Kuumba (Creativity) project 365

Kwanzaa day 6
Kuumba (Creativity)
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. 

A collage of a few things I have done and some of my toys.  My goal as my father, mother, uncles and creative and talented family members, is to leave something for those to come.  To encourage my children and grandchildren to create, express and love the arts.   To leave a legacy for others and the world and make any small contribution to that in any way we can.

Nia- purpose (project 365)

Nia (Purpose) - day 5

To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Another image from the vault this year.  This is one of the few images I have shared from a project "Daddy/ Daughters", a work in progress.   
When I thought of purpose I thought mostly of the importance of our impact on the youth.   Guiding and leading them to their greatness!!!!   Nia (Purpose).  

Ujima - Collective Work and Responsibility --- project 365

Kwanzaa- day 3

Ujima- Collective Work and Responsibility
To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and solve them together.


I brought this image out from the vault from several years back.  It was the first image I thought about when considering what to do for an image.
This is from working with some folks from FTP (Feed the People).   This truly was a group of people pooling their own money and time, making sack lunches, positive messages and doing the work.  FTP continues to do works in many ways throughout the states.   This is what Ujima is , responsibility  and making strides to build our communities, even if it all begins with a simple meal for the day for those who have not. 

Kujichagulia- Self Determination (project 365 )

Kwanzaa day 2
Kujichagulia- Self Determination
to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves


As I look in my granddaughters eyes I see  the vision , legacy, strength, power and self determination of her great grandfather and ancestors.  May they be with her and the other children, for we must teach them of where they come from to know where they are going. 

habari gani - unity --- day 365 ???? ( project 365)

Let me start by saying that this is day 365 of my project......but it is not.   Where did I miss approximately 5 days.  Who knows.  Life .    I will post until the year is out to really complete my project.    



"Habari Gani- (What's the news?)"
"Umoja"



Today is the first day of Kwanzaa.   Kwanzaa is based on the seven principles of the Nguzu Saba (seven principles of African heritage).   Created in 1966 by Dr  Maulana Karenga for celebration of culture , community, family and identity.

Today is Umoja (Unity)-  
To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community , nation and race.

 My attempt will be to depict each of the seven principles in images in honor and meditation  of the ancestors and those to come.
Ase 

Merry Merry with wreck it - day 364 ( project 365)

Christmas today and got to take a few images of Cameron , Colleen and Makai for their holiday photos.    He is one that does not stay still , so the images are very typical of his energy.   Happy Holidays everyone.  

coldwell banker- day 363 (project 365)

Headshots for Shelley -

paper snowflakes - day 361-362 (project 365)

Paper Snowflakes. 
so beautiful
intricate in design
complex weaving of lines and shape
so fragile. 
one wrong cut and the snowflake is ruined
open carefully and slowly to keep from tearing
let the beauty unfold.  

Much like life.

motu holiday fun- day 359 (project 365) 12-19-13

I set up a photo booth for the Motu Holiday party.  Such fun and of course a fun group of people make it fantastic.   

colors - day 358 (project 365) 12-18-13

the beauty of the colors and light captured me

looking up - day 357 12-17-13

Just happened to be looking up and seeing the skies this day. 

withdrawn - day 356 (project 365) 12-16-13

This day I was feeling withdrawn.   I asked myself why ?   I was in such good spirits , looking forward, doing my best to be positive.   Oh yes, this is life.  

and of course in walks my groupie---- " I want to take a picture with you ...."

loving me - day 353 (project 365)

I rose this morning not in a fowl mood but melancholy.  Working on me and my attitude towards things is a continual work in progress always.   I was just thinking about  the typical , such as getting this extra weight off that I am not to pleased with ,tired of feeling sad about things I can't change or have any control over and trying not to take things personally and just be.

I needed to tell myself to love me .   Love the skin I am in right now and forward, every wrinkle,  extra curve, bump, stretch mark, the fullness of me.    If I don't love me what is the point of making strides to move forward in other areas of my life, it will all be for not.   So once again photo therapy.   Getting out of that comfort zone.  See myself as beautiful today is a start.   Whatever the outside world sees is not my concern at the moment.  I need to be accepting of myself.  

i can taste it - day 351 (project 365)

For so long I have just wanted to do art all the time and make some sort of living at my own creations.  Granted I have done that here and there , but to devote my time solely to my creative spirit at my leisure?   I can not any longer compare myself to others and say what if anymore.  I have not had financial backing (solely), been able to travel the world, been free of responsibility, have the best and top of the line camera equipment,  etc. etc.   Yes my life has led a different path than many and although not a youngster I am only beginning again.    I don't aspire to be rich monetarily from this (who am I kidding it would be nice to receive blessings and be able to give back), but to be rich in spirit.  I was telling someone about manifesting and the power of the word  - word/sound/power.   I will be able to sustain myself with my vision , travel , and be able to show my work more and often.     I can taste it!!!

chalk- day 350 (project 365)

Chalk drawings today.....

Gloria- artist unknown- day 349 (project 365) 12-10-13

Today I came upon this display (I say art installation) in a shop window.   I absolutely fell in love with it and had to take a photograph.   I would have asked who the artist was, etc. if the shop was open , alas it was not.    I can only take credit for the imagery working with angles, texture and light.  I am feeling it.   I am going to make a print and give a copy to the store when they are open.   Kudos to the "artist unknown" and your unknowing collaboration .   

a free spirit can not be caged - day 348 (project 365)

For some time I have had this birdcage and have had many things rolling around in my mind about what I wanted to do with it, photograph (check and very proud of this piece) , making it a hanging light/art piece (next). 

So often I have felt trapped in my life....."I get in my own way"!   A free spirit can not be caged!!!

Mandela- day 345 (project 365) 12-6-13

As the world knows Nelson Mandela has left this realm.   Not that I am surprised by my own reaction of crying when I heard on NPR driving in my car.    It was evident that his time on this earth was soon coming to an end months ago  and even then I felt shocked.

What was going through my head?    I honestly was thinking this is an end of a generation of warriors, those who fought for not only their lives but others, a different time.   Don't get me wrong , I know there are new warriors and will be those that have a voice and impact.   Am I being nostalgic?   Maybe.

I was in high school when I first really was aware of what was happening in South Africa and this system "Apartheid" , and realizing just that some 20 plus years before in America it didn't seem so different.   Although so many things in high school were so trivial , I started really paying attention.    I remember getting a shirt "Stop Apartheid" and wearing it so proudly- I was making a statement and saying I am with you Nelson Mandela , people of Africa , people of the world !!!   What did that really do?   Nothing of an impact except for myself realizing that I was not taking a blind eye to the struggles that exist, I was conscious and aware and that was a beginning.  

So to all of you past and present on those front lines, I salute you.   To those quiet soldiers , you tread softly and in strength...I salute you. 

The fight is far from  over for South Africa, may Nelson Mandela's spirit continue to strengthen the people of South Africa and inspire the world.