstick Art work is "Green" friendly Art work that can actually be used. The pieces are created by a man that is an Engineer/Entrepanuer/Artist. So you can just imagine how the strutcure and the different demensions of tables, lamps, screens and miniture houses are designed.

It would be a good thing to gather up the family and go see for yourself, the beautiful Art pieces that were created by David Hrobowksi. The Art work is original, creative, "green friendly" and truly something you've got to see. I loved it!

C

David Hrobowski - Riffstick Art -riffstick@cuflinkkingcom - 323.782.1973
MorYork Gallery - 4959 York Blvd. (at Avenue 50) Highland Park, CA 90042. 323.663.3426

Riffstick Furniture - David Hrobowski

David Hrobowski is a man that can create anything with his hands. This 6'6"man is actually sitting on a chair that he created out of ice cream sticks. Yes, I said ice cream sticks!

His artwork is amazing. David has created one of a kind chairs, mirrors, lamps and a host of other lovely items that are truly works of art.

Come meet David and learn all about his journey - what was his motivation to create Art out of ice cream sticks.

When: March 13, 2010

Where: MorYork Gallery - 4959 York Blvd., ( at Avenue 50) in Highland Park, CA 90042.

What Time: 7:00 PM - 10 :00 PM

riffstick@cuflinkking.com

323.782.1973

I hope to see you there because I wouldn't miss it!

C

Bernard and Shirley Kinsey - A Journey in Four Parts - Feb 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2010

Last evening I had the pleasure of attending

The Ebony Repertory Theater's latest event -

featuring Dr. Bernard and Shirley Kinsey Presents

"A Journey in Four Parts" series.

The first part in the series is entitled:
What You Didn't Learn in High School History

It was very enlightening. Dr. & Mrs. Kinsey brought knowledge to the table . Hear me when I tell you that most everyone in attendance was hungry for knowledge.

The real history of African American triumphs and contributions should no longer remain a secret. It should explode into our classrooms and into our collective conscience.” - Bernard Kinsey

Dr. Kinsey essentially said that we need to re-language our thought process and words with regards to what actually happened to those who were captured during the slave trade. Black people/African Americans/Negros - which ever adjective that one prefers to use to describe Africans in America - were enslaved - kidnapped by brutal force (guns) and held against their will.
Only the strongest of the strongest survived the rocky 6 month journey in the bowels of a very crowded ship. A ship as cold and unfeeling as the captors and the many people that orchestrated the journey.

Yes, there were free Africans that navigated the globe and conducted business in America before this country was colonized, but by far and large, the vast majority of African Americans were picked up in the interior of West Africa - between Senegal and Angola - as Free people and brought to the shores of America enslaved. Yes America's African Ancestors were FREE People that were ENSLAVED by Europeans (British, French for starters). These slaves were pure human capital, distributed throughout what is called the triangle - Africa the Caribbean and North America an Europe.

This information was just one of the many morsels of information that was

disseminated last evening by Bernard, Shirley and Khalil Kinsey.

I could have listened to the Kinsey's talk all day and night. But I must say, if it were not for Kevin Ross and Facebook, along with his blogtalkradio.com, who featured Bernard Kinsey on one of last week's shows, I would not have known about this most momentous event.

I do hope to see you all next Saturday, Feb 13th @ 8:00PM at Nate Holden's Performing Art Theater multi - use complex which houses The Ebony Repertory Theater. The topic is Love. Don't miss the other 3 parts of the series happening Feb 13, 20 & 27, 2010.

In closing, last night's event reminded me of a poem that was written by Gordon Nelson called,

"Science"

"Science tells you that Black

is the absence of light.
But your soul tells you that Black
is the light of the world."

Love & light, C

Dr Martin Luther King Jr. - Happy Birthday!

This is a time for reflection.
What does Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday mean to you? That's the question.

During one of his sermons at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, a couple of months prior to his death, Dr. King Jr. touched so many hearts that day.

He said, in part:

" If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don't want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long...Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peach Prize, that isn't important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards, that's not important...I'd like somebody to say that day, that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody...I tried to feed the hungry... I want you to say that I tried to serve humanity...tell them that I was a Drum Major for peace..."

I hope that everyone around the world understands that this American Holiday is not just a "Black" American Holiday, no - this is an American Holiday. African Americans came up from slavery working shoulder to shoulder with other ethnicities, building this country with blood, sweat and tears. Yes, this is a day to learn more about America's history. We will tell you the story and not romanticize it. Better yet, ask your Grandmother, Grandfather, Aunt, or Uncle about the Civil unrest that reached it's peak during the 60's in America. I'm sure the elders in each of our families can add a demension of light on the subject.

I suggest that on a rainy day like this day, one bundles up the young ones and go visit the California Science Center here in Los Angeles, CA. There is an exhibit that quantifies so much of what America the Beautiful has become because of the richness added by its fellow Americans. Please visit Tavis Smiley's exhibit America I AM.

Celebrate this day. As I walk out the door, I'm humming Happy Birthday to you, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Stevie Wonder style....Love C

Ella Fitzgerald

I absolutely love Ella Fitzgerald! If you get a chance, please stop by the official Ella Fitzgerald website - http://www.ellafitzgerald.com/

Love/Peace/Happiness to you and yours in 2010!

C

Mouths / Lips / Tongues / Voices

Right this very moment I just want to cry. There are so many things going on in this world, and we all must pick and choose our battles. So, that is what I am doing. I'd rather win the war then this single fight.

Can you imagine what would happen if everyone did and said exactly what they felt like doing/saying? The world would be an even more chaotic place.

We, as individuals, are in charge of our mouths/lips/tongues/voices; No one else. So, when you give wings to thoughts, via speech, you must know that who ever the benefactor is, he/she/they will hear your words ( if someone is listening).

With that in mind, I will take a deep breath and exhale and read another chapter in J. California Cooper's book, " Some Love, Some Pain, Sometime" - and sip on my java and chocolate chip cookies...Goodnight C
http://books.google.com/books?id=wKlHAAAACAAJ&dq=J+California+Coope&hl=en&prev=http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS203US203&q=j.+california+cooper&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=2&cad=author-navigational

Food for Thought

It is kind of cool and chilly here in Southern California (55 Fahrenheit) this time of the year. So, what I like to do is pop in a few good movies and we sit around and watch a few of our favorites - old and new. This evening, we're watching the fairly recent Oscar winning "Slum Dog Millionaire" again. You know why? Well, this film, in particular, makes me think about a few people that I've met years ago that still cross my mind, and for whatever reason, I simply can't forget them. Really. Some of you might know what I mean.

You see, there are some people in this world that can put a smile on your face when you think of them. Just the mere idea of seeing them in the future, be it today, tomorrow or next month, makes you glad. In my lifetime, I've had the pleasure of knowing people who fall into that criteria - you know the type - the happiness slot.

Well, for me, it's like when you attend a reunion, be it a family reunion or a high school reunion in anticipation of seeing or being reunited with relatives or old acquaintances. As the date gets closer and closer for the event to occur, you just get happy!

I wish that I could bottle up that feeling and sell it in the form of an aromatherapy essential oil, or something that you could spritz on to your ear lobes, and daub on to your writs and as you go about your usual day, people around you inhale the feeling - the aromatic scent as it were - and they are then taken away to that happy place - a place that makes one more productive in all areas of life - wouldn't that be great?